The front and back of the Ministry of Justice were packed with people and soldiers.

Quan Feitong simply had them stop the carriage at the front gate, then sent guards to greet the officials. Soon, he lifted the curtain and an old friend appeared before them both.

Minister of Justice Xiao Yue.

Seeing Su Zhen, he was obviously startled, his eyeballs nearly popping out. After a long while, he forced a laugh: “Greetings, Prime Minister. So this is the Prime Minister’s unbetrothed wife – truly… hearing about someone is nothing like meeting them.”

“Minister Xiao received the invitation, right? Please come drink a few more cups then.” Quan Feitong naturally knew why he was surprised – after all, only the few people in front had clearly seen Su Zhen’s appearance during the parade; officials in the back ranks hadn’t seen clearly.

“Received it, received it – naturally I must attend. Thank you, Prime Minister.” Xiao Yue nodded repeatedly.

Among the Six Ministries’ ministers, some served Lian Yu, some followed Quan Feitong’s lead, and some like Huang Zhongyue were neutral. Xiao Yue counted as royalist. When Su Zhen had publicly taken on the Shuangcheng case, this undoubtedly slapped his face, making him extremely resentful. However, Minister Xiao was smooth by nature and usually didn’t openly offend this Prime Minister, so still gave some face.

Su Zhen wasn’t deaf to the sarcasm in “hearing about someone is nothing like meeting them,” but she didn’t care. She was just urgently wanting to get inside. Quan Feitong naturally understood her thoughts, said nothing more, and carried her down from the carriage.

Xiao Yue coldly observed their intimacy, leading the way ahead.

With Minister Xiao personally leading the way, entry and exit became much more convenient. Ministry of Justice soldiers blocked civilians at the perimeter, clearing a path. Quan Feitong embraced Su Zhen as they passed through, continuous sighs and speculation reaching their ears.

The outer courtyard was still acceptable, showing only scattered fire damage, but walking to the inner areas revealed complete devastation – the entire courtyard reduced to broken walls and rubble, blackened by smoke, with pungent smells assaulting their senses.

Several soldiers stood in the courtyard along with two coroner-like people. Further away were two young men, their bodies filthy with black soot and blood, in wretched states – one hanging his head, the other tightly frowning while comforting his companion’s shoulder. Su Zhen felt dizzy, her gaze trembling as it fell on where the coroners stood.

There were three stretchers with three corpses, all burned black, mouths agape in terrifying expressions, clearly having suffered extreme agony before death. Though the bodies’ faces were blurred, having spent nearly two years together, and being a coroner herself, how could she not recognize them?

It was them without doubt.

She thought she’d never see them again, never imagining they’d meet under such circumstances.

Her body was so weak she nearly slid down. Quan Feitong’s arm tightly circled her waist, kissing her temple: “Don’t look anymore. I’ll take you back.”

“No…”

She answered in a murmur. The two young men across seemed to hear voices, looking up. One quickly walked to her side.

“Huaisu, I’m sorry.”

This was the first time Su Zhen had seen sharp-tongued Little Zhou cry. Her eyes were red and swollen, filled with guilt and sorrow.

Su Zhen couldn’t help struggling from Quan Feitong’s embrace, gripping her hand tightly: “Little Zhou, tell me what happened. What exactly happened? Why is it like this?”

Little Zhou covered her eyes with one hand, tears streaming through her fingers: “You never came to the agreed meeting, so we returned. On parade day, we went to the Prime Minister’s residence looking for you, but they said we’d mistaken you for someone else. So I made the clever decision to have everyone return to the Ministry of Justice to wait for you. Who knew last night—”

“It’s my fault, I killed them…” At this point, she couldn’t continue, crouching down in agony. All her former arrogance and pride crumbled to dust overnight.

Su Zhen turned to look at Quan Feitong, her eyes carrying accusation and hatred: “Why didn’t you let them meet with me?”

Quan Feitong’s heart sank as he slowly answered: “You hid alone in the pleasure house for months. I knew you didn’t want to meet anyone, so I had them turned away.”

His expression didn’t change. Su Zhen’s angry fire gradually dimmed, her gaze slowly falling on the man beside them who hadn’t spoken.

Wuqing seemed to know what she wanted to ask, speaking quietly: “Last night we returned to the Ministry of Justice overnight. Everyone was tired, so we slept in our usual rooms as before. Sleeping until midnight, I smelled smoke and fire, waking in alarm, but my body was extremely heavy and I couldn’t get up. Fire had started all around the room and soon became fierce… I sensed something wrong, gathered my qi and strength, and despite injuring my internal organs, managed to break through the full-body numbness and rush out.”

“I shouted several times but saw no one, knowing something was wrong. I first entered Little Zhou’s room to save her – she was in the same condition as I’d been, only able to struggle on the bed unable to rise. I spent great effort getting her out. When I tried to go back and save Zhui Ming and the others, it was already too late…”

He suddenly turned around quickly, cutting off his voice!

They were burned alive! A pain shot straight up from her heart. Su Zhen covered her mouth and nose. After a long while, looking at Little Zhou’s back, she said slowly: “It’s not your fault, it’s my sin. Why did you still come back looking for me? It wasn’t worth it.”

