Pei Wenxuan fooled around with Li Rong until midnight, then climbed out the window and secretly left.

Li Rong wanted to keep him, but he smiled and only said, “I still have important matters tonight. Give me your token. I need to see Hongde one more time.”

“What are you going to do?” Li Rong frowned. Pei Wenxuan reached out his hand. “Just give it to me.”

Li Rong hesitated for a moment, but ultimately handed the token to Pei Wenxuan.

Since the two of them were already together, they should trust each other without reservation. She didn’t want to destroy the foundation of this relationship at its very beginning.

Pei Wenxuan took Li Rong’s token, kissed her, and hurriedly left.

Li Rong lay on the bed and closed her eyes in acknowledgment. After a long while, feeling somewhat self-disgusted, she raised her hand to cover her eyes.

Her trust in one person had ultimately reached its limit.

The fire at the Memorial Office shocked the entire court. When everyone attended morning court the next day, there was much discussion about what had really happened with this fire.

During morning court, everyone waited for Li Ming to announce a result. After all, Li Ming had personally supervised the fire scene last night. With such a major incident, there should be some news.

However, Li Ming didn’t mention this matter from beginning to end. Only when morning court concluded did he mention offhandedly, “The Memorial Office caught fire last night, and many memorials went missing. Those of you who submitted memorials should register with the Memorial Office officials. If yours was burned, resubmit it. If it wasn’t burned, then never mind.”

With that, Li Ming looked up and swept his gaze across everyone, seeming somewhat weary. “Do you have any other matters?”

Not a single person in the court answered. Li Ming waved his hand. “Then court is dismissed.”

As Li Ming spoke, he stood up. Fulai stepped forward to support him. He seemed rather tired, even appearing somewhat strained as he descended the stairs.

Shortly after leaving, a young eunuch came before Su Rongqing and said respectfully, “Minister Su, His Majesty requests your presence.”

Su Rongqing’s expression remained normal, even carrying some warmth. “Does this gentleman know what His Majesty wants with me?”

The young eunuch shook his head and only said, “This servant doesn’t know. Minister, please just go.”

Su Rongqing nodded, expressed his thanks, and followed the eunuch to the imperial study.

As soon as he left the great hall, Li Rong instinctively looked toward Pei Wenxuan, who was talking with others. Pei Wenxuan happened to look over as well. He nodded at Li Rong from afar, signaling her not to worry. Then Pei Wenxuan chatted and laughed with others before turning to walk out.

Officials gradually departed. Li Rong also stepped toward the exit. She deliberately walked slowly. Before reaching the palace gates, a eunuch sent by Li Ming arrived. Seeing Li Rong’s figure, he quickly called out, “Your Highness, please wait!”

Li Rong stopped and looked at the newcomer. The eunuch panted as he jogged to her, out of breath. “Your Highness, fortunately you haven’t left the palace.”

“What is this about…” Li Rong showed confusion, feigning incomprehension. The eunuch caught his breath, bowed, and said, “Your Highness, His Majesty asks you to go to the imperial study. He has important matters to discuss with you.”

Receiving these words, Li Rong nodded, then smiled at the eunuch. “Thank you for your trouble.”

“It’s my duty.” The eunuch’s breathing had mostly stabilized. He raised his hand respectfully. “This servant will lead the way for Your Highness.”

Li Rong followed the eunuch to the imperial study. When she arrived, Su Rongqing was kneeling on the ground. Li Ming sat in the high seat. The atmosphere between them was somewhat tense. After Li Rong entered and bowed to Li Ming, he raised his hand to let her stand and granted her a seat. Li Rong sized up Su Rongqing, then turned to look at Li Ming. “Father Emperor summoned me here. This is…”

“Didn’t you impeach Su Rongqing?” Li Ming looked up at her and said directly. “Now your memorial has burned in the Memorial Office, so I simply called you here for a face-to-face confrontation. Minister Su says he doesn’t know Master Hongde. What do you say, Pingle?”

“What needs to be said?” Li Rong smiled. “Whether they know each other or not, just have Master Hongde come for a meeting. Do I need to say anything?”

