When Lian Yu went to Lian Xin’s room, she had already fallen asleep.

Lian Yue had also returned. Lian Jie spread his hands helplessly: “Used some medicine to make this little ancestor sleep directly. She kept making a fuss after returning, saying she wanted to save Li Huaisu’s guard, shouting until I wanted to die. From childhood to adulthood, when has she ever worried about anyone? Even you and I don’t have this blessing. She also said Wuqing was injured earlier and bled a lot, that he might die. It’s all her fault. That Wuqing must have been injured protecting her, but the responsibility isn’t entirely hers.”

“And there’s me – I’m closest to her, and look what’s become of this,” Lian Qin was also full of sour complaints. Thinking of something, he winked at Lian Jie: “Seventh Brother, you’re jealous, aren’t you? Just rest assured – Lian Xin, this troublemaker, has everything except sense. She’s just attracted to novelty. Do you think she’d really fall for a lowly guard? A few days ago she was infatuated with that Li Huaisu boy, and now isn’t she also…”

Speaking, he remembered Li Huaisu had recently touched the dragon’s whiskers, glanced at Lian Yu, and quickly fell silent.

Lian Yu made no comment, tucking in Lian Xin’s covers. The three went outside under the moonlight. Yan Da and Si Lanfeng waited at the door. Lian Jie couldn’t help frowning again: “Sixth Brother, this Minshan affair is getting more troublesome. What do you think we should do?”

His eyes turned cold with a sneer: “Last time Mao Hui and Yu Jinglun injured you while masked – it was just inconvenient to make an issue of it openly. This time they dared harm Xin’er again. Sooner or later I’ll skin them alive!”

“Mm, but for now, let’s rescue the people first. We’ll definitely deal with them, but there’s no rush.”

Seeing the situation, Si Lanfeng stepped forward: “Your Majesty, regarding Magistrate Huang’s case… does Your Majesty have any good strategy? After all, Your Majesty cannot stay here long-term and needs to return to the capital to handle court affairs.”

“This humble minister sees that Your Majesty’s secret arrangements in the previous case of Young Master Wei were quite ingenious. I imagine Your Majesty already has some plans for this case?” Si Lanfeng lowered his head and probed tentatively.

Lian Yu glanced at him: “This matter has reached the point where the mountains and rivers seem to end, with no path forward. Let’s first see how Princess Imperial and the others manage things. You and Minister Yan should provide all assistance at any time. Beyond this, I truly have no strategy yet.”

“Yes, this minister obeys. Some things truly are beyond human power,” Si Lanfeng knew when to advance and retreat. He first probed for Lian Yu’s countermeasures to inform Li Zhaoting, but was also careful – if Lian Yu had no strategy, he was cautious not to speak too definitively, lest Lian Yu find it difficult to back down, even if only his trusted subordinates were present!

Minister Yan also frowned deeply, answering earnestly: “Your Majesty, rest assured – this old minister will certainly do his utmost.”

He was about to take leave when he hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping. Lian Yu saw this and said: “Minister may speak freely.”

“This old minister is being presumptuous. This concerns Your Majesty’s family affairs, but now… Li Huaisu is still in court. This old minister believes this person is cunning and clever, a rare talent, but regrettably has a female body and willful, unpredictable temperament. Your Majesty should not take her as consort, and should quickly remove this official position to avoid future troubles…”

He spoke with unusually serious solemnity. Lian Yu smiled slightly without speaking.

Yan Da’s heart sank.

Seeing this, everyone knew trouble was brewing. Today at the brothel entrance, Lian Yu was already displeased! Lian Jie received eye signals from Xuanwu and others, feeling somewhat resentful – why was it always him? If little eunuch Ming Yan hadn’t already returned to the palace to report safety to the Empress Dowager, this task should have been his. He smiled and said: “Currently the case is still most important. Sixth Brother, in this minister’s view, we should summon Li Huaisu to discuss the case. After all, we can’t have only Minister Yan and us working hard while he enjoys leisure.”

Lian Yu stepped forward to help Yan Da up, still making no comment. Lian Jie and others quickly took leave from his presence.

Perhaps not speaking was just willing acquiescence.

Only acquiescence was possible.

Pride is an emperor’s insignia.

Returning from Wuyan’s place, Suzhen sat down to wait for news from Leng Xue or others about Wuqing and that duplicitous Little Zhou.

The Feng family case, her deceased parents and brother, the death row prisoners currently in Huang residence’s jail, her promise to Wuyan… she knew what this promise entailed, and she bent over in pain.

“Court Judge Li, it’s me, Seventh Prince.”

A voice suddenly came from outside the door. She wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve and went to open the door, seeing Lian Jie and Lian Qin standing at the entrance, with Xuanwu and two others standing stiffly like door gods in the distance.

“Does Seventh Prince have news of Wuqing and the others?” She was delighted and blurted out.

Lian Jie shook his head, his eyes showing a hint of sternness. Being looked at this way by him, Suzhen involuntarily stepped back, watching him warily.

