Li Rong pondered in silence without speaking.

Xiao Wen was Xiao Su’s son. At this moment, Li Ming summoned Xiao Wen into the palace, and after Xiao Wen left the palace, someone departed from Hua Jing—there was a strong possibility that Li Ming had contacted Xiao Su through an extremely irregular channel.

Under what circumstances would an emperor need to use this most secure, least error-prone channel to contact a border general while avoiding layers of surveillance?

Both Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan were very clear in their hearts.

A military rebellion—this wasn’t their first experience with it.

Whether it was when Li Chuan was deposed in the past and the aristocratic families eliminated those close to the ruler and deposed Li Ming, or later when the aristocratic families attempted palace coups and rebellion several times, in thirty years of political storms, this was not something that made them panic and lose composure.

It was just that this was a major matter after all, so both fell silent.

Seeing the atmosphere grow heavy, Shangguan Ya also knew to be tactful. After cupping her hands in salute, she turned and walked out.

When only Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan remained in the room, Pei Wenxuan finally spoke: “A decision must be made early.”

“So urgent?” Li Rong’s voice was very soft as she pondered. “What is Father Emperor thinking?”

In the previous life, when Li Ming moved against Li Chuan, it didn’t seem this early.

Li Rong found it somewhat absurd and couldn’t help but curl her lips: “Could it be that Father Emperor truly flew into a rage for a beauty’s sake and must save Consort Rou?”

“I’ve heard that now, His Majesty’s condition has become increasingly severe.”

Li Rong’s movements paused. Pei Wenxuan sat down across from Li Rong, speaking slowly: “It’s understandable that His Majesty wants to stabilize Prince Su’s position early.”

After all, since the Shangguan clan conducted their own internal purge, their power in the court had diminished considerably. Now that the aristocratic families and Li Rong had just formed an alliance, from the perspective of court strength, Li Rong and the aristocratic families currently held the upper hand. However, if it came to launching a military rebellion, that might not be the case.

Li Ming had Xiao Su’s army in the Northwest and his own Li clan’s directly controlled army cultivated over many years—adding up to nearly one hundred thousand troops in total. He need not fear facing any single aristocratic family alone.

What he feared was only the aristocratic families uniting afterward and integrating a new army with Li Chuan as their representative.

But now the aristocratic families were in chaos. After the Constabulary Bureau was established, although they seemed to unite together to punish Consort Rou, in reality each harbored different intentions long ago.

If Li Chuan did not have sufficient military forces in his hands, launching a military rebellion at this time—Li Ming indeed had sufficient advantage.

“His Majesty has nearly one hundred thousand troops total under his command. Xiao Su holds fifty thousand, ten thousand in the capital, and scattered throughout various places in Hua Jing totaling forty thousand.” As Pei Wenxuan spoke, he retrieved a map from under the table, spread it on the tabletop, raised his hand to point at the northwestern corner of the map, then traced a line all the way toward Hua Jing’s direction. “If His Majesty begins transferring troops from the Northwest now, from Xiao Su’s preparation to marching here, even riding fast horses without rest day and night, would take at least one month.”

“But between the Northwest and Hua Jing, the Su clan and Xie clan stand in the middle.” Li Rong pondered. “If they put up even slight resistance, I fear it would take more than two months.”

“But will they?” Pei Wenxuan asked in return. Li Rong paused, raising her eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan earnestly reminded her: “You and I are not the only ones who know the future.”

If Su Rongqing had already returned, then he could not possibly sit idly waiting for death.

Although the Xie family had remained silent since Xie Lanqing was exiled, they had likely long been alienated from Li Chuan. The Su clan and Xie clan stood between the Northwest and Hua Jing, so when Xiao Su passed through—the worst outcome might be arriving at Hua Jing together with the Su clan’s and Xie clan’s armies.

“Su Rongqing…”

Li Rong tapped the table lightly, unable to help uttering Su Rongqing’s name. Hearing her murmur, Pei Wenxuan raised his hand to drink tea, saying casually: “What, missing him?”

“Isn’t that so?” Li Rong sighed aloud. “I still underestimated him. The matter of Xie Lanqing’s exile—he probably laid the groundwork very early.”

Thinking back now, when Xie Lanqing served as Minister of Justice, targeting her at every turn, she initially thought it was only because of the conflict of interests between the Constabulary Bureau and the Ministry of Justice. But thinking about it now, Su Rongqing probably had some moves behind the scenes.