With that, Li Rong looked at Su Rongqing with a half-smile. “It just depends on whether Minister Su dares.”

“This subject has a clear conscience,” Su Rongqing said coldly. “Your Highness makes such an assertion. Someone must have provoked Your Highness. This subject also wants Hongde to come so we can get to the bottom of this.”

“Then summon him.”

Li Rong showed no fear on her face. She gently waved her small fan and looked at Su Rongqing. “Whether it’s trickery or true innocence, once he arrives, we’ll know.”

Su Rongqing didn’t speak. He didn’t look at Li Rong—whether because he didn’t dare or didn’t want to—only lowering his eyes to gaze at the floor.

Li Ming waved his hand and had someone summon Hongde. Li Rong sat in her seat waving her fan, her heart beating somewhat fast.

The confession was fake. Once Hongde arrived, the likelihood of exposure was extremely high. After all, his son’s fate was still unknown. He couldn’t possibly help them at this time.

If Hongde entered the palace, everything would be finished.

She was terrified inside, her palms full of sweat. Now the only thing she could believe was that Pei Wenxuan wouldn’t harm her.

She restrained her fan-waving motion, pretending to be casual on the surface. After the three waited for a while, Li Ming turned his head to look at Li Rong. “He hasn’t arrived yet. First, tell me what this is about. You say Minister Su instigated Hongde to frame you. What happened?”

When Li Ming asked, Li Rong stood up and vividly recounted the confession Pei Wenxuan had forged combined with what she knew. Essentially, Su Rongqing had approached Hongde at Huguo Temple and threatened him using the life of Hongde’s illegitimate son to falsely accuse her of privately helping Li Chuan postpone his wedding. Then Su Rongqing secretly contacted Consort Rou and sent Hongde into the palace.

Li Ming and Su Rongqing listened quietly. Li Ming looked up at Su Rongqing. “Minister Su, what do you say?”

“What Your Highness said is full of holes.” Su Rongqing’s expression remained calm as usual. Li Rong smiled. “Oh? Minister Su might as well explain where the holes are.”

“According to Your Highness, if this humble subject wanted to falsely accuse Your Highness, why would I have Hongde say Your Highness helped the Crown Prince postpone his wedding as the charge? Wouldn’t it be better to directly say Your Highness privately inquired about treason?”

“You’d have to ask yourself that,” Li Rong slowly waved her fan. “Why didn’t you say that? How would I know? But you’re right. If you weren’t framing me, and I wanted to frame you, why would I find such an absurd reason? And from another angle, what reason would I have to do such a thing? The Crown Prince is not young now. Selecting a consort is an urgent matter. If I truly cared about him, I should help him quickly marry a daughter from a prestigious family. Why would I want to postpone the wedding date? You can’t be saying,” Li Rong smiled, “that I, as his sister, want to harm him?”

If she truly wanted to harm Li Chuan, Li Ming wouldn’t need to worry so much.

“That’s something Your Highness should answer.” Su Rongqing pushed the conversation back. Li Rong looked at him with a smile full of meaning, not answering. Passing the ball back and forth like this was rather pointless.

As the three waited, Hongde was lifted from the Constabulary Bureau in a sedan chair, heavily guarded by soldiers as he was transported to the palace.

At this time, Pei Wenxuan knelt in a room, holding chess pieces and playing with the person opposite him.

The young man sitting across from Pei Wenxuan wore black robes, clearly having come in secret. Watching Pei Wenxuan’s leisurely demeanor, he frowned. “According to what you said, now that Su Rongqing has burned the Memorial Office, that confession is essentially gone. They’re bound to have Hongde enter the palace. Once Hongde enters the palace, won’t the truth be exposed?”

“What if he can’t enter the palace?” Pei Wenxuan smiled lightly. The young man looked at him in surprise.

As Pei Wenxuan spoke, he turned his head to look out the window, feeling somewhat contemplative. “The clouds are gathering. I’m afraid it’s going to rain.”

