Chapter 73 Chapter 73 For You, I'm Willing...

A thunderclap struck the ground, leaving all the officials dizzy.

The courtiers in Xuanzheng Hall all looked toward the girl. Some standing farther out, forgetting where they were, stood on tiptoe to peer. Many recognized the girl as the one who had recently left the Zhang residence. Aside from the sword she had unsheathed, everything about her was identical to what they had just seen.

"If I'm not mistaken, it seems that Qin - the girl from the Bian family took Cheng Jin to capture her."

"It's her, but she no longer has the murderous aura."

"All 127 members of the Bian family were killed. I remember the name of the young girl from the Bian family was also on the list..."

"Didn't you hear what His Highness said? The personal maid of Madam Bian escaped. I think she must have escaped with the young girl from the Bian family."

"Is she really the young girl from the Bian family? Could it be someone pretending to be her?"

"It can't be fake. I just thought I was seeing things. This girl is so much like Madam Bian. Their eyes and eyebrows are exactly the same."

The court officials nearby looked at him when they heard this. They all remembered that many officials in the court had served in Suzhou. Among them, some officials had seen the Bian family during its heyday, and therefore naturally had seen Madam Bian.

"The Xu family has committed countless evil deeds. It seems a change is coming."

The Xu family has become the largest merchant in the Li Dynasty, and they must have the support of court officials. If the Xu family is uprooted, those behind them will not be able to escape either. Not to mention the others, even the officials who once served as the prefect of Jingzhou would likely be stripped bare.

Biezhi, standing in the center of the hall, blinked her almond-shaped eyes. On the way here, Cheng Jin had told her that Fu Huaiqing would publicly announce that she was not the second daughter of the Qin family, but the youngest daughter of the Bian family, and he had also asked her opinion on whether she agreed with him publicly declaring her to be his beloved.

She knew all this, but hearing his words in person still froze her.

A slender figure sat on the throne on the steps, looking down at the girl below, who looked up at him from a distance. His bright almond-shaped eyes were filled with surprise and confusion, and after a moment's pause, a faint, sly smile crossed his face.

The veins on Fu Huaiqing's palm, resting on the throne, faded as a smile played across her bright eyes, the corners of her mouth rising slightly.

His gaze swept over the courtiers below him. "Last night, the young lady from the Bian family was ordered to investigate the Zhang residence. She happened to run into someone from the Xu family, and a past incident unfolded."

"Yesterday, I was ordered to the Zhang residence and heard Zhang Yan demand that Xu Wenche, the son of the Xu family, return to Jingzhou with a letter. He demanded that the Xu family, at all costs, escort him from the Li Dynasty and bring him safely to the capital of Xilan."

The young woman's voice, steady and unhurried, lingered.

Her resounding words made the courtiers hold their breath, their brows furrowed as they listened.

"Zhang Yan mentioned the extermination of the Bian family nineteen years ago."

"The extermination of the Bian family is closely linked to the Xu family."

Suddenly, an uproar erupted in Xuanzheng Hall.

Biezhi pursed her lips slightly, took a breath and continued, "Zhang Yan mentioned that he sent assassins to assassinate me because he was ordered by his 'master' to kill the Bian family in his early years. Now I am still alive. If their master knew about it, they would all be buried with the Bian family." "

After I captured the two men last night, I saw the letter that Zhang Yan gave to Xu Wenche." She took out the yellowed letter from her sleeve and handed it to Jiang Yue who came forward at the right time. She raised her eyes across the long and solemn stairs to the figure on the high ground and said, "This letter is what my parents wanted to report nineteen years ago."

Biezhi knew every word of the letter by heart.

She took a deep breath and recited the contents of the letter word for word: "Based on the Bian family's century-long reputation in Suzhou, I accuse the Xu family of Jingzhou of treason and collusion. They secretly brought the enemy general Helan Daisong into our country to investigate our military situation."

"I have secretly investigated and found that the Xu family is the last link in this matter. Helan Daisong still has another helper in our court, named Zhang Yan, currently the Tongpan of Wuzhou. The head of the Xu family and Zhang Yan are in cahoots, working together to betray our court and put our soldiers in a difficult position!"

"I am a humble person with little influence, but I know that if it weren't for the soldiers who swore to defend the border with their lives, who knows what the situation would be like. I implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the matter of Wuzhou Tongpan Zhang Yan and Jingzhou merchant Xu's patriarch collaborating with the enemy and leaking military secrets. This will comfort the hearts of the soldiers of the Li Dynasty and restore the peace of the Li Dynasty." The

resounding words echoed in the Xuanzheng Hall. Even after the girl finished speaking, they did not fade away. The court officials who had seen and heard of many bizarre deeds were breathing heavily. The generals who went into battle to kill the enemy were even more furious. The fire in their eyes almost overflowed, and they wished they could skin Zhang Yan and the patriarch of the Xu family alive.

