After Pei Wenxuan finished speaking, he and Li Rong turned around with smiles. Shangguan Xu approached Li Rong, bowed to her, and without even glancing at Pei Wenxuan, said only, “Would Your Highness be willing to step aside for a private conversation with this old minister?”
“Uncle, you’re too kind.”
Li Rong smiled, turned to Pei Wenxuan and said, “Wait for me at the palace gate first.”
Pei Wenxuan cupped his hands in acknowledgment, bowed to Shangguan Xu, then departed ahead of them. Li Rong turned her head back to look at Shangguan Xu: “Uncle, are you returning to your mansion or going to the government office?”
“This old minister plans to return to his mansion. Is Your Highness leaving the palace?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go together.”
Shangguan Xu raised his hand, inviting Li Rong to leave with him.
The two walked out together. Li Rong held her folding fan as she walked out of the great hall with Shangguan Xu. She heard him speak slowly: “Why did Your Highness suddenly decide to involve yourself in the Qin family matter this time?”
“Didn’t I already explain earlier?” Li Rong said slowly. “Miss Qin approached me. I couldn’t bear to see the Qin family suffer injustice.”
“Your Highness is already married,” Shangguan Xu sighed, “Why must you meddle in so many affairs?”
“Uncle…” Li Rong hesitated and turned back. “Do you mean to say I shouldn’t intervene?”
“Regarding the Northwest matter this time,” Shangguan Xu walked down the steps with Li Rong, “it was originally a mess His Majesty left to the Crown Prince. This old minister was concerned for Your Highness, so I contacted several clan relatives and exhausted all means to stabilize the Northwest. Before the great victory, His Majesty temporarily changed commanders and forcibly made Xiao Su the commanding general. The list of rewards Xiao Su reported to His Majesty has many problems. I wonder if Your Highness is aware of this.”
Li Rong lowered her head slightly: “I would like to hear the details.”
“In these lists, most are from humble families. This time, the children of aristocratic families basically received no rewards. That’s why there’s controversy in court. Your Highness wishes to seek justice for the Qin family—this old minister understands. But regarding this old minister’s justice,” Shangguan Xu looked at Li Rong with a somewhat oppressive expression, “I wonder how Your Highness intends to deliver it?”
Li Rong quietly listened to Shangguan Xu’s words. For a moment, she seemed to experience what Li Chuan must have felt in her past life when he first ascended the throne.
If she wanted to control them—these people were not only relatives but also benefactors.
If she didn’t control them—they would act with complete abandon.
Li Rong fell silent. After a long while, she said slowly, “Then is the Qin family truly guilty or not?”
Shangguan Xu remained silent. The two walked across the square. Li Rong raised her eyes to look at the distant palace gate, watching birds take flight over the vermilion high walls, and said softly, “I know Uncle cherishes both Chuan’er and me, and Chuan’er and I remember Uncle as well. The court collects taxes but exempts aristocratic families from taxation. The Shangguan family in Youzhou possesses nearly half the land. Your annual tax revenue even exceeds the court’s. Besides tax exemption,” Li Rong smiled, “when the borders are disturbed and natural disasters strike, when the court cannot manage both fronts, Father Emperor wanted to forcibly levy funds from the aristocratic families. It was Chuan’er who, mindful of Uncle, negotiated with His Majesty and persuaded him.”
Though Li Rong’s words seemed scattered, Shangguan Xu’s expression turned cold.
Aristocratic families possessed land exempt from taxes and enjoyed numerous privileges. The court’s tax revenue was insufficient—lacking both people and money. When the Rong Nation invaded, the aristocratic families hid behind the court, watching the court spend money. The court allocated funds to the border, but the border was controlled by aristocratic families like the Yang family. The Yang family, afraid of weakening themselves, created the absurd scheme of paying off enemy nations to stage battles.
The Shangguan family supported Li Chuan, and Li Chuan had to protect the Shangguan family. Even though aristocratic families had accumulated numerous problems, Li Chuan still had to maintain them.
