Wei Chenghui couldn’t figure out Huo Chang’an’s intentions for the moment. If he said this was a visit, it seemed too coincidental. He must be acting out of old sentiment, coming to intervene, but since the other party hadn’t erupted in anger or taken action, he naturally couldn’t expose it. Acting as if nothing had happened, he said, “Marquis Huo condescends to visit today. Is there something you need from this old man?”

Huo Chang’an cupped his hands, also acting as if nothing had happened. “Not at all. I was just hunting in the suburbs and happened to pass by Minister’s mansion on the way back. My mouth is dry, so I came in to ask for some water to drink.”

Wei Chenghui couldn’t take these words seriously, but he still ordered servants to bring tea and asked if he would stay for a meal, never mentioning what had just happened, leaving him with nothing to intervene in.

And Huo Chang’an also seemed to have no intention of necessarily standing up for Wuyan. He smiled in thanks and sat down boldly.

Seeing Huo Chang’an’s assistance, Fifth Lady felt grateful in her heart. In the past, when Wuyan and Huo Chang’an were close, this marquis would visit the minister’s mansion every few days, very attentively. Now things had changed – the emperor’s favor was gone, and she and her daughter couldn’t benefit from Huo Chang’an’s influence. She glanced at Wuyan, feeling nothing but bitter sorrow in her heart.

Wuyan’s feelings were more complex than Fifth Lady’s. To say she wasn’t moved would be false, but she also felt deep resentment. All her embarrassment had fallen into his eyes – she would rather have eaten that mouthful of rice from Wuxia.

“Huo Chang’an pays respects to Consort Wei.”

He raised both eyebrows, paying her respects according to protocol, but his expression when looking at her was like a cat watching a mouse.

Wuyan: “Marquis Huo, may we speak privately for a moment?”

Huo Chang’an’s lips curved. “Please.”

“Minister, I borrow your mansion’s precious space.” He bowed to Wei Chenghui, who replied, “What’s wrong with that? Marquis Huo, please.”

Huo Chang’an smiled and walked out first.

Wuyan slowly followed.

In front of Huo Chang’an, Wei Chenghui offered no obstruction.

Wulei felt resentful and quietly asked Wuxia, “Didn’t you say Marquis Huo had already broken with her long ago? What’s this about?”

Wuxia covered her aching wrist, both shocked and angry, crying out indignantly, “Father, Consort Zhen said that previously when Wuyan and the Princess Imperial had a conflict in the palace, Marquis Huo simply didn’t care about her at all…”

“Shut up!” Wei Chenghui coldly interrupted her.

The two walked to beneath a large tree, with green shadows swaying and cool shade flowing. Wuyan slowly spoke, “What is the meaning of this?”

But Huo Chang’an laughed mockingly. “What do you think I came for – for you? Li Huaisu just came to find me. She was afraid your father and sister would blame you for helping her, so she begged me to come over no matter what. Lian Yu is in the palace, far from the mountains and the emperor. At least I’m here and can still say a few words.”

Seeing his expression, Wuyan knew he wasn’t lying. Wei Wuyan, what are you still foolishly hoping for! She nodded and quietly thanked him, while he had already turned around and walked back toward the house.

His words drifted back from behind, light and indifferent. “Coming over today wasn’t bad. At least I no longer think I still harbor any feelings for you. Seeing your appearance, I don’t feel anything either. Wei Wuyan, take care of yourself.”

Wuyan’s hands and feet turned ice cold as she stood in place. Only after Huo Chang’an had drunk his tea and bid farewell to Wei Chenghui did she return.

Everyone looked at her with the same wariness they had before her “fall from favor.” Since Wei Chenghui hadn’t spoken, even Madam Wei and Wuxia didn’t dare say anything more, and the others naturally didn’t dare be presumptuous. She didn’t say much either, paid her respects to Wei Chenghui and Madam Wei, then returned to her room with Fifth Lady. Fifth Lady was in tears, applying medicine to remove the bruises on her face. “Yan’er, will you still be able to stand firm when you return to the palace? You should still go beg your father – he can speak before His Majesty, or go beg… “

She hesitated. “Marquis Huo…”

“Mother, don’t speak of it anymore,” Wuyan harshly interrupted her mother. “You don’t need to pack anything either. Just bring a few changes of clothes. In a while, go out for the evening meal as usual, consider it greeting First Madam. I’ll have a servant bring my meal to my room – I won’t go out to eat. After you’ve eaten, you and I will leave tonight.”