Su Rongqing forced her early on to depose Xie Lanqing, thus cutting off the path between the Xie clan and Li Chuan—unless Li Chuan truly decided not to want this elder sister.

But Li Chuan could not possibly do that.

And the discord between the Xie clan and Li Chuan would normally have no consequences, but today, it became the key.

If Xiao Su could advance directly to Hua Jing without any obstacles, then no matter where she transferred troops from, it would be impossible to arrive before Xiao Su.

Once Xiao Su’s great army reached the capital, Li Chuan would have no way to survive.

With Li Chuan dead, the aristocratic families would lose their leader. Unless they selected another leader to rebel, they would be scattered sand. With the aristocratic families’ nature, they would probably retreat and protect themselves. At this time, if Li Ming employed both kindness and威严, taking the opportunity to eliminate the Shangguan clan, no one would dare say much more.

Li Rong gently closed her eyes, raising her hand to pinch her Jingming acupoint: “First have Zhao Chongjiu immediately send word to the Northwest, have Qin Lin keep watch on Xiao Su. Once Xiao Su’s army moves toward Hua Jing…”

Li Rong hesitated for a moment. Her heart felt somewhat uneasy.

Taking military action at this time was indeed a bit too early for them, and moreover, if Qin Lin directly moved to intercept Xiao Su’s army, it would be an act of treason no matter what.

“Then it must be intercepted.”

Seeing her hesitation, Pei Wenxuan spoke decisively: “Your Highness, it’s time to use Lin Feibai. Summon him back to the capital.”

“Return to the capital for what?”

Li Rong furrowed her brow. Pei Wenxuan raised his hand to tap lightly on the map: “Recognize his ancestry and return to his clan.”

Li Rong immediately understood. Even though Lin Feibai bore a criminal status and had personally supplied evidence against Xie Lanqing, he was after all Xie Lanqing’s son. Once the Xie family’s legitimate son was absent, he would have the opportunity to inherit the Xie family.

If it were before, even if Xie Lanqing’s sons all died, it would not be Lin Feibai’s turn as an illegitimate son. But now Lin Feibai had military authority.

With military authority and the identity of Xie Lanqing’s son, Lin Feibai inheriting the Xie family was merely a matter of minor maneuvering.

“Although the Xie family has conflicts with Your Highness, the matter of taxation concerns all the aristocratic families above and below. The Xie family cannot possibly be a monolithic block. Now that Lin Feibai has military authority, as long as the Xie family head Xie Chunhe dies, then Lin Feibai becoming the new Xie family head is merely a matter of slight maneuvering.”

“So the first thing we must do is kill Xie Chunhe.”

Hearing this, Li Rong raised her eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan: “Then why not directly kill Li Cheng?”

With Li Cheng dead, if Li Ming killed Li Chuan again, the Li clan would truly fall to outsiders.

“Before, if we killed Li Cheng, Father Emperor probably thought he could still have another son and would hurriedly depose Chuan’er. But now, he probably no longer has the ability or time to have another son.”

Li Rong’s voice was calm: “If I make a move, he probably won’t spare me. But since he’s already prepared to have Xiao Su come from the Northwest, clearly he doesn’t intend to spare Chuan’er and me either. There’s no necessity in keeping Li Cheng.”

“If Your Highness plans thus,” Pei Wenxuan’s voice was very soft, “it’s not without possibility.”

“Kill Li Cheng and Xie Chunhe.” Pei Wenxuan’s hand lightly traced circles on the map. “If Su Rongqing still doesn’t want Chuan’er to ascend the throne, then he only has the one path of rebellion. Su Minzhi will not agree.”

“Thus,” Pei Wenxuan concluded, “even if Xiao Su enters the capital, he’ll no longer serve any purpose. But this way, the only risk is,” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes to look at Li Rong, “His Majesty, to vent his anger, may kill you and the Empress.”

Li Rong remained silent. Pei Wenxuan looked at her: “Moving only against Xie Chunhe, His Majesty might not yet realize our true intention. His target in his heart is the Crown Prince. He won’t alert the enemy for the sake of one Xie Chunhe and move against you. But if we move against Li Cheng, though it can solve the problem once and for all, Your Highness,” Pei Wenxuan’s voice was very soft, “at that time the Crown Prince will be His Majesty’s only heir. To minimize the Shangguan family’s influence on the Crown Prince, he will inevitably adopt some extraordinary means. Whether for personal vengeance or for the Crown Prince’s future, His Majesty will kill you and the Empress at any cost. Whether to go this far for the Crown Prince,” Pei Wenxuan said earnestly, “please think it over carefully.”

