Li Rong had Pei Wenxuan stay at the Princess’s mansion. Both of them were waiting for people from the palace to come and question Li Rong about her unauthorized departure from the mansion and her forcible removal of Pei Wenxuan. Unexpectedly, on the second day, no one came to hold them accountable. Instead, news arrived that Consort Rou had forcibly detained Wang Houwen.
When Li Rong received this news in her room, she was completely stunned. She couldn’t help but look toward Pei Wenxuan, quite astonished as she said, “She actually dares to directly arrest even the Minister of Personnel. When I caught Xie Lanqing back in the day, at least I had caught her red-handed with evidence. Has Consort Rou lost her mind?”
“If she dares to detain him, naturally she has evidence,” Pei Wenxuan smiled as he lifted his tea with his one good hand and explained, “Wang Houwen had already sent her money before. She originally planned to release Wang Houwen, but now that I’ve made such a fuss, everyone knows Wang Houwen is a suspect. Even if she wants to release him, she has to consider appearances.”
“But she… doesn’t have that kind of courage, does she?”
Li Rong frowned. “Wang Houwen sent her money. If she doesn’t help him, that’s one thing, but to actually arrest him?”
Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan smiled as he took a sip of tea. Li Rong immediately reacted, “What scheme did you pull?”
“Last night, I arranged for someone to impersonate people from the Wang household and delivered a message to the palace with a poem that mocked Consort Rou, ridiculing her origins.”
Upon hearing this, Li Rong understood. Although Consort Rou had her own means, she had one weakness—both she and Huale cared too much about their origins.
If it had been any other day, it might have been fine. But now Consort Rou had taken charge of the Constabulary Bureau, and everyone had to yield to her three times over. At such a time when her prestige was at its peak, for Wang Houwen to dare rely on his aristocratic background to write a letter mocking her, naturally she couldn’t maintain her composure.
After all, she controlled the Constabulary Bureau and was a Noble Consort with high rank—it was easy for her to arrest people. Pei Wenxuan could still claim insufficient rank and receive severe reprimands, but with sufficient military forces, there was no one Consort Rou couldn’t bring back.
However, arresting someone was easy; the difficulty lay in keeping them detained. Li Rong thought for a moment and couldn’t help but ask, “What if Consort Rou and Wang Houwen meet face to face and clear up the matter about the poem?”
“So what if they clear it up?” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “Wang Houwen was still arrested by her in the end. The other aristocratic families watching will only think she’s being too arrogant, and Wang Houwen won’t swallow this insult either. Your Highness should now quickly go fan the flames and have people from the Censorate keep an eye on how Consort Rou handles Wang Houwen’s case. This way, she’ll think this letter was written by Your Highness, that Your Highness wants to fight for power, and her mind will naturally fall into disarray. When the time comes with Wang Houwen’s case, if she doesn’t handle it, His Majesty’s plan for her to establish prestige among the humble clans won’t be realized. If she does handle it, her path to secretly allying with Su Rongqing and those Jiangnan aristocratic families will also be cut off.”
As Pei Wenxuan spoke, he set down his teacup and said slowly, “I’d like to see what she plans to do.”
As the two were talking, an announcement came from outside saying people had arrived from the palace. Li Rong told someone to look after Pei Wenxuan well, then stood up and went to the main hall.
As soon as she entered the hall, Li Rong saw Fulai leading soldiers, standing in the great hall. Li Rong stepped forward to perform a courtesy and called out softly, “Eunuch Fulai.”
“Your Highness.”
Fulai smiled as he returned the courtesy. “It’s been quite a while.”
“How does Eunuch have the spare time to visit me today as a guest?”
Li Rong invited Fulai to sit down. Fulai shook his head but didn’t sit, only saying, “This old servant has come on His Majesty’s orders to inquire about why Your Highness forcibly left the mansion yesterday and then abducted Vice Minister Pei back to the mansion.”
Upon hearing this, Li Rong’s expression instantly turned cold. “Has Eunuch come to condemn me?”
