All three of them looked toward the door simultaneously as Li Rong called out, “Let him in.”

Jing Lan pushed open the door, revealing Cui Yulang standing at the entrance with an anxious expression. He stepped forward and bowed to Li Rong. “Your Highness.”

“Speak,” Li Rong said directly. “What happened?”

“Your Highness, this humble official made inquiries through acquaintances at Prince Su’s mansion. Li Cheng likely won’t survive.” Cui Yulang had been planted beside Consort Rou for a long time, and even though she had begun to guard against him, his network of informants at Prince Su’s mansion far exceeded that of ordinary people.

“Li Cheng took three arrows, all through vital organs. The physicians say death is merely a matter of days. Before this subordinate left Prince Su’s mansion, I heard what seemed to be a sharp, piercing scream from a woman in the inner courtyard. The voice seemed to belong to Princess Huale.”

With Li Cheng’s life slipping away and Huale’s screaming in the inner courtyard, the connection made it easy to guess what had occurred.

Shangguan Ya glanced at Li Rong and finally dared to confirm, “Li Cheng is dead?”

Cui Yulang nodded. “Most likely.”

“Excellent.”

Shangguan Ya let out a breath of relief, as if she had survived a catastrophe. She took a step back and weakly sank into a chair, murmuring, “This way the Crown Prince is secure.”

“However, on this subordinate’s way to the Princess’s mansion, I noticed the Xiao family’s carriage rushing toward Prince Su’s mansion. This subordinate suspects there may yet be changes in this matter.”

Cui Yulang frowned with considerable worry, but Shangguan Ya was unconcerned and tried to reassure him. “The man is already dead. What changes could there be?”

Cui Yulang remained silent. Li Rong nodded. “I understand. Go rest now. You cannot return to Prince Su’s mansion, and don’t go home either.”

Coming out at this time, Consort Rou would certainly become suspicious. If things were as Li Rong suspected, Cui Yulang’s life would be in danger.

Cui Yulang understood the risks involved. He bowed to Li Rong and withdrew.

Once Cui Yulang left, Shangguan Ya turned to look at Li Rong, quite pleased. “Your Highness, with Li Cheng’s death, His Majesty only has the Crown Prince as his son. No matter what, he cannot possibly depose the Crown Prince. What I said earlier, we don’t need to do anymore. Honestly,” Shangguan Ya patted her chest with lingering fear, “doing such things truly frightens me.”

Li Rong said nothing. The tea in her hands had grown somewhat cold.

“Wenxuan,” she said after a pause, looking toward Pei Wenxuan. “Go next door and see what the physicians say.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan knew Li Rong had something she wanted to say to Shangguan Ya privately. He nodded and rose to leave.

As Pei Wenxuan exited the room, Shangguan Ya looked around at the two people remaining and sensed something was wrong. She maintained her usual casual manner, taking some melon seeds from nearby and gently cracking them open. “Your Highness keeps me here alone—is there something even the Prince Consort cannot hear?”

“If Li Cheng is dead, with Chuan’er as Crown Prince, his position becomes certain,” Li Rong began, her voice very calm, completely devoid of any emotion.

“Correct,” Shangguan Ya nodded. “Does Your Highness have other concerns?”

“That also means His Majesty will spare no cost to eliminate the Shangguan clan. Aya,” Li Rong raised her eyes to look at her, “are you prepared for this?”

“Isn’t this what we agreed upon long ago?” Shangguan Ya smiled. “Your Highness has worried about the Crown Prince’s maternal relatives being too powerful for more than a day or two, but now with only the Crown Prince among the princes, does he have a choice?”

“His Majesty may not have a choice, but the Crown Prince does.”

