Li Rong listened to Pei Wenxuan’s words in the darkness and watched as Pei Wenxuan got into bed.

Li Rong closed her eyes to compose herself for a moment before finally returning to the bedside. She sat at the edge of the bed for a while before finally speaking. “Don’t overthink it. I remember.”

“You haven’t let me down,” Li Rong kept her accounts clear, “and I won’t let you down either.”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t respond to her. Only after she returned to bed did Pei Wenxuan reach out and embrace Li Rong against his chest.

The two slept until dawn, then went to court together. In the court hall, it was as if nothing had happened at all. Officials each performed their duties, and Li Ming’s expression showed no abnormality whatsoever.

After court ended, Li Rong personally ordered people to investigate matters related to Master Hongde from the previous life.

Master Hongde was originally just a fortune teller from Qingshui Town. After accidentally committing manslaughter during a dispute, he fled. After spending several years learning Buddhism from a Tianzhu monk outside, he returned claiming to be a high monk from Tianzhu with accumulated merit from many lifetimes, swindling and cheating in Hua Jing.

In the previous life, Li Rong had exposed his crimes and personally expelled him from the capital. He had many followers, and killing him directly would cause unrest, so on his journey from Hua Jing to the Southwest, Li Rong had someone assassinate him.

With help from the previous life, Li Rong quickly determined these people’s whereabouts and began collecting their testimony. By the time Li Rong finished her work, it was already the afternoon of the second day, but she still rushed without stopping to Huguo Temple. Then, as she expected, the temple abbot nervously told her that Master Hongde had already been invited into the palace.

Upon receiving this news, Li Rong immediately rushed to the palace.

The moment she set out, the news had already reached the palace.

When Consort Rou received news that Li Rong wanted to arrest Hongde, she had been taking an afternoon nap and instantly woke with a start. She sat on the noble consort’s chair, and after composing herself for a moment, immediately ordered her servants, “Go ask the advisor immediately. Tell him Li Rong has found evidence against Hongde and wants to enter the palace to arrest him! Have him think of a solution—immediately!”

The maid received the order and hurried out. After everyone had left, Huale stepped forward, somewhat panicked. “Mother Consort, what is she arresting Hongde for now?”

“If she arrests Hongde now, everything we said before probably won’t count.”

Consort Rou pressed her lips together. “Hongde told His Majesty that Li Rong secretly had him postpone Li Chuan’s marriage date. These are all just empty words without proof. The only thing that can be proven is that people from the Princess’s residence went to find him. This matter has witnesses, so it can be proven. But if Li Rong was investigating Hongde, then her going to find Hongde isn’t strange at all. Li Rong is someone who can twist black into white with just her mouth. I’m afraid when the time comes, she’ll cry a bit and His Majesty will feel she’s been wronged again.”

“His Majesty already harbors suspicions about us from previous matters,” Consort Rou frowned somewhat uneasily. “If Li Rong overturns this matter again, I’m afraid we won’t be able to speak up about Li Rong’s affairs in the future. The position of Vice Minister of Personnel—Pei Wenxuan will probably secure it!”

“Then what do we do?” Huale panicked. “What should we do in a moment?”

Consort Rou didn’t speak. She closed her eyes and after composing herself for a moment, took a deep breath. “Wait first. If the advisor doesn’t have a good solution.”

Consort Rou hesitated before continuing, “Then we can only rely on ourselves.”

The two waited for a while. When they heard Li Rong had entered the palace, Huale grabbed Consort Rou’s sleeve, so anxious she was almost crying. “Mother Consort, she’s already entered the palace. What do we do? Is Father Emperor going to punish us again? Mother Consort…”

“My lady.” Just as Huale was speaking, the maid rushed in and urgently handed a talisman paper to Consort Rou. It was a pale apricot-colored talisman paper with intricate patterns drawn on it. Below the patterns were written Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan’s birth dates and times.

Consort Rou was stunned for a moment. She took the talisman paper in hand and looked up. “What is this?”

“The advisor sent it over, asking you to give it to Master Hongde. The advisor said Master Hongde can’t be saved now. Right now, the most important thing is not to let Pei Wenxuan become Vice Minister of Personnel.”

“What use is this talisman paper?”

Consort Rou frowned. The maid stepped forward and leaned close to Consort Rou’s ear, whispering for a long time.

Consort Rou listened carefully. After hearing it all, Consort Rou couldn’t help but praise, “The advisor is truly resourceful and wise.”

With that, she handed the talisman paper back and instructed, “Secretly give this to Master Hongde. Tell him all the proper wording and have him memorize it firmly.”

The servant respectfully agreed, took the talisman paper, and withdrew.

