Pei Wenxuan was choked by Li Rong’s gesture. After a moment of silence, he finally said, “My narrow-mindedness aside, your thick skin is quite something too.”
He turned away, holding the lantern as he walked leisurely forward. “You’re not young anymore. Su Rongqing is in the prime of youth right now. Stop thinking about being an old cow eating tender grass.”
Li Rong remained silent. Pei Wenxuan smiled. “What, you’re displeased that I called you old?”
“I’m old, but you’re not?” Li Rong glared at Pei Wenxuan and turned her head away, saying flatly, “I just think your heart is too murky. I don’t want to deal with you.”
“My heart is murky?” Pei Wenxuan laughed mockingly. “Dare you say you don’t have such intentions?”
“I actually dare,” Li Rong explained candidly. “Having Su Rongqing supervise is because he’s suitable. If you and I investigate this case, the court officials won’t be convinced. If we let others investigate, they’re either my uncle’s people who will definitely favor the Yang family, or those who aren’t partial will be unwilling to provoke this trouble. Right now, besides Su Rongqing, who else would accept this hot potato? It just so happened that Su Minzhi jumped out to speak. If he speaks, let his son investigate. The others won’t dare say anything.”
“You certainly have confidence in him.”
Pei Wenxuan involuntarily slowed his pace and spoke coldly. Li Rong walked ahead. Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Though the Su family avoids trouble through neutrality, they’re still a family of pure integrity. Rongqing is a gentleman. When matters come to his hands, he won’t hide.”
“Such high-sounding words,” Pei Wenxuan’s voice was flat. “In the previous life, you said the same things to me.”
“Mm?”
Li Rong was somewhat confused. She turned around to see Pei Wenxuan had stopped in place, looking at her calmly. “In the previous life when you asked me to save Su Rongqing, you also moved out grand principles one after another, saying the Su family was wronged, that if old accounts were settled later, it would be bad for me, bad for His Majesty. You said you were saving Su Rongqing for righteousness, not for other reasons, didn’t you?”
Li Rong said nothing. The April spring breeze was still somewhat cold. Pei Wenxuan looked at her quietly, questioning, “What happened after that?”
Li Rong remained silent. She looked at Pei Wenxuan’s indifferent expression and couldn’t help but laugh. “Is this why you dislike him?”
Pei Wenxuan was stunned. Li Rong looked at his expression and pressed, “Because I deceived you?”
Pei Wenxuan gave a mocking smile without responding, but it was a certain tacit acknowledgment. Li Rong raised her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear and said lightly, “I told you long ago, I truly thought that way at the time. You didn’t believe me, did you? Then what’s the point of talking about it?”
“I’m just reminding you,” Pei Wenxuan said coldly, “not to let beauty cloud your judgment. If you fell into his hands in the previous lifetime and fall again in this lifetime, that would be your stupidity.”
“Even if that’s so, what does it have to do with you?” Hearing a hint of reprimand in his tone, Li Rong became rather angry and looked at him coldly. “In any case, you and I will divorce after a few years. In this lifetime, Lord Pei can rest assured—if I kill you, it definitely won’t be because someone else instigated it.”
Pei Wenxuan said nothing. He pressed his lips tightly, seeming quite infuriated.
Li Rong laughed mockingly. “Every time we have to quarrel, and after quarreling you get angry at yourself. You’re really…”
“I’m not seeing you off anymore. Go back by yourself.” Before Li Rong finished speaking, Pei Wenxuan finally couldn’t hold back. He strode forward, thrust the palace lantern into Li Rong’s hands, turned around, and left.
Li Rong hadn’t expected that even after being reborn and no longer being Left Prime Minister, Pei Wenxuan could still have such a temper. She held the lantern, momentarily stunned. Pei Wenxuan walked a few steps, then seemed to remember something and turned back. Frowning, he extended his hand. “Give me some people. Tonight the Yang residence’s people will likely try to leave the city.”
He would be angry—that was a given—but when it came to asking for people and money, he absolutely wouldn’t hold back.
Li Rong was amused and exasperated. She reached out to accept the token and slapped it into Pei Wenxuan’s hand. “Go select people yourself.”
Pei Wenxuan didn’t respond to her. Taking the token, he turned and left, going to the Princess’s residence to find people himself.
Li Rong watched Pei Wenxuan’s rapidly departing figure, feeling both angry yet not knowing what exactly she was angry about. After the person walked far away, she held it in for a long while before finally calming down, consoling herself with a few words, telling herself it wasn’t worth getting angry over this kind of person.
After her emotions settled, she finally said, “Let’s go.”
