“What did you say?” Lian Yu asked softly again, as if she hadn’t heard.

Suzhen’s scalp tingled somewhat. Gritting her teeth, she repeated it once more.

“I have said that this case is to be handled by the Ministry of Justice. Everyone should perform their duties according to their positions. You—did you not hear me?”

Lian Yu’s face was iron-blue, his voice even deeper and colder.

Suzhen’s heart was stabbed. If this were a private place, she truly would have slammed the door and left, or perhaps rushed up to roar at him, but this was the imperial court, with so many pairs of eyes watching—

“This subject knows, and this subject also doesn’t want to take this case. Whether in public or private matters, but…” Her voice softened slightly for the last two sentences. After all, private love-hate grudges shouldn’t be brought here—they weren’t children. She raised her head and pointed toward Gu Nanguang. “Minister Gu intercepted the imperial carriage to file a complaint, saying the Ministry of Justice might… have arrested the wrong criminal. Your Majesty, a life for a life—this criminal is to be executed.”

“If he truly isn’t the murderer, wouldn’t that be a grave injustice? Most importantly, if this subject doesn’t take the case, when common people encounter injustice in the future, who would dare come forward to file complaints!”

At this moment, the court was quiet, with only her voice, not loud, but everyone could hear it.

Lian Yu’s eyes flashed briefly, but he was still in great anger.

In this silent moment, Dowager Consort Ai actually smiled. “Not bad, this is exactly what I wanted to tell Your Majesty. I heard long ago that Your Majesty has gained a favored minister. Meeting her by chance today, she seems witty in character and is also a good official. Truly congratulations to Your Majesty for gaining such a good protégé. I believe that regardless of whether the murderer is powerful or noble, Judicial Commissioner Li will certainly handle the case with impartiality.”

She spoke to Lian Yu, but her eyes slightly lifted, falling on Xiao’an, emphasizing the words “handle with impartiality” quite loudly. Lian Jie frowned looking at his mother.

Xiao’an’s expression was very ugly, a hundred times worse than when Lian Yue had spoken earlier. Murong Marquis Jing stepped forward, standing consolingly at her lower right.

Lian Yu replied indifferently to Consort Ai, “The Dowager Consort laughs. This is his duty, as it should be.”

The entire hall remained quiet. Everyone could see that Lian Yu was tense all over, his pair of eyes staring tightly at Suzhen, extremely gloomy. During the earlier turbulent situation, he had still been reasonable to talk to, but now he was truly angry.

Having followed Lian Yu for two years, they still understood this emperor. He usually didn’t seem too difficult to talk to, but when truly provoked, it wasn’t amusing. His rectification of officials, from central to local levels, had resulted in dozens of deaths.

At this critical juncture, no one dared speak up. Even though they knew the relationship between this Li Huaisu and the emperor was ambiguously strange, and after each incident, she seemed even more favored, even Gao Chaoyi, Si Lanfeng and other young officials who had been walking close to Li Huaisu recently and were quite valued by Lian Yu didn’t dare speak up.

This Li Huaisu’s career had its ups and downs. If persuaded well, it would be a happy ending for all; if not, it would be a disaster for everyone involved.

At this crucial moment, only Minister of Justice Xiao Yue, with eyes full of “damn you,” stared at Suzhen, stepped forward to kneel before Lian Yu and cry injustice, repeatedly saying the Ministry of Justice handled cases impartially. Quan Feitong also moved slightly, bowing toward Tingyu’s direction.

The officials finally knew that this eloquent elder was indeed Tingyu, but more were speculating and pondering about this suddenly erupted case. After all, not long ago, Lian Yu had just announced Gu Xiluo’s identity to the outside world, clarifying that it was her cousin Gu Shuangcheng who had died back then, restoring her reputation. In order of precedence, Murong’s consort rank became “noble,” Wei Wuyan became “virtuous,” and he bestowed upon her the title of Virtuous Consort, only lacking entry into the jade records. The Ministry of Internal Affairs would soon choose an auspicious day, and once the jade records were finalized, she would be officially granted the consort title.

Regarding the relationship between Gu Xiluo and Lian Yu in their youth, some old ministers knew about it.

This case involved an official’s daughter and a palace consort who had returned from the dead, and this consort was also the emperor’s beloved. How could it not be shocking and intriguing?

Wei Chenghui, seeing Quan Feitong’s condition, felt slightly heavy-hearted, but staring at Suzhen, the corners of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly.

While everyone in the hall was tense, harboring various thoughts, and waiting for Lian Yu’s pronouncement on this matter, Gu Nanguang’s turbid gaze suddenly became clearer. Grinning, he walked toward Aluo. “Good niece, fortunately you told me I could find Judicial Commissioner Li.”

Aluo had been frowning since Suzhen reported to Lian Yu. Hearing this, her pupils suddenly dilated, and she smiled bitterly, “Uncle, I know you hate me, but you—”

She quickly looked toward Lian Yu, her eyes showing nervousness. “I didn’t. I did have this thought once and did seek out Uncle, wanting him to find Li Huaisu, but I ultimately didn’t carry it out. Since you spoke those words to me, I never did anything about it again.”

Lian Yu looked at her, from initial scrutiny to nodding.