By the time Consort Rou’s people had arranged everything, Li Rong had also arrived at the imperial study.

She had given advance notice. Upon arriving at the imperial study, she strode straight in, then respectfully bowed to Li Ming and proclaimed loudly, “Greetings to Father Emperor. May Father Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand upon ten thousand years.”

Li Ming looked up at her and only said, “I heard you entered the palace to arrest someone?”

“Yes,” Li Rong raised her head to meet Li Ming’s gaze. “Your son has been investigating the case of the fraudulent monk Hongde. After nearly three months of evidence collection, I’ve finally gathered all the evidence. I went to Huguo Temple to arrest him, but unexpectedly this charlatan had entered the palace. Father Emperor hasn’t listened to any of his slander, has he?”

Li Rong spoke pointedly. Li Ming’s expression didn’t change. He looked at memorials and only said, “It was Consort Rou who brought him in, saying she wanted to hear him preach Buddhism. There was no slander, but there was one interesting matter.”

“What interesting matter?” Li Rong seemed to know nothing. Li Ming looked up at Li Rong, his voice low and carrying a hint of warning. “I heard you sent someone to find him, asking him to lie and postpone the Crown Prince’s marriage date?”

“Postpone Chuan’er’s marriage date?” Li Rong showed an astonished expression. “He’s a monk—how could he have anything to do with the Crown Prince’s marriage date?”

Li Rong spoke too naturally. Li Ming stared at her for quite a while. Li Rong met his gaze openly and honestly, raising her eyebrows. “Why is Father Emperor looking at me like this?”

“It’s nothing,” Li Ming saw that his scrutiny had no effect on Li Rong whatsoever, so he explained. “He has great prestige among the common people. With just any prophecy, he could gain support from many people. If he truly said Chuan’er shouldn’t marry in recent years or there would be natural disasters, even more common people would believe it, and Chuan’er’s marriage would have to be postponed.”

“I see. Such a great monk,” Li Rong showed sudden realization, then said, “Then why would he falsely accuse me?”

“He’s falsely accusing you?” Li Ming smiled, his eyes carrying deep meaning. “Why don’t I summon him so you two can confront each other?”

“That would be perfect.” Li Rong happily agreed. “I want to see how this fraudulent monk plans to explain himself!”

“Go fetch Master Hongde.” Seeing Li Rong agree, Li Ming turned to order the young eunuch beside him to summon Hongde.

The young eunuch received the order and hurriedly withdrew. After only Li Rong and Li Ming remained in the room, father and daughter both said nothing, each doing their own thing as if they didn’t know each other.

Before long, Consort Rou and Hongde arrived.

Although Hongde came from humble origins, he was extremely skilled at pretense. As soon as he entered, he displayed the demeanor of a renowned high monk. Consort Rou and he bowed to Li Ming together. After Li Ming raised his hand to let them rise, he said directly, “Today Princess Pingle says you’ve committed crimes and has come to arrest you. If there’s a misunderstanding, explain it clearly. If there’s no misunderstanding…”

Li Ming looked up at Consort Rou. Consort Rou coughed lightly and said slowly, “If there’s no misunderstanding, being taken away by Princess Pingle is appropriate. However, Princess Pingle, you asked someone for help and now you’re burning bridges—what kind of play is this?”

“Asked someone for help?” Li Rong laughed. “Who did I ask for help? This old bald fraud?”

Li Rong turned to look at Master Hongde, sized him up and down, then smiled. “On what basis do you say I asked him for help? Based on his empty words saying whatever he wants?”

“Master Hongde,” Li Ming listened to Li Rong’s words and shifted his gaze to Li Ming. “Pingle is right. We can’t just listen to you alone. You say people from the Princess’s residence found you to discuss the Crown Prince’s matters. Do you have evidence?”

Hearing this, Master Hongde’s movements paused. After a long while, he spoke slowly, “Her Highness acts meticulously. This old monk did not keep any tokens. But this old body knows the Crown Prince’s birth date and time. Does that count as evidence?”

One’s birth date and time is a person’s most confidential matter, especially for someone with the Crown Prince’s status. Most people might know the Crown Prince’s specific birth year, month, and day, but it’s difficult to be precise about the exact time.

His ability to state Li Chuan’s birth date and time was indeed evidence.

“Knowing the Crown Prince’s birth date means I met with you face to face?” Li Rong smiled and directly refuted. “What if someone deliberately told you to frame me?”

Li Rong’s hint was already quite obvious. Consort Rou’s complexion instantly turned somewhat ugly. Li Ming coughed lightly and could only maintain Li Rong’s position, saying, “What Pingle says is not without reason. Do you have other evidence?”

