When everything ended, it was already midnight.

Pei Wenxuan lay on top of her. Li Rong was so exhausted she couldn’t open her eyes. Pei Wenxuan caught his breath for a while, then lowered his head to kiss her forehead, saying gently, “You sleep.”

Li Rong responded with a nasal sound. Pei Wenxuan dressed her, took a blanket, and covered her with it.

Then he went to the bow of the boat, used a basin to scoop up some water, and mixed it with water that had been heating on the small stove originally meant for warming wine. After adjusting it to a suitable temperature, he boiled another basin of water, brought the properly mixed water back to the cabin, and dampened a cloth to wipe Li Rong’s face and other areas where she had sweated profusely.

Li Rong didn’t open her eyes, simply feeling herself gradually becoming refreshed.

Her voice was somewhat hoarse, so she didn’t want to speak. Pei Wenxuan was quite satisfied, and though he said nothing, his heart was extremely pleased.

The second basin of water had been boiled and then cooled. He brought it to clean her. Li Rong wanted to refuse, but then felt Pei Wenxuan gently place his hand on her shoulder. After a soothing kiss, he said in a low, hoarse voice, “It’s all right, sleep well.”

This made it impossible to sleep—she became even more alert. Li Rong felt her face burning terribly, yet not wanting to show weakness, she raised her hand to cover her eyes with her sleeve, as if blocking the light.

After she was completely clean and tidy, Pei Wenxuan left the cabin. He seemed to have cleaned himself with lake water—she could hear the sound of water outside. After a while, he walked back in. He lay down beside her, pulled up her blanket properly, then drew her into his embrace, saying warmly, “Don’t catch cold.”

With that, he rested his head on her shoulder and nestled together with her.

All the blankets were given to Li Rong. He wore only a single robe, but fortunately, with the cabin doors and windows closed, it was quite warm. Li Rong felt he seemed to have fallen asleep. She quietly opened her eyes, and upon opening them saw him lying opposite her, gazing at her tenderly with a smile.

Li Rong’s face instantly grew hot, yet she still feigned composure: “What are you looking at me for?”

“I only wanted to watch you sleeping for a while, who would have thought you’d open your eyes to peek at me.”

“Who’s peeking at you?” Li Rong frowned, feeling the awkward irritation of being caught. “I can’t sleep and opened my eyes—that’s called peeking?”

“All right,” Pei Wenxuan pressed his lips together in a light smile. “It’s not peeking. Your Highness, why can’t you sleep? Tell me about it.”

Li Rong found it hard to speak. How could she say she had been stirred awake by his attentions? Just then she felt something strange in her body. Her movements stiffened. Pei Wenxuan immediately knew what had happened. He restrained himself, did nothing, only moved forward to gently kiss her forehead, soothing her with his low, hoarse voice: “They’ll come to pick us up soon. You can wash when you get back.”

Li Rong heard the strangeness in his voice and knew he understood everything. For a moment, she couldn’t be arrogant either. With a red face and lowered head, she responded quietly. After a moment, she still couldn’t help but complain in a small voice, “How did it get inside?”

“My fault.” Pei Wenxuan immediately admitted his mistake. Hearing her complaint, he felt joyful inside. He felt as if Li Rong had placed him in the most pleasant hot spring—at this moment, no matter what Li Rong said to him, he felt it was wonderful.

The two leaned quietly together. In such a quiet setting, Li Rong soon felt drowsy again. She pillowed on Pei Wenxuan’s arm, leaning against his chest. Pei Wenxuan raised his hand as if stroking a cat’s back, gently soothing her stroke by stroke.

Before long, Li Rong fell asleep. She didn’t know how much time passed when she vaguely heard the water sounds beside her change, as if a boat was approaching. Li Rong lightly lifted her eyelids. Pei Wenxuan immediately noticed her movement. He pulled up her blanket and said warmly, “Sleep first. I’ll go take a look.”

With that, Pei Wenxuan got up, threw on his outer robe, and stood at the bow. He saw the person he had arranged rowing a boat to the side. Just as the person was about to speak, Pei Wenxuan raised his hand to his lips, glanced toward the cabin, and said in a low voice, “My wife is asleep. Just send us directly to shore.”

The person smiled and nodded, not daring to speak.

Pei Wenxuan returned to the cabin and closed the small door again. Li Rong heard him sit beside her and asked indistinctly, “What time is it?”

“The hour of the tiger.”

Pei Wenxuan brushed the hair from her face, his voice very light, as if afraid of disturbing her. “Sleep this whole journey. After you go back and bathe, it’ll be about time for morning court.”

Li Rong responded quietly. Pei Wenxuan thought for a moment. “If you’re not feeling well, I’ll request leave from His Majesty.”

Li Rong said nothing. She closed her eyes and slept.

Pei Wenxuan looked at her. He saw her brows tightly knitted, as if sleeping uneasily.

