Li Zhaoting replied softly: “We won’t disturb Prime Minister’s peace.”

“Alright.” Huo Chang’an spoke in succession, settling the matter with one word.

Everyone was quite surprised, looking at Prime Minister Quan who had just spoken. The doting affection was evident in his expression – it didn’t seem like a joke.

If she were truly a member of Quan’s faction, Suzhen had clearly been abandoned by Lian Yu now. What use would Quan Feitong have for a discarded piece? Almost everyone thought this way, then remembered his previous mention of a “concubine” – that kind of favor became rather intriguing.

Suzhen didn’t look back and couldn’t see everyone’s surprise. She also couldn’t turn back again to be laughed at. For a moment, her heart hung by a thread, waiting only to see how Lian Yu would respond to Quan Feitong.

“Li Huaisu, you want to go drinking with Prime Minister Quan?”

Lian Yu finally spoke.

He didn’t respond to Quan Feitong but asked her instead. His voice was as cold as before, even more desolate.

Suzhen took a breath and still turned around, maintaining proper etiquette as she replied: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then go.”

Though he showed no anger, his tone seemed to suppress some extremely deep emotion that made one shiver to hear.

“Thank Your Majesty.”

Quan Feitong curved his lips and quickly led her away.

Outside the courtyard gate, he found several servants in the station, instructing them to prepare a carriage while whispering some instruction to them.

Suzhen was slightly puzzled – what else had he said?

She asked Quan Feitong, who smiled: “Give me a kiss and I’ll tell you.”

Suzhen rolled her eyes: “Get lost!”

He laughed heartily, holding her hand all the way. Though Suzhen was preoccupied, this intimacy made her face red and flustered, her whole body uneasy. She struggled, but he gripped tighter.

Though he clearly didn’t know martial arts and was tall but not bulky, if one didn’t know his duplicitous nature, he would appear to be an incomparably handsome scholar. But at this moment he had the upper hand in strength. He was not a weak literati.

Being rubbed by those slightly rough hands, Suzhen finally couldn’t help saying: “Prime Minister, you can let go now.”

Quan Feitong didn’t release her, sighing slightly: “You heartless little thing – crossing the river and destroying the bridge? Don’t you want to anger Lian Yu?”

Suzhen was terrified by his words and hastily denied: “How would I dare anger His Majesty when I value my head too much?”

“You think I can’t see through that little affair between you and Lian Yu?”

Quan Feitong gave a slight cold laugh.

Suzhen saw his gaze wasn’t smiling as usual – his eyes held a trace of sinister darkness, seeming real yet false, fake yet not fake.

She felt somewhat panicked, yet didn’t know the reason for this panic. It seemed not from fearing this man’s volatile temper, but something else.

“Thank you for your assistance, Prime Minister. Huaisu will go out for a walk and bid farewell here.”

“You truly won’t give face for this cup of wine?”

Quan Feitong indeed released her. Being much taller than her, he bent down to look at her.

Suzhen was calculating inwardly – saying she wasn’t grateful for his rescue would be false, but…

Quan Feitong’s gaze darkened as he slowly said: “You’re thinking: Quan Feitong is a bad person, Quan Feitong kills without blinking, Quan Feitong isn’t worth befriending.”

“Since that’s the case, then forget it.”

He turned to leave. Suzhen’s blood surged as she immediately called out: “Third Brother, it’s my fault. Let’s go.”

She pulled out her purse from her chest, tossing it in her hand: “I’ll treat you.”

She had been raised by Minister Feng, whose nature was both righteous and wicked, so her temperament had been clever and eccentric since childhood. Only the edges had been gradually worn smooth by court life. Quan Feitong’s temperament was quite similar to her father’s, so her sense of right and wrong, good and evil was very clear. She could be friends with him, but would never condone his evil acts.

“If I find evidence of your previous murders or evidence of your plotting against His Majesty, I’ll still bring you to justice. Do you still dare drink with me? If you dare, let’s go!”

Quan Feitong looked at the spirit in her eyes, his heart stirring as he grasped her hand and lightly kissed her palm: “Would I be afraid of you? Let’s go, little ghost.”

Suzhen wasn’t inexperienced with kisses, but those had been from Lian Yu… Later this man had also taken liberties, but she had considered it his joke. Now this kiss in such a strange location made her palm slightly damp and itchy, her head buzzing as her whole face heated again.

She involuntarily stepped back two paces, but after only two steps she was swept into Quan Feitong’s embrace: “The carriage is ready – get in.”

The station servants and coachman watched Prime Minister Quan carry Court Judge Li into the carriage, all staring dumbfounded.

Suzhen felt even more unsettled by their stares.

Inside the carriage, Suzhen threw the outer robe back to Quan Feitong, said “Thanks,” and automatically rolled to one side. This time Quan Feitong made no moves, only sitting to one side smiling at her. But Suzhen felt like a rabbit being watched by a wolf.

From the courier station to the good wine house, what had taken Lian Xin considerable time on foot was reached quickly by carriage wheels. Getting off the carriage, Quan Feitong uninvitedly took Suzhen’s hand again. Suzhen glared at him, but he pretended not to see, saying: “The good wine and food I want – is your little official’s money enough to pay?”

Suzhen was startled by his bluff and quickly felt her purse – she had given all her money to the ugly girl that day, and what she had now was borrowed from Leng Xue.

