Suzhen hadn’t expected him to speak to her like this.

She almost immediately raised her head.

“Prime Minister, thank you for your kindness. If on the day I asked you, you had been willing to agree, I would have been more than willing. But things have come to this point, and I can only express my gratitude and decline. In this lifetime, I can only be Lian Yu’s bride. I do want to leave this place, but if I were to deceive you for my own selfish reasons…” She shook her head with a smile, both helpless yet resolute.

Quan Feitong also smiled at the corners of his mouth, but it was utterly cold.

“Even if I shamelessly ask you again, you still won’t agree?”

Suzhen still shook her head.

“Then let’s pretend I never said it. Farewell.” He quickly stood up.

Suzhen said nothing, watching him leave. When he reached the door, he suddenly turned back, “Feng Suzhen, do you hate me in your heart? When Lian Yu and I fought, did you hope he would win and I would die?”

Suzhen was startled, then said, “I did hope he would win, but I never wished for your death.”

“If it weren’t for me, Lian Yu might have only had to deal with Prince Jin’s son. His chances of victory would have been extremely high.” He said again.

Suzhen thought for a moment, then said, “I can never agree with your methods, just as I can never dislike you. In my heart, you are someone irreplaceable.”

“But for me, if we can’t be husband and wife, I don’t care about anyone.” Quan Feitong fixed his gaze on her, his tone becoming increasingly distant and cold.

Suzhen felt sadness in her heart, but with Lian Yu gone, she had nothing left to hope for forever. Even friendship—she simply said, “Prime Minister, for someone like you to take a fancy to me, Feng Suzhen, is my good fortune. If you just stepped forward, girls who admire you could line up from the palace gates all the way to our Huai County. You’ve been busy for half your life—rather than conspiring with tigers, why not leave this place and wander the world with a beauty, enjoying yourself daily? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

She spoke these words with complete sincerity.

Quan Feitong’s gaze lowered slightly, impossible to tell what he was thinking.

“See me out.” After another long while, he raised his head and said lightly.

Suzhen nodded and followed him out of the courtyard, walking slowly behind him.

The summer night was leisurely. Under the moonlight, the two walked one behind the other. Quan Feitong suddenly stopped. Suzhen halted her steps, somewhat puzzled. He had already turned around, striding up to her and embracing her in front of all the servants outside the courtyard.

Little Luzi gasped behind her.

“Fighting with people brings endless joy—this is the meaning of Quan Feitong’s existence. You are not my wife; you have no right to give me advice. Also, don’t you know that things I can’t have, I’d rather destroy?” He said in her ear.

Suzhen’s heart jolted with alarm.

…

Li Zhaoting hadn’t left. He stood in the shadows, coldly watching the two embrace in farewell outside the courtyard. Si Lanfeng was beside him, tentatively saying, “Young Master, shall Lanfeng go over and test Prime Minister Quan’s intentions?”

Li Zhaoting raised his hand to stop him, “No need. I’ll make the trip myself.”

“Senior brother.”

When Quan Feitong reached the Imperial Garden again, a voice called out to him.

He slowly turned around.

“I wonder how senior brother has considered it?” Li Zhaoting’s gaze was pitch black, flickering in the night.

“Though you won’t grant her to me, I also got the answer I wanted from her lips. For the sake of her reluctance to part, what reason do I have not to stay?” He lifted his lips and walked into the darkness.

“Send Chao Huang back to my mansion.”

The voice came from both sides of the palace walls.

Li Zhaoting stood with his hands behind his back, not immediately leaving.

“Lanfeng, send Chao Huang back to him.” A breeze stirred as he slowly spoke.

Si Lanfeng was startled, his face showing hesitation, “Young Master, if we don’t use Chao Huang as leverage, what if Quan Feitong secretly takes him away—”

“Quan Feitong may have many faults, but he’s a man of his word. If I don’t even have this much courage, how can I rule this nation? Go.” Li Zhaoting’s words were brief and to the point, cutting him off.

“Lanfeng understands.” Si Lanfeng agreed. Over there, Li Zhaoting had already left. He was somewhat puzzled—before Quan Feitong arrived, he had clearly been heading to Miss Miao’s bedchamber. How had he changed course? It looked like he was heading back along the same path…

Outside the imperial city, the steward was already waiting at the city gates with guards. Quan Feitong didn’t immediately board the carriage, but turned back to look.

Would Li Zhaoting make things difficult for her because of his deliberate actions?

Thinking this, he touched his nose and smiled. When had he, Quan Feitong, become such a soft-hearted person! Deciding to stay wasn’t enough—did he have to give his life to this woman who didn’t love him to be satisfied?

…

Within the palace walls, at this moment, Suzhen felt as if something was watching her fiercely from the darkness. Feeling uneasy, she didn’t stand there any longer and quickly returned inside.

Five hours earlier.

When Lian Jie and Lian Qin left the palace, Si Lanfeng didn’t disturb Suzhen’s farewell with the two. He watched from afar, seeing the two board a carriage at the side hall entrance, transported out of the palace by an empty carriage driven by Wuqing’s constables. Si Lanfeng then followed on horseback, escorting them out of the imperial city.

