Having known Pei Wenxuan for many years, Li Rong clearly understood his capabilities.

When this person opposed you, he could infuriate you to the point of fainting. But when he deliberately set out to please someone, his flattery skills were beyond what ordinary people could hope to match.

After all, Pei Wenxuan was also born as the legitimate son of an aristocratic family. He was naturally brilliant and exceptionally intelligent. According to reports, back in his academy days, he was at the top of nearly every subject, proficient in all six arts of a gentleman. Coaxing a young lady would be effortless for him.

Seeing his words, Li Rong felt thoroughly pleased. After a while, Pei Wenxuan saw a note wrapped around a pebble thrown over from next door. Pei Wenxuan was stunned—he hadn’t expected Li Rong to actually reply. He quickly went to pick up the pebble, squatted on the ground to open it, and saw Li Rong’s elegant yet sharp handwriting:

If you can talk, say more.

Looking at these characters, Pei Wenxuan could almost picture Li Rong raising her eyebrows with a smile as she said this. Somehow, even Li Rong’s arrogant and domineering manner seemed somewhat adorable.

Like a cat raising its tail, proud in a way that invited affection.

Pei Wenxuan was immediately moved to tease her. After a moment, Li Rong received a reply. Pei Wenxuan had long arms and directly passed the note over. Li Rong hurried to receive it. Opening it, she discovered it was another painting. This time the drawing was much simpler—with just a few strokes, he’d outlined a jar with the two characters “peony” on it, with four characters beside it: “Aged Peony.”

Seeing these four characters, Li Rong immediately crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it out, no longer paying attention to this dog.

Seeing Li Rong throw the paper, Pei Wenxuan knew she was angry. He quickly called out, “Hey, hey, hey, Your Highness, don’t be angry. It was just a joke.”

“People do not speak with dogs,” Li Rong spoke coldly. “Stop barking!”

Pei Wenxuan was choked by Li Rong’s words, but he also knew Li Rong was in a fit of anger. He hurriedly wrote several more poems of praise for Li Rong, reached his hand over, and said in a small voice, “Princess, Princess, will you look?”

Li Rong couldn’t be bothered with him, cracking melon seeds while reading her storybook. Pei Wenxuan’s arm grew sore, so he switched to his other hand, continuing to wave the paper in his hand, “Princess, I was wrong. I apologize to you. I won’t tease you anymore. Just look, please?”

Li Rong raised her eyes to glance at the white paper waving around outside, then lowered her head back to her storybook. Pei Wenxuan changed his voice to call her, “Princess? Your Highness? Li Rong…”

Before he finished calling, the sound of people talking came from outside, along with some footsteps. Pei Wenxuan immediately stood up and leaned against the wall. Having just arranged his clothing, he saw a young man in crimson official robes emerge from the long corridor.

He seemed to have arrived in great haste, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead. Upon entering the cell, his gaze immediately fell on Li Rong’s side. Seeing Li Rong was still well, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and respectfully bowed to Li Rong, “Your Highness.”

Li Rong was quite surprised. She looked at the visitor with some confusion, “Lord Su?”

Having completed his bow, Su Rongqing straightened up and nodded to Pei Wenxuan, “Lord Pei.”

Pei Wenxuan nodded with neither warmth nor coldness. Seeing sweat on Su Rongqing’s forehead, Li Rong couldn’t help but smile, “Why did Lord Su come in such a hurry? Wipe your sweat first.”

With that, she handed over a handkerchief. Seeing the handkerchief Li Rong offered, Su Rongqing hesitated for a moment. However, before Li Rong could react, he immediately extended his hands respectfully and received the handkerchief Li Rong handed over with both hands, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Su Rongqing accepted the handkerchief and gently wiped his forehead. Pei Wenxuan leaned against the wall, quietly watching, the rolled-up paper in his hand tapping his shoulder intermittently.

As Su Rongqing wiped his forehead, he caught his breath, then said, “I came rather hastily on the road. Your Highness, please don’t laugh.”

“Why come in such a hurry?”

Li Rong chuckled lightly. Su Rongqing said respectfully, “Learning today that Your Highness had encountered trouble, I wanted to rush over, but was summoned by His Majesty. Only now could I extricate myself from the palace. Fearing Your Highness might suffer difficulties in prison, I therefore hurried over.”

Su Rongqing’s speech was always very steady, without Pei Wenxuan’s varying intonations. His every move seemed measured by a ruler at all times, even his voice. Hearing his words, Li Rong asked in return, “What happened at morning court today?”

“At this morning’s court, news came from the border,” Su Rongqing composed his expression. “Two days ago, the Rong Kingdom attacked the city. The defending general Zhao Yi died on the front lines. Right now they’ve retreated to Fen City across the board. The Yang family submitted their resignation this morning.”

“Resignation?”

Li Rong smiled, “What did they say?”

