Seeing the signature with the character “Hua,” Li Rong immediately laughed in anger.

As for the matter of meeting with Pei Wenxuan, it naturally couldn’t be Huale who was arranging the meeting. After all, she was a princess and couldn’t lower herself like this.

What Huale had in her heart was single-mindedly marrying into high aristocratic families like Su Rongqing’s—her eyes couldn’t possibly glance at Pei Wenxuan. So the person Huale was helping to arrange the meeting for could only be another girl from their Xiao family currently in Hua Jing, Consort Rou’s niece Xiao Wei.

This Xiao Wei was the youngest daughter of Consort Rou’s older brother Xiao Su. She was born just as Consort Rou was first enfeoffed as a consort, so she was extremely fond of her. At that time, the Xiao family’s circumstances were already quite good, and this daughter was raised according to the standards of a great family’s young lady. Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, books, and etiquette—all her teachers were the most elite, in no way inferior to aristocratic family daughters.

Besides being beautiful, gentle, well-read, and well-mannered, what was even more terrifying about this Xiao Wei was her grasp of men. It was said that among the men who had contact with her alone, very few didn’t like her.

In short, this was a perfect beauty that Consort Rou had crafted with her own hands.

Li Rong remembered that in her previous life, Xiao Wei had been one of Li Chuan’s four consorts. Because of her background, Li Chuan had kept a respectful distance from her, so her feminine charms weren’t apparent. Later, when Li Chuan ascended the throne, the entire Xiao clan was implicated and executed for treason, and she too hung herself with a white silk sash from a beam in the rear palace.

Having entered Li Chuan’s rear palace, the issue of allegiance had caused Li Chuan to distance himself from her early on, which wasted her talents.

She had originally thought that in this lifetime, she might accomplish something significant, but instead she had set her sights on Pei Wenxuan?

Good choice.

Li Rong’s face remained impassive. Wen Shi observed carefully. Li Rong smiled and returned the letter to Wen Shi: “Thank you, Old Madam, for making a special trip to tell me all this. However, Wenxuan and I have already divorced,” Li Rong sighed, “I can’t control him anymore.”

“How can you not control him?” Wen Shi asked in confusion. “You’re a princess.”

Li Rong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Even though I’m a princess, didn’t Wenxuan and I still divorce? Old Madam, please go back. Feel free to visit often when you’re free.”

With that, Li Rong had someone escort Wen Shi out. Wen Shi held the calling card in confusion: “Then what about this card?”

“Just give it to Wenxuan.”

Li Rong’s face bore a completely sincere smile: “He’ll resolve it himself.”

If he didn’t resolve it well, she’d resolve him along with it.

Li Rong sent Wen Shi out the door and immediately turned cold-faced. Seeing Li Rong’s expression, Jing Lan anxiously inquired: “Your Highness, should we do away with Xiao Wei?”

“Why make things difficult for a young lady?”

Li Rong’s voice was calm. Jing Lan thought Li Rong was letting it go, but then heard Li Rong turn around: “Have Pei Wenxuan come apologize tonight.”

Jing Lan: “???”

The question “What did the prince consort do wrong?” stuck in her chest. After holding it back repeatedly, it finally transformed into an “Oh.”

Pei Wenxuan had just finished discussing matters with Li Chuan and had just returned to the government office when he received a summons from Consort Rou. Pei Wenxuan hurried over. After entering the Constabulary Bureau, he saw Consort Rou warmly greeting him to sit down.

“Lord Pei has arrived,” Consort Rou poured tea and said earnestly, “Please sit.”

Pei Wenxuan respectfully bowed. Consort Rou personally brought tea to Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan quickly expressed his thanks. After exchanging pleasantries with Pei Wenxuan for a while, Consort Rou sat down and said: “Recently, you’ve been troubled to rush about everywhere, Lord Pei. You’ve lost quite a bit of weight.”

“Serving Your Ladyship is what Wenxuan should do.”

“I called you here this time to discuss a matter with Lord Pei.”

Consort Rou studied Pei Wenxuan’s expression. Pei Wenxuan’s face showed not the slightest ripple as he simply said: “Please speak, Your Ladyship.”

“This imperial examination case involves too many people and can’t be fully processed in a short time. I was thinking that dragging out the imperial examination like this isn’t good either. I’d like to trouble Lord Pei to speak with the remaining students.”

Pei Wenxuan’s hand holding the teacup paused. He looked up at Consort Rou. Consort Rou smiled broadly: “Let them participate in the imperial examination directly first. As for the case, I’ll handle one batch first, and the rest can be dealt with slowly. What do you think?”

