He blocked her path.

Suzhen frowned, seeing danger in his gaze. She stepped back slightly and asked uncertainly, “What do you mean by this?”

“You cannot leave.” He pressed closer, his gaze growing darker.

Suzhen felt he wasn’t like his usual self—his eyes had lost their clarity, becoming murky and aggressive. She was reminded of that rainy night and grew wary. Just as she was about to speak, he had already stepped forward and pulled her tightly into his arms.

She heard him let out a satisfied sigh, extremely subtle.

She struggled slightly, but his arms were like iron, full of strength. With her severe injuries, struggling would only add to her pain. Without much anger, her heart grew colder. Just as she was about to speak, he spoke first: “Give me some more time. Once I stabilize the political situation, you can take your revenge. Rest assured, several factions are restless—it won’t be long, just a matter of these few months. Let me take care of you during this time. Before I die, I’ll arrange everything for you. Afterward, whether you stay in Great Zhou or travel to other countries, it’s all up to your preference.”

Suzhen’s heart tightened slightly, but the coldness didn’t diminish. She stopped struggling—it really hurt. Having died once, she had already repaid what needed to be repaid. She didn’t want to hurt herself again.

Neither her body nor her heart.

“Lian Yu, what would I stay for—to continue witnessing your love with Aluo?” She didn’t use anything else to block him, only this one thing to quietly counter-question.

“I’ll handle Aluo’s matter properly.”

His voice held trembling joy, as well as barely perceptible complexity and desolation, but the hand on her back gripped tighter and tighter.

This time, Suzhen felt he had forgotten about her injuries.

She frowned in pain while he seemed to have gained something.

She thought to herself—did “handling” mean persuading Aluo to let her stay?

Just as she was about to tell him this, he suddenly released her, looked at her deeply, turned and left.

He was going to speak with Aluo now?

She had always believed that what was proven through life and death was never love, and now that she understood this, she wouldn’t demand it either.

“Lian Yu,” she called him from behind. “I won’t stay. I can’t be certain whether what you said about my family’s matter is true or false, including the three-year pact. But even if it’s true, I’m grateful for the kind thoughts you once had and your loyalty to me, but I absolutely cannot stay now.”

“From the moment you chose Aluo, we were destined never to be together again. In between, you had too many constraints, and I had too many grievances. Lian Yu, from the moment I fainted under your punishment, I truly died. I stopped loving Li Zhaoting long ago, and now… I no longer love you either.”

She saw his whole body stiffen as he slowly turned around, his eyes full of defeat.

She smiled, looking at him: “Between us, we were destined to be just an experience in each other’s lives, not the destination. Just like that year at the tavern when we met fellow travelers and parted at the crossroads—we weren’t each other’s destination, though I once thought we were.”

“You’re right—if I had known the truth that night on Qixi, I absolutely wouldn’t have been with you again. But if you ask whether I regret it, I don’t.”

“If I had to choose again, I would still choose to come to the capital for the examinations. Your life belongs to Great Zhou’s millions of people, to Aluo—not to me. The reason I chose death was to pay the price for my own decisions. I already died for you, so to speak. When you loved me, you also gave your true heart. Since that’s the case, there’s no debt between us.”

“Lian Yu, being together again would cause me great suffering, a life worse than death. Why not let us part on good terms—coming with spirit, leaving with grace? We laughed, cried, and quarreled together, but please don’t let me turn all the brief happy memories you once gave me into pain.”

As she spoke, she endured the pain to kneel. He had been standing like stone, but seeing this, he rushed over in a few steps, catching her arms before she could kneel, preventing her knees from touching the ground.

Looking at her eyes that smiled through slight tears—clean, pure eyes—he slowly spoke: “I—will let you go, Li Huaisu.”

His eyes were as deep as stagnant water. These few short words took him a long time to say, his voice cracked like an old man’s, but the strength in his hands was as if he could dislocate bones.

Cave dwellings, inns, the capital… In an instant, looking at the self-mocking smile at the corner of his lips, knowing he was a man as strong as mountains, Suzhen felt pity despite herself, but was ultimately relieved. She slowly pried away his fingers gripping her arms, one by one.

He gripped with force; she removed them urgently. Unconsciously, she scratched his skin, blood beading from his fingers. Yet he seemed unaware, his gaze clouded, scanning her face bit by bit.

