Pei Wenxuan recognized this as Li Kui, the Vice Minister of the Constabulary Bureau. He looked at this person for a moment without speaking. Hearing the commotion outside, Li Rong used her golden fan to lift the carriage curtain. Seeing people from the Constabulary Bureau, she couldn’t help but laugh and murmur, “Lord Li?”

Li Kui hadn’t expected Li Rong to actually recognize him. Rather surprised, he quickly bowed. “Greetings to Your Highness. May Your Highness live a thousand years.”

“I wonder what matter brings Lord Li here?” Li Rong looked at Li Kui, her voice gentle. Pei Wenxuan leaned to the side, helping Li Rong roll up the curtain.

“Reporting to the Princess.”

Seeing Li Rong’s inquiry, Li Kui said respectfully, “Today a merchant household reported to the Shuntian Prefecture, claiming Lord Pei murdered his master. This humble official received orders to come request Lord Pei enter prison to assist with the investigation.”

“Does His Majesty know of this matter?”

“This humble official knows that Lord Pei is currently investigating the Yang Family case under imperial orders. Therefore, this order was submitted by Shuntian Prefecture to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice specifically submitted it to His Majesty this afternoon and only dared come after receiving His Majesty’s decree.”

Hearing this, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh.

“Reported in the morning, and in one pass it could go through two departments directly to His Majesty.” As Li Rong spoke, she turned to look at Pei Wenxuan and smiled. “It seems Lord Pei is also an important figure.”

Hearing Li Rong’s teasing, Pei Wenxuan turned his head and smiled. “It seems I must accompany Lord Li on this trip. Your Highness,” Pei Wenxuan bowed, “subsequent matters can only rely on Your Highness yourself.”

Li Rong nodded, then she remembered to ask, “Lord Li, may I know who this merchant household is?”

“Reporting to Your Highness,” Li Kui said matter-of-factly, “the deceased is a foreign merchant named Tuoba Yan.”

Li Rong nodded. As expected.

Pei Wenxuan glanced at Li Rong. After Li Rong gave him a reassuring look, she said to Li Kui, “Since that’s the case, Lord Pei should go with Lord Li. However, Lord Li,” Li Rong looked at Li Kui, her eyes carrying a meaningful examination, “this palace has heard that the Ministry of Justice’s prison is strict. There won’t be any coerced confessions, will there?”

“There won’t be,” hearing this, Li Kui quickly said. “Your Highness, please be assured. This humble official is only following orders. Lord Pei is an upright gentleman. This humble official trusts Lord Pei. Now it’s merely going through procedures. Lord Pei will be fine.”

Li Rong understood Li Kui’s assurance and knew Pei Wenxuan wouldn’t face major problems in prison. But thinking about it, she still wasn’t quite at ease. She beckoned to Li Kui. Li Kui hurried forward. Li Rong lowered her voice, staring at Li Kui. “Pei Wenxuan is currently this palace’s person and may ‘continue’ to be this palace’s person in the future.” Li Rong emphasized the word “continue,” staring at Li Kui. “This palace will visit Pei Wenxuan in prison every day. Lord Li, do you understand this palace’s meaning?”

“Understood.”

Li Kui quickly said in a low voice, “Your Highness, please be assured. The Ministry of Justice has suitable cells for Lord Pei.”

Receiving this response, Li Rong nodded. After glancing at Pei Wenxuan, she simply said, “If something happens, I’ll come find you. Go.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled calmly and said to Li Kui, “Lord Li, please.”

Pei Wenxuan left together with Li Kui. Jing Lan boarded the carriage from outside, quite worried. “Your Highness, if Tuoba Yan is dead…”

“It won’t be that simple.”

Li Rong tapped on the small table, saying slowly, “This matter was definitely done by Consort Ning. She’s lived long in the deep palace and doesn’t understand these people’s methods of self-preservation.”

Li Rong said indifferently, “As a foreigner who dares to do such dangerous work, he has the ability to do it. Now he’s either escaped unharmed or certainly left contingency plans, waiting to bring down the Yang Family.”

With that, Li Rong rotated her fan, unable to help laughing. “Does Consort Ning think killing Tuoba Yan will end the matter? She needs to know that ‘destroying the bridge after crossing it’—in this business, that’s a major taboo. Even if Tuoba Yan himself doesn’t retaliate, these people who help handle dirty money will definitely help retaliate. Otherwise, wouldn’t their circle become dough in the nobles’ hands, left to be kneaded at will?”

