Su Zhen truly hadn’t expected Quan Feitong to appear here, to appear like this.

She resented his exposure, yet was grateful for his arrival.

When she first arrived in the capital, he had secretly arranged food and drink for her, but along the way, they had also opposed each other, seeming friend yet foe. Though they never fought to the death, they constantly clashed, emotionally incompatible.

Life’s encounters were truly strange. People and things you thought were right, long-standing friendships, things promised never to fail – you never imagine that one day they could break so cleanly, so suddenly you don’t even have time to say goodbye.

Things you thought impossible to intersect with, one day arrive unexpectedly at times you never imagined.

He made her feel she wasn’t alone.

Though she shouldn’t covet this bit of warmth, she still spoke quietly: “May I?”

The man across from her was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, as if he couldn’t believe she would agree. He fell silent for a moment, his brow and eyes gradually brightening bit by bit. For an instant, his radiance was incomparable, dazzling to the eyes.

He released her hand and instead embraced her waist, smiling gently: “Come on, Xiao Xian is pregnant and her temper has actually improved considerably lately. You’ll like her. Also, my teacher is staying at my house now. He’s my elder, and you should meet him too.”

He said nothing more, just like casual conversation, soothing the pallor between her brows. As people saw them approaching, they instinctively made way, looking at them with some surprise and uncertainty, because many recognized this young man as that wickedly impressive current Right Prime Minister, quite fearful, yet surprised that his wife would save people in the street.

“Prime Minister, please wait.”

They couldn’t walk in. Behind them came Lian Yu’s voice, quiet but taut and commanding.

Quan Feitong’s gaze turned slightly cold, but he still embraced Su Zhen and turned around, asking calmly: “What does Your Majesty command? It’s just that I’ve been unwell lately and taken sick leave. I’m afraid I’ll have to handle official matters later.”

As he spoke, he bowed slightly, his attitude humble but without a trace of subordinate servility.

“…” Lian Yu didn’t speak. Perhaps it should be said that his gaze wasn’t on Quan Feitong at all. He stared tightly at Su Zhen beside him, his expression unreadable, his brows knitted together, extremely stern and frightening.

“Oh, Your Majesty is probably blaming me for poor discipline. My soon-to-be-married wife was originally a little maid from the countryside, called Zhu’er. She just arrived in the capital recently and doesn’t understand etiquette well,” he said, then looked at Su Zhen: “Come, pay respects to His Majesty, then we’ll go home. Don’t be afraid.”

Su Zhen’s hands in her sleeves nearly crushed to pieces!

Quan Feitong seemed to sense this, again reaching out to grip her hand, holding it tightly in his palm.

That palm’s warmth, along with his incredibly strong gaze, gradually calmed Su Zhen. She followed his example, slowly bowing: “This commoner pays respects to Your Majesty. Please forgive any improprieties, Your Majesty.”

Lian Yu’s gaze darkened, his brow and forehead tightly drawn, as if he hadn’t heard what she said, still staring at her intensely, his gaze fierce and frightening, dark and bottomless.

Su Zhen seemed not to hear, and after speaking, just slightly lowered her head, her eyes completely cold.

Everyone around Lian Yu – Yan Da and others – were extremely shocked. No one had expected to see Su Zhen again in such circumstances, and that she would actually acknowledge being Quan Feitong’s wife as her new identity?

Lian Qin’s eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe it to the extreme, his eyeballs nearly popping out.

Su Zhen saw Lian Xin’s meaningful glances, seemingly making a victory gesture at her, and couldn’t help but slightly lift her lips, even though her heart was still full of desolate meaning.

There were two other people examining her. Both were people she very much didn’t want to see.

A Luo, and Li Zhaoting.

A Luo suddenly said softly: “Your Majesty, I feel somewhat unwell. I’m afraid I should return to the palace to rest.”

Lian Yu seemed startled and looked down to check.

Su Zhen just smiled.

Quan Feitong immediately faced Lian Yu: “I take my leave first.”

Having said this, he immediately took her into the depths of the crowd.

He led her away extremely quickly, Su Zhen’s ears and nose only catching his faint fragrance and slightly heavy breathing.

It wasn’t until they reached the next street intersection that he stopped, turned into a musical instrument shop, removed the money pouch from his waist and threw it on the counter: “Rent this place for half a day. Take the silver as you please.”

The shop owner hadn’t had time to react before he lifted the curtains between the inner hall and shop front and barged in.

This unchanging tycoon style – Su Zhen felt somewhat nostalgic and laughed aloud.

For quite a while, the old man didn’t come in.

Not just bought by money – with this man’s imposing presence, how many people in the capital could suppress him?

Though called an inner hall, inside was a different world altogether.

It was a courtyard of moderate size, with a door at the back, presumably the shop owner’s residence. It was deep winter now, and the flowers and trees in the courtyard weren’t all blooming. A few sparse branches with several red dots had a uniquely stark and simple beauty.