Suzhen could even read pleading in his eyes, but he didn’t voice it. Perhaps because of her request, he also couldn’t truly let go.

Suzhen’s heart flared with anger, but she smiled slightly and asked: “Are you going back on your word again?”

Stung by her words, he recoiled as if burned, his hands sliding away quickly.

Freed, Suzhen hesitated no more. Without delay or doubt, enduring the severe pain throughout her body, she strode toward the door.

Outside the hall, imperial guards were stationed strictly. Besides them were all familiar faces.

Lian Jie, Lian Qin, Ming Yanchu, Qing Long, Xuan Wu, and Zhu Que.

Though only Xuan Wu and Ming Yanchu had known beforehand for secrecy, everyone had been informed afterward. Lian Jie was also there to help at any moment—if there were any problems with the medicine, he could assist with medical treatment alongside the medically knowledgeable Zhu Que.

At this moment, under the blue curtain and bright moon, seeing her with long hair over her shoulders walking out in the moonlight, though they were mentally prepared, strange feelings still arose in their hearts. They couldn’t say whether they were happy about her awakening or what.

“Magistrate Li, congratulations on returning to the world,” Lian Jie was quickest to react, bowing.

Not to be outdone, Lian Qin also spoke: “I’ve thought about your death many times before, but when you really faced death, I wasn’t so… I didn’t plead for you because I thought you had really killed Sixth Brother’s most beloved… Anyway, having known each other, I didn’t want to see you end miserably. Now that things are like this… it’s good that you’re fine.”

Xuan Wu and the others didn’t say much, but Ming and Zhu showed smiles in their eyes, with Xuan Wu winking at her.

Suzhen stopped and smiled at everyone without saying much, then continued forward. Behind her came Ming Yanchu’s surprised voice: “Wait, Magistrate Li, where are you going? Did His Majesty let you leave?”

As Suzhen paused slightly, two figures had already appeared before her—Xuan Wu on the left, Zhu Que on the right.

“Xuan Wu, I’m leaving. You don’t need to escort me—your master has approved it,” Suzhen said calmly.

The two exchanged glances, both showing disbelief. Zhu Que said quietly: “You watch her, I’ll go ask for instructions.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the palace doors opened. Suzhen frowned and turned sideways as Lian Yu emerged, now wearing blue casual robes, standing in the doorway.

“Please tell them that you’re letting me go,” Suzhen said slowly.

Lian Yu’s eyes were silent as moonlight, staring at her intently. After a long moment, his lashes finally lowered as he spoke: “Let Magistrate Li go.”

Everyone was astonished. They had worked so hard to save her, she was willing to die for him, he was willing to never issue a death order for her—now that everything had temporarily settled and they should be declaring their feelings to each other, why…

Was he letting her leave because of Aluo?

Was this a brief parting or true separation?

Suzhen smiled: “Everyone, take care. Until we meet again—if ever.”

“What?” Zhu Que was first to cry out quietly. “This…”

Everyone looked at each other, staring at Lian Yu in disbelief, still not understanding.

Lian Yu said nothing, standing straight under the threshold, watching her step through the snow, dragging her weak body forward with determination—each step showing she would never look back.

A moon hung in the empty sky, starless and cloudless. He remembered that starry night at the inn.

He had deliberately hidden behind her, watching her anxious face. At that time, she had already forgotten him, and his heart was already stone-hard. Yet even severely injured, seeing an old friend, he could still smile knowingly.

From then on, their fates were entangled again. She came following starlight, and now followed the moon’s path to leave his life completely, carrying her wounds while he was powerless to help.

He suddenly smiled.

Everyone watching was secretly alarmed. They hadn’t seen Lian Yu smile like this in years—uglier than crying, sorrowful as death.

Suzhen walked slowly, gritting her teeth against the sharp pain of her injuries and the cold.

“Li Huaisu, wait a moment. Give me a moment—I’ll escort you. I’ll personally escort you from the palace.” A calm voice suddenly came from behind.

He was more accustomed to calling her Li Huaisu.

Suzhen stiffened, then turned back to see him standing straight under the threshold, carefully watching her.

Anger flashed in her heart, but she smiled slightly and asked: “Are you going back on your word again?”

