But she simply had no strength, watching helplessly as he lifted her up. Just when she wanted to kill someone, she saw Li Zhaoting walking quickly over from not far away. She breathed a slight sigh of relief and fainted.

Li Zhaoting approached and asked: “What’s wrong with her now?”

Quan Feitong bent down and pressed his forehead against Suzhen’s: “She’s sick. I’ll take her back to my residence – you go back first. Zhaoting, regarding Gu Shuangcheng’s matter, I hope you’ve thought it through.”

Li Zhaoting lowered his head: “As for her, I can’t think it through, and I also believe Senior Brother won’t steal what his brother loves.”

Quan Feitong raised his eyebrows: “That puts me in a difficult position. Well then, you won’t compete with me for this one, will you?”

Li Zhaoting smiled faintly: “Didn’t Senior Brother say you have no interest in her now? And you’ve never shown mercy.”

“No interest and no mercy apply to political matters, not private affairs.” Quan Feitong narrowed his eyes, studying him. “If you’re also interested in her, I’ll give her to you, but don’t interfere with Gu Shuangcheng’s matter. Life rarely offers perfection – you can’t have both fish and bear’s paw.”

Li Zhaoting stepped aside and answered quietly: “Yes, Zhaoting understands.”

“I knew you’d choose this way.” Quan Feitong smiled and left carrying Suzhen.

Li Zhaoting waited for him to walk away before returning the same route. At the stark trees, Wei Chenghui approached. As court officials passed by, they assumed the two were just greeting each other and didn’t hear Grand Tutor Wei smiling slightly while saying: “Young Master, don’t let emotions rule your actions.”

Li Zhaoting replied: “From Minzhou onwards, I’ve put everything aside. Teacher Wei, I understand very well that only when I truly possess everything can I speak of it. As for Li Huaisu, she and I were never on the same path. If I can temporarily put aside even Miss Gu, what can’t I put aside? It’s just that before Quan Feitong, I must still play the necessary role. His thinking I’m ruled by emotion isn’t a bad thing.”

Wei Chenghui was delighted and nodded before leaving.

Suzhen was choked awake by the medicinal fragrance filling the room.

She scrambled up and bumped right into Quan Feitong’s forehead. Both cried out, and Suzhen rubbed her forehead while staring at the frowning man before her: “Where is this?”

Quan Feitong reached out to feel her forehead: “Has the fever addled your brain? I said I’d bring you home – naturally this is my bedroom.”

Before her was a bed with snow-white, soft covers floating with faint fragrance. The entire room was decorated with antique elegance. But Suzhen was both shocked and anxious: “Third Master, I’ve already toured your residence when Li Zhaoting invited me over, so I don’t want to come at all.”

“But you haven’t toured my bed yet. How is it – comfortable enough?”

Suzhen was exasperated by him, her vision going slightly black. How could she reason with someone like Quan Feitong!

Li Zhaoting had actually sat by and done nothing. But this was reasonable. She smiled bitterly and was about to get up from the bed when Quan Feitong stood up first, crossed his arms, his expression growing cold: “Li Huaisu, has anyone ever called you an ungrateful wolf?”

Suzhen remembered Lian Yu had also called her an ungrateful wolf. Hearing Quan Feitong bring up old matters, she couldn’t help feeling dejected.

“Lian Yu doesn’t care if you live or die, but I at least rescued you. Is this how you repay your benefactor?”

Speaking honestly, in court struggles Quan Feitong struck at her without mercy, but in daily life he wasn’t bad to her – more than not bad, he could even be called “good.”

Suzhen had always felt both love and hate toward him. Though this love wasn’t romantic, calling him a confidant wouldn’t be excessive. Hearing him speak this way, she finally felt apologetic and bowed to him.

Quan Feitong laughed heartily, suddenly leaned close and hooked her chin with his hand: “Just kidding – I’m not really angry with you. But you’re quite adorable like this.”

Suzhen was both amused and exasperated by him – couldn’t be angry, couldn’t not be angry – and glared fiercely at him.

Who knew Quan Feitong would take advantage and lower his head to plant a kiss on her lips.

“Damn you, you’re asking for a beating!”

The warm, moist touch on her lips, the other party’s profound eyes and brows suddenly magnified before her without warning… Suzhen was stunned for a long moment before reacting. She bit down hard, pushed him away, and covered her lips with her hand.

“I considered you a friend, but you keep toying with me! Quan Feitong, we’re through!”

