Two hours earlier.

Minshan Prefecture, Huang Manor.

Moonlight stretched the shadows of three people across the courtyard ground. The vast blue sky stretched endlessly above, while silver frost flowed like light through the garden.

They walked in one direction with urgent steps until finally one stopped and addressed the man to his right: “Senior Brother, please forgive Zhaoting’s presumption, but why didn’t you stop Magistrate Huang earlier?”

“Oh, Zhaoting indeed saw through it.”

The man he questioned was Quan Feitong, who touched his forehead and smiled: “From the moment Huo Chang’an arrived, this small round was decided. There’s a saying – releasing the tiger back to the mountain. Once Lian Yu left, it’s impossible for Huang Tianba to catch him. He only needs to take the route to Magistrate Meng Qiao in Zuoning Prefecture while sending others to Jing County to transfer some frontier garrison troops. No matter how fierce Huang Tianba is, he can no longer shake Lian Yu in the slightest.”

“Yes, so Zhaoting is puzzled why Senior Brother didn’t speak plainly to Huang Tianba, yet allowed him to send people to intercept Lian Yu?”

Chao Huang spoke up, laughing: “Minister Li, that Huang Tianba is now a discarded piece. Senior Brother once told me that if he could accomplish this deed, his future prospects would be limitless; now that he’s failed, to my elder brother, he becomes a tool for intensifying court ministers’ dissatisfaction with the Emperor.”

Hearing this, Li Zhaoting trembled slightly. This was Quan Feitong’s true intention.

If this affair succeeded, the entire Great Zhou would be turned upside down; if not, at least it deepened the rift between court veterans and Lian Yu. With Huang Tianba pressing again and again, how could Lian Yu be easily provoked? Once he had sufficient military force and grew angry enough to capture and kill Huang Tianba, Huang Zhongyue would certainly be furious. If Lian Yu wanted to bring down Huang Zhongyue, he would inevitably make all the court’s veteran ministers fearful…

He smiled inwardly: Well played, Senior Brother.

At this moment, Quan Feitong said “We’re here.”

They had reached his room.

Pushing the door open, Li Zhaoting saw a room in complete disarray with ink stains and waste paper everywhere.

“What happened here?”

“After I discovered Li Huaisu was impersonating a Huang manor maid, I confined her here. You should understand that girl’s temperament – she nearly turned this place upside down for me.”

Hearing him say he’d confined her in his room, Li Zhaoting couldn’t help frowning in surprise, then quickly said: “She’s always been as unruly as a wild monkey. Senior Brother needn’t lower himself to her level.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t lower myself to her level? Is that why you felt at ease leaving her to me this evening and taking Shuangcheng away first?”

Li Zhaoting tensed slightly, but his face showed no hesitation: “If she committed any offense or hindered Senior Brother in any way, Senior Brother need not… show mercy. Zhaoting dares not object.”

“Then I’ll inform you – I truly don’t plan to show her mercy.”

Quan Feitong’s gaze darkened slightly. Li Zhaoting’s heart chilled. He had made up his mind not to concern himself with that woman’s affairs anymore… but he couldn’t help listening intently and asked: “Because she disguised herself as a maid to enter the manor and steal secrets?”

“No.” Quan Feitong surveyed the room full of paper scraps torn to shreds by Suzhen. “It’s because of Huo Chang’an. Lian Yu could escape today because of her.”

Chao Huang was also stunned. After Li Zhaoting’s initial shock, his hand in his sleeve curled and clenched. Finally, he slowly smiled and asked: “Senior Brother, how so?”

“Do you remember her telling Lian Yu and the others that she had Shuangcheng find Huo Chang’an?”

Li Zhaoting’s gaze revealed some cold, dark depths: “Does Senior Brother believe her words?”

“It’s not about believing or not believing, but the fact is… when I went there with her, you saw clearly too – she did hit the Princess, correct?”

“Yes!”

“Because she calculated that Shuangcheng would persuade me to release Lian Xin. Seeing Shuangcheng’s expression toward Lian Xin, she knew Gu Shuangcheng would definitely find a way to save Lian Xin.”

“This girl had a paper note hidden in her hand early on.”

Hearing Quan Feitong’s low laugh, Li Zhaoting and Chao Huang, looking at the room full of torn paper and scattered ink, both instantly understood.

When alone, she had secretly used the room’s writing materials to write something, such as: Huo Chang’an’s location, that Lian Yu would face assassination, pleading for Huo Chang’an to quickly come to Huang Manor to protect the Emperor.

Fearing that using the writing materials would arouse Quan Feitong’s suspicion, she deliberately scribbled everywhere to divert their attention while secretly hiding away the note she’d written.

Unable to leave herself, she constantly waited for an opportunity – even finding a single servant or maid in the manor to deliver this message would do. Of course, the manor’s people would almost never help her, but she kept waiting for a chance.

