Her slightly lowered eyelashes harbored deep hatred within.

That day when he suddenly left the palace to fast for Imperial Consort Yu, she hadn’t realized anything. He had concealed it so well, remaining so composed, so light and breezy. During all those years when she hadn’t been involved, he had already grown into someone completely different.

When he returned, she went to deliver soup to him, only to see him drinking himself into a stupor in the imperial study, vomiting all over himself. She wanted to help him change clothes, but discovered severe injuries on his abdomen…

In this entire realm, who could possibly harm him?

But she knew his concern for her. That day when she fell from her horse, he returned to the palace and stayed by her side all night. She wasn’t afraid to conflict with this man because everything she did was for him… but she would never harm him. Harming others wasn’t a clever strategy; making the opponent strike first was the superior approach.

Afterward, she began closely monitoring the movements of the Court of Judicial Review. She had to seize every opportunity! She clearly understood Xiao’an’s hostility toward this man, and she knew the guilt and wariness that Lian Jie and others felt toward him. Naturally, she wouldn’t hide this injury from them and told them about it. This morning, after receiving reports about the Court of Judicial Review, she knew they must have learned about it outside the palace as well. She immediately left the palace to rendezvous with them, knowing that this man would definitely come.

Every word sprinkled salt on her already bleeding wounds. Feng Suzhen clenched her fists tightly, but she only smiled slightly in response: “You’re right. I’m just a substitute for you, merely his romantic dalliance during lonely times. I never thought of proving between you two how unbreakable your love is. I only want to take the bodies back. Why must you argue with a failure, Consort Gu?”

She showed no resentment or complaints, which somewhat caught A’luo off guard, but wasn’t this exactly the kind of opponent she deserved? She also smiled back gently: “When I pleaded with you for my sister’s case that day, did you show even a trace of mercy? You speak of serving country and people, but it’s merely for your own selfish desires. What right do you have to take the bodies away?”

“You think this is called being flexible? Then beg me, just like I did that day. Kneel down and beg me, and maybe I’ll agree.”

Feng Suzhen laughed instead: “What’s so difficult about kneeling? But even if I beg you, you won’t agree, so why should I humiliate myself again?”

“Please don’t push all responsibility onto others. Even if I’m just a mistake born of Lian Yu’s longing for you, were you truly only a victim in what happened back then? Don’t you bear any responsibility yourself?”

“You asked Lian Yu to elope with you – was it really just to help him escape this man-eating palace? Deep down, you must have been clear about it too. He had responsibilities – to his birth mother, to his adoptive mother. With power in his hands and three thousand beauties, what exactly were you afraid of back then? I’m afraid only you know the answer.”

A’luo’s face changed, turning deathly pale, and her body began to sway slightly.

Until someone supported her from behind with strong hands. She turned slightly to look.

Feng Suzhen had been watching her indifferently, but her gaze gradually darkened when this person entered.

He entered silently, leading his retinue straight in.

“What happened?”

He asked A’luo gently.

“I heard something happened at the Court of Judicial Review, so I came to take a look. After all, as a new official taking office, I need to do something and not disappoint your expectations. I didn’t expect to encounter Seventh Master and the others in conflict with… Miss Zhu’er. She wants to take the bodies away. Chancellor Quan also intervened, but we unanimously believe that the state has its laws, and Miss Zhu’er shouldn’t interfere in this matter. Finally, I came out to… stop it.”

“I’ve offended Miss Zhu’er. Will you blame me?” As she spoke, her brows showed traces of melancholy.

“Exactly so, Sixth Brother. Look, Li Huaisu she—”

“Shut up!” Beside them, Lian Qin spoke hatefully, but was coldly interrupted by him.

He patted her shoulder: “You’re just doing your duty. Leave the rest to me to handle.”

A’luo nodded and smiled faintly at Feng Suzhen.

Feng Suzhen had nothing else to say. By now, she and this man before her truly had nothing left to discuss. She simply asked, concisely and to the point: “I want to take their bodies away. May I?”

“No.” He also answered very simply and coldly.

The gentleness from his eyes disappeared, leaving only an emperor’s tone.

“You no longer hold any official position. Families have family rules, and the state has state laws. Since I’ve appointed Gu Xiluo as the new judicial official, she has the authority to handle these cases.”

Feng Suzhen’s mouth opened slightly. Wind rushed in, and with one breath, her entire heart and lungs ached.

She really wanted to ask: Why are you forcing me like this?

You don’t have to love me, but why must you give this position to her?

I know this must be what she wants, but wouldn’t it be fine to just keep this official position for me?

Feng Suzhen had always known she was inferior to A’luo, but only now did she realize how low this inferiority could sink – all the way into the dust.

So she closed her mouth and asked nothing, just as she had told Quan Feitong before – this man had no grounds to bring her into the palace, and she had no grounds to ask these questions.