Su Rongqing’s expression didn’t look good, but he still recounted it faithfully, “Yang Ming said that Yang Quan committed a grave offense and provoked Your Highness. The Yang family has no face to meet the Imperial family, so they request to retire and return home, saying they will take the Yang family descendants to retreat into the mountains, hoping Your Highness will give them a way to live.”

“Words that strike at the heart.”

Pei Wenxuan spoke flatly. Li Rong lightly tapped her palm with her fan.

If the Yang family had submitted their resignation at any other time, the court might not have panicked so much. But now with the battlefield’s commanding general dead and the Rong Kingdom about to attack, the Yang family submitting their resignation at this time was a threat.

“What did the others say?”

Li Rong inquired calmly.

“Your Highness should know that the aristocratic families mostly stand with the Yang family,” Su Rongqing answered smoothly. “The aristocratic families don’t like change. The Yang family has guarded the border—no matter what, they’ve guarded it for so long already. Unless it tangibly threatens the aristocratic families’ interests, they won’t change their stance. Now with the Yang family pressing like this, today’s court was shaken. All the civil and military officials demanded His Majesty imprison Your Highness to pacify the hearts of the border generals.”

“I understand.”

Li Rong nodded. Su Rongqing raised his eyes to look at Li Rong, “What does this humble minister need to do?”

“Nothing.” Li Rong shook her head. “Just handle your own affairs well.”

Su Rongqing pressed his lips together tightly, seeming somewhat unwilling. He continued, “Your Highness, what I said before…”

“I know everything.”

Li Rong cut him off and spoke seriously, “But what I said to you was also sincere. I didn’t refuse you because of wariness or looking down on your abilities, but Lord Su truly need not get involved in these matters. What I promised Lord Su was not said in jest.”

Su Rongqing said nothing. Seeing he seemed disappointed, Li Rong smiled and said, “If Lord Su really wants to do something, how about bringing something for me next time you come?”

“What does Your Highness want?”

Having received these words, Su Rongqing finally showed some reaction. Li Rong thought for a moment, “Bring a few books. I like reading storybooks. You read many books—recommend a few.”

Su Rongqing respectfully agreed. Li Rong asked a bit more about the specifics of the morning court. After finishing, the two fell silent. After a moment, Su Rongqing said respectfully, “If there’s nothing else, this humble minister takes his leave.”

Li Rong nodded, simply saying, “Go ahead. Don’t come in such a hurry next time. Nothing can happen to me in this Hua Jing.”

Su Rongqing bowed and withdrew. After he left, Pei Wenxuan’s voice sounded leisurely, “Your Highness, I’ve also read quite a few books. Let me recommend some to you?”

“No need,” Li Rong replied. “The books Lord Pei recommends, I’ve grown tired of reading. I want to look at something different.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan instinctively wanted to strike back. However, in the instant before the words left his mouth, he suddenly stopped.

He suddenly remembered that he shouldn’t continue this way anymore, shouldn’t always quarrel with Li Rong, not even over Su Rongqing.

What Li Rong said was actually quite right. A person always hoping their enemy is bad is essentially rooted in deep-seated insecurity.

He didn’t like Su Rongqing and always spoke ill of him, but really it was just his displaced anger and the inferiority and rage he felt facing Su Rongqing.

But a whole lifetime had already passed. He was starting anew. Li Rong was a good young lady, and he didn’t want to keep quarreling with her either.

So he restrained himself and didn’t speak.

Seeing Pei Wenxuan not speaking, Li Rong couldn’t help but feel strange. In the past regarding Su Rongqing, he would explode at the slightest touch. How could he remain silent for so long?

She asked carefully, “Pei Wenxuan?”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. Li Rong couldn’t help but form some bad speculations, “Pei Wenxuan, why aren’t you speaking? Did something happen to you?”

“No.”

Pei Wenxuan collected his emotions. He changed positions, leaning against the wall, adjusted his voice, and said with feigned composure, “I’m just thinking about what Su Rongqing said to you earlier, and what you refused him.”

Li Rong was quite surprised. She thought Pei Wenxuan would still quarrel with her, but unexpectedly Pei Wenxuan was also becoming more broad-minded?

Seeing her not speaking, Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but say, “Why aren’t you speaking? Is it inconvenient to say?”

“No,” Li Rong came back to her senses. “Pei Wenxuan, your transformation is too drastic. I’m scared. You… why don’t you scold me a few times?”

Pei Wenxuan: “…”

“I’m telling you,” Pei Wenxuan held his breath, “can’t you get by without quarreling?”

“That’s right,” Li Rong nodded. “This way I feel better.”

Pei Wenxuan: “…”

“Su Rongqing said he wanted to pledge allegiance to the Crown Prince. I didn’t agree.” Seeing Pei Wenxuan return to normal, Li Rong answered his question.

“Why not agree?” Pei Wenxuan frowned. If Su Rongqing stood on Li Chuan’s side, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.