“This servant wouldn’t dare.” Fulai quickly bowed, saying urgently, “Your Highness, this old servant is merely following orders. I hope Your Highness won’t make things difficult for me.”
Hearing this, Li Rong’s expression softened somewhat. She turned her head and said, “Go back and explain clearly to Father Emperor. Yesterday, Wen Shi came to my place to inform me that Xiao Wei had sent Pei Wenxuan a visiting card. How long has it been since Pei Wenxuan and I divorced? Yet Consort Rou is already bullying me like this at my doorstep? No matter what, Pei Wenxuan was my former Prince Consort. For her to let…”
“Your Highness,” Fulai said hastily upon hearing this, “Why don’t you come with this old servant to the palace to explain? These words…” Fulai showed a troubled expression. “This old servant cannot convey them well.”
“I won’t make it difficult for you,” Li Rong stood up and said directly, “I’ll go to the palace right now and explain everything clearly to Father Emperor.”
Li Rong appeared extremely angry. She led people straight to the palace. When she arrived at the Imperial Study, Li Ming was admiring a painting of birds with Su Minzhi. Li Rong stormed in aggressively, calling out loudly, “Father Emperor, you must stand up for me, Father Emperor!”
Hearing Li Rong barge directly in, Li Ming couldn’t help but be somewhat stunned. Su Minzhi smiled and said respectfully, “Your Majesty, then this old minister will take his leave first.”
Li Rong entered the room and, seeing Su Minzhi, was also taken aback. She quickly performed a courtesy, appearing somewhat aggrieved as she said, “I greet Elder Su.”
Su Minzhi smiled as he returned the courtesy, then walked out.
As soon as Su Minzhi left, Li Ming immediately showed his displeasure. “Look at your improper behavior! What does this look like!”
Upon hearing this, Li Rong’s eyes immediately reddened. “Yes, your daughter is improper. Your daughter has been bullied to such an extent, yet you neither ask nor inquire, and you still say I’m improper!”
Li Ming quickly glanced at Fulai who had followed them in. Fulai explained, “Your Highness has come to explain about yesterday’s unauthorized departure from the mansion.”
Hearing this, Li Ming nodded, sat down in his seat, and said flatly, “Speak then. Why did you suddenly leave the mansion? I heard you even abducted Pei Wenxuan back to your mansion?”
Li Rong quickly recounted how Xiao Wei had arranged to meet Pei Wenxuan and how Wen Shi had informed her about it. Then she said angrily, “I went to find Pei Wenxuan to demand an explanation. Who would have thought that before I could even confront him, I saw someone assassinating him in the street. Su Rongqing was responsible for escorting him to the Ministry of Justice, yet he actually allowed someone to severely injure him in broad daylight. So I brought him back to the mansion to recuperate.”
Li Ming listened quietly, using the tea lid to stir the tea leaves in his bowl, saying slowly, “Then you’ve actually done a good deed. How is Pei Wenxuan now?”
“Not too bad,” Li Rong’s eyes reddened upon hearing this. “His life is intact, he just needs to recuperate.”
Li Ming frowned and thought for a moment. “Then send him back to the Pei mansion.”
“I won’t send him.”
Li Rong flatly refused. “If I send him back, who knows when Xiao Wei might come calling again?”
“You two are already separated!” Li Ming’s tone carried dissatisfaction. “Why are you forcibly keeping him in your mansion like this?”
Li Rong turned her head away, her face showing anger. “Then why must Father Emperor insist on separating me from him?”
“He doesn’t like you,” Li Ming was getting somewhat irritated. “You’re a princess—what does it look like for you to chase after a man like this?”
“You are the Son of Heaven,” Li Rong turned her head back, seeming confused. “I am a princess. What is Pei Wenxuan? With one command from you, would he dare divorce me? Clearly it was you who wanted to tear us apart!”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Li Ming slammed his palm on the table, though he felt somewhat guilty.