The official standing at the head of the military commanders stepped forward, brushing aside his robe and kneeling, he clasped his hands and made a plea: "Your Highness, I implore Your Highness, Prince Su, to thoroughly investigate the case of Zhang Yan and the Xu family's collusion

and treason. This will restore order to the Li Dynasty and comfort the hearts of its soldiers!" Following closely behind were the military commanders who had once garrisoned the Li Dynasty's borders. One after another, they brushed aside their robes and knelt. "Your Highness, I implore Your Highness, to thoroughly investigate the case of Zhang Yan and the Xu family's collusion and treason!"

Powerful voices echoed through the vast Xuanzheng Hall.

Fu Huaiqing lowered his eyelids and glanced around. The court was utterly silent, as if everyone was holding back a rage, unsure where to vent it.

He instructed the cabinet ministers, led by Lin Yiqing and Su Ci, to lead the charge, along with the Yingyuan Hall of the Dali Temple, an independent body from the Six Ministries. They would thoroughly investigate the case of Zhang Yan and the Xu family's collusion and treason, to comfort the hearts of the hundreds of people in the Bian family who had lost their lives.

Biezhi's eyes were slightly red, and she glanced sideways at the solemn-looking military generals and took a deep breath.

Her parents and hundreds of people from the Bian family have been sleeping in the ground for nearly twenty years.

Today's scene might be a scene they had imagined before.

Biezhi followed Jiang Yue out of the Xuanzheng Hall.

Before she could stop, Fu Shuning, who had listened to the whole process outside the hall, rushed over with red eyes, slightly opened and closed his mouth, and couldn't find his own voice for a long time.

Fu Shuning, who didn't know how to comfort people, pouted and frowned like a little old lady.

After thinking for a long time, he felt that the books in his palace should make her feel better. Fu Shuning took her hand and said, "Let's go, while my brother hasn't left the court yet, I'll take my sister to see something good."

Biezhi was dazed and was dragged away stumblingly.

Fu Shuning took her back to her palace, dismissed all the maids serving in the hall, and reminded her to close the door after the maid left. She crouched down and slipped under the bed. A moment later, she emerged with a box in her arms.

Without even bothering to brush off the ashes on her skirt, she solemnly held the box out and said, "These are all the few rare books I have left. I'm giving them all to you, sister."

As soon as she heard the word "rare book," Biezhi knew what the box contained.

The last rare book that Fu Huaiqing had confiscated was currently placed in the center of the bookshelf in the study. She had tried to sneak into the study by climbing over the wall, but she hadn't been able to steal the book back, and she had been caught several times.

Seeing that she didn't take it, Fu Shuning stuffed the box into her arms and said, "When you are in a bad mood, just look at something you like." After thinking for a while, he remembered that she seemed to have higher requirements for men's appearance, and said, "Well, I'll ask them to find some picture albums of men's appearance and send them to your sister another day."

Biezhi: "..."

She didn't really like inanimate objects.

Fu Shuning seemed to read her thoughts. "Many of the palace guards are good-looking, and there are also many young men from aristocratic families in the capital who are also handsome. There is still a lot of time to go, so we can take a look at them one by one."

The girl's face was radiant with joy, and Biezhi couldn't help but laugh. "Aren't you afraid

that he will cause you trouble?" "Sister won't stand by and watch someone die, right?" Fu Shuning blinked.

Biezhi lowered her eyes to glance at the box in her arms and nodded. "We share happiness and difficulties."

We don't know when difficulties will come, but happiness can be enjoyed now.

There were more than thirty books in the box, each one exquisite and different.

On the way back to Prince Su's Mansion in the carriage, Biezhi flipped through one of the books in amazement, her mouth widening as she read. The more she read, the more incredible it seemed to her. Each page had a different place to write, and each had its own emphasis.

The carriage pulled up to the gates of Prince Su's mansion. She put away her books, clutched the box, and leaned out. Her eyes met Fang Tingzhi and Qin Wan, who were anxiously waiting at the gate, and a smile curved.

She leaped from the carriage and trotted towards them.

Fang Tingzhi and Qin Wan, who had rushed to Prince Su's mansion after hearing the news and had been waiting for nearly half an hour, lifted their skirts to meet her. Seeing the girl rushing towards her, clutching the box in her arms, looking quite threatening,

Fang Tingzhi silently stopped and turned aside. Biezhi, who rushed over, missed. Before she could question Fang Tingzhi, she saw her palm pressed firmly against her forehead.

Fang Tingzhi glanced at the box in her arms with disdain. "Stay away from me."

"I won't!" Biezhi, always stronger than her, rushed forward without hesitation, throwing herself into her arms through the box.

Fang Tingzhi hissed in pain.

Although she said she disliked him, she actually hugged Biezhi through the box when Biezhi rushed over.

Biezhi rubbed his chin against her shoulder, glanced at Qin Wan with a smile on her lips, and with difficulty pulled out his arm that was wrapped around Fang Tingzhi, and waved slightly at her.

Qin Wan's smile grew even brighter when she saw this.

When Fu Huaiqing rode back to the Su Palace, he saw the backs of the three people walking towards Qinghe Courtyard. He turned around to look at the courtiers following behind him and frowned.

As soon as he stepped over the threshold of the Su Palace, he caught a glimpse of Ling Feng and others who had hurried over after hearing the news. It seemed that they were all here for Biezhi. From this, he fell into deep thought.

