Seeing Xie Sheng’s parents weeping with joy, Xie Sheng stunned on the ground, and Mochou half-sad, half-happy, collapsed on the floor, Suzhen’s long-tense heart finally relaxed slightly.

Except for Huo Chang’an who was smiling, everyone in the shadows had grim expressions. Zhaoting remained hidden in the depths, his expression unclear to her.

He Sai glared at her through gritted teeth while she raised an eyebrow back at him.

They would think from her position—she would do the same.

The questions asked earlier were just groundwork, making those people develop thought patterns, answering according to her questions, setting a trap for the final question. Using written answers and separating everyone prevented the manager and others from showing anything unusual when they saw the question.

That tension and sweat were completely genuine too.

The groundwork went too long and nearly ruined things. Fortunately, Lian Yu was cunning enough to have her provoke Quan Feitong.

She secretly looked toward the crowd. That Lian Yu was unsmiling, playing with his signature folding fan—this man! But Lian Jie, Lian Qin, and Lian Xin all shared in the joy.

She smiled and pressed her advantage, saying: “This official will investigate the crime of false testimony later. Let’s return to this case first. Why would Prince Pei give false testimony? According to Mochou’s account, she once wounded the prince with a hairpin. What kind of person is the prince? How could he tolerate such offense from a commoner? Thus he conceived murderous intent! Since Prince Pei cannot provide an alibi, then like Xie Sheng, he has both motive for murder and grave suspicion.”

She had planned to examine Fengji’s wounds, but Mochou’s strength was limited, the injury extremely shallow, and after many days, the wound had nearly healed. The original marks were hard to investigate—Pei Fengji could claim injury from other people or objects.

However, wounds on dead bodies don’t lie.

She continued: “According to the coroner under Minister He’s previous examination, all three—the courtesan and others—died from hairpin stabs. Mochou says they died from sword wounds. According to Mochou’s testimony, that Huamei once suffered heavy blows to her legs and might have bruises or even fractures.”

“Summon Coroner Wang to the hall and bring those three corpses as well. This official will examine the bodies in court!”

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone was shocked and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Soon, Coroner Wang and three corpses wrapped in white cloth were brought to the hall.

The stench of decay came, and bailiffs immediately cooperated by burning some medicinal materials to dispel the odor.

Coroner Wang said his examination that day was not falsified. Suzhen’s heart skipped a beat—why was this Coroner Wang still so composed? But time couldn’t be delayed. She paused and ordered Leng Xue and others to bring the four coroners they had brought back from various places in and outside the capital to the court for re-examination!

That night, while she prepared herself, she had the four others go out to bring back coroners from nearby prefectures to assist with the examination.

Before returning to the palace and going home, she had asked Lian Yu which nearby prefectures weren’t under Quan Feitong’s jurisdiction but answered to Lian Yu or his subordinates. She specifically instructed Leng Xue and the others to go to those places.

The cloth coverings were removed, revealing the slightly decomposed faces of the courtesan and others. Recalling the examination that day, Suzhen turned her head slightly away.

Time passed. Several coroners finished their examinations successively, whispered among themselves briefly, then one stepped forward to report the results.

“My lord, according to our examination, these three deceased died from weapons like hairpins. Judging from the wound diameter and depth, the perpetrator’s strength wasn’t great, but the strikes were vicious, stabbing multiple places, causing the victims’ internal organs to be pierced and die from excessive blood loss.”

Suzhen was stunned, as if she hadn’t heard clearly what the coroner said. While the hall erupted in uproar, she still stood quietly at the platform’s side like a wooden statue.

Until Xiaozhou gently pushed her from behind, she suddenly looked deep into the crowd, seeing the man in blue robes with a profound expression, eyes flashing with light—five parts sinister, five parts cold.

This Lian Yu made her feel like a stranger.

Wasn’t this very similar to the feeling she got from Prince Zhennan, Quan Feitong, and even Zhaoting?

That thing called scheming.

She had told him they should each fulfill their duties—she would do everything possible to clear the dead’s grievances, and he could use any means to stop her.

Yet he told her to proceed freely, saying he absolutely wouldn’t obstruct her.

Now, had the corpses changed? No, the bodies hadn’t changed—the problem was with the people she had invited…

He had deceived her.

No, not deception.

It was that originally, his fulfilling his duty… had begun from the moment of their conversation.

