Suzhen saw his eyes flashing with roguish energy and immediately blushed deeply, secretly pinching him: “Seventh Prince and the others are still here!”

Lian Yu’s tone was leisurely: “So you want them to leave.”

He glanced at Lian Jie and Lian Qin. Lian Jie sighed while Lian Qin grinned wickedly: “Sixth Brother, we know what to do. We’ll wait in the imperial study first. You two… finish your business then come discuss matters.”

Suzhen’s face burned so hot it might melt: “Hey, don’t leave…”

The two exchanged smiles, ignoring her with an attitude of “men understand men,” quickly disappearing.

Suzhen was speechless with frustration.

Lian Yu looked at her somewhat frivolously, quite pleased with himself. Seeing his rakish manner, Suzhen felt both shy and exasperated, then thought: In broad daylight, what could he do?!

Lian Yu suddenly beckoned. The Imperial Guard commander following behind immediately stepped forward: “Your Majesty, what are your orders?”

Lian Yu switched to his official tone, ordering lightly: “Send people ahead and deploy more Imperial Guards. If anyone passes by, have them detour. Every ten meters a post, all facing away. Understand?”

The commander was stunned, glancing at Suzhen with some surprise. Lian Yu raised an eyebrow, his tone growing cold: “What, Commander Zhang has questions about my orders?”

Commander Zhang was alarmed, quickly bowing his head trembling: “I wouldn’t dare! This subordinate will handle it immediately.”

He led his men away quickly. Suzhen watched in a daze, her heart racing again: “Now look what they think of us—foolish ruler, male favorite!”

Lian Yu raised his eyebrows, his expression proud: “Let them think what they want.”

Suddenly his face lowered close to hers, and she found herself lifted into the air. Startled, she scolded: “I’m still injured…”

He carried her horizontally, pressing his forehead to hers, ignoring her as he commanded: “Put your arms around my neck.”

Suzhen was proudly defiant, looking at him askance: “I won’t!”

“Good, daring to defy your future husband—I see you’re tired of living.”

His gaze rippled as his hand supporting her hip moved slightly, actually preparing to toss her up. Suzhen screamed, quickly throwing her arms around his neck. She heard his short, muffled laughter by her ear and looked up in shock, seeing his eyes holding threads of gentle light like a pool of scattered jade waves, flowing straight into her heart.

He said nothing, holding her steadily without swaying, striding forward quickly. She suddenly realized his intention, her voice slightly hoarse: “You tricked me.”

He just wanted to carry her back so she wouldn’t have to walk in pain.

But an emperor carrying a subject like this through the palace was shocking enough. That Commander Zhang hadn’t even seen it but was already startled just hearing their conversation, so his…

Lian Yu smiled at her, raising an eyebrow: “Tsk tsk, are you complaining I didn’t do anything?”

Suzhen’s face and neck burned, but her heart was sweet as honey. She buried her head in his neck.

His deep voice by her ear was relentless: “When you’re healed, you must return the favor—then it won’t be a joke.”

Suzhen’s face was burning but she seemed to accept it gladly, her heart trembling slightly. She actually forgot to say “no.”

She tightened her arms around his neck, gently kissing his lips. As she lowered her head, she clearly saw Lian Yu’s bright, smiling eyes. As he leaned down to kiss her, she quickly stopped him, her eyes widening slightly.

They had reached the ten-meter posts. Looking around, there were tall, strong guards standing majestically everywhere, but each had turned away, motionless, even their breathing quiet.

Seeing her face red with embarrassment, Lian Yu smiled slightly and carried her past.

A few birds flew over from the flower beds ahead, carrying away a wing-full of fragrance. The summer sun was brilliant, making her squint slightly, but her heart melted completely. She called his name softly: “Lian Yu.”

“Mm.”

“Will you stay with me for life?”

Lian Yu didn’t speak. Suzhen waited a while without hearing his answer, growing anxious, when his low, mellow voice finally came down: “Ask me again when we’ve lived a lifetime together.”

Suzhen didn’t react at first, then after a long while, smiled until her eyes grew misty.

This scene wasn’t witnessed by several women hidden near Wuyan’s palace, their gazes still seeming fixed on the moment when Lian Yu had swept the other into his arms.

The great incident at Consort Wei’s palace had long alarmed them. Receiving reports from servants, they had each hurried over.

But given the earlier situation, none had wisely emerged. After a terrible silence, the air seemed to congeal into a mass, making breathing difficult. Suddenly, Murong Ci spoke first, her eyes showing no less malice than her aunt Xiao’an: “How about we join forces?”

