When Lian Yu walked into the courtyard, his expression was ice-cold to the extreme, but his eyes clearly blazed with anger.

The moment their gazes met, Su Zhen felt that the pain in her wrist was nothing compared to the tremor in her heart, which came more disturbingly.

Lian Yu was obviously in the middle of a meeting discussing the case with everyone when guards interrupted him – because except for her group and Quan Li, everyone else had followed completely, not one missing.

Naturally, everyone’s expressions were quite rich. But whether it was Lian Yue, Murong Xin, Lian Jie’s mockery, Miao Yin and Lian Qin’s surprise, Lian Xin’s strangeness, Wu Yan’s pallor, none compared to the unclear mistiness in Shuangcheng’s eyes, like looking at flowers through fog, which made her feel heavy.

Murong Xin approached Lian Yu and smiled: “I originally thought I was spoiled and willful, but seeing today, I realize there are heavens above heavens, people beyond people.”

This barb from Murong Xin hit Su Zhen’s heart – that dull pain was indescribable. This was about her qualifications; between her and Lian Yu, she truly had no right to his love and care. So she didn’t argue, nor could she.

Finally Lian Yu spoke: “Xin’er, you and everyone else go down first. Seventh Brother, come here for a moment.”

He pointed at the room: “Go in.”

Su Zhen knew this was directed at her. For the first time, he hadn’t used the word “scram” – that was the most frequently used word between them in the past, bar none.

Those who love you also love to scold you; those who don’t love you find even scolding you troublesome. Now these simple two words seemed to take away all emotion, making her almost unable to move her feet.

She tightened her jaw, about to go in, when a voice came from behind: “Your Majesty, may I say a word to Minister Li?”

Lian Yu turned back, glanced at the speaker, and agreed.

Shuangcheng looked at Su Zhen and said: “To tell the truth, I only saw you as an opponent, but now you make me feel I was wrong.”

“Same words,” Miao Yin also suddenly spoke. She glanced at Shuangcheng: “Perhaps I should change opponents now.”

Su Zhen pressed her wrist wound tightly and couldn’t help but laugh. She suddenly felt that Murong Xin’s words weren’t much – Gu Shuangcheng hadn’t even shown contempt yet had successfully made her feel ashamed.

Of course, since Lian Yu had spoken, though everyone wanted to watch the drama, they had to disperse first.

Lian Jie was quick – he had already ordered medicine and tools to be brought. He quickly helped Su Zhen stop the bleeding, disinfect, and treat the wound. Throughout the entire process, Lian Yu said nothing, leaning against the table watching coldly. Lian Jie naturally didn’t talk much either. When it came time for bandaging, Lian Yu suddenly spoke: “Seventh Brother, you may go.”

Lian Jie agreed and withdrew.

In the room, Lian Yu no longer showed his earlier anger. His face was replaced by a deeper coldness.

This made Su Zhen more afraid than his anger, because she didn’t know what he would say or do.

His presence immediately enveloped her. When sharp pain came from her wrist, Su Zhen let out a muffled cry, only then realizing he was bandaging her.

Of course, rather than bandaging, it was more like punishment.

Gripping her wrist tightly, Lian Yu’s words were as sharp as knives: “Those who want to die aren’t afraid of pain; those afraid of pain don’t want to die. Gu Shuangcheng also used this trick – quite ‘clever.’ She didn’t go through with it, but you did. Going through with it is one thing, but you still dared to fear pain – have you become a coward?”

“You already disgust me – don’t make me despise you as well.”

Having said this, he immediately released her hand and turned to leave.

These two sentences, not said in public, seemed to preserve the last trace of affection between them, saving her face.

Her wrist had nearly been broken by him just now. Though separated by thick gauze, the wounded area felt as if a snake’s tongue was hissing around it, that slippery coldness was frightening.

Lian Yu’s hand was already on the door, his black robe slightly swaying, orchid and ink bamboo – so elegant, yet so resolute.

Su Zhen gripped her wrist wound and slowly knelt on the ground: “Then please also give me the chance not to let you despise me. Originally, if we hadn’t tried… to be together, we would just be monarch and subject. If I had ability, you would use me; if I had no ability, you would abandon me. Now that everything has returned to the starting point, why not let me continue handling the case?”

Lian Yu turned around sharply, sneering as he questioned: “You said it yourself – use if capable, abandon if not. Since you and I have made our decision, you can be with Quan Feitong. What you’ve shown me is only that you’ll stop at nothing to overturn the case. Li Huaisu, are you still a good official who cares for the people?”

Su Zhen thought: Yes, I’m not a good official, not even a good person. It’s just that when I couldn’t take care of myself, I blocked Lian Xin’s way for a child, and when no one dared accept Mo Chou’s petition, I took on her case.

But what could she say now? He had already sentenced her to death – what more could she say? The only thing she could explain again was the matter with Quan Feitong: “Whether Your Majesty believes it or not, the so-called intimacy between Quan Feitong and me that Seventh Prince saw was merely Quan Feitong’s divisive scheme.”

Lian Yu’s lips curved slightly: “And what about your deceiving me?”

Su Zhen couldn’t help but laugh. She had no way to explain what she had denied in front of those women that day.

She had originally planned to explain everything to Wu Yan first, then go find Lian Yu to tell him she had someone in her heart and they couldn’t be together.

But Lian Yu had heard it through the worst possible channel.

Fate always plays jokes on you at the right moment.

Actually, though she still couldn’t completely let go of Li Zhaoting, she was no longer as obsessed as before. Saying she had someone in her heart was just hoping for a clean break with Lian Yu. She couldn’t wrong Wu Yan.

