Walking to a place farther from the wooden hut, Lian Yu stopped.

“Is anyone there?”

Lian Yu released Su Zhen and spoke indifferently.

From the seemingly dark and quiet forest, there was immediate movement, and two people quickly emerged supporting someone between them.

These two were Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise, who had gone to handle the curious villagers.

The two paid their respects. “Master, we are here.”

The person between them was a woman with an extremely ugly expression, her eyes clearly radiating great hatred and anger—it was Princess Imperial Lian Yue.

But she seemed physically rigid and unable to speak, quite strange. Seeing Lian Yu’s gaze flicker, Black Tortoise understood and with two slaps, unsealed Lian Yue’s acupoints. “Your Highness Princess, please forgive this subordinate’s discourtesy.”

Lian Yue regained movement and sneered, slapping Black Tortoise across the face. Black Tortoise didn’t dodge.

She was about to hit Azure Dragon when Su Zhen couldn’t stand watching. Just as she was about to speak, Lian Yu said, “Imperial Sister, please calm your anger. It was I who ordered them to protect Imperial Sister. If there were any improprieties, I apologize here.”

Since Lian Yu, as ruler of a nation, had said “apologize,” Lian Yue couldn’t strike again. She only said coldly, “Your Majesty, Lian Yue heard that you were here seeing off Imperial Concubine Wei, so I came with good intentions to offer a cup of wine in blessing. Who knew that upon arrival, I would be detained by your people and held with sealed acupoints. Lian Yue is foolish—is detention and restraint what you call protection?”

Lian Yu replied unhurriedly, “Yes, we were drinking when assassins suddenly attacked. A guard happened to report that Princess Imperial had come. Fearing the assassins might harm Imperial Sister, I had Black Tortoise and the others go protect you. Afraid that sounds might attract the assassins’ attention, they sealed Imperial Sister’s acupoints as an expedient measure. Please forgive me, Imperial Sister.”

Lian Yue naturally didn’t believe Lian Yu’s explanation, but she couldn’t immediately refute it. She didn’t want to waste time on this—there were more urgent matters making her anxious. She smiled coldly, “Very well, if Your Majesty says it was protection, then it was protection.”

“However, I passed by earlier and saw Huo Chang’an take Wei Wu Yan into that hut, but he stabbed himself outside the door. What was that about?”

Her expression darkened as she spoke.

Hearing this, Su Zhen roughly understood what had happened. During their drinking, Lian Yu’s people had intercepted the suddenly visiting Lian Yue, reported to Lian Yu, and Lian Yu had ordered Black Tortoise and the others to secretly bring her here.

She truly admired that Lian Yu was even better than her at lying with a straight face. Wanting to hear what he’d say, he indeed didn’t disappoint her.

“Oh, there was such a thing? During our drinking, Marquis Huo somehow became affected by an aphrodisiac, but assassins appeared immediately after. In the chaotic situation, everyone scattered under guard escort. I don’t know what happened afterward. I was with Chief Investigator Li, and seeing the guards had repelled the assassins, we came looking for everyone.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lian Yue’s expression changed dramatically, and she lifted her skirts and ran toward the wooden hut.

Su Zhen had been secretly pleased, but seeing this, she became somewhat worried. “Is it proper to let her go see Huo Chang’an and Wu Yan?”

Lian Yu’s gaze flickered slightly. “Since you used past events to help them resolve their emotional knots this time, it’s somewhat fated. My Imperial Sister followed Huo Chang’an here, so she should face the consequences of what she sowed years ago. As for propriety, Huo Chang’an will handle it himself—we needn’t worry for him.”

“Come, let’s go over too.”

“Lian Yu, I’ve discovered I like you even more now.” Su Zhen spoke to dispel the earlier unpleasantness.

Lian Yu’s eyes swept over her lightly, took her hand, and walked over.

Lian Yue’s Confrontation

Lian Yue suddenly remembered events from years past. Sweat soaked through her back, and her heart trembled.

She had only seen Huo Chang’an stab himself earlier, then Wei Wu Yan came out. She had watched in anger and anxiety, wanting to go out, but Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise had taken her deep into the forest. She didn’t know what happened after.

Thinking anxiously, by the time she reached the hut door, she was breathing heavily. Gritting her teeth, she raised her hand and pounded on the door. “Chang’an! Huo Chang’an! Are you in there? Come out, come out…”

Her voice was incomparably shrill, frightening to hear.

But the door remained closed. Her eyes reddened as she clawed at it with her hands, her fingers immediately becoming bloody.

Just as her resentment and anger reached their peak, the door finally opened.

Huo Chang’an emerged wearing only pants, bare-chested. The moment he came out, he quickly half-closed the door behind him. He bore a wound wrapped tightly with cloth strips, some blood seeping through—not much, but still somewhat frightening.

