At this moment, Wu Yan was also sitting at her desk, resting her chin on her hand in contemplation.

Xiang’er was anxious, pacing back and forth: “Miss, what should we do? Miao Yin also stopped going out with you to investigate yesterday. I don’t know if she’s already thought of a solution or has run out of ideas, but if even you can’t think of something, she definitely can’t either.”

Wu Yan smiled self-mockingly: “Regardless of Miao Yin’s situation, Gu Shuangcheng should have had ideas early on, and Lian Yue later as well. You understand – my main opponents are these two people.”

Especially Lian Yue.

Though she didn’t say this aloud, Xiang’er understood and said through gritted teeth: “Li Huaisu is doing well, staying out of it like this. Still putting on that false righteousness toward you. Fortunately, His Majesty has been benevolent and righteous toward her – he won’t rely on her again after this.”

Wu Yan lowered her eyes, her voice growing colder: “Her situation is only worse than mine. But is now the time to compete in wretchedness? Enough, don’t mention her. Talking about that person only worsens my mood.”

Xiang’er wasn’t satisfied, but since Wu Yan had spoken thus, she naturally couldn’t say more and risk annoying her mistress further. She said quietly: “Miss, you’re too kind. I had the kitchen make bird’s nest and white fungus soup for you. I’ll get it now. Take your time thinking, no rush… If there’s really no way, let’s go find His Majesty. He must have a way to keep you out of this too. Your bet with that wretch Lian Yue needn’t continue either—”

“Xiang’er, regarding my matter with Lian Yue, I won’t ask His Majesty to interfere. Even if I lose the competition, I can’t lose my dignity too! Besides, I didn’t want to associate with any social circles anyway, and he no longer loves me.”

Wu Yan’s voice revealed no emotion upon first hearing, but Xiang’er happened to turn around and saw her pressing her right arm, her gaze empty. Xiang’er’s heart sank – the Miss had an injury on her arm. She only knew the Miss had gotten it while investigating the case, just a small scrape, but for some reason the Miss cared about it greatly. She dared not say more and hurried out the door.

Just as she stepped outside, she felt something strange underfoot. Looking down, she discovered a letter.

She picked it up curiously and found the envelope had no signature, making her even more puzzled: “Miss, there’s a letter here…”

Wu Yan was obviously startled and quickly came over to take it from her hands. She frowned but didn’t hurry to open the letter, instead saying: “Go ask the courtyard guards if anyone came by.”

Xiang’er nodded to go, but was called back. Wu Yan’s voice drifted over eerily: “Never mind. Even if we ask, they won’t know. If this letter were normal, it should have been delivered by the guards.”

Her expression was somewhat ugly as she slowly opened the letter.

Xiang’er had sharp eyes and saw the provocation from the first line.

“Stop pretending, you have no ideas about the case, do you…”

Xiang’er was both shocked and angry: “Who wrote this letter? It must be Lian Yue! Gu Shuangcheng is also possible, and Miao Yin… Consort Xin is your old rival, but wouldn’t do this. This Gu Shuangcheng has been quite prominent recently…”

Wu Yan crumpled the letter, laughing calmly: “Stop guessing. In this deep compound, who doesn’t have the possibility? I’ve lost. Lost to Lian Yue, lost to Gu Shuangcheng, lost to Miao Yin and Murong Xin, even lost to Li Huaisu who didn’t even compete.”

Xiang’er suddenly exclaimed: “No, it might not be Lian Yue. I think it’s Li Huaisu. Didn’t you see her previous crocodile tears act? Knowing Miss has deep friendship with His Majesty, fearing Miss might speak ill of her to His Majesty in the future, she deliberately pretended to be innocent in front of Miss, saying she didn’t know Miss also loved His Majesty, saying she wouldn’t compete with Miss. Who knew His Majesty overheard…”

Wu Yan’s eyes darkened further, but she said nothing, only telling Xiang’er to fetch the soup.

Xiang’er knew that though she hated Li Huaisu, she didn’t like talking behind people’s backs. She bit her teeth and went out.

When she returned, she saw Wu Yan pacing rapidly back and forth in the room, looking nervous with a trace of madness.

“Miss…” Her heart ached with worry. Too rushed to put down the stew pot, she called out softly.

Wu Yan seemed not to hear, still pacing quickly. Xiang’er couldn’t help feeling afraid, fearing she couldn’t let go of the competition and would truly “go astray.” She quickly set things down and thought of finding Lian Yu to look at the situation.

“This case does indeed have flaws. I haven’t lost yet.”

From behind, Wu Yan’s voice came with a slight smile, yet carried an indescribable strange hoarseness.

On the seventh evening, Lian Yu summoned everyone in the inn’s main hall. Inn staff dutifully notified every corner.

With just the time for a cup of tea remaining before assembly, and before Leng Xue and the others could come find her, Su Zhen quietly slipped out, planning to find a small tavern to pass time rather than attend this cult-like oath meeting.

She always felt that seeing Lian Yu wouldn’t lead to anything good.

Since he hadn’t bothered her these days, she shouldn’t go looking for scolding.

Who knew her luck had turned so bad – she had barely gotten anywhere when someone shamelessly grabbed her wrist.

This person was smiling: “Hey, Li Huaisu, come to my embrace.”

Su Zhen pointed at him with her free hand, angrily: “Are you trying to kill me with bad luck? Don’t tell me you just happened to pass by.”

Quan Feitong looked surprised: “Of course not by chance. I’ve had people tracking you and your little squad’s daily movements. Otherwise, how boring these days would have been. Of course, what you did in your room, when you undressed or bathed, I still don’t know.”

Poor Su Zhen – if she had a mirror she would definitely see her face was moldy green. He dragged her along until they stopped at a place.