Jing Lan and Jing Mei exchanged glances before approaching. Jing Mei looked at Li Rong and said quietly, “Why did Young Master Pei leave?”
“He’s sick.”
Li Rong answered without hesitation. The maids glanced at each other and dared not speak further.
Li Rong walked in the night wind. After being blown by the breeze for a moment, her mood improved considerably. She said lightly, “Let’s return to the palace. We’ll see each other again tomorrow anyway.”
Actually, Pei Wenxuan’s aversion to Su Rongqing wasn’t a problem that developed in just a day or two. Even after being reborn, she knew this couldn’t be changed.
The two hadn’t gotten along from the very beginning. Pei Wenxuan thought Su Rongqing was affected and sentimental. Su Rongqing had never said anything about Pei Wenxuan. But whenever the two stood side by side, any perceptive person could see there was an invisible repulsion between them.
It was like this even before Su Rongqing came to Li Rong’s side. After Su Rongqing came to her side, it became even more so. Over time, it basically reached a state where if Su Rongqing was present, Pei Wenxuan wasn’t, and if Pei Wenxuan was present, Su Rongqing wasn’t.
Initially, Li Rong had wondered if Pei Wenxuan had some feelings for her in his heart, which made him jealous.
But as time went on, she saw clearly that Pei Wenxuan’s hostility toward Su Rongqing might initially have been due to a bit of jealousy, but later it was nothing more than unwillingness.
Su Rongqing became famous at a young age, grew up in a noble family, with loving parents. The best things in the world were almost all given to him. While Pei Wenxuan, also a noble young master, had experienced much hardship. When young Pei Wenxuan faced Su Rongqing, he felt jealousy.
Later, he finally married her and single-handedly supported his family, which could be called outstanding. But at that time she chose Su Rongqing instead of him. For Pei Wenxuan, this was an enormous humiliation.
Pei Wenxuan wasn’t jealous—Pei Wenxuan simply detested Su Rongqing.
In earlier years, Pei Wenxuan might have harbored some favorable feelings for her, but such feelings had long been worn away in the lengthy years.
Li Rong had always had self-awareness. She had never been a likable girl to begin with, and her position with Pei Wenxuan involved such mutual competition for power and harm. Pei Wenxuan must have long been thoroughly annoyed with her.
It was just that Pei Wenxuan was relatively kindhearted. Having lived together in the world for so long, now that they’d both returned, he probably felt a certain compassion as fellow unfortunate souls. That’s why he proactively proposed cooperation.
But in their bones, they had long since thoroughly understood each other and felt disgust.
When two people who knew each other inside and out mutually disliked each other, that was the most terrifying thing. Because they were too clear about each other’s weak points and tactics, every strike hit at the heart. A casual word, a single glance—either could land on the other’s most painful spot.
Adding salt to wounds and attacking the heart with words—this was what a couple who had worn each other down for most of their lives was best at.
Li Rong slowly returned to her own palace and rested, thinking about the day’s events.
Though her Princess’s residence had been built for many years, she actually always lived in the palace. Only the Princess’s residence steward and the two thousand guards Li Ming gave her, along with various servants, were stationed there—it could be considered one of her properties. Pei Wenxuan took her token, assembled personnel, and kept watch outside the Yang residence that night.
As Pei Wenxuan expected, nearly everyone in the Yang family evacuated during the night, leaving only the old matriarch with some female family members to stay at home as a cover. With Pei Wenxuan guarding outside the city like this, it was like catching turtles in a jar—catching them one by one. He actually caught them throughout the entire night.
Li Rong had a good night’s sleep. When morning came, she rose and groomed herself, arriving early at the palace hall entrance. Court had not yet begun. Civil and military officials all stood outside, talking in small groups of two or three. When Li Rong arrived, everyone found it rather strange. Though many princesses of Great Xia participated in government, unless specially summoned, they wouldn’t directly attend court. So Li Rong’s presence here made everyone speculate about what she had come to do.
The several important ministers who had heard Li Ming’s outburst yesterday weren’t surprised. They sat like old monks in meditation, standing in place without even looking at Li Rong.
Li Rong scanned through the crowd but didn’t see the person she was looking for. After waiting a while, she finally saw Pei Wenxuan enter yawning.
According to rank, a minor official like him couldn’t even enter the great hall. Li Rong saw him yawning continuously as he walked in. Regardless of others’ gazes, she walked directly to his side and stood, hands clasped in her sleeves, saying vaguely, “It’s done.”
“Did you sleep at all last night?”
Li Rong looked him up and down. Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, as if someone had punched him, she couldn’t help saying, “Don’t tell me you didn’t sleep again?”
