“Wuqing.”

As Wuqing’s group reached a certain spot, Lian Xin’s voice came from behind them.

He turned around to look, only to see her chasing after them, tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Princess, please go back.”

Hong Gu beside her tried to persuade her earnestly.

Lian Xin said nothing, but Wuqing could clearly read her expression – she was saying, I will come find you. He shook his head and said gently, “Don’t come to see me anymore. Go back, don’t anger your mother.”

With nothing more to say, he led his people away.

Lian Xin stood where she was, two streams of tears flowing down her face.

A bit farther away, someone followed behind Lian Yu and Suzhen, watching everything, slightly lowering their eyes.

Suzhen returned from Lian Xin’s sleeping quarters to Lian Yu’s palace as night was falling.

The Lian brothers had heard the news and entered the palace, but afraid of stirring up Lian Xin’s emotions, they didn’t go see her. The three men were discussing matters privately in the hall when she returned, and the two brothers took their leave. Lian Yu noticed she looked tired, so he took her outside for a walk, then embraced her from behind.

Resting his head on her shoulder, he reached up to massage her temples. Suzhen sighed comfortably.

“How is Xin’er?” he asked softly.

“She’s not as frightened anymore. What weighs more on her heart is Wuqing’s situation, but after this incident, your mother will probably control her even more strictly, and she likely won’t be able to see Wuqing anymore.” She smiled bitterly.

“What do you think?”

“Me?” Suzhen sighed. “I don’t know what Wuqing truly thinks, and I don’t really want Lian Xin to be with him, afraid she’ll get hurt. Otherwise I would find ways to arrange meetings for them. But not seeing each other, Lian Xin seems like she’s lost her soul, and I also went to see Xiao Zhou just now. Neither of them are happy.”

“I know your feelings for them, but some things can only be resolved by time.”

“Mm.”

“Li Huaisu.”

He held her without speaking, and after a long while, his arms tightened.

“Quan Feitong came today, you… what do you think?”

Suzhen froze. Seeing her sudden silence, he forcefully turned her body around. “What are you thinking in your heart?”

He knew she loved him, but he wasn’t certain – during his absence, what kind of feelings did she have for Quan Feitong exactly?

He told himself that as long as she came back, that was enough. What happened before was his failing, he wouldn’t blame her. But every time he thought of how they had once been intimate, his heart felt as if being devoured by countless insects, making him frantic and restless.

So, that unchangeable fact – he couldn’t accept it, but he needed her to personally promise her feelings to him again and again.

He wasn’t at ease.

His gaze darkened frighteningly. Suzhen was startled by his sudden emotion and temper, her arms feeling as if pressed by two iron blocks. Her heart was complicated, but between her and Quan Feitong… she suddenly realized something. Perhaps that matter had been fabricated from the beginning – she hadn’t taken it to heart, but he seemed to remember it.

She stood on her toes and whispered something in his ear.

After hearing it, he didn’t move for a long time, just staring at her intensely.

She thought he looked rather foolish like this. For the first time, she felt that such a wise and composed person could also be like this—

“You dare lie to me!” She chuckled, but he glared at her fiercely and swept her up in his arms. He kicked open the palace door and threw her onto the bed…

In the middle of the night, she woke from a nightmare, only to find herself deep in his embrace. His breathing was steady – he was still asleep. Afraid of waking him, she gently removed his arm from around her waist, dragged her aching body up, stepped over him, climbed down from the bed, picked up her undergarments from the scattered clothes on the floor and put them on, then threw on his casual robe and slowly walked to sit at the table.

Since returning with him, she rarely thought of Quan Feitong. Perhaps, she should say, she deliberately made herself not think of this person. She was very clear that her feelings for Quan Feitong were not that kind of feeling, but their friendship was not shallow. Today his gaze truly made her uncomfortable.

A mountain cannot hide two tigers – this battle would eventually be fought. She was certain that if Lian Yu lost, she would die with him; but if Quan Feitong lost, what should she do? He was a treacherous minister, but she… didn’t want him to die. However, this was politics. If she begged Lian Yu to spare his life, could Lian Yu bear it? Lian Yu wouldn’t. If she threatened death to force him, even if Lian Yu agreed, could Quan Feitong simply retreat to the mountains and rivers? Impossible. This comeback would be another calamity for the people.

