“I’ve already had Prime Minister Yan handle it according to plan. We’ll discuss when there’s news.”

Lian Yu smiled and closed his eyes to rest.

Like Lian Qin, everyone didn’t dare ask more. This concerned who would prove superior between him and Quan Feitong. His situation was very unfavorable, so asking more now would inevitably boost others’ morale.

From the palace examination onward, Lian Yu’s acceptance of Quan Feitong’s challenge and fierce retaliation was already remarkable.

Originally, according to Empress Dowager Xiao’an’s intention, Lian Yu should avoid Quan Feitong for another two or three years, wait until his wings were full, then completely eliminate this prime minister.

But Lian Yu held different opinions, believing that retreating now wasn’t the best strategy. Quan Feitong wouldn’t give him two years for nothing, and after two years of repeated retreats, Quan’s faction would be even stronger, making elimination even harder then.

Wei Chenghui was an even more hidden sword.

Since Lian Yu was determined to act, the pressure was beyond what ordinary people could bear.

Their futures and fates were also tightly bound to his. Like that newborn calf Li Huaisu, how far could this Son of Heaven go?

Though they had long embraced absolute loyalty, each person also fell into contemplation, including Qinglong and Baihu.

Everyone returned to their residences. Lian Yu returned to the palace where Little Chu led palace servants to personally attend him. Passing through courtyards, hearing music, Lian Yu slowly stopped.

Tonight the moon was thin, starlight faint, the Milky Way momentarily distant. In the frost-like night, imperial pavilions and towers seemed to pour dark ink. In a green-roofed hexagonal pavilion, several maids attended a young woman who was playing the qin with lowered head. She wore lake-blue robes, and with her graceful sleeves, she seemed like gentle blue water slowly rising from a lake.

That melodious qin music was low humming, soft telling, with threefold repetition—no unrestrained posture, only constant suppression, such wordless difficulty that still moved hearts.

The woman was absorbed in playing, not noticing visitors, but the palace maids did. Seeing the imperial presence, they were startled and about to call her to pay respects, but saw Lian Yu put his finger to his lips, so the maids restrained themselves.

When clear flute sounds rose above the qin music, asking what troubles worried her, what sorrows she had—since ancient times no perfect affairs existed, like tonight’s moon, like tonight’s stars.

The woman’s hands trembled, nearly breaking a string.

She looked up, startled, quickly rose and bowed: “Gu Shuangcheng pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Lian Yu stopped playing and said gently: “Rise.”

This woman was Shuangcheng. She looked at Lian Yu somewhat dazedly, then instructed maids to brew tea.

Lian Yu didn’t go over, just standing on the curved bridge leading to the pavilion: “No need for tea.”

Shuangcheng’s gaze moved slightly as she bowed again: “Thank Your Majesty for past forgiveness. Last time, Shuangcheng was emotionally urgent and disguised herself as an inner attendant to enter Your Majesty’s Imperial Study.”

“You were also concerned for your father. Let this matter rest, but don’t repeat it next time, understood?”

Lian Yu spoke indifferently, his tone showing no blame but carrying an irresistible authority.

Shuangcheng sighed quietly. Gu Nanguang had received Quan Feitong’s order to propose an inspection tour. Quan Feitong intended to have Li Huaisu demoted for errors. Though Quan Feitong controlled the trade war and Lian Yu must be wary and wouldn’t punish Gu Nanguang, since it concerned her birth father, she still worried.

Empress Dowager Xiao’an had chosen him from so many children to personally raise and teach. Would this man be simple?

Moreover, her understanding of Lian Yu… wasn’t shallow.

She quickly nodded: “Agu obeys and will do so.”

Lian Yu put the flute back in his robes and said indifferently: “It’s cold. Don’t play qin here anymore. Go back to sleep.”

Shuangcheng shook her head and said softly: “Shuangcheng isn’t tired. Your Majesty should return first—there’s still morning court tomorrow.”

Lian Yu said nothing more, instructed the maids to take good care of her, lifted his robes and turned back.

Watching his retreating figure, Shuangcheng suddenly raised her voice slightly: “Why did you bring me in?”

Lian Yu turned slightly but didn’t turn around. Shuangcheng saw his eyes darken with slight sternness. She wanted to say something, bit her teeth, but ultimately said nothing. Some things, once spoken, would…

She quickly smiled and said softly: “Your Majesty, could you accompany me for one more piece?”

Lian Yu slowly turned around and took out the jade flute from his robes.

One piece after another—she played, he accompanied, or he played, she accompanied. Among the attendants, some knew music like Little Chu, others didn’t like Qinglong and Baihu, but none felt it wasn’t good—all found it intoxicating.

Shuangcheng smiled. Across the distance, Lian Yu’s gaze also showed depth. After an unknown time, Shuangcheng played slower and slower, finally slowly falling asleep on the qin strings.

Lian Yu pressed the flute holes, stopping the remaining sound.

Little Chu knew that previously, the pieces His Majesty played all had hypnotic effects—a prescription from imperial physicians years ago when he couldn’t sleep. Seeing Gu Shuangcheng was extremely tired but still wouldn’t sleep, His Majesty silently used this method.

Lian Yu removed the cloak from his shoulders, handed it to Baihu, and instructed: “Hu’er, go personally and send Miss Gu back to her bedchamber.”

Baihu knew the maids lacked strength—if several helped her, they’d certainly wake Gu Shuangcheng. She quickly agreed, stepped forward to cover Gu Shuangcheng with Lian Yu’s cloak, lifted Shuangcheng, and led the maids out from the other side of the pavilion.

Little Chu smiled and said quietly: “Master’s care for Miss Gu—Miss Gu will surely understand someday.”

Lian Yu said nothing, his eyes showing slight bloodshot—dawn was already breaking.

Qinglong and the others also suddenly realized Lian Yu had stood here half the night, and morning court time was approaching again. These past nights, he had been busy until nearly dawn before getting slight rest.

Watching that tall dark blue figure still proceeding orderly toward the Golden Throne Hall with everyone, a white-robed woman slowly emerged from behind artificial rocks.

Maid Xiang’er said with distress: “Master is truly foolish for not going out. Originally going to His Majesty’s bedchamber to deliver soup, who knew we’d encounter them on the way and also stood here half the night.”

The woman shaking her head with a smile was Wei Wuyan.

She said softly: “Going out might not have been appropriate—he might not have liked it. Besides, with his martial arts and hearing, plus Qinglong, Eunuch Chu and others being formidable, he knew we came but just didn’t point it out. Gu Shuangcheng is trapped in the palace and has been tired these days. He wanted to let her sleep well.”