Suzhen felt slightly wary. Before she could react, Lian Yu had already stepped forward, half-blocking in front of her: “Sister Shu.”

He called her this.

Seeing his protective gesture, Murong Shu felt even more grief and hatred, her eyes reddening: “I am your legitimately married consort. How can you bear to treat me this way?”

“Sister Shu, Lian Yu is no longer emperor, and you are no longer my consort. When I found you all, I already made things clear between us. I’ve wronged you and am willing to exchange General Murong’s life for yours. I was then in mourning, you were still pure – when you find a suitable husband someday, I will certainly send generous gifts and ensure your lifelong wealth and comfort.” Lian Yu lowered his voice, clearly not wanting to embarrass her. But his tone was so firm, his expression so resolute, there was no room for compromise.

Murong Shu understood clearly what kind of person Lian Yu was. His handsome, gentle appearance was just the surface – as her aunt Xiao’an said, he had an emperor’s capabilities and an emperor’s temperament in his bones!

Her lips trembled as she looked at him with a pale face: “I won’t give up! You ugly woman, you’re not worthy of him!”

She turned toward Suzhen and shouted loudly, fierce light flashing in her eyes.

In Suzhen’s moment of shock, Lian Yu’s expression had already changed.

“Murong Shu, if you dare be insolent again, dare say another word, don’t blame me for not considering Mother and General Murong’s face and throwing you out of the valley!”

He stepped forward, his eyes full of vicious intent, one hand pointing toward outside the valley.

Lian Xi in Suzhen’s arms usually saw her father smiling and laughing, but now was somewhat frightened by his cold, angry expression. She glared at Murong Shu and burst into tears with a “wah.”

But Lian Yu didn’t take her to comfort her as usual, only staring coldly at Murong Shu.

Murong Shu’s face was deathly pale. She suddenly covered her face and eyes, turned and ran toward the depths of the valley.

Lian Yu still stood there with pressed lips and a cold expression.

After a long time, he nodded to General Murong Jinghou over there, who returned the courtesy and shook his head looking in his daughter’s direction. For a great general, what mattered more was this upcoming battle that could wash away humiliation! He quickly disappeared.

Suzhen had never been the kind of good-natured person who would plead for others while wronging herself, especially not for a romantic rival. But at this moment, she felt no grievance whatsoever – only sweetness. Not wanting to make things difficult for Lian Yu, she handed Lian Xi to him. Lian Yu then reached out to take her, his large hand patting the child’s back a few times. Lian Xi immediately stopped crying, glanced toward her mother, then with tear-filled eyes, looked around at the surrounding soldiers without any shyness or fear.

“Good girl!” Lian Yu patted her little head, holding her steadily with one hand while embracing Suzhen with the other, walking toward Xiao’an and the others.

“Sixth Brother, Sister-in-law!”

Before they got close, Lian Jie and Lian Qin had already rushed over. Both glanced at the little girl, looking like they wanted to hold her but neither daring to reach out, instead kneeling straight in front of Suzhen.

“We…”

Lian Qin spoke haltingly. Suzhen had heard from Lian Yu and knew what they felt guilty about. She didn’t blame them too much – after all, if Lian Yu had known early that going to the capital would be life-threatening, the Sang clan matter was the real opportunity. She was about to tell them to get up when Lian Yu said coldly: “You two come to my room later – I’ll settle this account with you properly.”

“Yes!”

The two seemed relieved instead, bowed to Suzhen, and retreated to the side.

“Greetings to our lord and madam.”

Yan Da smiled. Lian Yu and Suzhen nodded. Then another voice slowly sounded: “Child, may I… hold her?”

Suzhen’s breathing tightened. Lian Yu spoke first: “Mother, Suzhen won’t visit you in the future, but you may send someone to bring the child back to see you every few days.”

“Mm,” Xiao’an sighed.

This woman’s face now showed both dignity and weathering. She looked at Suzhen: “I and you will try not to meet. About your parents’ matter, I…”

She paused slightly here.

Given her status, some words were impossible to say. Suzhen also knew this Empress Dowager was considering Lian Yu’s face, not truly repentant, much less admitting fault.

She didn’t insist.

Besides, even if the other apologized, she could never forgive. Not killing this person and remaining strangers was already the biggest concession she could make.

“Lian Yu’s thoughts are my thoughts.”

After this flat statement, she said nothing more. Lian Yu handed Lian Xi over to Xiao’an, who relaxed her expression and solemnly received her, but Lian Xi seemed unwilling to get close to this grandmother, struggling with her still-weak limbs and trying to burrow into Suzhen’s arms.