Li Rong unconsciously tapped her cup, the ripples in the water spreading outward with each tap. Shangguan Ya listened to Li Rong’s words as the smile gradually faded from her face. Li Rong reminded her, “Tell me, on one hand is all the power of His Majesty’s direct line, on the other the Shangguan clan; on one hand is ascending the throne without any obstacles, on the other is defying the imperial will and possibly even needing to stage a rebellion to seize the throne. Aya, do you think the Crown Prince will choose the Shangguan clan, or will he choose the throne?”

“Your Highness,” Shangguan Ya scrutinized Li Rong, “are you worried the Crown Prince will cross the bridge and burn it behind him, turning his back on us at the critical moment?”

“Aya, aren’t you worried?” Li Rong turned to look directly into Shangguan Ya’s eyes. “Do you believe the Crown Prince will never betray the Shangguan clan?”

“Your Highness,” Shangguan Ya listened to Li Rong’s questioning while observing her, reminding her, “he’s your younger brother.”

Li Rong said nothing. When the words “younger brother” came from Shangguan Ya’s mouth, it felt as if a knife had been driven viciously into her heart—painful enough to drive her mad, yet also mocking.

Younger brother?

In the face of power, hadn’t Li Chuan ultimately killed her?

Life and death, power, desire—how could anyone withstand such tests?

She was Li Chuan’s elder sister, but wasn’t Li Ming also Li Chuan’s father?

Li Rong remained silent. Observing her, Shangguan Ya knew Li Rong disdained the basis of her trust.

She set down the melon seeds and contemplated for a moment before finally speaking. “Then what does Your Highness intend to do?”

“I don’t intend anything. I’m simply asking Aya—if the Crown Prince abandons the Shangguan clan, what will Aya do?”

Shangguan Ya said nothing. Li Rong raised an eyebrow. “With Aya’s cautious nature, surely you wouldn’t stake the life and death of your entire clan on the Crown Prince alone?”

“This subordinate is slow-witted,” Shangguan Ya smiled. “Whatever Your Highness wishes to say, please speak directly.”

“What I want to say is very simple.”

“Aya,” Li Rong straightened up, leaning close to Shangguan Ya. “Rather than placing power in others’ hands, better to keep it in your own.”

Shangguan Ya quietly watched Li Rong as she heard her ask softly, “Why don’t you and I join forces and install an obedient monarch on the throne instead? What do you think?”

Shangguan Ya remained silent for a long time, simply staring at Li Rong before her.

She was very close, her hair hanging loose on both sides. The pure red wide-sleeved undergarment made her entire person appear unnaturally pale, as if she were a wandering spirit crawled back from hell, staring fixedly at her.

The two women gazed at each other silently. After a long while, Shangguan Ya smiled. “Then I wonder, Your Highness, whom do you plan to place on the throne?”

Li Rong observed her, knowing full well that Shangguan Ya was testing her.

Yet she still spoke, slowly uttering a name—

Li Cheng.

While Li Rong and Shangguan Ya conversed in the room, Pei Wenxuan arrived at the side chamber.

Inside, the physicians seemed to be engaged in heated debate about something. Pei Wenxuan frowned, feeling quite uneasy.

When the several physicians saw Pei Wenxuan enter, their faces all showed some trepidation. Pei Wenxuan’s heart rose in his chest, but he still raised his hand. “How is Her Highness’s condition? Speak plainly.”

“Please rest assured, my lord. Her Highness has only some external injuries and is otherwise unharmed.” Under the urging looks from the others, Physician Zhao steeled himself and came forward to report. Pei Wenxuan nodded. “And what else?”

If that were all, these physicians shouldn’t have this kind of reaction.

“There is also…” the physician hesitated for a moment, continuously gauging Pei Wenxuan’s expression as he slowly said, “Her Highness is pregnant.”

The instant he heard these words, Pei Wenxuan froze. The physician, having spoken the most difficult words, continued, “Due to the recent jostling, the fetus is unstable. We hope Her Highness will rest and nurture the pregnancy carefully to avoid any mishaps.”

Pei Wenxuan listened without speaking. Everyone waited for him, their hearts in turmoil.