Lian Yu suddenly moved. He walked quickly to her side, removed his outer robe and draped it over her: “Go back inside first. I’ll be there shortly.”

“Qing Long, Zhu Que, escort Magistrate Li inside,” he ordered.

“Yes!” Qing Long obeyed, while Zhu Que answered with a smile.

“Lian Yu, don’t make me hate you. I’ll only wait one moment,” she said word by word—also a declaration.

“Mm.” He pretended not to see the hatred and coldness in her eyes, went inside to put on another robe, drew the sword from the approaching Xuan Wu, and turned to leave.

Xuan Wu and the others grew more alarmed, not knowing what he intended, and followed.

Lian Qin wanted to follow worriedly, but Lian Jie shook his head: “With Xuan Wu and them there, we should help Sixth Brother watch Feng Suzhen more appropriately. This girl is extremely clever and cunning—this time she calculated all of us, including Sixth Brother, into her scheme. Though Zhu Que is also formidable, we should still be careful not to let her escape.”

Lian Qin nodded in understanding.

After seeing off Director Guo, Aluo didn’t rest but paced back and forth in her room.

“Miss, I don’t understand. Since Feng Suzhen married Quan Feitong, what’s strange about her not being a virgin? Why do you care so much?” Mei’er asked puzzledly, her voice somewhat weak.

She had been injured by Lian Yu in the Golden Luan Hall. Aluo treated her genuinely well with sisterly affection, calling imperial physicians to treat her and letting her sit rather than stand in attendance.

“No, her body probably wasn’t violated by my senior brother. She let herself die at His Majesty’s hands to make him remember her forever. How could someone so obsessed with one man let another man touch her?”

“That wedding night, weren’t you attending me? Didn’t you see when Ai Taifei wanted to give rewards, the Quan Manor maid was calling someone out to receive them, but finally came back in panic to report? Afterward, though my senior brother said he was unwell to cover it up, when he went before His Majesty to toast, his expression was truly terrible.”

“So I suspect…”

“What do you suspect…” Mei’er was quite shocked and stood up hearing this.

“I suspect His Majesty brought her into the palace that night.”

“You mean,” Mei’er trembled all over, “she wasn’t the Princess’s guest, but His Majesty’s…”

Aluo seemed stung by these words and said coldly: “No, she has no status, not even a concubine—that was just wild coupling, a momentary favor.”

As she spoke, she suddenly swept her sleeve, brushing all the tea service from the table to the floor.

Because of Aluo, Mei’er extremely detested Suzhen. Having been punished by Lian Yu several times, she harbored resentment and said: “That little wretch had some past involvement with His Majesty and deliberately seduced him. His Majesty was just drawn by novelty… Miss, in this slave’s opinion, that Li Minister is still better—he always thinks of you.”

“What do you know? He’s good, but he can’t compare to Lian Yu. In terms of character, I naturally prefer Lian Yu. Besides, in terms of power and strategy, he’s just a small minister…”

“No, I must go ask Lian Yu for clarification.”

Aluo paced more urgently. Finally, after knocking over a pair of white jade vases, she stormed out.

“Miss, this matter requires careful consideration. What if you anger His Majesty…” Mei’er was alarmed and rushed forward to stop her, but was pushed by Aluo and fell to the ground.

“Miss—”

Aluo ignored her, quickly leaving the hall, only to find Lian Yu just entering the courtyard.

“You finally came,” she said through gritted teeth. “I was just looking for you.”

“Yes, I’ve come,” he looked at her, his gaze indescribably complex, “to apologize.”

Aluo suddenly stopped, then smiled: “You were intimate with her. You know, I know—you know I know.”

Lian Yu frowned slightly, his gaze shifting: “You bribed Director Guo?”

“Lian Yu, now it’s not about who did what, but what you did!”

“Yes, I took her.” He answered, but his gaze seemed to hold little guilt and little surprise that she knew.

Aluo’s hand reaching for his sleeve froze in mid-air.

“You really took her!”

She repeated this, and in her grief, covered her mouth and began to cry.

“Lian Yu, how could you betray me? You had clearly separated from her—why did you do this behind my back? You could take any woman in this palace, but you couldn’t take her. You once had feelings for her—you should know how much I care about this, how heartbroken I would be?”

Her eyes were red with anger, resentment, and hatred.

