When Lian Yu carried Suzhen back to the imperial study, the imperial physician had already been brought over by Qinglong and others, waiting respectfully for some time. The imperial study was extremely large, with inner chambers containing beds and soft couches for Lian Yu’s daily rest. After the physician treated her wound, Lian Yu carried Suzhen to a soft couch, letting her lean against his shoulder to rest. Lian Jie and Lian Qin sat below them and began seriously analyzing the poisoned wine incident.

Lian Yu first asked Suzhen: “Why did you think there was poison in the wine at that time?”

Suzhen recalled the scene: “Lian Yue’s eyes were too strange.”

Lian Yu said nothing, one arm embracing her, the other propping up his chin—his habitual gesture when thinking. Lian Jie frowned slightly: “But now facts prove the wine wasn’t poisoned.”

He looked at Lian Yu and Suzhen again: “Though the Princess Imperial is my sister, Lian Jie would never show favoritism. Her temperament is fierce and sometimes I’m quite helpless too.”

Lian Yu: “I know, otherwise I wouldn’t have had you handle this earlier.”

Lian Jie felt somewhat reassured but frowned more deeply: “This whole matter is strange everywhere.”

Lian Qin was restless. He stood up and paced, quite impatient: “This affair is indeed suspicious. Never mind whether the wine was poisoned—just the motive for poisoning seems forced. At that time Consort Wei’s palace was empty, but the Princess Imperial and Empress Dowager couldn’t have known beforehand, right?”

Lian Yu interjected lightly: “Correct. Even I only learned later that Wuyan had dismissed everyone for convenient conversation.”

Seeing him nod encouragingly, Lian Qin smugly raised his lips and continued: “With Consort Wei’s servants watching nearby, if she drank poisoned wine and died, they couldn’t escape responsibility. If she really wanted to harm her, it would be more convenient to find assassins to sneak into the palace and quietly kill her.”

Now Lian Jie also nodded slightly: “Right. First, it would be difficult to trace the mastermind; second, no need to worry about explaining to Huo Chang’an. Third, their grudge wasn’t formed in a day—if they wanted to kill someone for revenge, why wait until now?”

“Yes, yes,” Lian Qin suddenly stopped: “Let me add another point—the Empress Dowager was also present. The Princess Imperial shouldn’t do such things under her nose, unless they were accomplices. But… if they were accomplices, I really can’t think what reason the Empress Dowager would have to kill Wei Wuyan. Haven’t they always coexisted peacefully? Consort Wei has always been respectful to the Empress Dowager. Though not as close as with Consort Ci, there’s no reason to suddenly want murder!”

Hearing this, Lian Jie suddenly found it amusing: “Such clear, logical reasoning truly doesn’t sound like it came from your mouth.”

Lian Qin’s face alternated between red and blue: “Seventh Brother, are you praising or mocking me?”

Lian Jie ignored him, looking at the slightly downcast Suzhen, hesitating: “I’m not questioning you, just wondering if in that situation…”

Suzhen immediately looked up. Being straightforward by nature, she smiled and continued: “Whether I saw wrong… there’s indeed that possibility. After all, I had preconceived bias against the Princess Imperial.”

“If that’s really the case, I’ve caused you all great trouble.”

She stuck out her tongue apologetically.

Everyone was somewhat surprised, even the quietly contemplative Lian Yu glanced at her.

Unexpectedly, she didn’t mind this almost distrustful analysis—her heart was quite broad.

Lian Qin snorted: “Good that you know your mistake—it was practically a disaster.”

Though he spoke thus, his gaze rarely showed a trace of appreciation.

“But what if there really was poison?” Suzhen suddenly asked slowly: “What if it was some slow-acting poison that wouldn’t take effect immediately?”

Lian Jie was just picking up a teacup handed by Ming Yanchu. Hearing this, he immediately set it down, opposing: “I heard Huo Chang’an also tested the wine—not only drinking the entire pot but also touching Wuyan’s cup.”

Lian Qin nodded repeatedly: “If there was really poison, regardless of fast or slow, the Empress Dowager and Princess Imperial couldn’t have let Huo Chang’an touch Consort Wei’s cup.”

Suzhen, always full of ideas, almost immediately thought of another scenario: “But what if it was slow-acting poison that hadn’t taken effect yet, and after returning, the Princess Imperial found a way to put antidote in Marquis Huo’s food—”

“This hypothesis doesn’t hold.”

The one interrupting her was Lian Yu, who had remained silent.

Suzhen’s heart sank, looking at him uncomprehendingly.

“Poison is a common tactic of palace women. I don’t understand it well, but one thing is certain—regardless of speed, these poisons absolutely cannot have antidotes. My mother also died from poisoning years ago. Because no one would give opponents or enemies the slightest chance of survival.”

