Upon hearing these words, everyone turned to look.

As a Crown Prince, Li Chuan had always acted cautiously. Over the years, Li Ming had thought countless times about deposing the Crown Prince, but had never found any actual fault. Yet Cui Yulang, a minor official from the Ministry of Rites, dared to impeach the Crown Prince?

Hearing this, Li Ming became quite interested and immediately said, “I recall that Lord Cui is an official of the Ministry of Rites, correct? How did you come to do the work of the Censorate?”

“Though this humble minister serves in the Ministry of Rites and holds a low position with little influence, when it concerns matters of state, this humble minister dares not remain silent.”

Cui Yulang spoke with an air of righteous integrity. Even Li Rong couldn’t help but turn around, wondering if Cui Yulang had truly discovered some evidence against Li Chuan.

Her heart grew slightly anxious. She had asked Cui Yulang to impeach Li Chuan, but not to act recklessly.

Li Chuan raised his eyebrows from his elevated position. He knew clearly what he had done and truly couldn’t think of any grave matter he had committed that endangered the state. So he was curious too and said directly, “Lord Cui makes it sound so serious. Why don’t you elaborate?”

“Your Majesty,” hearing Li Chuan’s playful tone, Cui Yulang steeled himself and said, “In recent years, natural disasters and man-made calamities have made life unbearable for the people. Setting aside last year, just speaking of this year’s ice disaster—public resentment runs deep. Such celestial anomalies occur because the Crown Prince lacks virtue…”

“What nonsense are you spouting!” Before Cui Yulang could finish, Li Ming became furious.

For such natural disasters with no concrete attribution, the one who typically lacked virtue was not the Crown Prince but the monarch. How could Li Ming allow him to continue? He grabbed a memorial from beside him and threw it at Cui Yulang, roaring, “Drag this scoundrel out and beat him! How dare you speak such superstitious nonsense in the imperial court!”

“Your Majesty,” Cui Yulang hastily knelt down and urgently said, “Last year when the Ministry of Rites organized the autumn sacrifice, the Crown Prince sneezed during the ritual. This act may have angered Heaven—it’s a grave disrespect!”

Hearing a clear accusation directed at Li Chuan’s fault, Li Ming’s expression softened somewhat. Gu Zidao, the Minister of Rites, cast a cold glance at Cui Yulang kneeling on the ground, then stepped forward: “Your Majesty, last year the Crown Prince was suffering from a cold, yet still completed the sacrifice despite his illness. His sincerity was evident to Heaven above. Heaven has virtue in cherishing life. The Crown Prince is wise and benevolent—Heaven would not be displeased over a mere sneeze. Though certain regions have experienced some disasters in recent years, nothing has been particularly unusual. Great Xia’s territory is vast; every year some areas suffer disasters—this is normal. To forcibly connect this to heavenly punishment is far too contrived.”

Gu Zidao turned his head to look at Cui Yulang and rebuked coldly, “Such a treacherous person spreading deceptive rumors should be punished!”

Once Gu Zidao spoke, the officials echoed his sentiment. Li Chuan’s expression remained unchanged; he couldn’t be bothered with jumping clowns like Cui Yulang. Li Rong was equally uninterested in watching further, only wanting to beat this fool to death in court.

Of all things to bring up, why such an absurd accusation? He deserved this punishment.

Seeing Li Rong’s eyes and her gesture of turning away, unwilling to look anymore, Cui Yulang felt both aggrieved and embarrassed. This was his first time working with Li Rong, and for things to turn out this way, he felt awkward too. But what could he do?

He truly couldn’t find anything to impeach.

After the court shouted for a while about beating and killing him, Li Ming finally spoke, merely saying, “Though Lord Cui’s words are somewhat absurd, they’re not entirely without merit. How about this: Lord Cui will have two months of salary deducted. As for the Crown Prince… Crown Prince, go to the ancestral temple today and kneel for a night as an explanation for last year’s autumn sacrifice incident.”

When Li Ming said this, Li Chuan’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes held a touch of coldness.

All the ministers present frowned but said nothing more.

After all, kneeling at the ancestral temple for a night to show filial piety couldn’t be faulted in any way, and it truly wasn’t a serious matter. However, originally it was Cui Yulang who had stirred up trouble, yet in the end, two people were punished. From this perspective, it was unjust no matter how one looked at it.

Li Rong saw clearly. Li Ming’s meaning was obvious: finding trouble for Li Chuan would not result in consequences.

He hoped that those below would find more trouble for Li Chuan.

Li Rong couldn’t help but smile, though her heart felt somewhat cold. If she felt this way, what more of Li Chuan?

