"Godmother, did you do this on purpose?"

Su Chengyu was still a bit confused and didn't quite understand what was happening.

Lin An gave him a sidelong glance but was too lazy to explain to Su Chengyu, instead, she walked over to Xu Nanzhi, intending to pull her away.

"You all..."

"Don't worry, I won't do anything. We girls just have some secrets to share, so you don't need to listen in."

Su Chengyu frowned, still a bit worried, but Xu Nanzhi spoke first, "It's alright, Chengyu, let me be alone with Lin An for a while."

Since Xu Nanzhi had said so, Su Chengyu naturally didn't feel like he could say much else and turned to look at Feng Jieyu.

Feng Jieyu chuckled lightly, "So afraid that your harem will catch fire?"

Su Chengyu shook his head helplessly, "No, I know Lin An isn't that kind of person, that's why I sensed something was off earlier. I just didn't expect it to be arranged by you, Godmother."

Feng Jieyu stretched lazily and said, "Ever since coming out of the Zhao Mansion, I've been contemplating your Mute Zen. The breakthrough in your realm and external pressure can't break this prohibition. I began to trace the source, searching for the reason behind your first breaking of the Mute Zen. Although there are differences, it turns out to still be because of women."

Su Chengyu was momentarily stunned and smiled bitterly, "Can that be considered because of women?"

In Su Chengyu's view, it was more about hatred then.

Feng Jieyu wasn't convinced, "Whether it's hate or love, the source of these impulsive desires is the key. Strictly speaking, the stimulation from Le Niushang to you should also count, but it obviously wasn't at that level. The pressure she gives you and what Lin An gives you personally is too different. Just when I was thinking about this, I discovered Lin An wandering around Qilong Court."

As Feng Jieyu spoke, Su Chengyu then turned to look at Lin An and said, "Lin An came back secretly on her own."

"Yes, she wanted to see you once before formally returning to the capital, but unfortunately, someone inconveniently wasn't at home."

Feng Jieyu's seemingly amused words made Su Chengyu feel a bit troubled, scratching his head, "Godmother, don't make fun of me. It's not like I'm purposely avoiding Lin An."

"Hmph. By the way, I've told Lin An about what happened at the Jue King's Mansion. I don't want to get involved in Zhao Xuanzhen's matters, you understand what I mean, right?"

Su Chengyu nodded, understanding that some things still needed to be explained to Lin An.

At this time, Xu Nanzhi and Lin An, who had finished their private talk, also returned from elsewhere. Looking at the two women together, Su Chengyu swallowed and spoke.

"Um..."

"Don't ask too much about women's matters, just focus on your duties."

Lin Anxi stepped in to interrupt Su Chengyu's words, speaking with a stern face.

Su Chengyu chuckled sheepishly; Lin An's words indicated that the two had indeed reached some consensus.

As to how they reached it and what promises they made to each other,

Lin An was right, he should not meddle in women's affairs.

"I came back early, worrying about your situation, but seeing you so energetic now, it seems I needn't have worried."

Lin An's words still carried some resentment, but Su Chengyu did not respond, only reaching out to touch Lin An's face.

"You've worked hard."

If not for him, Lin An would never have followed Zhao Xuanzhen's arrangements to go to the United, much less take the mess there upon herself.

With her heart carrying so much burden, hearing these words made Lin An's internal oppression completely disappear.

"Hard work? It doesn't matter. As long as a person is alive, they have to find a reason to move forward, right? I've had a smooth life until now, but to be honest, I never found one. But now, I have."

Where there is desire, there is persistence.

This was something Ji Yuguang once taught her, and Lin An had never fully understood it until now, when she believed she had grasped its true meaning.

"You did a great job with the joint petition, otherwise, if you hadn't made such a big fuss, you'd never have had the opportunity to get involved with the Heavenly Punishment Department."

"Why?"

"My master calculated that the former Sect Master of the Demon Slayer Department, Qiu Tianlin, can't hold out much longer, and by then, Father will most likely want me to take over the Heavenly Punishment Department."

"You?"

Su Chengyu exclaimed in shock, looking at Lin An incredulously.

Lin An took a deep breath, "I know that royal family members shouldn't join the Three Departments, that's a rule set by the previous emperor, and it's hard to break. But Father has been nurturing this for so many years, consistently investing in the Heavenly Punishment Department, and eventually, he will reap the fruits. I am the pawn for him to take those fruits."

Doing something unconventional requires someone unconventional.

And in the entire Zhao Family, only Lin An, who was born with heavy pupils and whose realm is now in the Hollow Void Late Stage, has that possibility.

"So the emperor sent you to the United not only to solve their problems, but also to help you accumulate military achievements."

Lin An sighed, "If possible, I wish it weren't like this, but now it seems that's likely the case. Father is deeper than I thought."

Feng Jieyu, listening to this, sneered.

The world believed Zhao Xuanzhen had no grand ambitions, as all his drastic actions were confined to within the Xia Country over the years.

But Feng Jieyu knew that Zhao Xuanzhen was by no means a simple man.

He had to secure the internal affairs before expanding, and for this day, Zhao Xuanzhen had labored for decades. Surely, his intentions couldn't be small.

"Alright, enough said. I originally planned to sneak back and spend a day with you, to see how you were doing. But now that you've caused such a big ruckus, I have to return and see Mother first."

Su Chengyu looked up, somewhat worried, "Lin An, isn't this too difficult?"

Lin An glared at Su Chengyu, "So now you think it might be hard for me? Did you think about that when you were defying my mother?"

Su Chengyu raised his hands, innocent-faced, "I swear I wasn't defying anyone; it was all Godmother's doing."

Lin An was both angry and amused; she knew it was Feng Jieyu who spoke.

But she also understood that if it weren't for Su Chengyu, Feng Jieyu wouldn't have made decisions for him on her own.

Unknowingly, Su Chengyu's position in everyone's mind wasn't what it used to be.

"Dawn is breaking, and the rain in the Capital City should stop now."

Leaving these words of sentiment, Lin An didn't linger any longer and turned to leave.

Watching Lin An's departing back, Su Chengyu felt anxious yet didn't know how to start the conversation, just like Feng Jieyu said.

Some things could only be said by Lin An, and some things could only be done by her.

But Su Chengyu dared not think that if one day he truly stood against Zhao Xuanzhen,

what choice Lin An would make then?

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