While they were talking, the sedan chair carrying Hongde moved forward. No one noticed that as the wind picked up, blood dripped steadily from the bottom of the sedan chair, leaving a trail.

The sedan chair was carried to the palace gates. A guard lifted the curtain, saying irritably, “Get…”

Before he finished speaking, the guard froze in place. Everyone was drawn by the guard’s shock and looked into the sedan chair. They saw the monk’s kasaya stained with blood, a dagger pinning him firmly to the sedan chair.

“He’s… he’s dead!”

After a long while, the guard finally reacted. He turned to the person behind him and shouted urgently, “Quickly report to His Majesty! Master Hongde is dead!”

The messenger quickly turned back, running wildly into the palace. Servants relayed the message one after another at the fastest speed, delivering it to the imperial study.

At that moment, Li Ming was drinking tea when he saw a eunuch rush in, kneel on the ground, and say urgently, “Your Majesty, Master Hongde was assassinated on the road!”

Hearing this, Su Rongqing, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them wide. Li Rong stood up abruptly, her surprise tinged with anger. “What did you say?!”

A moment later, Li Rong immediately stepped toward the exit, saying urgently, “Quick, take me to see.”

As Li Rong walked out, Su Rongqing also immediately said, “Your Majesty, please allow this humble subject to go observe as well.”

Su Rongqing was originally an official of the Ministry of Justice. This type of case did indeed fall under his jurisdiction. However, Li Ming stopped them. “No one goes. Have the coroner examine the body.”

Both were forced back to their positions. Li Ming raised his hand and had Su Rongqing sit down. Su Rongqing bowed respectfully and sat.

No one spoke. Li Rong showed a worried expression, but inside she felt relieved.

Su Rongqing had still made his move. With Hongde dead, there was no proof either way. But in Li Ming’s heart, Su Rongqing could never clear himself.

“With Hongde dead, both the confession and the witness are gone.”

On the other side, inside the Princess’s mansion, Pei Wenxuan’s voice was very flat. The young man shook his head and only said, “It won’t work. Without evidence, Father Emperor won’t convict Su Rongqing. He’s suspicious. While suspecting Su Rongqing, he’ll also suspect you and Elder Sister.”

“So,” Pei Wenxuan smiled, “we move to the third step. His Majesty will start investigating the truth and falsehood of Her Highness the Princess’s words. What can be investigated now? Isn’t it where Hongde’s son is?”

Pei Wenxuan’s chess piece fell on the board. “Once he investigates this, it’ll get interesting.”

As wind and rain suddenly arose, inside the palace, Emperor Li Ming, Li Rong, and Su Rongqing waited for news from the coroner, each with their own thoughts. Li Ming thought for a moment, seeming to remember something. He turned to Li Rong. “You said earlier that Hongde has a son?”

“Yes.”

“In Minister Su’s hands?”

“Correct.”

“Fulai,” Li Ming turned to call Fulai and waved his hand. “Go investigate.”

Fulai respectfully complied and withdrew. The three sat in the imperial study, continuing to wait for results.

“His Majesty may not necessarily be able to find where this child is, but he should be able to see how the child was taken away. When you do many things, there are always oversights. For example,” Pei Wenxuan looked up at Li Chuan across from him, “it’s common for some neighbor to happen to see a child being abducted and recognize the Su mansion’s insignia, isn’t it?”

Thunder rumbled down as if heavy rain was pouring. Pei Wenxuan picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and looked up into the distance.

He thought for a moment and couldn’t help but say, “Do you think I should enter the palace to pick up your elder sister?”

“You two… aren’t you supposed to be pretending your relationship isn’t good?”

“Appearing harmonious while being estranged—there’s still the ‘appearing harmonious’ part.” As Pei Wenxuan spoke, he stood up and went to find an umbrella.

Seeing Pei Wenxuan about to leave, Li Chuan said urgently, “What happens next? Even if Father Emperor knows the child was taken by people from the Su mansion, so what?”

“Since His Majesty already knows that Hongde was sent out of the palace by someone, and knows that the child was taken by people from the Su mansion, who do you think His Majesty will believe, even without evidence?”