They were all so tactless.

The courtiers who had followed the Su Prince paused, wondering why they had stopped. They exchanged a moment's bewildered glances, vaguely realizing they had arrived at an inopportune moment. If His Highness had intended to discuss Zhang Yan and the Xu family's treasonous collusion, why would he have rushed back to the Su Palace immediately after dismissing the court? However, upon seeing the young woman leave with the others, and with others still waiting to find her, they felt reassured. They weren't

the only ones who were clueless.

Thus, they followed Fu Huaiqing back to the study to discuss matters with confidence.

Inside Qinghe Courtyard,

Biezhi, clutching the box tightly, was surrounded.

Ling Feng stood before her, frowning, directing Fang Tingzhi to tap her here and there, checking her for any discomfort.

"I'm really not hurt," Biezhi said, noticing his disbelief. She glanced at Mingzhe, who had arrived with his master. "Senior Brother was there last night, too. They didn't hurt me at all."

Ling Feng, taking a moment from his busy schedule, glanced at Mingzhe.

Mingzhe immediately raised his hands. "I helped my junior sister deal with someone last night and then left. I don't know what happened next."

Biezhi, feeling betrayed, glared at him. The glare retreated silently when she caught a glimpse of her master's stern expression. She muttered, "If I were really injured, how would I have the strength to rush to the palace?" "

Oh." Lingfeng tapped her forehead with his fingertips. "You are so strong. Do you think I don't know that you were able to run around with injuries all over your body last year—"

"Master." Biezhi interrupted her master seriously. She glanced at the gate of Qinghe Courtyard with a wide eyed look. When she didn't see the figure, she breathed a sigh of relief. "If he hears and causes trouble for me, Master will be fully responsible."

Lingfeng looked at her with disappointment. "If he causes trouble for you, won't you fight back?"

Biezhi: "..."

How should she describe it?

This trouble is not that trouble.

Master, who has been alone for many years, will not understand.

But after all, understanding his worries and concerns, Biezhi still let Fang Tingzhi knock here and hammer there.

Ling Feng was relieved after making sure that there were no scars on her body.

He had other things to attend to, so after giving Biezhi a few words of advice, he hurried away with Mingzhe.

After being busy for a while, Fang Tingzhi finally got a break. She sat cross-legged on the stone bench opposite Biezhi, leaning her elbows on the table and looking her up and down, then glanced at Qin Wan who was sipping tea in silence.

Receiving her friend's puzzled eyes, Biezhi poured a cup of tea into her hands, and then found her favorite jujube paste osmanthus cake and stuffed it into her mouth, blocking her mouth.

Fang Tingzhi clicked her tongue while chewing the jujube paste cake. She was really curious.

The legend of childhood sweethearts, of Prince Su's wrathful devotion to a beloved, had been circulating among the people for years. Recently, rumors began to spread that Prince Su seemed to have a crush on a woman, severely shattering the four-year-old narrative. The people, who had been confident that Prince Su and the Qin family would eventually marry, were stunned.

Then, someone belatedly realized that both the palace steward and the Qin family had denied the rumors, simply because everyone wanted to see their own version of events.

Someone else began to review the number of times Prince Su and Qin Wan had appeared together over the past three years. Not only were they few and far between, but others were always present, completely contradicting the rumored situation. During this discussion, someone remarked that before Qin Wan became a tutor at the Imperial College, she didn't seem to have heard anyone mention her acquaintance with Prince Su, let alone the notion of childhood sweethearts.

"The relationship between Your Highness and me is more of a mutually beneficial, win-win partnership."

Qin Wan, seemingly sensing Fang Tingzhi's curiosity, put down her teacup from the sip she was taking and spoke slowly, "It's just that most people don't like such boring stories; they prefer to delve into the underlying friendship."

Bie Zhi, staring at Fang Tingzhi, was stunned for a moment. She glanced sideways at Qin Wan, whose clear eyes flashed with a faint smile. She recalled the words Qin Wan and the two girls from the Su and Zhu families had spoken at the Qin family's announcement banquet; they were clearly troubled by the rumors.

The day Qin Wan informed Bie Zhi that she had no relationship with Prince Su by marriage, she hadn't imagined that Bie Zhi would be involved. She simply wanted to tell her, her younger sister, that their relationship was far from what the outside world claimed. She hadn't imagined...

her younger sister wasn't her biological sister, that she and Prince Su were indeed not related by marriage, but she was.

"At the risk of being disrespectful, Your Highness and I are more like like-minded partners."

"Partners?"

Qin Wan's eyes traced over the vibrant young woman, and she nodded slightly. "Ever since I was young, I've wanted to avoid being confined to a small corner of the world. As my brother gradually ascended to the imperial court, I gradually realized that I wanted more than just freedom. I wanted to make my own mark."

However, she never found the right opportunity.

Until five years ago, when Fu Huaiqing came to power.

"Father has always been a minister at the Prince Su's side, and my brother has a close relationship with him. No matter how outrageous my words may be, I believe he will spare me for the sake of Father and brother."

