The emperor’s words reminded many who hadn’t noticed the coincidence before.

Immediately half turned to look at Li Zhaoting.

If Li Huaisu was the Feng family daughter, wouldn’t this Minister Li be an old acquaintance—more than acquaintances, former betrothed. This was interesting indeed.

Li Zhaoting had long known Li Huaisu’s identity, hadn’t he?

Knowing but not reporting was also a great crime!

Suzhen was so shocked by Lian Yu’s tone her heart trembled, hands shaking more. Fortunately her wide sleeves covered them. Her scalp tingled as she rapidly calculated, but whether admitting or denying seemed wrong.

Admitting would let her propose overturning the Feng family case, but simultaneously created problems for Lian Yu. If the reversal were first proposed by Lian Yu to officials, that might work. Now that she was exposed first, if Lian Yu protected her, would officials agree? Today’s revelation was premeditated—Huang Zhongyue and others would certainly argue forcefully while implicating Li Zhaoting.

Denying—Lian Yu already knew. Not admitting meant deceiving him again, to his face. What would he think?

Just as countless claws seemed to rake her, someone spoke first.

“This minister boldly reports to Your Majesty—this minister once had marriage contract with the Feng family, knowing them since childhood, quite familiar with their appearance and voice. Whether Magistrate Li is male or female, this minister cannot confirm, but this minister believes Magistrate Li is not Feng family. Though they resemble each other seventy to eighty percent, specifically speaking, they differ. Upon first meeting Magistrate Li, this minister was also shocked. Could Minister Huang and others have mistakenly identified Magistrate Li as Feng family due to this resemblance?”

Hearing Li Zhaoting’s words, Suzhen felt guilty—she’d just suspected him… Why hadn’t she considered that if the secret truly leaked from him, he’d also be in trouble? Since he firmly denied it, she absolutely couldn’t implicate him. Lian Yu, forgive me—

She slowly knelt, bowing to the ground, addressing that person word by word: “Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister… is indeed not from Huai County’s Feng family. This is malicious framing by someone with ulterior motives. Please investigate clearly, Your Majesty.”

Finishing these words, she remained bowed in silence, never daring to raise her head.

Li Zhaoting looked toward Huang Zhongyue, deliberately asking: “I wonder from whom the minister received this secret intelligence? How did the informant determine Magistrate Li’s identity? Is there evidence?”

Huang Zhongyue sneered: “Since it’s secret intelligence, what informant details exist? To verify this Magistrate Li’s identity, simply have painters create portraits and send them to Minister’s hometown Huai County for verification.”

Li Zhaoting, rebuffed thus, seemed unable to argue, only smiling bitterly.

Just as Huang Zhongyue showed satisfaction, applause rang out. Startled, he saw Lian Yu walking down the steps, clapping as he walked. His heart immediately tensed—he’d planned to press his advantage but temporarily held back. The Huang Tianba incident made him hate this ignorant young emperor! But for now, he’d endure a bit longer.

Footsteps accompanied applause, bringing familiar crisp fragrance.

“Feng Suzhen, you truly disappoint me, very disappoint me.”

She knelt on the ground as someone bent down, whispering by her ear.

Suzhen’s ears rang—no blame, no excessive coldness, only a light laugh.

This made Suzhen’s fear suddenly deepen, but this time not fear of death, but grief. She’d finally been with him—must they separate again? No!

“I didn’t mean to…”

She spoke quietly, wanting to say something to him, but he quickly withdrew, walking back before the throne, smiling as he spoke: “Minister Li, I can’t help praising you—you spoke very well, and you even know to be modest. I thought you didn’t realize! I was questioning Li Huaisu—what business is it of yours? Who gave you the right to speak?”

The last sentence was like snapping strings, something flying from the desk and striking Li Zhaoting’s face without mercy.

Lightning fast, a dull thud.

On the ground lay an imperial desk paperweight stone.

Li Zhaoting’s cheekbone immediately swelled and bruised. Probably scraped, blood beaded—this current second-place scholar’s handsome face was quite disheveled.

Someone gasped. Officials were shocked speechless, especially Huang Zhongyue.

Li Zhaoting lowered his eyes slightly, darkness quickly flashing beneath before he raised his head with another bitter smile. He quickly knelt, answering Lian Yu: “Your Majesty speaks truly. This minister spoke too much. This minister deserves it. This minister… acknowledges guilt!”

Suzhen wanted to check Li Zhaoting’s injury but as her eyes moved, she met Lian Yu’s silently laughing deep gaze. Her heart was in chaos—he was watching her, had been watching her quietly all along.

Lian Yu stood with hands behind his back, saying nothing, clearly giving Li Zhaoting no face. Some glanced secretly at Quan Feitong—this Minister Quan hadn’t stood to defend his subordinate. Though he’d previously shared carriages with Li Huaisu, seemingly courting favor, after Lian Yu’s heavy favor toward Li Huaisu, Li Huaisu had always opposed him, being his troublesome enemy. Yet now he didn’t add insult to injury? He remained calm throughout, utterly inscrutable.