Princess Pingle had already divorced, yet was diagnosed as pregnant, with the former Prince Consort being the first to know. Whether it was the Princess’s pregnancy or the former Prince Consort learning of it, either was enough to unsettle these physicians.

Pei Wenxuan’s silence lasted too long. All the physicians looked toward Physician Zhao, who steeled himself. “My lord?”

“Oh,” Pei Wenxuan finally came to his senses. He nodded, appearing composed, and immediately instructed, “Do not let this matter spread. Is Her Highness’s health otherwise stable?”

“Please rest assured, my lord,” everyone said, relieved by Pei Wenxuan’s tone. “If Her Highness recuperates well, there will be no problems. We will certainly keep this matter strictly confidential and not let outsiders know.”

Pei Wenxuan nodded, seeming distracted. “You should first write prescriptions. Tell me about any dietary restrictions, what’s beneficial for pregnant women, and so on.”

The physicians nodded repeatedly. The group spoke with Pei Wenxuan at length. After Pei Wenxuan carefully asked about how to care for Li Rong, he finally prepared to return.

He appeared very calm, showing no joy or anger whatsoever, but when he walked to the door, he completely failed to notice the closed door and walked straight into it. Everyone heard a loud “bang,” then saw Pei Wenxuan gasping in pain, clutching his nose.

“My lord?”

A nearby physician quickly moved to support him. Pei Wenxuan waved his hand and straightened up. “I’m fine.”

After recovering for a moment to steady himself, he opened the door and walked out.

Once he exited, cold wind hit him full in the face. He stood dazedly at the doorway for a while before remembering to look for Li Rong.

He had just reached the door when he heard Shangguan Ya’s voice roar from inside, “What madness has possessed you!”

The door was then violently thrown open by Shangguan Ya, cold wind rushing in. She shoved aside Pei Wenxuan at the doorway with a curse. “Get out of my way!”

Pei Wenxuan was pushed aside. Seeing the two women seemed to have argued, he glanced at Jing Lan standing nearby. Jing Lan quickly led the servants away, exiting the courtyard.

Li Rong sat in her chair, her expression consistently calm. Seeing Shangguan Ya leave, she picked up her teacup and said slowly, “Think carefully about what I said. Everyone pursues their own interests—no need to put on an act.”

These words made Shangguan Ya halt. She turned her head, looking through the doorway at the woman inside, drinking her tea with lowered eyes.

She was elegant and composed. Saying such things seemed as simple as everyday conversation to her.

Shangguan Ya stared at her fixedly. After a long time, she finally spoke. “Li Rong, you truly disgust me.”

Hearing this, Li Rong laughed lowly, shaking her head as she set her teacup on the table. “I disgust you?”

She laughed while raising her head to look at Shangguan Ya. Upon seeing those clear, angry eyes, past and present life suddenly overlapped. She abruptly raised her voice. “You’re the one who’s truly disgusting!”

“I’m disgusting for abandoning Li Chuan, but you’re not for abandoning Su Ronghua?!” Li Rong braced herself and stood up. “You assisted Li Chuan for power, you drew close to me for power—everything for power! And now you dare pretend to be innocent before me!”

If she hadn’t believed their pretense back then.

If she hadn’t thought people maintained some baseline morality in their hearts.

How could she have died at Li Chuan’s hands? How could she have argued repeatedly with Shangguan Ya and Li Chuan on her behalf, giving her heart and soul for her legitimate heir?

Since none of them were good people, why pretend to be honorable and righteous, pretend to be forced by circumstances?

These words finally seemed to wound Shangguan Ya. She stood in the courtyard, moisture gathering in her eyes as she quietly looked at Li Rong.

The two women stared at each other intently. Finally, Pei Wenxuan stepped forward, positioning himself between the two young women and blocking their view of each other.

“Miss Shangguan, Her Highness is unwell today. Perhaps you should visit another day.”

Shangguan Ya maintained her composure. She nodded and turned to leave.

