Upon hearing this, while Mao and Yu didn’t understand the situation, Huang Tianba was shocked: “He’s using misdirection – he actually came secretly to Minshan?”

Even Quan Feitong, who usually remained unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, showed a slight change in expression.

His eyes narrowed as he asked: “This is a major secret. Where did brother Ting get this information?”

Li Zhaoting sighed slightly and smiled bitterly: “Li Huaisu secretly informed me.”

Suzhen was swallowing grapes when she heard this. A round grape rolled to her throat and nearly choked her to death. She thought: This is slander!

She was shocked for a long while, then realized that as Quan Feitong said, this was indeed a major secret, and Li Zhaoting needed to find a source that would convince Quan Feitong. But this also meant Li Zhaoting might have planted spies around Lian Yu. Understanding this logic, she couldn’t help smiling bitterly inwardly.

Quan Feitong pondered for a moment, but his face showed a somewhat mocking expression: “So you’ve finally reconciled with that girl. You once said that before her father Scholar Xia met with disaster, he went to Huai County to lecture. You went to listen out of admiration, and Scholar Xia liked you so much he wanted to take you as a student. Who knew the Xia family would soon face catastrophe? Learning of this, you secretly aided Li Huaisu, and you two developed some friendship. Though you now disapprove of her taking the imperial examinations to overturn the case and seek revenge, you still feel some pity and don’t want her involved in court struggles. Later, when her identity was discovered by the Son of Heaven due to her injury, this was a capital crime. Though she wasn’t punished in the end, you were still worried and wanted to meet her to ask about her situation. Fearing that privately meeting her might make Lian Yu’s spies think you two were colluding, making her crime worse, and since my recruiting her was something Lian Yu knew early on, it was reasonable for me to inquire about her injuries. So you used my residence to meet her, to ensure her safety. Things having reached this point, you had no choice but to tell me her true identity.”

Though he spoke with a smile, his tone wasn’t casual, showing he had thoughts about this. But with someone like him, what exactly he was thinking was unknowable to anyone.

Though Suzhen knew her “identity” had become an open secret among some people and Li Zhaoting would eventually have to explain to Quan Feitong, hearing this still gave her a feeling of terror. Quan Feitong was her enemy, an extremely dangerous enemy. Having this enemy know your secret was definitely not a pleasant thing. Moreover, this was a secret that could cost your life at any moment.

Mao and Yu didn’t know who Li Huaisu was, but Huang Tianba was always informed about court dynamics. Quan Feitong’s words shocked him greatly. Quan Feitong glanced at him and smiled: “Magistrate Huang, don’t you think this Huaisu has quite some courage?”

This sudden question made Huang Tianba’s entire body visibly tremble. His gaze shifted as he immediately lowered his head: “Your Excellency’s keen insight – Tianba has always had ear problems. This ailment is stubborn and flares up periodically. Just now I actually didn’t hear what Your Excellency and Minister Li were discussing.”

Suzhen was stunned, but saw Quan Feitong smile slightly and say “Fine, I’m too lazy to repeat it” before falling silent, only looking at Li Zhaoting: “Didn’t you not want to involve her? This time why…”

She couldn’t help being shocked, thinking this Huang Tianba was truly cunning. Getting evidence against him this time would be difficult. She also feared Quan Feitong was too clever for Li Zhaoting to handle properly. Just as she was feeling anxious, she heard Li Zhaoting say: “Hiding things from elder brother that day was truly Zhaoting’s fault. Please don’t laugh at Zhaoting, elder brother. This time it was truly unavoidable – only then did she notify Zhaoting.”

The speaker handled advance and retreat with measure, his expression as calm as walking on level ground.

Seeing Quan Feitong nod without saying more, Suzhen felt slightly relieved. But regarding Li Zhaoting calling her a spy, her feelings were quite complex. Who exactly was he using her to protect?

Here, with matters concerning himself being urgent, Huang Tianba spoke up: “Your Excellencies, now that person has secretly arrived here, regarding Tianba’s affair, how should we respond?”

A trace of viciousness flashed across Quan Feitong’s brow as he suddenly swept his sleeves and turned away.

“I had thought this meddlesome Sixth Prince would secretly come here to investigate, so I arranged to replace all case-related personnel in advance, leaving him helpless. I didn’t expect this important figure would risk danger himself. Now that so many variables have arisen, concerning Magistrate Huang’s life and death, and the Huang family’s honor and disgrace, if we want to turn danger into safety, there’s only one path. My health isn’t good. Zhaoting, leave the rest to you and Magistrate Huang to handle. Now that we have the assistance of Masters Mao and Yu, I believe the great deed can be accomplished.”

Suzhen was frightened by his words. What exactly did Quan Feitong plan to do?

Huang Tianba was naturally calm and refined, but now with fire at his eyebrows and hearing this Chancellor Quan’s serious tone, he immediately bowed slightly and listened intently. Mao and Yu were even more interested in this matter, their expressions showing great excitement.

“Everyone says Lian Yu is at Chuhe Prefecture. What do you think would happen if something happened to him here?”

That indifferent voice came through, and Suzhen was so shocked she crushed the grapes in her hand into juice.

“Lian Yu… this Lian is the national surname. Chancellor Quan is speaking of the Emperor? What does this mean?”