“Thanks to the Princess’s blessing,” Pei Wenxuan roused himself and looked somewhat more alert, speaking clearly, “another sleepless night.”
He hadn’t slept much the night before last either, then yesterday he’d been tense all day. Thinking of this cruel reality, Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help saying, “If this continues, Your Highness needn’t take action—this subject fears he won’t last much longer.”
Li Rong covered her face with her small fan and laughed softly. Pei Wenxuan was already used to her becoming happy when he was unhappy. He just said quietly, “Last night they moved like ants relocating their nest. Those young masters all came together. Since the whole family should be together, shall we gather them all today?”
“As you wish.” Li Rong said softly, “Let’s talk after court.”
As they were speaking, they saw Su Minzhi leading Su Rongqing in. The Su family had an excellent reputation in the court. As soon as they entered, they became the focus of attention. Su Rongqing followed his father greeting those around them, then stood at a front position.
As soon as Su Rongqing entered, everyone couldn’t help but look over. Li Rong naturally wasn’t exempt from convention. Pei Wenxuan saw Li Rong watching Su Rongqing walk all the way. He moved imperceptibly closer to Li Rong and said quietly, “Let me remind you—don’t tell him everything when you see him. His position is still unclear.”
As he spoke, Su Rongqing looked over. Seeing Li Rong from afar, he first seemed stunned, then smiled and bowed to Li Rong.
Li Rong nodded in acknowledgment. Pei Wenxuan beside her gave a light “heh.” Li Rong didn’t respond to him, fearing another quarrel. So the two stood side by side at the edge of the plaza. Then they heard the eunuch’s voice announcing court. The ministers formed two lines and slowly walked inside amid the calls.
Neither Li Rong nor Pei Wenxuan had positions that allowed entry to the court hall, so they stood at the entrance waiting for Li Ming’s summons.
Pei Wenxuan was somewhat sleepy, so he simply closed his eyes and left a sentence: “I’ll sleep for a bit. Call me if something happens.”
Having said this, regardless of whether Li Rong agreed, he leaned against the wall and directly closed his eyes to sleep.
Outside the great hall there were few people—an empty expanse—while inside the hall it was lively and bustling. The chattering voices of court officials were, for Pei Wenxuan, an excellent lullaby.
He initially stood leaning against the wall, but once a person fell asleep, control became difficult. Involuntarily, he began tilting toward Li Rong.
Li Rong was still thinking about matters when she felt Pei Wenxuan gradually approaching. Then, seeming to sense losing balance, he suddenly woke up and hurriedly straightened himself.
Seeing him so drowsy, Li Rong was rather disgusted and couldn’t help saying, “Are you really that sleepy?”
“You try it.” Not having slept well, Pei Wenxuan was in a foul mood. Li Rong laughed. “Pei Wenxuan, you’re really delicate.”
“Who am I doing this for?”
Pei Wenxuan immediately retorted. After responding, he froze, seeming to find it somewhat awkward. He turned away. “You slept well though. Too lazy to deal with you.”
Li Rong said nothing. Pei Wenxuan closed his eyes again. After a moment, he suddenly heard Li Rong say, “Lean on me.”
Pei Wenxuan didn’t respond. Then he felt Li Rong lean over. Their shoulders touched. Li Rong’s habitually cool voice seemed to carry warmth as she said peacefully, “I’m standing steady. Lean on me—you won’t fall.”
Pei Wenxuan pretended not to hear. Their shoulders pressed together. He squinted through the gap. Morning light gradually filled the white jade stone steps, slowly rising upward, then falling on both of them.
The morning light carried warmth, yet none of it matched the scorching warmth from Li Rong’s shoulder. Pei Wenxuan seemed extremely exhausted. Just standing like this, he felt a rare sense of peace.
He felt as if he had fallen asleep, yet also as if he hadn’t. He could vaguely still hear voices, bird calls, yet it felt like being in a dream.
Li Rong crossed her arms over her chest, listening to the ministers speaking in the court hall.
Li Ming had announced the Yang family’s consecutive loss of three cities at the border. The court was shocked. Li Ming demanded the Yang clan be formally investigated. Naturally, everyone had to argue.
Most officials said nothing. Some officials felt Li Ming’s demand was unreasonable. The Yang family had distinguished military achievements. With warfare still continuing at the front, they couldn’t imprison and prosecute the families of frontline soldiers just because they’d lost a few battles.
Hearing these officials defend the Yang family, Li Ming laughed coldly. “What if the Yang family is accused of deceiving the sovereign and being insubordinate, kidnapping the Princess, assassinating court officials, and colluding with enemy nations? In that case, can they still not be tried?!”
