Clearly, Lian Jie was not only angry about her and Quan Feitong’s tavern affair – his mood was quite poor today.

Quan Feitong’s words had already planted shadows in his heart.

Not to mention Lian Jie – even she had various suspicions…

Of course, now wasn’t the time to think about this.

With such a big commotion, Leng Xue was staying right next door to her. There was no reason he wouldn’t hear, unless he had already gone out.

General Shao’s soldiers couldn’t be less capable than Wood Three’s people, right? She placed the blade against her neck and smiled slightly.

All the soldiers were startled. The two who had just manhandled her shouted loudly: “Stop! What are you trying to do!”

“Take me to see His Majesty, or perhaps you could find someone to ask His Majesty whether he’s willing to see me?”

“Li Huaisu, how dare you!” One squad leader angrily shouted, his eyes slightly slanted.

The soldier beside him understood, quietly moving his feet, wanting to seize her blade. But Su Zhen had anticipated this, retreated backward, and said: “If not allowed, I’ll just kill myself, saving you much trouble. Say, would His Majesty really not want to see me? But what if after I kill myself, His Majesty suddenly regrets it – I wonder if he’d find someone to vent his anger on? After all, he personally appointed me as Number One Scholar. They say the imperial heart is hard to fathom. Those serving under the Son of Heaven – today he might like them, tomorrow find them annoying, and the day after who knows, he might be pleased again…”

The two squad leaders quickly exchanged glances, both angry yet showing slight worry. One beckoned a soldier over and said quietly: “Go report to Seventh Prince first.”

How could Su Zhen let them summon Lian Jie? If Lian Jie came, this act wouldn’t fool anyone.

She almost immediately interrupted the soldier’s action to leave, saying coldly: “I’ve changed my mind. If I can’t see His Majesty right now, when you return, just prepare to collect my corpse.”

“Minister Li, everything can be discussed.”

With a trembling shout, Su Zhen smiled and followed the soldiers out.

Su Zhen had originally been full of imposing momentum, but when she saw Lian Yu again, she didn’t know what to say and hesitated, falling behind.

Ahead, Lian Yu was currently leading everyone out of the inn to the prison for inspection and interrogation. These past days, Huang Tianba still worked at the prefecture office but was strictly forbidden from entering the prison.

Speaking with Lian Yue, he inquired about Noble Consort Ai’s health – she had been living and practicing spiritual cultivation at an imperial Buddhist nunnery for years. Lian Yue answered: “By His Majesty’s great fortune, Mother Consort is well in all respects and often thinks of His Majesty.”

Quan Feitong laughed: “Noble Consort Ai is a serious person. In Sixth Young Master’s youth, he received quite a few lessons at the Noble Consort’s place. It actually fostered affection – Sixth Young Master’s concern for the Noble Consort is first-rate.”

They heard Lian Yu smile slightly: “It’s because of love that there’s strictness. I dare never forget the Noble Consort’s kindness.”

Behind them, Lian Jie’s eyelashes suddenly moved.

Murong Xin charmingly accompanied him at his side, while Wu Yan, as in the palace, stood beside Murong Xin without competing for favor. Lian Yue knew how to conduct herself and understood Xiao An’s wishes, laughing: “Your Majesty, Lian Yue thought Miss Miao was raised in luxury, but who would have thought that these past days she’s led from the front. It was Lian Yue’s shallow thinking. Here, Lian Yue apologizes to Miss Miao.”

Murong Xin, considering Lian Yue’s feelings, suppressed her voice. Miao Yin walked behind them. Seeing Lian Yue step aside, she nodded in thanks and walked to Lian Yu’s side. Lian Yu said: “Miss has worked hard.”

“Miao Yin is ashamed. Though I’ve exerted some effort, I still haven’t found the key to solving the case.”

“No matter. Haste makes waste. I should apologize – I should have properly entertained you, but now I’ve made Miss toil.”

Miao Yin knew Lian Yu wasn’t unrushed – after all, he’d been away from the capital for quite some time and needed to return to the capital quickly. Hearing his words, she felt pleased inside and said: “I’ll certainly try harder. It’s just a pity about Min Mountain’s beautiful scenery – entangled in this case, I’m afraid there’s no leisure to appreciate it.”

“The capital also has some fine places. If Miss enjoys them, after returning to the capital, I’ll personally take Miss on a proper tour as compensation.” Lian Yu smiled.

Miao Yin was overjoyed. Even this proud talented woman finally showed some bashfulness on her face. This was undoubtedly the best reward from this young monarch. She bowed to express thanks: “Miao Yin thanks His Majesty.”

Murong Xin glanced at Wu Yan, but the latter didn’t speak. She gritted her teeth and endured, but suddenly heard a cough from behind. The intimate conversation quieted, and she turned to look, seeing Shuangcheng walking behind them, covering her mouth while coughing.

She instinctively looked at Lian Yu. Lian Yu’s brow furrowed slightly as he had already turned around, and the large group accordingly followed the Son of Heaven back.

“Bai Hu, bestow clothing – take it to Miss Shuangcheng.” Lian Yu’s eyes moved, settling on Bai Hu.

Bai Hu was stunned, then silently began to remove his outer robe. But Lian Yu laughed and scolded: “I’m telling you to take my cloak over there—”

As he spoke, he loosened the cord at his neck, but everyone watched in surprise.

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t!”

