Li Rong’s words left Pei Wenxuan stunned. Li Rong looked at the young man kneeling before her and said slowly, “Stand up. If you and I were ruler and subject, you could kneel before me. But if you consider me your wife, there’s no need for this. I know you don’t want to argue with me, but I don’t need you to be so accommodating either.”

“I’m not some ignorant teenage girl,” Li Rong poured herself tea. “I won’t change my mind just because you kneel before me. This only makes me feel like you’re forcing me.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan felt somewhat at a loss. After hesitating for a long while, Li Rong raised her eyes to look at him. “What, do you need me to help you up?”

With these words, Pei Wenxuan finally stood up. Li Rong patted the space beside her and said softly, “Sit.”

Pei Wenxuan complied and sat beside Li Rong. Li Rong lay in the rocking chair, slowly rocking back and forth. “You think I won’t agree to you doing this—do you know what I disagree with?”

“His Majesty’s ultimate intention in this matter is to establish quotas.”

“Quotas?”

Li Rong raised her eyes. Pei Wenxuan didn’t conceal anything from her and spoke honestly: “Starting this year, the number of people the aristocratic families can recommend must be limited by quotas. Or alternatively, candidates who emerge from the imperial examination system must uniformly have a designated placement where they will train for at least one year before being assigned by the Ministry of Personnel to various departments.”

The biggest problem with the imperial examinations now was that once Li Ming wasn’t paying attention, officials from humble origins couldn’t reach positions of real power.

In Great Xia, those from humble origins currently encompassed two types of people: lower-tier aristocratic families like the Pei and Qin families, and ordinary families who weren’t even listed in the clan genealogies.

The so-called aristocratic clans in Great Xia were defined by whether they were listed in the “Clan Genealogy.”

The Clan Genealogy was revised once every few hundred years, recording the most recognized aristocratic families from various regions. The Clan Genealogy also divided these aristocratic families into first, second, and third tiers. Nobles of different tiers intermarried with each other, and if someone married across tiers, it was considered a tremendous honor.

All families took pride in marrying into first-tier aristocratic families. And the children of first-tier families would rather remain unmarried for life than marry into lower-tier nobility.

This centuries-old system of marital alliances among the common people had constructed the absolute authority of aristocratic families in the court. Back then, to balance the original nobility, the Li clan formed a marriage alliance with the Shangguan clan from Fanyang in Youzhou, bringing this major clan from the end of the Eight Great Surnames into Hua Jing as a means to counterbalance the great southern families.

But three generations later, the Shangguan clan had entrenched themselves in the court, becoming inextricably connected with other aristocratic families and restraining imperial authority in turn. Li Ming then realized the drawbacks of using aristocratic families to balance aristocratic families, so he drew from previous dynasty experiences and reopened the imperial examination system, hoping to balance the court through this method of selecting talented people regardless of family background.

Li Ming forcibly instituted the imperial examinations, but the aristocratic families had their own methods. Setting aside whether these ordinary students from humble origins could even pass the examinations, even if they did pass, the official positions for several hundred successful candidates each year were all arranged by the Ministry of Personnel—they simply placed them all in positions that were difficult, exhausting, and had no future prospects.

It was difficult to participate in the examination, difficult to pass, difficult to become an official after passing, and difficult to advance after being assigned.

If Pei Wenxuan hadn’t had Pei Lizhi backing him back then, how could he have become the top scholar?

If Cui Yulang hadn’t won the admiration of an influential person with his poetry and prose back then, his examination paper probably wouldn’t have even reached Li Ming’s hands.

This year’s imperial examinations being entrusted to Pei Wenxuan, along with making the palace examination a regular practice—this was to resolve the problem of examination difficulty.

And limiting the number of aristocratic family recommendations, or uniformly stipulating where imperial examination candidates would go in their first year of service—this was to resolve the problem of difficulty in becoming an official.

Listening to Pei Wenxuan’s words, Li Rong thought for a moment and understood where these candidates would go after their examinations: “So, the place these imperial examination candidates will go in their first year—is it the Cabinet?”

After the Memorial Hall was burned, Li Ming immediately formed a temporary organization called the Cabinet to replace the Memorial Hall.

At the time, they had only thought Li Ming wanted memorials to reach his hands without being controlled by the aristocratic families, but now that Li Ming proposed this requirement, Li Rong finally understood: “Has Father Emperor been planning this for a long time?”