No one present dared speak. After a long while, an official said hesitantly, “This subject doesn’t know where Your Majesty heard such rumors?”
“Summon them!” Li Ming raised his hand outward. Then the eunuch’s shrill voice rang out: “Summon Princess Pingle and Pei Wenxuan into the hall—”
Hearing their names called, Li Rong turned her head and saw the young man in the morning light slowly opening his eyes.
His features were three-dimensional. From the side, they seemed like overlapping mountain ranges. His eyelashes were very long. Opening his eyes in the morning light, they were like a butterfly spreading its wings, lightly leaping in this radiance.
“Let’s go.”
Li Rong smiled lightly and straightened up, walking toward the great hall. Pei Wenxuan saw Li Rong’s slender retreating figure and momentarily felt dizzy, vaguely somewhat dazed. After a moment, he came back to himself and couldn’t help smiling lightly. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. Then he composed his expression and walked inside, following Li Rong as they both knelt on the ground, calling out loudly, “Your daughter-subject (this subject) greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
“Rise,” Li Ming raised his hand. “Pei Wenxuan, read the memorial to them.”
To establish a case against the Yang clan naturally required someone to be the blade. Others didn’t dare write this memorial, but Pei Wenxuan had already written it last night.
Using harsh language without any concealment, he passionately denounced the Yang clan throughout for deceiving the sovereign, being domineering and unreasonable, colluding with enemy nations, and having no regard for royal law. After this thorough scolding, the entire hall fell silent. After a while, the Censorate finally reacted and began arguing with Pei Wenxuan.
Seeing Pei Wenxuan argue with these censors, Li Rong consciously retreated a step behind him, watching Pei Wenxuan battle the masses with his tongue.
Pei Wenxuan’s life was tough, but his mouth was tougher. In the past, Pei Wenxuan had argued with her. Whether in or out of court, everyone could make him argue until they coughed up blood. Now watching Pei Wenxuan argue with the opposition, Li Rong unexpectedly felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
The entire Censorate took turns, but Pei Wenxuan alone fought the masses. Li Ming initially wanted to intervene, but seeing Pei Wenxuan truly formidable, he ultimately fell silent, drinking tea while listening to these people quarrel.
Li Rong retreated to the side and had someone prepare tea. After Pei Wenxuan finished scolding these people in one breath and said coldly, “Do you lords still have objections?”—and after no one in the hall spoke again—Li Rong silently brought tea over. Pei Wenxuan habitually accepted the tea and drank. Only after drinking did he realize something was wrong. Turning around, he saw Li Rong’s smiling eyes, as if saying to him: “Continue.”
Pei Wenxuan didn’t know why, but seeing Li Rong like this, he suddenly felt somewhat bashful. He pretended to be composed and turned away, looking at the ministers who had been arguing with him.
Court debates mostly involved arguing grand principles and putting on big labels. Regardless of whether it was feasible, as long as one could stand on “absolutely correct” reasoning, no one could criticize you.
Pei Wenxuan was well-versed in court routines. Being young and vigorous, he argued with these people all morning. His drowsiness completely dissipated, and he became quite enthusiastic.
The opposing ministers either couldn’t out-argue him or couldn’t persuade him. Eventually, they all conceded defeat. Seeing it was about right, Li Ming said, “All right, since everyone has discussed this, let’s settle it this way.”
Then Li Ming pointed at three people: “Pingle, Pei Wenxuan, Su Rongqing.”
The three people named stepped forward. Li Ming said flatly, “Since this concerns the Yang clan, a great family, let Pingle serve as chief investigator of this case. Promote Pei Wenxuan to Supervising Censor to assist Pingle in trying the case. Since both are involved in this case, command Vice Minister of Justice Su Rongqing to supervise. Thus, what do you beloved ministers think?”
No one spoke.
They were too exhausted to argue.
Li Ming nodded with satisfaction and said to someone beside him, “Draft the decree. Yang Quan of the Yang clan attempted to harm the Princess and assassinate a minister. The Yang family’s death penalty may be waived, but punishment for living crimes is unavoidable. In consideration of the Yang clan’s meritorious service, they won’t be transferred to prison. After searching for evidence, they shall be temporarily placed under house arrest in their residence.”
Then Li Ming raised his head and said lightly, “Pingle, we’ll give you another five hundred men. Is that sufficient?”
“Thank you, Father Emperor.” Li Rong responded happily. “Your daughter-subject will certainly handle everything properly for you.”
All court officials remained silent. Li Ming seemed weary. He nodded and waved his hand, declaring, “Court is dismissed.”
