Her throat itched, and she quickly lay down. Being in such a place, she felt somewhat uneasy and couldn’t fall asleep immediately.

It was rather amusing to think about – after Lian Yu died, she had lost all hope. Now she wasn’t afraid of death either, she just couldn’t bear to leave Little Lotus behind. She hadn’t even held that poor little one yet… But thinking of the other rooms housing those mostly deranged abandoned consorts from the harem, even with Wuming just across from her, no matter how unafraid of death she was, she still felt chills running through her.

If it were her, she feared she couldn’t endure such a lonely, terrifying existence.

She instinctively reached into her robes to touch the jade stone, only to suddenly realize she had already given it along with Lian Yu’s ashes to Xiao Zhou and the others. She felt a wave of dejection, then thought – what right did she have to think of Lian Yu?

Suddenly, her eyes welled up with heat. She quickly closed her eyes to sleep.

In the darkness, she heard the window seeming improperly closed, blown open by wind. She started, feeling as though someone was watching her in the darkness. Clutching her silk quilt, she suddenly opened her eyes. The room was pitch black, but she could vaguely see a dark figure before her.

Only two or three steps away from her, she couldn’t make out his appearance, but saw a pair of eyes unfathomably deep and dark, making one instinctively fearful and alarmed!

Her heart pounded. Her first thought was that Wei Chenghui really preferred to break with Li Zhaoting and had sent someone to kill her!

“Li Zhaoting won’t spare your master!” she warned, reaching toward the bed. Her hairpin had been casually thrown on her outer robe…

“Is Li Zhaoting all you have in your heart?” The visitor laughed coldly. As soon as he spoke, he suddenly approached. She had just grasped the pin when he seemed to know, tapping her tiger’s mouth with his finger. She felt numbing pain, the pin fell, and he immediately grasped both her wrists, enclosing them in his large palms.

Suzhen was horrified but found herself restrained, unable to move. Just as she was about to call for Wuming, he moved forward, sitting on the bed, then his burning lips pressed against her mouth. She couldn’t even make a sound…

She felt humiliated and afraid, biting him viciously. The metallic taste of blood spread between their mouths. He sucked on her lips and tongue with more force, full of possessive, punishing fury. Suzhen felt instinctive fear, but that rough, clear scent also made her feel a trembling sensation, as if infinitely familiar…

Lian Yu…

Was she dreaming?

Yes, she must be dreaming.

Otherwise, how could he still appear…

She suddenly began to cry.

Full of grievance, yet full of fear that he would no longer love her…

Yes, she had been “good” with Li Zhaoting. He wouldn’t love her anymore. But this was her dream – only in dreams could she dream of him still coming to kiss her…

“Your Majesty, are you well inside? This subordinate is coming in!” Lost in despair, she was crying and trying to kiss him back when a shout and many footsteps outside made her stop moving. The dark figure before her also released her, his form flashing as he leaped out the window and disappeared without a trace…

The door was then kicked open.

First came the light of palace lanterns, followed by Wuming and numerous imperial guards. Wuming’s face was filled with worry as she quickly ran over, supporting her shoulders: “Your Majesty, are you alright?”

But Suzhen was completely bewildered. These people before her eyes were so real… Could what just happened not have been a dream? But if not a dream, it definitely wouldn’t have been Lian Yu – then who was it?

Or was it just her delusion?

Had she briefly fallen into hallucination?

She glanced at the window, only to see it tightly closed, and was startled again.

Indeed, she had gone mad with longing…

“Your Majesty…”

Only when Wuming’s anxious voice reached her ears again did she snap back to attention, shaking her head: “It’s nothing, just a terrible nightmare. You may all go back!”

She wanted to have that delusion about Lian Yu again.

“Yes!”

The leading imperial guard, seeing the room showed no signs of intrusion, respectfully nodded and led his men out.

But Wuming was worried: “I’ll stay here to accompany Your Majesty.”

Suzhen couldn’t bear to refuse her kindness and let her stay. Wuming sat by the bed: “Your Majesty, sleep quickly. This subordinate will guard here – Your Majesty won’t have nightmares this time.”

Suzhen smiled bitterly. She actually wanted to have such a dream again. But with Wuming here, and having been constantly worried about Little Lotus these days, she wanted to inquire about the situation. Unexpectedly, Wuming spoke first with hesitation: “Your Majesty, I see the Emperor greatly favors you. With your wisdom, if you wanted to leave the palace now, it’s not impossible… Why don’t you flee far away with the little princess…”

Suzhen paused, shaking her head: “Wuming, I know my own body. I can’t accompany her long. Even if treated by Xiao Zhou, I might live a few more years, but the princess’s hatred, my father’s and Lian Yu’s revenge must be repaid. Wei Chenghui cannot be provoked – if he discovers Lian Yu’s bloodline still exists in the future… Neither he nor Li Zhaoting would spare her…”

“So tonight, besides wanting to preserve Du Ruoxiu’s official position, I also gambled that Li Zhaoting wouldn’t kill me. In that case, the rift between him and Wei Chenghui would grow larger, Wei Chenghui’s ambition and rebellious heart would grow greater, and Li Zhaoting already being wary of powerful ministers would definitely act to eliminate him in the future. Even if I can’t wait for the day to personally take revenge, it would leave a path for Little Lotus and everyone else.”