“Knowing the Crown Prince’s birth date and time is one thing,” Hongde sighed. “But what if I also know the Prince Consort and Princess’s birth dates and times?”

“I already said, just knowing…”

“What if it’s not just knowing?” Hongde interrupted Li Rong’s words. Li Rong was momentarily stunned.

Not just knowing—then Hongde had evidence in hand?

But where would Hongde get evidence? Did Pei Wenxuan not handle things cleanly enough?

Li Rong’s mind was in turmoil. At precisely this moment, she saw Hongde holding a talisman paper with both hands as he knelt at Li Ming’s feet.

“This was made at the request of people from the Princess’s residence, saying it was specifically ordered by the Prince Consort. This old man agreed, and only recently finished drawing it. I was just about to give it to His Highness the Prince Consort.”

Li Ming didn’t speak. He took the talisman paper and after quickly looking it over, frowned.

It was indeed Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan’s birth dates and times. When Li Rong had married Pei Wenxuan, he had seen both their eight characters.

Li Ming remained silent for a long time before finally handing the talisman paper to Li Rong. He said somewhat helplessly, “Pingle, actually, even if you admit it, it’s not a big deal.”

“Your son truly has nothing to admit.” Li Rong answered decisively. As she spoke, Li Rong took the talisman paper in hand.

She quickly scanned the contents, confirming it was indeed the two people’s birth dates and times. And the handwriting did indeed resemble Pei Wenxuan’s handwriting.

Although Li Rong spoke firmly, she felt somewhat uneasy inside.

Pei Wenxuan might indeed do something like having Hongde calculate their marital fortune for him, but logically he shouldn’t have left anything behind.

But when it came to emotions, Pei Wenxuan was always somewhat foolish. He might have forgotten as well.

She stared at the handwriting, calculating in her mind how to continue arguing. Everyone was waiting for her answer. After a long while, just as she was about to speak, she suddenly smelled the scent of temple incense on this paper.

Li Rong instinctively felt the paper, then instantly discovered—this paper was the unique marriage paper from Hua Jing’s Yuelao Temple!

“This talisman doesn’t belong to Master Hongde.” After Li Rong realized this, she raised the corners of her mouth, looked up at Hongde, and said with a smile, “This is just a talisman the Prince Consort requested at a temple while traveling. We left the talisman at the temple. I don’t know what Master Hongde is trying to accomplish by stealing this and using it to frame me here?”

“But none of this matters anymore. I’ve played along with you for quite a while. Since you can’t produce convincing evidence, then I must file a complaint against you to His Majesty.”

“What does Her Highness wish to accuse this old monk of?”

Hongde placed his palms together at his chest, his expression unperturbed. “If you want to condemn someone, you can always trump up a charge. Your Highness, please proceed.”

Li Rong smiled. She raised her hand. “Bring in Lady Wang.”

Hearing this, Hongde’s complexion changed dramatically. Li Rong observed his expression and said with a smile, “Wang Caishan, has Master Hongde been a master for so long that you’ve forgotten where you came from?”

As Li Rong spoke, a trembling woman walked into the great hall. The instant she saw Hongde, the woman’s eyes lit up.

“Husband!” The woman rushed forward urgently and exclaimed excitedly, “Husband, you’re still alive?! Husband, how did you become a monk? You…”

Before she finished speaking, Hongde pushed her away forcefully and shouted, “Who is your husband?!”

The woman who had been pushed away was stunned. Then she swept her eyes over the gorgeous kasaya on Master Hongde’s body. She suddenly realized, using her hands to push herself up from the ground, pointed at Hongde, and said tremblingly, “You… so you didn’t have an accident outside—you just didn’t want to come back! Fine, just fine, Wang Caishan. I served your elderly mother in your home for over ten years, while you lived comfortably outside and never came home—that’s one thing. But now you want to pretend not to know me? Wang Caishan, even if you turned to ash, this old lady would recognize you!”

“You… you’re talking nonsense!” Hongde was startled by his suddenly appearing wife and even began to stutter.

Hearing this, Lady Wang became so agitated she lunged at Hongde, screaming, “You bastard, I’ll kill you! I’m going to kill you!”

But the moment her words left her mouth, before she could even move, the guards beside her pressed her to the ground. Lady Wang struggled and cursed on the ground. Li Ming frowned.

He didn’t want to deal with Hongde anymore for the moment and waved his hand. “Fine, fine. You take him away.”

Li Rong smiled. She raised her hand respectfully. “Father Emperor, since you’ve already made a decision, your son will take her leave first.”

Li Ming waved his hand. Consort Rou quickly stood up, just about to say something when Li Rong immediately shouted, “Father Emperor has already given his consent. What more does Consort Rou wish to say?”