Su Zhen knew getting angry at this person was useless, so she said earnestly: “Prime Minister, your great cause is unfinished – you still need to work hard. I’m just a small person, really not worth your attention.”

Quan Feitong asked with a smile: “What great cause?”

Su Zhen raised both eyebrows and seriously made a throat-slitting gesture: “Overthrowing Murong Liu, changing dynasties.”

Of course, saying this was extremely reckless, and she regretted it within two seconds.

Lian Yu was leading people from the opposite direction, his expression definitely worse than hers at being caught by Quan Feitong. Everyone stared at her in complete amazement, looking at her like she was a heinous death row prisoner.

Su Zhen’s heart had another ten thousand mud horses galloping through – they had actually changed locations? That treacherous minister had set her up in passing.

She gave Little Zhou a look. Little Zhou was already angry beyond reason and turned away ignoring her. But Lian Xin shrugged and mouthed: “Who told you to run so fast we couldn’t notify you in time.”

“Daily joke for physical and mental health.”

She cleared her throat, raised her voice to maximum volume, then silently walked before Lian Yu and automatically knelt. She knew in her heart that Lian Yu still remembered their youthful friendship, otherwise he wouldn’t have spared her repeatedly. But the distance between them had grown ever greater, unable to return to the beginning.

Lian Yu indeed adopted a direct ignore attitude toward her, his gaze lightly sweeping over everyone: “Is everyone here?”

“I want to announce something. Based on the evidence submitted to Prime Minister Yan by you ladies these past days and mine, I’ve decided to temporarily grant imperial commissioner status, still having you several handle the trials. The land enclosure case will be presided over by Gu Shuangcheng, the drowning case by Princess Imperial, and finally, the fake medicine case will be presided over by Consort Wei.”

The several women stepped forward, humbly receiving the imperial decree. Everyone was inevitably surprised, especially Su Zhen’s group, not knowing why Lian Yu had suddenly changed his mind from having Yan Da and Gao Chaoyi preside to having the women do so. After all, women presiding was unprecedented and shocking, not easily accepted by people. Originally having Yan Da preside was for this reason.

However, since the women would be judges, everyone could guess the results somewhat.

Gu Shuangcheng’s case had no one else involved. Murong Xin’s participation in Lian Yu’s case was just for show. But the competition between Miao Yin and Wei Shuangcheng was somewhat expected yet surprising. Lian Yu had chosen Wei Wu Yan’s plan.

From this, Wei Wu Yan’s plan must be superior, but it somewhat slighted Miao Yin’s face.

Su Zhen couldn’t help glancing at Miao Yin, but saw this young lady was quite gracious, showing no embarrassment, which was admirable. Then she heard Lian Yu say: “This is Da Zhou after all. I made this arrangement hoping Miss won’t mind. After all, too many judges would cause chaos. Miss’s submitted case analysis was extremely brilliant – I’ve given it to Consort Wei. When combined, it will surely complement each other perfectly.”

“Your Majesty is too kind. Miao Yin is a guest and should naturally follow the host’s lead,” Miao Yin smiled in response.

Miao Yin’s magnanimity and Lian Yu’s words immediately made many people confused, unsure whether this was Lian Yu’s protection or truly the case.

Lian Yu looked toward Quan Feitong, smiling slightly as he inquired: “Does Prime Minister Quan have any objections?”

Quan Feitong rubbed his nose and smiled back: “Naturally not. I’ll follow His Majesty’s arrangements entirely. This subject is quite excited – tomorrow will surely be a grand scene. I can hardly wait, hoping for a good show tomorrow to clear Magistrate Huang’s name.”

Quan Feitong’s words clearly showed disbelief that tomorrow’s case could be overturned. Everyone was shocked and angry.

Lian Jie said coldly: “I’m afraid Prime Minister Quan will be disappointed. Tomorrow will be both a case of vindication and condemnation.”

Quan Feitong’s smile remained unchanged, his gaze sharp as a sword: “Then we shall wait and see. Huaisu spoke well – a daily joke benefits physical and mental health.”

Facing Quan Feitong’s provocation, Lian Yu showed no anger, only saying calmly: “If that’s the case, let’s dismiss for tonight.”

But Quan Feitong suddenly said: “Wait. I heard Minister Li won’t participate in this case. I always thought it was a joke? But is this so, Minister Li? Or when did you change your mind and decide to participate?”

Suddenly being dragged into it again, Su Zhen was stunned. Seeing Lian Yu look over coldly upon hearing this, she smiled bitterly and shook her head.

Lian Yu’s gaze flashed with mockery: “I never planned for Minister Li to participate anyway.”

Having said this, he was first to leave, making Lian Xin anxiously whisper: “I don’t know if Sixth Brother really has a solution. Li Huaisu, this time I don’t even know whether to hope these people win or lose their trials. If they win, you die. If they don’t win, Sixth Brother suffers.”

Su Zhen rubbed her aching legs and stood up, smiling: “Winning is naturally better.”

But Quan Feitong’s words made her very uneasy. She had a feeling: this time’s winner would definitely be him, just as she knew she would definitely lose.

Her heart was troubled, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught Shuangcheng’s signal.

She looked at her with a calm smile, her gaze clear as water: “Huaisu, after tomorrow, he and I…”

She only said half the sentence before turning away. Su Zhen’s heart felt like something had struck it heavily!

She carried this heaviness in her heart and everyone including Leng Xue’s eager expectations for the death row prisoners’ vindication into the next day’s court.

Only this time, she was no longer the presiding judge. Moreover, she gripped something in her sleeve, her heart aching repeatedly. When had this thing fallen at her feet yesterday?

It was her flute.

Li Zhaoting simply didn’t want it anymore. She had clearly expected this long ago. Though she no longer felt the same about Li Zhaoting as before, why did she feel so sad? What was the reason?