“Could I not return? I’ve come to seek medicine from the Prime Minister.” The visitor also replied with a light smile.

“I won’t give medicine to that traitor.”

“You can’t go back on your word.”

“Very well, as an exchange, come here and give me a hug.”

He slightly curved his lips, beckoning to her with his finger. Unexpectedly, she suddenly walked over in a few steps and hugged him firmly.

He froze for a moment.

The vitality that had returned to her eyes made him understand that perhaps it was time for him to completely let go of his obsession. Except for Lian Yu, no one could make her happy.

But he didn’t want to let go, even if in the end he didn’t know whether it was for love or merely for a stubborn obsession.

So earlier, he hadn’t been joking, but he hadn’t expected she would take the initiative.

“An assassin is worth this much to you? Except for me, you’re good to everyone else.” He gripped her shoulders tightly.

She smiled and patted his back lightly. “Didn’t you also once betray me? Let’s call it even, shall we? This embrace is not only to seek medicine but also to bid you farewell. Prime Minister, take care of yourself.”

“This should be our last meeting.”

“What, does Lian Yu plan to attack Shangjing? If he succeeds and becomes king again, you’ll be the high and mighty empress while I’ll be a bandit who must flee. How could I associate with you again! In your heart, I, Quan Feitong, am always a bad person, no matter what I do for you, whether false or sincere.” He laughed coldly.

She emerged from his embrace, just smiling, as if he were an immature youth.

“Prime Minister, it’s not like that. You may not be a good person to others, but to me you’ve never been a bad person. It’s just that we… never met at the right time.”

“The right time.” Quan Feitong was startled and suddenly remembered the scene in the study that year. That day, she was a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, forcefully defending Lian Yu who was pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger. The winter sunlight falling on her was truly dazzling.

But it was only a moment – how had they seemingly already walked through an entire lifetime? If we could start over, when you said to take me away, could I have smiled and said yes?

On the city wall.

Seeing that captain speak with flying spittle, everyone waited for Li Zhaoting to explode. Unexpectedly, the emperor listened and seemed to suddenly freeze, his gaze gradually deepening, then slowly becoming strangely… gentle. Just as everyone was secretly wondering, they heard him say lightly, “The Prime Minister is indeed an elegant man. I’ve been quite tired lately, yet he knows how to enjoy himself. Very well, all ministers accompany me to the Prime Minister’s residence to hear some music and relax.”

“Yes.”

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say, and after a long while hurriedly agreed.

At the Quan residence.

The gatekeeper, seeing the imperial carriage, dared not neglect and was about to go inside to announce the arrival, but Li Zhaoting waved his hand and walked straight in. “No need.”

Everyone followed. The gatekeeper, remembering the steward’s instructions, secretly groaned. One of them led the way while another, seeing everyone enter, immediately ran out quickly, taking a roundabout route to the back of the residence.

“The Prime Minister has such elegant interests. I hear a musician of exceptional musical talent has come to your residence. Is this her?”

The music suddenly stopped, interrupted by the unexpected but威严-laden voice.

Both the woman in the pavilion and the man reclining on the stone chair looked up. The latter immediately smiled lightly, and even facing his sworn brother Chao Huang’s pale face among the officials, he remained unhurried. “What wind blows today to bring the world’s most honored guest to my residence?”

“Your subject greets the Emper—” He immediately dusted off his robes as if brushing away dust, stood up leisurely to pay respects, but quickly stopped speaking as the central figure’s gaze shifted to fall on the woman beside him.

The visitor wore imperial robes – without anyone saying so, the musician knew what kind of person this was. But… what she never expected was that this young emperor would stare at her with such a dark, probing gaze, unfathomably deep yet clearly showing a kind of tenderness and an indescribable sense of possessiveness.

Quan Feitong suddenly smiled, coughed lightly, and instructed the steward, “An honored guest has arrived. Why haven’t you served tea?”

“Yes.”

The steward respectfully replied and hurried away.

Though the officials stood behind the emperor and couldn’t see his expression clearly, they could sense he was carefully observing that woman. They were all curious – this woman wasn’t necessarily a great beauty, so why? Only Si Lanfeng remained clear-headed, showing no particular surprise.

Quan Feitong pulled at the corner of his mouth, made a welcoming gesture, inviting Li Zhaoting into the pavilion, then turned to the musician saying, “Bring out your best pieces. His Majesty is proficient in music – few in the world can match him. If you’re fortunate enough to catch his eye, endless wealth and honor await you.”

