As soon as she finished speaking, the tent fell silent as death. Though Iron Hand and Lian Xin didn’t fully understand what her words meant, seeing Wuqing’s expression, they knew it wasn’t anything good.

Wuqing stared at Little Zhou with an iron-blue face, intently and fiercely. Little Zhou avoided his gaze, but in her slightly turned eyes, there was a vague hint of resolute determination.

Neither of them spoke.

At this moment, Wuming was entering the tent. Seeing the situation, she froze, not knowing what had happened, and didn’t dare speak for a moment.

Sensing something was wrong, Lian Xin and Iron Hand helped Suzhen to the couch. Lian Xin quietly pulled Ah Qing, who had come with them, aside to inquire, and Wuming also hurried over to listen.

Ah Qing’s face alternated between red and white as he stammered out the situation in a low voice.

After hearing this, the three were also speechless for a long while.

“No. Zhen’er could never agree to this, and I could never agree either!” Finally, Wuqing spoke.

His stern tone seemed to chill the entire tent.

“Li Zhaoting has some feelings for Zhen’er—I can see that,” he said through gritted teeth. “If Zhen’er were honest with him, perhaps it wouldn’t necessarily…”

Little Zhou sneered coldly, “That’s under the condition that he doesn’t know Huaisu is carrying my master’s child. What kind of person is Li Zhaoting? You know better than we do! If he learns the truth of the matter, Wuqing, you have no idea what he might do! In his towering rage, he’ll kill everyone involved! Fine, even if he doesn’t kill Huaisu or you, this child definitely cannot be saved!”

“If the child dies, Huaisu will go mad.”

“I absolutely cannot let the young master come to harm. From the day I became my master’s guard, my life has belonged to him. I can give up my life—what else is there I can’t bear to part with? It’s just a body! Do you have a better solution? We can’t leave now, so we can only get through this immediate crisis first.”

Her words left everyone unable to refute, including Wuqing, whose eyes were red with anger as he glared at her.

However, everyone also knew that she wasn’t as indifferent as she claimed. When she spoke, her body trembled slightly throughout, but the determination in her eyes clearly showed that she would never change her mind.

“I’m going out for a while. When I come back, we’ll discuss how to proceed.” She was probably also finding it difficult, threw out this sentence, and finally ran out of the tent in a few steps.

Wuqing immediately turned and chased after her.

In the tent, the atmosphere remained terrifyingly quiet. Iron Hand pulled the blanket over Suzhen and after a long while asked with a bitter smile, “Wuming, is Leng Xue well hidden?”

Wuming nodded, “Yes, he’s hidden well. Since it’s inappropriate for him to appear, but I can, he had me come back first to keep watch.”

After saying this, she quickly fell silent.

Ah Qing suddenly said, “Oh no! Where’s the Princess!”

Iron Hand and Wuming were startled and only then realized that Lian Xin had somehow disappeared—all three were skilled in martial arts, but in their distracted state, they hadn’t even noticed Lian Xin leaving.

“Go find her quickly! We can’t afford even the slightest mishap now.” Iron Hand shouted, and the two came to their senses and hurried out of the tent to search.

Lian Xin had followed when Wuqing chased after Little Zhou. For some unknown reason, she quietly trailed behind them. Today, Li Zhaoting had taken all the consorts and the Wei father and sons out hunting. Additionally, because Li Zhaoting had set his birthday here, Si Lanfeng was busy sending people to invite various officials over and had no time for patrols. Although the imperial guards were more heavily stationed than before, these were no longer the old palace guards and didn’t recognize her.

She followed them to the lakeside.

Normally, with their martial arts skills, they would never fail to notice someone following them, but both were obviously emotionally agitated and didn’t pay attention to her.

“What are you doing here?”

By the lake, Little Zhou stood with her back to him.

Her voice was so hoarse it was barely recognizable.

Wuqing suddenly stepped forward and embraced her from behind.

This time, Little Zhou didn’t push him away.

For the first time since the change of dynasty in the capital, she didn’t glare at him angrily, but quietly leaned against his embrace.

“I’m sorry I don’t have the ability to protect you. All I can promise is that I will definitely seek vengeance against the Wei family and Li Zhaoting for this wrong. If Wei Wulei hadn’t suddenly arrived…”

He spoke through gritted teeth, then fell silent, heavily resting his head on her shoulder.