One afternoon four years ago, Qin Wan, who had accompanied her father to the Prince Su's mansion to pay homage, approached Fu Huaiqing.

Qin Wan had prepared herself for death, but she hadn't expected everything to go so smoothly. "Before I even opened my mouth, he had already revealed my purpose."

To this day, she still feels a bit dazed when she mentions this incident.

"Your Highness and I share a common view," Qin Wan smiled. "Ability doesn't matter whether you're male or female."

- 'In the past, women held regency because men were incompetent. If they had the ability, they could have overthrown the regime.'

- 'There have been many outstanding women throughout history. They simply lacked a stepping stone, so every step was difficult and arduous. Where there's strength, there's always suppression, which leads to instability.'

- 'The rise and fall of a dynasty is never due to women, but rather to a lack of capable men.' "

At the time, I used Xianyun Tower as an example." Qin Wan had just guessed that the two girls before her were from Xianyun Tower and smiled. "I told him that Xianyun Tower has nearly a hundred people, and I heard that women account for nearly half of them. Xianyun Tower never distinguishes between men and women, and has always promoted the most capable. I don't see Xianyun Tower declining because of the presence of women."

Upon hearing this, Biezhi and Fang Tingzhi looked at each other.

Seeing that she was silent for a long time, Biezhi asked, "What happened next?"

Qin Wan took a sip of tea to moisten her throat. "Prince Su gave me two paths."

One was that Fu Huaiqing would use her as the core to promote reform and recommend her to take the imperial examination as a woman. The other was that, based on her current talent, he would send her to the Imperial Academy as a teacher.

Biezhi frowned, knowing that no matter which path Qin Wan chose, her path would not be easy.

And Qin Wan chose the second path.

"It's not that I'm afraid of hardship and retreating, but rather, according to the upbringing of wealthy families, women are still limited to certain boundaries. Even those who can afford to send their daughters to school do so, let alone those from less privileged backgrounds." Qin Wan paused, then continued, "Change often leads to new turmoil. A subtle and subtle approach was the best option for a court that had just experienced a period of turmoil."

Prince Su had granted her a certain amount of power, and in return, she had to maintain his authority.

The Imperial College had its first female tutor, and thus its first female student, and only then would it become commonplace.

"Later, I thought, perhaps it's because no one had heard of His Highness Prince Su's particular affections before, and everyone is curious about the secrets of the imperial court, which is why the rumors are so rampant." The more Qin Wan thought about it, the more she felt a headache. "Two years ago, even students in the Imperial College who were on good terms with me would privately inquire about this matter."

Fortunately, the real culprit had finally appeared, and she was free from these rumors.

Recently, when Qin Wan heard that people were refuting the rumors, she felt proud when she walked on the street, "If you had shown up two or three years later, who knows what they would have spread." At this point, she couldn't help but lower her voice and said, "In the past year, rumors have been spreading that His Royal Highness Su Wang is inhumane."

Bie Zhi: "..."

Yes, it has reached her ears.

He caught her and asked her over and over again what inhumane meant.

Who the hell spread the rumors? If she was caught, she would definitely have a good talk with him!

The Qinghe Courtyard was filled with conversations, and the slanting sunlight could not stop the vitality of

the study room of Su Wang Mansion.

The court officials who received the order left the study room.

Fu Huaiqing put down his pen, closed the folder, and glanced out the window at the sky. It was already approaching nightfall. He asked again, "Is anyone else at Qinghe Courtyard?"

"Both girls are still here," Jiang Yue answered for the third time that day. He offered a fresh cup of tea and added, "The princess seems to be on her way."

Fu Huaiqing frowned slightly.

"Send her back to the palace." He stood up and left the study.

Before Fu Huaiqing even reached Qinghe Courtyard, he heard a clear, rippling laughter through the high walls, almost as clear as the sound of a spring. He seemed to see the dimples that appeared and disappeared as the girl's laughter played.

The three people in the courtyard were chatting animatedly. Fang Tingzhi, facing the archway of Qinghe Courtyard, caught a glimpse of a figure suddenly appearing outside. The corner of her raised mouth softened slightly, and she glanced at the sky, which had almost darkened. She poked Biezhi, who was still recounting a story about a strikingly handsome man she had met while leaving the capital a few days ago, and said to Qin Wan, "We seem to have been a little too inconsiderate."

Qin Wan, entranced, hummed a puzzled "hmm." Following her gaze, she turned and saw His Royal Highness Prince Su, his eyes fixed on Biezhi. The two of them exchanged glances and rose simultaneously. "It's getting late, we'll be leaving first."

Before she could finish her words, they both ran at a furious pace, deliberately taking a detour to avoid Fu Huaiqing's path.

Biezhi: "..."

She withdrew her gaze, looking back at the figure on the cobblestone path.

In the dark night, the man's dark face seemed to be filled with accusations, mixed with a little look of looking at prey. Bie Zhi swallowed her saliva and quietly stood up.

Fu Huaiqing took a step forward, and she took half a step back.

When there was no way to retreat, Bie Zhi turned around and ran.

Before she had run three or four steps, a quick breath passed by behind her, and the next moment a big hand suddenly covered her waist. The man's big hand clamped the girl's slender and well-defined waist and pulled it back.