Actually, he knew that even if Li Rong didn’t say anything now, deep in her heart she was ultimately uneasy.

Emotion was his greatest weakness, and he had placed this weakness completely exposed before his opponent. Li Rong was afraid.

Yet she didn’t dare say it again. She was considerate of his feelings, so she kept all her worries in her heart.

Pei Wenxuan raised his hand to stroke her hair, wondering what she was thinking about. After a long while, he sighed, leaned down, and gently kissed her temple. “Don’t think anymore. Sleep well. I’ll listen to you.”

Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Li Rong knew it was his compromise. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him, her eyes misty, as if wanting to say some comforting words.

But she couldn’t, and was afraid she might carelessly say something hurtful again. After hesitating for a moment, she reached out and grabbed the corner of Pei Wenxuan’s robe.

“When we get back, shall we do it again?”

She spoke in a low voice.

All the ways she could think of to please him were tangible and real.

Power, status, money, desire.

Hearing her words, Pei Wenxuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He was speechless for a moment, finally only able to say, “Let’s keep it on account for now and repay it slowly later. But your sentiment,” Pei Wenxuan placed his hand on her hair, softening his voice, “I understand.”

Actually, after confirming her feelings and making her understand his thoughts, the so-called methods no longer mattered.

In the end, what made Li Rong comfortable was what was best.

If a relationship made her anxious and fearful, no matter how pure or hard-working, what use would it be?

Pei Wenxuan sat beside Li Rong, watching her appearance, seeing her nestle beside him like a cat, slowly falling asleep under his soothing.

Li Rong slept all the way back to the Princess Manor. Pei Wenxuan covered her with his robe and carried her back from the carriage to the residence without a sound.

After returning to the manor, Li Rong lingered in bed for a while before getting up to bathe and wash. Then she went to court with Pei Wenxuan.

Pei Wenxuan’s face was clean and fair, but the scratch marks on his neck couldn’t be concealed. He wore his official robes and waited for Li Rong at the door. When Li Rong emerged, he walked before her with a cold expression, bowing respectfully: “Your Highness.”

Seeing his unfavorable expression, Li Rong first froze, then realized Pei Wenxuan was acting. She quickly adjusted her expression, seeming somewhat guilty as she stepped forward and grabbed his arm in a placating manner, “Prince Consort.”

Pei Wenxuan’s expression didn’t change. He walked out together with Li Rong. The two stayed close together. From others’ perspective, Pei Wenxuan seemed quite cold while Li Rong appeared placating.

But within the distance where only the two could hear, Pei Wenxuan’s tone was quite gentle: “Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

“I’m not giving birth,” Li Rong held his arm, smiling as she leaned on his arm. “How could I be so delicate? Moreover, thanks to Lord Pei’s patient care,” Li Rong said while gently and aimlessly tracing patterns in the palm of his hand hidden by his sleeve with her little finger, softening her voice, “compared to the previous life, it’s much better.”

In matters of intimacy, the degree of pleasure depended most importantly on the man’s patience.

The first time in her previous life, Li Rong hadn’t actually experienced the legendarily severe pain, precisely because of Pei Wenxuan’s absolute self-control and forbearance.

And now Pei Wenxuan not only had patience but had also accumulated countless experiences with her. With proper restraint, even if there was discomfort, for Li Rong it was negligible.

Hearing her praise, Pei Wenxuan’s face remained cold as frost, though his tone carried a bit of helplessness: “Don’t cause trouble.”

Li Rong lowered her head with a light laugh and stopped teasing him.

The two traveled all the way to the palace. After getting off the carriage, Li Rong wanted to take Pei Wenxuan’s hand, but Pei Wenxuan flung her hand away and walked straight in.

This scene was witnessed by many officials. Li Rong’s face showed some embarrassment and shame-turned-anger. Not wanting to stand there, she hurried forward.

For the court, the two most important matters in March were nothing more than the imperial examinations and personnel transfers.

Compared to the latter, the weight of the imperial examinations could almost be ignored. The Ministry of Personnel explained this year’s enrollment situation and then withdrew.

When morning court ended, just as Pei Wenxuan walked out of the great hall, Li Ming sent someone over who bowed respectfully: “Lord Pei, His Majesty requests your presence.”

Receiving these words, Pei Wenxuan bowed respectfully and followed the eunuch to the imperial study.

Li Rong silently glanced once, then shifted her gaze and turned to leave the hall.

Just as she walked out of the hall, she saw Su Rongqing ahead. He was with several officials, holding his tablet, frowning as he instructed those officials about something.

Su Rongqing was a person with a mild temperament in dealing with others, but in actual serious matters, he was forceful in his methods and extremely strict.

She hadn’t noticed before, but observing carefully now, she discovered that the current Su Rongqing, compared to the clear and otherworldly young scholar in her memories from years ago, had long since developed a sinister quality in his bearing that shouldn’t be there.

