“Clang!” The liquid and cup crashed to the floor, startling everyone in the room, including the squinting Xiao’an. Hong Gu quickly stepped in front of Xiao’an, shouting: “Come! Seize the assassin!”
There had only been three or four attending palace maids in the room. At the female official’s command, four or five guards immediately rushed in, drawing swords for protection, their blades flashing menacingly.
Wuyan was greatly alarmed, glancing at Suzhen questioningly. It turned out that concern for Wuyan had ultimately made Suzhen rush out. She said quietly: “This wine might be poisoned.”
Wuyan’s heart grew cold, but at this moment she couldn’t worry about such things. She told the guards: “Wait!”
Then immediately looked toward Xiao’an: “Empress Dowager, this is Magistrate Li, not an assassin.”
Xiao’an had already seen clearly who was beside Wuyan and heard Suzhen’s words distinctly. She had always been wary of this person, and now that her great plan had been ruined, how could she not be angry? Murderous intent stirred in her heart, but remembering Lian Yu’s words that day, she calculated briefly before saying in a deep voice: “If not an assassin, then it’s illicit conduct! Otherwise, why would a dignified man appear sneakily in your palace? How do you explain this?”
Suzhen and Wuyan exchanged glances, both thinking this was terrible. Xiao’an knew Suzhen’s gender, but publicly she was still “male”—this trumped-up charge fit perfectly.
Guards advanced with threatening swords, their cold light menacing—
Xiao’an laughed coldly, her eyes showing full predatory fierceness: “You two dare commit such filthy, chaotic acts! I oversee the Six Palaces and will execute judgment according to law today. Come, arrest them both!”
“Wei Wuyan, who would have thought you so bold! No wonder you dismissed all the palace servants—what a shameless woman!”
Lian Yue’s eyes deliberately showed contempt and disdain, watching with satisfaction as Wuyan furrowed her brows.
As guards attacked with swords, they didn’t expect that Suzhen, a mere scholar, would know some martial arts and could actually block several strikes. Xiao’an’s expression darkened. Seeing this, Hong Gu ordered: “Injuries don’t matter—capture them!”
Several swords attacked. Suzhen was in grave danger. Seeing a guard raise his sword to stab Wuyan, she couldn’t spare herself and extended her arm to deflect it for Wuyan. Her arm immediately bled profusely. Wuyan was so shocked her face went pale: “Don’t worry about me—break out yourself!”
The two exchanged a glance. For now, only by finding Lian Yu could they save their lives.
Suzhen had been displeased with Lian Yue anyway and almost immediately made up her mind. Unexpectedly, Wuyan shared her thoughts. With Lian Yue standing right beside Wuyan, in that instant, Wuyan bent down to pick up a porcelain shard and pressed it to Lian Yue’s neck: “Empress Dowager, Wuyan means no offense to the Princess Imperial, but with our lives at stake, I must take this liberty.”
Xiao’an’s eyes instantly filled with chilling coldness that made people tremble with fear: “Bold Wei Wuyan! How dare you threaten me?!”
Hong Gu stepped forward, but Xiao’an was still concerned about harming the hostage and waved her back.
Lian Yue was startled for a moment when seized, but remained quite composed, saying coldly: “If you dare harm me, Huo Chang’an won’t let you go.”
Wuyan smiled coldly: “Then open your eyes wide and see if I dare harm you.”
Xiao’an asked coldly: “What do you want before you’ll release the Princess Imperial? Release her, and I’ll spare you both.”
Suzhen secretly looked at Wuyan, quickly shaking her head. With their minds in sync, Wuyan naturally wouldn’t believe any promises now. She cleared her throat: “Unless you let Li Huaisu safely leave.”
Suzhen said firmly: “No, if you don’t leave, I won’t leave. We leave together.”
“Let me think about this,” Xiao’an frowned slightly, pretending to consider, thinking: Deep friendship is perfect—not leaving is perfect! She secretly and swiftly signaled Hong Gu with her eyes. Hong Gu understood—in fact, while everyone was distracted, she had already removed a hairpin from her head and hidden it in her palm, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Who knew that just as her hairpin was about to fly out, Suzhen suddenly rolled on the ground, leaped up and crashed through a nearby window, jumping out.
The guards wanted to pursue, but Xiao’an stopped them: “Can’t catch up now.”