Seeing him yell at her, Li Rong immediately burst into tears. “You took away the Constabulary Bureau and gave it to Consort Rou—that was fine. You forced me to divorce—that was acceptable too. You let Huale come to my mansion to beat me, and you even had me confined to establish Consort Rou’s position with the Constabulary Bureau—your daughter has been so obedient in every way I’ve listened to you. Yet you still want to let Consort Rou humiliate me like this? I’ve never liked anyone in my entire life. Pei Wenxuan was your choice. Finally I grew to like him, and you agreed to his divorce. Now you even want to have Xiao Wei meet him right in front of me…”
Li Rong listed out each grievance. Li Ming felt increasingly guilty. Li Rong raised her hand to wipe her tears. “You’re forcing me to the edge.”
“Your Highness, please don’t be sad,” Fulai said, seeing Li Ming’s embarrassment. He stepped forward to console Li Rong. “You are His Majesty’s most beloved daughter. His Majesty is also considering your reputation.”
“Fulai is right,” Li Ming cleared his throat lightly, seeing Fulai give him a way out. “I’m also considering your reputation. If you don’t like Xiao Wei, then just don’t let Xiao Wei meet him.”
“I don’t trust anyone else either,” Li Rong wiped her tears, saying firmly. “He’s injured now. If you put him anywhere else, I won’t feel at ease.”
Li Ming’s movements paused. What Li Rong was considering was indeed valid. If Li Rong hadn’t appeared during this assassination attempt, Pei Wenxuan might have died.
Pei Wenxuan was currently one of the most direct executors of his will. If he died just like that, firstly, others would be even more afraid to step forward, and secondly, he would lose someone who could get things done.
In the entire court, there was probably no one who would consider Pei Wenxuan’s welfare more than Li Rong.
After all, everyone else’s relationship with Pei Wenxuan was more about mutual interests, whereas Li Rong… she had feelings for Pei Wenxuan in her heart.
Thinking of this, Li Ming felt somewhat relieved, yet also somewhat displeased.
He was relieved that he could use the relationship between Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong to create more distance between Li Rong and Li Chuan. Yet he also had an inexplicable feeling… like the prized cabbage from his own field had been rooted up by a pig.
Li Ming hesitated for a while before finally deciding, “Fine, then let him recuperate there. Once his injury heals, he must return immediately.”
“But…”
“What more ‘buts’?” Li Ming raised his eyes to look at her, saying irritably, “Do you want to remarry him or something?”
Upon hearing this, Li Rong seemed somewhat embarrassed. “After all, having him stay in my mansion… You must also consider your daughter’s reputation. Perhaps…”
“Now you’re talking to me about reputation?” Li Ming laughed mockingly and couldn’t be bothered with her anymore, only saying, “Leave.”
“Father Emperor, there’s also Su Rongqing,” Li Rong stared at Li Ming. “He arrested Pei Wenxuan to take him to the Ministry of Justice, which gave someone the opportunity to assassinate him. Pei Wenxuan was so severely injured—are we just going to let this go?”
Li Ming thought for a moment before finally saying, “I will naturally punish him, but after all, he was merely negligent in his protection—he’s not the assassin. You needn’t be too concerned about this.”
“He must still be punished,” Li Rong immediately said. “They must be taught a lesson, otherwise everyone will target Pei Wenxuan, and in the future, who would dare help you handle affairs?”
These words struck at Li Ming’s heart. Li Ming waved his hand, only saying, “Go back and do more embroidery, practice your calligraphy—stop thinking about these things.”
Li Rong pouted, knelt down to kowtow, and as she was preparing to leave, she suddenly remembered, “Father Emperor, what about my house arrest order?”
“Lift it.”
It was originally just for show anyway, to establish Consort Rou’s authority. Now that Consort Rou had even arrested Wang Houwen, there was no need to confine Li Rong to support her image.
Consort Rou’s prestige was immensely great now.
Li Rong smiled as she performed her courtesy and happily left. When she returned to her room, Pei Wenxuan saw the joy on Li Rong’s face and knew everything had gone smoothly. He raised his hand and pointed to two letters on the table, smiling, “I’ve written the memorials for you. Please trouble yourself to deliver them to the Censorate and have them monitor Wang Houwen’s case.”