She pressed her temples, feeling her heart as if bound by an invisible rope, causing a dull ache.

She didn’t see that in the darkness, Lian Yu slowly sat up behind her.

The moment she left his embrace, he had awakened. She sat quietly, and he said nothing, just gazing deeply at her back. The wild joy from two hours ago gradually faded.

Unlike that night of swirling snow, when he thought she wanted to be with Quan Feitong, he had once thought of defeating this person, eliminating his followers, but sparing his life. But from the moment she returned to his side, he no longer thought that way.

Now, it was even more impossible.

Even if this person had never possessed her, he absolutely could not let him appear before her eyes again.

He could not tolerate other men leaving any trace in her heart.

His hand gently caressed the cheap jade pendant she had given him by his pillow, a trace of killing intent coldly flashing in his eyes, yet it could never cover the jealousy and pain in his heart.

The consequence of getting up and going crazy in the middle of the night was that Suzhen slept until nearly noon the next day. She vaguely remembered supporting herself on her elbow at the table, swaying as she dozed, and him coming down to carry her back.

As she was washing and dressing, Xiao Zhou brought in food. “Huaisu, Master went to the imperial study to discuss matters with Seventh Master Yan Da and others after morning court. He won’t be back for lunch today and asked me to eat with you.”

Suzhen smiled and nodded. “I was just thinking of going to see you, this works perfectly.”

But Xiao Zhou looked at her with a half-smile. “You don’t need to worry about me. Running back and forth between me and the princess – aren’t you tired? But there are some things I want to say to you.”

“What?” Suzhen sat down, somewhat surprised.

Xiao Zhou was silent for a moment before looking at her. “Yesterday when I followed you all over there, I saw Quan Feitong. You came to counsel me, but I want to counsel you – don’t burden yourself too much.”

“I’ve seen some of what happened between you and Quan Feitong. You didn’t fail to give him opportunities. On your wedding day, you asked him if he was willing to leave with you.”

“Did Lian Yu ask you to come find me?” Suzhen hesitated slightly and asked.

Xiao Zhou shook her head. “I didn’t tell Master about this, didn’t dare tell him. I’m afraid he’d strangle you.”

Suzhen lowered her eyes slightly.

“I’m not Master’s advocate, just speaking from a friend’s perspective to advise you – since you gave him a chance, you don’t owe him much.” She said quietly.

Suzhen looked at her concerned expression, feeling distressed – not because she told her to let go of guilt, but because she had matters on her mind yet still came to care for her. This girl was sharp-tongued, incisive, and proud, but she was a very good person.

Could Wuqing really speak so lightly of separation without fear of regret?

The same with Lian Xin – hopefully Wuqing wouldn’t hurt her again.

Lian Xin was currently reading a letter in her sleeping quarters.

After this incident, Xiao An had confined her to quarters again. Lian Yu also didn’t help plead her case or approve her palace exit tokens, fearing she might encounter danger again if she left the palace.

But fortunately, Wuqing’s letter reached her through the city guards in time.

After reading the letter, her originally grief-stricken and unbearable mood gradually relaxed.

—Lian Xin, I am deeply apologetic about yesterday’s events, and it makes me feel my own lowliness and powerlessness once again. I am merely a deputy commander of the Six Fan School. For the first time, I wish I possessed greater power, so I could protect you and Huaisu. I await our reunion. Wuqing.

Thinking of what he wrote in the letter, she carefully stored it away in her jewelry box, then went out.

When she reached Lian Yu’s palace, he had also returned and was lying on the couch reviewing memorials. Suzhen was beside him organizing the memorials he had already reviewed. Seeing her arrive, both were pleased.

Lian Yu stopped what he was doing and looked at his sister with some affection. “What is it? Do you need Sixth Brother for something? But regarding you leaving the palace, Sixth Brother cannot agree to that for now.”