“Your Highness, before His Majesty had you establish the Constabulary Bureau, he had prepared the land, soldiers, and funds for it for many years. If you hadn’t established the Constabulary Bureau, he would have had Consort Rou establish it sooner or later. You gave him the opportunity to establish the Constabulary Bureau. Given His Majesty’s nature, if he wants to reform the system now, it can’t possibly be on a whim.”

“The Memorial Hall catching fire was his opportunity to establish the Cabinet. And the Cabinet’s establishment was to pave the way for today’s imperial examination reform.”

Hearing this, Li Rong said nothing.

She suddenly realized that she actually didn’t understand Li Ming, just as back then she also didn’t understand Li Chuan.

It was just that everyone in the imperial family wore masks. Li Ming and Li Chuan had never truly understood her either.

“You think I won’t agree to the reform.”

After thinking for a while, Li Rong slowly spoke. Pei Wenxuan didn’t respond. Li Rong smiled slightly. “I indeed don’t agree.”

“But whether this matter happens won’t be determined by Your Highness’s will. If not this time, then the next time.” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes to look at her. “This is the emperor’s will. Even if His Majesty died today and any slightly ambitious monarch ascended, they would pick up His Majesty’s plans from today.”

Just like Li Chuan in the previous life.

When he sat on Li Ming’s throne and looked down upon this realm, he would discover he was merely the next Li Ming.

Li Rong sat without speaking. She felt as if she were sitting in a carriage running forward continuously. She couldn’t stop it and could only watch as this carriage plunged toward a cliff, crashing until bloodied and broken.

Pei Wenxuan watched Li Rong in a daze. He felt somewhat pained inside.

In their previous life, he would probably have already started arguing with her by now.

He resented that stubbornness in her heart, resented her prejudice against those from humble origins. What he resented most was that he happened to love her, yet this person he loved looked down on him in her very bones.

But now he didn’t want to argue. They had come this far with difficulty—he didn’t want to quarrel with her again over such matters.

So after a brief silence, he could only explain with some difficulty: “Rongrong, I know in your heart you feel the imperial examination system can’t select any good talent. But you must consider that actually, in our previous life, many people around me came from humble clans, and they were also quite good, weren’t they? The aristocratic families indeed have their integrity. The education they receive truly can’t be learned just by reading a few books, so the recommendation system still remains.”

“Though bloodline is important, but… everyone is human.” Pei Wenxuan forced a smile. “Look at me—from humble origins, but I’m also… quite good, aren’t I?”

Listening to Pei Wenxuan say these things, Li Rong slowly turned her head toward him.

Her eyes were very bright. Moonlight fell into her amber-colored eyes, flowing quietly like a stream.

She half-leaned her body, slowly sat up, and placed her lips on his.

Pei Wenxuan was stunned, then heard Li Rong softly comfort him: “Don’t be sad.”

It was a fleeting kiss, seemingly only for comfort. She withdrew again and leaned back against the reclining chair, saying gently, “Wenxuan, I don’t value these things so much. If I truly valued them that highly, I wouldn’t have fallen for you back then.”

Pei Wenxuan watched Li Rong lying flat on the rocking chair. The chair rocked back and forth. She looked at the scattered moonlight in the void and said slowly, “Everyone tells me how important bloodline and surname are, but somehow, when I first saw you back then, I initially didn’t even think about whether you were from humble origins or an aristocratic family. I just thought, this person is truly handsome.”

“Your Highness…” Pei Wenxuan’s voice was hoarse. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

“In the past, I always argued with you, and each time you felt I cared about family status and was prejudiced. But actually, the one who truly cares about family status is you.”

“I previously disagreed with your reforms. Indeed, I felt the imperial examination system was too rigid, and as you saw, in our previous life even with the examination system, more children of aristocratic families succeeded. But later as I grew older, I gradually changed my thinking. Aristocratic families seem more excellent because they have access to more resources—no one is inherently better or worse from birth. That’s why later when you promoted schools in various regions, I also supported you strongly. I now disagree with your reforms because it’s too rushed.”

“Wenxuan,” Li Rong raised her eyes, “Father Emperor doesn’t have many years left, but you’re still young. What would you have done today if Consort Rou hadn’t come?”

Pei Wenxuan couldn’t speak for a moment. Li Rong answered affirmatively: “You were originally planning to take on the case yourself, weren’t you?”