She should have realized—how could there be a method in this world that would let Great Wei maintain original grain and oil prices while also convicting Pei Fengji? Fish and bear’s paw cannot be had together since ancient times.

She still stood dazedly under the “Mirror Hung High” plaque. What followed happened so fast she was powerless to stop it. The three ministers Quan, Yan, and Wei announced case closure. Xie Sheng was sent back to death row, Mochou was imprisoned for false accusation, and Pei Fengji and the merchants were fined for false testimony.

Court dismissed, people scattered.

Before leaving, Quan Feitong whispered in her ear: “Quite spectacular.”

She forgot other scenes, only He Sai’s laughter, Xie Sheng’s parents’ cries, and the people’s curses remained vaguely in her ears and eyes.

After an unknown time, she looked at the empty court hall and said softly to the five young men silently waiting beside her: “Let’s go back.”

The five immediately agreed. Leng Xue reached out to embrace her shoulders, but she gently pulled away.

Leng Xue stiffened slightly.

She patted his arm, wanting to tell him that at this moment, she didn’t need sympathy and comfort.

There are times when no one can give you comfort.

A bailiff hurried to report: “My lord, outside the main gate are troublemakers—scholars banded together. Should we drive them away?”

Suzhen said no need, then told the young men: “We’ll leave separately. Don’t follow me. Whoever follows me, whoever tries to protect me—I’ll cut ties with them.”

Watching her robes flutter as she strode quickly out of the yamen, even the usually calm Wuqing frowned and wanted to chase after her, but Xiaozhou stopped him. “Let him go.”

Suzhen wondered if this was self-torture.

Looking from afar at each person in the crowd’s depths—those ministers and princes from the court hall earlier—she let people curse at her, let those in the shadows watch and mock.

“I said yesterday this would be a good show performed by Minister Li and the court. Haven’t I been proven right?”

Voices came from both sides. This sentence was particularly loud. Suzhen looked over—it was those same scholars from yesterday. Her forehead suddenly hurt, struck by something unknown. She frowned slightly and wiped the blood from her head with her sleeve, discovering it was stones thrown by Xie Sheng’s parents and their neighbors.

She looked calmly at the elderly couple. “Assaulting court officials is no small crime.”

Xie Sheng’s mother spat on her.

“Dog official, you’d better lock us all up, otherwise we’ll keep cursing—and cursing!”

A scholar supporting the old woman looked completely disdainful and sneered coldly.

Several more people threw stones at her. Suzhen didn’t dodge, looking at all these people on the street, suddenly finding it funny.

Laughing at them—why do you only remember my wrongs but forget my good deeds? I once saved General Liu’s little daughter.

Laughing at herself—why are you so presumptuous?

What have you accomplished?

There’s a saying—when successful, benefit all under heaven. You can barely take care of yourself—why take on more troubles?

Father often said winning and losing are ordinary matters in life. Why can’t you accept defeat? If you lost, you lost. You could have quietly left through the back door—what’s the point of rushing into the street like a madman?

Are you wronged?

Did you come out wanting to explain your pride and greatness to the world?

No wonder Zhaoting despises you so much.

Those scholars picked up more things to throw at her.

She pondered whether to arrest all these people and lock them up for a month or two, starving them daily and releasing rats to scare them… Suddenly her waist warmed as someone embraced her, turning slightly to shield her with his back from those objects.

Suzhen was startled—it was Lian Yu.

His lips were pressed tight. Those almond-colored eyes that were usually either quietly silent or gently smiling now looked stern and somewhat frightening. Her heart pounded rapidly as she thought: Why are you angry? If you get dirty, that’s not my concern—you ran over here yourself.

Feeling guilty? So you came out to help me?

Bah, how could that be possible.

Her heart was full of bitterness and her mind full of questions as he forcibly led her along.

This short stretch of road was enough to prove the difference between her and Lian Yu.

Wherever Lian Yu went, everyone retreated three steps. Even though he wore only ordinary robes and no one knew who he was, with just a sweep of his eyes, no one dared throw stones or garbage at him.

She only saw Lian Jie and others in the crowd depths looking shocked at the two of them, not to mention other officials.

Qinglong and Baihu followed behind to cover the rear.

Lian Yu said nothing, pulling her through the crowd, turning several street corners, with constant stares along the way.

Suzhen had been mixed with grief and anger, now shocked and panicked, not knowing what to do, until this man threw her into a deserted alley.