Yan Da intervened. Not to mention Xuan Wu and Qing Long busily removing their outer robes, while Si Lanfeng, Li Zhaoting, and other officials of lower rank all hurriedly acted. Meng Qiao was most dramatic, already pulling open an outer robe and declaring solemnly: “Your Majesty, this humble minister fears neither cold for His Majesty’s sake, handling everything personally. Your Majesty’s precious body is worth ten thousand gold – you must take care!”

After spraying saliva everywhere, he walked to Shuangcheng’s side and offered the robe. Shuangcheng hesitated, about to politely decline, when Lian Yu smiled: “Minister Meng, I know your loyalty to the monarch and love for the country. You should wear that robe yourself. My cloak doesn’t matter. Bai Hu—”

“Yes, Master.”

Bai Hu bent to receive Lian Yu’s cloak and walked toward Shuangcheng. Shuangcheng’s gaze slightly turned away, but finally, she raised her head and slowly looked toward Lian Yu.

Lian Yu’s eyes were like lacquer as he said: “Don’t catch cold.”

Su Zhen gave a “tsk” sound and laughed, not knowing what she was laughing at, only thinking how unlucky she was to always stumble into inappropriate situations.

With complex feelings and some schadenfreude, she glanced toward Li Zhaoting’s direction. That person acted as if nothing had happened.

Fine by her.

This had nothing to do with her anyway. What use was the freedom she’d fought for? Here, the only thing she should do, the only thing she should worry about, was waiting for news of Wu Qing and Little Zhou.

She sheathed the blade and beckoned the two miserable squad leaders following her: “Work’s over. This master isn’t making threats anymore. Let’s go.”

The two men couldn’t process this and exclaimed in shock: “Minister Li, you’re making this very difficult for us. Are you going to die or not? You won’t change your mind again, will you?”

“Don’t worry. This master keeps her word. Not dying for now.” Su Zhen rolled her eyes at them, shouldered the sword, and was about to walk back.

“Your Majesty, isn’t that Minister Li? This… is he trying to assassinate? Protect the Emperor!”

Following Meng Qiao’s inexplicably sharp-eyed shout, Su Zhen was so startled that the blade nearly sliced into her own neck. She quickly flung the sword away and knelt, saying: “Li Huaisu pays respects to His Majesty.”

For a long while, Lian Yu didn’t tell her to rise. The atmosphere was solemn. Her scalp tingled as she heard Quan Feitong beside her laugh cheerfully: “Minister Li, what act are you performing now?”

She looked up. Lian Jie’s expression was gloomy as he sternly questioned the two men beside her: “How did you let someone escape?”

The two squad leaders were also quite troubled, trembling as they reported: “Reporting to Your Majesty, reporting to Seventh Prince, Minister Li threatened death and said he wanted to see His Majesty. We humble ones had no choice but to bring him over.”

“Huaisu, what did you do wrong this time to be under guard? Aren’t you tired of this same old trick? You did this in front of me last time too. Don’t blame His Majesty – Minister Li just likes to amuse himself for fun.” Quan Feitong spoke up.

Su Zhen really wanted to pick up that blade and stab Quan Feitong to death, thinking: Could you please stop harming me?

Lian Yu had been silent the whole time. Su Zhen admitted she didn’t understand him well, yet felt she knew his temperament quite well. Not speaking meant he was in a bad mood at the moment.

Lian Yu said calmly: “Prime Minister Quan, Prime Minister Yan, let’s go. Minister Meng, it was just a false alarm.”

Su Zhen remembered that when she was small, once she had been mischievous and broken one of Zhaoting’s beloved wolf-hair brushes. Zhaoting got angry and ignored her for several days straight.

That feeling made her panic. Later, she shamelessly went to coax him and beg him before he forgave her.

Being cold to someone was far more despairing than beating or scolding them.

Su Zhen just watched Lian Yu lead people away quickly. From beginning to end, he never looked at her.

And the way he had looked at Shuangcheng earlier, she always felt seemed familiar.

She knelt on the ground. Last time, she had only hated how slowly time passed. This time, she actually forgot to get up, suddenly remembering the scene when they first met. They had been in the cave, facing wine without song, but it was still pleasant.

As if infected by Shuangcheng, her throat felt slightly itchy, but what came out wasn’t a cough – it was laughter.

A hand suddenly extended in front of her.

Calluses were visible on the knuckles.

She knocked the hand away. “What? Any advice?”

Huo Chang’an looked down and smiled: “Between friends, don’t you need comfort?”

She smiled coldly: “Comfort? When you were deceiving me, why didn’t you ask if I needed comfort?”

“Deceiving you?” The man frowned slightly, momentarily not understanding, but sincerely said: “Li Huaisu, that night when you went to find Wei Wuyan, I shouldn’t have questioned you. I was wrong.”

“You did that for Wu Yan – there’s no right or wrong about it. You just shouldn’t have deceived me about Wu Yan having no feelings for Lian Yu.” Su Zhen slowly stood up.

“Yes, I deceived you, because in my heart, I wasn’t willing to believe it.” Huo Chang’an gave a long laugh. His gaze flashed with a trace of severity, yet also held a touch of pallor. He lowered his head and bowed deeply to the ground.

He extended his hand again. Su Zhen remained silent, pursed her lips, and finally reached out to grasp his hand.

Ahead, there was suddenly a commotion, and everyone stopped at the entrance. Both were startled. Being unconventional people, Huo Chang’an pulled her along and they ran over together.