Hearing this, Suzhen immediately stood up. Everyone was initially pleased at the first half, but all changed expression at the last sentence.

Lian Xin was both shocked and urgent. Seeing everyone’s similar reactions, she quickly said: “We’re also going to see Brother Lian Yu.”

Lian Qin was already pulling Lian Jie to run but was grabbed by the collar by Xuanwu, who also seemed somewhat reluctant as he said slowly: “His Majesty instructed to see only Li Huaisu.”

Huo Chang’an glanced meaningfully at Wei Wuyan, seeing her eyelids slightly lowered. Gu Shuangcheng looked at Suzhen indifferently and said: “Chancellor Yan, please preside. Let’s continue discussing countermeasures.”

“Mm, good. Miss, please join us too.”

Yan Da answered in a deep voice. Everyone gathered around again. The distant Suzhen still felt intense gazes from behind that seemed to burn holes in her clothes.

Lian Yu’s carriage was in front.

Curtains hung down with copper hooks bearing two clusters of purple tassels. Inside, warm orange candlelight danced on the curtains, several silhouettes dimly reflected upon them. When wind passed, the tassels swayed, their floating fibers seeming to gently scratch at Suzhen’s heart, tickling.

Xuanwu’s reluctant voice rang in her ears again: “Master, Li Huaisu has arrived.”

For a moment, Suzhen’s heart tightened.

“Mm. Qinglong, Tiger, you go out first.” From inside, Lian Yu’s voice came indifferently, detectably weary and hoarse, yet extremely authoritative, making disobedience impossible.

Suzhen could imagine him speaking while perhaps slightly frowning.

Qinglong and Baihu quickly emerged, their faces showing the same reluctance as Xuanwu’s, yet very quiet, not daring to say much. The curtain was lifted for an instant then fell again. Through this gap, she could see the tall figure inside leaning against the couch edge, long hair unbound like lustrous black satin scattered on the brocade bedding. Her hands suddenly became sweaty, and she heard that voice again: “Li Huaisu, get your ass in here.”

Suzhen pressed her lips, shook her legs, and climbed up.

The curtain fell behind her.

Lian Yu sat leaning forward, covered with bedding, only his upper body exposed. Bandages showed slightly through his partially open undergarment, faintly stained with blood, his muscles firm and flowing. His long hair was loose, his gaze falling on her – not as cold as his voice, but carrying a kind of indifference.

The two stared at each other for a moment. Suzhen was first to lower her head, feeling as if her heart was blocked by something. A suppressed airflow mixed with the scent of wound medicine and the incense from his clothes slowly circulated in this not-narrow space, filling Suzhen’s senses and making her slightly dizzy.

“I really don’t want to see you. Get out.”

Finally, Lian Yu spoke, his voice even more hoarse.

Suzhen’s heart also sank. She had a bellyful of things to tell him, but now her blood surged as she shouted loudly: “This minister obeys the imperial decree!”

As she turned around and pushed the curtain, she heard the person behind say in a deep voice: “Come back.”

She whirled around: “Your Majesty, you tell me to get out, then tell me to come back – what exactly do you want?”

“Li Huaisu, you only dare act this way with me.”

Lian Yu suddenly softened his voice and sneered slightly.

Looking at that moon-like coldness between his brows, Suzhen’s nose slightly stung. The shouts that had risen to her throat fell back down, her words becoming flustered and chaotic:

“Lian Yu, I was also extremely confused earlier. Just now… thinking calmly, I can explain this matter. I didn’t want to kill Lian Xin, much less betray you…”

“Then why were you there?”

“I wanted to investigate this case, to… plead for the people.”

“I said long ago this case has nothing to do with you and told you to stay in the capital. Since you’re the Capital Chief Judge, the capital has its own cases for you to handle. Isn’t coming here meddling unnecessarily?”

“…”

Suzhen was struck speechless by his rebuttal. She had come here half for Li Zhaoting, half seeking what she considered justice. If the Huang Tianba case failed, Li Zhaoting had suppressed the memorial and would be suspected of covering up… If Huang Tianba won, she was unwilling – she wanted to find a path that served both sides, helping Li Zhaoting escape trouble while incriminating Huang Tianba!

She never expected such a dramatic turn, encountering an even more dangerous situation. Naturally she couldn’t mention Li Zhaoting…

“Lian Yu, I can explain about Lian Xin and calling for reinforcements. I came here earlier and stayed at the same inn as Huo Chang’an…” Circling this topic was disadvantageous to her. Suzhen wanted to shift the conversation.

Lian Yu looked at her and suddenly smiled: “You can explain other matters later. I need you to provide evidence proving you didn’t want to kill Lian Xin, proving you called the reinforcements.”

“But now I only want to know why you came to Minshan Prefecture. You’re somewhere you shouldn’t be, you can’t give a reason – this is fact. Li Huaisu, don’t say you came because you worried about me. I don’t believe it.”

Hunger and pain seemed stirred up by his piercing light smile. Suzhen’s heart churned – though starving, she felt like vomiting something. She clenched her fists and said quietly: “I can’t explain.”

