“No wonder he would say such things. You knew his identity all along! There aren’t many people in the palace capable of drugging food – including your confidant Xiao Sishan! The soldiers at Lian Yu’s deceased mother’s residence and the palace dungeon guards were all done by your confidant’s people. Whose orders this came from need not be said!”

The man in imperial robes, who was usually gentle as March spring breeze, now looked down from above with blood-red eyes, his gaze flashing with terrifying killing intent and cold light.

Between them… he had been angry with her, given her the cold treatment, but he had always pampered and loved her. He had never struck her like this…

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand! Feng Suzhen defied you, yet you never punished her. You actually humiliate and hit me like this? Li Zhaoting!” She touched her face, confused, with heartache, chill, and fury bursting forth. Tears streamed down as she shouted at him.

“Don’t bring her up – let’s just talk about you. Things have come to this point and you still dare claim innocence!” Li Zhaoting looked at her with complete mockery: “Whose child you’re carrying – only you know best!”

“What are you saying! If it’s not your child, whose could it be…” Hong Xiao stared at him, her whole body as if brutally run over by that departed carriage, her heart and lungs seeming ready to tear apart.

“Sang Zhan, or perhaps I should say, Lian Yu.”

Li Zhaoting coldly spat out these words. Hong Xiao’s whole body shook: “You’re talking nonsense…”

“I’m talking nonsense? Bring her in!” Li Zhaoting suddenly clapped his hands. In moments, two eunuchs dragged a woman into the courtyard and threw her before Hong Xiao.

The other’s hair was disheveled, tears and snot flowing, eyes full of terror – it was Xiao Sishan, her confidant mentioned by Li Zhaoting.

“Your Majesty, please save this servant! You said nothing would happen, that even if something did, you would take responsibility!” Xiao Sishan looked at her with a trembling voice.

Hong Xiao stared at her, sternly scolding: “I have no idea what you’re talking about! Don’t pin your own deeds on me.”

“Your Majesty, are you misunderstanding something?” She felt panicked, turning to Li Zhaoting. Li Zhaoting laughed coldly: “Misunderstanding? Your confidant has already confessed, and you still want to argue? Fine, I’ll kill her first, then settle accounts with you.”

Hong Xiao grew more alarmed. Had that Sang Zhan done something else? She had used him, but was countered by him? But why would it involve Lian Yu? Don’t panic… She thought quickly. The Xiao Sishan being forcibly dragged away suddenly found strength somewhere, pushed the people away, and said viciously: “No wonder you sent an unfamiliar eunuch that day. No wonder you wrote in the letter to destroy it after reading. You had it all planned – if anything went wrong, you’d use me as a pawn. Fortunately, I’m not stupid!”

“To the Emperor…” She pulled out a crumpled paper from her chest and handed it to Si Lanfeng, who was about to seize her. Si Lanfeng took it with alarm and presented it.

Li Zhaoting scanned it once, then without a word drew Si Lanfeng’s sword. Poor Xiao Sishan couldn’t even gasp before being struck deep in the throat and falling with a thud, her eyes still staring at Hong Xiao with resentment.

A stream of hot liquid splashed on her neck. After a long moment, Hong Xiao screamed – she had just realized what happened!

Xiao Sishan had fallen half a foot in front of her. She touched the hot blood splattered on her neck, her whole hand trembling. Behind her, Mei’er, who had been scared stiff, finally came to her senses and pulled her back.

But Hong Xiao cried out and suddenly lunged forward, picking up the paper Li Zhaoting had thrown on the ground.

Though covered in fresh blood, the handwriting and seal were still recognizable – clearly her writing, her… phoenix seal. The letter’s content was instructing Xiao Sishan to drug today’s food and drug guards at two palace locations…

When had she written these things…

Hong Xiao’s mind went blank, yet suddenly she realized something!

Sang Zhan, servants, lotus root osmanthus cake, Anu!

Her heart pounded wildly, as if about to leap from her chest.

Bringing servants into the palace was fake – it was to see where her phoenix seal was stored. Having Anu learn to make osmanthus cake was also fake – it was to keep someone behind to steal the seal and stamp it on the letter… Otherwise, with the Central Palace’s guards, who could easily enter to steal!

Also, he was familiar with her handwriting and her preferences… The palace dungeon imprisoned Wuqing and others. His earlier palace disturbance wasn’t just about the wine – besides that bastard child, he wanted to rescue those people too… But why the matter of Lian Yu’s mother’s former residence?