After all, Li Chuan was still young. Though he tried hard to restrain himself, one could still see some anger on his face. After court was dismissed, Li Chuan walked out of the hall with his attendants. Passing by Cui Yulang, he couldn’t help but stop and call out, “Lord Cui.”

Hearing this, Cui Yulang felt a chill in his heart, but at this moment he couldn’t retreat. He was still waiting for the people behind him, so he mustered his courage to respond, “Your Highness.”

“In the future regarding court matters, please exercise more careful judgment. Lord Cui has not been an official long; as for matters of officialdom, you might consult with your seniors more.”

“Thank you for the Crown Prince’s guidance.”

Cold sweat broke out on Cui Yulang’s back. Li Chuan said nothing more to him, leading his people down the steps and walking out.

Li Rong stepped out of the hall afterward. Passing by Cui Yulang, she said in a low voice, “It’s fine.”

No matter how angry Li Chuan became, he wouldn’t do anything to Cui Yulang.

If it were the Li Chuan from the later years of her previous life, he might actually do something, but she understood the seventeen-year-old Li Chuan all too well.

He could never act against Cui Yulang over his own private matters.

However, if her mother heard of this, she might not be so restrained. She needed to go to the palace and speak with her mother about this matter.

Moreover, since she and Pei Wenxuan had divorced, she hadn’t entered the palace yet. Her mother must be worried about her too.

With these thoughts, Li Rong first sent someone to notify Shangguan Yue in the palace, then headed directly to the inner palace.

As Li Rong was heading to the inner palace, Cui Yulang had just reached the palace gates when he heard a palace maid call out to him, “Lord Cui.”

Cui Yulang stopped. The palace maid approached and said quietly, “Today Prince Su’s painting teacher has fallen ill and cannot come. Consort Rou asked this servant to inquire whether Lord Cui is still available today.”

Hearing this, Cui Yulang smiled and said respectfully, “To serve His Highness would be this humble minister’s honor.”

When Li Rong arrived at Weiyang Palace, there was shouting inside.

This was common. Every time something happened in the front court, Shangguan Yue would scold Li Chuan.

“You’re just too soft-hearted. You can’t even handle such a small matter. How can your sister and I depend on you in the future? That Cui Yulang has set this precedent—what will you do from now on? Will you just watch as those ministers grow powerful and cause you trouble?”

Hearing Shangguan Yue’s shouting, Li Rong turned to look at the elderly maid who was guiding her in. This maid was part of Shangguan Yue’s dowry and could be considered one of her trusted confidants. Seeing Li Rong look over, the maid said in a low voice, “Everyone has been cleared out. Your Highness can rest assured. This old servant will only accompany Your Highness this far.”

Li Rong nodded, knowing that after so many years in the palace, her mother couldn’t possibly make mistakes in such matters.

She stepped forward and said with a smile, “What drama is being performed here? Why is it that every time I come, I see Mother scolding my brother?”

“You dare to speak?!”

As soon as Li Rong spoke, Shangguan Yue immediately turned around and scolded, “Divorce is such a major matter, yet you didn’t discuss it with me in advance. When problems arose, you didn’t enter the palace to consult with me. It’s been so long, and only now do you come. Do you still have me, your mother, in your heart?!”

“Mother, Sister has been suffering too,” Li Chuan quickly said. “Don’t scold her…”

“You shut up!” Shangguan Yue scolded her daughter, then scolded her son. She turned to stare at Li Chuan. “Reflect on yourself properly.”

Li Rong was accustomed to Shangguan Yue’s temperament. She treated her relatively well—rarely beating or scolding her since childhood—but was extremely strict with Li Chuan. Now that she had married, and her fate was tied to Li Chuan’s future as Crown Prince, Shangguan Yue gradually began treating them equally, wanting to control everything.

Li Rong smiled and helped Shangguan Yue sit down, saying gently, “Mother, don’t be too angry. It’s easy to get heated and harm your liver. Just discuss everything calmly.”

As she spoke, Li Rong poured tea for Shangguan Yue and sat beside her. “What were you arguing about today?”

“I heard that Cui Yulang impeached him.” Shangguan Yue banged the teacup on the table and pointed at Li Chuan angrily. “I told him to teach that ignorant youngster a lesson, but he refused. Don’t you understand what your father means? Today Cui Yulang set this precedent. If Chuan’er doesn’t intimidate them, who knows how many will come looking for trouble with him in the future!”

