“Lian Jie, how dare you!”

Su Zhen hung her head low, but heard Lian Yu’s stern shout from beside her. His gaze was extremely cold, clearly enraged.

Though Lian Jie’s expression remained defiant after this rebuke, he finally stopped talking.

“It’s nothing, nothing. The Seventh Prince is just joking.” Su Zhen seized the opportunity to stop Lian Yu and addressed Lian Jie: “Seventh Prince, I wronged you. But since you truly love Wu Yan, you also hope she can be happy, don’t you?”

Lian Jie laughed angrily, “How do you know her happiness isn’t with me? Yes, she asked me to act in this charade, but traveling together day and night seeking medicine in the future—couldn’t she fall in love with me then? I believe I can do better than Huo Chang’an.”

After speaking, he gave a cold laugh and turned to leave.

“Go check on him quickly,” Su Zhen urged.

But Lian Yu pulled her aside and said word by word, “Listen carefully: A Luo is A Luo, and you are you. Understand?”

Su Zhen nodded and urged, “Go quickly. Also, tonight’s events were all caused by me—don’t argue with him further.”

Seeing her resolute gaze, Lian Yu’s expression grew even more profound. He said nothing more, touched her face gently, then turned to order White Tiger to escort Lian Yue back to her residence before leaving with Ming Yan Chu and the others.

Before leaving, Lian Xin quietly approached her and whispered, “A Luo is a dead ghost—you needn’t take it to heart. I don’t like her because Mother doesn’t like her either.”

Suddenly remembering something, she cried out softly, “Speaking of which, Mother doesn’t much like you either.”

Su Zhen had been quite happy but was instantly deflated, glaring at her fiercely.

“But it doesn’t matter—I like you. I’m your powerful ally.”

Lian Xin quickly threw out a “but,” and Su Zhen naturally knew this little ancestor was flattering her because of Wu Qing, but she was still quite pleased. She watched Lian Xin glance reluctantly at Wu Qing, then frown as she looked at Lian Yue before finally catching up with Lian Yu.

Wu Qing’s gaze shifted slightly, as if he hadn’t seen anything, maintaining his usual cold expression of “you owe me a lot of money.” Xiao Zhou stared at the ground, not knowing what he was thinking.

Seeing Lian Yu and the others had left, Wu Qing walked to her side and said quietly, “Don’t you feel wronged taking all the blame? Of course, if you think it’s worth it, that’s fine. I just fear that no matter how hard we try, some people and situations might not last long.”

Zhui Ming and Tie Shou came over. Zhui Ming patted her shoulder approvingly, “You did beautifully tonight—ignore that Seventh Prince.”

“True brothers indeed—so loyal.”

Su Zhen understood Wu Qing’s implication about her and Lian Yu… She laughed carelessly and joked with them, but inwardly wondered if she should ask Lian Xin about A Luo.

She began wanting to know—in Lian Yu’s heart, between A Luo and her, whom did he love more? She’d actually wanted to know before, just told herself not to overthink it. Even though this person was already dead, she would still… be jealous.

At the Huo Residence

Meanwhile, from Lian Yu’s expression, Huo Chang’an naturally understood what had really happened. He was inwardly amused but tried to keep a straight face, afraid that showing it would annoy Wu Yan.

He quickly brought Wu Yan to where he’d tethered his horse, helped her mount, and rode away.

Fortunately it was late at night with almost no one on the roads—otherwise his half-naked state would have drawn attention.

The two rode close together, talking and laughing. Soon they reached the Huo residence. Since they were about to travel, Huo Chang’an planned to return to handle some affairs. He didn’t want to encounter Lian Yue. Though he couldn’t say there were no feelings after these years of marriage, it was she who had separated him from Wu Yan. Though Wu Yan’s current poisoning couldn’t be entirely blamed on her, he couldn’t help but hate her! So he took advantage of her absence to make this trip.

The gatekeepers were startled to see them. One stared at Wu Yan with particular curiosity. Though Huo Chang’an didn’t like him staring at Wu Yan, he was in excellent spirits tonight and didn’t make an issue of it—just kicked him and scolded, “Go tell Steward Zhu to find me in the main hall.”

The two servants dared not delay and hurried off.

Since Uncle and Aunt Liang had moved to the villa, this residence was managed by Second Steward Zhu. Huo Chang’an waited with Wu Yan outside the hall. Soon, the second steward arrived with servants, also startled to see Wu Yan. Being more tactful, he didn’t dare stare but immediately ordered everyone to light lamps and bring tea.

Once the interior was lit, Huo Chang’an brought Wu Yan inside and ordered him to fetch two sets of clean clothes—women’s garments from Miss Wu Yan’s former room, and any set of men’s clothes from his room would do.

Wu Yan had torn up his undergarments while bandaging him, and his outer robe was also damaged—he was quite disheveled, not to mention her condition.