“You can still write memorials even with your shoulder injured?” Li Rong smiled as she sat down next to Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan looked up at her with a light laugh. “Not only can I write memorials,” he said as he propped himself up and leaned toward Li Rong, “I can do many other things too. Your Highness, would you like to try?”
“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong pushed his head away with her fan. “You really are an old lecher.”
“To die under a peony flower, even as a ghost one would be romantic.” Pei Wenxuan leaned in trying to kiss Li Rong. Seeing him approach, Li Rong felt ticklish from his ministrations and stood up with giggles. “I won’t discuss such things with you—I still have important matters to attend to.”
With that, Li Rong went to the table to retrieve Pei Wenxuan’s memorials. Pei Wenxuan sighed and fell back onto the bed. “After using this humble minister, seeing this humble minister is useless, Your Highness just ignores me.”
“That’s right, you useless dog,” Li Rong said as she passed by him, tapping his stomach once with her fan. When she reached the doorway, she thought for a moment, turned back, and looked at him with a meaningful glance. “Focus on recuperating properly.”
That glance she gave was very slow, as if it contained countless romantic implications, carrying a soul-stirring allure.
Pei Wenxuan drew in a sharp breath and watched as the woman pushed open the door and walked out.
Li Rong delivered the memorials into the hands of people from the Censorate. The next day, as Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan sat in the room eating tangerines, they heard news that the Censorate had impeached Wang Houwen, saying they wanted to assist Consort Rou in investigating the case, but were refused by Consort Rou.
Su Rongqing was fined three months’ salary for failing to protect Pei Wenxuan adequately. At the same time, Left Vice Minister of Justice Pei Liming was promoted to the new Minister of Justice.
The position of Minister of Justice had always been undecided between Su Rongqing and Pei Liming. Now that Su Rongqing had let Pei Wenxuan get injured, it appeared to be a salary fine on the surface, but everyone knew that for someone of Su Rongqing’s background, salary was never particularly important. So Su Rongqing’s real punishment was actually having Pei Liming become the Minister of Justice.
These two pieces of news made the two of them eat two extra bowls of rice. Li Rong also privately had people continuously inquire about news regarding Wang Houwen and Consort Rou.
After Wang Houwen was detained by Consort Rou, it was said he cursed at Consort Rou in prison. Consort Rou then directly had people apply “secret torture”—the so-called “secret torture” consisted of various methods of tormenting people that left no visible wounds.
Wang Houwen had never experienced such sinister methods. It didn’t take long before he confessed.
Only after she had Wang Houwen beaten and made him confess did Consort Rou finally go to see him. Wang Houwen had already been tortured by her until he was barely alive. She said with a smile, “Lord Wang, how do you feel?”
Having suffered several days of torture, Wang Houwen didn’t dare say much. But to have him bow his head to Consort Rou was something he couldn’t accept in his heart either. So he remained silent. Consort Rou lightly flicked her nails and spoke slowly, “In Pigpen Alley the black sparrows bustle, one day perched on branches claiming to be phoenixes. Draped in yellow, crowned in green, pearls in beak, yet cannot hide the body’s filth stained with night soil. Lord Wang,” Consort Rou turned to look at him with a light smile, “do you still think this is a good poem?”
Hearing this, Wang Houwen couldn’t help but laugh. “A good poem!”
He declared loudly, “Most fitting for Your Ladyship!”
“Then perfect,” Consort Rou said softly. “When Lord Wang mounts the execution platform and faces execution after autumn, I’ll see whether Lord Wang still thinks it’s a good poem.”
With that, Consort Rou stood up and walked out. After walking outside, she narrowed her eyes and turned to ask the guard beside her, “Chen Houzhao’s case—still haven’t found evidence of Pingle’s involvement?”
“Not yet.” The guard said in a low voice, “Princess Pingle covered her tracks too cleanly.”
Consort Rou narrowed her eyes. “This girl is much smarter than her mother.”
“However, Your Ladyship,” the guard said with some concern, “the old madam sent word saying that Chen Houzhao’s case was done by your distant uncle, and she asks that you look after him more.”