With that, Pei Wenxuan put on his outer coat and walked out. “When His Majesty investigates thoroughly, as long as the egg has a crack, the rest will be easy to handle. Your Highness the Crown Prince, I’m going to pick up the Princess.” Pei Wenxuan turned to smile at Li Chuan. “Your Highness, please do as you wish.”

After Pei Wenxuan finished speaking, he stepped out.

At this time, the coroner’s report was almost ready. A servant carried the coroner’s results and hurried toward the inner palace.

Outside the palace, soldiers investigating Hongde’s young son also found an elderly person. After the elder roughly described what happened, a soldier immediately had someone ride back to the palace on horseback to deliver the news.

At the same time, a young man entered the palace in haste through the rain.

The coroner’s report arrived first. After Li Ming finished reading it, he looked up at the two people who had been waiting for results, his face cold. “It was suicide.”

Li Rong repeated incredulously, “Suicide?”

Li Ming acknowledged this. Then someone entered and whispered in Li Ming’s ear for a while.

Li Ming suddenly looked up, his cold eyes fixed on Su Rongqing.

Su Rongqing still maintained his appearance of knowing nothing, pretending not to understand Li Ming’s gaze. Li Ming stared at him for a moment, then suddenly roared angrily, “Su Rongqing, hand over Hongde’s child!”

Receiving these words, Su Rongqing’s expression remained calm. He only insisted firmly, “This humble subject doesn’t know what Your Majesty is talking about.”

“If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it yourself! You had people kidnap someone’s child. Did you really think no one would know?!”

“This humble subject has been wronged!” Su Rongqing immediately knelt down. “Your Majesty, where did you hear this news? You can have the person come out. This humble subject can confront them.”

“Confront? Confront what? Hongde identified you. The confession reached the Memorial Office, and the Memorial Office burned down. When someone came to the palace to testify, he died halfway there. And it was suicide! If no one was threatening him with his child, how could he commit suicide? Now when we investigate the child, it’s connected to you again. One incident can be called a coincidence, but are there really so many consecutive coincidences in this world?!”

“Your Majesty is right,” Su Rongqing said coldly. “This humble subject also believes it’s not a coincidence. This must be someone else framing me.”

“Nonsense!”

Li Ming was so angry he grabbed a cup and threw it. Su Rongqing didn’t dodge, letting the cup with water hit his head. Tea splashed all over him, and blood seeped from his forehead. Yet he didn’t move an inch, kneeling on the ground, only saying, “Please investigate thoroughly, Your Majesty.”

“Good, very good.” Li Ming raised his hand and pointed at him, nodding. “Investigate. We’ll investigate right now. Come, drag Su Rongqing down and imprison him in the dungeon. Thoroughly investigate him and Hongde…”

Before he finished speaking, a eunuch’s announcement came from outside. “Your Majesty, Deputy Director Su requests an audience.”

Hearing this, Li Rong looked toward the door uneasily. Li Ming frowned. After hesitating for a moment, he said impatiently, “Summon him.”

After Li Ming spoke, Su Ronghua strode in. He knelt respectfully, unusually serious. “This humble subject Su Ronghua pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Li Ming was extremely irritable. He restrained his emotions and raised his hand. “Rise.”

“This humble subject doesn’t dare.”

Su Ronghua knelt on the ground, speaking calmly. Li Ming looked up at him. The room remained silent for a long while. Li Rong instantly guessed Su Ronghua’s intention.

He came to take the blame!

Li Rong’s mind raced, contemplating what results this turn of events would bring.

If Su Ronghua took all the blame, the confession that specifically named Su Rongqing would become extremely suspicious. But Su Ronghua’s timing was too coincidental. Li Ming probably wouldn’t believe it either, but it would also shake the credibility of all previous evidence.

This way, even if it didn’t completely turn the situation around for Su Rongqing, it would at least make their positions evenly matched.

The only sacrifice in all this would be Su Ronghua.

The moment Li Rong realized this, she wanted to say something. But just as she opened her mouth, she heard Su Ronghua say respectfully, “Please dismiss everyone, Your Majesty.”

