Lian Yu was a usurper, while Quan Feitong was the one trying to restore order? As if all her beliefs were instantly overturned, that feeling made her body ice-cold, her feet feeling as if stepping in wet, clammy shoes… Suzhen gritted her teeth: “Let me go. Don’t think I’ll believe your one-sided words.”

“I see that in your case work and investigations, you pursue the path of good and evil recognized by most people in this world. Lian Yu’s regicide and usurpation has already violated natural law. If you don’t believe me, you can go investigate and see whether I’m lying. Perhaps you can really uncover the truth.”

Quan Feitong slowly released her but still looked deeply at her: “Like what I told Seventh Prince – I’m waiting for you to come find me. It’s just that between you and me, besides official business, there’s also a ‘personal’ element.”

Suzhen turned to leave. Her emotions were turbulent – Quan Feitong’s words had undoubtedly hit her vulnerable spots, but how could she let him defeat her like this? She turned back with a smile: “Prime Minister, since you know my background, you should know I came to overturn a case. What does worldly justice have to do with me?”

“If you had no sense of justice in your heart, you wouldn’t have fallen out with Lian Yu. You clearly knew Lian Yu’s favor would make your work twice as effective, but you didn’t want to get involved in his harem struggles. You didn’t want to sell your soul just to overturn a case.”

The man’s long, narrow eyes slightly squinted, like a fox king who had experienced all the world’s romance, probing straight to her deepest heart.

Outside the window, the bright moon and clear breeze, the blue sky like crystal. He stood by the window in flowing white robes like rippling waves, his gaze containing both wickedness and deep wisdom, all focused on her. It was an invitation – an invitation to stand shoulder to shoulder.

He could see her thoughts so clearly. For a moment she seemed bewitched, actually stepping forward. Quan Feitong looked at her, and in the depths of his gaze, he couldn’t help showing a rare trace of tenderness: “You once asked me if I dared marry you as a proper wife. I said then, as long as you dared marry me. Li Huaisu, do you dare? Forget about marriage – if you’re willing to treat me sincerely, I’ll do everything to help you overturn your case.”

This seemed like the most beautiful love words in the world, yet Suzhen suddenly stopped and asked: “Third Brother, what do you like about me?”

“Perhaps that you’re bold and spirited enough, strange enough – that a woman would dare come to the capital to take the imperial examinations.” Quan Feitong’s voice was slightly husky. Finally, he spread his hands: “Who knows? Love affairs in this world have nothing to do with romance – where do all these reasons come from?”

“I was just forced by circumstances. His Majesty also said many people could do what I did. Look – Wei Wuyan, Gu Shuangcheng, Miss Miao… Li Zhaoting sees this very clearly.” Suzhen suddenly smiled, saying softly: “Prime Minister, after these ladies resolve Huang Tianba’s case, see if your mind changes.”

Quan Feitong was slightly stunned, watching her walk quickly away. Outside the door, Chao Huang entered.

Quan Feitong stood by the window, watching Suzhen’s figure disappear down the long street, speaking coolly: “Any news from Master Wuliang’s side?”

Chao Huang smiled as he reported: “Big Brother’s divine calculations were correct. As Big Brother predicted, Lian Yu guessed I would definitely come here with you. He didn’t expose this but has been having people secretly monitor my situation. But at the critical moment, seeing you take Li Huaisu away, his people still followed to this area and are nearby. I just successfully made contact with Master Wuliang’s people – we’re still meeting here, just waiting for Master Wuliang to arrive in a couple days so Big Brother can befriend and negotiate with him. His two disciples committed a major crime this time. Though he has hostages, he needs someone to mediate with the emperor. Since Big Brother both contends with Lian Yu daily and is a pillar minister of the Great Zhou, he naturally understands Big Brother is most suitable. And if Big Brother makes this friend and gains his assistance, it will be like adding wings to a tiger in the future.”

“This time, Big Brother achieved multiple goals with one arrow – not only allowing Chao Huang to meet smoothly with those people, but having Seventh Prince discover Big Brother with Li Huaisu together, how could he not tell Lian Yu? Whether ruler-minister or romantic relationship between these two, it’s finished now. And meeting with Seventh Prince at this time inevitably makes Lian Yu suspicious, creating discord with Seventh Prince, and vice versa. This patricide and throne usurpation, plus the previous General Liu who supported him being sentenced by Lian Yu to complete family execution – with these new grudges and old hatreds, though he says he doesn’t believe it, the hatred has already taken root. Given time, when their discord grows, why worry he won’t come?”

“Mm.”

Chao Huang saw Quan Feitong smile slightly, but his gaze was deep and unclear, seeming to have other concerns. He hesitated slightly before asking: “Big Brother, regarding Li Huaisu, are you really…”

Are you just using her or have you truly developed feelings…

But Quan Feitong interrupted him: “She asked what I like about her. Chao Huang, tell me – if someone other than her solves this case, would I abandon these feelings?”

Chao Huang was stunned and suddenly didn’t know how to answer.