“I truly don’t know much about the wartime situation at the Northwest border. But according to my limited understanding, the court is responsible for managing everything. Although the Rong Nation is a small country, it surely involves many complications. Uncle serves as Left Vice Director of the Secretariat. Your laborious service deserves credit, but Father Emperor failed to show consideration—that is Father Emperor’s fault.”
“Your Highness gives too much praise.” Shangguan Xu’s voice was stiff. Though Li Rong spoke words of understanding, he clearly grasped her underlying meaning.
According to the entire court’s operating mechanism, if aristocratic families didn’t obstruct matters in the middle and everyone worked together to attack the Rong Nation, there truly wouldn’t be major problems. It’s just that everyone had their own calculations, so all along, from deciding to go to war, military fund preparation, disbursement, grain transport, and other processes, there were various issues. If the Shangguan family hadn’t persuaded the various aristocratic families and promised all sorts of benefits, things couldn’t have proceeded so smoothly this time.
The Northwest was a mess. Hua Jing was also a mess.
But this mess originated from the aristocratic families. When the Shangguan family stepped forward to clean it up, it was meritorious work, but they were also among the original perpetrators.
Shangguan Xu gripped his court tablet until his knuckles turned white.
Li Rong felt momentarily sorry for him. Upon reaching the palace gate, she suddenly said, “Uncle.”
Hearing this call of “Uncle,” Shangguan Xu raised his head. Li Rong looked at him and said slowly, “When I was young, Uncle would come to the palace and often bring Rong’er windmills. Rong’er was very fond of them.”
Shangguan Xu seemed somewhat dazed. Li Rong gazed at Shangguan Xu seriously: “Uncle will always be Rong’er’s family. Rong’er hopes all her family members will be well. When water fills, it overflows; when the moon waxes full, it wanes. The way of the sage—I hope Uncle will keep this in your heart.”
Shangguan Xu remained silent. Li Rong took a deep breath, turned and smiled: “We’ve reached the palace gate. I won’t see Lord Shangguan off. This Princess will take her leave first.”
With that, Li Rong bowed and departed ahead of him.
After Li Rong walked far away, several ministers approached Shangguan Xu and urgently asked, “Lord Shangguan, what did Her Highness say?”
Shangguan Xu remained silent. After a long while, he said slowly, “Her Highness said many things to me just now. With her level of insight, she shouldn’t be able to speak such words.”
Several people exchanged glances. After a moment, Shangguan Minzhi said slowly, “I’m afraid we need to speak with Pei Lixian. That child of his has been rather too audacious.”
“Young people,” Shangguan Xu laughed once, “are still hot-blooded.”
Li Rong bid farewell to Shangguan Xu. When she walked out of the palace gate, she just happened to see Pei Wenxuan standing at the entrance.
He wore black robes with red trim—court attire—waiting for her by the carriage. Seeing Li Rong emerge, Pei Wenxuan smiled.
Though Pei Wenxuan was full of scheming, he was born with handsome, upright features. When he smiled, it was like a spring breeze brushing across an April green field—gentle yet brimming with vitality.
Seeing his smile, Li Rong’s mood also lightened.
Pei Wenxuan stepped forward, looking at her with a smile: “Does Your Highness need this subject to lend you a hand?”
“Why do you ask?”
Li Rong found it somewhat strange. Pei Wenxuan extended his hand, saying only, “If Your Highness is tired, lean on this subject.”
Li Rong looked at him, raised her hand to rest on his, and let him help her onto the carriage.
After entering the carriage, Pei Wenxuan said, “Let’s go back first. After we reach home, His Majesty’s imperial edict and token should arrive. Then we’ll go to the Ministry of Justice to retrieve the Qin family case files and examine the Qin family’s situation.”
Li Rong acknowledged this and returned home with Pei Wenxuan. After waiting briefly at the Princess Mansion, Li Ming’s edict—specifically authorizing her to investigate the Qin family case with no one permitted to obstruct her—arrived. Along with the edict came a specially crafted token for the Supervisory Bureau that Li Ming had bestowed.
Having received the edict and token, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan immediately headed to the Ministry of Justice. The moment they reached the Ministry of Justice entrance, they were stopped by ministry personnel. Li Rong displayed the token in her hand and said directly, “This Princess comes by imperial order to find the Records Clerk to retrieve case files.”