Merchants have no power or influence. If they weren’t ruthless people capable of tearing flesh and drawing blood, how could they establish themselves in Hua Jing?

So from the very beginning, Li Rong never thought about protecting Tuoba Yan. After all, whether Tuoba Yan died or not, as long as the Yang Family moved against him, he would definitely tear bloody wounds in the Yang Family.

Now that they had the account books, they just needed to wait for an opportunity to have Li Chuan and Qin Lin go to the front lines. At this time, having Pei Wenxuan stay in prison…

Might not necessarily be a bad thing.

With Pei Wenxuan too active outside, the Yang Family would be vigilant and might make more moves. Now that Pei Wenxuan was imprisoned, the Yang Family would at least be stabilized.

Li Rong calculated in her heart, lightly tapping her small fan against her palm, resting with closed eyes in the carriage all the way into the palace city.

Returning to the palace, Li Rong went to the table and wrote a note: “Tomorrow at dawn, leave the city, find Qin Lin at Mount Jiulu, don’t let anyone know.”

After writing it, she handed it to Jing Lan, saying indifferently, “Give this note to the Crown Prince, but don’t let anyone know.”

Jing Lan acknowledged. Li Rong walked into her room.

Not long after, Li Chuan was discussing matters regarding the northwestern front lines with his advisors when an attendant brought over a cup of tea. While speaking, Li Chuan took the tea. As soon as the tea bowl entered his hand, he sensed something was wrong with the texture, but his expression didn’t change. He calmly slipped the note into his sleeve. After chatting with everyone until they were done, he sent everyone away. When he returned to his room alone, he opened the note and saw Li Rong’s handwriting, with their sibling’s unique secret marking beneath the characters.

Li Chuan understood. He instructed someone, “Tomorrow I’ll take my rest day to leave the palace and go to Huguo Temple to pray for blessings for Mother Empress.”

After Li Chuan gave his instructions, the eunuch quietly acknowledged.

At this moment, under the bright moon in Mingyue Palace, Consort Rou massaged Li Ming’s shoulders, saying softly, “Consort Ning is making such a big commotion. Won’t Your Majesty manage it?”

Li Ming smiled gently. “What is there to manage? That brat Pei Wenxuan wants to be my blade. If he can’t even cut through this little matter, he might as well go die.”

“Your Highness,” Consort Rou sighed, “it’s fortunate that Pingle didn’t marry Yang Quan. With the Yang Family making so much trouble now, if the Yang Family and Shangguan Family had formed a marriage alliance, how would that do?”

Li Ming didn’t speak. He picked up his tea and blew away the tea leaves on top.

“Indeed,” his voice carried coldness, “I underestimated the Yang Family.”

With that, he lowered his voice further. “And underestimated the Crown Prince.”

People in the palace had a sleepless night, but only Li Rong had a good sleep. When morning came, she went directly to the Ministry of Justice to check on Pei Wenxuan’s situation.

She used the palace token and greased palms up and down with money, smoothly seeing Pei Wenxuan. Having slept one night in the cell, Pei Wenxuan actually looked in excellent spirits. Seeing his appearance, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re getting along quite well in this prison?”

“Of course,” Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong and smiled. “Outside, running around every day, can’t even sleep well. Coming in here, doing nothing every day, sleeping very well.”

“Then My Lord should stay for a while.” Li Rong walked forward, approaching Pei Wenxuan. “With My Lord staying here now, it might be better.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan also walked forward. The two stood separated by wooden bars, extremely close.

“Has Your Highness gone to find people?”

Pei Wenxuan spoke in a low voice. Li Rong acknowledged, then said extremely quickly, “You stay here for a while. I’ll come in a few days.”

“You’re coming too?”

Pei Wenxuan found this strange. “What are you coming for?”

“The Yang Family will counterattack soon. At that time, we’ll probably need to put on some show in court, otherwise we can’t suppress them. Then I’ll come in too. With both of us in prison, we’ll wait for Chuan’er to go to the front lines to stabilize the Yang Family. Then I’ll have someone write a memorial to let us out.”

Pei Wenxuan pondered Li Rong’s words in his mind for a moment and nodded. Li Rong glanced at his room, then said, “While you’re living here now, scout it out, see how to live more comfortably, and give me some experience.”

