The two told each other what had happened after their separation. Speaking of Yanhuo, both fell silent for a while – their best friend. After a long time, Suzhen finally said: “I hope there truly is a Penglai fairyland where they can all be brought back to life.”

Lian Yu held her tighter: “I always believe we can meet again.” His eyes narrowed slightly, recalling his situation that day: “I felt you might be in danger then, but after getting up and walking a few steps, I collapsed unconscious. When I woke, Qilin and the others had found me. Xuanwu left markers before leaving.”

His tone rarely revealed such grief.

Suzhen knew that Mingxuan and the others had long been more than servants and guards to him. Thinking of them, especially Xuanwu, her heart ached terribly.

“Qilin?” She was suddenly startled again: “Is that the man in grey?”

Lian Yu smiled: “Yes, I originally had five guards. Zhuque and especially Qilin wouldn’t appear except when absolutely necessary.”

“I want to see Qilin.” Suzhen couldn’t help being curious.

“You know him too. You’ll see him in a few days. These days, let no one disturb us.”

Lian Yu’s hot breath sprayed on her neck, making Suzhen’s face immediately warm.

“You’re truly cunning.” She turned to roll her eyes at him.

He looked at her deeply and kissed her again.

Suzhen breathed softly, clutching his collar…

Some things, she actually did mind in her heart, but she didn’t say so.

He had his responsibilities.

If he had come for her immediately upon awakening, their chances of escaping unscathed would have been nearly zero. But as long as she could die together with him, that would be complete – better than her current filthy state. But then he would have failed all his friends and soldiers.

At that time, he also didn’t know she was pregnant, didn’t know Li Zhaoting treated her differently than before.

Her days were numbered. Mind it she did, but why blame him further and add to his heartache? She suffered, and he suffered too.

Her heart was momentarily filled with the great joy of reunion, yet inevitably also with deathly gloom. She didn’t know if he knew her condition. Maybe Xiao Zhou had told him, maybe not. From appearances, it seemed not – probably out of compassion.

After his kiss ended, caressing her lips, the two continued nestled together talking.

She never spoke much of her poor condition, not wanting him to be sad, only picking the not-too-bad things to tell him, like how well-behaved Lotus had been while she was pregnant, and such. However, later they inevitably spoke of Lian Xin’s matter. His voice was extremely cold: “I will definitely avenge this, and also…”

What else, he suddenly stopped. She knew he was thinking of Li Zhaoting and herself. She didn’t respond for a moment, quietly looking up to see his eyes flashing with deadly killing intent.

She knew he wouldn’t spare Li Zhaoting.

She now felt no love or hatred toward Li Zhaoting. To be precise, this person no longer lingered in her thoughts. Because he had returned! She didn’t want to waste time there. As long as he didn’t mind, she had reason to let go.

What she thought about more was what would happen to him and Lotus when she was gone.

He said no one could replace her in this lifetime. If she wasn’t with him, he’d rather not live. How could she not be pleased to hear this? But when she died first someday, the situation would be different. Someone like him, with kingdom, mother, loyal servants, and friends, couldn’t possibly commit suicide to accompany her, especially with Lotus. She absolutely wouldn’t want him to do that.

He would still meet wonderful women.

She hoped he would always remember her, always love her most, but also didn’t want him to be lonely.

She had just seen her hair and eyes in the mirror and felt she had truly aged.

“Lian Yu, when we go back, change your face back, alright? Now that you’ve broken your disguise for me and Lotus, Sang Zhan’s face is no longer useful.” She looked at him quietly, reaching to embrace his neck and kiss him.

I hope we can be together for more time, hope I can accompany you to complete the restoration before leaving, Lian Yu, she thought.

“Mm…” Seeing her moved, Lian Yu’s heart stirred, feeling even more passionate than her. But seeing her eyes always carried a trace of grief, not knowing if she minded his late arrival or was thinking of her time with Li Zhaoting – after all, when he spoke of Li Zhaoting, she seemed to show no hatred. When he was away, Li Zhaoting had actually been devoted to her, never killing their daughter and personally keeping her in the Imperial Hall to raise. She must have been touched by that…

These thoughts gnawed at him, making his unease and desire even stronger. He suddenly lifted her and returned to bed…

But no matter how much he wanted, he still restrained himself. After all, by his calculations, it was only a little over two months since her confinement period ended, and her health wasn’t good. He gritted his teeth and held back, only daring to kiss her gently all over.

Seeing his eyes gradually darkening yet showing restraint, Suzhen mischievously explored inside his clothes to find old scars. She heard him gasp and suddenly press her hand down!

Lian Yu had previously found many ways to “torment” her, but after all, their newlywed time hadn’t been long, and she had been very shy, rarely taking initiative. Now he felt his whole body burning unbearably. Having been through three palaces and six courtyards, he had never felt this kind of desire for any consort. He fiercely sucked on her earlobe, gritting his teeth: “Just you wait. When your body recovers, see how I’ll discipline you.”