Once outside the city gates, Si Lanfeng returned to the palace while Wei Wujun led men to secretly follow.

The carriage reached a bustling area of the capital’s main street, where Lian Jie and the other got off and entered a silk shop.

Half an hour later, the two emerged in different clothing, quickly disappearing into the crowd.

At this time, outside the Six Doors headquarters, in a small alley across the street, several men watched the three large characters on the mansion’s entrance like hunters eyeing their prey.

“Second Young Master, why aren’t we pursuing Lian Jie and the other in the direction they went with the soldiers?” one of them spoke.

It was Mao Hui, who had been sent by his master to assist Wei Wujun in the pursuit.

Yu Jinglun beside him rebuked quietly, “What do you know? Second Young Master has his own plans.”

Mao Hui was startled. Wei Wujun waved to indicate he shouldn’t rush. His gaze slowly withdrew and fell on the alley entrance.

Two men in civilian clothes suddenly appeared. Mao Hui was surprised, but saw Wei Wujun walk over and speak quietly with them. The men nodded, their eyes alertly scanning the surroundings before quickly departing.

Wei Wujun returned and only then smiled, “Brother Mao, please be patient. Father instructed earlier that though this Wuqing serves Young Master, he has deep feelings for Feng Suzhen from before, so he will certainly help this time.”

“Lian Jie and the other went to the silk shop seemingly to buy clothes for disguise, but actually, when they emerged with lowered heads after changing clothes, they were no longer the same two people, but Six Doors constables with similar builds and profiles.”

“Even if I’m wrong, it doesn’t matter. I’ve secretly sent many experts to tail these two, and simultaneously, all the men and women who left the silk shop with changed appearances—I’ve sent people to track them all. Later, I indeed discovered several people returning to the Six Doors.”

Mao Hui suddenly understood, “Second Young Master means Lian Jie and Lian Qin are hidden among these people? So you have people monitoring the Six Doors’ surroundings. No matter which ‘constable’ enters or exits, every move escapes our surveillance.”

Wei Wujun nodded, then paused and said, “But actually, what’s most hard to guard against is if they never left the silk shop at all.”

Mao Hui was shocked. Yu Jinglun said, “Since Second Young Master has spoken to this point, the silk shop’s surroundings must also be under strict surveillance. Those two just now were probably the squad leaders responsible for that lookout post.”

“No wonder Father often says Master Yu has learned the true teachings.” Wei Wujun smiled slightly, then said coldly, “Young Master instructed that releasing them was just a temporary measure—these people must be captured. Last time they escaped from the palace, but this time, my father and I stake the Wei family’s reputation on seeing how they’ll escape.”

Inside the Six Doors, in the main courtyard, though it was already dusk, the lights were still bright.

There were six people in the room.

Wuqing sat in the center while the others stood to one side, looking tense, except for one woman who leaned against the door with arms crossed, lost in thought.

“Boss, with nets spread everywhere, do you think Huaisu’s plan will work?” Iron Hand spoke first.

Deep worry showed between his brows.

Since Zhui Ming’s departure, he had been drunk every day, feeling he bore inescapable responsibility. Only when Suzhen gave him tasks did he regain some vitality.

The blue-clad constable Ah Qing and the female constable Wuming had no particular feelings for Zhui Ming, but they obeyed only Wuqing’s orders. Since Wuqing was now on the same side as Judge Li, they were also anxious.

Wuqing tugged at the corner of his mouth, “She’s always had the most ideas. If even she can’t accomplish this, then it’s fate. Lian Jie and the others’ fate.”

Ji Fufeng stood to one side, having remained silent until now. She frowned slightly, “If Lian Jie and the others are captured again, I fear she’ll collapse…”

“Stop pretending!” At this moment, the woman leaning against the door suddenly turned around with a cold laugh, “I know you all secretly hope Seventh Master and Ninth Master get captured.”

Wuqing’s expression darkened as he suddenly stood up, “What madness are you having again! I know people can’t get out now and you’re anxious. Huichun Hall has mysteriously vanished without a trace and you’re worried. But if we all panic too, what about Huaisu!”

“What about her? I think from beginning to end, she’s the only clear-headed one while you people have long been in chaos! I’m useless—I can’t help her with anything.” The woman lowered her eyes, then suddenly rushed out.

Wuqing’s gaze grew cold as he clenched his fists. After a moment, he finally chased after her.

Every day, Suzhen would carry a food box to the small house where Lian Yu’s mother had lived, dining alone. Her appetite was increasing, but her brow furrowed tighter each day.

She would occasionally hold her belly with little Lotus inside and take walks in the Imperial Garden with little Luzi. She gradually discovered that the palace guards were increasing. Later, she noticed groups of men dressed as scholars entering the palace, sometimes accompanied by the three Wei men. One day, she even spotted Huang Zhongyue.

Suzhen understood these were likely Prince Jin’s former supporters.

Their frequent comings and goings meant Li Zhaoting’s coronation was approaching, and that palace security was becoming increasingly impregnable. The restlessness and unease in her heart seemed like a bottomless abyss, growing deeper and threatening to drown her.

Sorry for being late tonight. Tomorrow’s coronation ceremony and establishment of the six palaces. Saturday’s remaining thousand words will be posted together tomorrow.