Consort Rou’s movements paused, then she quickly asked, “Who else knows about this?”
“Your Ladyship need not worry—they’re all our own people.” The guard quickly reassured her. “The old madam said that as long as Chen Houzhao is eliminated, as for the rest, it’s up to Your Ladyship.”
Hearing this, Consort Rou pondered for a moment before saying in a low voice, “I will merge this case with the other cases and handle them together. Tell my mother… not to worry. But in the future, these kinds of matters must be discussed with me,” Consort Rou’s eyes sharpened. “This cannot happen again.”
“Your Ladyship can rest assured. The old madam has already said the family has been disciplined. Uncle Wenzhang was also worried that Your Ladyship might be financially strapped in the palace, so he sent in two bank notes.” Consort Rou watched as the guard discreetly revealed two bank notes. She glanced at the amounts and her expression eased somewhat, only saying, “After all, we’re all one family. When there are difficulties, we should still help.”
With that, Consort Rou walked out with the guard.
Having offended Wang Houwen, Consort Rou naturally didn’t dare offend other aristocratic families. So she began courting aristocratic families everywhere, gifting them money.
However, her ruthless methods—directly torturing Wang Houwen to extract a confession—still spread among the aristocratic families. The families became cautious and fearful of her, and thus their attitude toward her grew increasingly favorable. Consort Rou simply thought this was the aristocratic families warming their relationship with her. Without being wary of the aristocratic families and without the Censorate’s supervision, Consort Rou acted increasingly recklessly.
In just half a month, she formally announced the case closed.
She arrested nearly thirty people, with close to eight scheduled for execution. Aside from Wang Houwen, almost all were officials who had some connection to the Shangguan family.
Anyone with eyes could see Consort Rou’s intentions. Thus, some smaller families and the existing humble clan courtiers scrambled to curry favor, becoming the “Prince Su faction” in court.
Along with Consort Rou closing the case came her official list of students who would participate in the imperial examinations. On the day Consort Rou released the confirmed list of those who had been replaced among the hundred-plus examination candidates who had filed complaints, a group of officials from the Ministry of Personnel arrived at the Princess’s mansion.
Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong were sitting and playing chess when they heard that a group of officials from the Ministry of Personnel had arrived outside the mansion, wanting to see Pei Wenxuan.
Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong exchanged glances. Li Rong couldn’t help but smile. “I wonder if Lord Pei’s illness has recovered?”
“Whether I’m well or not, doesn’t Your Highness already know?”
Pei Wenxuan smiled as he set down his chess piece and said gently, “Have them brought to the front hall. I’ll go over in a moment.”
The visitors were all minor officials from the Ministry of Personnel, responsible for the specific operations of the imperial examinations. Seeing Pei Wenxuan arrive, the group immediately brightened with joy.
“Lord Pei,” those people cupped their hands in courtesy toward Pei Wenxuan. “Your health has finally recovered.”
“I appreciate all my colleagues’ concern.”
Although Pei Wenxuan had been resting during this time, he had still been maintaining correspondence with these people to handle affairs. Though they hadn’t met for over half a month, they weren’t unfamiliar. In fact, because of increased private correspondence, they had become even more familiar.
After the group exchanged casual pleasantries, several of them explained their purpose to Pei Wenxuan. “We’ve come this time because we received news that Consort Rou privately inquired among some of us to see if anyone could take on the position of chief examiner. We all speculated that Consort Rou is probably planning to replace you, my lord, so we came specifically to inform you of this matter.”
Upon hearing this, Pei Wenxuan lightly swept his gaze over the several people. They were all sons from aristocratic families, though not first-rank nobility. After all, first-rank nobles like the Su family and Shangguan family were still a minority in Hua Jing. Those who actually handled affairs were more often these smaller nobles rooted in Hua Jing.
For them to come openly and tell him this matter was tantamount to declaring their stance. Pei Wenxuan smiled lightly and said gently, “Please rest assured, everyone. Tomorrow I will return.”
“As for the imperial examination matters, I must trouble you all to keep them in mind.”