Li Ming stared at Su Ronghua. After a long while, he waved his hand. “Everyone withdraw.”

No one moved. Su Rongqing stared fixedly at Su Ronghua. Su Ronghua ignored him. Seeing everyone motionless, Li Ming became angry. “What, can I no longer command you people?!”

Hearing Li Ming’s outburst, Li Rong took a deep breath, stood up, bowed, and walked out.

Li Rong and Su Rongqing exited one after another. After stepping outside, they each stood to one side, watching the heavy rain splash across heaven and earth, forming a curtain of rain in the space between, as if beating drums and gongs, about to stage a great drama.

Beyond the rain curtain, the palace gates slowly opened. A young man in blue robes embroidered with orchids, holding an umbrella, came walking through the rain from the palace entrance.

Both Li Rong and Su Rongqing gazed at the approaching figure from afar, while scolding voices came from inside the imperial study.

Hearing the scolding, Li Rong couldn’t help but smile.

“I’ve heard that Minister Su has an excellent relationship with his elder brother. Seeing it today, it’s indeed true.”

With that, she turned her head, somewhat curious. “Don’t you feel guilty?”

Su Rongqing didn’t speak. He only gazed into the distance.

In the distance, the young man walked across the palace courtyard square, becoming the only bright color in the rain.

“Your Highness,” Su Rongqing’s usually clear voice carried some hoarseness. “Sometimes, people cannot afford to feel guilty. Those walking on a desperate path can only move forward.”

“I used to think people were forced to move forward,” Li Rong smiled, watching the person drawing ever closer. “But now I’ve learned that paths are actually created by people walking them. If you don’t walk forward, you’ll never know whether there’s actually a path ahead.”

“Perhaps ahead is a cliff.”

Su Rongqing’s voice was cold and indifferent. Li Rong turned to look at him, her features carrying some radiance. “Then it depends on whether you’re willing to be shattered to pieces to move forward.”

Hearing this, Su Rongqing finally moved his gaze from the rain. He looked at Li Rong. “Is Your Highness willing to be shattered to pieces for this so-called path?”

“Perhaps.” Li Rong thought about it. “I’m only taking one step at a time, looking as I go.”

“Your Highness is not that kind of person.”

“Rongqing,” Li Rong suddenly used the form of address from their previous life. Su Rongqing froze, then heard Li Rong speak. “People can change.”

As they spoke, Pei Wenxuan had already reached them.

Rain fell like scattered pearls along the umbrella ribs. Under the umbrella, the young man raised a handsome and elegant face. His face bore a smile, his eyes bright with a gentleness that belonged uniquely to one person.

When he looked up, his eyes held only Li Rong. His clear voice carried a teasing note within its respect. “Your Highness, this humble subject heard of the heavy rain and came especially to escort you.”

With that, he moved his gaze to Su Rongqing.

Su Rongqing looked at him calmly. He looked at Su Rongqing with a smile.

Their gazes met across the rain curtain, in an instant conveying decades of disputes and entanglements, love and hate, gratitude and resentment.

“Years ago, when I was still a student, I heard of Minister Su’s reputation for talent. You and I were each top of our class for three years, yet never directly competed even once. Now meeting Minister Su,” Pei Wenxuan bowed his head slightly, “it’s a pleasure.”

Su Rongqing looked at him coldly. He understood what this “pleasure to meet you” referred to. He wasn’t speaking to the young Su Rongqing, but to the Su Rongqing who had secretly contended with him for decades and returned anew.

This “pleasure to meet you” was both his greeting and his declaration of war.

He was clearly informing Su Rongqing that he knew he had returned.

Precisely because he knew he had returned, he found his target so quickly and struck, implementing his plan so decisively, in Pei Wenxuan’s characteristic style of advancing step by step and setting traps everywhere.

Su Rongqing couldn’t help but smile. He looked at Pei Wenxuan seriously and spoke calmly yet earnestly. “A pleasure.”

Pei Wenxuan’s smile deepened.

This confrontation delayed by thirty years, separated by a lifetime, had finally begun.