The second steward was puzzled. “Master, don’t you have clothes in your room? Why…”

Huo Chang’an’s expression darkened. “So much chatter over a simple task—do you want me to do it myself?”

The steward trembled. “Yes, this servant will do it immediately. Master and… Miss, please wait.”

Seeing the steward flee in panic, Wu Yan knew what he was avoiding and said quietly, “You can just go to your room to change—I don’t mind.”

“But I mind. I won’t touch anything in that room again.” Huo Chang’an gripped her hand tightly, gazing at her. Thinking of her circumstances these years, his heart ached.

Though Wu Yan didn’t mind, hearing him say this warmed her heart, and her lips curved into a slight smile.

Seeing this, Huo Chang’an was overjoyed, as if filled with honey. Remembering their earlier passion, his heart stirred—though he couldn’t do anything here and now, he couldn’t help but kiss her lips to ease his restless thoughts.

He’d only intended to steal a quick kiss, but at that soft, fragrant touch, he couldn’t help wanting to deepen it… Wu Yan’s face burned with embarrassment as she quickly pushed him away and whispered, “There are people in the room.”

“That’s easily fixed.” Huo Chang’an smiled and immediately ordered the red-faced male and female servants who were stealing glances: “Leave.”

“No.” Wu Yan glared at him sternly.

Seeing her face flushed, Huo Chang’an knew she was shy. Sighing inwardly, he had to comply with her wishes for now.

At this moment, the second steward brought clothes. Huo Chang’an took them and embraced Wu Yan. “I’m confused—I can’t go to that room, but I still need to visit my study.”

“It’s fine.” Wu Yan found this somewhat amusing. “I’ve let it go—can’t you?”

Huo Chang’an felt even more heartache. After giving instructions to the second steward to summon the ladies from the west wing, he took Wu Yan to his study in the east wing, right next to his and Lian Yue’s former room.

Once inside, though Huo Chang’an was filled with romantic thoughts watching Wu Yan change, he didn’t pester her too much this time—he didn’t want her to stay here, afraid it would make her uncomfortable.

After changing clothes, when they returned to the hall, unexpectedly the women from the west wing, quite a distance away, had also arrived.

Seeing Huo Chang’an enter with Wu Yan, they were all stunned. Finally, Pingping spoke first, smiling, “Hearing from the steward that Master had returned and wanted to see us, the sisters rushed over, delighted. Master is no longer quarreling with Madam—that’s wonderful.”

She smiled somewhat unnaturally, staring at Wu Yan with both jealousy and confusion.

Huo Chang’an’s gaze sharpened as he said sternly, “Who told you to look at her like that?”

Pingping was greatly alarmed and quickly lowered her head. Everyone was anxious—was Wu Yan returning and gaining favor?! What were they to do?

Pingping secretly signaled Zhu Xin, but Zhu Xin remained silent—not from fear, but because she saw Huo Chang’an’s hand tightly clasping Wu Yan’s fingers. Even with Madam Lian Yue, though there was occasional embracing, she’d never seen such intimate interlocked fingers.

Also, before speaking to Pingping, the way he looked at Wu Yan—obsessive love, indulgence… even a trace of humility?

This realization made her panic as if falling into a bottomless abyss.

He and Wu Yan… she couldn’t understand, or perhaps she’d never understood. Who exactly was this Wu Yan?

Thinking this, her hands grew cold with sweat.

Huo Chang’an’s deep, stern eyes finally settled on her, making her heart race with fear.

The others didn’t dare make a sound under that commanding, sharp pressure that chilled their hearts, not knowing what this master intended.

Finally, Huo Chang’an spoke: “This Marquis and Miss Wei will be traveling far from now on. If we return, we’ll reside permanently at the villa and never return here.”

“This Marquis and the Princess Imperial are now divorced. Steward Zhu,” he said, looking at the second steward.

Knowing great changes were imminent, the steward still immediately replied respectfully, “Please give your orders, Master.”

Huo Chang’an nodded. “If the Princess Imperial returns to reside here permanently, you’ll remain to care for and manage everything. Half the servants will stay here, the other half will transfer to the villa under Aunt Liang’s management. As for the ladies of the west wing—those who wish may reside here permanently with unchanged monthly allowances. Those who don’t wish to may each collect ten thousand taels from the accounting office as travel expenses and leave, taking all gold, silver, and jewelry from the west wing. Except for Ding Zhu Xin and Liu Pingping—tomorrow morning at the latest, they must be sent from the residence immediately without error!”

After he finished, except for the steward’s continued respectful responses, everyone was greatly shocked, including the servants. So Marquis Huo and the Princess Imperial were indeed divorced, and he would now be with this Miss Wei?

Zhu Xin’s face went deathly pale as she stood frozen, while Pingping cried out and ran to Huo Chang’an, weeping and pleading, “Master, Pingping knows she was wrong! Please don’t send me away! Pingping will go to the villa to serve you and make amends!”