She saw the cold, hard, and complex expressions on Lian Jie and the others’ faces. She shook her head to stop Quan Feitong from coming forward to support her. She simply turned around slowly, knelt before those corpses, kowtowed three times heavily, and said in a low voice: “I’m sorry. You once followed me through life and death, but now you’ve been murdered and died tragically, yet I can do nothing. In the next life, I, Li Huaisu, will repay your deep friendship and loyalty by working like an ox or horse.”

“On the desk of the Court of Judicial Review, two characters are carved. I only hope—”

She stood up, her gaze empty and hollow, not knowing to whom she was speaking. The surroundings were very quiet, with only the whistling wind and snow.

“Because of me, you refused to take my sister’s case, but I will never spare your friend’s life or death because of you,” A’luo coldly interrupted her.

Feng Suzhen nodded, turned around to leave. Wuqing and Xiao Zhou followed behind her in silence. Quan Feitong suddenly said: “Elder Yan, regarding this case, Quan would like to invite you to witness together. What do you think?”

Yan Da answered indifferently: “Yan Da believes Consort Gu will make a fair judgment. There’s no need for you and me to worry.”

“Very well, to each their own aspirations.” Quan Feitong raised his eyebrows coldly, then followed after them.

As they passed by, Xuanwu and Ming Yanchu bowed slightly to her. However, his cold, knife-like eyebrows made Feng Suzhen want to step forward and strangle A’luo’s neck to see if he could still remain so indifferent. Of course, at this moment, she did nothing and simply walked out.

Outside the building, crowds of people cast curious gazes at their group. Some recognized Wuqing and Xiao Zhou and cried out in surprise, wanting to surge forward to greet them.

“Everyone…” But they were immediately stopped by officials. Xiao Yue led people out to give instructions about something.

Feng Suzhen watched from afar. Soon, she saw Yan Da and several others emerge with A’luo. Lian Jie said something, then A’luo stepped forward, and cheers erupted from the crowd. Feng Suzhen guessed they probably announced that the new judicial official would take on this case.

The judicial official investigating the Court of Judicial Review’s fire and murder case – how fitting.

Lian Yu didn’t come out.

But she saw A’luo occasionally glancing back and smiling from time to time, so she knew he was inside, gazing quietly and giving her silent support, just as he once had for her.

He was first and foremost an emperor. For reform and governance, the people needed a clean official who could speak for them, so he responded to their needs to consolidate his rule.

“Huaisu, what are you doing?” Xiao Zhou suddenly spoke up, her voice carrying several traces of bewilderment amid her grief.

Feng Suzhen touched her own face: “What’s wrong?”

“You’re smiling. What are you smiling about?” It was clear that even the usually cool Wuqing was somewhat surprised.

Feng Suzhen looked at Quan Feitong’s probing eyes and only then realized that his pupils clearly reflected her radiant smile. She was indeed smiling, smiling so freely, as if she no longer felt any pain whatsoever.

On the road, Quan Feitong assured her that he would definitely intervene in the Court of Judicial Review case. Feng Suzhen didn’t say much, only thanked him. Seeing her acting as if nothing had happened, everyone thought her inner pain must be extreme, but A’luo’s appearance seemed to rekindle her fighting spirit, which was fortunate in this misfortune. Otherwise, her smile just now would indeed have been frightening.

Xiao Zhou’s emotions were still low, and Wuqing tightly held her hand.

Feng Suzhen also slowly extended her hand to grasp Xiao Zhou’s: “It’s all my fault. If I can still live on shamelessly, what do you have to be sad about?”

“If I hadn’t suggested it, they wouldn’t have died…” Xiao Zhou looked up, her gaze dim. Her lips moved slightly, but reaching the end, she stopped mid-sentence and said no more.

Outside the carriage, from deep within the crowd, two groups of people hidden among them quietly departed one after another.

After returning to the mansion, Quan Feitong had servants arrange lodging for the two women. After the steward personally led them away, he grasped Feng Suzhen’s shoulders and suddenly said: “If you’re not ready to marry, I’ll cancel the wedding for now. I can see your two bodyguards won’t let this matter rest either. You can secretly investigate thoroughly with them. Once the case is resolved, you and I can—”

“No, Chancellor. Let the wedding proceed as scheduled, as long as you’re still willing to marry me. I can no longer handle cases, so you needn’t make things difficult for me. I have no regrets about marrying you. I just want to ask you for one favor.”

Quan Feitong’s eyes lit up: “Tell me. If you can ask it, I can do it.”

“Could you send someone to my home in Huai County to retrieve the wine my father buried under the osmanthus tree in our family courtyard? My father said that on my wedding day, we’d use this maiden’s wine to entertain guests.”

So the grand wedding isn’t until the next section…