The moment her back hit the man's body, a clear and crisp breath came over her.

Fu Huaiqing moved his big hand slightly, turned her around to face him, with a helpless look on his face: "Why are you running? Don't you want to see me?"

"No." Biezhi's almond eyes were clear, and she blinked and looked up at him. She didn't know why her first reaction was to run, "My intuition tells me that I should run."

Fortunately, after she came back, she asked Hua Chao to find a hidden place to hide the box. If Fu Huaiqing caught her...

She raised her drooping hands slightly, and imitated him by wrapping her arms around his waist, chuckling twice, "Are you done over there?" Then, without waiting for his answer, she immediately turned the tables and said, "I saw that there was always someone in the study, so I didn't disturb you."

Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing pinched her nose, "Are you sure?"

His movements were very light, and Biezhi slapped his hand away with a "pop", and nodded with a sense of righteousness: "I counted them for you, twenty-three." She saw them all, from the cabinet to the six ministries, in between there were also the Dali Temple and Yingyuan Hall. There was only an hour or so in between when no one came to look for him.

As luck would have it, they were chatting animatedly at that very hour.

Cheng Jin, who had come to inquire, arrived with high hopes, but left disappointed.

A flicker of guilt occasionally crossed his confident expression. Fu Huaiqing's thin lips lifted slightly as he said, "They're here today because of Zhang Yan's matter."

Hearing the name, Bie Zhi pursed her lips slightly. "Well?"

"The evidence is solid, it just takes some time to put it together." Fu Huaiqing took her hand and walked slowly inside. "The day the evidence is completed will be the day of execution."

Bie Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.

Nineteen years.

Nineteen years had passed.

Nineteen years earlier, he should have met his end at the hands of a ruthless sword.

Fu Huaiqing paused, glancing sideways at the girl with starry almond eyes. "Why didn't you kill him last night?"

With her skills,

she could easily have dealt with Zhang Yan. Had she done so earlier, she would have slashed his throat with a single blow.

"I just felt he shouldn't have died so easily," Biezhi said truthfully. And... she raised her chin slightly, meeting the man's half-smile .

He understood everything, but simply wanted to speak it out.

"And, I'm worried that something so simple might be causing you so much trouble—"

Before she could finish her words, Biezhi fell into the man's arms.

Fu Huaiqing's large hand wrapped around the girl's waist, holding her tightly, as if to sink into his bones. His clear, inky eyes shone with indescribable emotion.

She hadn't spoken of her love, but every action she took reflected her heart.

In the past, she acted without restraint.

She didn't even care about herself, let alone other people.

However, now she had concerns.

It was because of these concerns that she would think about whether her decision was correct and whether it would bring him trouble.

Fu Huaiqing's voice was slightly hoarse, "From now on, do as you wish. No matter how difficult the matter is, I am willing to do it for you."

In an instant, Biezhi's heart trembled.

She opened her eyes, pursed her lips, and nodded.

In fact, she did not go against her own wishes.

Her emotions were ups and downs for almost the whole day. Biezhi thought she would fall asleep soon, but after turning off the lights, her eyes were bright, and her mind was full of excitement that was rare in normal times. She was not sleepy at all

. She turned over and looked at the man lying outside the couch, feeling a little curious.

Fu Huaiqing reached out and grabbed the tossing Biezhi, drawing her into his arms. He pulled the quilt over her, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Go to sleep."

"I can't." Biezhi truly wasn't feeling sleepy at all. The more she thought about the day's events, the more excited she became. The thought of hearing about Zhang Yan's fate soon intensified her anticipation for that day. She looked up at his handsome face, his eyes slightly closed. She rolled over, propping herself up on the bed to admire him, raising her hand to play with his thick, lush eyelashes.

As she played with him, she felt something was amiss.

According to the books and stories she'd read, men and women would express their feelings to each other after a major incident, engaging in such unabashed displays of affection at night. Now, lying beside him, he could still hold back. She frowned, squinting at Fu Huaiqing, who had his eyes closed and his lips pursed. She suddenly pushed him away and sat up.

"You're really not going to not drink the tonic soup, are you?"

Hiss...

what a waste.

Fu Huaiqing: "..."

Thinking of how she hadn't rested since yesterday, and how he had been holding back for so long with his eyes closed, he laughed angrily. In the bright moonlight, he watched the girl's expression change from surprise to regret and even a hint of sadness. Fu Huaiqing pulled her hand and gritted his teeth slightly, "Who can't do it?"

The voice, which was full of gritted teeth, turned into anger when he heard it. Biezhi clicked her tongue and patted his shoulder soothingly, "It doesn't matter if you can't do it. At least the prescription prescribed by the imperial physician will make you able to do it. We can still be saved."

Fu Huaiqing: "..."

The veins in his forehead were throbbing wildly. The soothing words chirped in his ears. The moment he pulled her hand over and covered it with the quilt, there was complete silence.

The soft silk quilt couldn't block the slightest rise and fall. Feeling the curve under his palm, Biezhi vaguely realized what it was. He subconsciously lowered his eyes to look, but only saw the back of her hand. He looked up in shock at the dark face of Fu Huaiqing.

