After Li Rong gave the sword to Pei Wenxuan, she had people take her around the palace for a tour. She walked in the Imperial Garden for a short while, crouching on the ground playing with a newly bloomed crabapple flower, when she saw the person she’d sent to Pei Wenxuan return. Led before her, he said respectfully, “Your Highness, the matter is settled.”

Li Rong nodded. She took a handkerchief from Jing Lan and replied, “Yang Quan still couldn’t hold his temper.”

If he had acted later, he might have lived a few more days. But Pei Wenxuan was someone who, when he kept silent he truly kept silent, but once he spoke, he would certainly follow through. Since he said he would take Yang Quan’s life, he wouldn’t leave Yang Quan with a breath remaining.

Recalling what the Yang family had done in her previous life, Li Rong felt that leaving such a person alive would indeed be a disaster.

In the previous lifetime, the Yang family desperately caused chaos at the border for a long time, causing Great Xia to lose five cities in succession. It wasn’t until five years after Li Chuan ascended the throne and raised troops to attack Rong that they recovered those five cities.

Now, having the Yang family quieted down early was a good thing.

She roughly guessed what Pei Wenxuan had done, yet she was somewhat curious about the specifics of what Pei Wenxuan had said. She wiped her hands clean with the handkerchief, stood up, and said to Jing Mei, “Go announce me first. I plan to go to the Imperial Study to speak with Father Emperor.”

Jing Mei acknowledged. Li Rong, supported by Jing Lan, leisurely made her way to the Imperial Study.

When she reached the entrance of the Imperial Study, she saw Fulai waiting for her at the door. He smiled and said, “Your Highness, His Majesty is currently discussing matters with several lords. Please wait at the entrance for a moment.”

Li Rong lightly tapped her palm with her small fan and nodded, responding, “No matter. This palace will wait here for a while.”

“Then shall this slave bring a chair for Your Highness?” Fulai knew this princess was habitually favored, so he hastily spoke ingratiatingly. Li Rong nodded and simply replied, “Good.”

Fulai called someone over to bring Li Rong a stool, along with a small table. Tea and pastries were served on the table. Li Rong had someone fetch her a book. She basked in the sun, drank tea, and waited for Li Ming’s summons.

After a short while, a eunuch hurried over and whispered something in Fulai’s ear. Fulai’s expression changed drastically. After pondering for a moment, he said quietly, “Lead the person inside first. I’ll go report to His Majesty.”

Having said this, Fulai returned to the Imperial Study. Li Rong pretended she hadn’t heard anything and leisurely turned a page of her book.

After some time, Li Rong saw Pei Wenxuan being led over. Pei Wenxuan kept his head lowered, appearing somewhat panicked. The hem of his robe was stained with blood, making him look quite disheveled. The eunuch led him up the steps. Seeing her, Pei Wenxuan said respectfully, “This subject greets Your Highness the Princess.”

Hearing this, Li Rong raised her eyes to look at him. She looked him up and down and revealed a smile. “I just saw Lord Pei leave the palace moments ago. How have you returned?” As she spoke, Li Rong half-opened her folding fan to cover half her face and said quietly, “Could it be you missed me?”

Pei Wenxuan lowered his head, seeming somewhat bashful at Li Rong’s words, but still spoke rather composedly, “Your Highness jests. This subject dares not harbor such presumptions toward Your Highness. I merely encountered some trouble on the road and rushed back to inform His Majesty.”

“Tsk.”

Seeing Pei Wenxuan’s appearance, Li Rong couldn’t help but reveal a disgusted expression. Pei Wenxuan had dealt with her for years and had long become immune to her sharp tongue. Never mind just a casual joke like this—even if she told dirty jokes in front of him, Pei Wenxuan could probably respond without changing expression, or like those enlightened monks in temples, solemnly lecture her with a single word: “Preposterous.”

Of course, she understood Pei Wenxuan. After all, the life he lived wasn’t much different from a monk’s.

But now Pei Wenxuan was putting on an act, not only pretending to be young but also learning to feign innocence. This truly disgusted her. She raised her hand to cover her face with the fan and instructed, “Father Emperor is still in discussions. Find him a stool to sit and wait.”

Having said this, she closed her fan, picked up her book, and read by herself.

Pei Wenxuan glanced at the book she was reading—more of those messy storybooks. This hobby hadn’t changed from youth to the end.