When he had handed her the handkerchief that day, it was out of concern – she could feel it. Why now, why…

What she didn’t understand, Li Zhaoting understood clearly. Not only Wuqing, but that person had also been taken out through the secret passage by his subordinates! He strode forward. Mei’er cried out, trying to stop him, but was firmly held by eunuchs. He pulled Hong Xiao up entirely, saying word by word: “From now on, you can live in the Laundry Bureau, my good Empress. I won’t kill you – I want you to properly enjoy this world’s suffering. I spoiled you too much initially, so much that I made you lawless, even becoming Empress while still thinking of another man. Don’t you miss Lian Yu’s goodness? But he doesn’t want you anymore. The wife he speaks of is only Feng Suzhen.”

“What are you saying? What Lian Yu, what Feng Suzhen? They’re all dead – what does it matter to me? I was framed by Sang Zhan. The Murong family hates me originally – it must be that old bitch Xiao’an, definitely her, she instigated people to harm me. Don’t be manipulated by them. I’m carrying your own flesh and blood… You were lenient with Feng Suzhen repeatedly – why treat me this way?” The words ‘Laundry Bureau’ nearly drove her mad. Hong Xiao, ignoring the pain from being dragged, cried loudly.

Laundry Bureau, Laundry Bureau – how could she go to the Laundry Bureau? She had personally seen how Feng Suzhen was tortured there, living worse than death. He had loved her so much then – how could he treat her like this now…

Li Zhaoting’s eyes were blood-red as he looked at her with amusement: “Why still put on this act at such a time? Sang Zhan is Lian Yu – you knew long ago. Otherwise, why would you favor him so? He changed his appearance, just like you once did.”

“You say I had feelings for Feng Suzhen…” His blood-red, vicious eyes suddenly showed traces of smile.

“I was too cruel to her initially – so cruel that later there was no room for reconciliation. She followed me for over ten years. Her parents died for me, half her life’s suffering was thanks to me, yet for you I ignored her completely. When she fell into the dungeon that day, I risked my own flesh and blood to save you – she did the same to save me. I was confident I definitely wouldn’t die, but she didn’t know. Even so, she still…”

“But from then on, she would never do such things for me again. In her heart was only that man. She bore children for him, never regretting life or death…” He struck with his palm. Hong Xiao screamed, thinking he would kill her, but saw him strike the stone table in the courtyard. Sparks flew as the table immediately split in four!

She held her head, watching him with tears in his handsome eyes as he staggered out. This was the first time she’d seen him like this, but that tear was clearly not for her.

And what had he just said – Sang Zhan was… Lian Yu?!

She sat dazed on the ground, only hearing Liang Song’s eunuch voice: “Your Majesty, please pack up. This servant will send people to help you move shortly.”

Si Lanfeng silently followed Li Zhaoting.

Li Zhaoting returned to the Cold Palace again.

Facing the empty bed, he stared with pressed lips.

At this moment, Si Lanfeng suddenly understood – his master had deeply loved only that young lady from beginning to end.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be willing to raise even her child with another man.

Otherwise, after learning the truth, unable to save face as a man yet still disregarding imperial dignity, he wouldn’t have deliberately arranged news of her death while secretly commanding trusted subordinates to mobilize Six Fans Gate entirely, willingly making enemies with the martial world, forcibly seizing a ten-thousand-year ginseng from the martial world’s largest sect to sustain her life hanging by a thread…

He didn’t say it, but he knew – he wanted to wait for her to wake and give them both another chance to continue their entanglement…

“Lanfeng, this war isn’t over. Lian Yu is a formidable opponent, but this kingdom and she will definitely be… mine!” His heart filled with mixed emotions, he suddenly heard Li Zhaoting’s voice softly: “That’s natural.” He quickly replied, then heard the other ask deeply: “Has Quan Feitong arrived?”

The eunuch sent to summon Quan’s residence had found no one.

Quan Feitong was currently in a dense forest outside the capital.

Facing him was Sang Zhan, who had caused the palace uproar two hours ago.

“Old Miao once betrayed his alliance with you to assist Li Zhaoting. When you revealed your identity to him, he definitely couldn’t lose face by delaying to prevent your departure. Using Old Miao as guarantor was clever, but Li Zhaoting won’t easily let you leave – court pursuers are right behind.” Quan Feitong said calmly.

The other replied equally calmly: “Not afraid. Wei Wuya’s people will lead them away. He owes my wife a favor – today he should repay it.”

What Suzhen’s reaction will be when she wakes to see Sang Zhan, whom she never much liked before…