“Mm.” Lian Yu’s smile lines deepened, his staring gaze growing tighter and colder.

Suzhen felt uncomfortable and asked through gritted teeth: “Since you already suspect me, why call me here?”

“To look at you once, then tell myself not to be good to you anymore. You’re just an ungrateful wretch.”

His eyes showed neither joy nor sorrow, his tone indifferent. Suzhen’s heart ached as she turned to leave.

Just as she lifted the curtain, something “snapped” around her arm. Looking down, she saw it was a sash. Before she could cry out, she was dragged back, followed by a muffled groan as she was pulled into Lian Yu’s embrace, hitting his wound.

“Your Majesty, what happened inside? Do we need to come in?”

Outside the curtain came Xuanwu and Qinglong’s tense inquiries.

Suzhen thought: I was the one who cried out – what happened to me? How could Lian Yu, a man with strong martial arts, have any problems?

“Go away. Don’t come in without my orders.”

Lian Yu dismissed them both.

Face to face, Suzhen moved her hand but touched Lian Yu’s chest – instantly feeling firm heat, her face burning. After a while, she was surprised to discover she hadn’t thought to struggle free. Only when Lian Yu glanced at her did she realize, angrily saying: “What do you mean by this? I was leaving, fulfilling your wish. I’d also live comfortably.”

But Lian Yu ignored her, gripping her injured arm with both hands. She was startled, sweat beading on her forehead: “Don’t – I’m injured here. It hurts… If you want to torture someone, can’t you choose a different limb?”

Hearing this, Lian Yu not only didn’t loosen his grip but applied force. Suzhen heard a clear crack as he pushed her away with a palm strike, sending her tumbling against the carriage wall.

She wasn’t in much pain, but Lian Yu was in worse shape – collapsed on his side, fine sweat beading his forehead, blood seeping through his undergarment. He frowned tightly, stubbornly making no sound.

Suzhen got up and without thinking ran to help him, but was stopped by his sharp “Stop right there, don’t come over.” He closed his eyes slightly, as if not wanting to even look at her. Finally, at an angle where he couldn’t see, Suzhen’s tears burst out. The man’s voice came slowly from ahead: “Go let Baihu set your arm bone. Say it’s my order.”

“We’re about to leave the city. They must be discussing which route to take. After leaving the city there are four roads – tell them to go to Magistrate Meng in Zuoning Prefecture. Only there is safe. That Meng Qiao has excellent relations with Huang Tianba – Huang Tianba would never think we’d dare take this route.”

Listening, Suzhen was alarmed: “What if Meng Qiao secretly sends fast horses to inform Huang Tianba…”

“Helping Huang Tianba succeed in rebellion is great merit, but saving me Lian Yu is also great merit. These two merits – one shared with Huang Tianba for Chancellor Quan, one exclusive to me Lian Yu – which do you think he’ll choose?”

“But they’re friends…”

“Since ancient times, scholars have despised each other. Originally, spring flowers and autumn moons have nothing to do with each other, yet human nature is perversely ugly – you don’t offend others, but others might offend you. The court is even more so. Think again – what kind of friends would that Huang Tianba make? It probably fits the saying: birds of a feather flock together.”

Suzhen instantly understood and was greatly pleased. After thinking, she still said: “What if by chance this Magistrate Meng truly helps Huang Tianba…”

“Of course there’s this possibility,” Lian Yu propped himself on the wooden board, gritting his teeth slightly to lie his heavy body flat. “So simultaneously tell Huo Chang’an to send three men in three directions, traveling light to take Jing County at night.”

“Jing County? What kind of place is this?” Suzhen wanted to go to his side but ultimately feared his sharp gaze. She heard him say: “Jing County’s magistrate is surnamed Hu – nothing special about this person, but north of Jing County is a military stronghold of our Great Zhou, with a general leading elite troops. Have Huo Chang’an’s men tell Magistrate Hu to notify the general to lead troops to Zuoning Prefecture.”

“Why send three men traveling light instead of going directly ourselves?” Suzhen was puzzled, but suddenly thought of something and exclaimed: “Right! Huang Tianba will certainly send people pursuing along this route, attacking along the way. Marquis Huo’s men are brought from the battlefield – three light cavalry are perfect. This scattered action means Huang Tianba’s men can’t even recognize them. Someone will definitely reach Jing County to notify the magistrate. Then, even if that Magistrate Meng has any unusual movements, there will be the general leading troops to escort Your Majesty.”

She was excited, but saw Lian Yu’s undergarment soaked through, his face returned to its previous pallor, his eyes calm and radiant. He looked at her indifferently and finally said: “Tell them this was your counsel to me, that I found it excellent and approved.”

Suzhen’s heart jumped as she stared at him blankly: “Why say it was my counsel…”

“No reason. Go down. I don’t want to say more to you. I’m tired. Miss Xia, if you truly are surnamed Xia… between you and me, let it end here. Hereafter, only sovereign and subject.”