By noon, Suzhen had finally sent them off. She found a pavilion in the Imperial Garden to sit down, with Director Guo accompanying her. Soon, a female official from the Treasury Bureau came over, saying new goods had arrived and asking her to inspect them for inventory.

Director Guo showed some hesitation—after all, the Young Master would return to the palace today, and if she happened to leave when he came to check on Miss Feng, it would be awkward. But Treasury Bureau matters were also her responsibility. Suzhen seemed to understand her thoughts and said, “You go handle things first. When the Young Master comes, I’ll say I heard the Treasury Bureau received some new items and asked you to bring a couple over to relieve my boredom.”

“Thank you, Miss.” Director Guo was very pleased, bowing gratefully before leaving.

Watching her depart, Suzhen’s smile slowly faded. The Lian brothers had left.

When she visited them in prison that day, she only mentioned using Aluo as hostage to let everyone leave, not saying she couldn’t go with them. She told them to rest and heal until just now when she briefly explained her predicament.

Knowing she couldn’t leave, both brothers became extremely anxious.

Lian Qin even gripped her hand tightly, refusing to let go.

She promised them she would find a way to leave, giving them three letters and telling them when to open which one. These letters, along with arrangements she made with Wuqing and Xiao Zhou, would help them evade Wei Wujun’s tracking. She understood clearly that Si and Wei had an understanding—once Si Lanfeng escorted them out of the imperial city, Wei Wujun’s people would secretly follow.

Finally, Lian Jie gritted his teeth and forcibly pulled Lian Qin away. He was a calm person who understood that if they didn’t leave, not only would they be unable to protect her and her child, they would become her burden.

Suzhen knew they would rendezvous with the Murong army. Lian Jie would see Wuyan, so she had him convey to Wuyan that regarding Huo Chang’an’s matter, she probably couldn’t repay the couple in this lifetime but would certainly do so in the next.

She didn’t tell Lian Jie the true relationship between her and Wuqing. After a moment of surprise, Lian Jie nodded, thinking she meant she and Lian Yu had implicated the Huo couple.

He said, “Sister-in-law, don’t take it to heart. Since they returned, they were prepared for the worst. You’re their best friend, and Sixth Brother is Lord Huo’s sovereign—whether publicly or privately, they would never blame you. Rest assured, before you join us, I’ll definitely protect Wuyan.”

Suzhen knew he still couldn’t forget Wuyan. She wanted to advise him not to be obsessed—the feelings between Wuyan and Huo Chang’an in this lifetime probably couldn’t be penetrated by anyone.

But she said nothing in the end. Everything depended on fate. She only hoped that in her lifetime, she could see friends like Wuyan and Lian Xin again.

She had deceived them. Her promise couldn’t actually be counted on.

Unless she managed to leave before the child was discovered. Li Zhaoting’s previous mercy toward her didn’t mean he could spare little lotus seed!

How could he let Lian Yu’s bloodline remain in this world to become another Prince of Jin’s heir like himself?

She only had two more months. By the fourth month, her belly probably couldn’t be hidden anymore.

In this half month, Wuqing had brought Xiao Zhou and Leng Xue into the palace several times. Wuqing and Leng Xue’s appearances were Huichun Hall’s masterwork—Wuqing had personally sought out Huichun Hall, while Leng Xue… should have returned to Quan Feitong’s side after parting with her on Qixi, with Quan Feitong arranging the contact.

According to Wuqing, during that period, Li Zhaoting had again inquired about Huichun Hall’s whereabouts. Looking back now, this was at Quan Feitong’s behest—first to forge old eunuchs who had served the late Emperor, second for Leng Xue.

Even during the first major case, Li Zhaoting had asked him about Huichun Hall.

The switched corpses of Wu Niang and others probably came about this way: Quan Feitong—Li Zhaoting—Wuqing—Huichun Hall.

Some things from years past had been confusing, but now seemed clear as clouds and mist dispersed, though they could no longer bring anyone joy.

She didn’t know when Leng Xue became Quan Feitong’s man—whether after coming to the capital or actually before her family adopted him.

Perhaps he was never a pitiful child begging on the streets, but a young assassin.

She also didn’t know what Leng Xue planned now, whether he would continue serving Quan Feitong.

She had no interest in knowing anymore.

She couldn’t bring herself to act against this brother who had lived with them since childhood, but she harbored hatred.

Some things she could guess without him saying—after leaving and changing his appearance, he infiltrated the palace and killed the real Ji Fufeng, lying dormant beside Ming Yanchu to spy on military intelligence for Quan Feitong. But Lian Yu was too clever and cautious. He might not know exactly who around him was Quan Feitong’s person, but he only trusted those absolutely trustworthy. The matter of falling out with the Lian brothers turned the tables on Leng Xue and Quan Feitong.

