“How is she unrelated to me? If you don’t want to stay here, then go back.” Li Zhaoting glanced over slightly and quietly drank his tea, as if she were merely a stranger who didn’t concern him.

Xiao Si didn’t dare speak. Seeing Suzhen’s sorrowful expression, he suddenly felt some sympathy for her.

Seeing Li Zhaoting look over, Suzhen had smiled slightly in greeting, but seeing his cold expression, she shrugged and didn’t seek trouble for herself. She called the waiter over to brew a pot of tea and bring a plate of braised peanuts.

Just as she picked up a peanut, she saw a man in dark blue robes with a face like rosy clouds walk to Li Zhaoting’s table, and she couldn’t help being surprised.

That person had extremely sharp eyes. The moment she glanced over, he had already seen her, his eyes showing a trace of brightness. He greeted Li Zhaoting, then walked toward her with a smile at the corner of his mouth, “Well, you heartless little thing really can’t be underestimated – you actually stayed after all.”

“Minister Quan.” Seeing this person made Suzhen feel much more relaxed, and she smiled, “Didn’t you go for disaster relief, old man?”

“Most of the people there have been evacuated. I arranged personnel for flood control and foundation building, and transferred some grain from neighboring provinces, finally stabilizing the situation temporarily. Three days ago I received an urgent letter from the court saying they had rushed to produce blueprints, opened the national treasury, and deployed elite troops. Reinforcements would arrive within days. I still had a pile of government affairs to handle in the capital, so I hurried back and arranged to meet Zhaoting here for a meal. I didn’t expect our fate to be quite deep.”

Suzhen clapped her hands and tossed the peanut in her hand over to him, “For finally doing something good, here.”

Quan Feitong caught it and put it in his mouth, clicking his tongue reproachfully, “You just realized? Did you think my only job was rebellion?”

Suzhen was amused by this and laughed out loud.

Li Zhaoting glanced in this direction. Quan Feitong waved, “Come join us.”

Li Zhaoting’s eyes flickered as he shook his head with a smile, “I’m waiting for my senior brother here.”

“Very well.” Quan Feitong nodded and spoke coolly to Suzhen, “What’s this, you two had a falling out?”

“No, we were always like this,” Suzhen honestly mocked herself. Quan Feitong, seeing she didn’t seem hurt by this, felt his gaze move slightly. Just as he was about to ask something, Suzhen remembered something, “I say, Third Master, you just mentioned staying – you were away from the capital before, how did you know I almost got driven away?”

“I’ve been having people watch your movements. I heard Lian Yu issued an edict removing you from office, but later heard you turned the situation around within two days, so I didn’t rush back.” He stared at her, speaking sentence by sentence, his pace slow and steady.

“I intended to take you in when you were heartbroken and desperate. Who would have thought the time hadn’t come yet. Never mind then.”

The man’s tone remained unhurried and calm, but Suzhen felt that gaze was somewhat burning. She pretended not to hear, savoring the peanuts and occasionally tossing him a few small ones.

“Fine, keep pretending. Lian Yu has three palaces and six courtyards – I’m waiting.” Quan Feitong laughed lowly and reached out to grab her peanuts.

Suzhen was quite annoyed by this reminder, but she wasn’t meeting Quan Feitong for the first time either. She glared at him fiercely, then heard Quan Feitong ask again, “Being restored to your original position isn’t enough to make you happy? What’s wrong? When will Lian Yu clear your family’s name?”

Suzhen had wanted to say “in three years,” but then remembered Lian Yu had forbidden her from telling anyone, so she didn’t say it, only replying, “Perhaps never.”

She lightly shared today’s troubles.

“Oh? Since he’s willing to keep you, isn’t clearing your name something that could be resolved with one sentence?” Quan Feitong’s lips curved in an inexplicable arc.

“Brother Mu, do you know specifically why my father was convicted? You don’t know, do you – privately releasing Prince Jin’s family members. Do you think this case can still be overturned?”

Quan Feitong paused, “Maybe your father never privately released any criminals? Lian Yu lied to you.”

Suzhen gave him a look, “Quan Feitong, I know my own father clearly. If he hadn’t done it, he would never have submitted to execution.”

Quan Feitong narrowed his eyes slightly, watching her get angry, not knowing what he was calculating. Suzhen felt uncomfortable under his gaze and decided this encounter with him was indeed no good thing, so she decided to return home.

Just as she stood up, Quan Feitong suddenly pressed her hand to the table, forcibly keeping her there.

Suzhen didn’t plan to reason with this person. She considered whether to be fierce and pour scalding tea on him or be gentle and just scatter peanuts on him. Quan Feitong seemed to know what she was thinking and laughed heartily before saying, “Baby, I have a way to let you overturn the case. How about this – accompany me for a night and I’ll tell you how to handle this case.”

Hearing this, Suzhen instantly made her decision – pour the tea.

Quan Feitong released her and reached out to drag the teapot away, “Just spend the night, not doing anything. Tsk tsk, look what’s going through that little head of yours.”