She was truly nostalgic.

Someone nearby brought him tea. The two sat like strangers. Pei Wenxuan had just sat down when, moments later, Fulai emerged from inside and looked at Pei Wenxuan. “Lord Pei, His Majesty summons you inside.”

“Wait,” Li Rong interrupted Fulai’s words. “This palace has been sitting here for ages. Why is Father Emperor summoning him first instead of me?”

“Princess,” Fulai smiled bitterly, “Lord Pei has urgent business.”

“What urgent business could he have?” Li Rong looked astonished. “His matters… they’re all…”

Li Rong pointed at herself but didn’t finish speaking. She simply stared at Fulai, as if she wouldn’t give up unless she was allowed in.

Fulai’s face showed distress. He was about to speak when he heard Li Ming’s voice from inside: “Summon them both in together.”

Fulai breathed a sigh of relief and hastily invited both of them inside together.

Li Rong glanced at Pei Wenxuan with a smug expression. Pei Wenxuan raised an eyebrow and smiled silently.

After entering to pay respects to Li Ming, they discovered a group of important ministers seated nearby. Li Ming seemed to be discussing some important matter. The current Left and Right Prime Ministers, along with the ministers of all seven departments and several powerful figures from the Secretariat were all present. Seeing them, Li Rong’s face immediately showed shock. She said awkwardly, “Father Emperor, perhaps I should return first?”

Hearing Li Rong’s words, Li Ming couldn’t help but laugh. “Weren’t you quite arrogant when you came? Now that you’re already inside, why leave? Stand up,” Li Ming jerked his chin to the side, “stand behind me.”

Li Rong stood up somewhat embarrassed and obediently positioned herself behind Li Ming. Li Ming turned to look at Pei Wenxuan and said flatly, “Didn’t you leave the palace earlier? Why have you returned?”

“Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan’s voice trembled slightly, “when this subject left the palace, I encountered an ambush by Second Young Master Yang. To preserve my life, in a moment of desperation, this subject accidentally… Second Young Master Yang…”

As he spoke, Pei Wenxuan kowtowed with a resounding thud that echoed through the room, making Li Rong’s scalp tingle. Just imagining it felt painful. Then she heard Pei Wenxuan say, “Killed him!”

At these words, everyone present was shocked. The Left Prime Minister Shangguan Xu cried out in alarm, “What did you say?! Who did you kill?!”

“Yang…” Pei Wenxuan’s voice trembled, as if his emotions hadn’t settled. He couldn’t get the words out several times. “Yang…”

“Lord Shangguan,” the Right Prime Minister Su Minzhi, seated to one side, spoke leisurely, “this young master is still young and has suffered a great calamity. Lord Shangguan, you’re frightening him like this—how can he speak clearly? Young Master Pei,” Su Minzhi turned his head to console him, “don’t be afraid. Speak clearly. Who did you kill?”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t answer. After a long while, he took a deep breath and raised his head to look at Li Ming. “Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject killed the Yang family’s Second Young Master, Yang Quan.”

The entire hall fell silent. This time, Pei Wenxuan seemed to carry the resolve to face death. He smoothly recounted the entire sequence of events—from how he rescued the Princess and came into conflict with Yang Quan, to today’s conversation with Yang Quan before the Imperial Study where Yang Quan threatened to kill him, then the ambush by Yang Quan and his men on the way home, and finally how he killed Yang Quan.

After Pei Wenxuan finished speaking, he said in a low voice, “This subject knows I’m guilty today. Though Second Young Master Yang ambushed this subject first, the Yang family has rendered great meritorious service to Great Xia. With warfare at the front now, even if Second Young Master Yang wanted to take this subject’s life, for the sake of the nation, this subject should not have retaliated against the Second Young Master. But at that moment, there was no time to think deeply. I only sought a way to survive. Now having committed this monstrous disaster, Your Majesty…”

Pei Wenxuan choked up and lowered his head. “This subject deserves death by a thousand cuts, but I only beg Your Majesty to know of this quickly to prevent greater calamity.”

Pei Wenxuan’s words fell upon everyone’s ears, making their hearts tremble with fear.

Though Pei Wenxuan said he deserved death by a thousand cuts, which sentence wasn’t striking at the heart? Yang Quan was merely a young master of the Yang family, yet he dared to kidnap the Princess and, out of jealousy, ambush and kill a current court official. Either charge alone was a capital offense.

