On the return journey, everyone was divided among three carriages. Suzhen was ordered by Lian Yu to rest. He laid her down on his lap to rest quietly while he held meetings with his two brothers. He was very concerned about the shadowy force behind the attempts on her life.

The captured black-clothed men were also escorted along. In the past few days, he had personally interrogated them, but the three were clearly death warriors—extremely tight-lipped, revealing nothing despite harsh questioning.

Lian Jie and Lian Qin believed the possibility of Suzhen’s survival being leaked from their side was small—they had been very careful throughout.

Lian Yu said nothing, occasionally tucking Suzhen’s blanket around her. Finally, he stroked her hair: “When news of your resurrection spread, did you ask Quan Feitong to keep it secret? Also, when you left the capital, did you visit any other places in the city?”

Suzhen had been sleeping much these past days. Though called rest, she couldn’t really sleep and was basically listening to their conversation. Actually, she was also pondering this question.

She hadn’t specifically asked Quan Feitong for secrecy, but felt he wasn’t the type to tell others about her affairs. Quan Feitong knew she wanted a quiet life. She had asked Quan Feitong to inform Wu Qing and the others, but Wu Qing and company were even less likely to tell others this news.

Then there was her message left at the magistrate’s office, but those coded symbols were like heavenly script—only very few people knew them. Among those who knew, Hong Xiao was dead, Leng Xue was missing, leaving only her brother and Li Zhaoting!

She suddenly paused—Li Zhaoting!

She wasn’t thinking of him as the force trying to kill her, but of another matter.

That mysterious white-clothed rescuer from that night.

At the time, she had once suspected this person was Li Zhaoting. But Li Zhaoting didn’t know martial arts, and besides, given his “feelings” toward her, she didn’t believe he would risk saving her.

When she was sentenced to death by beating, Li Zhaoting hadn’t said a single word of plea.

Thinking of this, she shook her head and smiled—not with resentment, but inevitably with some melancholy.

Lian Yu saw her “I’m daydreaming and proud of it” expression and pinched her cheeks: “Time to return to earth. Tell me, what are you thinking?”

“Li Zhaoting.” Suzhen smiled mischievously, not hiding anything.

Sure enough, regardless of whether she was serious or joking, Lian Yu’s expression had already darkened.

Lian Jie and Lian Qin exchanged glances and said with apologetic smiles: “Sixth Brother, let’s continue discussing after closing time. We’ll withdraw first—you two discuss slowly, discuss slowly.”

“Xuanwu, stop the carriage—Master wants to get out.” As Lian Jie spoke, he called out loudly. The carriage quickly stopped, and the two disappeared with remarkable speed.

Only the two remained in the carriage. Lian Yu scooped Suzhen up with her blanket, rubbing her into his embrace: “Speak clearly—why are you thinking of him again?”

“Besides having a somewhat attractive face, what else is good about this boy? Not properly fulfilling his duties as a minister, just being Quan Feitong’s lapdog? Casually abandoning his engagement to you, not making a sound when you were beaten—I think he’s a traitor.”

Lian Yu’s voice was heavy. Suzhen listened with suppressed laughter. This man was usually calculating and scheming, his depth rivaling old foxes, but she had long told him she no longer liked Li Zhaoting. Why couldn’t he remember just this point?

However, seeing his eyes glinting coldly while hiding traces of resentment, she found it increasingly amusing. She could see he very much disliked Li Zhaoting but didn’t dare press her too hard with questions. For a moment she felt the pleasure of turning the tables—in the past, he would have lost his temper long ago.

Thinking this way, though he hadn’t been bad to her in the past, he was often someone with a stern, sour expression.

Lian Yu saw she still had that spaced-out expression, seemingly still thinking about Li Zhaoting. Though flowers were blooming on their path and he couldn’t scold her, this really was… He knew the person in her heart was himself, but still felt sour and uncomfortable. Jealousy arose from his heart and evil grew in his guts as he cupped her face and kissed her.

Suzhen laughingly tried to dodge but couldn’t escape, receiving a thorough “lesson.” When she finally noticed changes in his body, she quickly pushed away. Lian Yu didn’t force the issue, only saying: “Very well, when the time comes, concentrate forces for one decisive strike.”

Suzhen didn’t understand at first, but then realizing something was wrong, her face turned red as a shrimp and she kicked him, but he pulled her back into his embrace, getting to the bottom of it: “What were you thinking about Li Zhaoting just now?”

Suzhen stopped joking and told him about entrusting Quan Feitong, leaving messages at the magistrate’s office, and the people who might know the meaning of those symbols. He pondered briefly and asked: “Are you certain you didn’t attract anyone’s attention in the capital, and no suspicious people followed you?”

“Yes, I’m certain.” Suzhen nodded. After leaving the Quan residence, she had only stayed in the capital a few days before leaving, being very careful about her movements during this brief time.

“Then it was one of these people who leaked the information.”