Pei Wenxuan: “…”

“Your Highness,” he had to remind Li Rong, “I think you might have more experience in this matter than I do.”

“It’s been too many years,” Li Rong said in a low voice. “I’ve forgotten.”

With that, she quickly said, “I brought you some food, clothing, and daily necessities. Take care of yourself. I’m leaving first.”

Pei Wenxuan nodded. The two stood face to face for a moment. Li Rong couldn’t help but smile.

“Never thought I’d have a day standing at the prison door talking to you.”

“Consider it interesting.” Pei Wenxuan smiled gently. Just as he was about to urge Li Rong to leave, he heard a respectful call from the doorway: “Your Highness.”

Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong both looked over and saw Su Rongqing standing at the entrance. He bowed respectfully to them, then straightened up, first glancing at Pei Wenxuan before settling his gaze on Li Rong.

Then he smiled, saying warmly, “This humble subject heard Your Highness was here and specifically came to find Your Highness.”

“Oh?” Li Rong raised an eyebrow. “Does Lord Su have business?”

“Previously, Your Highness asked this humble subject to retrieve the Ministry of War’s account books. This humble subject has already handled it according to Your Highness’s wishes.”

Receiving these words, Li Rong couldn’t help but be stunned. When she asked Su Rongqing to retrieve the Ministry of War’s account books, she was actually just randomly finding a reason to give Su Rongqing something to do. She thought the Ministry of War’s people wouldn’t hand over the account books so easily—they’d probably evade left and right, and in the end, she’d still have to rely on Li Chuan’s people to act. Who would have thought Su Rongqing would actually handle it for her?

But she was only slightly surprised, then recovered and smiled. “Lord Su has been thoughtful. Then let’s go now.”

Su Rongqing smiled and nodded, stepping aside. Li Rong turned back to look at Pei Wenxuan and smiled. “Lord Pei, this palace is leaving first.”

Pei Wenxuan bowed respectfully, seeing Li Rong off.

Li Rong led Su Rongqing out of the Ministry of Justice together. She first boarded her own carriage, then remembered Su Rongqing and turned back. “If Lord Su doesn’t mind, why not ride together with this palace? We can finish discussing matters in the carriage, and when we reach the Ministry of War, we’ll directly examine the accounts.”

Su Rongqing bowed properly, then boarded the carriage.

After boarding the carriage, he sat opposite Li Rong, maintaining some distance, looking exceedingly proper.

This Su Rongqing was both familiar and strange to Li Rong. In her memory, before Su Rongqing entered her residence, the relationship between them was indeed like this.

Warm and courteous with some consideration—truly the gentleman praised by all.

The two remained silent. After a moment, Su Rongqing poured tea for Li Rong and said calmly, “Now that Lord Pei is imprisoned, how does the Princess plan to investigate the Yang Family case?”

“Normal procedures. First examine the Ministry of War’s account books, then negotiate with the Yang Family members to check the statements of their household servants.”

Su Rongqing listened quietly without speaking. Li Rong looked up. “What does Lord Su think?”

“Why did Your Highness and Lord Pei go to Tuoba Yan’s residence?”

Su Rongqing suddenly asked this question. Li Rong laughed lightly. “I should be asking Lord Su this. Lord Su was at Tuoba Yan’s residence and just happened to rescue this palace. How could it be so coincidental?”

“There are no coincidences in this world, only intention,” Su Rongqing said slowly. “I originally went for Tuoba Yan. I saw the Princess and Lord Pei at the banquet early on. Not wanting to meet, I deliberately avoided you. But worried something might happen to the Princess, I prepared the dancing girl’s costume early, just waiting for the Princess to come.”

Li Rong hadn’t expected Su Rongqing to answer so frankly. She tapped her small fan against her palm, saying slowly, “In this case, Lord Su is only a supervisor. I wonder why Lord Su is so actively investigating the case and helping this palace so much. This palace is rather puzzled.”

Su Rongqing held his teacup and took a sip of tea.

“This humble subject wishes to present a pledge of allegiance to the Princess.”

Su Rongqing spoke slowly. Li Rong paused her movements. Then she saw Su Rongqing look up, quietly gazing at her. “This humble subject is willing to be at Your Highness’s disposal, wholeheartedly assisting the Crown Prince. I wonder, Your Highness,” he stared at Li Rong, meaningfully, “what are your thoughts?”