But Pei Wenxuan was right about one thing—right now the Yang family had maintained troops at the border for years, accumulating great prestige. Even having done these things, punishment had to be carefully considered.

Especially with the border situation so tense now, if they angered the Yang family and something went wrong, no one dared take responsibility.

So everyone present said nothing, remaining silent one after another. Li Ming’s expression was composed. He picked up his cup, took a sip of tea. After a moment, he said slowly, “What are you afraid of?”

Pei Wenxuan lowered his head, not daring to speak. Li Ming lifted his cup and smashed it down fiercely, roaring, “You are a court official of Great Xia. Yang Quan dared to assassinate you in broad daylight. If you killed him, you killed him. What are you still afraid of?!”

“Your Majesty…” Pei Wenxuan’s voice trembled. “The border…”

“Does the Yang family dare to rebel?!” Li Ming roared in agitated anger, then looked around at the circle of ministers. “I’ve already told you—this time when the Rong Kingdom invaded, the Yang clan was so pathetically vulnerable, it completely disgraced Great Xia! Fifty thousand garrison troops couldn’t hold against their twenty thousand soldiers! In a siege! Now they dare to kidnap the Princess and assassinate officials in Hua Jing—does the Yang clan think we are dead?!”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”

Seeing Li Ming this furious, everyone hastily knelt down. Shangguan Xu quickly spoke, advising, “Your Majesty, victory and defeat are common in military affairs. The Rong Kingdom’s attack this time was sudden. The Yang clan was caught unprepared. Right now the Yang clan is still at the front lines. Handling this matter should still…”

“Shut your mouth!”

Li Ming picked up a book and threw it, hitting Shangguan Xu squarely in the face. Li Rong showed a panicked expression, looking at Shangguan Xu, then at Li Ming. She wanted to say something but didn’t dare. Li Ming breathed heavily, staring at those present. “This case—we will handle it. The Yang family has insulted the imperial family to this extent. We will investigate them, thoroughly investigate! Who will handle this case?!”

No one present dared speak. Each calculated their own interests.

Even a centipede doesn’t fall down when dead. Shangguan Xu spoke for the Yang family, indicating the Shangguan clan might join forces with the Yang clan. In such circumstances, the great clans were unwilling to get involved in such struggles.

Li Ming nodded. “Good, very good. Every one of you fears them. Pei Wenxuan,” Li Ming turned his head to stare at Pei Wenxuan, “since you dared to kill him, we ask you—if this case is given to you to investigate, do you dare?”

“Your Majesty!” Hearing this, the Minister of Works Pei Liwen, who had been silent until now, raised his head urgently. “Wenxuan is still young. He cannot handle…”

“Did we ask you?” Li Ming’s roar silenced Pei Liwen. Beside him, the Secretariat’s Nalanguan Pei Lixian gave Pei Liwen a look and shook his head.

Pei Liwen dared not speak further. Li Ming stared at Pei Wenxuan. “Speak.”

Pei Wenxuan took a deep breath and straightened up. “This subject is willing to resolve Your Majesty’s concerns!”

“Good.” Li Ming said directly, “Starting today, you will go to the Censorate and serve as Supervising Censor, working with the Ministry of Justice to specially investigate this case of the Yang clan.”

“Your Majesty,” Shangguan Xu couldn’t help speaking up, “Pei Wenxuan claims he is the victim. Having him specially investigate this case seems improper.”

“Then shall Lord Shangguan investigate?”

Li Ming countered. Shangguan Xu fell silent for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Li Rong’s voice ring out. “What if this palace serves as chief investigator with Lord Pei assisting? How would that be?”

Hearing this, everyone looked over. Li Rong coughed lightly and said seriously, “This matter also arose because of this palace. This palace is a princess—investigating the Yang clan poses no issue in terms of rank. Since you lords have no suitable candidate, if this palace supervises and Lord Pei handles the case, what do you all think?”

With Li Rong speaking up, everyone fell silent. Li Ming frowned. Shangguan Xu was also deep in thought.

Su Minzhi said hesitantly, “But the Princess is also a victim in this case…”

“Then shall Vice Minister Su supervise?” Li Rong looked at Su Minzhi. Su Minzhi was stunned. Li Rong said directly, “I’ve long heard Vice Minister Su is upright and just. If the Left Prime Minister is still uneasy, why not simply have Vice Minister Su serve as chief investigator of this case?”