After Shangguan Ya departed, Pei Wenxuan turned back to see Li Rong sitting in her chair, staring at the wall, her face cold. “You don’t need to lecture me, and don’t ask me anything. I don’t want to talk.”

Pei Wenxuan paused at the doorway. After a long moment, he said softly, “Still, one must eat.”

“I won’t eat!”

Li Rong grabbed a cushion from nearby and threw it at him. “Get out!”

Pei Wenxuan watched the cushion fall to the ground. He bent down to pick it up, dusted it off, and returned the cushion to its proper place.

After finishing this, Pei Wenxuan coaxed her gently. “I had someone prepare longan, red date, and lotus seed porridge. You haven’t eaten all night—at least have some.”

Li Rong listened to Pei Wenxuan’s words, knowing her argument with Shangguan Ya had been inappropriate.

How old was Shangguan Ya compared to her? Taking out her anger about the previous life—what was the point of such arguments?

Her emotions gradually calmed. Knowing she had agreed, Pei Wenxuan rose and went out, calling Jing Lan and Jing Mei in to attend to her while he personally went to the kitchen to check on the medicine and porridge.

After Pei Wenxuan had gone far, Li Rong took a deep breath and finally gave an order. “Jing Lan.”

Jing Lan looked up, somewhat puzzled. “Your Highness?”

“Quietly dispatch a group to search for Su Rongqing and bring him back safely.”

Jing Lan froze. Li Rong raised her eyes to look at her. “Don’t alert the Prince Consort.”

Hearing this, Jing Lan finally recovered. She hesitated momentarily, then nodded and withdrew.

Shortly after, Pei Wenxuan returned carrying medicine and porridge. He fed Li Rong the porridge, then the medicine.

Li Rong hated bitterness, but she always drank medicine without blinking an eye. She never easily revealed any of her preferences to anyone.

Just as she was actually more rule-abiding than anyone yet always appeared unreasonable; cared more deeply than anyone yet pretended indifference.

She finished the porridge and drank the medicine, seeming tired. Pei Wenxuan observed her expression and asked softly, “Shall I stay with Your Highness while you rest?”

“All right.” Li Rong smiled. “You should rest well too. Sleep a while, then attend to your business.”

“Mm.”

Pei Wenxuan rose and carried Li Rong to the bed.

Li Rong’s feet bore only scratches, but he didn’t want her to tire herself. After placing Li Rong on the bed, he lowered the bed curtains and lay down as well.

Though it was daytime, the moment the curtains fell, everything darkened. In the narrow space filled entirely with Pei Wenxuan’s scent, Li Rong lay with her back to him. After a long time, she finally couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you going to ask what Shangguan Ya and I argued about?”

“You women and your quarrels,” Pei Wenxuan said lightly, as if treating this as an ordinary dispute between friends. “I shouldn’t ask.”

Li Rong knew this was Pei Wenxuan’s way of being considerate. She hesitated for a long time, then raised her hand to cover his hand that held her.

“Wenxuan,” her voice was very soft, “when everything is over, let’s have a child. I want to give you and him all the beautiful things in this world.”

“He will be the most noble person in this world, and his mother will be the most powerful person in this world. Even if she has nothing,” Li Rong’s voice paused. After a long moment, she said hoarsely, “she’ll still have you both.”

Hearing Li Rong’s words, Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak.

He simply gently gathered her into his embrace and said tenderly, “Sleep now.”

As the two fell asleep, at Prince Su’s mansion, the inner courtyard had long been sealed off. Everyone knelt outside Prince Su’s bedchamber, trembling with fear.

Inside Prince Su’s bedroom, he lay on the bed, his face already turned blue-purple. Consort Rou stood in place, her voice hoarse. “Repeat what you just said.”

“Prince Su… Prince Su has… passed away.”

“You’re lying.”

