Zeng Youliang was extremely surprised.

Zhu Yushen wasn’t supposed to depart on campaign until dawn—why had he come to the Zeng residence at this time?

However, before he had time to think carefully, Zhu Yushen’s figure had already appeared outside the corridor.

A soldier accompanying him stepped forward: “Lord Zeng, His Highness heard that the Thirteenth Prince went missing. Seeing the Feathered Forest Guards searching and patrolling near your honored residence, he came specially to ask if there’s anywhere he can help.” He also bowed to the other side. “Lord Liu and Lord Su are also here.”

Zeng Youliang said: “Yes, tonight the Thirteenth Prince was abducted by thieves. An hour ago he appeared near this humble one’s residence. I was just dispatching people to search within the manor when I unexpectedly encountered Lord Liu and Lord Su. I was planning to ask the two lords about it.”

Zhu Yushen looked at him and said coolly: “Does Lord Zeng mean to interrogate Lord Liu and Lord Su?”

“Your Highness Fourth Prince misunderstands.” Zeng Youliang said.

He knew in his heart that killing Liu Chaoming and Su Jin tonight was no longer possible. Zhu Yushen was different from other princes—the ten thousand-plus soldiers about to depart on campaign outside West Xianchi Gate all obeyed his commands. Confronting him at this moment would truly be unwise.

“Investigating and trying cases is the responsibility of the Three Judicial Offices. Since officials from both the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice are at this humble one’s residence, presumably there is an important case to handle. If the two lords are unwilling to disclose it, I simply won’t ask further.” Zeng Youliang continued, glancing at Wu Yusheng. Together with him, he cupped his hands and bowed to Su Jin and Liu Chaoming. “The night is dark. My manor’s servants didn’t see Lord Liu and Lord Su’s faces clearly. Presumably there were many offenses. I hope the two lords won’t take offense.”

Su Jin and Liu Chaoming returned the bow impassively: “Lord Zeng is too kind.”

The two followed Zhu Yushen out of the Zeng residence. Attendants immediately led horses over beside the alley.

Zhu Yushen turned back to Su and Liu: “This prince still has important matters at the Ministry of War. I’ll go ahead first.”

Liu Chaoming nodded once. Together with Su Jin, they performed a grand salute to him: “Tonight we must thank Your Highness greatly.”

Zhu Yushen said: “You two lords are too kind. It’s actually embarrassing to say—this prince had just heard that my wife had returned to the capital. I happened to encounter this matter on my way rushing to the palace.” Having said this, he spoke no more, mounted his horse, and rode off with a crack of the whip.

After Zhu Yushen left, the previously clamorous west alley gradually quieted down.

This made sense—since the Feathered Forest Guards couldn’t move against the two of them, they would naturally divert their forces to the main south gate to pursue and intercept Zhu Nanxian who was trying to detour from the west city back to Nanchang.

Su Jin walked two steps when her foot suddenly stumbled. Her whole body swayed and she nearly couldn’t stand steady.

Earlier, her nerves had been too taut to notice, but now that they had left the Zeng residence, she discovered her injured arm was unbearably sore and numb.

Liu Chaoming turned back and asked: “What’s wrong with you?”

Su Jin simply attributed this momentary discomfort to excessive blood loss. She shook her head: “Nothing.”

The two walked all the way to outside Fengtian Gate.

The night was deep and heavy with dew. Though it was a rainless night, the bluestone path still glistened with moisture.

Su Jin looked at Liu Chaoming who walked half a step ahead, offset from her.

Tonight’s events flashed before her eyes. She knew that if Liu Chaoming hadn’t arrived in time, at this very moment she would probably have become a ghost beneath the Feathered Forest Guards’ blades.

Her earlier confusion arose again in her heart. Su Jin thought for a moment and asked: “Why did Your Lordship come tonight?”

Liu Chaoming’s steps paused. He didn’t turn back.

The corridor wasn’t empty. The chaos in the palace had just subsided, and palace servants carrying lamps still hurried past in all directions. However, upon seeing the two of them, they bowed and moved aside. The lamps that flickered in and out were like pairs of eyes in the night.

“I don’t know.” After a moment, Liu Chaoming said.

Actually, he had just instinctively gone to find her, not even realizing he had fallen into danger until after the fact.

