Yes, she had hidden it from him, but how she wished he would nervously look her over a few more times to see if she was truly unharmed.

But all he had was one sentence: “It’s good that you’re fine.”

She let out a derisive laugh and raised her hand to press hard against her own cheek.

The scene from the ruined shrine that she hadn’t had time to process floated to the surface of her mind.

“With the next sword, I’ll chop off your entire palm. I say what I mean and do what I say!”

The man looked at the severed finger on the ground and suddenly flew into a rage. “Very good! I’ll be waiting to see it.”

She steeled her heart and swung the sword horizontally toward her left palm—

With a “clang,” sparks flew everywhere. Her tiger’s mouth shook, and the longsword in her hand was already knocked to the ground by his sword.

The man’s eyes were filled with furious rage and venomous hatred, with a flash of killing intent.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t afraid, but at this moment, not the slightest error could be made!

To buy the two of them a little more time, the more critical the situation became, the clearer Suzhen’s mind became!

Earlier, when she was still groggy from the drug, she had heard the sound of wheels and faint conversation. Though she couldn’t make out what was being said, she sensed there were more than just two people.

With this awareness, the corner of her eye had been secretly observing all of the man’s movements.

Cunning since childhood, when she saw him put one hand behind his back, she immediately realized that while she was stalling him, he was very likely also stalling her—he was signaling to people in the inner hall, telling his subordinates to give chase.

This was troublesome indeed!

She was anxious in her heart but thought of how Lian Yu always kept a backup plan when doing things. This time, she could only gamble!

As long as it wasn’t this person personally giving chase, as long as she could keep him entangled, with Lian Yu’s intelligence, as long as he woke up, there might still be a chance of survival.

She quickly made up her mind, pretending not to have seen anything.

At the same time, she became even more certain that this person was most likely her brother Feng Shaoying. If he weren’t her own brother, why would he care whether she became disabled or died!

The only thing that struck her as strange and puzzling was that the pair of eyes behind his black wrappings looked somewhat like Feng Shaoying’s, yet somehow also unlike his.

But there was definitely a sense of familiarity.

She had also mistakenly thought Wuqing might be her brother—was it the residual effect of the drug that made her feel confused?

Thinking this way, those eyes began to seem like Wuqing’s, like Leng Xue’s, like someone else entirely…

For an instant, her heart filled with shock, urgency, and joy.

“Brother, how did you escape? Yan Da said you fled at the time but were later captured and executed… What exactly happened? Brother, listen to me—I’ve learned from Yan Da’s own mouth about our family’s… massacre. Father and Mother died horribly… But do you know why I wanted to become the top scholar? At that time, it was during the transition between the late emperor and the new emperor. I wanted to become an official to investigate who issued the order. Later, I secretly looked at the relevant files in the Ministry of Justice and confirmed it was indeed the late emperor’s command.”

“Brother, I remember Father once said that crimes don’t extend to family members. Moreover, the current political situation is complex. If Lian Yu died, the situation would surely become chaotic, and it would be the common people who suffer… We cannot let personal family grievances override—”

“If I were your brother, I should kill you, this traitor, with one sword. You’ve disgraced the Feng family name. You’ve fallen in love with your own enemy, yet you speak righteously about serving country and people. If Feng Shaoqing had a spirit in heaven, he would feel ashamed of your shamelessness. You let your greatest enemy go free.”

The man’s eyes were like poisoned arrows as he burst into laughter.

Before his laughter ended, he strode forward and gave her a vicious slap.

She didn’t block it.

Seeing that enough time had passed, she retreated step by step toward the exit. Though the man was angry, he ultimately didn’t deliver a killing blow and let her leave. She hastily tore off her undergarment to bandage the wound, followed the blood trail frantically, and caught up…

“Brother, I will definitely get evidence to show you. I’ll wait for you at the Court of Judicial Review.”

“Feng Suzhen, if I am Feng Shaoying, then from now on, you and I sever all ties.”

These were the final words exchanged between them before parting.

She pressed her severed finger hard against her cheek again, the dual pain bringing tears to her eyes.

Feng Suzhen, Li Zhaoting doesn’t want you, Leng Xue doesn’t want you, Lian Yu doesn’t want you, and now even your brother doesn’t want you.

As always, you can only rely on yourself. Just because you fell harder this time doesn’t mean you should give up.

You still have many things to do.

She took a sharp breath and, using the cutting pain in her heart like a knife, forcefully tore open the bandage.

The pain of ten fingers connected to the heart made her bite down hard on her lower lip again!

Yet she never made a sound that would let Xuanwu outside the door hear.

When the cloth was torn away, there was a hole in her palm—this was the wound she had inflicted on herself with a hairpin when she had suddenly been drugged earlier, bearing some resemblance to Baihu’s injury. At the severed finger, white bone showed through the mangled flesh and blood, making her feel cold even looking at it.

Enduring the pain, she cleaned the wound. With only one usable hand, Suzhen expended tremendous effort to rebandage the wound with strips torn from a new garment in the cabinet.

