“Where is the jewelry box?”

Finally, he slowly spoke.

In front of Suzhen’s corpse, Lian Xin was startled by his sudden voice. Although it wasn’t particularly harsh, Lian Xin still shivered coldly, momentarily choking and forgetting to cry.

That particularly calm expression on his face was inexplicably frightening.

What did he want the jewelry box for? Did he know it was a gift from Quan Feitong and want to take it away?

Great hatred filled her heart. But at this very moment, her gaze inadvertently swept across the ground, and her heart pounded. What was that?!

She quickly rubbed her eyes to look again, and indeed saw several red characters lying crookedly beside Suzhen’s fallen arm—she hadn’t been mistaken.

Lian Xin, box…

Tears burst from her eyes again. She almost immediately covered her mouth, her gaze falling on the bulging large embroidered pouch at her waist.

Countless gazes also simultaneously cast deep suspicion, constantly scrutinizing her.

Almost at the same moment, a force nearly brutal tore away that embroidered pouch. She only had time to cry out loudly.

She glared angrily, only to see that her brother had already grabbed her embroidered pouch in his hands!

“Give it back to me! This is what she asked me to keep, saying she would wear it when leaving the palace. That’s something Prime Minister Quan gave her—you can’t take it away!”

“Why did you have to kill her? Why kill her and still snatch her things…” She roared and lunged at him, thinking that no matter what, she absolutely had to snatch the jewelry box back!

“Xin’er, have you gone mad? Stand still for this dowager!” Xiao’an sternly shouted.

But actually, Lian Xin couldn’t even touch a corner of Lian Yu’s robes.

He said nothing, only lowered his eyes, staring at the embroidered pouch in his hands. Several imperial guards quickly blocked in front of him, and in the blink of an eye, had already seized Lian Xin.

“Your Majesty,” on the snowy ground, doubt flashed in Quan Feitong’s eyes as he brushed his robes and stood up, striding over, “this item was given by this minister in the past. Presumably she left it for this minister. Thank Your Majesty.”

His gaze was fierce and predatory as he spoke, slightly bowing and reaching out to receive it.

But Lian Yu didn’t take this offered step down.

A pair of clear, cold eyes first swept over Li Zhaoting, finally settling on him. Li Zhaoting quickly lowered his head.

“Whose it is, so what?” Lian Yu said.

That tone was so indifferent, seeming like a question but actually a verdict.

It was the declaration of an emperor who held supreme power.

Naturally imposing without anger.

Quan Feitong’s temple throbbed violently. His bent waist remained humble, but killing intent flashed briefly in his slightly lowered eyes.

Lian Yu opened the embroidered pouch. A makeup case appeared before his eyes, and before everyone’s eyes.

Sandalwood with gold inlay—it was an item that looked exquisitely crafted, expensive, and antique.

“This is what I gave her?!”

He seemed to be talking to himself, yet also seemed to be telling Lian Xin, telling her she was wrong—it wasn’t something Quan Feitong had given, but him. On his terrifyingly silent face, there was finally a change of expression as the corners of his mouth slightly lifted.

But Lian Xin still glared at him with red eyes full of hatred, like a thoroughly enraged little bull.

“Yu’er…”

In this universal silence, Xiao’an couldn’t help calling his name once, but he seemed not to hear, his brow furrowing as he suddenly quickly tilted the jewelry box.

Countless gold, silver, pearls, and jade ornaments clinked and clattered as they fell into the snow.

Finally, a plain letter paper fell with a “snap” onto these worldly possessions.

Both Li Zhaoting and Quan Feitong trembled, identical to everyone else in the garden.

The letter bore two large names:

——To Lian Yu and Quan Feitong

“Why… Li Huaisu, you clearly said this was given to you by Quan Feitong. Bastard, you lied to me again…” Lian Xin murmured, her swollen eyes full of confusion.

Everyone seemed to be waiting for Lian Yu to see what was actually written in this letter, but he stood alone for a long time without picking up the letter.

“Your Majesty…”

Not far away, Qing Long, Xuan Wu, and Zhu Que spoke simultaneously.

Lian Yu finally spoke, “Little Chu, my hands are frozen stiff. Go pick up the letter and bring it over.”

“Yes, this slave obeys!” In front of all the officials, Ming Yanchu wiped his sleeve across his eyes, then quickly walked over, picked up the letter, bent his waist slightly, and respectfully held it up above his head.