Su Jin was stunned.

The cold moon shone like radiance, stretching the two shallow shadows on the ground. Walking the same road but different paths, they seemed especially lonely.

Su Jin asked again: “Your Lordship, back then… what exactly did you promise the old Imperial Censor?”

—Su Shiyu’s life has been too difficult, too difficult.

—Find her. With your power, protect her for life.

Liu Chaoming raised his eyes to look at the moon in the sky.

Actually, before finding her in that deep alley, all he could see before his eyes was the image of her that day crouching under the old tree at the Censorate, raising the back of her hand to silently wipe away tears again and again.

During these days, this image of her had appeared several times when he was in a daze—like meticulous brush painting vividly rendered, the ink deeply branded. Even the empty, hollow feeling in his heart with wind leaking through was as clear as yesterday.

Liu Chaoming said coolly: “That was my promise. It has nothing to do with you.”

Su Jin nodded: “Very well. Since Your Lordship is unwilling to say, Shiyu won’t ask further.”

Then she raised her eyes. Following Liu Chaoming’s gaze, she also looked at the bright moon in the sky and suddenly called out: “Liu Yun.”

Liu Chaoming’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

“Today I was rescued at the risk of your life. I’ve noted it.” She turned around and solemnly bowed to him, smiling faintly. “But I can only note it for now. Repaying this debt will have to wait for later.”

Liu Chaoming knew why it had to wait for later.

The times were too chaotic, their positions different. Gratitude and grievances were all waiting for the dust to settle.

The moonlight flowed in her eyes. The fire in her eyes reminded him of how she looked when they first met.

Late spring rain falling heavily. Through the rain curtain, he clearly hadn’t seen her face, yet he remembered the blazing fire in her eyes was just as intense as now.

Liu Chaoming said nothing, quietly hummed in acknowledgment, and lifted his steps to walk toward the Censorate.

The Ministry of Justice offices and the Censorate were in the same direction. Su Jin was about to follow when the soreness and numbness from her arm wound spread throughout her entire body.

Only then did she realize that the dagger the old servant from the Zeng residence had used to wound her had probably been coated with some poison. Otherwise, for a wound that was neither deep nor shallow, no matter how much blood loss, how could her entire body be unable to muster even a little strength?

Walking several steps felt like treading on clouds. For a moment she actually couldn’t stand steadily. Raising her eyes to look, she saw even Liu Chaoming’s back gradually blurring.

Not far away, palace maids and servants were still passing by carrying lamps.

Su Jin knew she couldn’t collapse here. If someone discovered her and removed her clothing to examine her wounds, then she would truly have only a dead end.

The scenery before her eyes gradually darkened. She tried hard to catch up two steps. Before fainting, she called Liu Chaoming’s name once more.

Liu Chaoming’s thoughts were heavy. For a moment he didn’t notice the anomaly behind him. Only when he heard “Liu Yun” did he turn back around.

Su Jin, as if her spine had been pulled out, was falling forward.

Liu Chaoming was stunned. He stepped forward two paces, reached out to catch her, and lowered his body to receive her.

Only then did he realize what had happened. His whole person suddenly froze completely.

Her slender body lay powerlessly in his arms. A light scent mixed with a hint of medicinal herbs rushed to his nostrils.

His chin rested against Su Jin’s hair, but he didn’t dare lower his eyes to look at her.

For an instant, Liu Chaoming couldn’t even hear his own heartbeat. The entire world seemed to contain only the few inches of moonlight before his eyes and this person in his arms.

And these few inches of moonlight seemed about to unfold before him a plain-colored mortal world.

For quite a while, only then did a hesitant voice come from beside him: “Lord Liu?”

It turned out to be a palace servant on night duty at Fengtian Hall who had rushed over. He knelt on the ground and bowed to him, asking: “Does Your Lordship need this lowly one to carry Lord Su to the Imperial Medical Academy?”

The person in his arms breathed steadily—presumably the poison she had been given wasn’t fatal.

After a silent half-moment, Liu Chaoming quietly replied: “No need.” He gathered Su Jin into a horizontal carry and instructed the palace servant: “You go to the Imperial Medical Academy. Summon Chief Physician Fang Xu to come to the Censorate for consultation.”