Hearing this, Li Ming’s expression remained unmoved. He looked at Pei Wenxuan kneeling on the ground, seeming to already understand everything, yet still asked, “What does Beloved Minister Pei mean by this? You are an official of the court. Could someone actually kill you?”

“Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, appearing grief-stricken and indignant, “since Your Majesty already knows that this subject rescued Princess Pingle yesterday, then Your Majesty may know something of this subject’s predicament.”

“Predicament?” Li Ming found a nearby stone, brushed off the dust himself, and slowly sat down. “You needn’t be afraid. Speak freely.”

“Yesterday, on the road back to the city, this subject saw military horses galloping past. A group of people on horseback were vaguely saying things about kidnapping the Princess. This subject felt uneasy, so I had my servant return to the city to seek aid at the Crown Prince’s residence while I myself went to see what these people were doing, to prevent any mishap.”

“Mm.” Li Ming acknowledged. These matters were all true. He had already had someone investigate everything last night. He said lightly, “And then?”

“This subject followed behind them and saw that these people were clearly servants from某些 certain families, yet they had changed into bandit clothing, pretending to be bandits. This subject knew something was wrong, so I set up roadblocks along the way, hoping to help the Princess in a critical moment.”

“You’re quite clever indeed.” Li Ming smiled. “Those stones and planks were your handiwork?”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan knew that Li Ming had someone investigate that night’s events in detail. He had probably already examined everything that left clues.

Pei Wenxuan had served beside Li Ming for a year in his previous life and was extremely familiar with Li Ming’s character. He was suspicious and sensitive, wanting to verify everything through multiple sources. So Pei Wenxuan considered his words carefully and continued, “Precisely. At that time, this subject waited on the road. Before long, I saw bandits pursuing the Princess. The Princess’s shadow guards protected her. In the critical moment, I used the roadblocks to help rescue the Princess. Unexpectedly, the Princess was injured and fell unconscious during the chaos. I could only take the Princess and flee in panic. I used my horse to lure those people away separately and hid in the reed marsh. Then I heard someone chase over, cursing his subordinates for being useless, unable even to stop the Princess. This time the Princess hadn’t even seen him—how could he win the Princess’s heart?”

Li Ming listened to Pei Wenxuan’s words and gave a low laugh. “These young people certainly have lively minds.” Then Li Ming raised his eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan. “Was it Yang Quan?”

Pei Wenxuan pressed his lips tightly and said in a low voice, “Yes.”

“This subject panicked and carried the Princess, fleeing without choosing the path. After I awoke, I discussed with the Princess and learned that the Princess knew nothing of this matter, so I didn’t say much. This morning, the Princess and I were both rescued. The Empress summoned this subject to the palace, and then the Empress told this subject…”

“Said what?” Li Ming inquired lightly. Pei Wenxuan paused, seeming to hesitate. After a long while, he finally said, “The Empress told this subject to conceal what happened between the Princess and me! Even if Your Majesty asked, I must not tell the truth. I should only say that last night I encountered Young Master Yang, and together with Young Master Yang, I rescued the Princess. We were pursued, and then I got separated halfway—it was Young Master Yang who saved the Princess.”

Li Ming listened to Pei Wenxuan’s words and couldn’t help laughing. “This is your reason for seeking our rescue?”

“Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan took a deep breath and straightened his body, as if making a life-or-death decision. He looked at Li Ming and, casting aside life and death, spoke directly, “Since the conversation has reached this point, this subject will speak frankly. What this subject witnessed last night and what the Empress said today make everything extremely clear. The Empress has long decided to form a marriage alliance with the Yang family. Yesterday’s events were merely a performance for the Princess, hoping the Princess would look favorably upon Yang Quan because of this hero-rescues-beauty scenario. But this subject stumbled upon such matters. Given Yang Quan’s narrow-minded nature and the Yang family’s audacious behavior, once I leave the palace walls, how can this subject’s life remain?”

Li Ming remained silent. After a long while, he said slowly, “Rest assured, the Empress would not plot to harm you over such a small matter.”