She was speaking wildly and unrestrainedly, and suddenly she thought of what happened many days ago.

Both her legs were rubbed raw by him.

When she first learned to ride a horse, her legs were not rubbed.

Biezhi swallowed, chuckled twice, and pretended to pull back her hand.

After trying for a long time, she didn't twitch.

She secretly raised her eyes and glanced at the man with green light in his deep pupils. He stared at his prey like a wolf king who had been hungry for a long time. Biezhi, who was a giant in words and a dwarf in actions, smiled slightly ingratiatingly and leaned back: "It's okay, it's okay."

Fu Huaiqing pulled the corners of his mouth twice, "How did you tell Xiao Ming?"

"I didn't say it was you." Biezhi immediately raised his hand that was not captured and swore, and said seriously: "I told Lord Xiao that I was a friend, he didn't know him."

Fu Huaiqing remembered the look of Xiao Ming when he came to take her pulse in the afternoon and wanted to say something but hesitated. He almost asked him if the prescription was useful.

He took a deep breath. "That prescription—"

"I'll throw it away tomorrow," Biezhi said hurriedly. He didn't need her to say more; she could already sense he truly didn't need the prescription. "I'll definitely throw it away and never use it again."

As she spoke, she hesitated again.

They say men might be done for after a certain age, but this prescription might still be useful to him. Should he keep it? Just because he didn't need it now didn't mean he wouldn't need it later?

Hesitation was written all over Biezhi's face. Fu Huaiqing knew she was secretly complaining about him again, and the veins that had finally stopped throbbing began to throb again. Her

free wrist was also clamped, and before Biezhi could react, she was trapped between him and the couch.

The man's clear, crisp breath washed over her, completely stealing her breath, with no intention of stopping. She was forced to tilt her chin back, bearing the surge like a tide.

Biezhi's voice trembled slightly. "I've already admitted that you're capable. Is that not enough?"

"I'll have to try to know if you're capable or not." Fu Huaiqing's throat moved, and he looked up at her, half-smiled. "Otherwise, you'll always be suspected. You said yourself that men can't help but harbor even the slightest suspicion in this matter."

"No," Biezhi's voice softened from his kiss. "I swear."

Fu Huaiqing chuckled softly, his fingertips brushing aside the strands of hair that blocked her view. "There's no point in saying more. Facts speak louder than words."

He stared at the girl in his arms for a long time, the dim light in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by an indescribable sense of possession. His undisguised desire, almost overflowing, enveloped her tightly.

The man's palm slowly moved downwards, and Biezhi's body trembled uncontrollably. She bit her lower lip tightly, her long black hair scattered like a richly colored painting, occasionally sliding across the fair skin beneath her disheveled clothes.

Suddenly, Biezhi's waist loosened.

The laces of her inner garment lay quietly on the couch, and the white ribbons were crushed by her palms, leaving the clean and tidy ribbons full of wrinkles.

The palms with thin calluses moved around, and the moment they covered the delicate branches, her breathing stopped, and her whole body trembled. As the slender knuckles teased her, the light in her almond eyes was shattered.

The only palace lantern left in the curtain for night lighting flickered from time to time, and the candlelight embedded in it suddenly exploded. The crisp and slightly dull sound struck Biezhi's heart, and she was frightened and trembled all over. Her eyes suddenly widened, and her blurred pupils were absent-minded for a long time, and then they seemed to be washed by a clear spring, and regained their former clarity.

Fu Huaiqing raised his hand slightly.

There were spots of water on his palms, and the faint candlelight passed by, emitting a unique glow.

Biezhi, who prided herself on being as thick-skinned as a city wall, couldn't stand it. The crimson on her ears spread, and in a moment, her whole body was covered in red.

When Fu Huaiqing came in, there was a moment when Biezhi wanted to kick him away. It hurt

.

It hurt.

It really hurt.

It was like being run over by a wheel rut, and her whole body was screaming in pain.

It hurt more than an accidental injury on a normal day, and it was also accompanied by a burning heat, burning her so much that she couldn't help but shrink back, but she couldn't escape.

Fu Huaiqing quickly caught the sole of her foot that was already raised and ready to strike. He leaned over slightly, and opened his thin lips on her lips, "If you kick me away now, that prescription may really come in handy." He picked up the girl's black hair that was stuck to the sweat, "Are you planning to be a widow for the rest of your life?"

Bie Zhi: "..."

She silently retracted her foot.

But how can you easily take back the items that have fallen into the hands of others.

When she was pushed to the extreme, Bie Zhi bit the man's well-defined arm fiercely, but she couldn't help but feel sore and weak after biting it for a moment, and unconsciously let go.

In an instant, everything was shattered.

The shattered voice, the shattered sweat, and she who was about to be shattered.

"Let's continue the rest next time, okay?" Biezhi looked up eagerly at Fu Huaiqing, who exuded an air of unyielding determination, and discussed with him, "We - last time - didn't -"

The intermittent voice echoed in the bedroom, and he didn't finish a sentence for a long time.