Everyone kowtowed and paid respects, respectfully seeing off Li Ming. After Li Ming left, Li Rong stood up and glanced at Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing beside her, smiling. “This palace now plans to search the Yang residence. What do you two intend?”
“This subject will follow Your Highness’s arrangements entirely.” Pei Wenxuan spoke respectfully. Su Rongqing smiled lightly. “This subject as well.”
Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan, then at Su Rongqing. For the first time in all these years, seeing the two standing together so harmoniously with smiles on their faces, Li Rong somehow suddenly felt a strange sense of guilt. She coughed lightly and stepped forward. “There’s no time to waste. Let’s go.”
Li Rong hurried to distance herself from them. Su Rongqing and Pei Wenxuan followed behind Li Rong together. Li Rong couldn’t explain what she was feeling, but her heart beat rapidly.
The three walked out of the palace together and boarded carriages. Li Rong, leading Jing Lan and Jing Mei, rushed ahead to the front carriage and said to Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing, “This palace will go first. You two follow later.”
Having said this, Li Rong boarded the carriage. After instructing people to transfer residence troops to the Yang clan’s entrance, she quickly lowered the curtain and urgently fanned herself with her small fan, as if she had been holding her breath for a long time.
“What’s wrong with the Princess?”
Seeing Li Rong like this, Jing Mei brewed tea for Li Rong and couldn’t help laughing. “Why this appearance?”
Li Rong shook her head, picked up tea from the side, and after calming herself for a moment, let out a long breath. “I suddenly admire those men with three wives and four concubines.”
“Why does the Princess say this?” Jing Mei didn’t understand. Li Rong sighed with a tone of having survived a disaster. “My heart beats too fast. Can’t handle it.”
In her previous life, for a period of time, she’d considered keeping many male companions—preferably all looking like Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing—embracing them left and right every day. Perhaps that would be a kind of happiness.
Today she suddenly knew that sometimes, having too many people around might not be happiness.
At least at this moment, she only felt fear, panic, and guilt—not a bit of happiness.
While Li Rong’s emotions fluctuated, Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing were exceptionally composed. The two shared a carriage and, having nothing else to do, began playing chess.
“Young Master’s marriage with the Princess is probably settled.”
Su Rongqing picked up a chess piece, his voice flat. “I heard there was quite a commotion in the palace last night.”
“Lord Su is quite concerned about the Princess’s marriage.”
“Who in Hua Jing isn’t concerned?” Su Rongqing smiled. “Right now Lord Pei is a hotly discussed figure in the capital.”
“Discussing what? Whether I’ll marry the Princess?” As Pei Wenxuan spoke, he placed his chess piece on the board with a “tap” and raised his eyes to look at Su Rongqing. “Then let me be frank with Young Master Su.”
“I will definitely marry Her Highness the Princess.”
Su Rongqing smiled, his fan gently tapping his palm. “So it’s truly like this. However, Su is somewhat curious.” As Su Rongqing placed his piece, he asked, “What does Lord Pei think of the Princess?”
“Quite good.” Pei Wenxuan said flatly. “Eloquent and articulate.”
As Pei Wenxuan spoke, another phrase floated through his mind—sharp-tongued.
“Understanding and considerate.”
Always able to step on his most painful spots.
“An excellent young lady.”
Having finished praising Li Rong, Pei Wenxuan suddenly had the feeling he never wanted to speak again. He felt that getting these words out had exhausted all his strength.
Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Su Rongqing nodded and said gently, “But this subject heard that Lord Pei previously had a childhood betrothal. Regarding that young lady, Lord Pei…”
Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan coldly raised his eyes to look at Su Rongqing before him. Getting this look, Su Rongqing understood Pei Wenxuan’s warning and nodded. “Understood. Some people are merely the bright moon—visible but unreachable.”
“Lord Su, mention Her Highness less,” Pei Wenxuan said lightly. “Otherwise I won’t be clear about who Lord Su’s bright moon is.”
“Just joking, joking.” Su Rongqing waved his fan. “Let’s continue playing chess.”
The two continued playing chess, but their moves became chaotic. Pei Wenxuan lost interest and said directly, “Young Master Su, this subject is terribly sleepy. I’ll sleep for a while and won’t keep you company.”
Su Rongqing smiled and said gently, “Please do as you wish.”
Pei Wenxuan acknowledged and leaned to the side, closing his eyes to sleep.
Before sleeping, somehow he thought of Li Rong this morning. She stood beside him, letting him lean on her. She could stand steady, steady as could be. Despite her slender frame that seemed like it would be blown away by the wind, somehow she could stand so firmly.
As Pei Wenxuan’s thoughts wandered, unaware to himself, a smile lifted his lips.