But what chilled her heart more was that she thought he would immediately come over, hold her, tell her he was just momentarily bewitched, that his intimacy with the other woman was more from guilt.

Instead, he stood there, looking at her deeply, unmoved as dead wood, unchanging as stone. In his deep eyes was regret and pity, but no love.

“Lian Yu, what is this supposed to mean? Not even half a sentence of explanation? Or is it that she’s dead and you’re heartbroken?” She was secretly alarmed and angrily questioned him.

“She seduced you, she’s shameless—yet you still want to keep a place for her in your heart!” Speaking to the end, she laughed coldly, her eyes full of mockery and disdain. “Treating a woman who wouldn’t even want her fiancé as a treasure, treating a woman who’s promiscuous and throws herself at you when she sees your vast power as—”

“Aluo, enough!” Before she could finish, he finally interrupted her.

“I know you harbor resentment, but this should be my burden, not hers. She did nothing wrong. She didn’t seduce me—from beginning to end, I seduced her. In my heart, she’s not just a place—she’s everything.”

“Whether she’s alive or dead, whether we can be together or not.” He looked at her, slowly saying each word.

He wasn’t angry or furious, but his calm gaze was frightening.

Aluo’s heart went half cold, as if pierced and hung before her eyes—she couldn’t tell if it was pain or numbness.

“What are you saying?” Tears streamed down her face as she stared at him with furrowed brows, her voice trembling. “Don’t you love me anymore? Didn’t you choose me, to be with me? Don’t you know that without you, I would die?”

“Aluo, I know, I know it all,” Lian Yu smiled slightly, his gaze falling ahead, becoming somewhat distant. “I loved you, but not now—it was many years ago, when I was sixteen.”

“In all these years after your death, I always missed you, never opened my heart to anyone else, until later I met her again.”

“Again? You knew her before?” She asked in shock.

“Yes, it was this girl disguised as a man who accompanied me through the most painful years—the time without you.”

“So when you saw her again, you changed your heart!” Aluo’s eyes held fierce resentment.

“I didn’t change my heart. I thought you were dead—I truly thought you were dead. For seven years, I felt I should let go and start anew. So I didn’t stop her from entering my heart.”

“I remember she once tried a case and asked a man: in life one meets many people—how can you guarantee you’ll love only one person for life? Too few people in this world can do this, but it can be done. Love is continuously accumulated, along with responsibility.”

“If you hadn’t ‘died,’ I would never have fallen in love with her, because I wouldn’t have noticed her, much less intervened to guide her. Giving is a terrible thing—the more you give to someone, the more you love them.”

“But between us, you chose me—you love me most.” Aluo stared at him fiercely, crying, gripping his sleeves tightly.

“I chose you because responsibility outweighed emotion. Just as Great Zhou is my ambition and responsibility, but I’ve always been clear in my heart that only she is my desire.”

“But she’s already dead! You can never be together again. I can allow you to spend the next seven years missing her—I won’t mind, alright?” She wept like rain, no longer as stubborn as before, only looking at him pleadingly.

“It was her ‘death’ that made me realize I could completely lose her too. I may be strong enough now, but I can’t control everything. Between her and me… not early or late, we met just then, experienced hardships together, laughed and cried and quarreled together. It’s not something that can be put aside in just a few years. I was her first man, she was my first woman—she’s my whole life.”

“I thought that without me she could still live well, and to fulfill my own responsibilities, I abandoned her. Now I can never be with her again, but I still hope to give her an explanation—she’s suffered too much. Aluo, I know you’ve also suffered, but I will still strip you of your consort position. For everything else, even if I must give up the entire realm, I will compensate you.”

“Lian Yu, do you know what you’re saying? You mean the feelings between us aren’t enough for a lifetime, but you and she can be—”

Releasing her grip on his sleeves, she pointed at him: “Don’t you know that without you I would die? Have you forgotten how much I’ve suffered for you? You are the strength that keeps me alive…”

She wept uncontrollably, collapsing sideways into the snow.

“I did nothing wrong—why do you condemn me to death like this!”

She covered her eyes, murmuring.

“It’s wrong of your mother, she’s the one who forced me to leave you, and my sister—if that girl hadn’t informed—”

“She also didn’t have to be killed. If back then you had simply not kept our appointment instead of using her informing you as reason to trick her to our meeting place, letting her be mistakenly killed by Mother’s assassins, you and I wouldn’t have been separated all these years.”