“Are you trying to dissuade me?” Listening to Pei Wenxuan’s analysis, Li Rong asked directly.

Pei Wenxuan smiled lightly: “How could I dissuade you?”

He slowly raised his head, his gaze full of tolerance: “I’m merely accompanying you.”

While Li Rong conversed with Pei Wenxuan, Huale clutched the token Consort Rou had given her, restraining the trembling in her body, and hurriedly returned to the Xiao family.

She constantly comforted herself.

She couldn’t panic, couldn’t be in disarray at this time.

She had to be more composed, not let anyone see her as a laughingstock, thinking that with Consort Rou gone, she was weak and could be bullied.

When Huale arrived at the Xiao residence, her entire person had calmed down. She tightly gripped the token Consort Rou had given her and descended from the carriage.

Through years of cultivation, the Xiao family had promoted two useful uncles.

One was eldest uncle Xiao Su in the Northwest, one was third uncle Xiao Ming in the Imperial Guard.

When Huale entered the house and saw Xiao Ming, her entire person nearly went soft, but she forced herself to hold up, performing a salute with reddened eyes: “Third Uncle.”

“Don’t panic first.” Xiao Ming raised his hand to have someone help Huale sit down, brought a teacup, furrowing his brow tightly: “Did your mother leave any words?”

“She did.”

Huale quickly nodded. She took out the token in her hand and handed it to Xiao Ming, wiping her tears, saying urgently: “Mother said to give this token to me, have me go kill Li Chuan. It would be even better if I could kill Li Rong.”

“Assassinate the Crown Prince?!”

Xiao Ming’s face was full of shock. Huale nodded. Fearing Xiao Ming wouldn’t dare, she added: “Uncle, Mother can no longer be saved now. Our only way out is to quickly kill Li Chuan. This way only Cheng’er will remain among the princes. Cheng’er will be the only heir. Father Emperor is already failing. Once he dies, Cheng’er can ascend the throne. At that time, you’ll be His Majesty’s uncle, and I’ll be the Princess Imperial. Look at how illustrious the Shangguan clan is now—isn’t it because they’re Father Emperor’s maternal clan?”

Xiao Ming remained silent. Huale grew anxious. She hurriedly said: “Uncle, this is the only way to save Mother and little brother. Once Li Chuan ascends the throne, do you think he and Li Rong will spare us? The Shangguan clan has found us displeasing for a long time. Do you plan to just sit and wait for death like this? You…”

“Huale.” Xiao Ming interrupted her, speaking slowly: “This matter is too significant. Let me think about it. Go back first.”

“Uncle?” Huale looked at Xiao Ming in shock. “Do you plan to just watch my mother go to her death?”

“Even killing Li Chuan won’t save your mother.” Xiao Ming sighed. “Uncle isn’t refusing to help you. I’m just thinking of a foolproof strategy. Go back and rest first. I’ll think more about it. It’s just that time is too tight.” Xiao Ming murmured a sentence. “I don’t know if we can wait until this year’s winter hunt. That would be a good opportunity.”

Hearing these words, Huale’s eyes brightened slightly.

Xiao Ming glanced at Huale, then had someone escort Huale out.

After Huale left, the steward came before Xiao Ming, pouring tea for him, saying in a low voice: “Her Ladyship really, having Princess Huale go assassinate the Crown Prince—isn’t this a joke? If the Crown Prince were so easy to assassinate, would it have waited until today?”

“One person may not be easy to assassinate, but it’s not without opportunity. Opportunities are created by people. We’re just afraid of the cost.”

Xiao Ming lightly touched the rim of his teacup with his hand: “That sister of mine has made it to today—she’s not stupid. Do you think she truly expects Huale to assassinate Li Chuan?”

Xiao Ming laughed derisively: “She’s finding a scapegoat for interested parties. Now there are many who want Li Chuan dead. As long as Huale is willing to be the one to take the blame afterward, everyone will be willing to help her.”

“Then…” The steward furrowed his brow. “Does Her Ladyship plan not to protect Princess Huale?”

“Trading one daughter for a son’s throne,” Xiao Ming picked up his teacup, “in Her Ladyship’s eyes isn’t a loss. In the future when Prince Su ascends the throne, posthumously honoring Princess Huale would be a form of comfort. This whole family—not one good person among them. Look at Huale, constantly talking about being Princess Imperial. Do you think she truly cares so much about her mother?”