Pei Wenxuan said nothing. Consort Rou gently waved her round fan and continued: “Of course, they’ve also wasted a lot of time in Hua Jing. As compensation, we’ll give each of them fifty taels of silver. How about that?”

Consort Rou’s words were quite explicit, and Pei Wenxuan had understood her meaning from the start.

Consort Rou only planned to handle cases related to the Crown Prince’s people. As for the rest, she planned to protect them. Now she wanted him to be a negotiator to “appease” those students who hadn’t been vindicated, threatening them with their futures, perhaps also promising gold and silver, using both kindness and force to make these people shut up.

If they agreed not to pursue the case further, these students could participate in the imperial examination, take the exam, enter officialdom, and still receive fifty taels of silver.

Fifty taels of silver, in the countryside, might be a family’s lifetime expenses. For these students whose slots had been swapped by others, it was indeed quite a lot.

Seeing Pei Wenxuan remain silent, Consort Rou also grew somewhat nervous. Pei Wenxuan thought for a moment and smiled: “I’ll do everything according to Your Ladyship’s wishes. Tomorrow I’ll go talk to those students.”

“Perfect.”

Consort Rou became happy and quickly raised her tea: “I’ve troubled Lord Pei too much these days. I offer tea in place of wine to thank you, Lord Pei.”

“Your Ladyship is too kind.”

Pei Wenxuan also raised his tea in return. Seeing that Pei Wenxuan seemed to be contemplating tomorrow’s matters, Consort Rou thought for a moment and tentatively broached: “Lord Pei has been divorced from Pingle for some time now. These days, living alone, do you find it lonely?”

Hearing Consort Rou’s words, Pei Wenxuan looked up at her. Seeing that Pei Wenxuan’s expression seemed confused, Consort Rou smiled: “My niece Wei’er is well-read and well-mannered, talented and beautiful. I’ve been looking for a good husband for her in Hua Jing, but none have been very satisfactory. Now that I’ve become acquainted with Lord Pei, I feel you possess both talent and virtue. I wanted to play matchmaker. I wonder if Lord Pei has time today…”

“Your Ladyship is overly concerned.” Pei Wenxuan quickly said, “I’ve only just divorced. Whether for the imperial family’s dignity or my own reputation, it wouldn’t be proper to immediately discuss marriage again.”

“You could meet first.” Seeing Pei Wenxuan refuse, Consort Rou didn’t feel embarrassed and continued: “Huale has already sent a calling card to your estate on her behalf today. Just meet her and then give me your reply.”

Consort Rou was quite forceful. Pei Wenxuan couldn’t refuse again. Pei Wenxuan smiled and simply said: “Yes. However, I still have an important matter to complete today. After finishing it, I’ll immediately return to the estate and reply to Miss Xiao’s card.”

“That’s perfect then.”

After Consort Rou finished speaking, Pei Wenxuan stood to take his leave. Consort Rou escorted him out of the Constabulary Bureau. Before leaving, she even personally helped Pei Wenxuan muster his men, having him go arrest the last official related to the Shangguan clan.

Pei Wenxuan led his men out of the Constabulary Bureau in an imposing procession.

As soon as he left the Constabulary Bureau, Pei Wenxuan’s face turned cold. Tong Ye quickly came forward and said urgently: “Young Master, are you really going to meet Miss Xiao? If you meet her, how will you explain it to Her Highness?”

“Meet her? What meeting?” Pei Wenxuan laughed coldly. “She’s unkind to me, so I’ll be unrighteous to her. Daring to push a woman on me—she wants me dead!”

“It’s not quite that serious…”

Tong Ye muttered quietly. Pei Wenxuan rode his horse leading the men galloping through the streets, gripping the reins tightly: “She sent the card into the estate. Given Mother’s temperament lately, she’ll definitely find a way to intercept the card. After getting it, would she keep it to herself? She’ll turn around and send it straight to the Princess’s estate.”

The more Pei Wenxuan thought about it, the angrier he got: “Don’t you know what a petty person Her Highness is?”

“But this matter isn’t your fault.”

Tong Ye was baffled. Pei Wenxuan choked up, suddenly feeling somewhat wronged: “She never blames other women—only me.”

Tong Ye: “…”

As Pei Wenxuan led Tong Ye in conversation and turned the street corner, Tong Ye suddenly felt something was wrong. The road Pei Wenxuan was taking didn’t seem to lead to their original destination.

Tong Ye realized it, and others realized it too. They looked at each other. Tong Ye was the first to ask: “My lord, where are we going?”

