She threw down her cup and practically jumped to his side.

“Leng Xue, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?” She grabbed his arm in some panic.

Mu San also put away his gentle, meandering smile, watching the two of them calmly.

Leng Xue’s eyes flashed with warning as his gaze quickly swept over Mu San’s face, then looked at her with regret, “I couldn’t complete the task you gave me. I—”

Su Zhen saw his eyes were even reddened. Such a tough, cold person appeared like a child who had done something wrong, making her heart even more anxious. Hearing his words, she shuddered and blurted out, “Did something happen when you went to register for me?”

Leng Xue glanced at Mu San again, pulled her hand, and said in a low voice, “Let’s go back and talk.”

Su Zhen smiled apologetically at Mu San, who nodded understandingly. She immediately took Leng Xue back to their room.

After Leng Xue told her everything in detail, Su Zhen nearly couldn’t stand steady.

She had been careless!

She never thought Lian Xin would make such a move at this crucial moment.

She had once publicly announced where she lived, using long-term residence at the inn as a way to protect her and Leng Xue’s lives, because once they left this place, they would certainly face Lian Xin’s deadly revenge.

When Leng Xue went to the Ministry of Personnel this morning to register for her, the official took the admission ticket but said it was fake.

Leng Xue knew her father was cautious in his work. The identity and hometown on the admission ticket weren’t prepared for her examination, but for her to live quietly in another small county town under this new identity. In the government household registry there, there must be a person named Li Huaisu. This person had passed the provincial examination—his status neither high nor low, less likely to arouse suspicion than a common citizen.

Therefore, Leng Xue naturally didn’t believe it and insisted that the official verify it again. The official looked at him indifferently, called other officials from the office, and they all went into the inner hall to discuss.

Soon they came out and threw the admission ticket back in Leng Xue’s face, saying it was definitely fake and telling Leng Xue to get out of the Ministry of Personnel immediately, or the crime of forgery and fraud would be enough to warrant punishment.

Leng Xue opened his tightly clenched right hand, revealing the admission ticket that had been crumpled from gripping.

He said, “Zhen’er, let’s go file a complaint.”

Su Zhen slowly sat down, also pulling him to sit, and smiled, “Silly child, it’s useless. Not to mention officials protecting each other, most importantly, even if we took it before the emperor and he was willing to handle it fairly, it would be useless.”

As she spoke, she took the thing from his hand and tore it up in a few quick motions.

Leng Xue was caught off guard and couldn’t stop her in time.

He looked at her in exasperation, “Maybe there are capital officials who aren’t afraid of Lian Xin and dare to handle the fake certificate case? You’re also losing your composure. With the road ahead unclear, you know how important this thing is—how could you destroy it!”

Su Zhen shook her head, “Leng Xue, I’m not having a tantrum with myself. Like I just said, even if the emperor was willing to handle this fairly, it would be useless, because this thing really is fake!”

Leng Xue was shocked, “How is that possible? How could the old fox be so careless?”

——

Thank you all for your comments and for maintaining order in the comment section. Whether I respond and am called insecure, or don’t respond and am called shameless—friends, let it all go.