“She will not participate in this case.”
Lian Yu’s cold statement shattered all speculations.
His eyes were as dark as before a storm, and the entire hall, which had just begun to relax, grew tense and cold again.
This statement was somewhat ambiguous – it seemed to suggest either that Su Zhen subjectively wouldn’t participate in the case, or that he wouldn’t let Su Zhen join.
Some smiled, others worried.
Huo Chang’an’s lips moved as if to say something, but ultimately he remained silent.
Little Zhou and the others thought things were going badly – this thought had been bubbling up since following Li Huaisu. Little Zhou’s eyes rolled as she quietly signaled Lian Xin. Lian Xin was also capable – between guessing and deduction, she actually figured out what Little Zhou meant to say and quietly slipped out, surprising Wu Qing and Leng Xue.
Fortunately, Lian Yu paid no attention to this troublemaker, only instructing Xuan Wu to secretly explore the Gu mansion at night and quietly rescue Fang Rui.
Everyone present knew this matter would no longer involve Li Huaisu – it was settled.
On the other side, Lian Xin was anxious and extremely nervous. She could guess with her knees what the scheming Little Zhou wanted her to do.
If Li Huaisu could return before Lian Yu dismissed the meeting and plead with him, there might be a tiny hope of participating in the interrogation. Even though she herself wasn’t optimistic – Lian Yu’s face was already frosty, probably pleading would be useless – but it was still slightly better than not pleading at all.
With the emperor present, the inn was brightly lit with guards every few steps, making it convenient for Lian Xin to find people. She shouted at everyone she saw: “Where’s the nearest latrine? No wait, everything should be finished by now… Has anyone seen Minister Li? This palace will richly reward you.”
Indeed, under rich rewards there are brave men. Layer by layer, information was passed down, directing Lian Xin to a remote west wing of the inn.
Lian Xin charged in full of anger, but when she came face to face with what was inside, she jumped up in fright: “Ghost! Mother…”
In the room, a lamp flickered dimly in the darkness. Several black shadows overlapped on the floor, ghostly blue-green. What met her eyes were three corpses lying stiffly on wooden boards, half-covered by burial shrouds, bare-chested and faced. These three were much more spectacular than Wu Niang’s three corpses. Name tags hung from the bodies – the first was He Man, who died for love. Medium height, thin, with a pale face that vaguely retained some handsomeness from life.
Only his eye sockets were deeply sunken like caves, his face more or less gashed, his neck and body flowing with red stains, yellow water, and green foam. That sticky, nauseating feeling – Lian Xin was so shocked she didn’t vomit.
“Why did you come here?”
Su Zhen emerged from the smoky shadows, speaking eerily. Lian Xin was startled and frightened. Before she could react, she instinctively vomited. Su Zhen covered her nose, quite calmly pulled out a handkerchief from Lian Xin’s collar and threw it to her.
Lian Xin was so angry her eyes rolled back: “You came to this kind of place to play ghost and scare me, yet you dare to be disgusted with me.”
Su Zhen sighed: “I wasn’t playing ghost to scare you. Speaking of ghosts, he’s more ghost-like…”
Lian Xin looked where she indicated and saw a dark shadow suddenly emerge from the corner where Su Zhen had been. Lian Xin screamed “Ah!” and fell on her bottom to the ground.
She trembled with fear. The “ghost” leaned over, his hair almost touching her face: “Greetings, Princess.”
The stubborn Lian Xin finally fainted this time.
But before long she was awakened by pungent smoke. Su Zhen stood helplessly beside her, with a young man in his twenties dressed as a coroner. This fellow was short and stocky with a pockmarked face, currently fanning a brazier on the ground with all his might, looking obsequious with a face full of smiles. So that’s where the ghostly smoke came from. She had been placed on one of the empty wooden boards just like those corpses – she, a golden branch and jade leaf, had never lain in such a place! She pointed at Su Zhen, shaking with anger and unable to speak.
“Your brother had the remains from several cases brought here. I came to take a look. But you – what are you doing here for no reason?”
Though Lian Xin hated Su Zhen enough to want to kill her, she couldn’t worry about much right now. She grabbed Su Zhen and said fiercely: “Come back with me, quickly! Sixth Brother’s pork distribution meeting is almost over. You need to hug his thigh and beg for a case to handle. Didn’t you see how Sixth Brother looked at Gu Shuangcheng…”
As Su Zhen listened, she pressed Lian Xin back down and said softly: “I’m not going. I don’t plan to take any case.”
“What? You’re not taking any case?!”
Except for Wu Qing who stood relatively calmly to one side, Leng Xue, Little Zhou, and Huo Chang’an all stared at Su Zhen in surprise.
When everyone gathered again in Su Zhen’s room, Lian Xin’s “meeting” had long since ended.
Little Zhou said nothing and went straight to grab Su Zhen’s neck, shouting directly: “His Majesty is very angry, and the consequences are truly serious. Our Ministry of Justice is really going to be finished. You still dare to be willful! You should be embarrassed not to compete properly with Gu Shuangcheng on the same case, yet you won’t even take one? I haven’t even gotten my salary yet!”
That shout was full of righteous indignation and heroic despair. Just as everyone was moved, the last sentence made them completely sober. Only Wu Qing’s lips curved up slightly. Leng Xue was truly worried, not because of whether Su Zhen would participate in these thorny cases, but because Su Zhen was truly abnormal – it didn’t fit her character.
