“Greetings to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!”

The three women paid their respects to Lian Yu. He personally helped Princess Imperial Lian Yue to her feet, maintaining proper etiquette, then said to Murong Xi and Miao Yin: “Rise.”

Everyone else paid their respects to Lian Yue and Murong Xi.

Murong Xi walked to Lian Yu’s side and smiled charmingly: “Your Majesty.”

“How did Xi’er come here with Imperial Sister and Miss Miao?” Lian Yu asked her, but glanced coolly at Lian Xin.

Lian Xin was startled and guiltily shrank behind Lian Yue. Lian Yue laughed: “Xin’er said she was bored and wrote a letter back to the palace. Xi’er missed you, and seeing Chang’an was here, Miss Miao also wanted to see the Great Zhou’s rivers and mountains. After asking the Empress Dowager’s permission, we came together under the Imperial Guard’s protection. It seems we arrived at just the right time, during important business. Your Majesty, please don’t blame us for being burdensome.”

Lian Yu looked at her and said: “What words are these, Imperial Sister? Your coming brings me joy and welcome. However, toward some people, I will never… like them again.”

Though his lips still bore a smile, Lian Xin’s face turned deathly pale, clear fear reflected in her eyes.

This was the first time Suzhen had seen Lian Xin like this. She sighed inwardly, but when her gaze turned, she suddenly saw Murong Xi intimately linking arms with Lian Yu, who gently patted her hand. She immediately felt as if something sharp had pierced her heart.

Lian Yu exchanged a few pleasantries with Miao Yin before looking toward Huang Tianba and the yamen secretary.

Miao Yin was a clever woman and naturally understood he wanted to conduct business. She smiled slightly: “There is indeed a matter to report to Your Majesty, related to Magistrate Huang’s case.”

As she spoke, she unfolded the yellow silk in her hand. The silk bore a phoenix totem, and everyone could clearly see it was an imperial edict.

The Empress Dowager Xiao’an had sent an edict?

Then the arrival of these three women was probably not coincidental, but had another purpose.

But how could this edict be in Miao Yin’s hands? This Miss Miao was a minister’s daughter from a neighboring country!

Seeing one wave barely settled before another arose, everyone’s hearts tensed.

Lian Jie seized the opportunity to ask: “May I know what edict the Empress Dowager has sent?”

Lian Yue glanced at Huo Chang’an and said: “Indeed, the Empress Dowager has sent an edict. Let Miss Miao proclaim it.”

Suzhen instinctively looked at Wuyan, whose brow furrowed, but she maintained a faint smile throughout, with dark circles under her eyes that pained Suzhen to see.

Huo Chang’an seemed oblivious, walking directly to Lian Yue’s side. Lian Yue leaned against him, and the two, in perfect harmony, he reached out to embrace her.

At this moment, Lian Qin blurted out, voicing everyone’s doubt: “How is it that Miss Miao is proclaiming this imperial edict?”

Seeing everyone’s suspicious expressions, Lian Yue smiled: “The Empress Dowager sees that Your Majesty and Miss Miao are harmonious and close, and intends to bestow a marriage. This edict was personally given to Miss Miao by the Empress Dowager. We’re all family – there’s nothing improper about who proclaims it.”

Everyone was shocked to hear this, and even Lian Yu’s expression changed slightly. Suzhen was stunned, hearing Wuyan suddenly whisper behind her: “By announcing this publicly, Lian Yue has made it difficult for His Majesty to refuse in the future. Otherwise, where would the Empress Dowager’s and Miss Miao’s dignity be placed?”

Once again, Suzhen deeply appreciated the formidable minds of the Great Zhou’s imperial women, from the Empress Dowager to Lian Yue, and even… Wuyan.

“Thank you, sister.”

She also lowered her voice to reply, but heard Wuyan say coldly: “I am not your sister.”

At this moment, Miao Yin looked at Lian Yu, broke open the yellow silk seal, slowly unfolded the edict in her hand, composed her expression solemnly, and read: “Whereas the case of Minshan Prefecture Magistrate Huang Tianba concerns the state and involves the court and people, shocking all above and below. Previously, the Son of Heaven intended to establish a women’s imperial examination, which would truly be an unprecedented initiative in the Great Zhou. Now, talented women from all circuits are ordered to assist in investigating this case. If any achieve breakthrough, then the women’s examination shall be established with merit, and it will also correct public opinion…”

Next, Miao Yin read a list of names of those assisting with the case, from Lian Yue and Murong Xi, to herself, Lian Xin, then Wei Wuyan, and finally, Shuangcheng was also included.

At the end of the edict, it requested the Son of Heaven’s approval.

When the edict was finished, everyone in the prison was shocked. No one had expected this iron-blooded Empress Dowager to issue such an order. What was she thinking? What move was she planning? Was she helping the Son of Heaven or did she have other intentions?

Quan Feitong and Li Zhaoting exchanged glances. Quan Feitong’s brow furrowed slightly, seemingly pondering something. Clearly, even this Prime Minister was not without being shaken.