“When all this turmoil passes, let’s get married. Be my wife, will you?”

After a long while, he spoke again, his voice shedding its usual coldness and carrying a hint of hoarse pleading.

“Wuqing, you and I were originally enemies, not friends. You don’t need to marry me out of guilt. Yes, I’m angry that you aided the tyrant in his tyranny, but I also understand your hatred in my heart. Because of my master, Huaisu let go of this grudge, but you witnessed your parents’ tragic death with your own eyes, and there’s the suffering Huaisu endures now. If we’re truly settling accounts, it’s indeed the Lian family that owes your Feng family, though it wasn’t my master who did it personally. The Dowager Empress is my master’s mother. You’re currently constrained by Huaisu and can’t do anything, but besides the Wei family, you still want revenge against the Dowager Empress and others in your heart. Am I right?”

“But as long as I’m alive, I cannot let you move against the Dowager Empress, because she is my master’s mother. Whether you call it foolish loyalty or say I can’t distinguish right from wrong, this is my fate. For my sake, can you refrain from seeking revenge against the Dowager Empress? You can’t. Living like this, you won’t be happy. You and I might as well end it here. Perhaps we never had a beginning to start with.”

She broke free from his arms, turned around, and smiled at him.

“Besides, with my current ghostly appearance and my body that will soon no longer be pure, even if you don’t mind, I still do. You know I’m a proud person. Moreover, saying you don’t mind—after this period of wanting but not getting, you’ll still mind in your heart.”

Wuqing’s eyes suddenly darkened, and he sneered back, “Do you think I said I’d marry you only out of guilt? If I said there wasn’t any, that would be impossible, but even if there is guilt, it’s only two parts. What the other parts are, you know very clearly!”

He pointed fiercely at his chest.

Little Zhou looked at him, smiling as she cried.

Wuqing leaned forward and kissed her fiercely.

The two entangled intensely in silence.

Lian Xin quietly turned and walked back. As she walked, she slightly raised her head—sunlight filtering through the tree branches fell down, stinging her eyes with pain.

Born into royalty, she had never imagined she would see love like that between Lian Yu and Suzhen, Huo Chang’an and Wuyan.

And what she had just witnessed.

A flash in the pan, brilliant for a lifetime.

When she returned to the tent, Suzhen was still unconscious. She sat down and carefully touched her belly. Seeing a thin layer of sweat on her forehead—whether from heat or from calculating, thinking, worrying, and suffering even in her dreams—she pulled the blanket down a bit and reached out to wipe the sweat clean, just as if she were still a princess and Suzhen still her prince consort. Finally, she sat quietly beside her, waiting for everyone to return.

After an unknown amount of time, everyone gradually returned. As soon as Iron Hand saw her, he couldn’t help but say through gritted teeth, “Do you know how much trouble you could cause by running around carelessly?”

“I’m sorry.” She lowered her eyes and apologized.

Ah Qing and Wuming had never liked her because of Wuqing, and though they said nothing now, their eyes showed clear annoyance. Several people talked to one side, until Wuqing and Little Zhou returned. Lian Xin kept her head down throughout.

Everyone didn’t dare look at Little Zhou much, afraid she would feel uncomfortable. But Little Zhou didn’t hesitate and told everyone the substitution plan she had already worked out.

Everything was set for tomorrow.

Otherwise, Suzhen would definitely discover it.

Currently, there were large numbers of imperial guards stationed both in the camp and outside the forest. After the previous incident, inspections were extremely strict with multiple checkpoints. Li Zhaoting knew that this time they could never escape again, so within the limited area, he hadn’t restricted Suzhen’s freedom.

To prevent the camp guards from discovering them, the plan was for Lian Xin to first take Suzhen into the forest under some pretext, with Ah Qing and Iron Hand hidden there to knock her unconscious and protect her. They would set up another tent by the lake. She was an expert with drugs and had a type of mind-confusing powder. That evening, she could first have Wuqing take the antidote, then apply the drug to the candles in the tent. Wuqing would then invite Li Zhaoting back to drink, to show his loyalty. As the drug spread with the candlelight, Li Zhaoting would be affected. Then Wuming would pose as Suzhen from outside and send an invitation letter.

Under the effect of the antidote, she would light mind-confusing incense in the lakeside tent, then extinguish the candles and wait.