“The Princess jests,” Su Minzhi hastily said. “My son is young and insufficient to handle such a major case.”

“That’s why he’d supervise.” Li Rong interrupted Su Minzhi’s words and looked directly at Shangguan Xu. “What does Uncle think?”

Shangguan Xu pressed his lips together. He glanced at Li Rong, hesitated for a moment, then finally said, “This subject believes what the Princess says is not without merit.”

Li Rong turned to look at Li Ming and blinked. “Father Emperor?”

Li Ming glanced at Shangguan Xu. He knew if this continued, Shangguan Xu would probably recommend someone from his own side to investigate this case. Now that he had confirmed the Shangguan family’s connection with the Yang family, that would be quite problematic.

So Li Ming nodded and replied, “Since there’s no other solution, let’s do as you say.”

Then Li Ming put on a stern face. “Don’t cause trouble.”

“Father Emperor, rest assured,” Li Rong smiled. “I know what I’m doing.”

Li Ming’s emotions gradually calmed. He looked around at everyone, then consoled Shangguan Xu with a few words before dismissing everyone, keeping only Li Rong in the room.

Father and daughter were silent for a long time before Li Ming finally said, “Why did you suddenly think of coming to see Father Emperor today?”

Li Rong lowered her eyes and said quietly, “Your daughter was kidnapped last night. I should have come to find Father Emperor first to report the situation. Coming now—I’ve come late.”

Li Ming said nothing. He saw Li Rong’s weary expression, as if she had many things on her mind.

Li Ming couldn’t fathom this daughter’s position. He had always doted on Li Rong, but Li Rong’s brother was the Crown Prince. Now that he had conflict with Li Chuan, he wasn’t clear on what Li Rong truly thought.

Li Rong was clever but also valued relationships. Li Ming had treasured her in his palm for years, nurturing genuine affection. If power weren’t involved, he hoped this child could live well.

He was silent for a long time and ultimately didn’t ask directly, instead saying obliquely, “You looked at four people this time. Which one caught your eye?”

Li Rong said nothing. Li Ming hesitated, then slowly said, “What do you think of Pei Wenxuan?”

Li Rong kept her head lowered without speaking. Li Ming raised his eyes, rather impatiently. “Answer.”

“Your daughter-subject feels he’s a very good person.”

A very good person—meaning other things weren’t good. Li Ming thought briefly, then after pondering for a moment, said slowly, “You only need to think about whether you like this person or not. Don’t worry about the rest.”

Hearing this, Li Rong’s tears immediately began falling pitter-patter, as if she’d suffered a tremendous grievance.

Seeing Li Rong cry, Li Ming hastily said, “Why are you crying?”

“Father Emperor,” Li Rong sobbed, “your daughter just feels that… as a family, why can’t we all just get along…”

Li Ming understood Li Rong’s words, thinking the Empress had pressured Li Rong to speak well of Yang Quan. Though he and the Empress had many disputes, they had never involved this daughter. Now with the marriage matter, they couldn’t avoid a confrontation. Seeing Li Rong crying like pear blossoms in rain, he felt quite distressed and finally said, “In this matter, your mother empress and I were wrong. Don’t think too much about it. Just pretend you don’t know. Choose someone you like yourself. Father Emperor will always indulge you. You and Pei Wenxuan, a man and woman alone for a night—by rights, you should be his person. This child is good, handsome too. If you marry him, you won’t suffer a loss.”

Li Rong nodded in response. Li Ming sighed. “Stop crying. Compose yourself and think carefully about what we said. After Yang Quan’s case is settled, we will decree your marriage.”

“Yes.”

Li Rong controlled her voice and raised her head. “Your daughter-subject will follow Father Emperor’s wishes entirely.”

Li Ming consoled Li Rong for a while, then had her rise and called Fulai to escort Li Rong out. Hearing Li Ming’s words, Fulai smiled. “How could it be this slave’s turn to escort? Lord Pei is waiting outside for the Princess. He’s been waiting quite a while.”

Hearing this, both Li Ming and Li Rong showed some surprise. After a moment, Li Ming laughed. “This brat is trying to lure away our daughter right under our nose.”

Though he said this, Li Ming still urged, “All right, go on. Don’t let this old man delay you young people.”

Li Rong showed a bashful expression, curtsied, and withdrew.