When Suzhen returned, Lian Yu’s words kept turning in her mind. Thinking of Lian Yu’s birth mother, remembering his indifferent expression when speaking, her heart ached. Later, the physician who treated Wuyan came to report that Consort Wei only had some confused consciousness, her injuries weren’t severe. However, her wrist had damaged tendons—uncertain if it could fully recover. If not, ordinary exertion would be fine, but it would significantly affect playing the zither and lifting heavy objects.

Everyone felt somewhat heavy hearing this. Wei Wuyan excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—a famous talented beauty in the capital who especially loved playing the zither.

But fortunately, she hadn’t been poisoned after all.

Because Lian Yu, being cautious, had Lian Jie make a trip to check on Wuyan personally. The result showed her pulse remained normal.

Wuyan, fearing Suzhen’s worry, came over with Lian Jie.

Suzhen felt extremely guilty: “Wuyan, today’s events might have been pure misunderstanding. I implicated you in trouble, and also…”

She had wanted to say she’d caused Huo Chang’an, that bastard, to hurt her heart, but ultimately swallowed those inappropriate words.

Wuyan gently patted her equally bandaged arm with her gauze-wrapped hand. Her face was still frighteningly pale, but her lips held a faint smile: “You were also injured—consider it even. Don’t be sad. If there’s opportunity, I’ll return to see you every year.”

Her eyes grew misty: “It’s a promise.”

Lian Yu sent Xuanwu to escort her from the palace. Xuanwu drove the carriage outside while Suzhen sat dejectedly in the cabin. She had always wanted to talk with Huo Chang’an about Wuyan—now it seemed unnecessary. Even talking would be useless.

Who could understand such loneliness? Counting past words, all lightly broken.

Yet somehow, Wuyan’s situation and the path ahead, like those unsolved cases of the past, wrapped around her neck like tightening vines, making her almost unable to breathe. She suddenly shivered violently.

Taking out the jade stone Lian Yu had given her from her neck, she finally steadied her spirit.

She couldn’t wait for her wound to heal any longer. Tomorrow she’d attend court, see Lian Yu once more, then leave the capital. She’d put everything on schedule without delay! Since she didn’t know what awaited in the future, she’d take initiative.

She secretly resolved this.

Gu Shuangcheng admitted that for a moment, thinking of Lian Yu’s heartlessness, she hadn’t stopped Li Zhaoting. After all, this person lacked nothing except a status less noble than Lian Yu’s. Even his clear, bright features strangely resembled Lian Yu by three parts.

But when Li Zhaoting’s eyes flashed with burning darkness and his lips pried open her mouth, she still panicked and forcefully pushed him away.

Li Zhaoting watched her frantically wipe her lips, also raising his hand to clean traces from his mouth.

“Shuangcheng, you’re actually somewhat moved by me, aren’t you?” He raised his eyebrows smiling, teasing her.

For the first time, Gu Shuangcheng saw this person’s eyes showing deep, sinister darkness. Somewhat alarmed, her teeth chattered slightly as she angrily demanded: “No! Li Zhaoting, I once considered you a confidant—don’t you find yourself despicable!”

But he showed a careless smile: “On the seventh day of the seventh month, I’ll wait for you at the place arranged with your maid. If you want to know Li Huaisu’s secrets, come find me and take initiative like I treated you. Consider it carefully for a few days.”

He wanted her to actively kiss him?! Shuangcheng’s face paled. She understood men’s psychology of conquest, the beast-like predatory wildness flowing in their bodies. Trembling with anger, she said word by word: “Don’t even think about it.”

Li Zhaoting felt a twisted satisfaction from tearing something apart. Too much had weighed on him these years. He looked at her deeply and walked out of the courtyard.

Shuangcheng stood in the courtyard as silk was blown by wind, hitting her again. The misty green fog in the fabric’s center seemed to transform into that tragically dead female official, coldly watching and mocking her: “My ending will eventually be yours too.”

Shuangcheng’s face contorted momentarily. She coldly stared back at “her,” her lips moving silently like an oath: “No, my ending is the empress position! All the suffering I’ve endured these years, I want Li Huaisu to taste tenfold. She’ll never be with Lian Yu. Even Li Zhaoting won’t become his confidant and friend.”

Leaving the dye workshop, Li Zhaoting passed through several courtyards, gradually reaching an open area. He deliberately chose a quiet path, slightly lowering his eyes in thought, his gaze occasionally showing darkness. Until hearing gurgling water sounds, he looked up to see a slender green figure standing by the lake vigorously throwing stones.

Perhaps using too much force, the woman’s feet slipped. With a cry, she fell straight toward the lake.

He briefly considered, then stepped forward and caught her. The woman cried softly, falling into his embrace.

“A scene of loneliness” quote: From Liu Yong’s poetry.