When she said this, Pei Wenxuan could no longer restrain himself. He hurriedly lifted her up, rolling with her onto the bed.

Li Rong couldn’t help but giggle, saying only, “What are you afraid of?”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. He leaned against her shoulder for a while before speaking in a hoarse voice, “Wait until I marry you back properly.”

“Afraid I’ll get pregnant?”

Li Rong propped her face up with her hand, smiling as she looked at him. Pei Wenxuan glanced at her helplessly, not wanting to discuss this with her. He closed his eyes and said, “You’re only this bold because you know I’m cautious.”

“I know,” Li Rong raised her hand, tracing her fingertip across his chest. “You have it under control.”

“Stop teasing me.” Pei Wenxuan felt her fingertip touching his skin and couldn’t help but react again. He raised his hand to grasp hers, his voice husky. “We don’t have that much time.”

“Fine, let’s talk business.” Li Rong knew he was right and immediately spoke. “Since you’ve been jealous for so long, you should know I met with Cui Yulang.”

“I know,” Pei Wenxuan said decisively. “I’m clear on everything you discussed with him.”

“What do you plan to do about this?” Li Rong didn’t want to waste time asking how Pei Wenxuan knew. She only wanted to know, “Wang Houwen suddenly interjecting to become the chief examiner for the imperial examinations must be at Su Rongqing’s instigation. This year’s rankings are crucial for your future. Su Rongqing is targeting precisely this point. We need to act early and settle matters before Wang Houwen truly takes over the examinations.”

“Mm.”

“Wang Houwen is a greedy old turtle,” Li Rong supported herself as she sat up, analyzing leisurely. “Su Rongqing must have told him there’s profit to be made from the examinations, which is why he came. Now that Cui Yulang’s friend’s examination slot was stolen, have him file a complaint. Then I’ll say we need to strictly investigate the examination matter. When Wang Houwen sees there’s no money to be made, he probably won’t wade into these murky waters. Without money to gain, the examinations are just thankless work. At that point, they’ll likely push it onto you, the new person at the Ministry of Personnel.”

Li Rong smiled and turned to look at him. “What do you think?”

“Does Your Highness intend to truly investigate this matter?”

Pei Wenxuan rolled onto his back, pillowing his hands behind his head and looking at the bed canopy.

Li Rong thought for a moment and said slowly, “I’m also considering it.”

“Mm?”

“The aristocratic families’ patience with me is probably at its limit. If I investigate the examination case again…”

Li Rong frowned. “It’s not impossible, but…”

“Take a step back.”

Pei Wenxuan spoke decisively. Li Rong looked up at him. Sensing her gaze, Pei Wenxuan turned to look at her, his expression calm. “Your Highness, you’ve already secured firm control of the Constabulary Bureau. Taking a step back won’t hurt.”

“Then about the examination matter…”

Li Rong hesitated. “Someone still needs to investigate it.”

“Your Highness wants to send Cui Yulang to Consort Rou’s side.”

Pei Wenxuan stated it as fact. Li Rong nodded. Pei Wenxuan only said, “Why not use something you don’t need as a gift to recommend this person to Consort Rou?”

Li Rong didn’t speak. Pei Wenxuan sat up, kissed Li Rong, and said gently, “You needn’t consider me. I have my methods. Go back and think it over carefully.”

“With Su Rongqing around, we can’t be too aggressive.”

Li Rong fell silent. After a long while, she replied, “Mm.”

“Alright, let’s not talk about this,” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “Sleep for a bit. I need to leave.”

Since Pei Wenxuan had spoken, Li Rong wouldn’t spoil the mood by continuing. She leaned against Pei Wenxuan’s chest.

“Today isn’t convenient,” Pei Wenxuan’s voice carried some apology. “I can’t help you clean up. Bear with it and wash yourself when you get back, alright?”

“I’m not disabled, requiring you to wait on me for everything.” Li Rong kept her eyes closed, listening to his heartbeat, speaking lazily. “You worry too much.”

Having received her words, Pei Wenxuan let out a soft laugh and only said, “Even when caring for someone, you have to act tough.”

Li Rong was too lazy to respond to him. She just listened to Pei Wenxuan’s heartbeat—steady and deep.

Every time she listened to his heartbeat and felt his warmth, she experienced an indescribable stability. This stability made her feel exceptionally peaceful, so she quickly fell asleep.

Pei Wenxuan noticed her drift off and looked down at her. He was reluctant to sleep. After they separated this time, seeing each other again would be difficult.

Originally, he had thought that divorce was merely an expedient measure—nothing to be reluctant about as long as their hearts remained together.

Only when this person was truly sleeping in his arms did he realize that when two people were mutually in love, separation was torment.