“Does Your Majesty truly believe,” Pei Wenxuan stared at Li Ming, deliberately slowing his voice, “that a marriage alliance between the Yang family and the Crown Prince is a small matter?”

With Pei Wenxuan’s question, Li Ming finally became serious. He raised his eyes to stare at Pei Wenxuan. After a long while, he said slowly, “You seem to know quite a bit?”

“Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan calmly reminded him, “three years ago, when this subject’s father was still alive, this subject was the legitimate eldest son of the Pei family, that year’s top scholar in the imperial examinations, a student trained by the Emperor himself. Even a centipede doesn’t fall down when dead. Though my father has passed, some things,” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes to look at Li Ming, hinting, “remain nonetheless.”

Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Li Ming showed a somewhat intrigued expression. “Then tell us, why is the Yang family’s marriage alliance with the Crown Prince not a small matter?”

“The Yang family has lorded over the border regions for years, maintaining troops to boost their own power. There are many battles at the border. Each time conflict begins, the Yang family demands money, provisions, and soldiers, then they resist the Rong Kingdom. Every battle is won beautifully, yet they never send troops to completely eliminate the Rong Kingdom. Your Majesty has repeatedly ordered them to attack and destroy Rong, but the Yang family has always rejected this with the reason that the time isn’t right. In the Northwest, there’s a folk song: ‘Summer has two emperors, Yang in the north, Li in the south.’ One can see the Yang family’s power in the Northwest.”

“Speak.” Li Ming’s expression was flat. “Continue speaking.”

“Those in the court both fear and respect the Yang family. They fear the Yang family’s military power and respect that the border has relied entirely on the Yang family’s defense for many years. Therefore, though Your Majesty is angry with the Yang family, you’ve never taken drastic measures. However, at the end of winter this year, when the new ruler of Rong Kingdom ascended the throne, Rong invaded again. The Yang family surrendered without fighting, losing two cities in succession. Then for the third city, Your Majesty ordered it defended to the death. With fifty thousand soldiers defending against twenty thousand enemy troops, we suffered a great defeat and have now retreated to Changping Pass. Only after temporary reinforcements did we achieve a standoff with the Rong Kingdom. Your Majesty, have you considered why the Yang family, who have guarded the border for years, would suddenly collapse to this extent?”

“Do you know?”

“This subject thinks Your Majesty also knows,” Pei Wenxuan said calmly. “For years, the Yang family has been bribing the Rong Kingdom with military provisions. Each year’s so-called warfare is merely theater performed in collusion with the Rong Kingdom. The Rong Kingdom is weak in iron-smelting techniques—their actual strength is simply not worth mentioning. It’s only because the Yang family has nurtured them for years, giving the Rong Kingdom opportunities to catch their breath and grow strong. Now that the new ruler has ascended and has designs on Great Xia, refusing to accept bribes, in one battle we’ve collapsed to this state.”

“You dare to speak boldly.” Li Ming spoke in a low, sharp voice. Pei Wenxuan immediately kowtowed, saying quietly, “This news has long been widely known at the border. Your Majesty should have known long ago. Otherwise, with Your Majesty’s sage and enlightened heart, how could you have intentions to move against a pillar of the state?”

Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s flattery, Li Ming felt somewhat better. He straightened up and said coldly, “Continue. What does this have to do with the Princess’s marriage?”

“Your Majesty clearly knows the Yang family was defeated in battle, yet you’ve suppressed the news and allowed the Princess to interact with Yang Quan. This subject guesses that Your Majesty’s intention is to ensure the Princess’s marriage won’t become a bargaining chip for His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“In recent years, as the Crown Prince has grown older, the Empress’s maternal clan, the Shangguan family, has expanded their power in the court extremely rapidly. The Crown Prince doesn’t respect Your Majesty and has repeatedly defied you, simply because the Shangguan family instigates him from behind. Your Majesty worries the Shangguan family will use the Princess’s marriage, so the candidates Your Majesty selects for the Princess are all of suitable status but uninvolved in politics. Though Yang Quan has military power, he’s about to face catastrophic disaster. Your Majesty should currently be collecting evidence, waiting to capture the entire Yang family in one net. But?”