It was just a simply folded letter, yet Lian Yu’s hands seemed truly injured by the endless ice and snow. That piece of paper trembled in his jade-white, delicate palms for quite a while before slowly unfolding.

“Lian Yu, I am leaving.”

These were the first few brief words that leaped into his eyes.

“You need not worry about Aluo’s poison. It is Three-Flavored Seeds I made according to my father’s prescription—a feigned death drug. She will awaken unharmed. The dosage I used was mild, and I tested it on myself when refining it. If she truly cannot wake up, she can only blame her bad luck…

That was made when I was held captive. Besides this, I also have sleeping drugs, poisons… all sorts of things, truly essential medicines for home travel and being kidnapped. I was foolish then, always worried that someone would use me to threaten you in the future, so I thought to carry these things with me. Sleeping drugs could knock people out, if that didn’t work, I’d use the feigned death drug, and if that still didn’t work, I’d swallow real poison—then no one could threaten you anymore.

Later I realized I had overestimated my importance to you.

My family was killed by your imperial decree. This is what my brother told me personally. He’s not dead—he’s actually not dead yet. Aren’t you disappointed?

That kidnapping was his doing. At the time, I was still in the dark, not knowing the decree came from you.

That left hand finger wasn’t accidentally cut by assassins during the fight, and Leng Xue wasn’t there either. I had disappointed him too much—he no longer wanted me.

That half finger was actually cut off by myself, using it to threaten my brother to let you leave. He didn’t believe it then because he knew I was terribly afraid of pain and death and wouldn’t do such a thing.

But he was wrong.

So no matter how much he hated you, he had no choice. Because although he used me, he still loved me deeply.

Lian Yu, do you know how much I hate you, how much I want to kill you? You hypocrite, three years’ deadline—bullshit, it’s all fucking bullshit!

That stab wasn’t for Aluo. She doesn’t have the ability to make me want to kill you. Between Aluo and me, no matter who you choose, it wouldn’t be right. I understand this principle. If you love, then love; if you don’t love, then don’t. Minister Feng’s daughter wouldn’t be so worthless.

But I was still worthless. Because after that one stab, I could no longer bring myself to kill you. Later, when I drugged you unconscious, I still couldn’t do it.

You say Quan Feitong is not a good man—but are you? Yet you are a good emperor. Your life and death concerns the stability of all Great Zhou. I already owe my parents’ kindness—I cannot also owe the people of this realm.

You’ll never know that two years ago, when I learned my entire family was executed, though I was torn apart with pain, I could still tell myself: I must live on. I must clear our name, must live on with Father and Mother’s blessings.

It was your reckless love that dragged me down. I actually fell in love with my own enemy. You made me taste what it’s like to wish for death, so even drowning sorrows in wine and pleasure every night, I still had endless nightmares.

Do you know what it feels like to dream of your most beloved person dying miserably before your eyes?

Filial piety, fraternal duty, loyalty, trust, propriety, righteousness, integrity, shame—since I could neither kill my enemy with my own hands, disappointing my parents and Hong Xiao, what face do I have to continue living in this world?

I thought of leaving, but even if the body departed, the soul would forever be imprisoned here. What use would that be? Leng Xue always wanted me to leave with him. He doesn’t know—it’s not that I don’t want to leave, it’s that I simply cannot.

I thought of suicide, but this life of mine was exchanged for by my dear sister Hong Xiao. I dare not die so carelessly.

In this life, I fear nothing except death and owing others kindness.

Later, I finally thought—why not just let myself die by your hand?

Lian Yu, I want you to owe Feng Suzhen a life.

I know my brother will still come to seek revenge on you. You and those around you won’t spare him either. I use my life to exchange for his capture without death. Also, please return my corpse to Quan Feitong. These are my final two requests of you.

After my death, you and Xiao’an can be at peace as before. From now on, you owe me nothing more, and I have fully repaid your recognition, your rescue, and our sovereign-minister bond. Between us, both emotion and duty are severed. If there is still heaven and earth after death, searching high heaven and yellow springs, we should never meet again.

These final words are the remonstrations of former Great Zhou Magistrate Li Huaisu, unrelated to Feng Suzhen.