Just like a frightened horse, it rushed around without any rules, seemingly without any rules, but actually rushing towards the vital points. The girl holding the reins was so frightened that she shrank her shoulders from time to time, but once she let go of the reins, the horse moved around even more uncontrollably, causing her body to rise and fall uncontrollably.

The moment it fell, the horse also raised its body and ran upwards, frightening Biezhi so much that she quickly wrapped her arms around the reins, but she couldn't steady herself no matter what.

Wherever the horse crashed into, it was smashed to pieces, and the ground was in a mess.

The dark night dissipated, and the sky was about to brighten.

Biezhi, who had lost her mind so many times, really wanted to kick Fu Huaiqing away this time. He was like an ox that rushed forward recklessly and knew how to work hard, without stopping for a moment.

Three and a half hours.

Four times. For the

first time, Biezhi hated herself for practicing too hard. There was no time more desperately than now that she wanted to faint. Unfortunately, it was not as she wished. She was very awake. She

was very awake every time.

Biezhi even felt that if it was not for the early morning court, Fu Huaiqing would really grab her and continue.

He went to the court in a refreshed state, and she was sore all over, with only one thought in her mind. She

must teach him a lesson next time.

When Biezhi was awakened by Hua Chao, she was still a little confused, and it took her a while to hear what she was saying.

"Miss, the cabinet presented all of Zhang Yan's crimes and evidence of the Xu family's treason to the prince during the morning court session. The verdict has already been made!"

Biezhi, suddenly coming to her senses, sat up and asked, "What was the verdict?"

"Drawn apart by five horses, and executed in ten days." Hua Chao's eyes were bloodshot with excitement. "The head of the Xu family has been sentenced to execution at the Meridian Gate, and the rest of the Xu family will be exiled to Heyin."

Upon hearing this, Biezhi blinked.

Hua Chao looked at the stunned girl, wondering what she was thinking, as if she was still in a trance. After an unknown amount of time, the girl's round, almond-shaped eyes gradually overflowed with tears. She pursed her lips slightly and exhaled deeply.

Biezhi threw back the covers and stood up.

After washing up, she looked at herself in the mirror and held her breath.

Those who had seen her mother said they bore a striking resemblance to her, but no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't pinpoint the specifics. Was it the eyebrows, the nose, or even the facial features? Biezhi

couldn't pinpoint them. She had never seen them.

"I'm going out for a bit," Biezhi cried out, a surge of urgency welling up in her heart. She suddenly stood up, reminding Hua Chao, "Tell him I'll be back soon."

Hua Chao, who was selecting a hairpin, was startled by her words. Before she could say anything, the girl disappeared.

Without alerting anyone else, Biezhi quietly returned to her residence in Xianyun Tower, gathering the bag she had packed in advance to avoid any last-minute missions. She then went to Baiding Tower, grabbed her horse, and rode it out of the city at a rapid pace, heading towards Suzhou.

Suzhou wasn't exactly close to the capital,

but it wasn't far either.

Even on horseback, it would take a full six days.

She traveled day and night, resting only for six hours.

Finally, on the morning of the fifth day, they saw the gate of Suzhou City.

Looking at the huge plaque on the gate, Biezhi's grip on the reins tightened a little, and a sense of homesickness suddenly rose in her heart. She had never been to Suzhou, and she had only heard of this place.

She led the horse and walked through the city of Suzhou.

The prosperous streets were no less prosperous than those in Beijing. The vendors hawking their wares were all smiling. Even the grandmothers carrying shoulder poles through the streets had smiles on their faces, calling the children following behind them to go to the shade.

Following the instructions, Biezhi found the stable, tied up the horse, and handed the silver to the yamen runner in charge.

She walked three or four steps inside, thought for a moment, and walked back. The yamen runner

who took the silver and lowered his head to write the registration suddenly felt dark. He raised his head and looked at the girl who had returned in confusion.

Biezhi: "Brother, do you know where the Bian family mansion is?"

The yamen runner was stunned when she heard her question. "Bian family?"

Biezhi nodded, and for a moment she didn't know how to describe it to him. Fortunately, the yamen runner quickly reacted and stood up to show her the way. "Young lady, follow this road to the end and go all the way west. If you have any questions along the way, you can ask at the taverns along the street. They all know where the Bian family mansion is."

"Thank you." Biezhi bowed.

"Young lady," the yamen runner called her, his mouth moving for a moment, his expression slightly serious. "I don't know if you believe in ghosts. If you do, you'd better not go near that place."

Biezhi stopped and frowned at him.

"The entire Bian family died tragically nineteen years ago, and the huge Bian family compound became an empty house. Before that, the Bian family compound was a well-known Feng Shui site. After that, many people wanted to buy the Bian family compound, but every time someone went to the state capital to inquire, they would have a strange dream that night of the mansion where blood flowed like a river. This happened four or five times, and everyone gave up the idea."

"Now many years have passed, and no one has cleaned it up, and now it is desolate." The yamen runner sighed, his eyes passing over the girl in front of him. He had never seen her in Suzhou before, and could not help but say a few more words: "Miss, you can go and see it, but if you want to do anything else, you should think twice."