Li Ming said nothing, tacitly agreeing. Pei Wenxuan said earnestly, “But if Your Majesty has such plans, that would be a grave error.”

“Oh?”

Li Ming seemed rather unconcerned. “What brilliant insights does Beloved Minister Pei have?”

“Does Your Majesty know the Rong Kingdom’s actual strength?”

“Extremely strong.”

“Then Your Majesty has misunderstood,” Pei Wenxuan explained. “The Rong Kingdom is a barbarous land. Our dynasty’s blades can easily slice through their armor. If our dynasty’s soldiers are fully equipped, defeating ten enemies with one soldier is not difficult. The reason the Rong Kingdom defeated the Yang family today is that the Yang family supplied them with military equipment for years. The Rong Kingdom’s attack this time uses our dynasty’s weapons to counterattack. But weapons not made by themselves will eventually run out, won’t they?”

In his previous life, the Yang family organized a counterattack half a month later and won a great victory precisely for this reason.

Pei Wenxuan thought carefully, slowly sorting out the circumstances he had known in his previous life.

Though he didn’t speak explicitly, Li Ming immediately understood. “You mean that once the Rong Kingdom’s weapons and armor are exhausted, if our dynasty attacks again, we can easily achieve victory?”

“Yes.” Pei Wenxuan said calmly. “Though the Yang family has lost their direct lineage of fifty thousand, they’re deeply rooted in the Northwest. Who knows how many more troops they have in secret? Now Your Majesty has your own trusted confidants coordinating with the Yang family to fight at Changping Pass. Yang Quan returned to the capital to seek marriage with the Princess. If the Yang family successfully marries the Princess, what does Your Majesty think will happen next?”

“What will happen?”

“Next, the Crown Prince and Yang family will join forces. The Shangguan family will use the Princess’s marriage as a reason to send large amounts of money and supplies to the Yang family. After Your Majesty’s trusted confidants receive the enemy’s strongest wave of military force, the Yang family will take the Shangguan family’s money to recruit and buy troops, then counterattack. They can immediately achieve great victory. At that time, with the Princess as an intermediary, the Yang family will establish a firm foothold in Hua Jing. When everyone sees Yang Quan married to the Princess, they’ll misunderstand Your Majesty’s intentions and won’t dare do anything more to the Yang family. With such a battle turning defeat into victory, the Yang family’s reputation will likely rise again. Past matters will become difficult for Your Majesty to pursue.”

“Beyond this, the Yang family has troops. In the Crown Prince’s hands, there will likely be another fierce general.”

After Pei Wenxuan finished speaking, Li Ming remained silent. After a long while, he finally said, “Then according to Beloved Minister Pei’s meaning…”

“Don’t give the Yang family any opportunity to catch their breath.”

Pei Wenxuan spoke calmly. “Now is the best opportunity to move against the Yang family.”

“What about the border?” Li Ming frowned. “The Yang family’s people are deeply entrenched at the border. If we move against the Yang family now and they rebel at the border…”

“Leave this matter to the Crown Prince.”

These words made Li Ming pause. Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Ming and said earnestly, “Right now the border is a complete mess. In Hua Jing, apart from the great clans like Shangguan, Su, and Pei, no one has the power to clean it up. Your Majesty might as well give this matter to the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince makes any mistakes, you can use this as a reason to establish another heir. For the Crown Prince’s sake, the Shangguan family will certainly come out in full force to stabilize the Yang family.”

“What if the Crown Prince does well?”

“If the Crown Prince does well,” Pei Wenxuan smiled, “if the Crown Prince can truly pacify the Yang family and deplete their main forces, then Your Majesty can replace the Crown Prince before the final decisive battle, arrange your trusted confidants as commanding generals to fight the Rong Kingdom and claim the primary merit. Wouldn’t that be perfect?”