“I came to tell you three things. First, Sixth Brother said that no matter what, we must first exchange Wuqing and Little Zhou back. The crime of Mao and Yu injuring him will be set aside for now. The first reason is naturally for Xin’er, and for whom the second reason is – I think I needn’t say. And actually, when Xin’er had trouble, why were Wuqing and Little Zhou able to rescue her timely? I’m afraid no one knows this better than you. But Sixth Brother hasn’t pursued it, hasn’t even mentioned it once. Second, we all hope he won’t take you as consort in the future – he hasn’t agreed. Third, regarding Magistrate Huang’s case, perhaps you should go discuss it with His Majesty.”

Suzhen hadn’t expected him to drop these words and leave with his people. Even Lian Qin gave her a fierce look before leaving.

Without Lian Jie saying it, Suzhen understood the meaning of the third matter.

She stepped forward, then after a while, stepped back again.

That night, frost covered the sky. Commander Shao and Huo Chang’an’s soldiers stood guard, with Xuanwu and the other two also taking shifts. Xuanwu was responsible for the first half of the night and saw Lian Yu wearing a fur robe, standing outside the whole time. Only when Qinglong and Baihu came to relieve him did he finally go inside to lie down.

The next day, when Suzhen got up, she discovered Leng Xue had returned sometime, sleeping on a floor mat beside her bed. Almost as soon as she sat up, he opened his eyes and woke.

“I came back late last night, so I didn’t wake you.”

Leng Xue talked to her while putting on his outer robe.

Suzhen knew he must have returned very late, because she only closed her eyes at the third or fourth watch. She had a dream where Lian Yu held Wuyan’s hand walking toward the imperial city while she watched from behind, standing for a very long time.

“Minister Li, Miss Miao asks this humble person to invite you, saying there are matters to discuss.”

A servant suddenly came to report outside the door. Suzhen was puzzled – what did Miao Yin want with her?

The servant saw her come out with Leng Xue and quickly said: “Miss said to invite only Minister Li alone.”

Suzhen and Leng Xue exchanged glances, and Suzhen followed the servant away.

Arriving at the courtyard in front of Miao Yin’s room, Suzhen discovered Miao Yin had quite a few guests. Tables, chairs, and refreshments were prepared in the courtyard, with Lian Yue, Lian Xin, and Wuyan sitting among them. She greeted Suzhen, then smiled and said: “There are still guests coming – everyone please wait a moment.”

More people? What exactly was Miao Yin up to? Suzhen sat down. The three women each had their own concerns and had nothing to say for the moment. Lian Xin had been drinking tea with her head down, but when she came over, she suddenly looked up wanting to say something. But she quickly lowered her head again. Suzhen only caught sight of her somewhat pale face and those unusually bright eyes – without the former petulance, somewhat listless instead.

She was rather puzzled. She knew Lian Xin was worried about Wuqing, but felt it didn’t make sense. If it were another guard who went to save her and died in service, to her it would just be eating the ruler’s salary and being loyal to the ruler’s worries. Moreover, this was Wuqing, whom she had always detested. Wuqing was also her guard – hating the house and its crow would be natural.

In her account to everyone, the whole narrative was also fragmented. She only said she was drinking at the brothel, then encountered the madam detaining her, Mao Hui and the others came seeking pleasure… later, Wuqing and Little Zhou appeared and saved her. She didn’t explain why Wuqing and Little Zhou were there. She didn’t say much about other matters either.

Lian Yu and others also considered this sister’s feelings. Seeing she was unwilling to elaborate, they didn’t press for details.

Anyway, that Wuqing went there because Lian Jie’s words had already revealed the mystery – she had sent him to follow, harboring resentment toward Lian Xin.

As she pondered this, she saw Wuyan and Shuangcheng being led in by servants.

Her doubts deepened. Wuyan glanced at everyone, her expression changing slightly, while Shuangcheng’s gaze was steady, seeming to understand something. Miao Yin again seated the two and had maids serve tea.

Soon, amid scolding servants for waking her too early, Murong Xi was the last to arrive.

A garden full of women.

Murong Xi covered her lips with her hand and lazily yawned: “Miss Miao, what act are you performing? Gathering everyone together – do you have business?”

After she finished speaking, everyone looked toward Miao Yin.

Miao Yin unhurriedly bowed to all the women, then smiled and replied: “My apologies for the disturbance. I’ve gathered everyone because of Magistrate Huang’s case.”

Looking around, Suzhen immediately understood – everyone here had been designated by Xiao’an to handle the case.

With everyone having different thoughts, the small courtyard suddenly became like a sharp examination hall.

Lian Yue, seeing the delicate atmosphere, spoke to warm the scene: “Yesterday brought unexpected complications. Today we should act separately. Miss, this is…”

“I imagine everyone has privately received hints. For this case, the Empress Dowager privately expressed hope that it would be handled by Miao Yin. Princess Imperial knows this,” Miao Yin straightened her expression, her gaze slowly sweeping over everyone. “But if it’s like this, even if Miao Yin wins, it would be an undeserved victory. In my view, this competition should still proceed in secret, deciding victory and defeat. What do you all think?”