Returning to the palace, Wuyan had Xiang’er bring paper, brush, ink, and inkstone. She held the brush for a long while but didn’t know where to begin writing.

She suddenly remembered that before leaving, she had asked Huaisu whether she should tell Lian Yu the truth about the Minzhou case. Huaisu had only said no, and that she had already instructed Huo Chang’an to keep it secret.

She understood – this person wanted to have an emotional contest with Lian Yu without any advantages. For this young lady, as long as the case could be solved and people were safe, she didn’t care who solved the case.

She was very curious about what purpose this woman had come to the capital to take the examinations, but she didn’t ask. What the other party was willing and able to say, she would say; what she didn’t say meant she couldn’t tell her.

She suddenly laughed a little – she and Huo Chang’an were like fire and water, yet both had become this person’s friends.

This stubborn and strange person.

But if not for this stubbornness, she might not have gone today either. When she saw her leave that handkerchief for her, something in her heart collapsed. She had thought she also hated her terribly.

With a heart full of reluctance, she looked at this palace – the only warmth and tenderness of these twenty-plus years – and finally picked up the brush to write a letter quickly.

Xiang’er brought tea and asked with a smile: “Miss, did you go visit the lady today? Coming back and immediately writing – you’re in good spirits!”

Wuyan didn’t answer, only looked lovingly at her maid: “Xiang’er, shall I ask the Emperor to arrange a marriage for you? You’re grown up now and should marry. I can’t be so selfish as to keep you always.”

Xiang’er was immediately stunned and alarmed: “Miss, what do you mean? I won’t marry – I want to serve you always.”

“We’ll talk about it later then.” Wuyan sighed, sealed the dried letter, and gave it to her: “Find someone to deliver this letter to the Emperor.”

Xiang’er giggled: “Miss, you and the Emperor see each other almost daily – what can’t you say that requires such trouble!”

Wuyan was silent for a long while before saying: “Some things, if I’m facing him, I really can’t say them.”

Xiang’er was delighted – the Miss was finally opening her heart to the Emperor!

“Miss, I’ll deliver it right away.”

She volunteered to take the letter and left happily.

Wuyan smiled bitterly. How could she tell Lian Yu face-to-face that Huaisu had said those contrary words in public because of her? Lian Yu would hate her.

She couldn’t speak about the case, but she had to explain this matter to him clearly. So she wrote everything she wanted to say in the letter and requested to resign. It was time for her to leave this imperial palace and give Huaisu and Lian Yu true freedom.

Huo Chang’an would no longer pester her, and wherever she went would be the same – she had never had a home anyway.

When Xiang’er arrived at Lian Yu’s bedchamber, the guards reported that the Emperor was in the imperial study reviewing memorials. But seeing she was Imperial Consort Wei’s maid, they immediately let her in.

Xiang’er smiled and deliberately placed the letter in a conspicuous spot on the desk before leaving contentedly.

When Xiao’an arrived, Lian Yu still hadn’t returned. Sister Hong was considerate and asked: “Your Majesty, shall we have the Emperor come to the bedchamber to find you when he returns?”

Xiao’an waved her hand: “The Emperor should return about now. I’ll wait here. Huang Tianba’s matter has caused too much trouble – I want to discuss with the Emperor whether to secretly spare his life or what, as a favor to Huang Zhongyue.”

Sister Hong nodded: “Should Your Majesty give the Emperor a reminder about Li Huaisu? If not for the Princess sending word, we still wouldn’t know she’s actually a woman. The Emperor clearly knows her gender but chooses silence, plus his usual favoritism – he’s clearly moved by her. This Li Huaisu is encouraging her subordinates to covet the Princess – she’s becoming increasingly arrogant.”

Xiao’an said: “Li Huaisu still understands propriety somewhat. I deliberately sent Lian Yue, Wei Wuyan and others to handle the case to dampen her sharp edge. She was at least clever enough to publicly refuse the Emperor.”

“A woman daring to come to the capital for examinations and making such a reputation – I do admire this. But she’s not the only talented woman. It’s not good for the Emperor to be infatuated with someone of such unknown origins. However, the Emperor does have sense – now that he’s withdrawn his feelings, there’s no need to say much for now. But this Li Huaisu must be watched constantly.”

Her gaze darkened: “Who would have thought it would bring forth a Gu Shuangcheng!”

