Everyone was extremely shocked, but their master’s deduction was most logical.

No wonder Suzhen would write “don’t search” – if it were Quan Feitong, she still had confidence, but with others, it was hard to say. Her warning like this meant these people must be extremely formidable.

Originally, in this extraordinary period, those who could enter the imperial city – how could their background be small?!

“Xuanwu, immediately send someone to summon Wuqing. I want to see him.” Lian Yu quickly ordered, then added: “Xiao Chu, pass my command to strengthen inspections of palace entrances and exits.”

Ming Yanchu immediately replied: “Your Majesty, this servant has already given instructions. So far nothing unusual has been seen. Could this group still be in the city?”

Lian Yu’s expression was stern: “Hard to say. This group has great supernatural powers. Since they have ways to enter the city without imperial guards discovering them, easily leaving the city wouldn’t be strange either – they wouldn’t necessarily have to go through heavily guarded city towers.”

Everyone understood his meaning – having imperial guards tighten inspections was just better than nothing.

After saying this, he spoke no more, still crouching in the original place, gently stroking those characters on the ground with his hand. Everyone felt both heartbroken and alarmed watching him, but could only wait nearby for his next orders.

Ming Yanchu and the others dared not speak, knowing he must have arrangements, as long as Suzhen wasn’t dead…

Soon, Wuqing arrived with Tie Shou, Zhui Ming, and the green-clothed constable and nameless female constable. He glanced at the blood stains on the ground, his throat tightening: “Whose?”

“Who knows? Not only Huaisu, but Xiao Zhou was also captured, life or death unknown.” Lian Yu said.

Wuqing’s face darkened. He punched a nearby tree, making the trunk shake while his hand bled!

“Does Your Majesty know who the opponents are? Is there any way to rescue them?”

Lian Yu glanced at him: “The opponents left no clues. Huaisu originally wanted to use lime powder to indicate the path,” he pointed ahead, “but it seems the opponents discovered it. That she could leave those words was already not easy. The opponents are very alert and extremely clever. Look, these blood stains and footprints completely vanished not far ahead.”

“I don’t know who they are, but they’re definitely not simple – they could enter the palace as if entering an uninhabited realm.”

“Has Your Majesty dispatched imperial guards to search extensively?” Wuqing asked after listening.

“No,” Lian Yu’s gaze darkened slightly. “If they’re still in the palace, I fear large-scale searching would alarm the criminals and also alarm Huaisu. She fears I’ll be threatened and will try to seek death. The villains will also be prepared – we might not necessarily find them.”

“I had you enter the palace to entrust this matter to you, having the Six Doors constables conduct secret searches inside and outside the palace without alerting them.”

“Yes! Wuqing understands.” Wuqing immediately nodded.

“Xiao Chu,” he instructed further, “you and Bai Hu remain here. If Wuqing needs anything, deploy army imperial guards to assist at any time. Report any news to me immediately.”

Ming Yanchu and Bai Hu received their orders. Lian Yu then left with Qinglong and Xuanwu. Seeing Ming Yanchu and Bai Hu also walk away to give secret orders to imperial guards, Zhui Ming said angrily: “His Majesty dismisses us with just a few sentences and leaves himself? Huaisu is his wife – how can he be so heartless!”

Tie Shou patted his shoulder: “Now isn’t like usual times. His Majesty must return to lead the battle.”

“Lead battle? Didn’t he commit patricide and usurp the throne? This illegitimate claim – even fighting this battle—”

“Enough!”

Zhui Ming was speaking hatefully when Wuqing’s cold shout interrupted him: “Zhui Ming, you and Tie Shou go back and transfer a group of constables here.”

Zhui Ming, thinking of Suzhen, didn’t say more.

After the two left, the green-clothed constable said in a low voice: “Boss, we’re just pretending to comply, right? Now isn’t the time to be distracted by this matter.”

“No!” Wuqing’s eyes showed a fierce look: “You don’t understand – they mean no less to me than anything else! I’m not here, so you two must always pay attention to news from over there!”

“Yes.” The green-clothed and nameless constables both nodded, their eyes showing the blazing intensity of approaching war.

“Also,” Wuqing went forward searching for traces, his voice carrying from afar, “this matter must never be known by Zhui Ming and Tie Shou, especially Zhui Ming. Regarding Tie Shou, Ah Qing, you do some persuasion to see his reaction. He’s more… pragmatic than Zhui Ming.”

Racing back to camp, Lian Yu gave another order: “Xuanwu, deliver my visiting card on my behalf, requesting Quan Feitong meet alone at the mausoleum entrance. This meeting won’t discuss state affairs, only personal friendship.”

Hearing this, Xuanwu’s face immediately fell: “Master, you’re too biased. Why not call Qinglong? If I go, will Quan Feitong vent his anger and have me beheaded? ‘Only personal friendship’ – you two have always loved and killed each other. What personal relationship could there be?”

“Do you have any other words you want me to convey? With just this simple sentence, he’s not stupid – would he come alone?”

“No more.”

“…”

Though he said this, before Lian Yu could lower his eyes in displeasure, he had already spurred his horse and shot out like an arrow.