Everyone in the hall heard Gu Nanguang’s words clearly. Aluo approached Lian Yu and spoke in a low voice; not many heard her, but Suzhen was just steps away from the two and heard every word clearly, also seeing Lian Yu’s affirmation plainly. Her heart was stabbed again.

“Aluo, I treated you like my own daughter. How could you repay me like this? No wonder I always felt something was wrong with you then, but you and Shuangcheng grew up together and were always so alike. Later you went traveling to study, and when you returned grown up, I paid even less attention. You changed your face to look like your sister’s and lived under your sister’s name for so many years. Don’t you feel guilty? You indirectly caused her death. If it had been you who went back then—”

Gu Nanguang, his eyes full of pain and his face fierce, questioned loudly. Suddenly he stepped forward several paces and slapped Aluo.

But he was quickly kicked away by Lian Yu, falling several zhang away. Lian Yu stood slightly in front of Aluo, looking at him coldly, a trace of killing intent flashing quickly through his eyes.

Aluo, disregarding her disheveled state, hurriedly grasped Lian Yu’s arm. “Don’t hurt my uncle. Consider it my debt to him.”

Gu Nanguang laughed harshly from the ground. Lian Yu’s gaze moved, and imperial guards rushed in from outside, quickly pressing him down firmly.

The entire process took only moments. While everyone was still in shock, Suzhen watched Lian Yu protecting Aluo, and suddenly remembered when she was four or five years old, Li Zhaoting had gotten annoyed with her and tricked her into climbing a tree to get a hornet’s nest. She was stung with bumps all over her face and body, crying and screaming in pain. Her current mood was surprisingly like those bumps from that day. These were clearly two completely unrelated incidents.

“Li Huaisu, very well. Since you’re full of righteousness, I shall give you one chance to retry the case. Keep the person in prison for now. Whether to execute or release, decide after the retrial.”

Fortunately, Lian Yu’s voice finally fell upon her.

It was decided; she could leave now, she thought.

But it wasn’t over.

“However, everything has its order. Didn’t you take on the Jade Consort’s case before? Finish the Jade Consort’s case first, then handle this one. That’s also your duty.”

“Additionally, both cases are significant—one involves imperial relatives, the other involves a palace consort’s family. Li Zhaoting, you’ve performed excellently in the Ministry of Personnel. I’m temporarily transferring you to assist Judicial Commissioner Li with the cases. If you can’t handle them, the consequences… you shall bear!”

Lian Yu announced from on high, his brows carrying a cold mockery.

Suzhen’s heart was already stuffy, and now it was burning. She wanted to rush forward—but remembering Gu Nanguang’s situation, she swallowed and only stared back coldly.

Not only was she shocked; everyone in the court was stunned, unable to fathom why Lian Yu would arrange things this way.

In the entire hall, probably only Xiao Yue was temporarily single-mindedly happy. Even though Lian Yu hadn’t paid attention to him earlier, those words about “bearing the consequences” made him feel thoroughly comfortable.

This was like using cloth to put out a fire. Never mind using cloth to douse fire—even using fire to douse fire would work if Lian Yu said so.

Quan Feitong had been frowning since earlier, and now his frown deepened as he stared at everything unfolding.

Li Zhaoting, always composed, remained so even now. He didn’t even glance sideways or look at Aluo beside Lian Yu, stepping forward respectfully to receive the order.

Only then was the matter concluded.

Suzhen had come today to request permission to handle the Jade Consort case. She hadn’t expected that after searching high and low, she would find it effortlessly.

Afterward, court was dismissed. Lian Yu ordered Yan Da and Quan Feitong to arrange the imperial examinations. Aluo pleaded, and Lian Yu ordered Gu Nanguang to be sent back to his residence with no further pursuit for now. He also had Quan Feitong arrange a banquet to host Tingyu’s party, instructed Aluo to go meet with her teacher, commanded Lian Jie and Lian Qin to entertain Shi Shoujing and the other person. Dowager Consort Ai left with Lian Yue, and also told Xiao’an she would return to the palace to stay for some time to spend time with her sister. Xiao’an said nothing more, replying indifferently, “Nothing could be better.”

Suzhen didn’t leave and requested private audience with Lian Yu. Lian Yu granted it. As the officials left, they all couldn’t help but glance at her several times. This scholar lady had taken on two prominent cases, especially one involving a love rival. How could they not be curious? And Lian Yu seemed quite reluctant to handle this case, keeping things mysterious, making people even more eager to know what lay beneath the surface.

When Aluo left with Tingyu, she looked at Lian Yu and Suzhen but said nothing. Some things couldn’t be prevented no matter how hard one tried. Who could guard against an emperor? But if she captured his heart, she needn’t fear anything.

Finally, only Suzhen, Lian Yu, and several of Lian Yu’s personal attendants remained in the hall.

Suzhen said indifferently, “Have them leave.”

“You may leave,” Lian Yu complied with her request.

“Master…” Mingyan hesitated initially, then Qinglong spoke up.

“Leave. If she wants to kill me, she must have the ability to do so,” Lian Yu’s tone was even more indifferent to the extreme, but carried an undeniable authority.

This attitude, whether it should be called composure or contempt, made Suzhen want to ram her head into the golden pillar in the hall ten times, then run to him with blood all over her face, grab his collar and say, “Don’t push people too far, damn it, when I go crazy I’m not human either!”