She looked up at him: “All these years, I’ve never asked you for anything. Consider this the last thing I ask of you. Is that acceptable?”

Li Zhaoting looked at her and said harshly: “Fine, I agree. Don’t joke about your life anymore!”

“Thank you.”

Li Zhaoting was still angry, staring at her coldly, then suddenly left the hall without a word.

“Lanfeng, send people to… find out all legends about flesh and white bones, immediately! Within half a month, I want to know the answer! Otherwise, those people needn’t bother coming back alive.”

Outside the hall doors that slammed with a resounding crash came his voice, faintly visible with frost-like malice, and Si Lanfeng’s surprised response.

Outside the hall, snow flew like goose feathers.

It was already daytime.

Li Zhaoting later went to the adjacent side hall and remained silent thereafter.

Female officials brought food, and a group of more than ten people entered to serve.

Just as she was forcing herself to swallow the food, she heard voices from outside the hall.

She frowned and had the female officials go out to investigate what was happening.

“Miss, it’s Noble Consort Miao who has come, saying she wants to meet the new… sister who entered the palace.”

Soon, a female official hurried in to report.

Suzhen thought for a moment: “What did His Majesty instruct?”

The female official quickly ingratiated herself: “His Majesty forbade any meetings. Noble Consort Miao is still pregnant, and His Majesty dotes on her greatly. You can see how much His Majesty cares about you, Miss.”

“Where is His Majesty? Go find His Majesty and tell him Noble Consort Miao is here.”

“Miss, His Majesty caught cold and has infected wounds that festered. He fainted earlier and is still sleeping in the side hall,” the female official said in a low voice.

Suzhen was stunned. She got up and walked to the hall entrance, slightly opening a crack to peek out.

She saw Miaoyin standing in the distance with her hand on her belly, blocked by a line of imperial guards.

She couldn’t show herself and was hesitating when the side hall door suddenly opened. Si Lanfeng emerged supporting Li Zhaoting, who wore white inner garments and appeared at the doorway.

The latter’s face bore the pallor of illness.

He said: “Lanfeng, escort Noble Consort Miao back to her hall.”

Si Lanfeng responded and left. Li Zhaoting looked at her calmly, then turned and walked back into the hall.

In the distance, Miaoyin gazed toward the side hall and silently departed. Suzhen couldn’t help but furrow her brow—some matters couldn’t be delayed any longer.

But who would have known that next, she too fell seriously ill for three consecutive days due to this cold injury.

She was very severely ill.

During these three days, Li Zhaoting cared for her without rest.

In the lamplight, she occasionally woke to find him asleep by the bedside, but he would quickly wake up again.

He carried her to the toilet, helped her wash, like an ordinary married couple. She wanted to stop him but didn’t even have the strength to speak. In her confusion, only Lian Yu’s name rolled vaguely on her tongue, and she could hear his low, hoarse, self-mocking laughter.

When she woke again, she saw the frightening bloodshot eyes and haggard face.

“Finally awake.” His voice no longer held any of its former clarity, but carried joyful laughter. He reached out, wanting to embrace her, but quickly lowered his hand, saying softly: “I’ll have people bring some things in.”

Suzhen knew he must be thinking of his earlier promise. He was indeed a man who kept his word, except for that farcical engagement of theirs years ago.

She instinctively looked at her own changed clean clothes. His voice quickly responded: “It was the female officials.”

Suzhen paused, ultimately saying nothing, only: “I’d like to see Leng Xue. Is that possible?”

“Yes.”

This time, he agreed quite readily.

“Go rest,” she said.

Li Zhaoting nodded: “Yes, I’m truly tired.”

As he spoke, he slowly stood up, walked to the hall entrance, gave some instructions, then returned to the hall and walked toward the long couch by the window. She only saw him lie down with his head back, not even taking a blanket, falling asleep in moments.

Shortly after, the same female official from that day brought food and served Suzhen her meal. Not long after eating, Liang Song’s respectful voice came from outside: “Miss, Leng Xue has been brought.”

Suzhen dressed properly and went out. She saw Leng Xue’s face was iron-gray, but his mental state and complexion were actually quite good.

Seeing Suzhen, his expression softened as he strode forward. The two spoke a few words in low voices. Suzhen suddenly said: “Come, let’s go practice swordwork.”

Si Lanfeng, who was on duty outside the house, found the scene bizarrely surreal and couldn’t help saying: “Magistrate Li, you’re not planning to practice martial arts well enough to kill your way out of the imperial palace, are you?”

Suzhen burst into her first loud laughter since being captured.

The snow was falling rather urgently.

Though Leng Xue had taken the antidote, his body seemed not yet recovered, far less agile than before. After Suzhen practiced with him for a while and found it boring, she said to Si Lanfeng, who was watching from the side: “Commander Si, why don’t you teach me instead?”