When Lian Jie returned to the courier station, servants said Lian Yu had gone to Consort Wei’s quarters. He hesitated briefly before going to request an audience.

Some guards were stationed outside the courtyard gate. Xuanwu went to report, asking him to wait briefly. He stood and looked – Lian Yu seemed to have just arrived and hadn’t gone in yet, talking with Wuyan in the courtyard. He stood rather far away and couldn’t hear what they were saying.

But Wuyan facing Lian Yu could hear clearly. Lian Yu asked her what entanglement she had with Li Huaisu and why they had quarreled today. His gentle attitude was completely different from when he had scolded Li Huaisu earlier.

She was grateful in her heart but also suddenly tense. After brief consideration, she still told Lian Yu everything about her relationship with Suzhen, including how she had asked Huo Chang’an for help when Suzhen first came to the capital.

Lian Yu listened quietly, occasionally responding with “Mm.”

When it came to the source of their conflict, Wuyan gradually fell silent. She really didn’t know how to tell Lian Yu that she had feelings for him first, yet Suzhen had come between them. Because of A Luo, he always treated her respectfully, giving her full face. He often spent nights in her quarters, but always slept respectfully on the couch.

She didn’t know what he was thinking, just as he didn’t know she had once considered spending her life with him.

But if she made this clear now and he was concerned about A Luo, or perhaps he had no such intentions, then they might not even be able to remain close friends…

“My conflict with her was because I discovered some character issues with her. She’s not actually what I thought – for the sake of profit, she could disregard our friendship. So later I gradually distanced myself from her, but she clearly didn’t want this. Perhaps because I’m ultimately an imperial consort and could still benefit her in the future.” Finally, she chose to reveal the essence of the matter while keeping the specifics vague: “Sixth Young Master, I’m sorry. I don’t want to discuss details. I…”

Lian Yu’s gaze was gentle: “If you don’t want to say, that’s fine. I promised A Luo to take good care of you and never force you to do things you don’t want to do.”

A Luo… Wuyan smiled bitterly. Lian Yu was perceptive – he immediately read her feelings from her eyes. He reached out to pat her shoulder: “It’s my fault. You and I are close friends. Even without A Luo, I would help you.”

The warmth from his touch and his invisible strength moved Wuyan, making her feel mixed emotions of joy and bitterness. He undoubtedly valued and cherished her, but he drew clear lines around these feelings. Because of A Luo, would he never cross boundaries with her? What was he really thinking? Yet his fondness for Huaisu was also real. After all, Huaisu wasn’t anyone to A Luo.

In this lifetime, she always worried too much. Otherwise, perhaps things wouldn’t be as they are now.

“From Li Huaisu’s words earlier, it sounded to everyone as if I had done something to make things difficult for her. Wuyan may not be as straightforward as A Luo was, but I have my own principles. I wouldn’t do such things. Sixth Young Master, please believe me.”

Lian Yu released his hand and nodded slightly: “We’ve been friends for many years – I naturally trust your character. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have helped you just now. This Li Huaisu really is…”

Really is what? He suddenly stopped speaking. Wuyan only saw his eyelashes lower slightly, casting heavy shadows on his face.

He helped adjust her somewhat loose cloak: “Wuyan, I won’t rest in your quarters tonight. There are some matters with Seventh Brother. Rest early.”

He instructed Xiang’er nearby to serve Your Ladyship well. After finishing his instructions, he left.

Xiang’er said happily: “Miss, His Majesty truly treats you well. Given time, certainly…”

The maid covered her mouth and laughed, then helped support her: “It’s late at night – be careful of catching cold. Miss, let’s go inside.”

But she gently broke free, gazing at Lian Yu walking away with Lian Jie for a long time without moving.

The longing in her eyes was completely captured by the man on the rooftop. He observed so solemnly and seriously, not even blinking once, so that his eyes now ached slightly.

He suddenly clenched his fists, with such force that his bones and flesh seemed about to crack. He wanted to leap down but ultimately stopped himself. Their love was just like this – like falling flowers and flowing water. The falling flowers have intention, but the flowing water is heartless. The young man has dreams, but the goddess is indifferent.

The two walked quickly through the courtyard. Lian Yu almost immediately asked: “My people didn’t dare follow too closely. What game is Quan Feitong playing now?”

After a pause, he asked coolly: “Did that Li Huaisu enjoy her drinking?”

“Quan Feitong…” The matter of regicide and usurpation almost spilled from Lian Jie’s lips, but reason told him – if it were true, would Lian Yu admit it? If false, could his tone really remain unsuspicious and unworried? Lian Yu’s eyes were sharp – if he saw suspicion in him, this one question might create lasting discord between the brothers. Even between brothers, serving the ruler was like serving a tiger. He answered carefully: “He sought me out to find a witness to relay words to you. Li Huaisu and he… have some entanglement, and this is indeed fact. When I arrived, they were… being intimate. This younger brother was incompetent – I intended to take Li Huaisu away, but she was unwilling. In my anger, I stopped bothering with her.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he discovered Lian Yu had already vanished.