Quan Feitong saw her gaze become calm and grew even more alarmed. He reached out to support her, but somehow she generated tremendous strength, pushing him so he staggered. Nearby Prime Minister’s residence guards were startled and quickly came to help, but he waved them off.

There, Su Zhen had stumbled to where the corpses lay. The two coroners seemed to recognize this once-famous magistrate, respectfully making way. Su Zhen slowly knelt down, gazing for a long time before looking over: “Prime Minister, I want to bring them back to the residence for examination. May I?”

Quan Feitong frowned, but finally said: “Fine, whatever you wish.”

He was immediately alarmed as she actually embraced the closest corpse – Zhui Ming’s – despite the filthy, terrifying state, apparently intending to personally carry all three bodies to the carriage, accepting no help from others.

He wanted to stop her but knew that with her temperament, no one could stop her! So he sighed and let her be.

“Stop!”

Just then, a clear shout rang out from the gate.

Everyone was startled to see four people enter. The woman in the middle who’d spoken wore half-body emerald silk with bright eyes.

“I didn’t expect this matter to alarm so many important figures from inside and outside the palace!” Quan Feitong curved his lips, speaking calmly.

“Prime Minister Quan.” Yan Da cupped his hands. Quan Feitong smiled and nodded, his smile clearly outlining the sudden gunpowder tension in the air.

Sure enough, Lian Jie slowly spoke: “Magistrate Li, we’re all very sorry about the Ministry of Justice matter, but you can’t take the bodies away. You don’t have that authority.”

He didn’t avoid the issue, still calling her by her former title. Su Zhen slowly raised her head, saying nothing, just holding Zhui Ming’s corpse while looking at him pleadingly.

Lian Qin wasn’t as deep as his elder brother. He stepped forward and said coldly: “Though you’re the dignified Prime Minister’s wife, that doesn’t mean you can flout the law. You have no say here – please leave!”

“Ninth Master, such grand airs!” Quan Feitong sneered, reaching out to help Su Zhen up, but she didn’t rise, only changing to examine Yan Da’s expression, speculating on everyone’s intentions.

Yan Da spoke calmly: “Minister Xiao, this is your Ministry of Justice’s matter. How is it that the Prime Minister’s wife is troubled with it?”

“Minister Yan is right – this official was momentarily negligent.” Xiao Yue nodded, glancing at the courtyard soldiers.

Several soldiers immediately stepped forward to seize the corpses. Little Zhou and Wuqing tensed, about to intervene, but Quan Feitong had already slowly stepped before Su Zhen. The officers were intimidated by his imposing aura and momentarily didn’t dare approach.

“Minister Yan,” Quan Feitong addressed Yan Da directly, “I recall that the Prime Minister has supervisory authority over the nation. This incident involves former Great Zhou civil servants, and judging by related witness testimonies, it’s probably not accidental. My wife is skilled in forensic examination – I wanted her to assist the Ministry of Justice with inspection. I don’t know what’s improper about that?”

Yan Da frowned slightly, but suddenly heard laughter. The woman before him had already stepped forward: “Prime Minister Quan’s suggestion is excellent, but as of yesterday, I have received an edict to temporarily assume the position of Capital Region Chief Magistrate until the court issues new appointments.”

“I am Great Zhou’s first female official. Though only fourth rank with limited power, this position oversees all the nation’s criminal and wrongful cases. Minister Xiao found this case suspicious and the Ministry of Justice unable to resolve it, so has transferred the case to me. Is that not so?”

Xiao Yue was stunned, then bowed his head: “Yes, Your Majesty has taken charge of this case.”

“In that case, I have the authority to decide the personnel for this investigation. Prime Minister Quan, I believe your wife is unsuitable for this position.” She stared at Quan Feitong, speaking word by word, her eyes and brows carrying stern coldness.

Quan Feitong was momentarily stunned, then raised his eyebrows and laughed loudly: “Very good, so clean and efficient… Elder brother congratulates junior sister, Quan Feitong congratulates Your Majesty.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” A Luo smiled calmly again: “Miss Zhu’er, might we speak privately?”

Seeing Quan Feitong move to intervene, Su Zhen shook her head at him, carefully placed down Zhui Ming’s corpse, and stepped forward.

Under the watchful eyes of hundreds in the courtyard, with everyone inside staring, the two women stood in the center. A Luo leaned close to Su Zhen’s ear: “Don’t think I don’t know what you did to Lian Yu – you hurt him! But he actually won’t kill you, so I’ll do it myself. I’ve tolerated you long enough. What right did you have to steal my position when I was away!”

“That day’s palace incident taught me a lesson from Quan Feitong. I sent word to Lian Jie and the others – suppressing first then raising up. Just me alone, I really feared I couldn’t suppress your Prime Minister’s official authority. Now they’re all here, all knowing you hurt him. Don’t expect any mercy.”

“As long as I’m here, no matter how much he loves you, you’re nothing. Even what you’ve swallowed, you’ll have to spit back out for me! Don’t you know that he only noticed you in the first place because you resembled me somewhat!”

Dividing Line

Next chapter: The grand wedding.