Fifth Lady lowered her eyes, a trace of complexity passing through them, and softly hummed in agreement.

At evening, a mansion servant brought food to Wuyan, speaking in soft, gentle tones. “My lady, please enjoy your meal.”

It was a little maid who helped in the kitchen. After setting things down, she looked at Wuyan with frightened, timid glances before fleeing like a rabbit.

Wuyan thought to herself: Huo Chang’an, I’m truly blessed by your “fortune.”

Suddenly her throat itched and she coughed up something salty and fishy. She spat into the basin – a streak of dark red – but she had business to attend to, so she paid it no mind and went straight out.

At this hour, everyone was dining in the outer rooms. She walked slowly through the mansion’s courtyards with a leisurely, unhurried manner. Occasionally when mansion servants greeted her, she responded with gentle smiles, until she reached the outer courtyard of Wei Chenghui’s bedchamber.

She strolled around the area with a relaxed air. Seeing several servants who had passed by the courtyard all leave one by one to fetch food from the kitchen, she slowly walked inside.

She knew Wei Chenghui’s habits – after dining, he would drink tea, which altogether took most of an hour. Except for third brother who served at the frontier recruit training camp – Wuxia’s brother Wubai – the other brothers and sisters didn’t dare casually set foot in this place.

But there was no time to lose!

However, after very carefully searching through the study inside and out, she didn’t find that accusation letter.

Given Wei Chenghui’s caution, could he have already burned the letter? No, that wasn’t right. Wei Chenghui should also be interested in knowing who this informant was – he wouldn’t easily burn the letter. He must have kept it to study…

She frowned and walked toward the wall hung with calligraphy and paintings, reaching out to tap lightly at each section. When she tapped at one painting that seemed to have a hidden compartment, just as she was about to lift the painting to examine the mechanism, a sudden burst of applause came from the doorway.

Her heartbeat quickened so fast it nearly jumped out of her throat.

“Wuyan, with such temperament and such boldness, what a pity you’re a woman. If you were a man, I would certainly cultivate you like your third brother, so that in the future you could inherit this family together.”

The man’s cold voice had already sounded behind her.

Wuyan took a deep breath and slowly turned around. Indeed, she saw Wei Chenghui standing at the room’s entrance, with Madam Wei and Wuxia beside him, their faces wearing gloating smiles.

Wei Chenghui didn’t seem as bad-tempered as during the day. His eyes held a deep, unfathomable quality.

“This time it’s my turn to guess your thoughts.” He smiled slightly. “You’re looking for that letter reporting Feng Suzhen.”

Wuyan didn’t speak. The ginger is still spicier when old! Seeing that she remained quite calm, Wei Chenghui praised her further. “Not bad, truly worthy of being my daughter. I didn’t expect you and Feng Suzhen to have such friendship.”

Wuyan: “Indeed, no matter how daughter tries, she can never hide her thoughts from father.”

“But daughter is truly curious – how did father know that Wuyan would take such desperate risks?”

“You’ll have to ask your good mother and good servant girl about that.”

Wuyan was shocked and couldn’t help feeling alarmed and suspicious. Wei Chenghui looked with satisfaction at the first trace of shock in her eyes. “Wuyan, at first I thought His Majesty somehow took a fancy to this rebellious Feng family daughter. This Feng Suzhen is also blessed with great fortune – after all that turmoil, not only was she unharmed but restored to her original position. As for you, you’ve fallen from power, your body is afflicted with illness, and you’ve formed friendship with the Feng family, protecting her repeatedly. Well done – when she prospers, you prosper too. How could Lian Yu not remember some sentiment?”