Li Chuan pressed his lips tightly together. Seeing his expression, Shangguan Yue’s anger flared up. She turned to look at her daughter. Seeing Li Rong’s smiling face, somehow she felt a trace of fear. Remembering Li Rong’s methods from last year, she felt she shouldn’t speak too forcefully. So she softened her voice, as if feeling somewhat wronged: “Though you and I hold high positions, we are ultimately women. Our honor and disgrace are tied to Chuan’er. If something happens to him, what will we do? I’m doing this all for his sake, but he won’t listen. With this temperament, where is there any trace of a Crown Prince? If only I had one more son…”

“Mother,” Li Rong interrupted Shangguan Yue, saying calmly, “Have some tea first.”

Shangguan Yue knew she had spoken out of turn. She fell silent. Li Rong stood up and helped Li Chuan up, letting him sit down. Li Chuan lowered his head without speaking, but when Li Rong wanted him to sit beside Shangguan Yue, he sat beside Li Rong instead.

Li Rong found herself caught between mother and son, feeling somewhat awkward. She drank some tea, calmed her emotions, cleared her throat lightly and said, “I came today specifically to talk about Cui Yulang.”

“Sister,” Li Chuan lowered his eyes and said softly, “Though Cui Yulang impeached me, he didn’t commit any wrong. There’s no need…”

“Cui Yulang is my person.”

Li Rong spoke boldly to Li Chuan. Li Chuan jerked his head up, and Shangguan Yue also looked over in shock. Li Rong drank some tea and said slowly, “I had him impeach you. Don’t do anything to him.”

She said “you,” but Li Rong was mainly looking at Shangguan Yue.

Shangguan Yue stared blankly at Li Rong, not understanding. “Rong’er, what is this…”

“Mother,” Li Rong smiled. Looking at Shangguan Yue, she said gently, “Chuan’er is not young anymore. We can’t keep waiting for Consort Rou to grow more powerful, can we?”

“You want to move against Consort Rou?” Shangguan Yue frowned. “But what does Cui Yulang have to do with this? Besides, your father has always protected her. If you want to move against her…”

“Mother, rest assured,” Li Rong comforted her. “I know what I’m doing.”

Shangguan Yue hesitated for a moment but finally nodded. With serious matters discussed, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Shangguan Yue drank some tea, hesitated for a moment, then asked about Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan: “Regarding your divorce from Pei Wenxuan, I know the general situation.”

She said slowly, “It was unavoidable. If you still like him, when the time is right in the future, you can be together again.”

However, a man who would choose divorce for the sake of power—whether her daughter would choose him again was another matter.

Li Rong’s temperament—she as a mother knew it all too well.

Except, what she understood was the nineteen-year-old Li Rong.

Li Rong smiled but didn’t elaborate. She just chatted casually with Shangguan Yue for a while. After Shangguan Yue advised her a bit, the three of them ate lunch together. Then Shangguan Yue felt tired and went for an afternoon nap, leaving Li Rong and Li Chuan sitting together.

Li Chuan had been silent the whole time. Li Rong glanced at him. “What, you argued with Mother, so now you won’t even talk to me?”

“How could that be?”

Li Chuan smiled bitterly. “I just feel a bit tired and want to rest.”

Li Rong knew he was lying. Anyone who was treated like that by their father in the morning and then heard their mother say she wished she had another son would feel terrible. Li Rong waited a moment, then said slowly, “Don’t take Mother’s words to heart. She was just upset.”

Hearing this, Li Chuan said softly, “It’s fine.”

He raised his hand to pour tea for Li Rong. “What Mother said is right.”

The sound of tea water trickling into the cup—Li Chuan seemed truly tired. Though still young, he already showed a weary detachment from the world.

“If Mother had another son, perhaps everyone would be much better off. I wouldn’t have to be Crown Prince, and Mother wouldn’t have to pin her hopes on me.”

Li Rong looked up at him. Li Chuan set down the teapot and leaned back in his chair. “If Sister were a prince, I wouldn’t have to bear this burden.”

“Chuan’er…”

“I’m just talking,” Li Chuan smiled. “I know Sister won’t blame me. I’m just talking. I know,” Li Chuan said, whether to Li Rong or to himself, “Sister and Mother have sacrificed much for me. Since I enjoy this glory, I have no reason to retreat. Sister, rest assured—I just need to recover.”

Li Rong couldn’t find words. The siblings sat together for a while. Li Chuan lay in his chair with his eyes closed, resting. Li Rong stayed by his side. As they sat in the courtyard, Li Rong looked at the spring flowers blooming beautifully in the garden. Watching over Li Chuan beside her, she suddenly felt an indescribable sorrow welling up.

In this life, she had Pei Wenxuan. Once Li Chuan became Emperor and the struggles between aristocratic families and the court were resolved, she would have power, love, and freedom—everything.