Hearing all this, Li Ming fell silent. He thought for a while. Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, waiting for Li Ming.

After a long while, Li Ming turned his head to look at Pei Wenxuan. “You are a clever person.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Then,” Li Ming said lightly, “why not serve the Crown Prince?”

“Because,” Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Ming, speaking steadily, “Your Majesty is Your Majesty, while the Crown Prince may not remain the Crown Prince.”

Li Ming stared into Pei Wenxuan’s eyes.

He rarely saw a twenty-year-old young man with such composure and presence in his eyes. Even in meeting his gaze, there was a certain sharpness.

This sharpness seemed fierce, but in the court, being too rigid makes one easily broken.

This was a blade, but it would only ever be a blade.

If Pei Wenxuan were mature and tactful yet possessed such intelligence, Li Ming would have some wariness. But looking at Pei Wenxuan’s ambitious eyes, Li Ming found it somewhat amusing.

In the end, just a young person.

“We understand.” Li Ming nodded. “What you say makes sense. But in the current court,” Li Ming sighed as if with regret, “those who dare to move against the Yang family at this time are few indeed.”

“This subject wishes to recommend someone to Your Majesty.” Pei Wenxuan spoke respectfully. Li Ming raised an eyebrow. “Speak.”

“This subject, Pei Wenxuan,” Pei Wenxuan kowtowed, “is willing to resolve Your Majesty’s concerns.”

“Heh…” Li Ming laughed lightly. “Your courage is indeed great. We just don’t know—Beloved Minister Pei, how do you plan to resolve our concerns?”

“When this subject returns to the residence shortly, I trouble Your Majesty to bestow a group of shadow guards to secretly follow this subject home. If the Yang family moves against me today, this subject will use this as grounds to request a thorough investigation, starting from the case of assassinating this subject, investigating the matter of kidnapping the Princess, then investigating the matter of colluding with the enemy at the border.”

“What if they don’t move?”

“If they don’t move, tomorrow this subject will impeach him for kidnapping the Princess. At that time, if no one dares investigate this case, this subject will request to take charge of it.”

“Good.” Li Ming nodded. He raised his head to look at the sky and said lightly, “It’s getting late. You should return. Don’t keep Young Master Yang waiting too long.”

Pei Wenxuan respectfully agreed. He stood up and supported Li Ming as they slowly walked out.

Neither of them discussed Li Rong’s marriage, but Pei Wenxuan was clear in his heart—as long as Li Ming considered him one of his own people, Li Rong’s marriage should be secured.

The two chatted idly as they returned from the garden, and Pei Wenxuan took his leave.

Led by a eunuch, he walked out of the Imperial Study. When he reached the plaza before the palace gates, he saw Li Rong’s sedan chair in the distance.

Li Rong seemed to have just come from the Eastern Palace. She held a sword in her arms, stroking the gemstones on it.

Seeing Li Rong approach, Pei Wenxuan and the eunuch stepped aside early, standing respectfully on both sides.

Seeing Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong had people stop. She sat up high, smiling as she said, “Lord Pei, why are you still in the palace?”

“Just now His Majesty summoned me,” Pei Wenxuan said respectfully. “I chatted with His Majesty for a while and just left.”

“I see,” Li Rong glanced at the people beside her and smiled. “You saved me last night. Did Father Emperor give you a reward?”

“This was my duty. I shouldn’t accept a reward.”

“So he didn’t give you one.” Li Rong sighed. “Father Emperor is really stingy.”

As she spoke, she looked at the sword in her hands, held it horizontally, and handed it over, seeming rather reluctant. “Oh well, this is for you as my token of gratitude.”

Pei Wenxuan was stunned. Li Rong raised an eyebrow. “What, do you dare not accept this palace’s reward?”

“A reward from the Princess—how would this subject dare not receive it?” Pei Wenxuan came to his senses and hurriedly received the sword with both hands. Li Rong watched Pei Wenxuan lowering his head and bowing, couldn’t help pursing her lips, and leaned closer to Pei Wenxuan, saying in a low voice, “Lord Pei, you look quite handsome like this.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan knew Li Rong was feeling smug seeing him bow to her. He accepted the sword and smiled lightly. “The Princess’s current appearance is truly innocent and naive, quite adorable indeed.”