Si Lanfeng had just been rather amused, but hearing this, he was immediately stunned: “It’s not that I’m being stingy and don’t want to teach, but if you really want to kill your way out, ten deaths wouldn’t be enough for me.”

Suzhen laughed until she bent over: “What kind of brain do you have! With my physique, if I could kill my way out, you could become a demon cult leader. Wouldn’t it be fine if your master agrees? Let me go ask him.”

“His Majesty is still resting, you shouldn’t—”

“You’re here.”

Suzhen’s following words startled him.

Following her gaze, he saw Li Zhaoting wearing a cloak, having emerged from the hall at some unknown time, standing on the steps watching them.

“You don’t usually like practicing swordwork. Why the sudden diligence?”

He spoke slowly.

“To assassinate you before leaving the palace,” Suzhen replied.

“You,” Li Zhaoting’s lips curved slightly, “can kill me?”

Suzhen nodded toward Si Lanfeng: “See? In this regard, your master is much more dignified than you.”

Si Lanfeng smiled bitterly: “Yes, yes, yes.”

“Commander Si, between you and His Majesty, whose martial arts are higher?”

Si Lanfeng quickly flattered: “Naturally His Majesty’s.”

“I never even knew you knew martial arts before. Your martial arts were taught by Old Man Wei, weren’t they?”

“You must have thought countless times about killing me before, right?” Suzhen asked with another smile.

Li Zhaoting was momentarily speechless. When she had annoyed him terribly in the past, he really had thought about killing her.

But it was only thinking.

Suzhen saw his expression: “I knew it.”

“I just want to strengthen my body and live well. Will you demonstrate once for me?”

“You’ve died twice and come back to life—you’ll definitely live for a very, very long time.”

Li Zhaoting looked at her and said.

Suzhen didn’t care whether he liked hearing it or not: “Naturally. I’m waiting for Lian Yu.”

Li Zhaoting gave a self-mocking smile and walked down, extending his hand toward Si Lanfeng: “Give me the sword.”

Under the eaves, red plum blossoms dotted like blood. Dark robes and white clothes flew in the snow as his clear voice rang out, sword techniques flowing from his mouth. Graceful as a swimming dragon, with the bearing to swallow mountains and rivers, Suzhen watched carefully. Leng Xue suddenly spoke: “Let me spar with you.”

He drew his sword and leaped in, attacking Li Zhaoting. Si Lanfeng was secretly vigilant, fearing Leng Xue would use sparring as a pretext for assassination. But facts proved his concerns unnecessary—there was indeed no murderous intent. Though Leng Xue’s moves were vicious, his body was far from its former state, while Li Zhaoting, though injured and ill, had superior martial arts. After fifty moves, his sword point was at Leng Xue’s throat.

“I concede,” Li Zhaoting said mildly.

Leng Xue changed his earlier disdain: “Nothing else to say—in martial arts, I’m convinced.”

Suzhen suddenly took the sword from Li Zhaoting’s hand, made a sword flower, and began to dance.

Though there was no real force to speak of, the precision of her techniques and fluidity of her movements were eye-catching.

She had never been fond of this pursuit before, but clever people were ultimately clever.

But she couldn’t persist for long—after ten moves, she was gasping for breath.

Seeing she had no intention of stopping, Leng Xue frowned. Li Zhaoting’s form flickered, and he had already seized her sword.

“That’s enough. I’ll practice with you again tomorrow.” His voice carried severity.

Suzhen didn’t argue with him and went back.

Leng Xue was escorted back to his original location.

Li Zhaoting didn’t follow but went to the side hall to handle memorials. Soon, a group of palace maids came in to set out dishes. Suzhen sat silently when suddenly a drop of hot soup splashed onto the back of her hand. She hissed, and a nearby female official sternly shouted: “Don’t you want to live?”

A female voice fearfully responded: “This servant deserves death.”

A pair of hands holding a handkerchief pressed onto her hand. Suzhen said to the female official: “I’m fine. Don’t blame her.”

The female official smiled apologetically: “Miss is magnanimous.”

“Hurry and thank Miss,” she shouted again at the offending palace maid.

“This servant thanks Miss for her great kindness in not punishing!”

The palace maid apologized fearfully. However, during the conversation, a paper ball was actually pushed over from the hand holding the handkerchief!

Suzhen’s face remained unchanged, glancing from the corner of her eye. She saw the palace maid had ordinary features, but a trace of sharpness flickered in her eyes. She said nothing else, only had everyone leave.

As soon as everyone left, she immediately opened the paper ball in her hand. Written on it was: “Don’t worry or be anxious. I am seeking ways to rescue you. There will definitely be action within seven days.”

Though unsigned, Suzhen knew who the other party was. There was no joy in her heart—instead, her brow furrowed tightly.