He had never shown her a pleasant face, and his tone was never good either, but while wincing in pain, Suzhen still responded with some amusement: “My left hand isn’t as nimble as before, so now I use the right hand more to exercise it. But the force wasn’t that great – I wouldn’t really chop my right hand to pieces—”

Before she finished speaking, seeing Li Zhaoting’s expression was very unpleasant, she stopped talking. After all, this was still… concern. He could say whatever he wanted.

She remembered something and endured the pain to say: “From the characteristics of the pubic bone and hip joints, these pelvises are large, the lower pubic bone is wide and thick, the pubic arch angle is wide, and the bone surfaces are smooth – they’re undoubtedly women. Looking at the teeth, ribs, chest bones and other bones that haven’t completely fused, they’re adult women, but not too old – probably no more than thirty years old.”

Li Zhaoting was taking a handkerchief from his bosom to remove her gloves and press firmly on her right hand’s wound. Upon hearing this, he paused, his gaze becoming somewhat complex. “Women? Not very old? If so, have you considered…”

Suzhen met his gaze, seeming to know his thoughts, and immediately continued: “Yes, I suspect they’re among the palace maids who shared quarters with Consort Yu at the time. Something probably happened that night. In the old magistrate’s records and testimonies from people back then, there must be things we don’t know about!”

“A former dynasty had a magistrate surnamed Song who was famous throughout the land. His ‘Record of Washing Away Wrongs’ documented the method of steaming bones to examine injuries. I’ll go back and check their records from entering to leaving the palace, see if they all returned to their ancestral homes or if someone disappeared. Then I’ll steam these bones. If blood and injuries truly appear in the bones, it means they definitely knew something and were killed for it. Now there are only three sets of bones – some people haven’t died yet. We can start with the remaining people from back then—”

“Zhaoting, from the time you were calculated against and lured into the trap, I’ve always felt this case is more than what we currently see.”

“You’ve changed.” Li Zhaoting suddenly smiled.

Suzhen didn’t understand his meaning, only seeing his extremely deep gaze that was hard to fathom, but his lips curved slightly – seeming like praise, yet also not.

Her face unconsciously warmed. Though they no longer had any entanglement, today she finally seemed not to annoy him as she once did. She could also discuss people and worldly affairs with him.

But why did it have to be after all these years?

Her heart was complex, but she understood that he could interact with her this way – not with affection, but no longer with disgust – partly because of the cellar incident.

But this kind of repayment… she felt it was better without it. She sighed silently, but he spoke in almost a commanding tone: “First go to the Imperial Medical Bureau to treat your wound, then continue.”

“What are you doing?”

Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, the door was pushed open and someone asked in surprise.

It was A’luo and her maid Mei’er.

Li Zhaoting slowly released her. Being a person of propriety, even without others present, he still paid respects and asked: “Consort Gu has arrived. What instructions do you have?”

A’luo glanced at Suzhen’s hand, somewhat hesitant, and asked calmly: “Magistrate Li is injured?”

“Yes.” Suzhen also answered calmly, unable to determine why she had come – for her or for Li Zhaoting.

A’luo said softly: “It’s not entirely a bad thing. Magistrate Li shows such caring concern – perhaps severed strings could be reconnected in the future.”

This was hoping she and Li Zhaoting would reunite, but whether sincere or false, what business was it of hers! Suzhen was angry and said: “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. However, Huaisu’s life is lowly – I dare not trouble others to worry about me. If Your Majesty has orders for Huaisu, please speak. If you wish to talk with Magistrate Li, then Huaisu will take leave first.”

“Li Huaisu, what do you mean? Her Majesty shows concern, yet you, a mere fourth-rank official, dare be so presumptuous and speak in such a tone!” Mei’er stepped forward with a cold laugh.

Suzhen said nothing and was about to leave when A’luo extended her hand to stop her. “The maid spoke inappropriately, not knowing proper respect. Magistrate Li, please don’t take offense. A’luo came to thank you both for your kindness in the cellar.”

“Especially Magistrate Li – I cannot repay this debt. In the future, if either of you encounters any matter where Gu Xiluo can speak up or lend assistance, within the bounds of law and reason, A’luo will certainly handle it for you both.”