Her eyes showed a trace of vigilance and… killing intent.

This was the second time Wuming had seen such an aura in her eyes – the first was when she shot Wei Wujun.

Wuming couldn’t help nodding, but then saw her lower her eyes slightly: “Before the princess incident happened, I once thought I would rather die with honor than live in disgrace, taking Little Lotus with me. But the princess sacrificed herself for everyone… I had no choice. I couldn’t let her sacrifice be in vain.”

“Between Li Zhaoting and me… I’ve wronged Lian Yu. I just dreamed of him.”

As she spoke, something pattered onto the quilt, dampening the bedding.

Wuming had heard from Xiao Zhou and Wuqing about Suzhen’s situation, knowing she and Li Zhaoting had already… She was the strongest, most strategic woman she’d ever seen, and she always respected her. Hearing this, she couldn’t help feeling pity, immediately becoming too choked up to speak, not knowing how to comfort her.

Instead, Suzhen had long learned to control her emotions and soon spoke, smiling: “How is my daughter now… Have you found a wet nurse? Where have Xiao Zhou and the others taken her to settle?”

Wuming was suddenly alarmed.

What kind of person was Suzhen? And this concerned her closest family – she immediately sensed something.

“What exactly happened to my daughter!” She suddenly grabbed Wuming’s arm, demanding sternly.

Wuming, intimidated by the force in her brow, blurted out: “The little princess is still at Six Fans Gate.”

Suzhen felt as if struck by lightning, shaking violently. Her throat itched again as she said loudly: “How could you all be so foolish!”

“Boss and the others all hoped to move you with the little princess, to make you leave, hoping you and the little princess could both live peacefully…” Wuming choked out.

Suzhen smiled bitterly: “How could they be so foolish!”

“Wuming,” she said, staggering down from the bed and kneeling before the woman. Wuming was shocked, trying to help her up, but was stopped by her: “Tomorrow morning, I’ll immediately request Li Zhaoting to let you go. Return to Six Fans Gate and have Leng Xue and Xiao Zhou immediately take her and the princess away to common people’s homes – definitely! Once she’s discovered by the court, not only her, but Leng Xue, Xiao Zhou, the princess, you all, and my brother – everyone connected will die!”

“In that case, I couldn’t rest in peace even in death! Those who accomplish great things cannot lack compassionate feelings and must not kill everyone, but also absolutely cannot harbor any woman’s soft-heartedness. Tell them again – I don’t plan to leave alive. No one needs to wait for me!”

“Yes…”

Her eyes blazed bright and intense like fire, making one feel thrilled and moved. Wuming could only nod…

The night was thick when suddenly lit lamps illuminated a quiet, secluded room in the western quarters of the palace.

The man slowly sat down, reaching up to touch his lips.

That woman was vicious enough! She’d bitten him until he bled.

But he still shamefully missed her taste, everything about her… Even hiding in the Cold Palace, personally witnessing her intimacy with Li Zhaoting, his chest felt as if on fire.

He clearly shouldn’t have broken into the Cold Palace tonight – if it alerted them, and knowing from the guards outside that he had no opportunity to speak with her properly, he still couldn’t restrain himself!

He pulled out the wooden carving from his chest. That question he had deliberately ignored kept thundering through his mind, making his whole body ache with fierce pain. Li Zhaoting loved her and had already married her as his consort – what exactly was between them…

At that time, his recuperation and changing appearance took time. Old Seven and Old Nine seemed to have concealed some things about her – was it… this?

Also, what was she really thinking in her heart now! He had to find an opportunity to confirm with her!

Plans, jealousy, hatred mixed with dull pain rolled through him in waves… nearly making him crush the wooden carving.

At this time, lamps in another part of the palace also remained unextinguished, the room filled with hatred and rage!

“Father, my brother he…” The woman in the middle wept inconsolably, while the middle-aged man before her also looked iron-blue. However, a woman of thirty or forty beside them wiped her eyes, her expression slowly returning to its usual calm. She walked to the middle-aged man’s side, saying quietly: “Yes, elder brother, there’s something I must report to you…”

…

“Your Majesty—” Two hours later, when day was just breaking, Li Zhaoting in the imperial hall hadn’t yet risen when urgent announcement sounds rang outside the door.

Happy Lantern Festival, everyone!