“Your Ladyship said the case won’t be handled further,” Pei Wenxuan replied calmly, “so today I need to help Your Ladyship catch a big fish.”

Having gotten their answer, everyone felt slightly more settled. Pei Wenxuan led them galloping all the way to the estate of Minister of Personnel Wang Houwen. The group dismounted and blocked the Wang estate completely.

“This official has come on Consort Rou’s orders to arrest the suspect Wang Houwen,” Pei Wenxuan stood before the crowd and said coldly, “Hand him over!”

The Wang family servants saw this formation and immediately had servants come out to block the entrance while simultaneously going to find Wang Houwen.

Wang Houwen was at home playing with his birds when the servant reported. He sneered: “That woman Consort Rou is simply insatiably greedy. She took the money but won’t do the work, has no sense of propriety at all. Does she really think I’m a soft persimmon?”

“Then…” the servant hesitated, “what should we do now?”

“Go to the Ministry of Justice,” Wang Houwen waved his hand. “Find Vice Minister Su. Tell him Pei Wenxuan is defying his superiors, trespassing in private residences, and assaulting a court official. Have him come and arrest him.”

“Does my lord want to see Pei Wenxuan now?”

The servant was somewhat uneasy. Wang Houwen looked at the servant with the eyes one would use to look at a fool: “That little brat—does he deserve to see me?”

With that, Wang Houwen put down his bird cage: “I’m going to take a nap. Call me again after Su Rongqing arrests him.”

Wang Houwen leisurely walked into his bedroom.

Pei Wenxuan stood at the entrance waiting for a while. The Wang estate’s main gate slowly opened wide. The Wang estate’s steward led people walking out from within the courtyard and said respectfully: “Lord Pei.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Wang Quan, steward of the Wang estate, here specially to relay a message to you, my lord. My master is sleeping now and it’s inconvenient to receive guests. We hope my lord will understand.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan laughed: “Sleeping? He’s the Minister of Personnel, yet he instructed officials to collect money and arbitrarily swap examination candidates’ slots. How many impoverished scholars studied bitterly their entire lives only to be ruined by a single word from your master? Can he still sleep now?!”

“Lord Pei,” Wang Quan’s expression turned cold, “you need evidence when you speak.”

“Evidence?” Pei Wenxuan laughed coldly. “Come with me to the Constabulary Bureau once, and Consort Rou will naturally give him a fair judgment regarding right and wrong, black and white! Have him come out now,” Pei Wenxuan lowered his voice, “otherwise, don’t blame me for being discourteous.”

“Who could stop Lord Pei if you wanted to be discourteous?”

Wang Quan laughed once: “Do as you please.”

Finishing speaking, Wang Quan rolled up his sleeves, placed them behind his back, and walked into the main gate.

Pei Wenxuan lowered his head and laughed once, then looked up calmly and said: “Storm in.”

Those beside him were stunned. Pei Wenxuan glanced at Tong Ye and said coolly: “Ram the gate and arrest people. Don’t you know how?”

Tong Ye immediately reacted and bellowed: “Charge!”

Then he drew his sword and led the men charging toward the Wang estate.

Wang Quan looked back in astonishment and saw Pei Wenxuan quietly watching him from within the crowd.

He wore bright red official robes, his hands tucked in his sleeves, his gaze as steady as if he weren’t a young man.

This steadiness gave people invisible confidence. The Constabulary Bureau’s people had been somewhat afraid at first, but seeing Pei Wenxuan remain calm throughout, they gradually relaxed.

Seeing the guards break through the Wang estate’s main gate, Pei Wenxuan finally moved, stepping forward to enter.

He entered the courtyard amidst the chaos, walking in composedly, then arrived at the Wang estate’s rear courtyard, reaching the master bedroom entrance.

Wang Houwen was still sleeping soundly when he heard a tremendous crash at the door. Soldiers then rushed in and dragged him down from the bed.

Seeing Pei Wenxuan standing at the door, Wang Houwen was both shocked and furious, bellowing: “How dare you, boy!”

“Lord Wang,” Pei Wenxuan bowed respectfully, “this official naturally wouldn’t dare. However, this official is carrying out Consort Rou’s orders. Consort Rou said that as Minister of Personnel, you must be investigated no matter what. In this imperial examination case, you were far too derelict in your duties—you’re not as organized in handling affairs as her second uncle.”

“This ignorant woman insults me!”

Wang Houwen struggled to get up. The guards immediately pressed him down. Pei Wenxuan walked forward, crouched down halfway, and patted Wang Houwen’s shoulder: “Please bear with it for now. Once we reach the Constabulary Bureau, justice will be served.”