“These people?” Suzhen’s heart sank slightly. “But they… I can’t think who would harm me.”

“No one seems possible, yet anyone is possible. It’s not necessarily themselves—if news leaked from Quan Feitong’s side, Wu Qing and the others or your brother might have told a third party. Oh, and there’s Li Zhaoting.” His gaze darkened slightly.

“But…”

“Don’t worry about this matter—leave it to me.”

Suzhen saw the veins bulging slightly on his hand resting on her abdomen. Her life was very precious to him—what else did she need to worry about?

“Regarding your rescuer, do you have any thoughts? Could it possibly be your brother or Leng Xue?” he asked again.

Suzhen shook her head: “It’s not them.”

“Mm,” her answer was simple, but Lian Yu seemed to know what she was thinking and gently pinched her cheeks, saying softly: “They wouldn’t abandon my Li Huaisu.”

“Lian Yu!” Understanding that he grasped her thoughts, Suzhen hugged his neck tightly.

Soon it was mealtime. Lian Yu had many affairs in the capital. Having stayed a few days in Huai County out of concern for Suzhen’s injuries, he was usually someone who disciplined himself almost severely. Now he wouldn’t delay even a moment for Suzhen’s sake—they only stopped along the way for quick meals, not staying overnight at inns.

Lian Yu had Suzhen eat with Lian Xin while he called Lian Jie and the others aside for discussions.

“Sixth Brother, Huaisu’s matter is quite thorny.” Lian Jie’s brow was deeply furrowed. “Not many people knew she was still alive, yet it wasn’t few either. But people like Quan Feitong, Wu Qing, Zhuiming, Tieshou, Feng Shaoying—none seem likely to harm her. How could the news have leaked? Logically, none of them would be the one sending secret letters to the Princess of Zhennan. Then who passed information to whom, who then notified the Princess? Are the person who notified the Princess and these black-clothed men related? If not, there’s yet another group. The black-clothed men have superior martial arts and remained steadfast under harsh torture—they’re well-trained death warriors. The mastermind behind them is definitely not simple. If there’s another group, this is really…”

“There’s also Li Zhaoting!” Lian Qin declared loudly. “He’s most likely! He once voluntarily abandoned his engagement to Huaisu. Among these people, he cares least for Huaisu’s wellbeing.”

“No,” Lian Yu almost immediately denied this. His eyes narrowed, filled with calculating light. “It’s not him. He simply doesn’t love her, but given their years of affection, he really has no reason to want her dead. Moreover, though he didn’t plead for her that day, after her ‘death’ he could voluntarily request to escort her coffin home, showing some genuine feeling. Of course, this genuine feeling is truly worthless—better discarded.”

“You needn’t let her know about this matter.”

Having spoken, he smiled slightly—an apparently harmless expression that made everyone quite apprehensive. This person only acted like a gentle, refined young master in front of Li Huaisu.

Everyone responded “Yes.” Zhuque lowered her voice: “Master, among the names Seventh Brother listed, who do you think most likely leaked the information?”

Lian Yu didn’t answer immediately. Ming Yanchu said: “This slave dares interrupt—I wonder if I’m thinking correctly, but this person not only notified the Princess but also arranged manpower to follow. If something went wrong and the Princess of Zhennan encountered special circumstances preventing her from killing Magistrate Li, his people would secretly finish the job.”

“You mean,” Qinglong was startled, then said: “The master of those black-clothed men and the person who notified the Princess of Zhennan are probably the same?”

“I’m just guessing.” Ming Yanchu didn’t dare be completely certain.

Lian Jie nodded: “I agree with Xiao Chuzi. That group felt they weren’t completely unfamiliar with the Princess of Zhennan, but the Princess herself didn’t know.”

“No need to guess or rely on feelings,” Lian Yu suddenly spoke. “There’s no third group—the master of the black-clothed men must be the person who notified the Princess of Zhennan.”

Everyone was stunned, not understanding why he was so certain.

Lian Yu held the inferior jade pendant from his waist, gently caressing it and chuckling: “Very simple—timing. If there were two groups, such a coincidence of simultaneous appearance at the same location would be impossible. This situation could only occur if one group followed the other.”

“The most suspicious aspect is that if the news truly leaked from the people Seventh Brother mentioned, these are almost all people who wouldn’t harm Li Huaisu. Yet the one receiving the information wanted to take her life. Why would such contradictory types know each other? Also, this person clearly has the ability to kill her himself—why notify the Princess of Zhennan? What is he trying to conceal, or does he want to use Li Huaisu to provoke something between the two countries? He seems quite aware of my feelings for Li Huaisu.”

His eyes were dark as ink, indicating deep thought.

“Right, right, right,” Lian Qin exclaimed, his eyes showing enlightenment. “I always felt something was puzzling but couldn’t figure out what! Sixth Brother, you’ve reminded me—it’s exactly this.”