Her gaze became sharp as she pointed angrily at him. Lian Yu’s coldness and Li Zhaoting’s heartlessness finally found an outlet for venting.

Quan Feitong’s lip bled from her bite. He wiped it with his hand but sat down beside her: “You think this is toying, but I only wanted to do what I wanted to do – how is that toying?”

“Why must you take out the grievances you suffered from Lian Yu on me?”

He sighed slightly, looking quite helpless.

“I didn’t.”

Quan Feitong’s words sounded familiar, reminding Suzhen of what she’d said to Li Zhaoting. She wondered if she’d gone too far and pulled the quilt over her head in confusion. Then thinking it was wrong – Quan Feitong was clearly twisting words, making the perpetrator the victim.

She was furious, about to get up and leave, when Quan Feitong pulled both her and the quilt into his arms.

Whether it was because she was sick or Quan Feitong usually loved exercise, she was held so tightly she couldn’t move at all.

Quan Feitong’s muffled laughter came from outside the quilt.

How helpless! This scoundrel was just pretending!

Soon, equally muffled crying came from inside.

Quan Feitong frowned slightly and pulled off the quilt. Suzhen wasn’t crying at all – seeing her chance for escape, she grabbed her boots and ran.

“Scoundrel, I still have to attend the palace banquet – I can’t keep you company. If you do such outrageous things again, we’ll truly be through!”

Quan Feitong said: “Li Huaisu, look what time it is outside. With your foot injury, forget about attending the palace banquet.”

Suzhen thought this was bad and pulled the door open with both hands. Outside, the sky was already twinkling with stars.

“Don’t blame me for not warning you – the palace banquet starts in just half an hour.”

She was startled and paused. Quan Feitong’s home was neither far nor near from the imperial city. Even if she tried to run there, could she outrun time?

Appearing at this hour would be greatly disrespectful to the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Better not to go at all. Recently Wuqing’s matter had already drawn considerable attention from the Empress Dowager – she couldn’t add fuel to the fire.

She had originally stayed to fight this battle alongside him, but from what she’d seen in court these past days, he had the situation well in hand. Whether she went or not, what difference did it make?

He no longer wanted to see her. Wuyan had explained for her, but he had rejected it.

Anyone would have rejected it.

She wasn’t as good as A Luo.

But who was A Luo?

This name didn’t seem unfamiliar, but despite thinking hard, she couldn’t remember.

No, she still had to go.

She wanted to ask him who A Luo was. She didn’t want to give up on him.

But she had spent over ten years unable to move Li Zhaoting’s heart – what made her think she could touch his again? He wouldn’t even give her time alone anymore, nor did he care about her life, death, or injuries.

She looked down at the old scars on her wrist and sat on the doorstep to put on her boots. Even though they would meet again at morning court tomorrow, she still couldn’t wait.

“Drink the medicine on the table, and I’ll take you there. My residence has a thousand-li horse.”

Behind her, Quan Feitong’s voice came faintly.

She turned back in surprise. Quan Feitong pointed to the table where a bowl of medicine sat properly.

She shook her head: “Scoundrel, stop teasing me.”

Quan Feitong said nothing, remaining silent with slightly lowered eyelids, making him unreadable.

Suzhen studied his face for a long time. This time, he didn’t suddenly smile and say “just kidding” as before.

Suzhen’s guilty conscience was shamefully aroused. For a moment she felt various kinds of awkwardness and unease, covering it up by lowering her head to drink the medicine.

Indeed, after drinking the medicine, her feverish head cleared: Quan Feitong also had to enter the palace – it was just on the way. Why should she feel guilty!

Quan Feitong glanced at her and walked out directly, seemingly to instruct servants to prepare horses. After walking a few steps, he suddenly turned back: “There are some preserved fruits on that table over there, from an old established shop in the capital. I bought some on my way back – you can use them to chase away the bitter taste.”

Suzhen had always loved such treats, but feeling awkward now, she said as if possessed: “I’m not a child – I don’t need them.”

“Oh, suit yourself then.”

Quan Feitong shrugged and walked out of the courtyard.

Suzhen swallowed the last mouthful of medicine, so bitter she kept smacking her lips. She suddenly remembered when she used to buy preserved fruits for Lian Yu, and wondered why Quan Feitong was leaving at this hour. Rushing around wasn’t his style – could it be he hadn’t originally planned to go?

Thinking this way, she carelessly let the bowl slip from her hands and nearly smashed her left foot too.