This drug could bewitch a person’s consciousness without their knowledge, making them think it was just the effects of alcohol. It wasn’t easy for the drugged person to detect and was a long-lost palace interrogation secret drug, specially designed for strong-willed prisoners to make them talk.

When Li Zhaoting came over and inhaled more of the incense in the darkness, she could impersonate Suzhen and deceive him.

“But your face…” Lian Xin suddenly said.

Little Zhou let out a soft sigh, “That’s the only tricky part. I plan to use a human skin mask to cover it.”

“This human skin mask disguise technique has also been long lost. If used during the day, anyone with sharp eyes could spot the flaws upon close inspection, but at night there should be no problems.”

“When the drug takes effect in the middle of the night, Li Zhaoting will… after finishing, he’ll fall into deep sleep. I’ll wrap my head and face tightly when I come out, claiming I feel stuffy and want to walk around. I won’t let the imperial guards Li Zhaoting brought recognize me. When I reach the agreed location, you’ll wake Huaisu. Even if she objects then, it’ll be useless—all she can do is take my place and walk back.”

When she spoke, she used Suzhen’s intonation. Having been with Suzhen for so long, this imitation was remarkably similar and lifelike.

No one could deny that this was currently the only solution. And actually, everyone was already prepared—as long as Wuqing said “no,” they would fight to the death. But Wuqing was unwilling to sacrifice Suzhen and their lives.

Seeing everyone’s red eyes and silence, she smiled, “I’ll go make some preparations. Wuming, take Huaisu back to that tent later. When she wakes up, I’ll come explain to her. We absolutely cannot let her become suspicious.”

“Do as she says.”

Wuqing also followed her out, and before leaving, he ordered in a low voice.

“Yes, boss.”

Several people quickly responded.

Walking to the tent edge, he seemed to remember something and turned around to warn sternly, “Lian Xin, you stay here obediently. At this critical moment of life and death, if you cause trouble and get caught, no one can save you!”

“If it weren’t for Zhen’er and Little Zhou, you should know that even if you died, I wouldn’t care. I’d be happy if you died.”

“I know.” Lian Xin still kept her head down and softly responded.

Seeing Wuqing leave, the people in the tent were about to go when she finally spoke quietly, “There’s something I want to ask you all.”

When Suzhen woke up, it was already midnight. A single lamp glowed like a bean in the tent, and Little Zhou sat cross-legged on the ground, seemingly organizing the medicine box she always carried with her.

“Little Zhou…” she spoke slowly. Hearing the sound, Little Zhou slowly turned around and smiled, “You’re awake?”

“Why did you knock me unconscious?” Suzhen slowly sat up, her eyes filled with scrutiny.

“I didn’t want you to worry and be frightened. Once your emotions become severely agitated, your qi and blood will stagnate, and in severe cases, there’s the worry of losing the young master.” She sighed and walked over to sit down.

“What method were you talking about earlier?” But Suzhen still frowned tightly.

Little Zhou knew she was meticulous and had eyes that could see through people, so she didn’t dare be careless and said, “Li Zhaoting is celebrating his birthday here. The imperial guards have already been sent to notify the officials, and they’ll arrive successively tomorrow. There are still three days left. We’re thinking of asking Quan Feitong to help… and escape once more!”

Suzhen’s heart filled with suspicion. Upon hearing this, she was shocked and then said, “I can’t drag him into this again. Li Zhaoting won’t spare him.”

“Didn’t you say Li Zhaoting needs him to check Wei Chenghui? Quan Feitong is as cunning as a fox—he might not come to harm.” Little Zhou spoke while secretly observing. Seeing the other person lower her eyes in thought, she relaxed slightly in her heart, finally managing to divert her attention.

That night, it remained lively outside—during the day, the Emperor led hunting parties, and in the evenings there were banquets and dancing.

Li Zhaoting didn’t force her to go, so Suzhen naturally didn’t go out. That night, she couldn’t sleep at all. She had stretched to an extreme limit, with only one final thread desperately holding on.

Little Zhou also spent the night sleepless.

When dawn broke faintly, Suzhen was utterly exhausted and fell into light sleep. When she opened her eyes again, it was already evening. Little Zhou wasn’t there, but had left a note saying that Wuqing had gone hunting with the Emperor today, and she and Iron Hand had split up to intercept Quan Feitong.

Suzhen immediately got up, thinking of going to see Lian Xin at Wuqing’s place. After washing up, she was about to leave the tent when she encountered Lian Xin, who was also coming out of a tent, wearing makeup and dressed in Six Doors Bureau attire.

“I was just looking for you, and here you are.” Suzhen touched her head and said.

“I was missing you. Since there’s still no one in the camp today, I thought it should be safe to sneak out.” Lian Xin thought for a moment and added, “Susu, let’s go for a walk. In your tent, if that Li person comes…”

Without her saying more, Suzhen was also concerned about this point. The two quickly went out. Suzhen wouldn’t allow the imperial guards outside the tent to follow, because Li Zhaoting had already ordered stricter guard posts around the forest area. The guards didn’t follow closely but only trailed from a distance.

The two walked into the forest. Lian Xin hadn’t stopped walking when Suzhen suddenly turned around and asked sternly, “Are Little Zhou and my brother hiding something from me? Lian Xin, do you know or not?”

Unexpectedly, Lian Xin lowered her eyes for a long while, finally gritted her teeth and nodded, “I know.”

Suzhen’s heart grew cold, and suddenly she sensed someone approaching from behind. Though she was pregnant, she instinctively moved to protect Lian Xin. She almost immediately turned around, shielding Lian Xin behind her, and coldly shouted, “Who’s there? The imperial guards are just ahead. Get out now, or I’ll call them over!”

After the evening banquet ended, Li Zhaoting returned to his own tent as usual, sat for a while, and drank some wine. Liang Song carefully asked beside him, “Your Majesty, which lady’s tent will you spend the night in tonight?”

“Right here.” Li Zhaoting sipped his wine and said coldly.

Under pressure from the Prince of Jin’s consort, Liang Song almost pleadingly reminded him with a mournful face, “Your Majesty, you only visited Noble Consort Wei and Consort Miao’s tents briefly the day before yesterday, and you’ve been sleeping alone these past two days. This might not be quite appropriate?”

Li Zhaoting sneered slightly, “Where does the Dowager Empress want me to go?”

“Noble Consort Wei is pregnant, so Your Majesty’s frequent care is good. Otherwise… Consort Miao—she’s someone Your Majesty has always favored. If she could also conceive at the same time, it would be double happiness—” He smiled obsequiously.

“Get out!”

Before he could finish, Li Zhaoting had already cut him off, “I haven’t settled accounts with you yet about the Dowager Empress finding her way here.”

Liang Song didn’t dare say more and truly rolled out this time.

Outside the tent, Si Lanfeng and Little Four were there. Seeing him come out, Si Lanfeng said, “Chief Liang, His Majesty has been unhappy these past few days. Couldn’t you see that? How could you run into the blade like that?”

Liang Song, seeing his somewhat gloating attitude, replied with a bitter face, “Commander Si, it’s not that this old slave lacks such perception. The Dowager Empress is pressing urgently. By the way, what exactly has made His Majesty so… irritable? I’ve never seen him like this before.”

Just then, seeing Wuqing approaching, they greeted him. Si Lanfeng breathed a sigh of relief, “Perhaps salvation has arrived.”

He personally lifted the tent flap for him.

Li Zhaoting glanced over and said, “You’ve come at just the right time. Keep me company for a few drinks.”

Wuqing was delighted, “I have Daughter’s Red wine prepared in my tent. I was just thinking of inviting Your Majesty over for drinks. I also want to discuss Zhen’er’s matter with Your Majesty.”

Li Zhaoting’s eyes darkened. Thinking he wouldn’t go, Wuqing was about to invite him again when he saw him stand up, “Very well.”

…

In Wuqing’s tent, after three rounds of wine, Wuqing said quietly, “Your Majesty, regarding Zhen’er’s matter this time, Shaoying was also forced into it. Although Your Majesty’s previous treatment of her made Shaoying somewhat disheartened, I can see now that you truly care for her, and Shaoying also hopes in his heart that she’ll stay by your side. I’ve been persuading her for a long time these past two days.”

Li Zhaoting drank deeply and remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking, “What did she say?”

“She’s already thought through quite a bit—”

“Your Majesty,” just then, the voice of imperial guards came from outside the tent, “Concubine Shu has sent someone requesting an audience.”

19th, 20th update. There are still a thousand words saved for the next section.