But Li Chuan’s life had no end. He would be trapped in the imperial palace his entire life—for their mother, for her, for the Shangguan family, for the people, for Great Xia. For everyone except himself.

“How is Qin Lin doing in the northwest?”

As if having recovered, Li Chuan opened his mouth to ask about serious matters. Li Rong turned back and nodded. “Not bad. He and Uncle are alone at the front-line cities. There are battles at the front, and Xiao Su doesn’t want to send his own people, so he puts them at the very front lines. When Qin Lin asks for troops, Xiao Su sends him people he can’t control. Once these people reach the front, they all become Qin Lin’s men.”

Li Rong continued slowly, “Right now, aside from lacking money, everything else is fine.”

Li Chuan nodded. After thinking, he said, “As for money, I’ll send it privately…”

“I’ll find a way,” Li Rong interrupted. “If it goes through you and gets discovered, you won’t be able to explain it clearly.”

Li Chuan hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

After the two discussed specifics for a while, it was about time. Li Chuan also needed to leave. Before leaving, he suddenly remembered something. “By the way,” he hesitated for a moment before finally asking, “How is Xun Chuan?”

Li Rong hadn’t expected Li Chuan to ask about Xun Chuan. She looked up and couldn’t help but smile. “Why would you think to ask about her?”

“It’s because of me,” Li Chuan smiled bitterly, finding it somewhat difficult to speak, “that she was forced to leave. So in my heart, I always feel some guilt and concern. I hope she’s doing well, but I also feel like I’m evading my own responsibility. If she’s doing well, I feel less guilty.”

“Is there nothing else?”

Li Rong smiled and pressed further. Li Chuan thought for a moment, then turned to look at the beautifully blooming spring flowers in the courtyard and smiled. “Occasionally I dream of the first time we met. I don’t know why. Besides that, we’re not really familiar after all, so what else could there be?”

Hearing this, Li Rong believed him. After all, in this lifetime, the two of them had barely spoken to each other.

“She’s doing very well.” Li Rong said slowly. “A while ago she sent a letter saying Qin Lin took her to several battles and gave her some troops. Originally, I wanted her to gather intelligence in the northwest and cause trouble for Xiao Su, but after she went to the battlefield a few times, she found she liked it. She specifically asked me if it was alright. How could I stop her?” Li Rong drank some tea and smiled. “In her recent letters, her words have become much lighter and happier.”

“That’s good.”

Hearing this, Li Chuan thought for a moment and smiled.

“As long as she’s doing well, that’s good.”

With that, Li Chuan bowed to Li Rong and they parted ways.

Li Rong stayed alone in the palace for a while longer before standing up and leaving.

She sat in the carriage for a while before noticing it was rather noisy outside. She couldn’t help but lift the carriage curtain, and saw a large crowd gathered on the street. It seemed someone was distributing porridge.

Li Rong had the carriage stop and looked in that direction for a moment, sending someone to inquire about the situation.

A guard hurried over. As Li Rong waited, she saw a white-robed young man gesturing among the crowd, appearing and disappearing as figures moved.

Li Rong recognized the person and roughly guessed what was happening there. During disaster years, the Su family distributed relief on the streets for three days every month.

Li Rong understood the situation and lost interest. Just as she was about to lower the curtain and leave, she saw a plainly dressed young man approach Su Rongqing. He handed him a piece of paper. Su Rongqing spoke with him briefly. The other person nodded repeatedly, and then someone led the young man away.

Seeing this scene, Li Rong couldn’t help but frown.

She kept her eyes on Su Rongqing. He seemed to notice Li Rong’s gaze as well. He looked up, meeting her eyes through the moving crowd.

Their gazes met briefly. Su Rongqing nodded, then turned away to attend to his own business.

The guard also returned and said quietly, “Your Highness, today the Su family is distributing porridge.”

Li Rong nodded, then said, “Just now I saw someone take a piece of paper to ask Young Master Su, and then was led away. What was that about?”

“I just asked,” the guard replied. “The Su family this year has special accommodations for examination candidates. As long as one is a scholar and brings their own poetry, they can approach any member of the Su family directly and receive placement until the imperial examination results are announced.”

Li Rong frowned deeply.

Su Rongqing’s move was far more effective at winning hearts than being an examination supervisor.

Li Rong fell silent for a moment, then said quietly, “Go find Lord Pei. Tell him tonight…”

Li Rong hesitated, thinking of the most suitable place, and finally said, “In front of the Moon Elder Temple, I’ll be wearing a mask painted with peach blossoms, waiting for him on the street.”