Li Rong hurried out of the Princess Manor. Upon reaching the gate, she turned around and said in a lowered voice to her attendant, “Go immediately to find Deputy Director Shangguan. Have her investigate right away the list of court officials that Huale and Consort Rou have been in contact with recently. Find out exactly who put the Prince Consort’s name on the Vice Minister of Personnel list. Have her investigate clearly at once.”
The attendant acknowledged in a low voice. Li Rong then boarded her carriage and had it rush toward the palace.
While Li Rong was hurrying to the palace, Consort Rou was having her nails dyed with Huale.
“Pei Wenxuan actually fainted,” Huale sat beside Consort Rou, extending her hands to the maid who trimmed her nails. She was quite puzzled. “Isn’t becoming Vice Minister of Personnel a good thing? Did he faint from anger or from excessive joy?”
“If he fainted from excessive joy, I would be delighted.” Consort Rou kept her eyes closed, allowing attendants to massage her back and trim her nails, speaking lazily. “But I fear he fainted from anger.”
“Getting angry over a promotion,” Huale frowned. “How is that possible?”
“Why wouldn’t it be possible?” Consort Rou didn’t look at her directly, slowly explaining, “If he’s clever, he definitely won’t be happy.”
“Why?”
“If he becomes Vice Minister of Personnel, the court officials won’t agree.” Consort Rou looked down at her nails being painted bright red, her voice steady. “Not only will he not get the position, it will also arouse His Majesty’s suspicion about how much power the Princess has. If the Princess has too much power, His Majesty will certainly worry. Once His Majesty worries, the Princess’s path at court,” Consort Rou looked up with a light smile, “will have reached its end.”
“Advancing to retreat—” Huale became pleased. “Mother Consort is still the most formidable. That old scoundrel Liu Hangchun chose her over Mother Consort—he must be blind!”
“I currently have no real power, relying entirely on His Majesty’s favor.” Hearing Huale’s words, Consort Rou wasn’t angry, speaking leisurely. “Pingle holds the Constabulary Bureau, so naturally the court officials fear her. However, if the court officials fear her,” Consort Rou looked up at Huale with a smile, “your father naturally fears her too.”
With that, she turned her head to look toward the Imperial Study in the distance. “Pingle is still too young.”
“Father really is—” Hearing Consort Rou’s words, Huale said dejectedly, “Giving such an important thing as the Constabulary Bureau to Pingle, yet giving me nothing. It’s excessive.”
Hearing Huale’s words, Consort Rou smiled as she looked at her, as if viewing a child who never grew up.
“Do you know what you lack compared to Pingle?”
“I’m inferior to her?” Huale became angry. “How am I inferior to her?”
“That child Pingle—whatever she wants, she will fight for it, will seize it.” Consort Rou spoke while looking at Huale with a smile. “She clearly knows that the most important thing for a woman is to hold power. But you, silly child, only think about finding a suitable husband.”
“But to have power, one must also marry someone with power. Just like Mother Consort—” Huale moved closer to Consort Rou’s side, grasping her hand and acting coquettishly. “You married Father Emperor and became a noble woman, didn’t you?”
“You’re wrong.” Consort Rou pulled away Huale’s hand, speaking both solemnly and gently. “You must remember that your power is something you seize for yourself. Men are merely your means,” Consort Rou’s voice became increasingly gentle, “but should never be your end goal.”
“I don’t believe it.” Huale turned her head away proudly. “Father Emperor dotes on you the most. If it weren’t for the Shangguan family suppressing you, you would have long been Empress.”
Hearing Huale’s words, Consort Rou lowered her head and smiled, only saying, “Silly child.”
Then she turned her head, shifting her gaze to the vigorous weeds in the courtyard.
Spring had arrived, and all plants were flourishing. From Mingle Palace to the Imperial Study, all plants presented a scene of thriving prosperity.
Li Ming looked at Wang Houwen kneeling on the ground, pacing back and forth in the great hall. He wanted to curse but felt it would be too disrespectful to Wang Houwen’s dignity. After all, Wang Houwen was an old minister—he had to give him that face.
“What qualifications does Pei Wenxuan have that you dare put him in the Vice Minister of Personnel position?”
Li Ming felt stifled. He stared at Wang Houwen. “For such an important position, even if you placed a mediocre person, I wouldn’t question you. I’ve always trusted that you have good judgment regarding Ministry of Personnel matters. But what do you mean by this now? Pei Wenxuan is just a wet-behind-the-ears youth!” Li Ming shouted. “And you dare place him in the Vice Minister of Personnel position?!”
