Through her blurred vision, Lian Yu threw down the cloth and reached out to wipe away her tears, then spread his arms to embrace her.

“Don’t cry. Li Huaisu, don’t cry.”

His usual composure finally showed some cracks, his voice revealing hoarseness. He held her extremely tightly, as if wanting to meld her into his own flesh and bones.

Rationally, Suzhen knew she should push him away, but that notion deep in her heart was now somewhat clearer. Her heart filled with sorrow beyond control, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in his chest.

He trembled almost imperceptibly and held her even tighter.

“The sky looks dark, but dawn is coming soon. Rest a while, and I’ll send you back before returning for morning court.”

He kissed her earlobe and spoke tenderly.

Dawn is coming… Suzhen finally pushed him away and silently picked up the new robe he had prepared for her.

“No need to send me. However I came, I’ll return the same way.”

Lian Yu stared at her but ultimately didn’t stop her.

“Let Xuanwu escort you. Seven days—give me seven more days for your question. After seven days, I’ll come find you and tell you the answer.”

He suddenly said quietly.

He didn’t mention what the three days were for, but Suzhen nodded: “Very well.”

She quickly arranged herself properly. “Lian Yu, setting aside everything else, for the sake of our nation and realm, your burden is heavy. You must always take good care of yourself. I’m leaving.”

She said this as she went out the door.

Outside, everyone was still awake, standing straight. Seeing her emerge, Qinglong looked somewhat uncomfortable, Ming Yanchu’s gaze was slightly distant, and Baihu stared at her for a long moment. Suzhen understood that they had probably heard what happened inside. She didn’t know whether they regarded her as a woman warming Lian Yu’s bed, as Li Huaisu, or in some other role.

But some things, some apprehensions, she understood clearly. When Xuanwu held an umbrella to escort her away, she still didn’t greet them. Only when leaving the courtyard did she suddenly turn back.

Lian Yu had suddenly emerged. Ming Yanchu and the others were somewhat caught off guard and hadn’t had time to bring him an umbrella.

He stood silently in the rain watching her.

Rainwater flowed down his jet-black hair.

Suzhen suddenly said: “Lian Yu, if I want to see you during these seven days, I hope you won’t refuse—come see me.”

“Very well.”

When Ming Yanchu and the others anxiously rushed up to hold an umbrella for Lian Yu, he nodded in agreement. His bearing and movements showed magnificent presence. Suzhen smiled and left.

The new laughs—but what of the old?

Through the curtain of rain, Shuangcheng watched quietly from a corner of the side door of the sleeping palace until the departure. Her maid Meier gripped her tightly: “Miss, let’s go demand an explanation from His Majesty. Li Huaisu last night with His Majesty might have… might have…”

Shuangcheng’s face showed a ghastly pale smile. “At worst, she simply climbed into his bed.”

Meier’s eyes turned completely red with both anger and heartache. “No, Miss! Even if you won’t speak, this servant will say it even if it means death. You didn’t even want your life for His Majesty. These past days you’ve been mindful of his illness, and today you came to check on him before dawn, yet he treats you this way. Isn’t this too heartless and ungrateful—”

Shuangcheng forcefully grasped the hand of her maid who was stepping forward.

“From my teens until now, how many years have I endured? What is there I cannot endure now? He is the emperor—what woman can he not touch? But I will definitely make him regret this! Let Li Huaisu…”

Reaching this point, she suddenly stopped speaking.

Meier only saw her hand pressed against the wall scratch viciously across it. Her fingernails broke with the sound, cutting deep into the flesh. The blood that seeped out was quickly washed away by rainwater, and the venomous coldness in her eyes made Meier shudder—it was as sharp and vicious as slow torture.

Meier suddenly felt that she had been meddlesome. This battle, her young lady would definitely win back.

“Come, follow me somewhere.”

In her moment of distraction, she heard Shuangcheng say quietly. She was startled: “Miss, where to?”

“To the second person in this palace who can make decisions.”

“A’luo greets the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand blessings and golden peace.”

In Xiao’an Palace, Shuangcheng bowed respectfully, her manner reverent yet neither servile nor arrogant.

Xiao’an looked up from the tea smoke. “Rise and be seated.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Suddenly returning to your original name—are you used to it?” Xiao’an slightly narrowed her eyes and asked leisurely.

“Originally there was nothing—where could dust settle? In A’luo’s heart, I never considered myself to be Shuangcheng.”

“But I turned you into Shuangcheng. You must hate me in your heart, don’t you?” Xiao’an asked again quietly.

Shuangcheng rose from her seat and looked at Xiao’an: “A’luo only feels gratitude toward Your Majesty.”

“Oh?” Xiao’an smiled even more mysteriously. “I blocked your marriage with the Emperor, yet you’re grateful to me?”

“Yes, because Shuangcheng finally understands that His Majesty has this vast realm and his responsibilities to you in his heart. Had I left with him back then, as time passed, he might have blamed me for encouraging him to abandon this magnificent land and his ambitions. Today we might have become a resentful couple.” Shuangcheng answered slowly.

Xiao’an nodded. “Very good. You’ve finally developed some wisdom. You should thank that Feng Suzhen—the saying goes, ‘meeting strength with strength.'”

“Your Majesty speaks truly. This servant’s heart is indeed very… grateful to her!”