He patted her shoulder, frowning: “What’s really wrong with you?”
Su Zhen said nothing, only focusing on pouring tea for everyone.
Huo Chang’an couldn’t stand it either, blocking her hand and saying sternly: “Li Huaisu, what are you up to now? Based on my understanding of Lian Yu, last time he was still accommodating you everywhere. If you continue like this, he really will abandon his pawn this time. No, I should say he’s already given up on you, unless you can truly accomplish something great. I wanted to say a few words for you just now, but I couldn’t. I know Lian Yu too well.”
Only then did Su Zhen look up. After a long while she smiled: “I can’t solve these cases, truly. I tried my best – I even went to see where the bodies are stored, but I can’t find evidence, no leads. This is a critical moment. Among them, someone must have thought of some method. If I rashly join in, I’ll cause them trouble. Nothing is more important than solving the cases.”
A drop of something gently fell into the cup in front of her.
This left everyone stunned for a moment, not knowing what to say. Even Lian Xin couldn’t bring herself to be domineering.
“So I didn’t go back later.” Fearing they’d worry, Su Zhen still explained.
Everyone looked at each other even more. After a long while, no one said anything. They successively took their leave, and even Leng Xue, who was closest to Su Zhen, followed the others out without staying.
Walking out of the courtyard, the group stopped in unison.
Huo Chang’an spoke first. This former general’s face rarely showed such sighs: “Li Huaisu is both too ordinary and too extraordinary. Perhaps because she dared to cause trouble at court and offend Xin’er, fight officials for seating arrangements, even become Murong Liu’s Number One Scholar, take on Mo Chou’s case…”
Lian Xin nodded: “Mm, and she solved the case. At the very least, when Sixth Brother was in trouble, she managed to bring reinforcements from under Quan Feitong’s nose. It turns out she’s done quite a lot of messy things.” So when she was capable, perhaps people praised her momentarily, but could never feel she was truly admirable, because this person was really ordinary, with a coarse temperament, just like any passerby you could grab from the street. When she was detestable, people hated her enough to itch, because she always looked shameless.
But regardless, except for Leng Xue, perhaps as friends – if they and Li Huaisu could truly be called friends – in this clear starlit night, in the moments before this not very poetic scene, deep in their hearts they perhaps all had an acknowledgment that she was special after all. And her cleverness wasn’t too common either.
But because of this, they all overlooked one point – she also had times when she was powerless. They had always thought she could handle another case with ease like before. During the investigation process, her playful demeanor was actually masking her own helplessness.
Lian Xin pursed her lips and suddenly said quietly: “Hmph, this Li Huaisu is nothing special. What’s so great about her? Always attracting attention – now she’s getting her comeuppance!”
Leng Xue’s face instantly darkened, sneering: “If the Princess doesn’t like this place, please leave.”
Lian Xin snorted coldly but stood firmly without any intention of leaving.
Finally, Wu Qing also broke his silence, speaking directly: “But if she gives up like this, she’ll be ruined.”
Leng Xue frowned at him: “What do you mean?”
“Force her to handle the case.” Before Wu Qing could answer, Little Zhou had already spoken his thoughts.
Little Zhou’s expression was rarely serious. Wu Qing looked at her intently, finally nodding slightly, his frost-like eyes showing a trace of heat.
Lian Xin looked sideways at the two, feeling inexplicably irritated. She was used to being tyrannical, but at this moment when she wanted to say something, she suddenly felt afraid.
Huo Chang’an’s face grew cold: “Forgive me for disagreeing! She wouldn’t like this. If she really thought of a way to compete with Wei Wu Yan and Gu Shuangcheng, she would definitely speak to Lian Yu. This is the Li Huaisu I know. Since she doesn’t speak up, she truly has no solution—”
But Little Zhou said coldly: “But Marquis Huo, do all these ladies necessarily have the ability to handle their cases well? If so, why can’t Li Huaisu also muddle through? As long as she makes an effort, even if she can’t succeed in the end, His Majesty will at least show some consideration!”
Huo Chang’an raised an eyebrow, obviously angered, but Leng Xue sternly interrupted Little Zhou first: “But the Li Huaisu I know – she’d rather have nothing than a false reputation.”
“Bullshit! If just having integrity earned people’s love and admiration, there would be plenty of people gaining His Majesty’s appreciation and care! Fine, since you all say this, just wait to see the worst outcome!”
When Little Zhou was in a good mood, she’d brown-nose without hesitation. When in a bad mood, she wouldn’t buy anyone’s account, not even heavenly kings. With a cold laugh, she left with a flourish.
“This makes it meaningless. Tonight is really meaningless.”
Huo Chang’an said this indifferently and also left.
Leng Xue mocked, pulling at his lips as he looked at Wu Qing: “What are we talking about? Everyone just has their own calculations. These people are indeed meaningless. How about a drink?”
“Aren’t you going back to keep her company?” Wu Qing asked.
“We’ve known each other too long. When she’s in a bad state, she doesn’t want anyone to see.”
Wu Qing said nothing, nodded once, and walked forward silently.
In the courtyard, Su Zhen had already pushed open the door, watching her friends disperse one by one. Leaning against the doorway, she pulled out a green apricot from her embrace. The green apricot had long been ruined beyond recognition, damaged and withered, yet she put it to her lips and gently took a bite. The saddest thing in the world isn’t being betrayed by everyone, isn’t never being loved, but making the few people who love you argue and cry over you – it’s when a relationship ends before it even begins.