A’luo disliked owing favors – Suzhen didn’t doubt this. Regarding the shrine incident, she had promised her and indeed hadn’t mentioned anything more to Lian Yu. But phrases like “within the bounds of law and reason” sounded too similar to Lian Yu’s manner of speaking, making Suzhen feel unsettled. She smiled slightly: “Thank you, Your Majesty. At the time, Huaisu only did what a person should do – it’s not worth mentioning, and Your Majesty needn’t take it to heart. As for Magistrate Li, he truly risked his life to save us – you should be grateful to him. Huaisu will go out first.”

A’luo’s gaze flickered, and she didn’t speak for a moment. But Mei’er turned and went out, soon returning with two imperial guards.

“Magistrate Li, consider this servant offending you once more. My mistress may punish me however she wishes, but since my mistress hasn’t finished speaking, you cannot leave. Please.” she said.

Insolent servant! Suzhen cursed silently. She coldly assessed the two tall imperial guards and didn’t force her way out. Her worthless martial arts couldn’t beat them, and this wasn’t a life-or-death struggle.

This maid truly knew how to use her position of power. She was indeed just a petty official, while A’luo was the emperor’s woman. How could the imperial guards disobey the latter’s orders?

She couldn’t possibly request anything from A’luo, so she simply walked up to the imperial guards, pointed to Li Zhaoting’s handkerchief on her right hand, and said calmly: “Brothers, please lend a hand.”

The two guards were startled. One of them bowed and somewhat awkwardly helped bandage her wound.

The knife had cut her index finger quite deeply, but fortunately hadn’t reached the bone. Even so, while Suzhen maintained a cool exterior, her heart was crying out in pain.

A’luo frowned slightly. Li Zhaoting watched silently. A’luo said: “Magistrate Li, please don’t take offense. I’ll speak a few words with Magistrate Li, and having you here actually provides convenience.”

Suzhen paused, understanding she was avoiding suspicion – avoiding it for Lian Yu’s sake. Her heart cursed both A’luo and her servant again, along with a harsh curse for Lian Yu.

“Thank you, Consort Gu. Then Zhaoting will respectfully comply.”

At this point, Li Zhaoting finally spoke again.

A’luo nodded, her gaze lowered slightly. “My mother has been released and now lives in the capital. If you and Magistrate Li need anything from me in the future, you can speak to my mother. She visits me in the palace and can relay messages. Mei’er, give the address to these two officials.”

“I wish you and Magistrate Li success in solving the case quickly. I won’t obstruct your investigation – farewell.” She turned to leave.

“Your Majesty, Zhaoting has one more thing to say. Zhaoting boldly accepts this address, but Magistrate Li probably won’t need it. Today Zhaoting works here with Magistrate Li on both cases entirely due to His Majesty’s favor toward Magistrate Li. Being so, would there be any need to ask others for help with anything?”

Li Zhaoting accepted it with a slight smile. Though Mei’er was sharp, she didn’t understand Li Zhaoting’s meaning and showed confusion in her eyes.

But A’luo suddenly turned around. She looked at Li Zhaoting and slowly said: “Thank you for the reminder, Magistrate Li. When His Majesty ordered Magistrate Li to assist with my sister’s case, A’luo hadn’t considered this subtle connection.”

She smiled lightly, her eyes showing a trace of mockery. “What you proposed at the academy back then, I can never repay in this lifetime. I only hope not to owe too much. Perhaps you laugh at my overestimation of myself – I’m merely a small palace consort. But I came today truly wanting to thank you for saving my life. Why must you provoke me like this?”

“How His Majesty treats me, I know very well. During those days when we were rescued and lay unconscious in bed, Mei’er told me His Majesty stayed by my side day and night without removing his clothes. Later when I woke and asked if he wanted to visit Magistrate Li, he didn’t answer. I knew he perhaps wanted to go, so I asked him not to. He quickly and firmly answered that he wouldn’t go.”

“Perhaps Magistrate Li doesn’t want to hear these words, but this is the truth. Zhaoting, I’ve always considered you a friend, a very good friend. I hope you do the same, rather than pushing our friendship further and further away.”

Li Zhaoting’s expression didn’t change as he looked at her calmly. In comparison, A’luo pressed her lips together. She glanced at him and Suzhen, then left with Mei’er. The imperial guards followed closely behind.

Suzhen was taking writing materials from her box to make preliminary examination records beside the corpses. When A’luo looked over, her brush had just paused, leaving a deep ink spot on the paper.

Seeing the guards had also withdrawn, Suzhen said: “I think I should go to the Imperial Medical Bureau after all. I’ll go alone – you handle your business.”

She set down her brush to leave, but Li Zhaoting said: “I’ll accompany you.”

Suzhen firmly refused: “I’ll go alone.”