Consort Rou’s eyes were red, but her voice was abnormally calm. “My son—nothing will happen to him. You quack, spouting nonsense.” Consort Rou turned her head to look at the physician on the ground and coldly shouted, “Drag him out and behead him!”

As soon as she finished speaking, attendants rushed forward to seize the physician. Before he could even cry out, someone stuffed his mouth with cloth.

Consort Rou glanced at the eunuch who had always followed her. Understanding immediately, the eunuch called guards in and dragged everyone present outside.

Only a few muffled groans were heard from outside before silence fell. People died quickly and disappeared just as fast. When everything around quieted and only Huale and Consort Rou remained in the room, Huale urgently knelt beside Consort Rou, her voice trembling. “Mother, what do we do? Cheng’er is dead. What do we do?”

Consort Rou said nothing. Huale reached out to grasp Consort Rou’s hand. “Mother, don’t stay silent. Think of something. You…”

“This is all your fault!”

Consort Rou finally couldn’t hold back. Her emotions exploded completely. She backhanded Huale with a slap, sending her to the ground. Huale stared dazedly at this usually gentle woman now covered in tears, pointing at her like an enemy and shouting, “I told you to kill one person and you couldn’t even do that! Now Li Chuan lives, Li Rong lives, but Cheng’er is dead! This is all your fault, you useless thing!”

“Mother?” Huale opened her mouth in disbelief. “You… you blame me?”

“It was your people!” Huale suddenly reacted, shouting out, “Your people who failed in their task, and you blame me?!”

Being scolded by her daughter like this, Consort Rou regained some clarity. Her chest heaved violently as she stared fixedly at Huale.

She couldn’t accuse Huale here, couldn’t point fingers at each other.

Li Cheng was already dead. She herself had long been imprisoned, only able to come out to care for Li Cheng. Now with only Huale still safe, once Li Chuan ascended the throne, he absolutely wouldn’t spare her.

No—the entire Xiao clan wouldn’t be spared. She was doomed.

But she couldn’t control herself.

She was at the end of her rope. She had no solutions.

Consort Rou tried to make herself calm down but couldn’t think of any methods. Just then, a servant’s announcement came from outside. “Your Ladyship, General Xiao has arrived.”

Hearing this, Consort Rou felt as if granted amnesty. She quickly said, “Quickly—let Aqian in.”

Hearing that her uncle Xiao Qian had come, Huale quickly stood up. Mother and daughter properly arranged Li Cheng’s blanket, making it appear as if he were still alive. After a while, Xiao Qian entered with a young man.

The youth wore a veil and stood respectfully in place. His build was extremely similar to Li Cheng’s, covered from head to toe.

Seeing Xiao Qian bring such a person, Consort Rou couldn’t help but frown. “Third Brother, coming now at this time, you…”

“Second Sister, I heard Cheng’er’s life hangs by a thread. Fearing an accident, I specifically brought Cheng’er’s body double.”

Hearing this, Consort Rou froze, then urgently stood up. “Quickly, let me see.”

As she spoke, she lifted the cap from the youth’s head and saw a face identical to Li Cheng’s. This face had virtually no difference from Li Cheng—even the moles were in the same positions.

He also bore wounds on his body. These wounds were in nearly the same locations as Li Cheng’s, but obviously much shallower. If compared side by side, one would naturally notice the difference, but once the real Li Cheng disappeared, it would be nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye.

This truly was help in desperate times. Consort Rou urgently turned back. “You raised this double?”

“Yes.”

Xiao Qian nodded. “A year ago, while drinking with Su Rongqing, he inadvertently reminded me—His Majesty has only two princes. Our entire clan depends on Cheng’er. If something happened to him, what would we do? He happened to have a servant who looked extremely similar to Cheng’er. I requested that servant, taught him manners and etiquette, how to speak and act. Even his voice and the scars on his body—I’ve prepared everything. The day Cheng’er was injured, I came to see him and already created similar wounds. Second Sister, if Cheng’er…”

“I understand.” Consort Rou raised her hand, interrupting Xiao Qian’s words. “Stay. If needed, I’ll use him.”