“Diversion tactic—what a cunning Li Huaisu!” She laughed in anger, looking at Wuyan with some mockery: “Look, this is your so-called friendship.”
Unexpectedly, Wuyan’s lips curved in a silent smile, showing no resentment.
Hong Gu was shocked and angry, about to shoot the hairpin through Wuyan’s palm, but noticed Lian Yue’s subtle eye signal and stayed her hand.
Xiao’an slightly signaled a nearby palace maid. Having served by her side for a long time, the maid had become shrewd, understanding immediately and quietly slipped out.
This dangerous episode and everyone’s thoughts occurred within mere moments.
In the deep palace gardens, Suzhen covered her arm and ran desperately toward the imperial study—that had been so dangerous! Fortunately, she had judged others by her own small-minded standards, or she would have died on the spot without knowing why. She had originally planned to seize Lian Yue as a hostage to let Wuyan escape first, but unexpectedly, Wuyan shared her thoughts and acted first.
Both understood that only if one of them escaped would everyone have a chance to live.
In the imperial study, eunuchs were serving tea to Lian Jie and the others.
Lian Yu sipped his tea, asking lightly: “Minister Li has an answer?”
Li Zhaoting met his gaze without fear, his eyes bright with open smile: “This minister is willing to serve Your Majesty.”
Lian Jie and Lian Qin looked around at each other, both showing surprise. Lian Yu wasn’t surprised, however. If Li Zhaoting’s answer were negative, he needn’t have made this trip. Since he chose to come, there was only one answer—willing to accept pacification.
His inquiry that day was meant to sow discord, with no expectation of success—just giving others a taste of their own medicine.
He knew very clearly what Quan Feitong had said to Lian Jie. Lian Jie had spoken with him that very night. Quan Feitong had underestimated the effort he’d invested in this brother over the years.
However, though he knew the answer, he was curious what game Li Zhaoting was playing—this man whose literary reputation moved the world, usually low-key but showing extraordinary qualities at crucial moments.
This person’s intelligence was no less than Quan Feitong’s. If he could wield power, he would definitely not be ordinary. In future, he’d really need to find an opportunity to eliminate him. He thought lightly, though his expression showed only a harmless shallow smile: “Good. With Minister Li’s assistance, I can be said to have wings added to a tiger. I wonder what Minister Quan has been up to recently—could Minister Li inform me?”
Li Zhaoting saw his gentle tone as if completely without suspicion, sneering inwardly: Lian Yu, you’re truly excellent. Just as he was about to mention a few unimportant matters, Ming Yanchu rushed in without announcement, leading someone, his eyes showing urgent alarm: “Your Majesty, something has happened—”
No need for further explanation—Lian Yu had already seen the person behind him, in official robes with half the garment stained with blood.
He felt that string in his heart snap with a “twang”! He rushed forward, embracing the person, his originally smiling expression immediately covered with frost, his entire face darkening: “Where are you hurt? Who did this?”
Suzhen’s face was pale, half her arm soaked in blood. Her heart burning with anxiety, she summarized briefly in a few words: “It’s nothing, just my arm. Lian Yu, it was the Empress Dowager! She and Lian Yue seem to have murderous intent toward Wuyan. I can’t explain the details clearly—hurry and save Wuyan! We conspired together, with her holding Lian Yue hostage so I could escape first. Go quickly!”
Lian Jie was so shocked he jumped up slightly. Lian Qin slapped his forehead: “You even took the Princess Imperial hostage?! Heavens, you two are really something! Li Huaisu, you bring disaster wherever you go. Even Consort Wei has been led astray by you—is there anything you can’t do?”
For once, his face showed a trace of admiration. Suzhen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, thinking that the hostage was your imperial sister. Lian Yu saw her squirming in his arms and pressed her down.
His strength was too great for her to struggle against. Suzhen anxiously called out: “Aren’t you going to…”
After saying just one sentence, he interrupted her with a dark, cold expression: “Shut up. I’ll bandage you first.”
He turned to order Lian Jie: “Seventh Brother, you and Ninth Brother go ahead first. Say you’re conveying my oral decree—no one may act rashly. To prevent… Consort Wei from accidentally harming the Empress Dowager, command the Imperial Guard to protect the Empress Dowager and wait for me to handle it. Understand?”