She walked all the way out of the Imperial Study. Upon reaching the long corridor, she saw Pei Wenxuan waiting for her by the railing. He wore a deep blue wide-sleeved robe with silver-threaded cloud patterns embroidered on it. He held a palace lantern and was looking up at the bright moon in the sky.

Pei Wenxuan’s features were naturally imbued with an otherworldly quality that kept people at a distance. At this moment, holding the lamp and gazing at the moon with wind stirring his robes, he seemed like someone from the Moon Palace descended to earth, ready to ride the wind away at any moment.

Fulai escorted Li Rong to the entrance and said respectfully, “Your Highness, this old slave will escort you only this far. For the remaining road, please let Lord Pei accompany you.”

Li Rong nodded lightly. “You may go.”

Fulai acknowledged and withdrew. Hearing the sound, Pei Wenxuan turned his head and looked her up and down. Then he lifted the lantern and walked forward, stopping before her.

He was tall. When looking at her, he had to lower his head, gazing at her intently.

Seeing him scrutinize her so carefully, Li Rong somehow felt rather awkward. She turned her head away and said quietly, “What are you looking at?”

“You’ve been crying.”

Pei Wenxuan nodded, stating his conclusion with a sigh. “Your Highness is still more sincere than this subject.”

Hearing this, Li Rong immediately felt annoyed and laughed mockingly. “How could I compare to Lord Pei—able to bend and stretch, both wise and courageous.”

Killing someone with the front foot, crying pitifully with the back foot—such two-faced behavior, yet Pei Wenxuan handled it with such ease.

As they spoke, the attendants behind them didn’t dare follow too closely. So the two walked shoulder to shoulder through the imperial palace. As Pei Wenxuan walked, he said, “To make a long story short.”

He briefly recounted his conversation with Li Ming and summarized, “Once Yang Quan’s matter is concluded, His Majesty will push the Northwest affairs onto His Highness the Crown Prince. If His Highness the Crown Prince can handle this matter well, he need never worry about military power again.”

“What if he can’t handle it well?” Li Rong tapped her palm with her small fan and said lightly. “Then he’ll be directly deposed. Being demoted to commoner status would be getting off easy. Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong looked at him sidelong with a half-smile, “you dare gamble on this—your courage is quite great indeed.”

“If my courage weren’t great,” hearing Li Rong’s words, Pei Wenxuan’s expression remained calm as he replied composedly, “would I dare marry you?”

“True enough,” Li Rong nodded. “Marrying me isn’t easy. Quite dangerous.”

“Marrying you isn’t actually dangerous,” Pei Wenxuan responded earnestly. “It’s just that you as a person are too fierce and too treacherous.”

“Yet you’re the one who begged to marry me.” Li Rong glared at him, then quickened her pace and walked ahead.

Pei Wenxuan sensed she was truly angry and feared she might lose composure and do something crazy. He didn’t retort anymore, touched his nose, and hurried to catch up. He continued, “Yes, yes, yes, I begged to marry Your Highness. However, Your Highness,” the smile gradually left his voice, replaced by more seriousness, “this subject has one matter I wish to ask Your Highness about.”

“Speak!”

Li Rong said coldly. Pei Wenxuan smiled lightly, looking at her with some scrutiny. “This subject wishes to ask—just now in the Imperial Study, when Your Highness wanted Su Rongqing to supervise this case, what did you mean?”

Li Rong stopped in her tracks. Pei Wenxuan held the palace lantern and turned to look at her. “How does Your Highness intend to supervise? Will you investigate this case full-time, having Lord Su come over to work on it daily with you? Or will you invite Lord Su over each day to discuss it, meeting him daily?”

“Also,” Pei Wenxuan seemed to think of something and pondered seriously, “does the Princess feel that with this subject present during the investigation of this case, it’s somewhat improper? Why not just have the Princess and Lord Su investigate this case together?”

Li Rong said nothing. She raised her eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan’s face bore a smile. Li Rong spoke expressionlessly. “Pei Wenxuan.”

“Mm?” Pei Wenxuan raised an eyebrow. Li Rong said coldly, “Could you be any more affected?”

Pei Wenxuan’s expression froze. Li Rong raised her hand and pinched a small section between her index finger and thumb, bringing it before him seriously. “Look carefully. What is this?”

“What?” Pei Wenxuan frowned.

Li Rong’s face was utterly serious, her tone emphatic. “Your narrow-mindedness!”