When she saw Gu Shuangcheng, she knew the opportunity had come.

She hit Lian Xin.

The moment Shuangcheng stopped her, she slipped the note hidden in her sleeve into Shuangcheng’s hand.

Why would Shuangcheng lie? Did she truly love Lian Yu this much? Li Zhaoting curved his lips, then suddenly remembered many years ago when someone had earnestly told him: “Zhaoting, let me recommend someone to you – having her as your bride would be most suitable.”

He had been reading then and, feeling somewhat annoyed, still put down his book and asked with a smile: “Who?”

Knowing the answer already.

“Me!”

“Oh, why?”

“Because Father says I’m very smart and worthy of you.”

Quan Feitong seemed to notice his thoughtful frown and reminded: “Zhaoting, you’re not pleading for her anymore?”

Li Zhaoting looked back and slightly shook his head with proper courtesy.

“Then if I move against her, it will have nothing to do with you from now on.” Quan Feitong swept the remaining papers off the desk with his sleeve.

On the floor, papers scattered everywhere with “treacherous ministers and rebels” written on them, the handwriting quite smugly defiant.

Inside Returning Snow Courtyard, Suzhen followed the man in, immediately hiding behind a pillar in the inner corridor by the gate, peering out secretly.

But this man had none of the awareness a flower thief should have – he strolled leisurely, completely at ease. He soon stood before the main room door and raised his hand to knock.

“Who is it?”

A clear, gentle female voice came from inside.

Suzhen gasped – this was… Wuyan’s room?

“Me, Huo Chang’an.”

As the man answered, the room fell silent for a moment, then candlelight lit up. Before the window gauze could outline the woman’s graceful silhouette, the person inside had quickly opened the door.

A fully dressed Wei Wuyan appeared before Huo Chang’an. In the clear moonlight, Wuyan’s face was also cold and clear as she stared at the man before her, her eyes full of thick wariness: “What are you doing here?”

“What do you think I’m doing here, Wei Wuyan?”

“After you married Lian Yu, you hid away in the palace. Every time I entered the palace to pay respects to my aunt, I could only watch you from afar, but I still entered the palace to pay respects to my aunt at intervals. Do you know why?”

Huo Chang’an stood with his back to her. Suzhen couldn’t see his current expression but could hear the dark danger in his voice.

Though Huo Chang’an had once told her that Wuyan married Lian Yu because of a falling out with him, and that the person in Wuyan’s heart was him, this was someone else’s place, and at this time when dawn was approaching, for a man and woman to be alone together – with Wuyan being Lian Yu’s consort – being seen would be serious trouble…

Should she step forward to stop them and have them arrange another time to talk, or should she pretend she saw nothing and quietly leave?

As she worried, she saw Huo Chang’an seemed to hear some sound, his head turning slightly – Suzhen was startled. Had she been discovered? This man was a general with strong martial arts. Just as this thought flashed through her mind, a dark wind brushed her cheek, followed by a hand forcefully covering her mouth and nose…

After Huo Chang’an’s series of questions, Wei Wuyan felt inexplicably blocked and stuffy. Seeing Huo Chang’an’s gaze suddenly move, she became even more guarded, but he pulled her by the waist and pushed her into the room.

Wuyan was shocked. He released her, turned to shut the door tightly, then coldly surveyed the room.

This was a room for a lady – soft, fragrant furniture, tea sets and calligraphy, incense burners burning fragrance, flowing darkly in the air.

“Such nice fragrance…” He moved his nostrils twice, curved his lips, his dark eyes revealing some wickedness.

Wuyan trembled all over from his provocation: “Huo Chang’an, what do you mean by this? Get out, get out now!”

“What if I don’t leave? Wei Wuyan, can’t you understand what I said earlier?” Huo Chang’an looked at her leisurely. “Besides, at the inn, you promised me something. Have you forgotten?”

His voice trailing off, he took a large step and was already close to her.

Wuyan’s heart shook violently, her face turning pale. Yes, she had promised him something.

At that time, when Gu Shuangcheng came to the inn begging him to save Lian Yu, saying she couldn’t explain everything clearly but pleading for Huo Chang’an to go to Huang Manor to save Lian Yu.

After hearing this, Huo Chang’an smiled. He didn’t immediately agree but drew her aside: “I can save Lian Yu, but you need to promise me one thing.”

Already frantic with worry for Lian Yu’s safety, though she hated his opportunism, she still agreed: “Fine, tell me.”

Huo Chang’an actually paused, a glimmer of light slowly flowing in his eyes, deep and unfathomable. Finally, he stared at her and said softly: “You don’t even know what it is, yet you dare promise me?”

She looked at him coldly: “Tell me, as long as you’re willing to help. Whether you want me as slave or servant, or my life – anything!”

“Slave or servant? What would I want you as slave or servant for? Doesn’t the Huo Manor have servants?” Huo Chang’an said word by word: “I want you to spend one night with me.”