Just as he finished speaking, Pei Wenxuan heard a voice from behind him that was gentle yet carried a hint of coldness: “Who do you want to take to the Constabulary Bureau?”

Pei Wenxuan, crouched halfway, turned around to see Su Rongqing standing at the door, staring at him with an expression showing no surprise whatsoever.

Seeing Su Rongqing arrive, Wang Houwen quickly said: “Vice Minister Su, quickly! He actually trespassed in an official’s residence and treated me like this. Vice Minister Su, arrest him immediately!”

Su Rongqing walked to Wang Houwen’s side and helped him up.

“Lord Wang, you should rest first.”

As Su Rongqing spoke, he had someone help the severely frightened Wang Houwen leave.

For a moment, only Su Rongqing and Pei Wenxuan remained in the room. Pei Wenxuan braced himself to stand up, dusted off his hands, and said with a smile: “I knew that at a time like this, Vice Minister Su—whether coming early or late—would eventually come.”

“Defying superiors, forcibly entering private residences, assaulting court officials.”

Su Rongqing looked up at Pei Wenxuan: “Pei Wenxuan, these are all serious crimes you’ve committed.”

“Lord Su, I’m acting on Consort Rou’s orders, handling affairs for Consort Rou.”

Pei Wenxuan raised his hand and cupped his fists toward the direction of the palace, full of arrogance: “Could it be that Lord Su won’t even obey Consort Rou’s orders?”

“Seize him!”

Su Rongqing bellowed. The Ministry of Justice’s people immediately stepped forward. The Constabulary Bureau’s people quickly blocked in front of Pei Wenxuan. The two sides faced off. Su Rongqing stared at Pei Wenxuan: “Does Lord Pei even disregard the Great Xia’s laws and openly resist arrest?”

“Lord Su speaks too harshly.”

Pei Wenxuan placed his hands before him and smiled: “It’s just that I was merely following orders. What crime is there? If there is a crime, Lord Su should go to the palace and first send Consort Rou to the Ministry of Justice.”

“Take action.”

Su Rongqing didn’t intend to say more to him and turned to walk toward the door.

The two sides were about to start fighting when Pei Wenxuan suddenly raised his hand: “Fine, fine, fine. I’m afraid of you. Then arrest me.”

Pei Wenxuan pushed through the crowd and extended his hands. Su Rongqing turned his head to look at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan raised an eyebrow: “However, I’d like to see how many days Lord Su can keep me in the Ministry of Justice after sending me there.”

“That depends on my mood.”

After Su Rongqing finished speaking, he turned and left.

Pei Wenxuan looked at Su Rongqing’s back and shouted loudly: “You just wait—Consort Rou will come save me! Prince Su won’t watch me come to harm either! You’ll see!”

His voice was very loud—everyone in the courtyard heard it.

Su Rongqing quietly instructed someone beside him: “Gag him.”

After speaking, Su Rongqing walked out.

Pei Wenxuan had iron chains on his hands and was dragged outward. As he walked, he arrogantly made declarations: “Consort Rou…”

Before he could finish, a cloth wad was stuffed in his mouth.

“Shut up, you.”

Su Zhizhu said harshly. Pei Wenxuan blinked and continued making “mmph mmph” sounds, faintly making out four characters: “Consort Rou.”

While the Wang family was in chaos, Li Rong was taking a bath at home, burning incense. She deliberately applied light makeup, just waiting for Pei Wenxuan to come back and apologize tonight.

She pondered what demands she should make at that time, and thinking about it, she laughed aloud.

But just as she was halfway through her laugh, she heard hurried footsteps from outside.

Li Rong turned her head and saw Jing Mei standing at the door, panting heavily.

“What’s wrong?” Li Rong smiled as she leaned against the vanity. “Has the prince consort arrived?”

“No, no.”

Jing Mei shook her head: “The prince consort can’t come.”

Li Rong frowned: “Why can’t he come?”

“The prince consort, the prince consort,” Jing Mei swallowed and calmed her breathing, “was arrested by Vice Minister Su!”

Li Rong’s face showed astonishment. For a moment, her thoughts went astray: “Su Rongqing discovered he was coming to my place?”

After all these years, Su Rongqing was still this overreaching?

“No, no,” Jing Mei hadn’t expected Li Rong to think in that direction and quickly corrected her. “The prince consort stormed into the Wang family, dragged Minister Wang down from his bed. Minister Wang had someone report to the Ministry of Justice, and Vice Minister Su went and arrested him!”

Li Rong was stunned. A moment later, she jumped up and immediately said: “Quick, hurry into the palace!”