After listening to the yamen runner's words, Biezhi was silent for a long time.

After a long while, she came to her senses and bowed to thank him again, then followed his instructions to the end of the street and headed west.

It was only a distance of six hundred feet, but she walked for most of the day. She

walked and stopped along the way, looking at the unfamiliar streets.

Looking at the dilapidated Bian family, whose doors were already decaying, Biezhi did not go in, but watched quietly. From time to time, three or four figures passing by glanced at her for a moment, followed her gaze to the Bian family mansion, and left in confusion.

She watched for about half an hour and went to the Suzhou Prefecture.

Before Biezhi got close, she saw three or two figures standing under the eaves of the prefecture, pacing back and forth, as if waiting for someone. The man in the lead was wearing an official robe and was the current Suzhou prefect.

He didn't know what the guard beside him said to him, but he raised his eyes and looked at him with a little suspicion in his eyes.

After a moment of silence, Biezhi's eyes flashed.

She stepped forward and bowed to the prefect, "Sir, could you please tell me where the Bian family tomb is located?"

The Suzhou prefect was stunned for a moment, then beckoned over the yamen runner who had been waiting for a while, saying, "Take this girl there."

Biezhi smiled at this.

She said nothing and followed the runner.

Seeing the men standing in front of hundreds of graves, Biezhi thanked the runner, trotted up behind him, and patted his shoulder. "How did you know I'd come here?"

The girl, her charming face as beautiful as a flower, leaned forward. Fu Huaiqing, who had heard her footsteps, lowered his gaze. Their eyes met for a moment, and his tightly pursed lips relaxed. "I guessed it."

Five days ago.

Before Fu Huaiqing could return home, he received a hurried message from Cheng Jin.

He sent Hua Chao a message. After hearing Hua Chao's account of Biezhi's life since she left home, and hearing that she had left a message for him, he guessed she must have come to Suzhou.

Traveling through the night, Fu Huaiqing arrived in Suzhou half an hour after Biezhi.

He guessed the purpose of her visit, and naturally guessed what she wanted to do.

Fu Huaiqing didn't catch up with her, but let her wander around Suzhou City on her own. If nothing had happened to the Bian family, she would have grown up here without worries.

"I just wanted to take a look," Biezhi said.

Her eyes swept over the overgrown earthen graves, the tombstones in front of the graves bearing the names of their owners.

Fu Huaiqing followed her gaze and said, "Hundreds of graves, all spontaneously built by the people of Suzhou City."

Biezhi bit her lip when

she heard this. Her eyes fixed on the tombstone in front of her. The two names engraved on it were the names she had seen in the petition. Between them, her name, Bian Zhaoyan, was placed.

Resting here were her parents and 'her'.

Next to her parents' graves seemed to be the land of her grandparents, but she couldn't recognize them. Aside from her parents' names, she had seen them before, she couldn't recognize the others and had no idea who was who.

Biezhi squatted down and pulled out the weeds one by one.

She started from the west, and Fu Huaiqing started from the east, tidying up meticulously.

The sunlight in the sky slowly illuminated the two figures, and the reflected light circles sparkled.

Cheng Jin, Jiang Yue and others who came with them looked at each other and signaled the secret guards following behind to go forward and deal with the other earthen graves.

As the sun set, Biezhi, who had been bending over for a long time, finally stood up straight.

Her eyes looked around, and hundreds of graves were as messy as before. The breath that was choking her heart suddenly dissipated. Biezhi turned her eyes and looked at Fu Huaiqing, whose forehead was glistening with sweat, and her eyes curved.

She stepped forward and took Fu Huaiqing's arm, the weight of her whole body pressed on him, looking at him aggrievedly: "You have to carry me."

Fu Huaiqing raised an eyebrow: "Huh?"

"It's all your fault." Biezhi was too embarrassed to say it in front of so many guards. She still had some dignity, and slightly glared at him to signal him to bend over.

Fu Huaiqing stared at her thoughtfully for a moment, a hint of a meaningful smile in his eyes. He bent down and put his ear close to her.

Seeing that he was still laughing, Bie Zhi grabbed his ear and whispered fiercely, thinking he was showing his teeth and claws: "My waist is almost aching!"

Hearing this, Fu Huaiqing suddenly laughed out loud.

Bie Zhi: "..."

She was immediately annoyed and chased him for half a mile.

After chasing him breathlessly and failing to catch up with Fu Huaiqing, she became even more angry and stared at him intently.

Seeing that her mood was really not as dull as before, Fu Huaiqing walked forward with a little deliberate comfort, half squatted down and motioned her to come up, saying, "Let's go."

Biezhi, with her eyes fixed on him, lowered her eyes, threw herself on Fu Huaiqing's back, and then when he stood up, she tightly hugged his neck and leaned him back, "I said you're dead if I catch you!"

Fu Huaiqing stumbled because of her sudden movement, but he didn't loosen his arm against the girl.

The sun set slowly, and they returned home in the sunset.

Biezhi, who was tired of playing, lay on Fu Huaiqing's back, looked at the increasingly small earthen grave, and waved.

She must live her life well.

With Fu Huaiqing.

-End of text-