She had thought that if they couldn’t be true childhood sweethearts, they could at least be friends, and a few caring words would warm the heart. But in front of A’luo, she was still nothing. If they were friends, why bring up her relationship with Lian Yu? Of course, he had undoubtedly achieved his effect. A’luo was still hurt!

But A’luo’s words left her not knowing what to feel.

“Feng Suzhen!”

Li Zhaoting’s face finally showed some change in color.

She was already brushing past him as she spoke.

Suzhen didn’t actually go to the Imperial Medical Bureau. The pain in her hand, though not insignificant, couldn’t compare to other things.

Stopping by a pond, she picked up stones from the ground and threw them into the water like Lian Xin habitually did!

The stones created ripples in the clear water.

Her heart suddenly trembled, and she almost immediately ran back to the morgue. Li Zhaoting was no longer there, and the guards outside didn’t know where Magistrate Li had gone.

She didn’t linger long and quickly went to a place – the Imperial Study.

“Your Majesty, I request an audience with His Majesty.”

Outside the Imperial Study, Ming Yanchu, Qinglong, and Xuanwu were all there, and even Lian Jie and Lian Qin were present. Seeing her appear breathlessly, they all looked somewhat surprised. Lian Qin said quietly: “We also have business with Sixth Brother. A’luo came earlier, but Sixth Brother was discussing matters with the Empress Dowager and couldn’t speak with her. He just left with Bai Hu and hasn’t returned yet.”

As soon as he said this, everyone shook their heads at him, and Lian Jie pulled him back. He immediately fell silent, while Suzhen just nodded: “Then I’ll wait for him here. I have something to discuss with him.”

Lian Qin’s expression became somewhat unpleasant. “Li Huaisu, you…”

He said “you” once, then suddenly asked: “What happened to your hand again?”

Everyone immediately looked at Suzhen.

“From examining corpses – it’s nothing.” Suzhen shook her head and said no more, just wiped the sweat from her forehead and found a place to sit on the stone steps under the corridor, not minding the dirt.

Her behavior was quite boyish, but whether because everyone already knew she was a woman or for some other reason, seeing her curved eyebrows, pointed chin, heroic spirit between her brows mixed with an unhealthy, frail pallor, they felt she was increasingly different from the tomboy she once was, increasingly becoming a proper young woman.

Suddenly facing each other like this and remembering the past, everyone exchanged glances and fell silent, as if everyone wanted to say something yet felt it inappropriate.

“Magistrate Li, this servant will request an imperial physician to examine your hand.”

Finally, Ming Yanchu spoke.

“No need, Eunuch Ming.” Suzhen rose to thank him, her attitude polite but distant.

“Ming Yanchu, is there something wrong with your brain?” A voice rose lightly as Lian Jie laughed. “You forgot that my medical skills aren’t inferior to those servants at the Imperial Medical Bureau.”

Ming Yanchu was pleasantly surprised and smiled: “That would indeed be wonderful.”

Lian Jie stepped forward, but Suzhen stopped him. “Seventh Prince, please wait. Eunuch Ming knows that Seventh Prince still harbors displeasure about Wu Yan’s matter, so he didn’t make this suggestion. Eunuch Ming is always the most considerate. Huaisu also thanks Seventh Prince, but didn’t Seventh Prince forget that your Sixth Brother said my medical skills are only mediocre? Yet I also count as half a physician.”

“In my heart, you’re all still friends, and perhaps we can drink together in the future. But currently, with the relationship between your sovereign and myself… I cannot yet manage to have the same friendship with you all as before. I believe you’re also in a difficult position. I’m fine, but I truly have urgent business with His Majesty.”

She paused here. Lian Jie was stunned, and everyone looked at each other. Xuanwu suddenly said: “Since it’s inconvenient to disturb Consort Gu, I’ll go find His Majesty for you. Please wait a moment.”

“Xuanwu, who are you finding His Majesty for? We’re here – His Majesty is here too.”

A woman’s soft laughter sounded from outside the courtyard as A’luo walked in with her arm linked through Lian Yu’s, both seeming to be discussing something amusing, with smiles still lingering in their eyes.

Seeing Suzhen, A’luo’s brow furrowed slightly. Beside her, the smile on Lian Yu’s lips slightly condensed as his gaze fell on Suzhen sitting on the ground, saying calmly: “What is it?”

Suzhen looked at the two of them, brushed the dust from her robe, stood up and said softly: “Leave the palace. I want to leave the palace.”