Suzhen couldn’t take her back so quickly, so she turned to greet Leng Xue and the others. She extended her palm, Xiao Zhou smiled at her, and Leng Xue and Iron Hand stepped forward to high-five her separately. Leng Xue looked at her deeply, and she slightly avoided his gaze. Lian Yu, seeing this, spoke calmly: “You’re tired too. Let’s go back to our room to rest. Zhuque, leave tomorrow’s welcoming feast to you and White Tiger.”

“Yes, my lord!” Xiao Zhou and White Tiger immediately replied.

Suzhen hadn’t seen Xiao Zhou for many days and was concerned. She also wanted to ask about Wuqing and the princess. Xiao Zhou seemed to understand her thoughts and said softly: “Huaisu, I’ll find you later.”

This indeed wasn’t a good place to talk. Suzhen nodded, then said to Leng Xue and the others: “I’ll also find you later – let’s have a good talk.”

Leng Xue nodded: “Good!”

Just as his words fell, Lian Yu finished talking with Xiao’an, Yan Da and others, took back Lian Xi, embraced Suzhen and left.

…

Walking along the way, Suzhen saw this valley was extremely well developed, with countless tents and many exquisite buildings. She couldn’t help praising: “This place is built really well.”

Lian Yu didn’t answer. In her slight confusion, she saw him suddenly hand Lian Xi to Qilin behind him, ordering: “You all withdraw first.”

“Yes, my lord.” With two acknowledgments, Qilin and Azure Dragon immediately disappeared.

“What…”

Before she could finish speaking, Lian Yu had already grasped her shoulders: “If you go to that Leng Xue’s room tonight, bring Zhuque with you. Otherwise, don’t go at all.”

Suzhen was initially puzzled, but seeing his slightly sharp gaze, she immediately understood, feeling both sweet and amused. She deliberately said: “I didn’t interfere with your business with Sister Shu, yet you’re interfering with mine!”

“Murong Shu and I are completely innocent, and she can’t do anything to me.” Lian Yu stared at her, his voice also growing heavier: “That Leng Xue is different.”

“How is he different?” Suzhen reached out to smooth his furrowed brow: “In this world, I only like one man – my child’s father. I already made things crystal clear to Leng Xue long ago. He’s a swordsman – can he be unreasonable? Speaking of being unreasonable, someone who was even an emperor once used his power to bully the weak… tsk tsk…”

Lian Yu pressed down hard on her hand. Her long-absent mischief, the tenderness in her eyes, and that phrase “child’s father” made his heart and soul intoxicated. He sighed low, unable to resist pulling her tightly into his arms.

Suzhen in his embrace, breathing in his scent, felt that dying now wouldn’t be unjust.

For a moment, both felt everything else in heaven and earth was superfluous – only each other mattered.

“Bear me another son. No, several more.” After a long while, his voice gently fell on the top of her head.

Suzhen was startled, then pushed him away: “Lotus likes you so much, yet you actually disdain her. Well, Lian Yu, you favor sons over daughters!”

She was truly somewhat angry, glaring at him the same way Lian Xi glared at people.

Lian Yu pulled her back into his arms, his voice slightly hoarse: “I naturally love Xi’er most, but I need an heir. Would you bear to put all that burden on our daughter’s shoulders? A son is different – it’s fine if he suffers a bit. And he can protect his sister.”

“Besides,” he gently released her while still holding her shoulders, “you suffered too much when bearing Xi’er, and I didn’t take care of you for even one day. Susu, I want to make amends. I hope when you’re pregnant next time, I’ll be by your side every day, treating you well, cherishing you, loving you, giving you the best things. You don’t know – no matter what I do now, I always feel it’s not enough, always not enough. Every midnight when I wake, even seeing you lying safely beside me, my heart still aches. Of course, it’s not possible now – we’ll wait until your health recovers, until I reclaim the kingdom.”

He grasped her hand and pressed it to his heart. He spoke with a slight smile, his clear, sharp features showing undisguised emotion, deep as a bottomless pool, drawing her in.

Suzhen could almost be certain he had no idea about her physical condition. She embraced his waist and suddenly buried her head in his chest, immediately soaking his clothes.

“Alright, I’ll bear you another son.” she murmured. Tonight, she must meet with Xiao Zhou to ask how much longer she could stay.

Lian Yu stroked her hair, and the heart that always felt empty seemed finally filled a little. He thought she must be the same as him. But between their two garments, one heart finally smiled slightly while another wept inconsolably.

Seems like I haven’t written a bad ending yet…