Lian Qin nodded and lowered his voice: “Seventh brother, I always feel Li Huaisu has deep connections with Quan Feitong and Li Zhaoting.”

Lian Jie said: “You fear he’ll defect or was originally their person?”

Lian Qin gave a heavy “mm.” Lian Jie’s gaze also turned cold: “I’ve thought about this problem early on. Zhuque is investigating—there should be results soon. If it’s true, I won’t show mercy then. I suspect Sixth Brother’s various behaviors toward her might be because of Aluo.”

Aluo! Lian Qin was shocked. After a long time, he said in a trembling whisper: “Saying it like that, there really is some resemblance… but Aluo already…”

Here, Suzhen had escaped and originally wanted to find White Clothes. On the road, she was found by Lian Qin, who led her to Hongtu Restaurant.

Hongtu had provided false testimony, causing public resentment and affecting business. Now it was quite deserted.

Whether the manager was threatened or received benefits, gain and loss—worldly affairs are impermanent and never perfect.

The formerly packed seats were now sparsely filled with customers. Even with a stage set up and performances arranged—beautiful actresses and handsome young actors—it had little effect.

She asked Lian Qin why Lian Yu came here. Lian Qin said irritably that half was because of her—all this appealing and delaying, what had it accomplished? Sixth Brother said this place’s business was definitely poor now, but it was luxurious enough to match his status, so he came here for a drink to relieve his troubles.

Suzhen’s heart had felt strange, but hearing “match his status,” she felt she absolutely couldn’t harbor any pity or sympathy for this Murong Six.

This time Lian Yu again rented a private room. Still on the stairs, she saw many people upstairs.

In the center, only a noble lady sat with Lian Yu, while others stood solemnly.

Almost all were familiar faces.

Everyone from that day in the Imperial Study was there. Quan Feitong and Li Zhaoting, who she’d just encountered on the street, had also arrived.

She guessed that woman with an authoritative bearing who showed no anger was Empress Dowager Xiao’an—those red lips and unfathomable brow that seemed to kill without expression, like those deep palace women she’d seen on theater stages.

Her heart trembled slightly. Just as she was about to pay respects, she heard Lian Yu say coldly: “Lian Qin, who told you to bring people up and cause disturbance?”

Lian Qin was stunned: “Seventh brother and I thought you wanted to summon him… Yes, this subject will immediately take him down.”

Suzhen followed the puzzled and displeased Lian Qin down quickly, thinking: What was it that he considered her unworthy to hear? She didn’t want to hear it anyway! Just as she was about to go home, Lian Qin said Sixth Brother might summon her later and told her to wait.

Lian Qin’s attitude was somewhat cold. She silently dragged over a chair and sat down to wait.

Now the three or two diners downstairs had all been cleared out. Dozens of plainly dressed but extremely agile and sharp men had appeared. Suzhen knew these must be palace imperial guards.

Voices came from upstairs.

Quite intense, but not loud—everyone spoke cautiously.

After a while, she heard a cold laugh: “Are you trying to force me to jump from here?”

Following this, a man led others with a slightly stern voice: “We dare not, but implore Your Majesty to prioritize state affairs.”

“Enough. Since His Majesty says ten days, then ten days it is. Your Majesty, this dowager also hopes Your Majesty will consider carefully and make a decision about the price increase after ten days that benefits the country and people.”

…

From these fragments, Suzhen understood the gist—Lian Yu had requested a ten-day deadline to consider whether to sign the bilateral document!

Ministers had remonstrated and the Empress Dowager was also angry, but ultimately agreed to ten days.

With Xiao’an speaking, no one could say more.

As her heart pounded heavily, she heard rumbling from the stairway. Soon, the Empress Dowager and ministers descended and left in succession.

She retreated to a corner to avoid them.

Actually, at this time, no one had leisure to pay attention to her, this minor favored subject. Even the Son of Heaven seemed unable to overlook the world, fighting maliciously with the Prime Minister over pride and delaying state affairs.

Quan Feitong smiled and left first with Li Zhaoting. Others glanced at her coldly and departed one by one. Occasionally she heard old ministers say to Wei Chenghui while shaking their heads: “His Majesty is young and impetuous, this…” The slowly walking Grand Tutor Wei seemed to smile but didn’t answer much.

Watching the entire floor clear completely, only meticulous, strictly guarding imperial guards remained, with a black-clothed masked man whose gaze was sharp as knives and leopards, sternly leading them.

Suzhen was startled, then saw across the street a young man leading no fewer than the number of elite martial men standing in formation. Lian Qin shouted loudly: “General Chao, what are you doing here?”

Chao Huang, hearing this, also laughed loudly back: “Chao Huang follows Prime Minister Quan’s orders to protect His Majesty here.”

Suzhen was shocked. This Mu San was so cautious, probably fearing Lian Yu would do something else.

This move was domineering but didn’t constitute rebellion. Besides, with his great power, no one could do anything to him.

Lian Qin swept his sleeve, knocking all the bowls and chopsticks from a table to the floor, furiously saying: “Damn it, Quan Feitong! My Sixth Brother isn’t dead yet—is it your turn to give orders? Xuanwu, let’s go kill him!”

The black-clothed man shook his head: “Ninth Prince, without master’s orders, Xuanwu can do nothing.”

Xuanwu—Suzhen found this name familiar and looked at him several times, but saw this Xuanwu seemed to have some reservations and immediately lowered his head.

Lian Qin snorted coldly, drew a guard’s sword, and was about to charge out.

At this time, Lian Jie was coming downstairs with Qinglong and Baihu. His face changed as he shouted: “Ninth brother, stop! If you dare add to Sixth Brother’s troubles now, I’ll kill you first! Besides, can you beat Chao Huang?”

Lian Qin’s eyes were red with fury like a fighting bull, but finally he roared low in frustration and angrily threw down the sword.

The clang seemed to strike Suzhen’s heart too.

Lian Jie glanced at her and said indifferently: “Huaisu, go up and talk with Sixth Brother.”

Lian Jie’s expression wasn’t like usual. Though still gentle and polite, it carried half a command that couldn’t be refused. Suzhen looked at the somewhat unfamiliar Seventh Prince and Lian Qin, gritted her teeth, and nodded.

Going upstairs, she heard Baihu say quietly: “Minister Li, this slave thinks master didn’t intentionally dismiss you earlier, but rather he didn’t want you to accompany him in receiving those insults.”

Suzhen froze for a moment, maintaining this state until she went upstairs to see Lian Yu.

Today he wore moon-white robes, making his entire person appear even more noble and imposing. Being ill, his cheeks were slightly red, but his brow was cold as ice and snow. A graceful figure sat elegantly at the table where tea smoke curled. Suzhen’s heart tightened slightly, suddenly thinking this person was truly handsome, like Zhaoting.