He guided her hand toward his lower body…

“Young Master…”

Knocking suddenly erupted, with an anxious woman’s voice from outside. Both froze. Suzhen immediately pushed away the man on top of her, urgently asking: “Is something wrong with Lotus?”

She was about to get out of bed when Lian Yu pulled her back, frowning: “You’re disheveled – what are you going for? I’ll go.”

Suzhen glanced at him – he wasn’t properly dressed either! There, Lian Yu had already quickly put on his trousers and went to open the door. Suzhen lifted the curtain to peek through the gap.

“Young Master, the little miss has been fed and has no soiled diapers, but she won’t stop crying. I think she misses you and your wife. I…”

The wet nurse stood outside explaining helplessly, with Lotus indeed crying miserably in her arms.

Suzhen felt guilty, then noticed the wet nurse’s reddened face as she looked at Lian Yu mid-sentence, suddenly stopping and thrusting Lotus into his arms before quickly walking away.

She found this somewhat strange – was she struck by Lian Yu’s good physique or frightened by his vicious scars? She hurriedly got out of bed. Lian Yu was turning around with an ugly expression. Suzhen’s gaze slid down to below his waist and immediately understood. Worried about their daughter, they had forgotten his current state. Her face also heated up as she couldn’t help laughing.

Lotus stared wide-eyed at Suzhen. Though not knowing what mother was laughing about, being in father’s arms now was quite pleasant, so she giggled along.

Lian Yu’s face was iron-blue as he gently touched his forehead to his daughter’s, scolding quietly: “You’re also a little ungrateful wolf!”

He then carried her over and placed her in a small wooden cradle in front of their bed. Only then did Suzhen notice Lian Yu had actually installed this in the room. This man, being a father for the first time, was quite systematic, just like when he was emperor.

He quickly came to hold her. Suzhen screamed and dodged: “Lotus is here! Just go take a bath.”

She said this while lifting the child from the cradle to cuddle and comfort her. Lian Yu was rather gritting his teeth. Just as he was about to throw his daughter back into the small bed, Lian Xi thought he wanted to hold her, her eyes lighting up as she reached toward him with open arms.

Suzhen was greatly depressed. Though her daughter was clearly attached to her, compared to Lian Yu, the difference was immediately apparent.

She huffily said: “Throw her back, throw her back.”

Lian Yu laughed heartily, lowered his head to kiss his daughter’s little dirty face, but then couldn’t bear to put her down.

Both tasting parenthood for the first time, they couldn’t help playing with Lotus. Lian Yu whispered in Suzhen’s ear suggesting they coax Lotus to sleep first before finishing their business. Suzhen blushed and agreed, but this child, having slept and eaten well during the day and being more clever and spirited than ordinary babies, became more energetic the more they played with her, refusing to sleep. Instead, Suzhen, still recovering from serious injury, began to feel drowsy. Lian Yu, seeing her distress and fearing she couldn’t handle it, put Lotus back in the small bed, then placed Suzhen in the bed and kissed the corner of her eye, softly saying: “I’ll take a bath and be right back to keep you company.”

“Alright.” Suzhen replied, then looked tenderly at her daughter before slowly closing her eyes.

Soon, the sound of splashing water came from the room. In her peace of mind, she quickly drifted off. In her drowsiness, someone with a fresh, clean scent held her tightly, as if penetrating to her very bones.

She slept peacefully until Lian Xi woke her by kicking. Sunlight was already falling into the hall – it was nearly noon. Lian Yu was no longer beside her, replaced by Lotus in her arms. The little one was wriggling and smiling at her cheerfully.

“Where did your father go?” She kissed her daughter, smelling the rich milky fragrance. Lian Yu had apparently already taken this little devil out to be fed by the wet nurse. She then got up to wash and dress.

After tidying herself, she picked up Lotus and went out to find Lian Yu.

In the courtyard, the family of three’s clothes were hanging to dry. This sudden happiness made her eyes slightly misty. Suddenly, someone gasped.

She looked startled to see the wet nurse emerging from a room, staring at her in shock.

Suzhen immediately saw the shock in her eyes. Though not contempt, her heart still stung slightly!

She knew what the other was shocked by. She had seen herself in the mirror – not too ugly, with scars gradually fading, but her half-white hair… In this wet nurse’s mind, she probably didn’t match her handsome husband.

“You go. Your wages were settled early – you can leave immediately.” An arm circled Suzhen’s back as a voice sounded, cold as frost.

The wet nurse was startled: “Young Master, I meant no offense. I just saw your wife and momentarily…”

“You offended my wife. Go. I hate saying things twice. You fed my daughter, so I don’t want anyone to throw you out!”

The man’s voice grew several degrees colder. As soon as he finished speaking, several shadowy figures immediately appeared on the eaves, all carrying swords and knives. The wet nurse looked up in terror, trembling all over, not even collecting her things before pushing open the courtyard gate and running out frantically.