When Pei Wenxuan woke from his nap, they had arrived at the Yang residence. Li Rong had already sent people ahead to surround it. Descending from the carriage, he saw the Yang residence’s troops and guards in confrontation.
The Yang residence’s main gate was tightly closed. Soldiers on both sides dared not move. Li Rong walked to the side of the guards. Her guard captain Jiang Ping came forward and said respectfully, “Princess.”
“Where are the Yang clan members?”
“All inside, refusing to come out. Without the Princess here, your subordinate dared not act.”
Li Rong nodded. She looked at the Yang residence’s main gate, holding her fan across her chest, the fan gently tapping her arm. She didn’t speak. Su Rongqing and Pei Wenxuan walked over. Su Rongqing asked rather puzzled, “Your Highness, why has the Yang clan tightly locked their main gate?”
“Mm,” Li Rong thought, “probably scared.”
Then Li Rong turned her head and beckoned to Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan walked forward and said respectfully, “Your Highness.”
“Tell me, if I were to reason with the Yang clan, could you win the argument?”
“Can’t win.” Pei Wenxuan answered decisively. “In the court hall there’s hierarchy—Your Highness can win. But now before the Yang residence gate, all listeners are common people. The Yang clan has extremely high prestige among the people. Without sufficient evidence, if we forcibly search the residence, we’ll likely leave behind infamy.”
“Mm.” Since even Pei Wenxuan said he couldn’t win, Li Rong no longer struggled.
She thought for a moment, then said to Jiang Ping beside her, “Jiang Ping, guard the Yang residence well. If they don’t come out, then let them stay inside.”
Jiang Ping acknowledged. Li Rong looked around briefly, observing the surrounding situation, then said to Su Rongqing, “Lord Su, given the current situation, searching the residence is improper. I wish to go to the Ministry of War to obtain some account books. Can Lord Su help?”
“This subject respectfully follows Your Highness’s instructions.” Su Rongqing spoke respectfully. Li Rong nodded, then said, “Then I trouble Lord Su to go coordinate with the Ministry of War first. If the Ministry of War is willing to investigate accounts, this palace will go over.”
Su Rongqing acknowledged. Li Rong turned to look at Pei Wenxuan. “Lord Pei.”
“This subject is here.”
“Lord Pei didn’t bring a carriage. This palace will give you a ride.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Pei Wenxuan bowed in thanks. Then, following Li Rong’s arrangements, he boarded Li Rong’s carriage. After Li Rong instructed Jiang Ping to treat the Yang clan members well, she lifted the curtain and entered the carriage.
The two sat on opposite sides. As the carriage resumed its journey, Jing Lan and Jing Mei didn’t enter. Li Rong poured tea for herself. Pei Wenxuan asked directly, “Where are we going?”
“Why don’t you think I’m taking you home?”
Li Rong raised an eyebrow. Pei Wenxuan shook his head. “We gained nothing today. You couldn’t possibly return like this.”
“As expected of someone I’ve known for years—you truly understand me.” Li Rong picked up her teacup and, after blowing away the green leaves floating on top, said slowly, “Do you remember Tuoba Yan?”
Pei Wenxuan thought carefully before finally remembering. “That money house boss you once arrested?”
“Right.” Li Rong nodded. “This person travels year-round between the Northwest and Hua Jing, with businesses spanning several countries. Ostensibly doing business, but actually making a living through money laundering. Many nobles in Hua Jing have dealings with him.”
“Including the Yang clan.”
Pei Wenxuan stated with certainty. Li Rong acknowledged, “Though the Yang family ultimately fell by my father emperor’s hand that year, the investigation actually wasn’t thorough. Later when I investigated Tuoba Yan for Chuan’er, I truly uncovered the Yang clan’s entire operation. Tuoba Yan can navigate between countries without falling not only because he’s good at business, but most importantly because he has a life-saving talisman—”
As she spoke, Li Rong leaned close to Pei Wenxuan and said softly, “Account books.”
“So you’re not anxious about investigating the Ministry of War’s accounts.” Pei Wenxuan understood. Li Rong laughed mockingly. “What’s worth investigating about the Ministry of War and Yang family’s accounts? Things people go investigate every year—could they be real? Moreover, if we ourselves can’t obtain evidence, those old foxes at the Ministry of War—who would dare give you account books? We’re not like before when we could summon a hundred responses. Now in the court hall, no one welcomes us. It’s just us two reporting to each other for warmth.”