Such a person, if he hadn’t met her, would definitely have been the final victor.

Even though Lian Jie repeatedly said that without her, he would have died much earlier—she had helped him and Xuanwu escape, and his return was destiny’s choice.

False Fufeng, Wei Wuxia was the one who should be responsible, Wei Chenghui and Li Zhaoting were their true enemies.

But for her entire life, she still couldn’t forgive herself. He had arranged the gathering place for the withdrawn Murong army in two locations—one where the Sangzhan tribe was located, the other was… the kilns and mountain forests where they first met.

Before her, summer flowers bloomed fresh. In this vast Imperial Garden, so quiet, with heavily guarded new imperial guards and occasionally passing palace servants making almost no sound—it seemed like two different worlds from when she had entered the palace to see the ruler before.

Then the late Emperor’s former consorts and his new favorites would often bring groups of palace maids out to play, chatting and laughing. The old had memories to pursue, the new had new favor to anticipate. These people had all been driven to the Cold Palace now.

But this desolation was only temporary. Soon there would be new beauties and prosperity again. The peach blossoms would remain the same—only the faces and hearts would be different.

Wei Chenghui led the army to camp outside. Li Zhaoting returned to the palace first, bringing an old friend.

This campaign, he had slaughtered fifty thousand Chao troops and accepted the surrender of the remaining half. Originally, more would have surrendered, but he didn’t allow it, ordering half killed. Only this way could this force be thoroughly broken, with remaining troops’ morale scattered, slowly integrating into the Prince of Jin’s army structure.

Besides this, he had another gain.

The person before him.

That day, he had ordered Si Lanfeng to post imperial proclamations from the capital through various provinces, stating that if Mu San saw the announcement, he should come to the imperial city where high office and generous rewards awaited.

Mu San was this person’s name from years ago.

Later, he renamed himself Quan Feitong, meaning the powerless Mu San who could protect nothing was dead.

He guessed that as a prisoner, this person was either still in Xiao’an and Yan Da’s control, or had used his own intelligence to escape during the Murong army’s scattered retreat, reaching the border to reorganize Chao forces.

Indeed, he guessed correctly.

In the latter stages of fighting the Chao army, Mu San arrived, laughingly asking, “Fellow disciples, are you really going to eliminate us completely, junior brother?”

He smiled back: “Cut the weeds and remove the roots.”

Mu San pondered briefly and said, “That’s appropriate. I would do the same.”

He commanded the Chao army to fight him with sharp tactics, but outnumbered, the Chao army finally lost.

He said he wouldn’t kill him and could even return Chao Huang. This change of dynasty required people—he had always admired his abilities. In the new court, military generals would be led by Wei, and for civil officials, he intended to invite him as their model.

Mu San smiled without speaking—neither agreeing nor opposing.

On the road, the two discussed post-war national conditions and people’s livelihood, how to replenish the vast military expenses consumed by this war, how to stabilize people’s hearts. They talked quite pleasantly, as if everything past was just someone’s dream.

All the way back to the imperial bedchamber.

Mu San finally said, “I want to see Chao Huang.”

Li Zhaoting was also quite agreeable, saying, “Zhaoting will take senior brother there immediately. Except for the first day when General Chao was wronged to stay in prison temporarily, Zhaoting has already arranged quarters in the palace for the General. Please.”

…

Learning of Li Zhaoting’s triumphant return, Miaoyin and Aluo successively came to the bedchamber but found no one. Guards told them the Young Master had taken an honored guest to the inner palace.

Both turned back toward the inner palace. Passing through the Imperial Garden, sharp-eyed Mei’er pulled Aluo aside and whispered, “Miss, look—isn’t that Miaoyin ahead?”

But Aluo wasn’t as impetuous as her, smiling, “As expected. What’s so surprising about that!”

“Miss Aluo.”

Just then, a very clear and beautiful voice called her from behind. She turned in slight surprise to see Wei Chenghui’s daughter approaching. She hated Wei Chenghui, and toward this woman held not just future harem competition hatred. Of course, her expression remained normal as she smiled indifferently, “Miss Wulei.”

Deep in the Imperial Garden, Mu San suddenly stopped: “What garbage music is this? Such awful flute playing.”

He laughed heartily, “Other rulers’ palaces are filled with celestial music everywhere—how are your harem women so peculiar?”

Hearing this, Li Zhaoting also frowned. Though his coronation was imminent, selecting beauties for the harem was a post-coronation matter. With Aluo and Miaoyin’s talents, they definitely couldn’t produce such terrible music. Which palace maid dared to play music randomly in the palace, and with such awful skill!