“But it turns out I was wrong. You’re about to leave the capital, clearly not putting future power and wealth in your eyes. Your friendship with the Feng family is genuine.”

Wuyan was shocked again. How could Wei Chenghui know she was leaving the capital?!

Even to her mother, she had never said half a word about it.

But since Wei Chenghui knew, she wouldn’t beat around the bush. Staring tightly at her father, she said, “Yes, daughter and Miss Feng have formed friendship. Daughter was twice disrespectful today, but father is wise, and daughter’s efforts were in vain. Now I only want to leave quietly with mother and Xiang’er. Please fulfill this wish, father, and never again trouble father with annoyance.”

Wei Chenghui made two tsk-tsk sounds, the calculation in his eyes gradually revealing itself. “Wouldn’t it be a pity for you to leave like this? Come, help me with one matter before you go.”

Wuyan’s pulse surged violently, her throat itching again. “How do you know I’m leaving the capital? What exactly do you want?”

Wei Chenghui’s lips curved in a mocking arc. “As I said, you should thank your good servant girl and mother for that. Fearing complications, you gave your servant girl a thousand warnings not to tell your mother. She still told your mother anyway, wanting your mother to persuade you to stay in the capital and compete with those women for momentary glory. Your mother then told me, asking me to help you.”

“I knew as early as the day Xiang’er returned to the mansion.”

As he spoke, he waved his hand grandly. Wujun walked in from outside, holding the badly beaten Xiang’er in custody.

Xiang’er, who should have been waiting at the nunnery, had actually been imprisoned long ago!

Xiang’er had been half-closing her eyes, but seeing her, she trembled all over and cried out softly, “Miss, I’m sorry. The day I returned to the mansion, I told Madam about the matter, wanting her to persuade you not to leave. I didn’t know Madam would tell Master. I didn’t know…”

Wuyan felt a chill in her heart. She looked harshly at Xiang’er, then raised her head to stare directly at Wei Chenghui, asking word by word, “Where is my mother?”

Wei Chenghui smiled. “Shouldn’t you know? I’ve already sent her away, to a secret location.”

“Wuyan, you’re truly very clever. Today you even dared throw a bowl at me, making me want to immediately drive you and your useless mother away! If I hadn’t learned your thoughts from your mother’s mouth early on, knowing you wouldn’t return to the imperial court, I might have really driven you away. Today I wouldn’t have kept having people watch you, wouldn’t even have known you snuck into my study. After all, whether you’re favored or not, if a palace consort goes missing, it would definitely draw serious attention from the palace. But now, since you’ve already made things clear with His Majesty and are going far away, I have no more worries. Speaking of which, I really must thank your mother this time. She’s been in my Wei family for many years without any achievements. Now she finally has some use.”

“Her life, and your little servant girl’s cheap life, all depend on one word from you.”

Wuyan smiled bitterly. She didn’t know what Wei Chenghui wanted her to do, but it definitely wouldn’t be anything good! She smiled bitterly. “Father, Wuxia is your daughter, and Wuyan is also your daughter. Apart from being disobedient and fighting with the other households, from childhood to adulthood, I’ve also been filial and respectful to you.”

Wei Chenghui’s gaze was like penetrating cold frost. “Filial and respectful to me? From the moment you disobeyed me and refused Huo Chang’an’s marriage proposal, you were no longer worthy to be my daughter. Your sister also had feelings for Huo Chang’an, but when Huo Chang’an wouldn’t marry her, didn’t she still follow my arrangements and marry Chao Huang in the end?”

At this point, Wuyan knew that no matter how she begged this man, it would be useless. She was neither a son nor willing to be manipulated by him – how could he easily let her go? The reason Wei Chenghui had grown increasingly cold toward her and her mother over the years was precisely this – she couldn’t help him!

She bit her teeth slightly and no longer hesitated. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

“Return to Huo Chang’an’s side and make him regain control of the Murong family’s military power.”

The words came out one by one from the man’s mustached mouth, carrying a dangerous aura.