Qinglong said: “This subordinate will return to camp immediately and have Seventh Master and General Murong bring troops for protection.”

“No,” Lian Yu said lightly, stopping him. “I said it would be a private meeting.”

Qinglong was greatly alarmed and was about to inquire when Lian Yu stroked the thin horse’s mane. The thin horse neighed and had already galloped away happily out of sight. Qinglong was extremely worried and hurried to follow.

“Xuanwu, are you sure your master isn’t ill? What personal friendship could this minister have with him? What else did he say? What’s this trip for?”

Two hours later, in Quan Feitong’s tent, this Great Zhou Chancellor waved his feather fan, an imperceptible trace of suspicion flashing in his eyes as he asked.

“Replying to sir, no.” Xuanwu sighed: “This subordinate said the same thing to my master, but he insisted I come invite Chancellor Quan. Won’t you go?”

“Could it be he’s recently found me displeasing and is looking for an excuse to separate my head from my body?” He glanced at Chao Huang and several burly bodyguards in the tent.

Quan Feitong laughed heartily: “That must be it. Chao Huang, dispose of him.”

Seeing Chao Huang stride forward, Xuanwu retreated, calling: “Chancellor Quan, in war between two armies, envoys aren’t killed. You’re so learned – surely you know this.”

Quan Feitong snorted, slowly rising to straighten his clothes: “Chao Huang, have them prepare horses.”

This startled both Chao Huang and Xuanwu. Xuanwu hadn’t expected him to comply so readily, while Chao Huang urgently said: “Big Brother, what do you intend? You’re not really thinking of going alone?”

“Yes, this minister will go alone. Didn’t he want to meet privately?”

“Big Brother, this is obviously a trap.”

“If this were a trap, Lian Yu is being too careless – could such a simple invitation lure anyone?”

Both Chao Huang and Xuanwu simultaneously said: “But didn’t it just lure you?”

“Shut up!” Chao Huang glared fiercely at Xuanwu, then persuaded Quan Feitong again: “Big Brother, you absolutely cannot go. This is his playing hard to get. You’re honorable and upright, but he might not be—”

“I’m not some honorable and upright person, but if I’m too cowardly to go, wouldn’t I be laughed at by him?” Quan Feitong still appeared nonchalant, obviously not very worried about what the opponent might do.

Chao Huang was so anxious his eyes nearly shot fire: “I’ll take troops with you.”

“No,” Quan Feitong finally put away his smile and said seriously: “No need for troops. I’ll just make this trip with his subordinate.”

“Lian Yu is this minister’s opponent. Whether he’s a despicable villain, this minister knows in his heart. I’d like to see what medicine he’s selling in his gourd.”

“Xuanwu, let’s go.”

An hour later, at the imperial mausoleum entrance in the foothills, Quan Feitong reined in his horse with a “whoa,” stopping several steps away. In the evening light, Lian Yu sat mounted, appearing to have been waiting for some time.

Xuanwu withdrew behind Lian Yu, together with Qinglong.

Quan Feitong lazily surveyed the surroundings and smiled: “Fortunately, Your Majesty didn’t bring ambush troops.”

Lian Yu also smiled slightly: “Chancellor Quan also has good courage. This single-handed attendance at a meeting will make a fine story in the future… How are her injuries?”

Quan Feitong had been leisurely listening to his compliments when this sudden change of topic left him stunned: “What injuries? What do you mean?”

“Indeed it wasn’t you. First reactions can’t deceive.” Lian Yu closed his eyes and didn’t speak for quite a while.

Quan Feitong’s gaze turned cold: “What exactly does Your Majesty want to say? This minister magnanimously accepted the appointment, yet Your Majesty is being mysterious?!”

“My wife was abducted by your people, then fell into a third party’s hands. Her life or death is unknown. Thank you for keeping the appointment – I owe you a favor.”

When Quan Feitong returned to his tent, stars and moon filled the sky, and firelight glowed warmly.

Chao Huang and Li Zhaoting quickly approached. Chao Huang breathed a sigh of relief: “Big Brother, if you hadn’t returned, I would have taken troops to rescue you.”

Quan Feitong tugged at his mouth corner: “If I hadn’t returned, I’d certainly be dead. Taking troops there would be useless.”

Chao Huang was startled, then laughed heartily, asking curiously: “What did Lian Yu want to discuss with Big Brother? Could he want peace talks?”

Li Zhaoting noticed Quan Feitong’s expression was very ugly and said quietly: “Master, did you encounter some troublesome matter?”

Quan Feitong said nothing. After a long silence, he said indifferently: “Nothing. I’ll go in first. Have someone send some wine.”

Years later, when Quan Feitong recalled this day’s events after the battle, he sometimes wondered – if he had been willing to discuss it with Li Zhaoting that day, could he have changed that person’s tragic fate?

But perhaps as Tingyu said, whether it was him, Lian Yu, or Li Zhaoting – those who thought they controlled the chess game were actually all within that chess game called fate. Heaven’s will was supreme. What they could do, what everyone could do, was merely whether to submit or not submit, whether to struggle or not struggle.