“Or if you had boldly told me about this, I would certainly have taken full responsibility and cleared this debt.”

Lian Yu stepped forward, forcefully helping her up, whispering in her ear.

Aluo trembled all over, staring at him blankly: “You… you know everything? Did the Empress Dowager tell you?”

“Not Mother—she won’t even admit she sent people to act. But I grew up in the palace and now rule the realm. The blood on my hands is no less than a general’s. If only your mother had been captured, you could still find ways to secretly notify me, and I would certainly find ways to save your mother—unless there were other complications.”

“Lian Yu,” Aluo cried hoarsely, nestling into his arms. “Are you willing to bear this together with me?”

“Yes,” Lian Yu gently patted her shoulder, slowly saying: “But we were both too young then. You thought I would abandon you, and I thought the burden of the realm was too heavy. We didn’t understand what responsibility meant, until I met her.”

“Don’t talk to me about her!” Aluo flew into rage, violently pushing him away. “She’s not as good as you say! She acts without considering consequences—she’s caused you so much trouble!”

“True, she’s often much worse than you in many ways, but I won’t let her go again. Whether she’s alive or dead.” He remained at a distance, still looking at her gently, yet speaking cruel words.

Aluo slowly steadied herself, blood-red eyes staring at him fixedly: “Lian Yu, why say so much? You’ve wronged me—you’ve wronged me.”

“I really should kill you.” As she spoke, she suddenly ran out of the courtyard, drew a sword from the guards on duty, and returned.

“Mm, dying for a man who no longer loves you isn’t worth it,” Lian Yu looked at her, then down at Xuan Wu’s blade at his waist. “I prepared this for you, but apparently it won’t be needed.”

Aluo suddenly said: “I want you to regret this for life.”

She immediately drew the blade toward her throat, but unexpectedly he moved faster. His form flashed and he was before her, grasping her hand and thrusting it into his own chest, smiling: “Aluo, this is what I owe you.”

“I hope this can resolve the hatred in your heart.”

Aluo’s blood seemed frozen by the snow. Her pupils dilated as she looked down at the sword between them—one end in her hand, the other in his body, his pale, long fingers firmly gripping her hand.

Warm liquid seeped through her fingers, flowing down steadily, instantly staining the snow red.

“Master…”

She stood stupefied, but was suddenly shocked by a shrill cry from ahead, then kicked away forcefully to the ground.

Bai Hu supported Lian Yu, his eyes also red: “Gu Xiluo, you sent me away to the imperial kitchen to watch your soup, but really wanted to harm Master. Fortunately I returned just in time. You wretch—watch me not kill you!”

The commotion inside was too great, and Xuan Wu and Ming Yanchu, left outside by Lian Yu, rushed in upon hearing it. Following them came a large group of imperial guards. Seeing the situation, everyone was greatly alarmed as Xuan and Ming rushed to Lian Yu’s side.

Bai Hu placed Lian Yu in Ming Yanchu’s hands, drew his sword and charged forward, with several leading guards also moving swiftly.

“Everyone stop!”

Lian Yu shouted sternly. His eye corner moved slightly, and Xuan Wu seemed to follow his will, leaping to land before Bai Hu, expressionless yet protecting Aluo.

“Xuan Wu, are you mad?” Bai Hu raged.

“This is Master’s order.”

Aluo fell to the ground, still unable to believe as she looked at the man ahead. He was slowly pushing away Ming Yanchu’s support, pulling out the blade that was nearly half-buried in his chest, slowly walking toward her. Under his dark, compelling gaze, Bai Hu unconsciously retreated step by step.

“You cannot treat my miss like this!”

He crouched down, seemingly about to help her up, when someone charged diagonally from the house—

Xuan Wu started. He had been guarding against Bai Hu’s reckless actions, standing beside her with his sword, never expecting this accident!

“Your Majesty, watch out!” Ming Yanchu practically roared. Bai Hu froze. In a flash, Mei’er, that wretch, already had scissors buried in Lian Yu’s abdomen.

Lian Yu also reacted quickly, his black eyes like lightning, striking her away with one palm.

Even so, the scissors still pierced his stomach. He groaned, a mouthful of blood splattering on Aluo’s face.