Li Rong stood behind him observing. Su Rongqing had been descending the steps together with other officials, but vaguely sensing Li Rong’s gaze, he turned around to see Li Rong standing before the great hall, her gaze cold as she scrutinized him.

Su Rongqing didn’t speak. The wind blew gently, lifting his robe. He gazed at Li Rong with a look that seemed to freeze time itself—cold, silent, and prolonged—crossing through the palace gates to gently fall upon Li Rong.

That moment of eye contact was so brief it seemed like an unconscious daze. The official beside him was somewhat puzzled by Su Rongqing’s silence and couldn’t help but follow Su Rongqing’s gaze, asking carefully, “Minister Su?”

Hearing the call, Su Rongqing bowed to Li Rong from afar, then withdrew his gaze and turned to lead those beside him down, as if nothing had happened, continuing, “The key to this case lies in…”

Li Rong watched him walk away. After a long while, she gave a mocking smile and turned to leave.

Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan, led by a eunuch, entered the imperial study. Li Ming was practicing calligraphy.

Pei Wenxuan entered and kowtowed respectfully. The usually gentle person now had a bit more sternness on his face.

Li Ming glanced up at him imperceptibly while practicing his characters. “What happened to your neck? Where did those scratches come from?”

Pei Wenxuan kept a cold face, restraining his emotions. “Reporting to Your Majesty, I was playing and joking with the Princess and was accidentally scratched.”

Li Ming’s movements paused. Actually, he had also heard news last night that Li Rong had gone to tour a pleasure boat and even summoned some good-looking young gentlemen as companions. Pei Wenxuan had brought a sword to catch them in the act and even kidnapped Li Rong.

But these were after all things secretly investigated, which he couldn’t directly mention. Looking at Pei Wenxuan’s expression, last night probably hadn’t been very pleasant.

Li Ming speculated about everything that happened last night, pondering the possible intentions behind Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan’s actions.

After all, he had just conceived this thought when they started quarreling here—it seemed somewhat too deliberate. But so many things had indeed happened last night; the young couple might have truly quarreled, which was also possible.

His expression remained unchanged, pretending to know nothing, and he said slowly, “Between husband and wife, you must be mutually tolerant. Pingle has been my most beloved daughter since childhood—she may be somewhat spoiled, but you needn’t take it to heart.”

“Yes.” Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, his body straight, answering very steadily.

“I called you here to discuss the promotion of the Vice Minister of Personnel. You’ve risen too quickly in position. If promoted there, I’m afraid it will be difficult to convince the masses,” Li Ming’s brush strokes fell on the paper one by one, seemingly casual. “Have you thought about how to respond?”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan’s expression finally eased a bit. He bowed respectfully. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. Although this subject’s qualifications aren’t deep enough, with the elders in the Ministry of Personnel plus the connections accumulated at the Censorate, Your Majesty can rest assured.”

Li Ming observed Pei Wenxuan’s expression. Seeing him secretly pleased when official position was mentioned, he continued without showing anything. “However, as Pingle’s Prince Consort, Pingle has offended many in court. There are many people from the Xie family in the Ministry of Personnel. If you transfer there, I’m afraid you’ll have a bitter time. How about this,” Li Ming seemed concerned, “I’ll transfer you to the Ministry of Rites instead, to spare you from criticism. What do you think?”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan’s face went pale.

The Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Rites, even with the same rank of Vice Minister, were vastly different. One was a powerless cultural position, while the other truly controlled official promotions.

Pei Wenxuan seemed to be struggling hard to control his emotions. Li Ming took tea from Fulai’s side and said slowly, “You and Pingle have deep feelings, and her Constabulary Bureau also needs help. I’ve thought it over—why don’t you go to the Ministry of Rites where you’ll have more time to help her? What do you think?”

Hearing Li Ming’s words, Pei Wenxuan’s expression was extremely ugly, but he still endured and bowed respectfully. “This subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace.”

“Very well,” Li Ming waved his hand. “You may go.”

“This subject takes his leave.”

With that, Pei Wenxuan stood up. Li Ming looked at the tea leaves in his tea, leisurely stirring them with his tea bowl. Pei Wenxuan walked out with a stiff body. After only a few steps, Pei Wenxuan suddenly stopped. After seeming to hesitate for a long time, he suddenly turned around and dropped to his knees with a “thud,” saying with some agitation, “Your Majesty, this subject begs Your Majesty to make a decision for this subject!”

Li Ming’s hand shook and tea spilled out. He looked up at Pei Wenxuan, frowning. “What decision do you want?”

“Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan’s tone was full of indignation, though his expression was very calm where no one could see. He gritted his teeth, restraining his emotions. “This subject wishes to divorce Her Highness Pingle and humbly requests Your Majesty’s approval!”

Since Li Ming hoped he would retreat, then he would retreat greatly.

If Li Ming wasn’t panicking, he would force him to panic.