“Enough, you needn’t speak falsely here,” Xiao’an’s smile quickly faded. “You hate her more than you hate your sister, because the Emperor has this person in his heart.”

“But remember, don’t be hasty. When competing for favor before the Emperor, for every bit of kindness the Emperor shows her, he feels ten times more guilt toward you—especially given your deep love affair years ago. Guilt plus love—your chances are greater than Feng Suzhen’s.”

“Thank you for the auspicious words, Empress Dowager,” Shuangcheng smiled lightly, “but this servant dares not speak rashly of chances of success.”

“Then make His Majesty completely abandon her. You can do this, and you know very clearly how to accomplish it, don’t you? Yesterday I had that Feng woman brought to the palace for some pretentious pleasantries, but it was merely to send you advance notice. You knew to appear proper before His Majesty, advising him to take both as concubines. Though His Majesty may have feelings for that girl in his heart, his pity for you only increases.”

“A’luo, you are a clever person.”

“Speaking of this matter, this servant thanks the Empress Dowager again for her assistance. This servant hadn’t expected that the Empress Dowager would even deploy the Princess.”

Xiao’an’s expression had been showing slight laziness, but hearing this, she sighed. “I had long heard that the Emperor forbade this Feng Suzhen from entering the palace. When I summoned the Princess, it was precisely so this Feng Suzhen could use the Princess to reach the Emperor. That rough daughter of mine, not understanding the scheme, wholeheartedly helped Feng Suzhen and indeed brought her over.”

“Don’t look at her arrogance—sometimes when she acts foolishly… In the future, choosing a husband for her will truly give me headaches.”

“Your Majesty need not worry. With you and His Majesty here, who could bully the Princess?”

“Let us hope so,” Xiao’an dismissed the topic lightly. “You have more to say to me, don’t you?”

“Your Majesty is perceptive,” Shuangcheng’s gaze condensed. “Your Majesty said His Majesty’s heart pities A’luo, but His Majesty brought Feng Suzhen into the palace last night, and the two spent… one night together.”

“Oh, such a thing occurred?” Xiao’an remained extraordinarily calm, even showing some disdain in her eyes. She slowly rose, supported by Aunt Hong, and walked slowly to face Shuangcheng. “What do you have to be anxious about? As I said, if the Emperor truly favors her, his guilt toward you will certainly increase, and you should retreat another step.”

“Retreat another step?” Shuangcheng was obviously stunned.

“Precisely—retreat until there’s nowhere left to retreat!”

Xiao’an’s gaze blazed as she spoke word by word: “Retreat until there’s nowhere left to retreat, and someone will catch you.”

“I know my son. His Majesty is no longer the Emperor of years past. The storms of these years have hardened him. Do you think his throne came easily? How did Feng Shaoqing, Fu Jingshu, Liu Shouping, He Sai, and Huang Tianba die! Even when he once favored Consort Wei, when several jealous concubines secretly drugged him with aphrodisiacs, he had them killed.”

Shuangcheng’s heart suddenly became clear. She bowed low in thanks: “Shuangcheng understands. Thank you for Your Majesty’s guidance.”

Xiao’an waved her hand, dismissing her.

Before leaving, Shuangcheng said quietly: “Your Majesty, next time Shuangcheng will come pay respects together with His Majesty.”

“Mm, I appreciate your intention. My son developed a rift with me over the Wei Wuyan affair, but in his heart he still cares for me. Yet since your return, he hasn’t stepped foot in my palace once. He hates me in his heart for concealing the news that you were still alive, making you suffer these years. He values you extremely in his heart. Go then, play this chess game well—you won’t lose.”

“Yes! This servant thanks the Empress Dowager and takes her leave.”

“Wait, regarding the events of that year—what did you tell the Emperor?”

Xiao’an suddenly asked.

Shuangcheng’s gaze flickered slightly. Finally, she answered quietly: “This servant told His Majesty that before leaving, I had bid farewell to sister Shuangcheng. Who knew that Shuangcheng also admired His Majesty? Learning that A’luo was to flee far away with His Majesty, she drugged A’luo unconscious. While sending someone to report to the Empress Dowager, she herself went to the appointed location according to what she had learned from this servant, wanting to persuade His Majesty to remain. Who knew she would be mistaken for A’luo and killed? That mysterious and cruel killer was not the Empress Dowager, because the Empress Dowager had also just learned of this and rushed to the meeting place, only to discover Shuangcheng’s corpse. The Empress Dowager never intended to break His Majesty’s heart, but seeing this, she was still greatly enraged. To prevent this servant from bewitching the ruler again, she rushed to the Gu residence, captured this servant, imprisoned my mother, and created the appearance that, upon hearing shocking news of this servant’s death, mother had gone mad with grief and wandered away without a trace. Using my mother’s life as leverage, she commanded Aunt Hong, who had once defected from the brothel, to alter this servant’s appearance to resemble Shuangcheng and made a ten-year agreement with this servant—only after His Majesty had completely eliminated the treacherous ministers at court would this servant be permitted to reveal her identity to His Majesty.”

“At that time, Uncle Gu Nanguang was away on official business and not at home, completely unaware of these earth-shaking events. The Empress Dowager ordered Shuangcheng’s corpse destroyed and placed the jade pendant taken from this servant onto Shuangcheng’s body. Therefore, in His Majesty’s pain and anger, he believed that was A’luo.”