Aluo looked pale at the maid who had crashed into the courtyard railing, then at the man half-kneeling before her: “You’re going to die, aren’t you? You killed Mei’er too, didn’t you?”

She murmured, then suddenly screamed, her voice shrill and piercing, echoing throughout the palace.

But Mei’er slowly rose from the ground, gasping: “Miss, I’m fine—this slave is fine.”

Blood trickled from her mouth, but her injuries didn’t seem too severe.

As soon as she spoke these words, her eyes suddenly filled with terror as Bai Hu and Xuan Wu leaped forward with raised swords, striking down at her!

“Stop! No one may harm her or her master!”

A weak but authoritative voice came from beside Ming Yanchu. The two were shocked and reluctantly stopped this fierce attack.

“Lian Yu…” Aluo awakened from despair, crying as she ran toward him. But he stopped her: “Remember my promise to you.”

“No,” she screamed, but found she couldn’t move. Her shoulders were firmly restrained. Looking sideways, she met Bai Hu’s hate-filled gaze.

Meanwhile, Mei’er had also been subdued by the imperial guards. She could only watch helplessly as Xuan Wu and Ming Yanchu supported him away—

“Immediately summon the imperial physicians to His Majesty’s bedchamber!”

Just outside the palace, Xuan Wu quickly pulled the scissors from Lian Yu’s abdomen. With just that motion, blood gushed like a spring from his waist. He cursed quietly, quickly pressing several pressure points on his body to slow the bleeding, then tore off his own belt to tightly bind the worst wound. Ming Yanchu was nearly weeping as he ordered the guards.

“No, have them wait in the side hall—don’t let them go to my bedchamber!” Several guards were about to use their lightness skills when Lian Yu interrupted.

“Master, have you lost your mind?” The two were shocked, but heard him say: “Little Chu, find clean robes for me. I must first escort her from the palace. I cannot frighten… her.”

Meanwhile, Suzhen had never entered the building, only stood under the eaves waiting. Inside held too many memories of her and him—she was unwilling to touch them again.

Borrowing Lian Xin’s help to sneak behind the dragon curtains, she nearly died by his sword; lying drunk on the dragon bed at the palace banquet, waking to find an extra half-sleeve under her neck and a stone at her ankle; and that night…

“Magistrate Li, go inside and wait, otherwise when Master returns and feels sorry for you, it’s us slaves who’ll be blamed,” Zhu Que said cheekily, leaning close to her neck like a complete scoundrel.

“Yes, Li Huaisu, just go inside and wait. If you don’t go in, Seventh Brother and I feel awkward going in too—” Lian Qin also fanned the flames.

Suzhen ignored him, smiling at Zhu Que: “Guard Zhu, I always feel you look familiar.”

Zhu Que jumped back in fright.

Her head dizzy and feverish, Suzhen was injured and could barely support herself. She looked toward the path they’d come: “Time’s up. I should go.”

Seeing her step down from the platform, Lian Jie and the others exchanged alarmed glances, yet dared not forcibly detain her. Before “burial,” Lian Yu had personally cleaned and bandaged her wounds. If they caused her injuries to burst open, when Lian Yu returned, none of them could bear the consequences.

“Sixth Brother!”

Suddenly, a group entered the courtyard, led by Lian Yu himself. Lian Qin clapped and called out, and everyone secretly sighed in relief.

Snow began falling again in flurries. Suzhen frowned slightly. She didn’t know what urgent matter he’d handled, or whether he’d actually gone to see Aluo, but he’d had leisure to change clothes?

He walked toward her, extremely slowly, now wearing red robes like a red lotus in snow. This color would seem strange on ordinary men, but on him it made his face appear even paler, like the most precious jade, creating a startling beauty.

She had no mind to appreciate this, walking slowly toward him, but quickly had to bend over as the pain in her back made her gasp.

His expression changed as he strode forward to embrace her.

“I want to leave!” She practically scolded him angrily.

He nodded: “Alright, don’t move. I’ll carry you.”

For some reason, Xuan Wu and Ming Yanchu’s faces looked somewhat grim. Suzhen had no time to pay attention and didn’t want to argue with herself, quickly saying “alright.”

His eyes actually showed a hint of smile as he slowly crouched down.

—

Three updates together. If it’s not updated by 6 PM Monday, it will come with Tuesday’s update.