“Although Censor Pei is young,” Wang Houwen seemed somewhat uneasy, hesitantly praising, “he is after all the Princess’s Prince Consort. The Princess…”
“What about the Princess?!”
Li Ming roared, “Can the Princess override the law, override court discipline, override me?! Let me ask you—what qualifies Pei Wenxuan to be Vice Minister of Personnel? What qualifies him?!”
Just as Li Ming finished shouting, an announcement came from outside that Li Rong had arrived.
Li Ming looked up and shouted, “I won’t see her!”
After speaking, seeing the eunuch hurrying away, he called the eunuch back. “Forget it,” Li Ming said with difficulty, “bring her in.”
With that, Li Ming looked down at Wang Houwen and waved his hand helplessly. “What’s done is done. You may withdraw first. Reflect on yourself. I’ll have someone investigate the rest.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Wang Houwen bowed respectfully, then stood up and withdrew.
Li Rong stood at the entrance for a while, thinking about what to say when she saw Li Ming.
The Vice Minister of Personnel position couldn’t be kept. But if she didn’t keep it, Pei Wenxuan would miss the transfer timing. He couldn’t become Vice Minister of Personnel, nor could he go to other positions. To transfer again, he’d have to wait until next year.
Most importantly, unable to transfer, this year’s imperial examinations would be completely missed. To wait for another Dragon-Tiger List would likely only be possible in the next lifetime.
She had to preserve Pei Wenxuan’s Vice Minister of Personnel position. But if she didn’t release this position, Li Ming would certainly suspect her.
Consort Rou’s current calculation was likely to put her in a dilemma—either let Li Ming suspect her or give up on Pei Wenxuan’s promotion. If she followed Consort Rou’s line of thinking, she would lose either way. So now her best approach was to appeal to emotion and employ the strategy of besieging Wei to rescue Zhao.
Consort Rou wanted Li Ming to see her secretly working with ministers to secure an official position for Pei Wenxuan. So she would directly acknowledge this matter and report Consort Rou in return.
She colluded with court officials, while Consort Rou colluded with aristocratic families.
Li Rong smiled coldly. She wanted to see which of these two Li Ming considered more serious.
While Li Rong was deliberating, she saw Wang Houwen emerge.
Reaching the entrance, Wang Houwen bowed respectfully to Li Rong. Li Rong kept a stern face. Seeing Wang Houwen bow, she said coldly, “Minister Wang is a Third Rank minister, a veteran court official. I cannot accept this bow.”
“So what if I’m a minister?” Wang Houwen sighed. “Xie Lanqing was Minister of Justice and head of the Xie family. Didn’t Your Highness still bring him down when you wanted?”
Hearing these words, Li Rong looked up and stared coldly at Wang Houwen.
Wang Houwen smiled lightly, cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, this humble minister takes his leave.”
Having said that, Wang Houwen turned and walked straight down.
Li Rong entered the Imperial Study and bowed respectfully. Li Ming kept a cold face and had her stand up, saying coldly, “What are you doing here now?”
Then, Li Ming’s anger flared, “Pei Wenxuan’s official position has been decided. What more are you dissatisfied with?”
“Your daughter has come precisely for this matter.”
Li Rong hastily knelt down again. “Your daughter implores Father Emperor to select another candidate for Vice Minister of Personnel!”
Hearing this, Li Ming’s expression eased somewhat. “Pei Wenxuan becoming Vice Minister of Personnel is a good thing. Why do you want to change it?”
“Father Emperor,” Li Rong said urgently, “let your daughter speak frankly. In this transfer, your daughter actually helped Pei Wenxuan secretly, operating behind the scenes.”
“I know.” Li Ming laughed coldly. “Otherwise, how could he become Vice Minister of Personnel?”
“But the position your daughter sought was not Vice Minister of Personnel.”
Li Rong looked up anxiously. “Father Emperor, the position your daughter sought was Sixth Rank Merit Assessment Director!”
“Merit Assessment Director also requires you to seek it?”
Li Ming frowned. Hearing these words, Li Rong’s eyes reddened and her voice became hoarse. “Father Emperor, you don’t know. Since your daughter took charge of the Constabulary Bureau, she has offended many people at court. Because of your daughter, the Prince Consort’s work has been extremely difficult. According to custom, after marrying your daughter, regardless of his previous rank, he should have been directly promoted to Sixth Rank. He trained at the Censorate for a year and consecutively helped your daughter handle several major cases. By all reason and sentiment, transferring him to become Merit Assessment Director should have been more than sufficient. But because of your daughter, he’s been made difficult by everyone at court—no one is willing to accept him. But he can’t remain a Supervising Censor for his entire life, can he?”