But at this moment, Lian Yue didn’t care about his injury—she knew it wasn’t serious. She was more concerned about the situation inside.

“Chang’an, where is Wei Wu Yan? Where is she?” She was almost screaming at him.

Huo Chang’an’s expression was stern, his lips pressed tight. Already dark-faced, his gaze grew even darker at her words. He looked at her coldly. “I won’t let you see her. Go back.”

“No! Where is she? Is she inside? Tell me!” Lian Yue shouted fiercely.

“I’m here.” Someone inside responded and came out.

Hearing the voice, Huo Chang’an immediately stepped back, embracing the newcomer and watching Lian Yue warily.

The woman before her had disheveled black hair, clothes slightly disordered, wearing a man’s robe—a robe she recognized! And the bright red marks on her neck…

They… they… Lian Yue’s mind buzzed. She stared at Huo Chang’an’s protective posture, her eyes like poisoned arrows shooting at this woman. “Wei Wu Yan! That’s my husband! What did you do with him? You shameless woman!”

Wu Yan couldn’t describe her mixed feelings at this moment. She and this woman had been enemies for years—she hated her extremely, but now she couldn’t help feeling a trace of sympathy for her. Even if her own happiness might not last long, she still felt sorry for Lian Yue. After all, however briefly, she knew she and Huo Chang’an would never separate again.

She had so many retorts she wanted to make, but couldn’t say them. Huo Chang’an spoke first, “Lian Yue, from tonight on, she is my wife. What can’t we do?”

“Wife?” Looking at the man’s cold, protective, resolute face, Lian Yue’s heart ached so much she could barely draw breath. Tears streamed down as she sobbed, “Chang’an, if she’s your wife, then what am I?”

“We’re already divorced.”

“No! We’re not divorced! I don’t agree! I never agreed! I’ve never agreed!”

“Lian Yue, on our wedding day, I told you I’d repay you for seven years. Though it’s far from seven years now, Wu Yan has already repaid you with her life once. What I owed you has long been… settled! We’re no longer husband and wife.”

“I don’t want to hurt you, and I don’t want to see her feel uncomfortable facing you. In this life, I love only her. Even you, or my aunt—don’t think of harming her again. If you dare, I won’t spare anyone. Take care of yourself. This is farewell.”

Lian Yue hadn’t expected that as soon as he finished speaking, he would embrace Wu Yan and use lightness skills to leave swiftly.

So decisive.

All that remained was that one glance as he lifted Wu Yan—he gazed at this woman with infinite tenderness, as if all the world’s treasures combined couldn’t compare to her. She smiled back at him softly…

She slumped to the ground, covered her face, and broke into sobs, not caring that others were nearby.

Forgetting all dignity and royal pride.

Huo Chang’an—this man she had loved her entire life—would never belong to her again. He did like her, but compared to another person in this world, she was nothing…

She screamed hoarsely, but it couldn’t match the pain of her heart seemingly splitting apart…

Su Zhen had been immersed in the meaningful glance Wu Yan had given her as she passed—a thousand words in that look. Now, seeing Lian Yue like this, she felt quite melancholy.

Lian Yue had done wrong, truly wrong, but when it came to love, she had never been wrong.

Lian Yue had received her retribution. Su Zhen didn’t want to kick her while she was down. She was about to discuss with Lian Yu sending this Imperial Sister back to her residence when she saw Lian Yu frown slightly, looking ahead. Alarmed, she looked and saw Lian Jie had arrived at some point, followed by Wu Qing, Xiao Zhou, Lian Xin, and all the others who had disappeared earlier.

Lian Jie stared intently at everything before him. His mouth curved slightly upward, but his gaze was as cold as frost.

Her heart sank. Without thinking, she broke free from Lian Yu’s hand and looked at him pleadingly. “Lian Yu, I hid everything from you and arranged all this, having Wu Qing and Xiao Zhou lead the Seventh Prince away while I found ways to lead you away. I only confessed everything to you just now. Knowing you wouldn’t approve, I still did it. You’re right to be angry, but I’ll never dare again. Please don’t be angry anymore, all right?”

Hearing this suddenly, Lian Yu’s gaze became complex. Before he could speak, Lian Jie was already walking up to her with a cold laugh.

“Li Huaisu, it really was you. Excellent, truly excellent.”

He stopped before her, hatred in his eyes sharp as the keenest sword. “You rely on my Sixth Brother’s favor to act recklessly. You’re clever, but do you think a wild woman like you can earn my Sixth Brother’s love? That’s only because you resemble the woman my Sixth Brother loved most. Sixth Brother is giving you all the affection he couldn’t give A Luo! You’re the daughter of a traitor—you have neither family background nor beauty. What gives you the right!”