Xiao Ming’s eyes carried a trace of mockery: “A daughter who wants her mother to die in exchange for the position of Princess Imperial, a mother who thinks of using her daughter’s death to exchange for her own position as Empress Dowager. Quite interesting.”

“Then, is the master just going to watch?”

The steward hesitated: “Her Ladyship and the Xiao clan—after all, they prosper together and fall together.”

“Naturally I’m not just watching. Quickly have someone pass the message into the palace to His Majesty, saying Huale is emotionally agitated and wants to assassinate Li Chuan. Oh, remember,” Xiao Ming pinched his teacup, instructing, “only His Majesty can know. Don’t let the eunuchs around him hear. Who knows what sort of creatures are beside him?”

“Yes.”

The steward responded respectfully.

The news of Huale’s plan to assassinate Li Chuan reached Li Ming’s ears that very night.

Li Ming sat alone in the great hall thinking for half the night. The next day at court, Li Ming set the date for the winter hunt.

The winter hunt was a Great Xia custom. Though called a winter hunt, it was actually the time when Hua Jing’s internal military forces conducted training exercises and competitions.

Hua Jing had six military forces in total: the Imperial Guard in the Emperor’s hands, the Feathered Forest Guard in the Crown Prince’s hands, and the remaining four guarding the four city gates—the East, West, South, and North armies.

The four army commanders came from the Shangguan clan, Su clan, Pei clan, and Li Ming’s directly controlled lineage, Prince Ning, respectively.

Every year during the winter hunt, these six military forces would conduct exercises in the forest to prevent military slack.

Hearing Li Ming set the date for the winter hunt, Li Rong had a plan in her heart. After court dismissed, Pei Wenxuan walked to Li Rong’s side. They walked side by side, looking ahead.

“The winter hunt is set for ten days from now. Has Your Highness made up her mind?”

“How long until Lin Feibai returns?”

“Alone, riding fast horses, he can arrive in three days.”

“First prepare to kill Xie Chunhe.”

“This is a small matter.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled lightly: “I will arrange the winter hunt matter.”

Li Rong acknowledged with a sound. The two walked out of the palace gate together. Pei Wenxuan performed a respectful salute: “Your Highness, I’ll return home first.”

Li Rong nodded. Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but look at her once more. Seeing Li Rong didn’t ask him to stay, his heart still held quite a bit of regret.

Currently, his relationship with Li Rong was outwardly Li Rong clinging to him. Although after the Consort Rou matter, Li Ming might have some suspicions about him, appearances still had to be maintained to the end. Perhaps Li Ming wasn’t that clever after all?

Therefore, if Li Rong didn’t ask him to stay, he couldn’t stay. So after performing his salute, he pretended coldness and returned to his own carriage.

But just as he boarded the carriage and sat down, turning his head, he saw Li Rong climbing onto the carriage.

Pei Wenxuan was slightly stunned. Li Rong sat down beside him, raising an eyebrow with a smile: “What, I can’t sit here?”

Pei Wenxuan came to his senses. He suppressed his smile, patting his lap: “Come, sit here.”

Li Rong’s waist turned and she sat on Pei Wenxuan’s lap, raising her hand to hook around him, saying to those outside: “Let’s go. This palace will see Lord Pei off for a stretch.”

Pei Wenxuan sat perfectly straight. Li Rong, however, seemed boneless. The coachman didn’t dare look at the situation inside, only hesitating: “My lord?”

“Go ahead.” Pei Wenxuan’s voice came from inside the carriage, carrying some coldness. “Listen to Her Highness.”

The coachman only thought Pei Wenxuan was helpless, looked at Pei Wenxuan with some pity, and drove the carriage toward the Pei residence.

The carriage creaked as it moved. Pei Wenxuan wrapped one arm around Li Rong’s waist, saying softly: “I thought Your Highness returned to the residence.”

“You’re my precious darling,” Li Rong leaned against Pei Wenxuan’s chest, “how could I bear to part with you?”

Pei Wenxuan smiled without speaking, listening to Li Rong’s nonsense. After Li Rong leaned for a while, she heard Pei Wenxuan inquire: “Can Your Highness not decide?”

“Pei Wenxuan.”

Li Rong spoke in a low voice: “If I kill Li Cheng and Father Emperor truly wants to kill me, Hua Jing will inevitably experience military rebellion. Chuan’er has five thousand Feathered Forest Guards. I have one thousand from the Constabulary Bureau. The Shangguan clan and you have four thousand. Altogether only ten thousand. But Father Emperor’s Imperial Guard alone exceeds ten thousand. If Su Rongqing and Prince Ning join forces, do you think Chuan’er will be willing to protect me and move against Father Emperor?”