Hearing Li Rong’s words, Pei Wenxuan analyzed, “We obtain the money-laundering account books from Tuoba Yan’s hands, compare them with the Northwest military accounts and the Yang clan’s accounts. After comparison, we can basically figure out the flow of funds in and out. The Yang family’s crime of embezzlement will be more or less established.”
Li Rong acknowledged, then continued, “Now that we’ve confined the Yang clan members, they’ll definitely seek aid from the border. When General Yang receives urgent news from home, he’ll probably immediately do something to pressure His Majesty. If they resign and lose cities, the entire court will probably demand we appease the Yang family and beg them to fight properly.”
“At that time, they’ll have the Crown Prince take over this matter.” Pei Wenxuan spoke calmly, everything seeming to be within his calculations. “We’ll invite Qin Lin and Cui Qinghe to come out of retirement to follow the Crown Prince to the front lines. The front only needs to hold out for another half month, and the Rong Kingdom’s weapons will be nearly exhausted. That will be the time for the Crown Prince to establish merit.”
Qin Lin and Cui Qinghe were the most capable generals under Li Chuan in the previous life, one civil and one military. In Li Chuan’s era, they had virtually pacified the entire North.
If they could invite them out of retirement early, with these two men’s abilities, coordinating with the Shangguan clan and Li Chuan, along with advance intelligence provided by Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan, dealing with the Yang clan’s remnants in the Northwest shouldn’t be difficult.
Li Rong nodded and responded, “If Chuan’er stabilizes the Yang clan, he can give us the account records from the Northwest. As long as we match the accounts, the Yang clan will be completely finished. Right now, our first step is still to obtain these money-laundering accounts. With these account records, when the Yang clan applies pressure, we’ll have grounds to continue detaining them.”
“Good,” Pei Wenxuan nodded, then looked at the people coming and going outside the window, somewhat puzzled. “So where are we going now?”
“Tuoba Yan’s villa holds a private gathering on the tenth of every month, inviting wealthy merchants from various countries to attend.”
As she spoke, Li Rong reminded Pei Wenxuan, “Today is the tenth.”
“You want to go?”
Pei Wenxuan spoke in surprise. Li Rong nodded. “I know where he keeps the account records. I need to go retrieve them.”
“This kind of thing,” Pei Wenxuan frowned, “should be left to shadow guards. You’re of noble birth—it seems improper.”
“Don’t I know I’m precious?”
Li Rong rolled her eyes at Pei Wenxuan, then said, “That room of his has mechanisms. To open the door, you must turn the correct buttons, and the buttons are in Persian. Among our shadow guards, can you find one who knows Persian?”
Pei Wenxuan was stumped. He could only say helplessly, “All right then…”
“What,” Li Rong smiled, opening her fan to cover half her face, “you’re not worried about me, are you?”
“I’m worried about myself.” Pei Wenxuan glanced at her and quickly said, “If something happens to you, how can I survive?”
“That’s a good way to think,” Li Rong nodded, pointing her fan at his chest, joking, “From today on, Lord Pei should remember well—this Pingle is your life from now on.”
Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.
He imperceptibly moved back, saying impatiently, “Get away from me. Don’t pull that with me.”
Li Rong knew he never liked her teasing, so she smiled even more happily. Pei Wenxuan, seeing her swagger, didn’t bother with her and only said, “It’s a private banquet. How do we get in?”
“Don’t worry about that. I had people get invitations. In a bit we’ll change into a set of clothes, disguise ourselves a bit, and go in.”
“Mm.” Pei Wenxuan nodded. Thinking about how Li Rong’s arrangements were always proper, he had no concerns, so he relaxed a bit and said to Li Rong, “Then I’ll sleep for a while. Wake me when we arrive.”
“All right.” Li Rong pulled out a storybook from the side and leaned back, saying leisurely, “I’ll read my storybook. You sleep.”
Pei Wenxuan acknowledged and found himself a position to lie down.
Li Rong’s carriage was already quite comfortable, but there was still some jolting. Pei Wenxuan closed his eyes, smelling Li Rong’s subtle fragrance drifting from not far away. Somehow, he wasn’t very sleepy anymore and opened his eyes.
Looking through the small table, he could see Li Rong’s splendid robe embroidered with red and white peonies. The wide-sleeved robe was cinched at the waist, revealing Li Rong’s slender waist. That waist was barely a handful, and compared with the gently undulating peaks above, it displayed an even more enchanting charm.
Pei Wenxuan felt this was inappropriate and dared not look more. He hastily looked upward and saw Li Rong’s hands—a pair of hands seemingly carved from white jade, without the slightest flaw. Her nails were dyed with balsam, and just looking at them seemed to tug at one’s heart.