This loud shout forced all of Consort Rou’s words back down. Li Ming looked up at her and said indifferently, “Do you have something else?”

Li Ming’s tone was already very obvious. Consort Rou couldn’t speak either. After holding it in for a long time, she could only say, “I… I have nothing.”

“Then your son takes her leave.”

Li Rong smiled and bowed, then beckoned to the side. Guards rushed forward, seized Hongde and Lady Wang, and left the palace.

“You silly woman,” the moment they left the palace gates, Hongde began cursing loudly. “You have no brain—you’ve ruined me! Ruined me!”

“You bastard, what prospects do you still want?” Lady Wang laughed coldly. “They always say men are heartless—I didn’t believe it before, but now I finally understand. You bastard, once we’re out of the palace, just watch as this old lady doesn’t skin you alive!”

Both came from common origins and cursed without any restraint. Even Hongde, after over ten years of exposure to upper-class society, still couldn’t quite match Lady Wang in cursing.

The two were pressed forward by guards behind Li Rong, walking and cursing at each other all the way.

And Li Rong clasped her hands behind her back, listening to their curses, feeling the moon was bright and stars sparse, the road ahead full of light.

She had just walked out of the palace when she saw Pei Wenxuan waiting at the entrance. Pei Wenxuan wasn’t wearing official robes, only a blue outer coat and white inner robe.

Spring was approaching and Hua Jing was warming up. Someone as particular about appearance as Pei Wenxuan had already seized every opportunity to change into spring garments.

He stood quietly outside the palace gates, gazing at the distant mountain outlines in the night, his figure tall and straight, like a pine tree, like a crane.

Seeing him from afar, Li Rong couldn’t help but smile. She happily jogged forward and took Pei Wenxuan’s arm, saying joyfully, “Pei Wenxuan!”

Pei Wenxuan calmly turned his head. Seeing the smile on her face, he knew the result and said gently, “It seems Your Highness has achieved complete victory.”

Li Rong took Pei Wenxuan’s arm, showing not a hint of modesty. “Pretty good, pretty good.”

With that, Li Rong turned around and ordered those behind her, “Detain Wang Caishan at the Constabulary Bureau. Send Lady Wang to an inn.”

The guards respectfully agreed. Li Rong turned back around and walked toward the carriage ahead with Pei Wenxuan, asking, “Did you come specially to wait for me?”

“Just happened to be on the way.” Pei Wenxuan spoke unconsciously, but after speaking, he hesitated and added, “Actually no, I actually came specifically to wait for you.”

“How did you give two answers?” Li Rong raised her eyebrows. Pei Wenxuan helped Li Rong into the carriage, his voice gentle. “The first answer was unconscious. The second answer is true.”

“Don’t people say unconscious words are the true words?”

Li Rong sat inside the carriage, asking somewhat puzzled. Pei Wenxuan sat beside her and shook his head. “Unconscious words aren’t necessarily true words—they’re just words meant to protect oneself.”

Li Rong thought about it and felt he was right.

Seeing Pei Wenxuan begin to pour tea for her, she pressed her lips together, feeling somewhat happy.

Pei Wenxuan noticed she was in a very good mood and glanced at her. “You won one match and you’re this happy?”

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong propped up her chin. “Tell me honestly, did you secretly go to Yuelao Temple to make a wish?”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan was somewhat puzzled. “Why does Your Highness ask this?”

“Look,” Li Rong pulled out a talisman paper from her hand and passed it to Pei Wenxuan. “What is this?”

Pei Wenxuan had been smiling, but when his gaze fell on the talisman paper with both their birth dates and times written on it, his complexion changed dramatically. He grabbed Li Rong’s hand and said urgently, “Where did you get this?!”

At the same time, in the imperial study, Consort Rou was massaging Li Ming’s shoulders.

In her mind were the words the maid had whispered in her ear.

“The advisor said Hongde’s matter can’t be proven. It only needs to raise His Majesty’s suspicions. Right now, the most important thing is to let His Majesty know that the Prince Consort and Princess Pingle have deep feelings for each other. His Majesty suspects the Crown Prince and Princess are joining forces. If he also learns that Pei Wenxuan has feelings for the Princess, His Majesty probably won’t tolerate Pei Wenxuan.”

“This is a Three Lives Marriage Talisman forged in the Prince Consort’s handwriting. It’s a talisman from Yuelao Temple that pledges marriage in the next life. The ritual for requesting this talisman is complex and different from ordinary prayer talismans. As long as you can trick Her Highness into admitting this talisman is indeed theirs, then inform His Majesty of this talisman’s true meaning and guide him accordingly.”

“Pei Wenxuan’s official career will reach its end.”