After completing all this, she was drenched in sweat, her face somewhat pale.

In one corner of the room was a writing desk with the four treasures of the study. She went over to grind ink and spread paper.

In a moment, the ink writing was complete.

She then walked to the dressing table and sat quietly for half the night until her eyes were no longer red and swollen, before taking the half-dried paper and walking to the door, knocking several times.

From outside the door, Xuanwu’s voice immediately came: “Director Li, what is it?”

“After tonight’s frightening experience, I’m feeling some heart palpitations and unease. Could you help me…”

“Xuanwu will immediately summon an imperial physician for you.”

“No need. I’ve written a prescription myself. Just have the palace servants prepare it according to my prescription and bring it to me.”

“Are you certain you don’t need an imperial physician?” Xuanwu quickly opened the door and looked her over. Seeing she still had the same unconcerned appearance as before, he reached out to receive the paper.

Suzhen also glanced outside the door. Inside and out were three dense layers of imperial guards and attendants—probably even a hundred of her couldn’t fight their way out. This place was indeed very secure! She stood on her tiptoes and patted Xuanwu’s shoulder: “Much obliged, brother. Also, have someone prepare a bucket of hot water for me. This Director will have a hearty meal, then wash and sleep—not wasting your hard work standing guard.”

Xuanwu was still listening dutifully when the door slammed shut with a “bang,” nearly hitting his face.

Xuanwu raised his hand and made a vicious “knock your head” gesture.

In the Son of Heaven’s sleeping chamber, the lights were now dim and yellow, the gauze curtains fluttering, giving the entire room a softer atmosphere, unlike its usual cold hardness.

“Your Majesty… has come.”

A gentle female voice suddenly drifted over.

“Lian Yu!” Shuangcheng suddenly awoke, covered in sweat. She shot up abruptly, looking around in panic. Due to her sudden movement, she pulled at her wound and let out a low “hiss” of pain. Soon she was half-embraced by a strong arm.

The man’s handsome, composed face appeared before her eyes, his gaze reproachful. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I dreamed you had disappeared.” Shuangcheng lowered her head.

Lian Yu looked at her pale, sharp chin, his eyes involuntarily tightening as he held her closer. “I’m here. I’ve always been here.”

“I clearly heard you talking with a woman.” Shuangcheng felt warmth and sweetness fill her heart, yet ruthlessly pointed this out.

“Oh, you mean her?” Lian Yu raised his chin slightly, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness.

Shuangcheng followed his gaze and saw several palace maids standing not far from their bed, each holding a tray, with a female official in charge at the front, along with Ming Yanchu.

Seeing Shuangcheng’s puzzled expression, the female official quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said: “This servant greets the young lady. The court physician’s medicine has been prepared, but the young miss was sleeping so peacefully just now that His Majesty couldn’t bear to wake you. He had us reheat it and bring it again—this has happened three times now, waiting for the young miss to wake so she could drink the hot medicinal soup.”

“There are also these small congees and preserved fruits behind—all prepared by His Majesty according to the young lady’s usual tastes.” Ming Yanchu smiled and pointed to the female official. “You may serve the young lady her medicine.”

Shuangcheng’s eyebrows curved slightly as she looked at Lian Yu beside her. But Lian Yu had already risen, stopping the approaching female official and taking the soup bowl himself. “I’ll do it. Leave everything and all of you withdraw.”

“Drink your medicine, then sleep.” he said.

“No, I won’t sleep. Stay with me.” She shook her head and reached out to grasp his broad palm.

“Very well, I’ll stay with you. Tell me about everything that happened to you these years.” His hand was injured and temporarily couldn’t exert force, but he quickly gripped her hand tightly in return.

Shuangcheng felt all the last traces of bitterness from her dream fade away. His tall figure was right before her eyes. He had clearly washed while she slept and changed into a new blue robe. As he sat down, his robe swayed slightly, bringing with it a faint piney fragrance. But whether it was this light dragon’s musk scent or the earlier bloody, sweaty smell from the wilderness, as long as it was him, she felt happy and at peace.

The room was pitch black. Tossing and turning, Suzhen still couldn’t fall asleep, the bitter taste of the medicinal soup residue making her smack her lips.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, she suddenly felt her head becoming dizzy and heavy. She glanced with effort at the window outside—the sky was still dark, the night still deep.

She couldn’t be so unlucky, could she? Getting a fever even after drinking medicine? Well, at least this way she could finally sleep. She thought groggily.

But the next moment, when the door was quietly opened and that slight creaking sound slipped into her ears, she still heard it because the pain from her wound prevented deep sleep.

An assassin?!

If it was tonight’s group, that would be fine, but if it was the batch from the tomb, then Xuanwu, that good-for-nothing… She thought with difficulty, breaking out in a cold sweat. Those seemingly weightless footsteps had already reached the bedside and even lifted the curtain.

Sorry for being late tonight. This is the 24th update.