The people standing beside her – Madam Wei, Wuxia, and Wujun – were all shocked for an instant. Even Xiang’er stopped sobbing, her eyes wide open.

This was what he wanted!

But what benefit would Huo Chang’an regaining military power bring him?

She had long known her father had ambitions, but Huo Chang’an was someone who would never take orders from anyone. Years ago, despite repeated entreaties from Xiao’an and Marquis Murong Jing, he had still relinquished his great power as supreme commander. Wuyan looked at her father in disbelief, then finally shook her head and smiled. “Father, it’s useless. Huo Chang’an and I are already in the past. You think he came today for me – it was at Huaisu’s request.”

“Moreover, you’re not unaware that he and I had a great conflict over Lian Yue’s matter. He stood by his wife’s side from beginning to end. Wuxia and the others bullied me today. If he truly still loved me, with his temperament, do you think he would be satisfied with just helping me out of trouble? Father, think about the Huo Chang’an of the past.”

Wei Chenghui raised his eyebrows and smiled, calculation clearly visible in his eyes. “Wuyan, do you think I made this decision because of today’s events?”

“I also know this man doesn’t care for you as much as before, but what he can’t have, he still thinks about somewhat – this is men’s inherent weakness. Go and compete with the Princess Imperial! Remember, six months is the limit. If you can’t make him change his mind, your mother will have to die!”

Wei Chenghui’s eyes narrowed slightly. Where they closed, there wasn’t a trace of sentiment to be seen. Wuyan felt tightness in her chest, squatted down, and spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the ground.

When Miaoyin opened her eyes and woke up, her whole body ached and her head felt like it was about to explode from pain. She squinted and slowly sat up from the bed. Everything before this seemed blurry.

Lian Yu had suddenly left, and she had angrily walked away, going to a tavern with Li Zhaoting.

At the time, Li Zhaoting had jokingly said he hadn’t expected the banquet Miss had declined would still be attended by Miss after all.

She spoke of Feng Suzhen’s matter, angrily scolding him for not keeping his fiancée in line. He laughed, saying the engagement between them had always been a meaningless arrangement, a joke between their parents.

Later, what else they had said, she could no longer remember. She only vaguely recalled his witty conversation. While nursing her wounded heart, she had cup after cup, until finally… she collapsed against his shoulder.

Thinking of this, she trembled all over. Looking around, through a layer of gauze curtains, outside the curtains the sky was bright – it was already who knows what time the next day.

Inside the curtains, her body was covered with a brocade quilt, elegant incense burning, very comfortable. She could almost immediately determine where this was.

Her head spun dizzily, her hands and feet turned cold. She slowly lifted the quilt covering her body, only to see she was wearing only a men’s long robe. Her undergarment, loose pants, and dress were all missing.

“Miss has finally awakened. I was going to have a servant go to the palace to request leave, but today His Majesty announced the cancellation of court, so that trouble was avoided.”

With a light laugh, the bed curtain was gently lifted by a slender, clean hand. The person also carried the same quiet fragrance as this quilt. But Miaoyin was furious beyond measure. She threw off the quilt and rose, harshly slapping the other person.

She coldly looked at the man before her. The other party’s brows furrowed slightly, but finally his lips curved in helpless resignation. “Zhaoting thought that after caring for Miss all night, if not merit then at least effort, Miss’s return gift is truly grand.”

Miaoyin sneered, clutching her robe and coldly demanding, “This is your care – caring to the point of taking away even my virtue?”

Li Zhaoting raised an eyebrow. “So I only regarded Miss as a friend, but in Miss’s heart I’m someone who takes advantage of others’ distress?”

Seeing his clear expression, Miaoyin’s heart skipped a beat. Her anger froze for an instant. When she spoke again, she couldn’t help but hesitate. “You mean…”

Li Zhaoting also said nothing, suddenly turned and walked out. But when he closed the door, his voice was quite calm – he hadn’t lost his temper with her.

Miaoyin quickly opened her robe to examine her body. After a long while, her face couldn’t help but burn with heat. But she also thought that he had been improper, helping her change into his robe – how could this be acceptable!