Pei Wenxuan frowned. He thought he probably hadn’t properly observed Li Rong in many years, which is why he’d just remembered that Li Rong, as a person, had been born a fairy-like girl.
Unlike other girls in Hua Jing whose beauty lay in being slender and elegant, Li Rong’s beauty had always been gorgeous and flamboyant, charming and alluring. When you looked at other beautiful women, you felt as if viewing a painting, wanting to frame them and hang them on the wall to observe daily.
But Li Rong walked at the extreme. For ordinary men, they completely dared not look directly at her, lacking even the courage to meet her gaze. But for people like Pei Wenxuan who dared to raise their eyes to look at her, once they looked, it easily drew out that unspeakable darkness within.
No one would think of treating her as a distant painting to observe. They would only want to approach, want to possess, want to hold this person in their arms and make themselves the unique and irreplaceable one in her eyes.
This contradictory charm made this person both dazzling and lonely. Few people dared to approach her, look at her directly, much less accompany her.
Pei Wenxuan looked at her, his thoughts drifting somewhat far. Li Rong sensed Pei Wenxuan hadn’t slept. She turned a page and said lightly, “Can’t sleep?”
“Mm.”
Having been discovered, Pei Wenxuan felt no embarrassment and said frankly, “Don’t know why, but I’m tired yet can’t fall asleep.”
“Shall I chat with you?”
Li Rong put down her book and looked at Pei Wenxuan.
Pei Wenxuan turned over and scrutinized her, saying warily, “Do you have something you want to ask me?”
“Indeed,” Li Rong brushed her sleeves and tidied her clothes, leaning sideways on the small table with a smile as she looked at Pei Wenxuan. “I just want to know why Lord Pei absolutely had to kill Yang Quan?”
“Mm?”
“I thought about it earlier,” Li Rong said seriously. “Actually, Lord Pei didn’t necessarily have to kill Yang Quan to marry me. If it was only to marry me, Lord Pei still had many methods. Now that you’ve killed Yang Quan, either you die or the Yang family perishes. What is Lord Pei seeking by doing all this?”
Pei Wenxuan said nothing. Li Rong waited quietly. Pei Wenxuan said slowly, “Didn’t you want military power?”
Li Rong raised an eyebrow. Pei Wenxuan looked up at her. “You want it, so I’m giving it to you. What’s wrong with that?”
Hearing this, Li Rong was stunned for a moment, then said hesitantly, “I think the friendship between Lord Pei and myself doesn’t seem substantial enough to bear such a weighty gift.”
“This has nothing to do with the friendship between you and me,” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “I simply don’t want to walk through my previous life’s path again.”
As he spoke, Pei Wenxuan looked out the window and said slowly, “I don’t want to let the Yang family continue causing chaos, making the Emperor and Yang family fight each other while the Rong Kingdom benefits, ceding five cities, until I became Prime Minister and had to clean up that mess.”
“I don’t want the Crown Prince to nearly be deposed again because he held no military power, with you and me meeting in prison, hearing you bid me farewell and tell me that if necessary, I could personally behead you.”
“Since life has restarted, I think,” Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong, his expression serious, “I can live this life better.”
Li Rong said nothing. She opened and closed the small fan in her hand. After a long while, she laughed softly, lowered her head and eyes, and said gently, “When all is said and done, Prime Minister Pei is still paving the way for himself. You just said it was for me—this palace heard it,” Li Rong raised her eyes to look at him, her phoenix eyes full of charm, “and almost fell for it.”
“Oh?” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes, seeming quite honored. “So that’s all it takes to make Your Highness fall for me? Then Your Highness should fall.”
As he spoke, Pei Wenxuan joked carelessly, “If Your Highness falls for this subject, this subject can at least guarantee I absolutely won’t kill Your Highness.”
Hearing this, Li Rong laughed mockingly. “I’m afraid when the time comes, if I want to take your life, you’ll still make me accompany you in death.”
Just like in the previous life—once he thought she had killed him, he immediately had someone send her medicine. Too bad she was one step ahead and didn’t get to personally drink the poison he gave her.
“Li Rong, let me tell you, I can make you a bet,” Pei Wenxuan reclined on the couch, propping his head with one hand and bending one leg, looking at Li Rong seriously. “If you can genuinely love me, I can give you this life.”
“But, Princess Your Highness,” Pei Wenxuan leaned forward, moving close to Li Rong. The two were separated by mere inches. Li Rong could even feel their breaths intertwining, yet there wasn’t half a trace of romance in it. Pei Wenxuan’s eyes were completely clear as he looked at her and said softly, “In all these years, have you ever truly loved anyone?”
Author’s Notes:
Li Rong: “Hand over your life.”