Sister Hong massaged her shoulders and back, saying quietly: “Your Majesty’s words that time weren’t just for that Wuqing to hear, but also for Gu Shuangcheng?”

Xiao’an laughed coldly: “Gu Shuangcheng is quite clever – she seemed to understand right there in the hall. But I wasn’t just speaking to her – Wei Wuyan and Li Huaisu were included. The Emperor and Chang’an are like sons to me – whoever harms them, I won’t spare.”

Sister Hong was somewhat puzzled: “Imperial Consort Wei has seemed quite steady these past few years. Though she receives the Emperor’s favor, she still defers to Consort Ai and doesn’t dominate.”

Xiao’an’s eyes glinted sharply as she turned to look at Sister Hong: “Do you really think she’s a virtuous person? I saw very clearly what happened between her and Chang’an!”

“She made Chang’an lose his soul back then. To compensate Lian Yue, he nearly died on the battlefield. Later the Emperor brought her in because of A Luo, which caused the brothers to secretly turn against each other. If not for Chang’an’s sake, I wouldn’t have spared her! It’s Lian Yue who, though her mother is detestable, is wholehearted toward Chang’an.”

“I see.” Sister Hong understood, then worried: “But now one wave has barely settled when another rises. Li Huaisu is gone, but Gu and the Emperor are getting closer – she’s clearly receiving more imperial favor. That day when you kept her to talk, the Emperor was forceful in demanding her return. If the Emperor knew she was…”

Xiao’an interrupted coldly: “If she behaves properly, I’ll fulfill her wishes. If she dares cause more trouble, I’ll definitely deal with her!”

Sister Hong said “Yes” and smiled: “This servant will make tea for Your Majesty – the Emperor has excellent tea sets here.”

She walked to the desk and suddenly exclaimed: “For the Emperor’s attention – the signature says ‘Wuyan.’ How strange – why would Imperial Consort Wei write to the Emperor when they see each other morning and evening…”

Xiao’an frowned: “A letter? Bring it here for me to see.”

“Yes.”

After reading the letter, Xiao’an slammed the desk heavily: “What a Wei Wuyan – she and Li Huaisu have long been in collusion! Now seeing the Emperor close to Gu Shuangcheng, she wants to leave the palace to seduce Chang’an. Fine, she wants to leave the palace – I’ll fulfill her wish! But if she thinks she can leave alive, that’s probably impossible!”

Suzhen canceled her sick leave and went to court early that morning. She didn’t want to wait until the palace banquet to see Lian Yu again.

At court, she was surprised to see Huang Zhongyue and others were actually present. Lian Yu’s imperial edict about holding the palace banquet had worked – fighting force with force was indeed effective.

Lian Yu was a student taught by Xiao’an, with the bones of an iron-blooded monarch. Now excelling beyond his teacher, he put everything on the table without disguise. Reform was a hard battle that couldn’t be easily retreated from. Suzhen had often heard Imperial Consort Feng discuss this point and understood it very well.

The Huang faction naturally harbored resentment, but Lian Yu was still the Son of Heaven and the Great Zhou kingdom remained stable, so they didn’t dare act rashly. Whether these hidden dangers would be exploited by those with ulterior motives or be completely eliminated would depend on time to prove whether Quan Feitong was experienced and cunning or Lian Yu would triumph as the new wave pushing forward the old.

However, these political issues weren’t what she needed to worry about today.

Today Lian Yu and the ministers discussed tax reform, establishing new departments for supervision, adding monitoring departments in various regions to oversee fair case handling, and other series of topics. She barely listened to any of it, her mind full of confessing her feelings to Lian Yu and how to be honest about the Feng family case.

She struggled internally, thinking about wording, extremely nervous. Finally, she endured until Lian Yu on the dragon throne said “Court dismissed” and she came to her senses.

As usual, Lian Yu left first with Lian Jie and Lian Qin, then the ministers. She couldn’t care about much else and chased after them, drawing many puzzled looks from behind.

She knew what people were thinking.

She had suffered defeat in Minzhou, and her strained relationship with Lian Yu had spread throughout the court. Chasing after him like this was undoubtedly sycophantic behavior.

She couldn’t care about any of that – as long as she could reconcile with Lian Yu, she didn’t care about anything else.

“Your Majesty, please wait. Your subject has something to report.”

Ahead, Lian Yu didn’t stop. Lian Qin turned around, about to speak mockingly, but Lian Jie said: “Sixth Brother has already let go – can’t you?” Ming Yan sighed: “Chief Li, you’ve been an official for some time now – how do you not understand that matters should be reported during court sessions?”