Miao Yin relaxed her tightly furrowed brow, replying coolly: “Sorry, I’m not interested.”

She was the first to leave.

“Ungrateful,” Murong Ci sneered, looking at Shuangcheng: “What do you say?”

Gu Shuangcheng’s eyes were like black lacquer. She said mockingly: “What do you think you are?”

Murong Ci was furious but could only watch her leave helplessly.

Shuangcheng hadn’t brought maids today. Though the summer sun was fierce, she felt cold all over, shivering with pain. Unable to help herself, she hugged her arms and quickened her pace.

But no matter how fast she walked, those two people’s loving expressions continued to shimmer before her eyes.

She took a deep breath, suddenly showing a predatory look. She abruptly changed direction, heading toward the inner palace depths.

This was a dilapidated, abandoned courtyard with dozens of rooms overgrown with dark green, slimy vines that looked nauseating—the former palace dye workshop. Legend said a female official once hanged herself here after her lover outside the palace found someone new. Palace rumors were countless, claiming crying could be heard here nightly, terrifying the palace staff, so they moved elsewhere.

In the courtyard, dusty bamboo poles still held a few pieces of fabric, but after sun and rain, they had long lost their former colors, hazily resembling green mist. When the wind moved them against people, it would be quite eerie if not for the bright noon hour.

Yet in this strange place, soft voices emerged from beneath the fabric, with two long shadows on the ground.

Maid Mei’er looked at the handsome gentleman before her, face flushed as she thanked him profusely: “Thank you, Minister Li. This servant will immediately return to tell Miss the time and place. This servant takes leave first—farewell, Young Master.”

The man opposite her had recently left the imperial study, his expression somewhat cold: “Thank you for your trouble, Miss. Please.”

Mei’er blushed, curtsied, and quickly departed.

She soon stopped, looking ahead with surprise: “Miss? How did you come here? Didn’t you say the Empress Dowager’s people were watching closely, making it inconvenient to move about…”

The approaching woman quickly nodded, her expression hiding some impatience: “It’s fine. Go back first—Xiao’an will think I went to watch His Majesty’s excitement.” Mei’er, seeing her tone cold as ice, was startled and quickly nodded before hurrying away.

“So Miss Shuangcheng finished watching the excitement?”

From the depths of the blue silk, Li Zhaoting’s lips curved in a mocking arc as he asked lightly.

Gu Shuangcheng was extremely angry inside. Suppressing her rage, she only said coldly: “Why mock me?”

Li Zhaoting, seeing her expression fierce with grief, was only more furious, but his composure ran much deeper than hers—his face showed nothing. He said lightly: “I’m leaving first. Since you know the palace has many eyes and ears, making conversation inconvenient, you shouldn’t take risks. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

He walked past indifferently, but Shuangcheng stepped forward, blocking his path: “No. I want to know now. Zhaoting, who exactly is Li Huaisu?”

Li Zhaoting was slightly stunned, then smiled knowingly: “So you want to ask about her. What, you can’t even wait a few days to leave the palace, coming here personally—did you hear some ‘exciting news’ today?”

“Yes,” Shuangcheng laughed coldly. “When she was wounded in the Pei Fengji case, you asked me to plead with His Majesty for her. I was always puzzled—if she had merit, why would His Majesty threaten her life? Later I finally understood—she’s a woman. And you knew she was female all along!”

“Who exactly is she, Zhaoting? Tell me!”

But Li Zhaoting also laughed coldly: “You know my feelings for you—how could I tell you and help you find her weaknesses to gain the emperor’s exclusive favor?”

Shuangcheng clenched her teeth: “Then aren’t you afraid I’ll tell His Majesty you have feelings for me, and I’m already a consort—”

Li Zhaoting’s tone grew colder: “Shuangcheng, I used to think His Majesty loved you greatly, but from what I’ve seen now, he dotes on Li Huaisu considerably—no less than you.”

Shuangcheng was shaken, her mind reeling. Suddenly someone patted her back. She screamed, and Li Zhaoting frowned, stepping forward to embrace her comfortingly: “Don’t be afraid—just fabric moving behind you.”

Shuangcheng’s composure settled slightly as she nodded. Li Zhaoting saw her lips’ captivating color, extremely alluring. Suddenly remembering Lian Yu kissing Suzhen in the imperial study, evil fire flared in his belly. The woman in his arms was the one he loved… He suddenly lifted Shuangcheng’s chin and kissed her.