“Isn’t the Censorate managed by Shangguan Minzhi?” Li Ming tapped the table thoughtfully. “Having him stay at the Censorate—isn’t that good?”
“This is precisely the difficulty!” As Li Rong spoke, tears fell. “You also know how many people from the Shangguan family your daughter has investigated. Uncle Minzhi resents your daughter for not even sparing relatives, making things difficult for the Prince Consort everywhere. If there were any other way, I wouldn’t be so anxious, running around everywhere for him. The Censorate makes things difficult for him, other departments won’t take him. In desperation, your daughter could only lobby for him, begging various officials to see if they could think of a way. If he couldn’t reach Section Chief, at least becoming a Director would be good! But those officials all made excuses and delays. Your daughter… your daughter had no choice but to beg people and spend great sums before finally securing a Director position for the Prince Consort. But unexpectedly, today in the great hall, he suddenly became Vice Minister of Personnel!”
“Becoming Vice Minister of Personnel—isn’t that good?” Li Ming observed Li Rong’s expression. Li Rong wiped her tears. “Father Emperor, your daughter covets power, but also deeply understands that things reach their limit and reverse. Wenxuan and I are still young. He’s only been at court for less than a year. Being directly promoted to Vice Minister of Personnel—how many eyes are watching him? If he truly takes this position, how many people will resent him and say I used the Constabulary Bureau’s power to pave his way? If he had no talent, that would be one thing. But the Prince Consort is clearly a talented person who must suffer such grievances. How is this helping him? This is harming him!”
Hearing Li Rong’s words, Li Ming frowned. He remained silent for a long time before saying, “If you had difficulties, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“If your daughter has difficulties, doesn’t Father Emperor have them too?” Li Rong controlled herself, sobbing quietly. “Your daughter established the Constabulary Bureau precisely to share Father Emperor’s worries. If I can’t help Father Emperor, that’s one thing, but I certainly can’t trouble Father Emperor with my own private matters. This is indeed your daughter’s fault. Your daughter shouldn’t have secretly tried to find connections for the Prince Consort. If they won’t let him be promoted, then so be it. If they bully him, let them bully him. If others laugh at me, I’ll endure it and it will pass. My secretly finding connections for him like this indeed deserves punishment. I only hope Father Emperor can now think of a way—we truly dare not accept the Vice Minister of Personnel position.”
With that, Li Rong kowtowed, crying so hard she could barely catch her breath.
Hearing her pitiful crying and hearing her say someone was laughing at her—after all, she was a child he’d raised with his own hands—though she used to be fierce, domineering and arrogant, seeing her become like this today, he felt some heartache. He spoke with anger, “Who dares laugh at you? I want to hear who has such audacity to dare laugh at you?”
Li Rong didn’t speak. Li Ming was quite impatient. “Why aren’t you speaking? What’s the use of just crying?”
“Father Emperor, it’s not that your daughter won’t speak. It’s just that if your daughter speaks, Father Emperor will probably think your daughter is sowing discord again.”
Li Ming frowned. He somewhat guessed. “Someone from the palace?”
Li Rong kept her head lowered, seemingly somewhat exhausted.
Seeing her silence, Li Ming became somewhat angry. “Speak.”
“Father Emperor,” Li Rong forced herself upright, “if you insist your daughter speak, then your daughter will tell the truth.”
Li Rong stared at Li Ming, smiling through her tears. “Ever since your daughter married, she’s been ridiculed by other princesses in the palace. Sister Huale said that Pei Wenxuan is of low position and humble status—that Father Emperor doesn’t like me, which is why he bestowed me to him.”
“Nonsense!”
Li Ming roared angrily, his face alternating between green and white. “How could Huale say such things!”
“What does Father Emperor mean by this?” Li Rong laughed. “Do you think Huale wouldn’t say such things, or that Huale shouldn’t say such things?”
Li Ming was momentarily speechless. Li Rong continued, “Father Emperor, why do you think your daughter is so afraid today? Why did I rush into the palace in such panic, begging Father Emperor to remove the Vice Minister of Personnel position? It’s not only because Pei Wenxuan is too young. Speaking of youth, Su Rongqing is also young. Why can he be Minister of Justice while my husband cannot be a Vice Minister? But I still had to come, because I knew that if I didn’t come,” Li Rong lowered her head and laughed, tears clinging to her hair, “Father Emperor would certainly think I was the one operating behind the scenes to make Wenxuan Vice Minister of Personnel. I’m afraid.”
“I…” Li Ming looked embarrassed. “How could you think I would think that way?”