Though Mao Hui didn’t know who Li Huaisu was, he had heard of the new Great Zhou sovereign’s name. He immediately knew who Quan Feitong meant.

Yu Jinglun was more cunning than him. He immediately understood Quan Feitong’s meaning, trembled all over, and while restraining Mao Hui, said hoarsely: “This is secret regicide?”

How could Li Zhaoting and Huang Tianba not understand? They had already changed expression.

After Yu Jinglun’s explanation, Mao Hui was stunned for a long while before saying: “The Chancellor means that if the Emperor dies here, it would definitely be done without anyone knowing. No one would know who did it, since everyone thinks the Emperor is at Chuhe Prefecture. When the time comes, we just need to secretly transport the Emperor’s corpse back to Chuhe Prefecture – no one would investigate the Chancellor!”

Hearing this, Suzhen cursed angrily inwardly: If you don’t speak, no one thinks you’re mute!

“What do you all think of Master Mao’s suggestion?”

Quan Feitong didn’t turn around, as if that really was only Mao Hui’s suggestion and he had said nothing… but that laughing, low, hoarse voice clearly made everyone feel a chill.

Huang Tianba lowered his head slightly, his expression unclear, but slowly bowed and answered: “Tianba follows Your Excellency’s guidance. This plan is brilliant. The Emperor went to investigate the official silver usage at Chuhe Prefecture – perhaps Minister Cai or those forging officials there feared the Emperor would discover something and bought assassins to kill the sovereign. When investigated, many people would be implicated… The Chancellor saves this humble official’s life, and this humble official will henceforth support the Chancellor’s endeavors unto death.”

His voice was sinister and cold, showing no hesitation.

Suzhen was greatly shocked, staring intently at Li Zhaoting. Huang Tianba was trapped with no way out – everything started with his corruption, and Quan Feitong’s exploitation of this was understandable… but you can’t do this! If this fails, it’s a capital crime that would destroy your entire family!

But Li Zhaoting’s face had already returned to calm, only bowing his head: “Senior brother, this matter should be considered more carefully… Zhaoting believes such a major affair requires complete preparation. When soldiers come, we can block them. Since we know in advance that Lian Yu plans to impersonate us in nighttime prisoner interrogations, we could dispose of the death row inmates beforehand…”

“Oh, destroying evidence through death… that’s good, but executing them privately before their sentence is due – if investigated, Magistrate Huang would still face death penalty.”

“If we say these death row inmates had personal grudges with martial artists,” Li Zhaoting quickly glanced at Mao and Yu, “and were killed by martial artists seeking revenge, then at most Magistrate Huang would be charged with lax supervision. This crime isn’t severe, and Magistrate Huang wouldn’t need to take risks.”

Huang Tianba’s body moved at this. Regicide carried heavy punishment including execution of nine family generations. Li Zhaoting’s words undoubtedly moved his heart. Suzhen’s tightly clenched hands relaxed slightly, but then Quan Feitong suddenly turned around, his gaze like a sword pointing directly at him, lips slightly curved: “Zhaoting, if the death row inmates are about to die, why would martial artists risk coming to seek revenge at this time?”

“Do you want to watch Magistrate Huang die without helping?”

With Quan Feitong’s question, Huang Tianba looked at Li Zhaoting. Li Zhaoting tensed, finally saying slowly: “Zhaoting follows senior brother’s instructions and will arrange this with Magistrate Huang.”

“Mm. Chao Huang has also brought people. His men are at your disposal. Go to the prefectural office to examine the prison situation and see how to deploy personnel, blocking all passages in the building. Masters Mao and Yu, please also assist Minister Li well. When the time comes, any intruders must be killed without exception.”

“Yes.”

Li Zhaoting answered softly. His gaze fixed on the ground, and Suzhen couldn’t read his thoughts, but her heart trembled. Perhaps… she looked at him several times, and he glanced at her once.

Suzhen feared he’d see something unusual and immediately lowered her head.

From Quan Feitong’s conversation, Mao Hui and Yu Jinglun completely restrained even Mao Hui’s somewhat rash temperament, not daring to refuse. Although this person seemed to say nothing, he somehow gave the feeling that opposing his will would have unpredictable consequences.

They said in unison: “Chancellor Quan, rest assured. We’ll do our utmost to assist Minister Li and Magistrate Huang.”

Suzhen was both shocked and afraid, thinking this matter must be reported to Lian Yu quickly, or when the prefectural office became a trap, then… but if she notified Lian Yu, Li Zhaoting would certainly be charged with crimes…

As she worried, her spine suddenly felt inexplicably cold. Looking up, she saw Quan Feitong looking at her indifferently. Her heart became cautious, thinking: Now Li Zhaoting won’t die, Lian Yu won’t die, but I’ll die first.

They were discussing matters that could change the dynasty. You’ve heard all the secrets. Quan Feitong seemed to find it amusing and didn’t make you leave, deliberately wanting you to suffer fear before death. Why didn’t you tactfully withdraw? But if she had withdrawn earlier, she wouldn’t have learned of this major affair…

What should she do now?

If she told him she admired him like the Yellow River and Yangtze River, that she was extremely willing to be his concubine, would he spare her?