Law is the foundation of a nation. Criminals must be severely punished, whether common people or noble officials. However, among Xie Sheng, Mo Chou, the butcher Er Niu from Minzhou, Old Man He, the He family wife, the hunter in the Shuangcheng case, all suspects in the Jade Consort case, and those in the cases I later overturned, many were wrongly imprisoned. This relates to ‘presumption of guilt.’ If ‘presumption of innocence’ could be added to Great Zhou law—first presuming the accused innocent, then gathering evidence from all sides to prove guilt or innocence—this would surely reduce wrongful imprisonments in the world.

Also, rebel general Liu Shouping has merit in guarding the frontier. Though his crime deserves execution and extermination, his service to the state was real, his family members are innocent, as are Fu Jingshu, Minister Feng, and others of their kind.

Life passes in a snap of fingers, a brief instant, then white hair and yellow earth. Every life is precious. In governing a nation, bloodshed cannot be avoided, or the country cannot be secure. Governing with benevolence alone appears weak; using violence to control violence cannot make a nation last. Li Huaisu humbly requests Your Majesty to abolish collective punishment, implement both benevolence and law, treat the benevolent with benevolence, punish the violent with law. I believe this can surely achieve a hundred years of legend for Great Zhou.

…

The following words are for the Prime Minister.

You asked me what’s good about Li Zhaoting and Lian Yu. I answer you now: they actually have nothing particularly good. If I had met you earlier, and you weren’t Quan Feitong but just Mu San, I would definitely be with you. Just like my parents.

If you’re not afraid, keep me by your side—I’ll accompany you forever. If you are afraid, burn me and have Li Zhaoting take my ashes back to Huai County. Don’t bury me—just scatter them before my parents’ graves. I don’t deserve a tombstone. Let me guard their graves and Hong Xiao’s forever.

Tell Young Master Li for me that I no longer like him, and from now on I can’t disturb him like that crazy girl from before. This is just a request from the girl who lived next door to him. If he’s unwilling, then you make the trip yourself. That’s where I grew up. I fear it would only sadden you, so I don’t really want you to go.

Finally, I beg you—if your rebellion succeeds, could you avoid harming innocent people? Please protect Lian Xin for me. That old woman Ai Taifei won’t spare old lady Xiao’an, and naturally won’t spare her either. Please, you must protect my princess for me.

When you see the brothers at the Magistrate’s Office and Huo Chang’an and Wuyan, tell them I left very happily, didn’t suffer much, and we’ll drink and eat meat together in the next life.

In the next life, you must meet me earlier. I’ll definitely remain cold as new snow to everyone else, but to you… feel like old friends at first meeting.”

Feng Suzhen (Li Huaisu) Final Letter

In this vast garden, there was always a feeling of not daring to breathe hard. Over a hundred people, none knew what was actually written in this letter. They only saw that after a moment, the letter suddenly fell from Lian Yu’s hands.

He didn’t pick it up, his face calm as before without any expression. The difference was that this time he was no longer motionless, but walked step by step toward the corpse ahead.

Along the way, his four guardians cried out in alarm as his whole body swayed and he almost fell to the ground.

They wanted to help support him, but he made a prohibitive gesture.

“Lian Yu…” Aluo struggled up from Bai Hu, who reached out to help, but she slapped away her hand and shouted to him through tears.

But Lian Yu didn’t respond, as if he hadn’t heard at all, only steadied himself and continued forward.

Quan Feitong stepped forward several paces, picked up the letter from the ground, and despite it being potentially disrespectful, quickly began reading. Li Zhaoting glanced at him, his brow moving slightly, but since Lian Yu hadn’t called out, he ultimately didn’t rise.

At this time, the people in the garden didn’t notice—everyone was only watching Lian Yu, alarm increasingly evident in their eyes.

He had already reached the corpse on the ground and half-knelt down.

Everyone saw him feel around his neck for a stone-like pendant, forcefully remove it, then pick up her left hand that had fallen to the ground, carefully tying it on. Then, under everyone’s shocked gaze, he unfastened and removed his own robes, as if it were just an ordinary garment, wrapped it around her blood-stained body, and slowly lifted her up.

“What you said—except for the condition about your brother, I won’t agree to the rest. Feng Suzhen, I won’t agree.” He smiled with curved lips, speaking each word coldly and slowly, gradually walking forward.

Someone again blocked his path, “Your Majesty, please follow the deceased’s wishes and let this minister take the body back for burial.”