“Because your daughter has grown accustomed to fear.” Li Rong choked up. “If your daughter were Sister Huale today, of course I wouldn’t be afraid. Because I would know Father Emperor trusts me. But your daughter is the daughter of the Shangguan family.”
“What’s wrong with being the Shangguan family’s daughter?” Li Ming spoke anxiously. “You’re the Shangguan family’s daughter, but you’re also my eldest princess!”
“But Sister Huale said,” Li Rong stared at Li Ming, “because Father Emperor is suspicious of the Shangguan family, that’s why he married me to someone from a humble family.”
“She’s absurd! Nonsense!” Li Ming was so angry he slapped the table. “Pei Wenxuan is Pei Lizhi’s son, that year’s top scholar, excellent in both character and appearance. Don’t you know how good he is? I value his character.”
“I know Father Emperor’s good intentions, so when I married that year, I was overjoyed.” Li Rong looked exhausted. “But after hearing it so many times… I also become afraid. I always hope Father Emperor thinks well of me and trusts me more, so I don’t compete, don’t ask, don’t fight. My Prince Consort is not from a prestigious family, his rank is humble—I’ve never said anything. Even when they gossip about me behind my back and laugh at me, I pretend not to hear.”
“I’m tired.”
Li Rong spoke and kowtowed again. “I only ask Father Emperor not to suspect your daughter. Your daughter doesn’t have such great ability. Your daughter has exhausted all her efforts just… to seek fairness. So that my husband won’t be unable to even become a Sixth Rank official because of me.”
“Pingle…”
Hearing Li Rong’s words, Li Ming also felt somewhat bitter inside.
“I beg Father Emperor’s permission.”
Li Ming didn’t speak. After a long time, he sighed and personally walked to Li Rong’s side, helping her up.
“Stand up first.” Li Ming’s voice was gentle. “I will give you justice in this matter. Go back first.”
“Thank you, Father Emperor.”
Li Rong bowed respectfully, yet her words carried some distance. Li Ming’s heart suddenly ached.
Li Rong had always loved acting coquettishly with him. He’d originally thought that with so many children, he didn’t care about their comings and goings. But when Li Rong truly showed her disappointment in him, he realized that deep in his heart, facing this eldest daughter, he had always held those few bits of paternal love.
“Go back first.”
He controlled his emotions and patted Li Rong’s shoulder. Li Rong bowed respectfully, her posture always elegant and proper. After she bowed and withdrew, Li Ming stood in place, quietly watching Li Rong’s departing figure.
Fulai brought up tea, respectfully saying, “Your Majesty, Her Highness has gone far.”
“Fulai,” Li Ming suddenly spoke, “have I been bad to Rong’er?”
“How could Your Majesty say such a thing?” Fulai answered smoothly. “Your Majesty is very good to all the Highnesses. You are an extremely loving father.”
“I feel that Pingle is disappointed in me.”
Li Ming spoke slowly. Fulai smiled and said, “Your Majesty jests. Princess Pingle has always trusted Your Majesty most. Whatever Your Majesty says, Her Highness will believe. You are her best father. She will never be disappointed in you.”
“When you say it like that, I feel even worse.”
Li Ming said, turning around and sighing, “In this palace, all those who want to use emotion as a blade will be wounded by that blade.”
Fulai raised his hand to support Li Ming. Li Ming sat back down. He hesitated for a moment, then finally said, “Send someone to investigate. Find out exactly who orchestrated Pei Wenxuan’s entry into the Ministry of Personnel.”
“Yes.”
Fulai spoke, using one hand to press his sleeve while taking up the ink stick with the other, beginning to grind ink for Li Ming. He asked in confusion, “However, Your Majesty, regardless of whether Princess Pingle intervened, Minister Pei becoming Vice Minister of Personnel is…”
“Is what?”
Li Ming looked up at Fulai. Fulai smiled with difficulty. “Is… perhaps a bit too young?”
“Why do you always say Pei Wenxuan is young but never say Su Rongqing is young?”
“Minister Su is after all from an aristocratic family…”
“So you all bully Pei Wenxuan for being from a humble family with a father who died early, is that it?”
Li Ming laughed coldly. Fulai hastily knelt on the ground, saying urgently, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This servant is guilty. This servant only heard from people outside…”
“According to what you’re saying, are many people really laughing at Pingle behind her back?”
Fulai didn’t dare speak anymore.
Li Ming took a deep breath. “Good,” he raised his hand and pointed at Fulai, nodding. “Very good indeed.”
Fulai knelt, repeatedly kowtowing and begging Li Ming for forgiveness.
Li Ming only pointed at Fulai without speaking. After a long time, he took a deep breath. “Go investigate first. Investigate clearly. I’m waiting for these results!”