Pei Wenxuan stayed with her for a long while. When the time was about right, he finally got up.

Seeing Li Rong sleeping soundly, he didn’t disturb her. Just as he used to at the Princess Manor, he lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then quietly left. After going out, he instructed someone to guard the door and wake him before dawn.

Not long after Pei Wenxuan left, Li Rong’s people jumped in through the window. Li Rong had just heard the sound when she opened her eyes, then saw the female guard who had brought her standing nearby, speaking in a low voice. “Your Highness, we must return.”

Li Rong lay on the bed. Pei Wenxuan’s scent still lingered at the tip of her nose. If not for the discomfort left on her body, she would almost think everything had been just a fleeting dream.

She lay on the bed for a while, finally getting up. Enduring the stickiness on her body, she took the clothes from the female guard, changed, and hurried back.

After arriving at the Princess Manor, Li Rong went to the bathing pool for a quick wash before lying down.

Once alone in bed, she began pondering Pei Wenxuan’s words.

Actually, Pei Wenxuan wasn’t wrong. The Constabulary Bureau was already firmly in her grasp. This sharpest blade from her previous life that had belonged to Consort Rou had changed hands. If she continued forward, it would become somewhat dangerous.

Li Ming’s plan was to have her completely break with the aristocratic families, resulting in mutual destruction. When neither side gained anything, he would reclaim the Constabulary Bureau.

But Li Rong couldn’t give him this opportunity. She had to grasp this balance. If the Constabulary Bureau moved forward again, it would truly completely break with the aristocratic families. For now, Great Xia was still the aristocratic families’ Great Xia. When they truly turned hostile, even Li Chuan couldn’t protect her.

The Shangguan family could tolerate her aggressive pressure because they couldn’t replace Li Chuan.

But others might not be the same.

The military provisions case had already exiled Xie Lanqing, making all the court officials wary. If she still wanted to handle the examination case, it would inevitably implicate some high-ranking officials. At that point, everyone would unite, and Li Ming probably already harbored suspicions about her. With both factors combined, gradually eroding the Constabulary Bureau in her hands was entirely possible.

The best course for her now was indeed to take a step back.

Not only did she need to retreat a step, she also needed to let the court see the consequences of her retreat.

As long as the entire court realized the Constabulary Bureau was indispensable and that Li Rong serving as Director of the Constabulary Bureau was the best outcome, their goal would be achieved.

This step back couldn’t be for nothing. Since she wanted to send Cui Yulang to Consort Rou’s side, the Constabulary Bureau was probably the best gift for Consort Rou.

After thinking it through thoroughly, Li Rong finally settled on a plan.

She closed her eyes without saying more, sleeping until dawn before attending morning court as usual.

Still on the road, she heard the faint sound of voices outside. Though the sky was still dark, hearing so many voices made Li Rong curious. She lifted the curtain and asked with curiosity, “Why are there so many people today?”

“It’s not just today,” the driver smiled. “With the imperial examinations approaching, more people have been coming to the capital. The inns are full—some of these scholars are even sleeping on the floor.”

“Is that so?” Li Rong frowned, somewhat incredulous.

Those who could come to take the examination generally had some money at home—they shouldn’t need to sleep on the floor after arriving.

However, what she knew wasn’t absolute truth. There might be unexpected circumstances.

As Li Rong pondered, she entered the palace. After morning court ended, Li Rong had people investigate where these students had come from, while simultaneously instructing Cui Yulang to write a memorial criticizing Li Chuan.

Upon receiving the message, Cui Yulang was somewhat confused about why Li Rong wanted him to do this. Criticizing the Crown Prince—did he have a death wish?

But since Li Rong had given the order, even if it cost him his life, he had to do it.

So he spent all night desperately searching for Li Chuan’s faults.

But Li Chuan was too clean—so clean that even those around him had no major errors to be found.

Cui Yulang strained and strained, finally finding a few things worth mentioning from past events.

For example, not being sufficiently proper during sacrificial ceremonies, still not marrying at this age, and so on.

Finally, with no other choice, he even connected natural disasters to Li Chuan’s lack of virtue as Crown Prince. The memorial he wrote read like a story book—more than half of it fabricated.

When the second day arrived, after Li Ming had heard about all court matters and seeing that the time was about right, he prepared to dismiss court.

Just then, Cui Yulang suddenly stepped forward from the ranks and said loudly, “Your Majesty, this subject has a memorial to present!”

Hearing this, everyone looked over. Li Ming frowned. “What do you wish to memorialize?”

Under so many gazes, Cui Yulang’s face showed not a trace of fear. He knelt down neither humbly nor arrogantly and said respectfully, “The person this humble subject wishes to memorialize is His Highness the Crown Prince!”