“No,” Lian Xin shook her head, hesitated, then spoke quietly, “Sixth Brother, may I ask you about something? Wuqing is Susu’s closest brother and has saved me before. Why wouldn’t you give him the position of Six Fan School commander? Just like Consort Qi has the Murong family backing her, wouldn’t it give Susu a strong supporter too? Yet you gave it to Cousin Ding instead. I don’t understand.”

Lian Xin’s question was actually Suzhen’s question too.

Of course, she had never thought about family backing or seeking power for personal gain. In this palace, Lian Yu was her greatest support. But logically, given Lian Yu’s temperament, he would consider all these things for her. With her relationship to Wuqing, giving this position to Wuqing would be natural. Even setting that aside, giving this position to Wuqing seemed more appropriate than giving it to Murong Ding, as it would undoubtedly further strengthen the Murong family’s power.

She hadn’t asked Lian Yu because she trusted him, knowing that every arrangement he made had his own reasoning.

But now that Lian Xin brought it up, she was also moved and listened attentively.

Lian Yu stroked Lian Xin’s hair. “Xin’er, Sixth Brother knows you care about Wuqing, but if I gave him this position, Mother probably wouldn’t approve. Of course, if I insisted, she would have to comply, but that’s only on the surface. Behind the scenes, she would make things difficult for Wuqing. Is that the result you want to see?”

“You also don’t know that at the founding of our dynasty, the Six Fan School was originally created by the Murong family ancestors. So when Mother appointed Wuqing before, I also approved, because the Murong family inherently had this right. It’s just that later, when the late emperor favored Consort Ai, the power fell into Consort Ai’s faction’s hands. Now, I’m returning it to the Murong family as it should be. With me here, who would dare touch your sister-in-law? Even if Wuqing doesn’t have this power, can’t I protect my own woman?”

Lian Xin had prepared a full argument to persuade Lian Yu, but after his explanation, she found his words reasonable and irrefutable. Anxious in her heart but afraid of saying too much and displeasing Lian Yu, making future requests difficult, she chatted with Suzhen for a while before returning to her own palace.

Seeing Lian Xin leave, Suzhen was about to voice her doubts when Lian Yu, perceptive as always, smiled slightly. “How is it? My reasoning just now convinced my little sister but can’t convince my wife?”

“Why?”

Since he spoke so directly, Suzhen didn’t beat around the bush and asked straight out.

“Yesterday’s incident – if it wasn’t Chao Huang acting on impulse, then someone was behind it. With Quan Feitong’s rebellion imminent, Chao Huang shouldn’t have been so careless. The likelihood of human involvement is high. Of course, this human involvement might not be Wuqing – someone could be framing him, but it’s also possible it was him. Even if he treats you like family, in these extraordinary times, I cannot take any risks. Don’t underestimate the power of the Six Fan School – in the hands of someone who knows how to use it, it becomes an elite military force. The Murong family shares my fate – they absolutely wouldn’t let this ship sink, so I’m actually quite at ease.” Lian Yu pulled her onto his lap and spoke slowly.

Late that night, at the Li residence.

When Li Zhaoting returned to his room, he again saw Feng Shaoying.

“How did it go?” Seeing the other person casually sipping tea at the table, he asked quietly.

“I knew this wouldn’t go so smoothly from the start. Otherwise Lian Yu wouldn’t be Lian Yu.” The other person smiled faintly and put down the tea cup.

Li Zhaoting asked, “Is there anything I can help with?”

“There is,” the other nodded. “Help me investigate which senior palace maid is close to Hong Gu in the palace?”

“Oh?” Li Zhaoting was slightly surprised, then agreed, “Alright!”

For several consecutive days, Lian Xin remained dejected until she received another letter from Wuqing.

This time, after reading the letter, she was slightly stunned.

That evening, she went to Hong Gu’s quarters.

Hong Gu was delighted to see her come. “Why has the princess come here?”

She naturally had no children and was utterly loyal to Xiao An, so she naturally loved Xiao An’s only daughter as her own.

Lian Xin said nothing and suddenly knelt down.