This protection was actually restraint… How could Lian Jie not understand? He smiled and nodded: “This subject understands and will handle it immediately.”
But then he worried: “If the Empress Dowager blames you, Sixth Brother…”
Lian Yu’s gaze was decisive, his tone even more certain: “It’s fine. Saving people is like fighting fire—handle it immediately.”
His stern command showed imperial dominance.
“Yes.”
Lian Jie patted Lian Qin, and both immediately left together.
Ming Yanchu stood to the side. Lian Yu’s eyes were deeply dark as he suddenly raised his voice: “What are you standing there for? Why aren’t you summoning the imperial physician?”
Ming Yanchu was frightened by the scolding and immediately replied: “Your Majesty, seeing the young lady injured earlier, I already sent Xuanwu and the others.”
Lian Yu’s expression softened slightly as he hummed acknowledgment. Regardless of others in the room, he swept everything off the table with his sleeve, lifted Suzhen onto his usual office sandalwood desk, his forehead tightly creased, his entire face stern, clearly heartbroken.
Suzhen saw he had given orders to Lian Jie and finally relaxed slightly. With this relaxation, the tearing pain in her arm immediately came in waves, making her bite her lip and bury her head in Lian Yu’s embrace.
Seeing her forehead damp with sweat, Lian Yu felt as if something had viciously twisted his heart. He lowered his head to kiss her lips, patting her back comfortingly: “It’s nothing. It won’t hurt in a moment.”
Li Zhaoting stood quietly to the side, his hands in his sleeves clenched into tight fists. These two people’s world seemed to exclude him entirely—their eyes seemed to hold only each other and nothing else.
He felt everything before him was so unreal—the two had just kissed so openly, oblivious to others.
So it wasn’t her seducing Lian Yu, wasn’t Lian Yu acting—they had truly gotten together.
Everyone else seemed to understand, and only he was kept in the dark?!
Something fierce struck his heart. In that instant, he actually felt unable to breathe.
He also seemed to clearly see that blade of light in his heart. He made no sound, still standing quietly to the side like Ming Yanchu, dutiful and disciplined!
Suzhen caught her breath slightly in Lian Yu’s embrace. A burning gaze fixed on her back. She suddenly realized that in her earlier urgency, she had forgotten the people in the room. Her face paled as she suddenly lifted her head from Lian Yu’s arms. Lian Yu saw her look at Li Zhaoting in panic. At this moment, his entire attention was on her wound, without much thought for other things. Thinking she disliked others watching, and since he also disliked others present when they were alone together, he looked toward Li Zhaoting and ordered: “Magistrate Li may return first. I’ll find you again.”
“Yes, this minister takes leave first.”
Li Zhaoting bowed, his expression peaceful, and walked slowly out of the imperial study.
Before leaving, what remained in his peripheral vision was the two gazing at each other, whispering intimately. Outside, lush trees and clear water, morning breeze and proud sun, yet glaring. He quickly settled on a plan.
For Suzhen, as long as she could avoid mutual embarrassment and ensure Li Zhaoting’s safety, she couldn’t worry about much else at this time. Tugging Lian Yu’s sleeve: “Let’s go there first. Deal with the wound later. Seventh Prince handles things well, but I keep feeling something else might happen. Please, Lian Yu?”
Lian Yu frowned. Knowing Lian Yu treated Wuyan as a close friend, he steeled himself to help her up, letting her lean against him: “Fine, but try not to say much later—just push everything onto me. Do you understand?”
Though their personalities differed greatly, they were similar in one way—how they treated feelings and friends. Suzhen smiled and nodded, feeling that no matter what dangers lay ahead, she needn’t fear. After her family’s destruction, for the first time she felt peace and safety.
Wuyan knew Suzhen would bring reinforcements, so if they wanted to harm her now, it would be unwise. She thought to release Lian Yue, but just then, a palace maid hurried over. Behind her, a figure in black boots and brocade robes slowly walked in.
“Chang’an, you come at the perfect time.”
Xiao’an looked up and sighed. Huo Chang’an nodded. He didn’t exchange pleasantries with this aunt of his, raising his eyes to stare at Wuyan, slowly saying: “Wei Wuyan, what audacity you have—daring to touch my people!”
Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival~