“Zhuque Envoy, Seventh Master urgently requests your presence.”

Xiao Zhou paced back and forth in the courtyard until two soldiers hurried in, bringing the message.

The matter of Huaisu and the princess was already enough to bring the sky crashing down! She listened with her heart trembling in terror, hoping nothing else would happen at this critical moment.

“Very well.” She quickly responded and left immediately.

Arriving at Lian Jie’s courtyard, the personal guards paid their respects. Seeing the door open, she strode inside.

“Zhuque?”

The hall was empty. She felt puzzled, then heard Lian Jie’s voice from within.

“It’s me, Seventh Master.”

“Little Lianzi just wet my clothes, so I’m changing… I called you over to discuss how our matter seems to have aroused Sixth Brother’s suspicions.”

From the inner room came the rustling sounds of changing clothes. Xiao Zhou couldn’t help but be greatly alarmed. “Is it about Huaisu’s matter or…”

“What exactly happened to her?”

With a cold voice, two people emerged. Xiao Zhou’s gaze froze, and she heard only the sound of her own heart pounding wildly.

Master.

She called out tremblingly.

Qilin was skilled at mimicking voices.

He could imitate any age.

When Feng Suzhen returned to the commander’s courtyard, it was already completely dark.

The soldiers outside respectfully opened the door for her.

But she entered to find pitch darkness, with not half a glimmer of light from within the room. Dimly, a sharp black gaze fell upon her, watching her intently.

Her temples began throbbing inexplicably, and she felt dizzy and chaotic.

“Lian Yu?” she called out tentatively.

Familiar breath immediately surrounded her, and she was pressed into someone’s arms almost mindlessly.

He emanated a deeply suppressed, cold aura.

Had she stayed too long at Leng Xue’s place, making him displeased? She couldn’t understand the situation, but the panic in her heart grew heavier.

What was wrong with him?

The words she had rehearsed many times retreated to her heart, and what came out instead became explanatory laughter. “Hey, you’re not that petty, are you? I just stayed at Leng Xue’s place a bit longer…”

He suddenly released her, then bent down to kiss her quickly and forcefully… During this period, their intimate affairs were naturally unmentioned, but except for that day of “reunion,” when had he not been tender and careful with her? Sometimes, considering her body was still weak, he would even restrain and control himself. Never like this rough wildness.

He lifted her horizontally and carried her to the stone table in the courtyard, placing her on top of it.

In the darkness, his eyes held sharp blades. He placed her legs on his shoulders, and her blood felt as if it were flowing backward, rushing to her head. If someone suddenly entered the house at this moment, would they even want to live?

“Let’s go inside…” Her face burned as if it would drip blood.

“Go inside for what? Would that be good?”

With his light words, she instantly couldn’t say another word. He looked at her with a gaze that was both more panicked and invasive yet seemed coldly determined to the point of desperation… She trembled and felt dizzy, gripping his arms tightly. Through the gaps of his body, she could only see the starry sky above, those stars seeming ready to fall down.

Finally, he carried her, both drenched in sweat, back into the room. She could hardly bear such wild passion. Truly, even remembering it could make one die of shame. Her back still ached from being pressed against the stone slab, yet her body trembled – not only from that ultimate physical ecstasy, but also from that urgent possessiveness and needful love.

She quietly observed him. His eyes were dark and sharp, cold and deeply cunning.

She didn’t know why he was like this tonight, yet was also intimidated by his cold, icy attitude and didn’t dare ask more. Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat: could it be that he already knew about her condition?

With this thought, she was so startled she nearly jumped up. Having him wait in torment for her death during wartime – this was definitely not the outcome she wanted to see.

She stared at him in alarm, trying to discern clearly.

He saw the panic in her eyes, and the coldness in his gaze slowly disappeared.

“I’ll have water brought to help you bathe.”

He gently placed her on the bed, his movements becoming tender.

“I had a dream while resting.”

He turned and walked toward the door, his voice also coming softly.

“I dreamed I was defeated in battle and killed, leaving you all alone.”

These weren’t pleasant words, but Feng Suzhen’s heart, which had been raised to her throat, finally settled down.

This dream… was it because her previous spiritual comfort had disturbed him, making him develop pre-battle anxiety? She knew he certainly wasn’t afraid to die, but he feared leaving her behind again.

What a self-inflicted disaster. She was just thinking how to comfort him when he finished his instructions and returned from the doorway, saying lightly, “I’ve already postponed the attack plan. Let’s have a good time together for a while.”

What?!

Even as servants brought in water and he helped her into the wooden tub for bathing, she remained in shock and amazement.

But she didn’t try to persuade him. Once this man made a decision, no one could change it. Moreover, he had probably already announced it to the soldiers before she returned home today.

“Do you remember when I had you serve me during bathing at the villa years ago? Now it’s your turn to show off. Come on, Madam Lian, tell your husband what kind of service you want.”

Warm water poured from the wooden ladle in his hands. Through the misty steam, she heard his voice with its light laughter.

She was in a trance, returning to that year in Shangjing when she was investigating the Wei heir’s murder case, lying in bed after being stabbed. At that time, he was still in fine clothes and proud horses, and she was also young and beautiful…

Even though the future was dangerous and life and death uncertain, they still lived freely and boldly. Perhaps it was because deep in her heart she was already certain that no matter what happened, this great Zhou emperor would protect and escort her all the way.

Kitchen smoke curled upward. The man’s distinguished bearing and refined, scholarly appearance clearly clashed with the kitchen, yet his movements of lowering his head to control the ladle and occasionally stirring were exceptionally skilled and harmonious.

This was the third day he had abandoned commanding to make soup.

He scooped up a spoonful of soup to taste, and that meticulous profile made one feel as if he had concentrated all his spirit on it. But suddenly, whether he was momentarily distracted or something else, the bowl in his hand dropped into the soup with a crash, and countless drops of broth instantly splashed toward his face and neck.

Feng Suzhen in the courtyard watched in alarm. With his skills, how could he not avoid it?

What was he thinking about? Was it a problem with the war? Had he chosen to rest because the army had some problem he didn’t want her to worry about, using rest as an excuse to hide it from her?

But it felt completely unlike that.

His confident and assured appearance couldn’t be faked.

So he was actually still brooding over that day’s nightmare, over the world’s mishaps and missed opportunities, fearing to repeat the previous life-and-death separation?

Looking over, she saw his entire palm had been scalded red by the hot soup, but he just wiped his hand across his face to remove the broth, as if unaware of pain.

That soup seemed to have splashed onto her body too, and her eyes quickly misted over.

Three days – with each passing hour, her reluctance to leave grew stronger.

She became increasingly reluctant to withdraw.

Perhaps they could continue like this until…

As soon as this thought arose, she was suddenly alarmed. She couldn’t be so selfish.

Slowly walking inside, she embraced his waist from behind.

“You’re here? Where’s Xi’er?” He reached out to pinch her waist.

“With the wet nurse. When she wakes up, she’ll want to eat.”

“Then why didn’t you sleep more? I’ll call you when I finish making breakfast.”

“Don’t be so good to me.” She called out softly, rubbing her head against his back with force.

“What kind of talk is that? Is there anyone who complains about their husband being too good to them?”

He laughed and turned to tap her head, then continued busying himself.

This was completely normal – where was the earlier distraction? In the end, it was for her. She was momentarily dazed, both joyful and sorrowful.

“Lian Yu, I have something to tell you.”

Without checking his hand, she feared that heartache would defeat her remaining rationality.

“Wait until I serve the soup.”

He brushed her cheek with his side face and said with a smile.

“Master.”

Footsteps came from the courtyard. Feng Suzhen’s face grew slightly warm, and she quickly released her hands from his waist. But Lian Yu turned around and held her hands in his palms, then looked out casually with calm, cold eyes that seemed to have anticipated something. Following his gaze, she saw a group of uninvited guests in the courtyard.

All those who had welcomed them back that day had come.

“Yu’er,” Xiao’an frowned tightly, “This dowager knows you have deep feelings for this Feng Suzhen and want to compensate her, but you cannot delay military affairs.”

Marquis Murong Jing led a group of generals and suddenly knelt down. “Speed is crucial in war. Each day of delay adds one layer of danger to the outcome. Please, Master, continue presiding over military affairs and do not delay the attack date.”

“Please, Master, continue presiding over military affairs until the attack.”

Yan Da and Gao Chaoyi also led the court officials in kneeling, loudly pleading.

Lian Yu’s gaze slowly fell on the Lian brothers, asking with a half-smile, “What, you also want to remonstrate with your lord?”

Lian Jie and the other exchanged glances and immediately said, “Your subjects dare not. Everything is for Sixth Brother to decide.”

Lian Yu just smiled, looking at everyone without speaking. Everyone looked at each other, and their bold rhetoric suddenly became somewhat at a loss.

“You!” Marquis Murong Jing looked at Lian Jie and Lian Qin with agitation, then glanced at Yan Da.

Marquis Murong Jing even said loudly, “If Master does not permit, we subjects can only remonstrate unto death.”

Hearing this, Lian Yu finally spoke coldly, “How to fight and when to fight, I have my own judgment. If General Murong has doubts, then remonstrate unto death. Let’s see whether this life is better lost on the battlefield or here.”

He spoke while his gaze slowly swept over Yan Da.

Marquis Murong Jing’s face turned ashen, but he didn’t speak again. Murong Cuan had originally decided absolutely not to say anything, but seeing this man she loved and revered like a deity had fallen to such confusion, she couldn’t help becoming agitated and exclaimed, “Your Majesty, you… state affairs are important!”

But Lian Yu didn’t even look at her. Murong Cuan was furious and stamped her foot hard.

Xiao’an stared sternly at Feng Suzhen, “Won’t you say a word?”

But by the end, her voice also became very soft, knowing in her heart that with Lian Yu neglecting military affairs for her sake, only she could persuade him.

Murong Cuan was furious and pointed at Feng Suzhen, saying, “Feng, are you trying to become a calamitous demon who brings ruin to the country?”