How could the musician not understand Quan Feitong’s meaning? She looked at Li Zhaoting bashfully and said, “This humble concubine is truly blessed to see the imperial countenance today. Whatever piece Your Majesty wishes to hear, this humble concubine will certainly use all her learning to play for Your Majesty—”

She suddenly stopped speaking as Li Zhaoting’s gentle gaze changed to sharp eyes, like the sinister darkness before a storm.

Quan Feitong naturally saw this too and was slightly surprised. Following Li Zhaoting’s gaze, he was also suddenly startled! He calmly walked toward Li Zhaoting. “Your Majesty, shall we move to an inner room? This weather is rather gloomy…”

“Prime Minister, please stop.”

The other blocked his way. Quan Feitong’s heart sank slightly as he stopped.

Li Zhaoting suddenly strode forward, walking to within two steps of Quan Feitong, bending down to pick up something from the ground.

“Has she been here?” He gripped the object in his hand, asking in a cold, stern tone.

It was a purse that appeared quite heavy in his hand – undoubtedly a money pouch.

Everyone was stunned. What was this about? This looked like just a money pouch – perhaps dropped by Quan Feitong, the musician, or someone from the residence. How could the emperor determine that someone had been here?!

Indeed, seeing this, Quan Feitong also looked puzzled and said, “Your subject is confused and doesn’t understand Your Majesty’s meaning. No one has been here. I don’t know which careless person in the residence dropped this thing. If anyone has come, it’s only Your Majesty and the honored colleagues. Oh, and in the past few days some officials have come to discuss official business with your subject—”

“Where is she?” Li Zhaoting suddenly interrupted him, his eyes seeming to hold a ball of fire burning fiercely, with uncertain yet urgent, trembling joy.

“Your subject truly doesn’t know what Your Majesty is talking about.” Quan Feitong clasped his hands behind his back, speaking calmly. “If Your Majesty has developed inexplicable interest in this object’s owner, your subject can call everyone out for you to question individually. How about that?”

“This thing is hers, definitely hers. I recognize it. No one would embroider a purse like this except her.” Li Zhaoting’s gaze was compelling, without a trace of hesitation.

Everyone was confused, but the atmosphere was extremely ominous. No one dared breathe loudly. At this moment, Quan Feitong suddenly smiled. “Your subject seems to understand somewhat what Your Majesty is saying. Your Majesty, the person you speak of is already dead. You personally granted her a thin coffin, didn’t you? Your Majesty is probably bewitched – seeing features with some resemblance, you begin to fantasize. But here in your subject’s residence, there is no such person you seek. If you want to find her, you’ll probably have to wait a hundred years.”

From his words, some caught a scent of something and remembered certain things, but lowered their heads even further in shock.

The smile at Li Zhaoting’s lips slowly spread, carrying a heart-stopping meaning, his naturally noble bearing creating an oppressive presence.

“This object was definitely dropped hastily just now. Otherwise, with Prime Minister’s keen eyes, how could you not have noticed? This person must still be in the residence! Lanfeng, seal the Prime Minister’s residence – no one is allowed to leave. I suspect an assassin has infiltrated the residence. Imperial guards, search the residence.”

Si Lanfeng hesitated slightly, then bowed his head in agreement and led people away.

Quan Feitong’s face turned iron-blue, but he said nothing more, just stood with his hands behind his back.

After the time it takes to drink tea, Si Lanfeng returned and whispered something in Li Zhaoting’s ear.

Quan Feitong laughed and slowly spoke, “Your Majesty, though your subject didn’t know Your Majesty would come, your subject has always valued his life and property. This residence’s security is quite tight. Your Majesty is probably… over… thinking.”

Li Zhaoting glanced at him. “Am I really overthinking? I doubt it. I’m not doing this for myself but for the Prime Minister’s safety.”

“Then your subject thanks Your Majesty.”

Quan Feitong said no more, just smiled and watched.

Li Zhaoting then beckoned Si Lanfeng over and whispered a few words.

Si Lanfeng quickly left to carry out orders.

The courtyard fell into an eerie, subtle silence. The officials were even more cautious now. Shortly after, Quan Feitong gave a look, Chao Huang’s brow twitched, and he stepped forward saying, “Your Majesty, Big Brother, Chao Huang will also assist Commander Si in the search.”

“Good, you go.” Quan Feitong waved his hand. “Your Majesty?”

Li Zhaoting nodded slightly, having no objection.

However, at this moment, the sound of clashing weapons came from the back courtyard, causing everyone great alarm. Could there really be assassins?