The group quickly departed.

Suzhen’s foot injury wasn’t healed, and forcing herself to chase for a stretch was too much. She crouched down and found her boot was seeping blood, soaking the medicinal plaster.

This scene felt familiar. She lowered her head and smiled bitterly, waiting for a long time. But this time, Lian Yu never turned back as he had before. Last time she was pretending to be hurt; this time she was truly in pain.

When she returned home, she tried to act as if her foot had healed completely – otherwise Leng Xue and the others would definitely request leave for her again.

Walking a few steps in her room was excruciating.

The next day before dawn, she got up and made a large pot of white rice, ate half the pot to gather strength, then went chasing again.

But that day, Lian Yu still didn’t turn back, and even Lian Qin and Bai Hu disdained to show her cold faces anymore.

She was rough with her wound, and the wound protested by giving her a fever that night. Having a sudden inspiration, she took a cold bath for half an hour at night, adding fever to fever.

She was out of options – the only thing she could gamble on was that Lian Yu might have some softness of heart. She had used this trick on Li Zhaoting before, and it worked three times out of ten.

On the third day, the morning of the palace banquet, she went to court with a high fever, pretending nothing was wrong to hide it from everyone.

When court ended, she chased and ran for a stretch. Without needing to pretend, she was already dizzy and fell to the ground.

She didn’t dare look up.

She knew Lian Yu ahead should have heard the commotion.

She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, waiting for a long while, but heard no sound. Disappointed, she opened her eyes, only to see Lian Yu right in front of her.

She didn’t know when he had turned around and come to her side. He was looking at her quietly, but what alarmed her was that his eyes showed little emotion.

She almost suspected she was dreaming and quickly got up.

Lian Yu stared at her, his gaze as deep and unfathomable as a pool. He asked: “Do you have something to tell me?”

She nodded vigorously. Usually considering herself glib, now when it came to the crucial moment, she felt tongue-tied and couldn’t say half a sentence.

Her heart pounded in her chest as if it wanted to jump out. She stared intently at his clear, cold features: “Lian Yu, I want to tell you–“

“Is the name Lian Yu one you can call?”

Lian Yu interrupted her with a sentence.

His tone wasn’t heavy, but his gaze was already cold, his eyes full of mockery.

“Your Majesty,” Suzhen’s eyes stung as she changed her address. “You turned back – does that mean… I… can you give me another chance? Can we… as you said… try… try being together…”

She finally managed to finish speaking, but Lian Yu’s expression became increasingly strange. He seemed to find what he heard amusing. He suddenly reached out to feel her forehead. His hand was warm like sunlight, but it made her shudder.

She looked at him nervously. Just as her hand was about to touch his, Lian Yu moved his hand away, the corners of his mouth slightly curved with amusement: “Are you sick?”

“Do you also want to tell me that some of what you said to me before had hidden reasons, that it was because of Wuyan? Wuyan wrote and told me everything.”

Suzhen was startled – she hadn’t expected Wuyan to tell Lian Yu directly. This wasn’t good for Wuyan. She had been thinking about how to smooth things over, but since Wuyan had spoken, she couldn’t disappoint this kindness. She nodded heavily, then nervously lowered her head.

In her blurred vision, she saw Lian Yu’s chest trembling slightly – he was laughing.

She looked up in shock, but he had already turned around.

“But do you think I would forever keep in my heart someone who decisively abandoned me for someone else’s sake? What does your illness have to do with me? A Luo’s goodness – you don’t measure up to even one part.”

His voice came thinly from ahead, cold as frost. His robes fluttered like wind, his steps swift, and he quickly walked out of her sight without any lingering attachment.

She wanted to chase after him and ask who A Luo was, but found her legs trembling badly and she had no strength.

She collapsed headfirst to the ground. In her confusion, someone sighed beside her ear and said gently: “Hey, Li Huaisu, wake up. Can even a desperate fighter get sick? I’m counting to ten – if you have no objections, I’ll carry you. Alright, ten. Come, I’ll take you to visit my home.”

She squinted and saw only a treacherous face frowning, reaching out to lift her. She struggled to get up – she didn’t want this bad person touching her!

Thank you for reading. The next chapter features the palace banquet, which coincides perfectly with the Qixi Festival. Wishing everyone an early happy festival!