Pei Wenxuan did not speak. He raised his hand to stroke Li Rong’s back.

“If he’s unwilling to risk his life for me, I will die.”

Li Rong raised her head, looking at Pei Wenxuan: “I will die like Consort Rou, for an imperial prince’s throne.”

“Your Highness doesn’t trust the Crown Prince.”

Pei Wenxuan affirmed. He thought for a moment, his voice steady: “If Your Highness wants to kill Li Cheng, the Pei family has two thousand troops in the city, plus one thousand residence guards. My own private forces are spread throughout Hua Jing. At that time, if the Crown Prince abandons Your Highness, I will escort Your Highness out of the city. You can escape all the way to Qingzhou. You have stationed troops there. At that time, the succession struggle in Hua Jing will be paramount. No one will pursue your whereabouts. If the Crown Prince wins, you return. If the Crown Prince loses, you abandon Qingzhou and sail far to the East—your life can be preserved.”

Li Rong did not speak. Pei Wenxuan’s hand stroking her back paused for a moment. After a moment, he couldn’t help but laugh ruefully: “You don’t trust me either.”

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong’s voice was somewhat hoarse. She nestled in Pei Wenxuan’s embrace. “I’m sorry.”

Pei Wenxuan took a deep breath. He raised his hand to hold Li Rong tightly.

“It’s not your fault. This world hasn’t taught you to trust a person. It’s fine.” Pei Wenxuan kissed her. “If you’re afraid, first kill Xie Chunhe. After Lin Feibai gains control of the Xie family, the Xie family will block Xiao Su from entering the capital. Qin Lin will pursue Xiao Su from behind. You and the Shangguan clan’s armies will join forces to enter Hua Jing. We’ll proceed step by step.”

“The cost is too great.”

Li Rong closed her eyes: “Moreover, if Su Rongqing and Father Emperor join forces, any mishap in the Northwest and we’re finished.”

“We must kill Li Cheng.”

Li Rong’s voice was very calm: “But when I close my eyes, I think of the previous life.”

“In the previous life, the last time I met with Chuan’er, he invited me to play chess. He didn’t say anything about me, didn’t ask how my health was. He just said he’d newly obtained an immortality elixir that could grant eternal life. He asked me about establishing the heir, asked me about Li Ping.”

“In his eyes there was nothing—all chess pieces.”

Li Rong opened her eyes in a daze: “Wenxuan, although I love Chuan’er and Mother very much, they are my family. But actually, deep in my heart, I’ve always been very afraid.”

Li Rong’s expression was calm, but Pei Wenxuan saw from Li Rong’s composure the anguish hidden deep in her heart for many years, unspeakable, deceiving herself and deceiving others, making her entire being tremble slightly involuntarily.

“They don’t love me that much, and I don’t love them that much either.”

“My mother consort would let me die for Chuan’er’s sake.”

“Everything I do for Chuan’er is for him, but also for myself.”

“And Chuan’er…”

Li Rong’s eyes showed a moment of confusion: “If it’s him from the previous life who returns, after I kill Li Cheng.”

“He will let me die.”

Trading his sister and mother for overall stability, for an agreement with his father, for the high throne, for absolute control over this realm.

If the Li Chuan from the previous life stood here.

Li Rong felt a chill in her heart—

He would let her die.

When this thought surfaced, Li Rong’s hands and feet turned cold.

Pei Wenxuan gazed quietly at Li Rong. Li Rong smiled somewhat forcedly: “Sorry for letting you see such ugly things.”

Family was not family, nation was not nation.

Every person in this imperial court seemed to have become a mutated beast, trapped in this arena.

“Your Highness,” Pei Wenxuan gripped Li Rong’s hand, “try it.”

Li Rong looked up in confusion at Pei Wenxuan: “What you fear is being let down. But if you don’t give an opportunity for everyone to prove themselves, then you’ll never know that in this world, there are people who can give you trust.”

“Try once.” Pei Wenxuan looked at her, his eyes full of tenderness. “I promise you won’t come to harm.”

He didn’t know what choice Li Chuan would make.

But as long as he lived.

Using his body as a bridge, his bones as wheels, he would safely escort her out of Hua Jing.

“We’ve already lived one lifetime, Rong Rong.” Pei Wenxuan pulled her into his embrace. “I don’t want you to live another life filled with despair like the previous one.”