Quan Feitong pinched her nose: “Kiss me once and I’ll treat you.”

Suzhen batted away his hand: “Cut it out – at worst I’ll stay and wash dishes.”

Quan Feitong was stunned, then laughed with devastating beauty.

The wine house before them was not only luxuriously decorated, but rich, mellow wine fragrance wafted from inside. Before even entering, Suzhen knew it was a good place. She greedily sniffed, and Quan Feitong, seeing her enjoyment, suddenly bent down to kiss her forehead again.

Suzhen was inevitably annoyed: “If you keep this up, I’m leaving.”

Having taken advantage, Quan Feitong nodded quite seriously.

Though it was getting late, the building was still noisy with customers – many wealthy merchants’ sons drinking and making merry, some with courtesans. Quan Feitong said to the smiling waiter who approached: “Second floor. Give me the best private room.”

The waiter looked rather troubled: “Sir, the private rooms are all full. Let me find you a good spot on the first floor.”

Quan Feitong said nothing more, directly pulling the round, heavy purse from his waist and throwing the whole thing over: “Take what you need from inside. Second floor, best room.”

Suzhen stared as dumbfounded as the previous coachman and servants: “I’ve seen extravagant people, but never someone so ‘treating money like dirt.’ Third Brother, how much did you embezzle from the people’s fat and blood?”

“I didn’t embezzle – I just occasionally do some profitable business.” Quan Feitong’s gaze was bright and compelling, his lips slightly raised.

Hearing this, Suzhen was quite surprised, but was still happy about not having to pay.

Soon the proprietor came to personally welcome them, leading her upstairs under the proprietor’s obsequious smile.

The proprietor personally served them, smiling: “What would you gentlemen like?”

“The best wine, the best dishes.” Quan Feitong was concise. The proprietor was naturally pleased: “Yes, I won’t disturb you further.”

Quan Feitong waved his hand: “Mm, go down. If anyone comes looking for me, just have them wait outside briefly.”

“Yes, I understand. The serving staff and waiters will announce visitors outside first.” The proprietor looked meaningfully at the two of them before hurrying downstairs with the waiter.

“Prime Minister, why are these two looking at us so strangely? It’s like we have something on us,” Suzhen said with some amusement, turning to Quan Feitong.

Quan Feitong’s face had been all smiles just now, but now he put it all away. Looking at her, he answered very seriously: “They either think you’re my wife or concubine in male disguise, or think we have some unusual relationship. Oh right, little ghost, I haven’t forgotten – that night at the Huang residence, you personally said you arranged for Shuangcheng to notify Huo Chang’an to rescue Lian Yu.”

Being stared at by his dark gaze, Suzhen felt weak all over. How had she forgotten she had ruined his plans before! She couldn’t help regretting – what hot blood had gone to her head to come drinking with this wolf-tiger?

She cleared her throat and laughed dryly: “Prime Minister, you’re an important person – dealing with small fry like me would be beneath your dignity. Your enemy is Lian Yu…”

She started running toward the door, but Quan Feitong had already anticipated this. As she moved, he swept his arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.

She thought he would scold or hit her, but instead he lowered his head, pried open her teeth, his lips and tongue driving straight into her mouth. She struggled desperately to avoid him, but he lifted her up with both hands and pressed her onto the table, entangling with her lips and tongue as he kissed her heavily…

Suzhen was shocked and angry, but her voice was blocked and she couldn’t push away the body pressing down on her. As she dodged left and right, Quan Feitong’s face swayed before her eyes. His gaze was deep and burning, different from usual. He seemed to be punishing her for that day’s actions, yet also not – as if he purely wanted to entangle with her like this, the same intimacy as before.

His scent was clean and pleasant, yet still made her uncomfortable…

“Sir, there’s a visitor looking for you.”

Footsteps sounded outside, and soon came the waiter’s respectful voice. After reporting, following Quan Feitong’s instructions, he said: “The gentleman inside asks the visitor to wait a moment.”

“Oh, he dares to make me wait?”

The visitor spoke coolly. The waiter seemed about to stop him, but was kicked aside as he pushed the door open forcefully.

Author’s Note: Recently everyone has been frustrated with the update speed. I’ve seen reader screenshots showing even pirate sites are cursing the update speed and author’s character… I can’t even cry about this feeling. I’ve wanted to explain several times but don’t know how. If I keep taking leave, everyone will be annoyed and still conclude it’s an attitude problem, so all I can do is stay silent.

This month’s workload has been overwhelming, plus a writing-related job. These past two days I really couldn’t hold on – last night I started coming down with a fierce cold and fever. I have to take leave in advance, fearing slow updates or breaks that could last for a while.

I also want to say that after finishing my current work, I might rewrite Legend. I had this idea before resuming updates after my hand injury, but many people advised against it, saying to resume updates quickly instead. Now, aside from character emotional development being within plan, I’m dissatisfied with many plot points including those before resuming updates. I might completely overturn and rewrite everything, which would mean another break. They say strike while the iron is hot – second time weakens, third time exhausts. The consequence of this approach is that I’m finished and everyone leaves, but I really can’t give everyone something I’m not satisfied with myself. Of course, maybe I won’t rewrite. I haven’t decided specifically yet. I know saying this now is undoubtedly asking for double criticism, so I’m planning to die thoroughly at once.