But she couldn’t explain – to do so would involve Wu Yan, and Wu Yan and Lian Yu would have a rift.

Finally, she chose silence, only bowing her head deeply.

They were friends, monarch and subject, and perhaps once briefly lovers.

Now they were no longer friends or lovers, but she hoped there was still one relationship that could bear all the unbearable weight of life. A kind of feeling not called time, not called relationship, not called knowing everything, just called understanding.

“Working so hard – are you still afraid I won’t honor my promise, so you want to produce some so-called achievements?” Lian Yu’s mockery deepened.

“If Your Majesty considers this subject to be so, then this subject is so; if Your Majesty considers this subject not to be so, then this subject is not so; even if this subject is not so, as long as Your Majesty considers it so, then it still will be so.”

“Is Minister Li playing tongue twisters with me? Saying all this – you just want me to give you freedom. I said long ago, you’re not indispensable! Among the women the Empress Dowager chose to investigate this case, which one doesn’t have her formidable qualities? That you initially came before me and became Number One Scholar might just be because you seized the opportunity.”

Lian Yu’s gaze suddenly turned cold. He suddenly walked toward her. Su Zhen was startled, but he didn’t stop, walking until he had cornered her against the wall. He gripped her chin with his hand, saying word by word: “To me now, you are nothing. Don’t come looking for me again. I can tell you, one last time, considering our cave friendship, next time you can go ahead and die – see if I care!”

The pain of her jaw about to crack, the man above her with his dark, furious eyes – Su Zhen knew Lian Yu wasn’t joking.

Lian Yu only appeared gentle and rarely lost his temper, but when he was truly angry, it meant he had reached the extreme of hatred.

The door slammed shut with a bang!

Su Zhen’s heart also pounded violently. She didn’t know how long it was before she found some strength and pushed the door open forcefully to walk out.

The courtyard was empty, and all the guards outside the door had been withdrawn.

When Lian Yu left, he took all the guards with him!

She had gotten her wish after all.

The starlight was cold. She covered her mouth, but the tears she had been holding back still burst forth.

She desperately wanted freedom, wanted to overturn the case – that was true. But she also wanted to do something for the people in prison. Don’t neglect good deeds because they seem small – even if she might not be able to accomplish anything.

The world is so vast. Someday he would discover that someone was better than her, smarter than her. If she was beautiful enough, time would change her. If she had some so-called talent, there would come a time when her talent would be exhausted. So if she didn’t do better than them this time, would she be nothing in his heart?

There were sounds outside the courtyard. She quickly wiped away her tears.

Before she could react, a warm piece of clothing fell on her shoulders. She looked up in surprise – Leng Xue had already rushed over. Then Wu Qing, Little Zhou, and Huo Chang’an walked in one by one, some smiling, some sneering.

“Hey, Li Huaisu, feeling melancholy in the moonlight – such romantic things only suit white lotus flowers. Someone like you, so plain and plump… tsk tsk…”

Little Zhou spoke first, as usual unable to say anything nice.

Su Zhen was both surprised and delighted: “How did you all come?”

Huo Chang’an raised his chin slightly, pointing outside the courtyard.

A person walked in from outside, saying stiffly: “I notified them to come see if you were dead.”

That bitter expression belonged to none other than Lian Xin.

Though this girl had done plenty of bad things, Su Zhen was still grateful: “Thank you.”

But Lian Xin didn’t accept her gratitude, glancing at Wu Qing and saying quietly: “I did this to help you.”

Everyone was stunned. Little Zhou coughed lightly and smiled: “Oh my, Wu Qing, aren’t you going to thank the Princess quickly?”

Wu Qing’s expression obviously grew colder, but he said nothing, only walking to Lian Xin and bowing deeply. Lian Xin’s face reddened, her lips slightly parting, completely unaware of the hatred that flashed briefly in Wu Qing’s eyes.

Huo Chang’an laughed with some deeper meaning: “This combination is fresh.”

Wu Qing catching Lian Xin’s fancy… Su Zhen was secretly alarmed, thinking this was bad. She quickly interrupted Huo Chang’an’s matchmaking: “Marquis Huo, aren’t you afraid of what His Majesty will say about you coming here?”

Huo Chang’an shrugged: “He and I have always acted independently.”

That devil-may-care smile actually contained an indescribable coldness. Su Zhen was even more alarmed. One matter unresolved, another arose. The enmity between Huo Chang’an and Lian Yu over Wu Yan had probably deepened another layer. Naturally not wanting to mention what shouldn’t be mentioned, she changed the subject: “Since His Majesty has released me, starting tomorrow I’ll also join the investigation. Will Marquis Huo join me?”

Huo Chang’an laughed heartily: “This marquis naturally stands with my wife.”

Su Zhen wasn’t surprised by this answer but still asked: “What about Wu Yan?”

Huo Chang’an’s expression suddenly darkened. He didn’t answer. After a long while, he said coldly: “That kind of woman – what does her winning or losing have to do with me?”

Hearing this, Su Zhen’s heart sank, not knowing if it was for Wu Yan or herself.

Seeing her released, everyone was in high spirits. They agreed on tomorrow’s case investigation details before dispersing.

Before bed, she received a letter sent by Quan Feitong. It contained two lines of scrawl: “Since Lian Yu has released you, I won’t harm you for now, lest he imprison you again. I’m quite curious to see which of you can come up with some tricks. I am Quan Feitong, and I speak for myself.”

Damn, did he think she wouldn’t know who he was without signing his name? This letter made Su Zhen’s eyes flash with fire as she tore it to pieces.