That slap wasn’t entirely unjustified either.

As she was thinking, someone outside the door timidly called softly, “Miss, may… may this servant enter?”

A female voice?! What was going on? Miaoyin frowned slightly. “Come in.”

The door opened, and in walked hesitantly a girl of fifteen or sixteen. Seeing Miaoyin, her face reddened as she curtsied. “Servant Xiaoxue pays respects to Miss.”

Seeing Miaoyin’s confused expression, she quickly explained, “Xiaoxue is a maid from Councilor Wang’s household next door to Vice Minister Li. Last night when Vice Minister Li carried Miss back, Miss had been sick from drinking all over herself. Since Vice Minister Li has no maidservants in his household, he had a manservant ask my master to lend me over to help Miss bathe and change clothes…”

What the little maid said afterward with a red face, Miaoyin no longer heard. Her face burned hot, redder than the little maid’s by several degrees.

She had been drunk and vomited all over herself, yet he hadn’t found her disgusting and had personally carried her back… She felt extremely embarrassed and awkwardly asked the little maid, “Did Vice Minister Li have you come explain to me?”

The girl tilted her head slightly. “Explain? Why would Vice Minister Li need to explain? No, Xiaoxue was afraid Miss wouldn’t know Xiaoxue’s identity, so she explained to Miss. Vice Minister Li made some sobering soup himself, but doesn’t know if he made it right. He had someone fetch Xiaoxue to taste it first, saying he’d bring it over in a moment.”

So he was very proud and disdainful of explanations. He had even personally made sobering soup for her. She… For an instant, Miaoyin’s thoughts were in complete chaos.

Suzhen hadn’t expected that the first to return wouldn’t be Wuqing and the other three who had gone to cancel the house, but Ming Yanchu, whom she had just met that morning.

Suzhen crossed her arms and stood at the door. She and Ming Yanchu looked at each other eye to eye. Uncle Fu coughed lightly beside them. “Sir, please invite Master Ming in to sit.”

Suzhen’s expression was as cold and noble as Lian Yu’s. “No need. If he has something to say, let him say it there.”

Ming Yanchu was also quite frustrated, looking indignant. “Miss, do you think this servant wants to do this errand? But Master specifically sent this servant over. This servant had no choice. Master said…”

After he finished relaying the two matters Lian Yu had instructed, seeing Suzhen fall into slight contemplation, he wanted to step forward and whisper the last matter in her ear.

Suzhen blocked with her arm. “If you have something to say, say it from over there.”

Ming Yanchu cried out in exasperation. Seeing her firm attitude, but noting that beside them was only the half-dead old man Uncle Fu, he breathlessly said everything without punctuation or pause: “His Majesty said you don’t need to attend court tomorrow, wait for him at the Court of Judicial Review, then after passionate embraces and intimate relations, followed by various activities, the rest is omitted for hundreds of words.”

Suzhen froze completely. Of course, those behind Ming Yanchu were also dumbfounded. Little Zhou poked her ear, walked in first, and patted her shoulder. “Huaisu, be sure to work hard tomorrow.”

Suzhen looked at Ming Yanchu and slammed the door shut with a bang.

The next day, when Lian Yu brought a group of people to the Court of Judicial Review, they saw only a large lock fastened to the door. Lian Yu clasped his hands behind his back, glanced slightly, and waved his hand.

Lian Qin, who had eaten a Hongmen feast and reconciled with Lian Yu, rushed forward, drew his long sword to split off the lock, while Lian Jie kicked the door open. Qinglong and Xuanwu cleared the path, with Baihu and Ming Yanchu bringing up the rear.

Suzhen rubbed her eyes, yawning as she walked to the main hall. Dimly seeing the hall full of people, she smiled. “Zhuiming, yesterday I asked you to go buy a lock to fool that idiot Lian Yu – did you get it done? Today we’ll perform the empty fortress strategy, let them search outside slowly. Uncle Fu, is breakfast ready?”

Yesterday’s and today’s updates combined. See you tomorrow.