He released her hand. She bit her teeth, bowed low, “Thank Your Majesty for great kindness. This humble subject takes leave first.”

She hurriedly finished speaking and hurriedly tried to leave, but after just one step, Lian Yu had already caught her wrist and dragged her back.

She was both shocked and angry, suddenly raising her head. “May I ask what Your Majesty means by this?”

Lian Yu’s gaze darkened as he shouted: “Li Huaisu, you ran into the street like an idiot, letting people beat and curse you—what’s the meaning of that?”

Suzhen was stunned, then said indifferently: “This humble subject didn’t know they were waiting there.”

“Didn’t know?” Lian Yu sneered coldly. “Did your brain get waterlogged? How could you not know? You deliberately sought beating and scolding, didn’t you? You think this way you’ll feel better, don’t you? This way you can feel less guilty, right!”

Suzhen was shocked again, not expecting him to completely hit upon her thoughts. All the grief in her heart surged up—isn’t this all because of you!

Just like Zhaoting before—if you didn’t like me, you could have told me. I would never have clung to you. But you waited until my feelings took deep root before saying no—how could I let go then?

Lian Yu, if you wanted to block and obstruct, you could have told me. I would have understood. But you said you absolutely wouldn’t stop me, giving me hope.

When my heart was full of expectation, you told me you had been lying all along, just to make your own actions easier. How am I supposed to bear this?

But even if it hurt, even if it was painful, could she tell him?

She would need to depend on him in the future. He was the sovereign, she the subject. He was high, she was low. Could she hurt, anger, or blame him?

She couldn’t.

She looked at him and finally smiled. “Yes, I am, because I feel I’ve wronged the dead, wronged the living, and wronged the people. So I’m willing to let them scold me—this way I’ll feel better in my heart! Is Your Majesty satisfied with this answer? If satisfied, please allow this humble subject to return.”

The hand still gripping her wrist was pale as jade, beautiful as carved scallion roots, but veins slightly protruded, proving Lian Yu wasn’t satisfied with this answer.

Seeing this, Suzhen’s breathing caught, inexplicably panicked. Looking up, she indeed saw Lian Yu’s fierce gaze and predatory expression, leaving no doubt this man could sentence her to death.

“Return? Li Huaisu, if you want to return today, swear to me you’ll never again use your body for this emotional struggle. Isn’t this stupid of you? Very stupid and ridiculous!”

His breathing was slightly heavy, his words hitting her face. Suzhen was suddenly stunned—what did he mean by this?

She didn’t understand.

How could he care about her? If he truly cared about her, he wouldn’t use such methods to manipulate her.

“Damn it, I’ll fight you!”

She was also angry now, confused, panicked, this thought rushing straight through her mind. Using force with her hands, she tried to break free from Lian Yu’s grip. In the past at home, she had learned martial arts from her brother. Though extremely lazy, her strength was greater than ordinary girls. But who knew—the Son of Heaven was not to be bullied. With just one palm, he was enough to restrain her.

The force holding her wrist—she couldn’t budge it at all.

She stopped talking and lifted her foot to stomp on his boot. Lian Yu’s gaze suddenly darkened with a cold laugh. His knee rose slightly, pinning both her legs, pressing her entire body against the wall.

Suzhen’s hands were pinned above her head, unable to move any limb. Furious to the extreme, Lian Yu still stared at her face coldly: “Will you speak or not?”

Her heart ached sourly, tears almost bursting from her eyes. Going all out, she whispered: “I’ll speak. Come closer and I’ll tell you.”

Lian Yu’s brow furrowed, knowing this little devil must have tricks, but he didn’t hesitate and bent down directly to her mouth.

Their breath was audible. Seeing him approach, Suzhen felt delighted and bit down hard on his chin.

However, when that slightly sweet blood seeped onto her tongue tip, Suzhen immediately regretted and feared.

Heaven, what had she done!

Now not just the whole family—nine generations could be completely wiped out! Even the neighbors of the nine generations could go sell salted duck eggs!

She immediately released her bite and looked pleadingly at Lian Yu. “Your Your Majesty, this this this… humble subject momentarily lost control—”

The remaining words quickly disappeared in the air as what she had done was immediately and harshly repaid by Lian Yu.

He bit her lip!

Her mind instantly went blank. As she cried out in pain, he suddenly changed from biting to holding, heavily pressing and sucking on her lip, then that tongue actually pried open her teeth and slipped into her mouth…