“Prime Minister, thank you.” Su Zhen patted his shoulder with her free hand. “Shall we have a drink and then part ways?”

Quan Feitong still held her hand. Hearing this, his previously vigilant gaze slowly fell on her, his eyes darkening and his lips pursing high.

“Do you think my earlier words were a joke?” he asked.

“Didn’t we come here to make parting convenient?” He sounded displeased, even coldly mocking. Su Zhen responded good-naturedly.

“We came here to avoid temporarily. If Lian Yu sends people to search, my people will find ways to obstruct him. We’ll wait a while before leaving. Once back at the Prime Minister’s residence, with tight security, it won’t be so easy for him to demand people.” His voice had turned cold.

“You really plan to take me back to the Prime Minister’s residence?” Su Zhen was somewhat stunned.

Quan Feitong reached out to pinch her chin, lifting her face: “Do you still think I’m joking, or just helping you out of a tight spot?”

“But Li Huaisu, if I didn’t like you, why would I help you out of this predicament? Since I like you, why can’t I take you back?”

His gaze was severe, looking as if he wanted to strangle her. Su Zhen’s heart shook as she saw him seemingly transformed, his face devoid of any of his usual genial smile.

“I…” She didn’t know what to say for a moment, then heard him speak softly: “I know you wanted to resign, but your Feng family case isn’t finished. With your personality, you’ll always want to make a comeback. I wasn’t urgent about finding you, wanting to wait for you to find me. But after waiting ten days, not even a ghost appeared. I know that in your heart there’s only Li Zhaoting, and later only Lian Yu – not half of me.”

“Fine, if the mountain won’t come to this Prime Minister, this Prime Minister will go to the mountain. But when I went to the Ministry of Justice again, it was already empty.”

“Only then did I realize some things aren’t within my control, just like you suddenly appearing in the capital and walking into my sight.”

“I searched everywhere for you.” He gripped her shoulders harder, his gaze compelling. “But with all my power, I still couldn’t find you.”

“I’ve been living in a pleasure house. All this time, I’ve been living in a pleasure house.” Hearing his words, Su Zhen felt an indescribable emotion welling up, speaking softly, her eye sockets all sore.

Quan Feitong had been gripping her chin tightly, but hearing this, his gaze changed as he slowly released her, instead gripping both her shoulders.

“Why did you live in such a place? You’re quite clever – no wonder I couldn’t find you all along. As a young woman, no matter how wild, I never would have thought you’d dare live in such a place.”

“That shows you’re not very lustful.” Su Zhen smiled.

“You didn’t want anyone to find you – why? What about your friends from the Ministry of Justice? Tell me, why?” Quan Feitong had no heart for this joke, just slowly asking her, his eyes showing traces of pain. The force in his hands unconsciously increased.

“You once told me, and I didn’t believe it. Later I finally learned it was Lian Yu who killed my entire family. I wanted revenge. I didn’t want to implicate them, so I found ways to make them leave.”

“But I was useless. I found opportunities to get close to Lian Yu but couldn’t bring myself to act. He killed my entire family, but he had saved me, time and again. From his standpoint, the Feng family had saved the Jin Prince’s orphan – they were traitors who deserved death. He knew I was a Feng family orphan yet still saved me. If I killed him, you and Consort Ai, plus the old Jin Prince faction, would definitely take the opportunity to seize the throne. There would be war.”

“My father said that it doesn’t matter who becomes emperor in this world, but we must never easily go to war. Once there’s warfare, countless people die, and it’s the common people who suffer. The Great Zhou would be in chaos, neighboring countries would covet it… I originally thought, since he saved me, if I killed him, returning one life for another would be enough. But I can’t repay the peace of all these people, countless people in the world!”

“These things – could I tell you about them?”

“Could I?”

“Quan Feitong, from the moment I arrived in the capital, every step I’ve taken has been too difficult. No matter what I do, it’s wrong…”

“I don’t know who to tell. Now, I can only tell you, tell someone I often opposed. Prime Minister, I’m tired, truly tired. I don’t want to live anymore, but I still can’t die…”

She spoke loudly, cried loudly, her whole person gradually sliding down from his grasp, so hoarse and wretched, the thick cosmetics washing down with her tears. Where could you still see half the spirited appearance of her youthful adventures?

Quan Feitong seemed struck by something, not moving for a very long time. Only when she had curled up completely into a ball did he wake as if from a dream, step forward, and hold her tightly in his arms.

“Let’s get married, Li Huaisu. I truly like you, much more than I thought I did. My position has nothing to do with you. I’ll avenge your revenge for you. From now on, you just need to be responsible for happiness. Once this matter is settled, I’ll take you away, just like your parents did back then. How about it?”