Li Rong understood—Pei Wenxuan was scolding her for acting.

What she feared most was people calling her innocent and naive.

She smiled without warmth, looking at Pei Wenxuan. “This palace is still busy going to see Father Emperor. Young Master Pei, take your time. Walk slowly on the road—don’t accidentally have some mishap.”

—Then I won’t see you again in this lifetime.

She conveyed the rest with her eyes. Pei Wenxuan responded with disdain in his eyes but still said, “Thank you for Your Highness’s concern. Your Highness, go slowly.”

“Farewell.” Li Rong smiled, then leaned close to Pei Wenxuan and whispered in his ear, “I’ve sent you some people. You’re welcome.”

Having said this, Li Rong straightened up, dignified and elegant with her chin slightly raised. Then she had the sedan chair resume its journey toward the Imperial Study.

Pei Wenxuan watched her figure depart, then was escorted out of the palace by the eunuch. Just outside the palace gates, he saw Tong Ye waiting with the carriage at the entrance. He glanced around and knew people were following him, but he paid no attention, pretending to know nothing. He held the sword and sat in the carriage as it began swaying and rocking on its journey.

He didn’t know if Yang Quan would come, but it didn’t matter—he had already made preparations.

The carriage turned into a small alley all the way. Just then, sounds of fighting suddenly erupted from the crowd. A person suddenly rushed into Pei Wenxuan’s carriage and said directly, “By the Princess’s command, I’ve come specially to protect you, Young Master.”

Having said this, he curled up like a bat, making himself extremely small and pressing himself against the top of the carriage.

Pei Wenxuan wasn’t startled. When Li Rong said she’d sent him people, he knew Li Rong hadn’t come just to see him. He nodded to the person, then closed his eyes. Despite the shouts and killing outside shaking the heavens, he remained like an old monk in meditation, unmoved.

After a long while, the carriage was violently struck. The curtain was suddenly yanked open, and then Yang Quan, covered in blood and wielding a blade, rushed into the carriage.

Pei Wenxuan held the sword and opened his eyes. In that very moment, a sharp blade suddenly pierced through Yang Quan’s body from behind. Yang Quan’s long blade was mere inches from Pei Wenxuan.

Blood splattered out. Pei Wenxuan calmly watched the shocked Yang Quan collapse.

“You actually dare…” Yang Quan spoke trembling, “you actually dare… kill me?”

Pei Wenxuan’s expression remained unmoved. He spoke each word extremely calmly: “Colluding with enemy nations, maintaining troops to boost your own power, accepting bribes and perverting the law, kidnapping the Princess, assassinating court officials, disregarding law and order.”

“Your Yang family dared to do all these things. Why,” Pei Wenxuan emphasized his tone, “would I not dare to kill you?”

Word by word, Yang Quan’s breath ceased.

The person who struck bowed respectfully to Pei Wenxuan and said extremely quickly, “The Princess says you must remember to go back and kowtow three times before her portrait to thank her for saving your life.”

Having said this, the person leaped out of the carriage and disappeared.

Pei Wenxuan didn’t even have time to curse back before the person was gone. He was silent for a moment, then heard Tong Ye hurriedly return to the carriage. Seeing Yang Quan on the ground, he was startled and hastily said, “Young Master, are you all right?”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t answer. Looking at Yang Quan on the ground, he pondered for a moment, then said calmly, “Return to the palace.”

“Return to the palace?” Tong Ye was shocked. “Return to the palace again?”

Having killed the Yang family’s young master, shouldn’t they be fleeing quickly?

“Yes, return to the palace.” Pei Wenxuan’s voice was flat, speaking matter-of-factly. “He frightened me. I need to go file a complaint.”

Tong Ye: “…”

Young Master, you really don’t look like someone who was frightened, all right?