“You divorced me, so if something happened, it wouldn’t implicate me. So you calculated two plans. If Consort Rou took the case, that would be best. If she didn’t, then you would take this case, and Father Emperor would strongly support you. If it succeeded, naturally everyone would be happy. But if it didn’t?”

“Don’t you know how difficult it was for you and Chuan’er to reform the system in our previous life? Do you think I’m unwilling for you to move against the aristocratic families? Because after every reform comes upheaval. The upheaval for you and me means life and death for those who hold the pieces, but have you thought about what these upheavals mean when they fall upon the common people?”

“During those years when Chuan’er reformed the system, chaos erupted in various regions and battles were fought repeatedly in the court. It took you and me over twenty years to restore and nurture the realm back to health. But during the turbulent times, how those common people lived—aren’t you aware?”

“Your Highness, it won’t be like that now,” Pei Wenxuan frowned. “His Highness the Crown Prince was too hasty back then, so I’m doing things today to proceed gradually.”

“What if you push the aristocratic families too far and they rebel?”

Li Rong stared at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan remained silent. After a long while, he slowly spoke: “Your Highness, in this world, no change comes without a price. But if we don’t change, will the common people’s lives truly be better?”

“If they rebel, the common people will suffer unbearably. But when there aren’t enough military provisions in the north, don’t the northern common people and the soldiers who die in battle suffer? When there’s no money year after year for disaster relief and river repairs in the south, don’t those disaster victims suffer? The common people at the bottom, born to be slaves and commoners, unable to engage in commerce or become officials, only able to farm generation after generation as servants to the aristocratic families—don’t they suffer?”

“You’re so much like your father.” Li Rong laughed mockingly. “What a pity your father died early. Otherwise, if he met you, he would certainly be very gratified.”

Pei Wenxuan couldn’t speak. She vaguely felt there was some moisture in this person’s eyes, but then it dissipated.

The two quietly looked at each other. Li Rong looked at the person before her, her heart trembling slightly: “I don’t want to be your mother.”

“Your Highness will not be my mother.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled. “Regardless of success or failure, this matter is paving the way for the Crown Prince. Both His Majesty and the aristocratic families will be weakened. The Crown Prince has Qin Lin’s military authority in hand. When he ascends the throne, Your Highness…”

Before he could finish speaking, Li Rong slapped Pei Wenxuan across the face.

The slap echoed in the room. Li Rong stared at him: “Who am I to you?”

“Am I your strategist or your death warrior?”

Pei Wenxuan’s face was turned to the side from her slap. He didn’t dare look at her and made no movement.

“Is your life so cheap? If you value your life so little, what are you doing being my husband!”

“Rongrong,” Pei Wenxuan said hoarsely, “nothing will happen.”

“Whether something happens or not, before you took this risk, did you ask me even once?” Li Rong looked at him and stood up. She lowered her head to look down at the young man before her. “In your heart, do you think I don’t care about your life, or do you think your life and death have nothing to do with me?”

Pei Wenxuan said nothing. Li Rong’s tone softened. “Have you heard a story?”

Pei Wenxuan moved and looked up at her. Li Rong smiled. “In the east of the city, there was a household. The husband and wife were childhood sweethearts who loved each other dearly. After much hardship and many brushes with death, they finally got together. But later her husband became fond of cockfighting and secretly used most of the family’s silver to buy a fighting cock. Guess what happened?”

Pei Wenxuan said nothing. He heard Li Rong’s metaphor and didn’t dare answer. Li Rong laughed softly: “That woman divorced her husband.”

A couple who had been in love for over a decade, whom life and death hadn’t separated, were ultimately separated by a fighting cock.

What wears down affection the most has never been great storms and waves, but those drops and trickles that accumulate into a river in life.

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong looked at him, “your life isn’t yours alone. You are my husband, the father of my future children. Even if just for my sake, you should at least tell me. If you can’t do that…”

Li Rong couldn’t continue her words. Pei Wenxuan looked at her. Clearly he was looking up at this person, yet in that instant, he felt as if she had lowered her head.

He had never imagined this person would lower her head for him. Even at this moment, in her words, she was carefully exercising restraint and not hurting him as she had in the past.

He suddenly discovered her transformation, her growth. They clearly knew each other’s vulnerabilities and had once stabbed at each other mercilessly, but now she had also learned to restrain herself. She wouldn’t even say the word “separate” aloud.

Pei Wenxuan stood up and reached out to embrace her.