“Second Sister, if we use this double, we’re essentially binding ourselves to Su Rongqing—it’s a gamble. He’s wholeheartedly assisting Cheng’er. Whatever his purpose, you’d best agree to it. Right now, having Cheng’er ascend the throne and you become Empress Dowager is more important than anything.”

Consort Rou understood Xiao Qian’s implication. At this point, recruiting Su Rongqing was imperative. And for them to gain Su Rongqing’s help, they must promise substantial benefits.

Consort Rou nodded softly. “I understand. Rest assured.”

“Then…” Xiao Qian looked hesitantly toward the bed. “I must trouble Second Sister to tell me the truth. Cheng’er…”

Xiao Qian raised his eyes to look at Consort Rou. “Does he need me to handle it?”

If they left the double behind, the real Li Cheng couldn’t remain at Prince Su’s mansion—couldn’t even let anyone discover this corpse.

Hearing Xiao Qian’s words, Consort Rou’s hands trembled slightly.

Huale was urgently confused and couldn’t help but say, “Handle it? How?”

“I’ll find a suitable place and burn him. If Elder Sister wishes to remember him, I’ll bring the ashes back.”

“Burn… burn him?” Huale exclaimed in shock. “He’s Prince Su! He’s a prince! You want to…”

“He is not Prince Su.”

Consort Rou clenched her fists. She raised her head to look at the youth standing weakly before her. “This,” she said through tears, staring at the youth, “is this palace’s son.”

Having said this, Consort Rou turned around and urgently went to pull at Li Cheng’s corpse from the bed.

Realizing what Consort Rou intended to do, Huale rushed over and struggled with her. “Mother, don’t do this. This is Cheng’er, this is Cheng’er… Mother… if you bury him in the wilderness, at least give him an intact corpse. You…”

“Huale!”

Consort Rou shouted, “Don’t you know what time it is?! He’s already dead! Leaving him an intact corpse leaves us with evidence! If someone digs up his grave and asks who this is, how will you answer?!”

Huale froze momentarily. Consort Rou shoved her aside and called Xiao Qian over. Together they lifted Li Cheng out and found a large sack to place him in.

Before long, Xiao Qian drove a heavy cart from Prince Su’s mansion, heading toward the outskirts of the capital.

Meanwhile, in the dense forest on the city’s outskirts, Su Rongqing ran forward frantically.

Many people pursued him from behind. He felt his throat filled with the taste of blood. Calculating the distance to the river ahead, as the last wave of arrows approached, he suddenly leaped into the rushing river!

News arrived in Hua Jing as night fell.

By then, both Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan had awakened. The two were eating when they saw Jing Lan hurriedly enter from outside.

Seeing Jing Lan’s expression, Li Rong knew something had happened. She pretended nothing was wrong, eating calmly with Pei Wenxuan, and asked him casually, “Will you return to the Ministry of Personnel later?”

“Not to the Ministry, but I have some business and need to go out.”

Pei Wenxuan served Li Rong soup, instructing her, “Rest well at home later. With injuries on your feet, don’t go out looking for trouble.”

Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Li Rong felt there was something more to them. She smiled. “There’s nothing for me to do now anyway. Why would I go out?”

“That’s good then.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled warmly.

After finishing the meal, Pei Wenxuan instructed others to care for Li Rong well before rising and leaving.

As soon as Pei Wenxuan’s front foot left, Jing Lan came forward and said quietly, “Your Highness, Su Rongqing just emerged from the forest and was immediately chased by the Prince Consort’s men. He jumped into the river and escaped. Those below ask whether to engage in conflict with the Prince Consort’s men.”

Training someone wasn’t easy—such fighting wasn’t worth it.

Li Rong hesitated momentarily, then said in a low voice, “Prepare the carriage. I’ll make a trip there.”