The Ministry of Justice personnel were stunned, clearly having not yet received notification. Li Rong raised her eyes to look at them: “What, do you not trust this Princess, or do you not trust the imperial edict?”
“We wouldn’t dare,” the gate guards quickly stepped aside and said to Li Rong, “Your Highness, please enter.”
Ordinarily these people should have led Li Rong inside to find the Records Clerk, but not a single person showed any intention of stepping forward to guide them. Fortunately, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan had already thoroughly familiarized themselves with all the ministries in their past life. Too lazy to argue with them, they entered on their own and went directly to where the case files were stored.
Upon reaching the warehouse where case files were kept, Li Rong had a subordinate official summon the supervisor. After Li Rong presented the edict, she said directly, “Bring out the Qin family case files. This Princess will take them with me.”
Hearing this, the Records Clerk hesitated for a moment, then smiled: “Your Highness, it’s not that this subordinate wishes to make things difficult for you, but the Ministry of Justice has its own regulations. To remove case files, please obtain authorization.”
“Authorization? The imperial edict states that this Princess shall preside over this case and no one shall obstruct me. With this Princess’s rank, do I still need authorization?”
“Your Highness,” the Records Clerk smiled bitterly, “these are also the regulations. Unless His Majesty personally comes, authorization is required. Even if the Minister himself came, he would need to follow the regulations.”
Li Rong remained silent. Both she and Pei Wenxuan clearly understood—these subordinates were deliberately making things difficult.
The King of Hell is easy to find, but the little devils are hard to deal with. Li Rong hadn’t tangled with little devils like this in many years. She couldn’t help but laugh: “Then where should I obtain this authorization?”
“You should find Director Gao. Inform him, and once Director Gao provides authorization, this subordinate will immediately hand over the Qin family case files to Your Highness.”
“Then where is Director Gao?” Li Rong continued inquiring. The Records Clerk raised his hand: “He should be working in the room to the front and left. Please proceed there, Your Highness.”
“Very well.” Li Rong nodded. “This Princess will go take a look.”
After Li Rong finished speaking, she went with Pei Wenxuan to find Director Gao. Upon reaching Director Gao’s room, they found it empty. Li Rong raised her eyebrows and glanced at the guard at the door: “Where is Director Gao?”
“Director Gao went out on official business.” The guard said carefully, “Your Highness… perhaps Your Highness could return tomorrow?”
Li Rong said nothing. She raised her eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan looked at the guard and said flatly, “What official business did Director Gao go out for?”
“This… this subordinate doesn’t know.”
The guard showed a troubled expression. Pei Wenxuan fell silent. After a long while, Li Rong laughed aloud: “Very well then. This Princess will return another day.”
After Li Rong finished speaking, she turned around, led Pei Wenxuan, and directly left the Ministry of Justice.
Once outside, Pei Wenxuan quickly said, “Your Highness need not be angry. The Supervisory Bureau was only established at this morning’s court session. The Ministry of Justice likely hasn’t received word yet…”
“Received what word!” Li Rong shouted in a low voice. “These people are treating this Princess like a monkey! What Director Gao? If Su Rongqing were here today, I’d like to see if he’d still need Director Gao! They’re clearly just bullying us for being inexperienced!”
Pei Wenxuan remained silent. Seeing Li Rong angrily walking outside, he quickly followed, lowering his voice: “What does Your Highness plan to do?”
“What to do? They bully me for being young—I’ll show them what being young means!”
With that, Li Rong reached the carriage and strode onto it with large steps. Pei Wenxuan, seeing her anger and fearing she might act rashly in her rage, quickly grabbed her: “Where does Your Highness intend to go?”
“To find people! Don’t follow me. Go to the military camp and from among those I previously selected, call ten skilled fighters. In a moment, just wait there,” Li Rong raised her hand to point at the nearby teahouse, “I’ll wait for you there.”
“I’ll go find people, but what about Your Highness?”
“I…”
Li Rong hadn’t finished speaking when she heard Shangguan Ya’s rather pleased voice ring out: “Oh my, Your Highness!” Shangguan Ya waved from not far away. “What a coincidence!”