Li Rong initially wanted to resist, but the moment his warmth invaded, she felt her eyes become somewhat sore. She tried hard to keep herself from being moved to tears over such a thing, clenching her teeth as she was pulled into his embrace.

“It’s my fault.” Pei Wenxuan said in a low voice. “From now on, I won’t act arbitrarily again. I’ll discuss all matters with you. We’ll deliberate together.”

Li Rong said nothing. Pei Wenxuan lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his voice gentle: “I didn’t think of it—my princess is this wonderful. I had the heart of a petty man. I hope Your Highness will forgive me.”

“Honeyed words.”

Li Rong cursed him under her breath.

Pei Wenxuan smiled. He straightened her clothes and said gently, “Your Highness, shall I escort you back?”

Li Rong was stunned. She raised her eyes to look at him. She had thought that given Pei Wenxuan’s nature, he would surely ask her to stay the night.

She had already thought about how to refuse, but Pei Wenxuan voluntarily offered to escort her back.

Before Li Rong could react, she saw Pei Wenxuan take an outer robe from the side and gently drape it over her. After helping her arrange her clothes, he took a lantern, grasped her hand, and pushed the door open to step out, as if nothing had happened at all, asking her softly, “Your Highness, how did you come tonight?”

“Next door to you,” Li Rong said in a small voice as he led her out. “I bought it.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but laugh, but fearing she would be angry, he made no sound and only kept the smile on his face.

It was nearly April, and the night wind was still somewhat cool. Wearing Pei Wenxuan’s outer robe, she walked with him in the corridor.

Pei Wenxuan shielded her from the wind and illuminated the courtyard path. This residence hadn’t been completely renovated yet, and many places still didn’t have lights. Fearing Pei Wenxuan didn’t know the way, Li Rong said, “There’s still a ladder in the back courtyard. I’ll climb over from there.”

“Your Highness has worked hard.”

Pei Wenxuan’s heart felt as if it were soaking in the most comfortable warm water, causing his entire being to involuntarily become gentle along with it.

The two walked side by side. Pei Wenxuan seemed to be protecting a child. After Li Rong had been silent for a long while, she said slowly, “You’re not keeping me?”

“I’d like to keep you,” Pei Wenxuan smiled, “but tonight I made a mistake. If I kept Your Highness, I’m afraid Your Highness would think I was trying to gloss over those matters. Bedroom matters are elegant affairs and shouldn’t be mixed with these things.”

Hearing this, Li Rong turned her head to look at him. His white single robe outlined his tall figure in the night. A gentleman like pine and bamboo, full of clear and elegant air.

Li Rong couldn’t help but stare blankly for a moment. Pei Wenxuan’s appearance, no matter how many years she looked at it, never seemed to lose its luster.

Pei Wenxuan didn’t notice Li Rong’s distraction. He continued on his own: “From now on, I will inform Your Highness of everything in advance and discuss it with you. If Your Highness is willing, Your Highness can also tell me all your plans. Your Highness is right. You and I are already husband and wife, different from our previous life. We should discuss everything together. I am not Your Highness’s ally. I am Your Highness’s husband, the father of Your Highness’s children.”

As Pei Wenxuan spoke, he turned his head, met Li Rong’s gaze, and smiled. “I haven’t learned these things well yet. I hope Your Highness will teach me more.”

Li Rong looked at his smile and listened to him speaking of his identity. She didn’t know why, but she felt her face grow somewhat hot. She turned her head away and responded with a low sound to conceal that embarrassment.

Pei Wenxuan sensed she seemed somewhat shy, and though he didn’t know why, he found it quite endearing. He didn’t expose her and considerately turned his eyes away, smiling as he looked toward the path ahead.

When they reached the back courtyard, he saw a ladder set up by the wall. Pei Wenxuan went over with Li Rong. He set down the lantern, steadied the ladder, and protected Li Rong as she climbed up.

Li Rong climbed two steps, then turned her head back.

At this moment, she was slightly higher than Pei Wenxuan. She called out: “Pei Wenxuan.”

Pei Wenxuan raised his head, looked at her questioningly, and softly made a sound: “Mm?”

In that very moment, Li Rong suddenly lowered her head and kissed him. Before Pei Wenxuan could react, she had nimbly climbed up and waved her hand. “I’m going.”

Pei Wenxuan looked up at the young woman disappearing over the wall. He couldn’t help but raise his hand to touch his own lips.

After a moment, he slowly smiled.

He couldn’t wait much longer.

He should plan earlier and marry this person back home as soon as possible.