Li Zhaoting nudged his sleeve and spoke: “Your Majesty’s grand vision, the Empress Dowager’s magnificent spirit – caring for family and country, weaving the great rivers and mountains is not solely for men! This humble minister respectfully follows the Empress Dowager’s edict.”

Quan Feitong’s eyebrows moved, then he too smiled slightly: “Minister Li speaks reasonably.”

After speaking, he looked at Lian Yu without a trace of provocation in his words, yet it was a kind of invisible challenge and pressure.

Lian Yu remained silent for a long time, his eyes changing. Yan Da, Lian Jie, Lian Qin, Si Lanfeng and others all watched him, waiting for his command – to accept or… refuse! The Empress Dowager said: Request the Son of Heaven’s approval.

Moreover, the edict mentioned that all the women were shocked. The edict had been sealed beforehand – privately reading it was a capital offense. Before Miao Yin read it, no one knew what it contained, including Miao Yin herself.

After a long while, Lian Yu suddenly glanced at Li Zhaoting, raised his eyebrows slightly, and said: “Minister Li also has good spirit, always surprising me. Court Judge Li, since I have already ordered you to thoroughly investigate this case, the case shall still be handled by you. At the same time, since the Empress Dowager has specially authorized these ladies to assist in the investigation, you shall all receive the same authority as Li Huaisu. The yamen runners here may be freely deployed for investigative use.”

“I hope you will not disappoint the Empress Dowager and me. Whoever can solve this case shall be richly rewarded!”

“Thank Your Majesty.”

Though the women were variously surprised or pleased inwardly, they responded in unison. These women were all from extraordinary families – this response showed bearing that matched any man’s.

Lian Yue looked toward Wuyan and said word by word with a smile: “Please enlighten me.”

Wuyan stepped forward, returned the courtesy, her eyes extremely bright: “I dare not presume, but Wuyan shall certainly give her utmost effort.”

Lian Yue nodded, her eyes sweeping toward Huo Chang’an, her expression charming: “Husband, they are all formidable people. Do you think Lian Yue has a chance?”

Huo Chang’an held her tighter, his phoenix eyes slightly raised, smiling: “If you cannot succeed, who else could win? All my subordinates are at your disposal.”

Lian Yue’s complexion became even more radiant as she smiled and thanked him.

Wuyan was also smiling.

But Suzhen felt Wuyan’s smile seemed like crying, though she had no time to look closely. Ahead, Lian Xin, Murong Xi, Miao Yin, and Shuangcheng all focused on her. Setting aside Lian Xin, she could clearly see the content in the other three’s gazes. Lian Xin’s letter must have informed the Empress Dowager of her identity secret. Needless to say, Murong Xi and Miao Yin knew.

Between her and Lian Yu… she thought it should end.

It was truly a moment of stolen pleasure – she hadn’t considered his identity much before.

He was the emperor.

He had many women.

She was just one of them.

When she was with him, she had actually forgotten his identity. Perhaps his gentle treatment made her forget that a man standing at the pinnacle of power could not possibly have only one woman – not in the past, not now, and certainly not in the future.

No matter how well he treated her, it was temporary.

She had asked him if he would kill her.

He said it depended on whether she could be replaced.

Here, not to mention Murong Xi, that pampered young lady who was his childhood sweetheart, both Shuangcheng and Miao Yin were women of outstanding talent. If she failed this time, losing to Shuangcheng or Miao Yin… would she still be someone he loved?

“Li Huaisu, answer me!”

She frowned tightly and suddenly heard a stern voice. Startled, she saw everyone looking at her, with Lian Yu staring at her intently in the center. Right, everyone had responded except her…

Behind her, the old man’s low coughing made the string in her heart, already taut, tighten further.

Her identity was no longer secret. Quan Feitong wanted to exploit this, but Lian Yu had previously said that if she couldn’t handle this case well, he would dismiss her from office. Lian Yu assigning the case to her had ulterior motives – he wanted her to fail, to strip her of office. From then on, there would be no more Li Huaisu in the world. Lian Yu would find a way to bring her into the palace under another identity.

But if that happened, how could she overturn the Feng family’s case?

Now, there was the additional challenge of these women before her.

Lian Yu liked her, perhaps because she wasn’t stupid. But if Lian Yu saw that she could indeed be defeated, that her intelligence was inferior to others, would he still like her?

She didn’t know what Empress Dowager Xiao’an was calculating, nor what these men and women before her were all calculating, but she knew she had to continue being Li Huaisu!

The old man’s coughing behind her pained her. She came from the common people. She had once watched helplessly as relatives died tragically without being able to save them. Now, she had a small measure of power in her hands. She wanted to overturn the cases of these people behind her. Lian Yu said there would be rewards for this case – she wanted to win that reward to overturn the Feng family’s case.

She didn’t want to be someone who could be easily replaced.

Even if she was destined to be unworthy of the current Son of Heaven.

In the moment she raised her head, she saw Shuangcheng smile faintly at her. This woman’s eyes showed wisdom and determination. She suddenly had a premonition that she would lose this case.

Her heart ached, but she slowly lifted her robes, knelt on the ground, and replied loudly: “Li Huaisu respectfully follows Your Majesty’s edict.”

Even if she was destined to lose, she would still accept the challenge!