She was startled, only hearing Lian Yu smile and say, “Xin’er, sixth brother asks you for a favor. Huaisu is my student—from now on, please guide him more, will you?”

These words had deeper meaning, which everyone heard clearly—he was telling Lian Xin not to make things difficult for Li Huaisu anymore. Lian Xin had grown up in the palace since childhood and naturally understood. After a moment of shock, she became anxious, “Brother Lian Yu, he’s the one who bullied me! Oh, I know—brother likes this dead boy! I started a betting pool, betting Li Huaisu wouldn’t pass the metropolitan examinations, but someone in the palace put down ten thousand taels betting this boy would win. That was you, wasn’t it, brother? And today you even made him top scholar!”

“Well then, however much you lost, I’ll have the Imperial Household Department give you double the money later. Now, you and your Sister Cuan go back first. This isn’t a place you should come.”

“Brother!” Lian Xin knew her brother’s temperament well—his word was final. She looked to Lian Jie and Lian Qin for help, but the former shook his head and the latter shrugged. In her desperate fury, she rushed forward and pushed Suzhen hard.

Suzhen stumbled. Lian Yu’s brows turned stern, and he reached out to steady her. After she regained her balance, she broke free from Lian Yu and bowed deeply to Lian Xin, saying, “In the past, Huaisu has been offensive in many ways. Your Highness is magnanimous and doesn’t hold grudges against petty people.”

Lian Xin was stunned, staring at her in disbelief, then hatefully threw out a sentence: “Spineless! Just because you say forget it, it’s forgotten? I’m going to find Mother Empress. Li, you just wait and see!” She then dragged Murong Cuan away.

Afterward, Lian Yu also dismissed Suzhen, telling her to begin attending court tomorrow.

As soon as Suzhen left, Yan Da frowned and asked urgently, “Your Majesty, what is your intention in employing Li Huaisu?”

Lian Yu paused without responding. Lian Jie pondered slightly, then spoke first, “Let me guess sixth brother’s thoughts.”

“That day at General Murong’s place was a small misunderstanding, and Li Huaisu missed the chance to make our acquaintance. Unexpectedly, he later caused a great disturbance at the execution ground. Afterward, sixth brother’s interest was piqued, and he sent people to investigate, only to discover he was the person who had saved us at the inn that day. Sister Xin knew where he lived, guessed he had come to the capital for examinations, and sent people to interfere with the Personnel Department. The Empress Dowager doted on her and tacitly approved.”

“When sixth brother later heard Sister Xin mention this matter, he didn’t stop it, only observed quietly. Even when Li Huaisu came to seek help at your mansion that day, when we happened to be there discussing state affairs, sixth brother still didn’t reveal anything, again avoiding Li Huaisu and letting you act according to your own judgment.”

“Then watching him stumble along all the way, until the metropolitan examinations when he went incognito to observe the candidates’ situation at the National Academy, unexpectedly seeing Li Huaisu again. Though he saw at the time that this boy seemed to be an old acquaintance of Quan Feitong, sixth brother probably already had his calculations. After Sister Xin’s interference, when Chao Huang injured someone and Li Huaisu escaped from the National Academy, sixth brother began searching for him everywhere.”

“Until Huo Chang’an reported that he couldn’t bear it for a moment, fearing Sister Xin would cause trouble and endanger Li Huaisu’s life, so he temporarily hid Li Huaisu away. Sixth brother finally arranged to meet Li Huaisu face to face.”

“After this meeting, both I and Minister Yan that day had some liking for Li Huaisu, but knowing his nature, we feared he would cause trouble sooner or later, so we both hoped he would leave for the better.”

“Sixth brother probably thought the same, but he still left a thread of hope, having Qinglong and Baihu pass along those words. If he could comprehend them, he would make him top scholar, letting heaven decide.”

“Ah, so should I say Li Huaisu is clever or stupid? Why do I feel like you’re a big bad wolf, sixth brother?”

Lian Qin grinned mischievously.

“Yes, that was indeed my intention. Most importantly, former Supreme Court Minister Cai recently retired to his hometown. This vacant position is crucial and needs the right person to fill it. Quan Feitong and some ambitious people have probably long had their eyes on this position.”

Lian Yu looked at Lian Jie. With their brotherly understanding, Lian Yu narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke.

The other few people, upon hearing this, almost immediately changed their expressions.

“If someone were to retrieve and thoroughly investigate that case from over twenty years ago, that would be a thorny matter,” Marquis Murong Jing said in a low voice.

“So I absolutely cannot let ambitious people obtain that position.”

“Sixth brother, I understand—you want to act before Prime Minister Quan and others do. But why not use our own people?”

Lian Qin couldn’t help but ask.

“Because Li Huaisu will actually do real work. I don’t want this position to be merely ornamental.”

Everyone was slightly shocked upon hearing this, looking at their sovereign standing by the window, gazing into the distance in contemplation.

“Your Majesty, is Li Huaisu trustworthy?”

Yan Da slowly voiced everyone’s other concern.

“Exactly. What if we show him mercy, but he’s actually a spy—a clever scheme by Quan Feitong to deceive us…”

Lian Jie’s gaze showed some gravity, “Sixth brother, his relationship with Quan and Li may not be as simple as he claimed.”

Lian Yu paced to the window, turning back to answer, “That’s why I’ve already had Zhuque investigate his identity.”

Everyone exchanged glances, immediately breathing a sigh of relief, because each of them could see that Lian Yu was quite fond of this Li Huaisu.

But Lian Yu was always Lian Yu—he would never lose his principles because he liked something. Because this person was actually quite dull, with nothing he truly liked.

“Sixth brother, once we find this kid is a spy, I’ll help you kill him. Let little Xin do it too—she’d absolutely be delighted.”

Lian Qin said with a smile, his beautiful eyes revealing a trace of bloodthirsty protectiveness.

Lian Yu raised an eyebrow and smiled, giving his brother a light punch on the shoulder.

Lost in thought and wandering around the palace, Suzhen sneezed several times in succession.

Who was speaking ill of her?

She sighed softly, stretching her back forcefully. She had wanted to ask Lian Yu why he appointed her to the Supreme Court, but had already been dismissed. Presumably they had private matters to discuss among themselves.

However, though she didn’t know Lian Yu’s intentions, this official position couldn’t be more suitable for her.

This way, she could begin thoroughly investigating the Feng family’s murder—which officials were involved, who gave the orders, the former emperor or… Lian Yu.

If it was the former, she would seek justice for the Feng family and restore their innocence; if it was the latter, she…

Thinking this way, a light breeze swept past her back. She was startled—someone was behind her. Before she could do anything, her mouth and nose were tightly covered, and with a “creak” of a door beside her, she was carried into a nearby building by the person.