More people smiled knowingly, seeming to see many undercurrents and inner situations.

Lian Yu suddenly looked toward Huang Zhongyue and the dozen key figures behind him. Seeing his wolf-like flickering gaze, Huang Zhongyue’s heart sank, but with his experience, he wasn’t afraid, only gathering his full attention for confrontation.

There, Lian Yu was already laughing coldly: “Li Zhaoting deserves punishment for speaking out of turn, but at least he got one thing right. Minister Huang, you dare memorialize me without knowing who reported this? Do you want me to personally investigate? Then what use is the court in keeping you?”

“A bunch of waste!”

Lian Yu swept his sleeves, his smile growing darker: “If this is groundless gossip, you deserve death even more. Believing rumors to attack colleagues, disturbing court discipline—what crime is this?”

His sudden shout made some back down and fall silent, but the remaining half were hardliners loyal to Huang Zhongyue, kneeling with him.

“We ministers are useless, but we risk death to advise, fearing evil people plotting against Your Majesty. Please investigate thoroughly, Your Majesty.”

Huang Zhongyue knocked his head loudly, emotions overflowing, deliberately making Lian Yu’s situation difficult.

Lian Yu frowned slightly.

The young emperor paused briefly, turning to question Yan Da: “Minister Yan, the Feng family case was personally supervised by you. I ask you—was the Feng family’s young daughter executed or are there other circumstances?!”

His tone was harsh. Yan Da had been deeply frowning but now coldly glanced at Huang Zhongyue: “Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister was ordered to handle this case personally, witnessing the Feng family’s four members’ execution. Their remains were displayed at the city gates for three days before burial in the county’s mass grave. There should be absolutely no possibility of survival.”

“Unless,” this old minister frowned: “the Feng family young lady who died that day was impersonated by someone else. But Huai County isn’t small—many citizens knew the Feng family. If the Feng daughter’s appearance was wrong, why did no one question it?”

“This old minister also feels this Magistrate Li’s features indeed somewhat resemble that Feng Suzhen, but probably aren’t the same person. Worldly coincidences can be quite strange.”

“Minister Huang and others memorializing based solely on one letter seems too hasty.”

Huang Zhongyue hadn’t expected Lian Yu to seek Yan Da’s testimony. As a strong-willed person facing potential dereliction of duty, Yan Da naturally wouldn’t admit fault, enraging Huang Zhongyue who clenched his teeth hard.

But Suzhen’s heart raised a big question mark. She’d always thought Feng Meiren and the execution supervisor might have had some relationship, enabling her escape. Later, secretly reading case files, she learned Yan Da was the supervising official but dared not rashly inquire, fearing alerting the enemy. Now hearing his words, she didn’t know if he was following Lian Yu’s lead or speaking truthfully.

Who was that woman with similar features hanging on the wall that day? Could it be Hong Xiao? But Hong Xiao didn’t much resemble her.

The Feng family case had finally surfaced but was becoming more mysterious than ever.

She hadn’t expected Lian Yu to publicly protect her. Her eyes grew misty—he still loved her after all… But this time, would he forgive her?

Just then, two more people stepped forward.

“Sixth Brother, Minister Yan speaks truly, but since Minister Huang and others received reports, there might be some basis even if groundless. Sixth Brother must order investigation.”

The speakers were Lian Jie and Lian Qin. Lian Jie spoke while Lian Qin said little, his expression extremely complex—seeming to want to stand with Lian Yu yet deeply suspicious of Suzhen’s identity. He only said: “Sixth Brother, better safe than sorry.”

Lian Yu looked at his two brothers lightly, lips curving: “Very good, you’re truly very good.”

Lian Jie’s expression changed. At the same moment, Murong Jinghou sighed and also spoke: “Your Majesty, Seventh Prince and Ninth Prince speak correctly. About Li Huaisu… if there’s truly something suspicious, an official knowingly concealing information, a rebel’s descendant hiding in court—this concerns treason and Your Majesty’s safety. The consequences would be unthinkable.”

This veteran minister actually knelt as he spoke, his expression serious and passionate, hinting at death counsel. As a court pillar, Murong Jinghou’s words carried weight. He wasn’t supporting Huang Zhongyue but clearly wasn’t aligned with Lian Yu this time, because it concerned the emperor’s safety and Great Zhou’s fate.

Seeing the unfavorable situation, Cai Beitang, Gao Chaoyi, and Si Lanfeng stepped forward together, all saying: “Your Majesty, this is likely someone deliberately framing Magistrate Li. Please make your sacred decision, Your Majesty.”

These were obviously pro-emperor faction.

In moments, multiple factions’ voices rose again in confrontation, the entire court immediately deadlocked.

Lian Yu surveyed all officials’ various states, laughing coldly. He suddenly turned to look at one person: “Minister Quan, what do you think of this matter?”

At these words, all officials were stunned.

This supplements the 9.26 update. There’s another update tonight for today’s—consider it a small climax. See you next chapter.