“Just go out and have fun for a day. Think it over yourself. I won’t deceive you, absolutely won’t force you to do anything. Of course, if you want to take advantage of me, this minister will accommodate you. Go or not – you decide. Come find me when you’ve thought it through.”

He looked at her sideways, his bewitching peach blossom eyes full of mischief.

“Goodbye.”

Suzhen pulled out money and placed it on the table, scattered peanuts on him, and left.

Quan Feitong saw there were still a few left in the dish, curved his lips, picked up the dish and returned to Li Zhaoting’s table.

Xiao Si was puzzled, “Minister, with Li Huaisu’s attitude, why do you still treat her so good-naturedly?”

Quan Feitong smiled slightly, “You’ll understand when you get a wife.”

Xiao Si was immediately stunned. Li Zhaoting’s eyelashes moved slightly as he coldly glanced at Xiao Si, “Is there a place for you to talk too much here?”

Xiao Si’s heart was already shocked, and now he dared not speak even more, beginning to pour tea for Quan Feitong. Quan Feitong still smiled, even thanking him. Li Zhaoting lowered his voice, “Has senior brother’s matter been handled?”

“Are you referring to the disaster relief matter, or that other matter?” Quan Feitong put a peanut in his mouth and chewed carefully, his face no longer showing the ardent expression from before, his eyes revealing a trace of ruthlessness.

When Suzhen returned home, Little Zhou and the others were watching Wuqing exercise his legs in the courtyard. He could already put down his crutch and walk a few steps slowly. These days, Little Zhou seemed to be treating Wuqing’s legs.

This Little Zhou was indeed not simple – her medical skills were remarkably exquisite.

Tieshou and Zhuiming watched with bright eyes, clapping continuously. Suzhen felt both joy and guilt – she had been preoccupied with her own affairs and hadn’t paid attention to Wuqing’s legs. Now that she had such a relationship with Lian Yu, she could ask him to send imperial physicians over. However, they probably weren’t as skilled as this fake clerk.

Just as she was about to go over and congratulate him, Little Zhou, who had been cold toward Wuqing these days because of Lian Xin’s matter, suddenly called out to her, “Huaisu, just now someone from Minister Yan’s mansion sent a letter. I put it in your room – go take a look.”

She frowned as she spoke, “Seeing each other at court but not off court – why is the old master writing to you? Tell us after you read it.”

Not to mention Little Zhou’s curiosity – Suzhen was also puzzled. Could it be that regarding her family’s matter, the old man suddenly remembered some additional details?

She thanked Little Zhou and hurried into the house. Wuqing glanced over lightly and continued his rehabilitation exercises.

Suzhen returned to her room and hurriedly opened the letter. She saw it read: Li Judicial Commissioner, regarding your father’s matter, with enemies both internal and external, this probably cannot be accomplished overnight. You must not be anxious. If you want to handle it, you must also carefully consider everything thoroughly before proceeding. I heard you recently issued official documents to all provinces investigating wrongful imprisonments. In this regard, this old man recalls a case – I wonder if you’re interested in taking it on?

Was the old man afraid she’d be hasty in handling the case and get herself involved too, giving her kind reminders? He was also an old fox. Suzhen couldn’t quite fathom all his layers of thought, but she was greatly curious about a case personally mentioned by Great Zhou’s Minister, so she read on.

— Deep palace mystery case: The mystery of His Majesty’s birth mother’s sudden death.

Her heart pounded rapidly. Lian Yu’s mother’s death?

It was said Lian Yu’s mother suddenly died one night. Lian Yu’s heart must surely… But the case had gone unsolved for years. The only known thing was that Lian Jie’s mother, Concubine Ai, was suspected. If she could solve this case, could she resolve the knot in Lian Yu’s heart? But what if the murderer really was Concubine Ai? Then… Lian Jie and Lian Yu…

She thought of Wuyan. She had been in the palace for a long time – perhaps she could discuss this with her? That’s right, she was also worried about her situation and wanted to visit her anyway!

Wuyan had just propped herself up by her forehead to rise. Last night she hadn’t slept all night, and only fell asleep exhausted when dawn came. She hadn’t expected to sleep until noon. She frowned at the sunlight streaming through the window lattice, thinking that according to propriety, she should go pay respects to Lian Yue.

Even though she didn’t want to, circumstances forced her – she was the one asking favors of the couple. Sleeping until now, with her current status as a concubine, was improper etiquette. At this point, she didn’t want any conflict with her.

She hurriedly dressed, then couldn’t help feeling strange – Aunt Liang should have come to call her, so why…

“Sixth Sister, are you up?”

Just as she was thinking this, a clear, soft call came from outside the door. She swept her hair back and pinned it up, then went to open the door.

Zhuxin’s gentle face appeared before her. The woman’s smile was kind, with a trace of guidance in her expression, “You finally got up – fortunately it’s not too late. Aunt Liang came to call for breakfast earlier, but seeing you didn’t respond, she figured you were sleeping soundly and had me keep watch. Today Madam also got up late and just now rose, preparing to dine in the main hall. She sent word saying since there’s a new sister, everyone should dine together today.”

Thank you again everyone for this month’s red envelopes, monthly tickets, and other gifts.