“I feel he’s not someone who should be doing these things.” Li Rong spoke flatly. “In the last life, the Su family’s disaster was mainly because Su Ronghua had problems. In this lifetime, just keep Su Ronghua away from Prince Su. He doesn’t need to follow Chuan’er early. Let him be his Vice Minister of Justice and do his job well. Chuan’er won’t make things difficult for him.”

“You’re afraid that getting involved in these matters too early will dirty his heart, aren’t you?”

Pei Wenxuan spoke directly. Li Rong didn’t speak. Pei Wenxuan took it as her tacit agreement. He had a breath stuck in his heart, unable to rise or fall.

“You’re very good to him,” Pei Wenxuan’s voice was flat. “Yet you’re not afraid to drag me into the water and dirty my heart.”

“What’s there to dirty about your heart?” Li Rong didn’t understand Pei Wenxuan’s affectation and directly showed disdain. “You’re already decades old and still want to compare yourself with young people. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“What about you?” Pei Wenxuan immediately struck back. “Decades old and still thinking about young people. Aren’t you ashamed?”

Li Rong stopped talking. Pei Wenxuan immediately felt his words were also a bit harsh.

Li Rong and Su Rongqing had feelings for each other—he knew this in his heart. Even though Su Rongqing killed her, their ending wasn’t because their feelings were bad, but because their positions were different. Li Rong coming back wanting to change Su Rongqing’s position and treat him better wasn’t really a problem.

It was just that his heart still felt somewhat uncomfortable. He couldn’t help but say, “When I was young, you never advised me to stay away from these matters.”

In Li Rong’s heart, Su Rongqing was a refined gentleman untainted by the mortal world, and she didn’t want him stained by factional strife. But what about Pei Wenxuan back then?

Didn’t he also have ambitions in his heart, containing thousands of rivers and mountains?

“Did we have a choice back then?” Li Rong spoke flatly. Pei Wenxuan pressed on, “We didn’t have a choice, but you also never thought about this matter, did you?”

Li Rong was silent. Pei Wenxuan took a deep breath, “At the root of it all, your feelings for me and Su Rongqing are ultimately different.”

“You know this, so why compare?”

Li Rong spoke calmly. Pei Wenxuan stiffened. Li Rong said flatly, “I was with him for twenty-five years. I was with you for less than one year. If you compare it this way, aren’t you just making yourself miserable? And why are you even comparing these things now? You said it yourself—this life is starting fresh, and you plan to start over.”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. Li Rong leaned against the wall, gently resting her fan on her shoulder.

The two of them were separated by only a wall, back to back, each looking down at the ground.

“What you said is true,” Pei Wenxuan laughed lightly. “Starting anew, I shouldn’t dwell on these things. I’ll change slowly. Don’t hold it against me in the future.”

Li Rong responded with silence. Pei Wenxuan straightened up and simply said, “I’m going to rest. You should sleep early too.”

His tone was peaceful, but somehow Li Rong still detected a hint of disappointment and awkwardness in it.

She knew that in Pei Wenxuan’s heart, facing Su Rongqing, he had an innate, indescribable feeling of inferiority.

Although both the Su and Pei families were great clans, the Su family was a centuries-old prestigious house, while the Pei family originally was only considered a second-tier aristocratic family. Through the efforts of Pei Wenxuan’s father’s generation, they forcibly squeezed into first-tier prestigious families.

Pei Wenxuan was extremely clever from youth and born handsome. He and Su Rongqing each attended one of Hua Jing’s two most elite academies, each being the top student there. So year after year, people compared them. If discussing only the individual, Pei Wenxuan naturally wouldn’t lose. But some things required hundreds of years of accumulation and inheritance to possess. So when people mentioned Pei Wenxuan, they would always say, “What a pity…”

In his youth, he fell slightly short of Su Rongqing due to family background. Later in matters of the heart, even though Su Rongqing suffered castration, he still lost to Su Rongqing.

For Pei Wenxuan, this wasn’t something that could be let go with just four words “start over again.”

If it were their usual arguing, Li Rong would be too lazy to care about those uncomfortable feelings in his heart. But now that Pei Wenxuan’s attitude had improved, thinking of this person, she felt somewhat reluctant.

She thought for a moment and finally said, “Pei Wenxuan.”

The other side pretended to sleep without speaking. Li Rong spoke slowly, “I tell him to stay away from these matters because right now he’s only in his twenties, while I’m already considered an elder. I have some protective feelings in my heart—it’s not other emotions. He and I can’t start again. He’s twenty-year-old Su Rongqing. I’m fifty-year-old Li Rong. I’m old.”

“If you hadn’t come back and I met twenty-year-old you,” Li Rong paused, finally saying, “as long as you don’t cause trouble, I’d help you if I could.”

Hearing Li Rong’s words, Pei Wenxuan somehow felt uncomfortable.

This discomfort was different from the earlier sourness. Before, he thought about himself and felt uncomfortable.

But now what he was thinking was—why was Li Rong speaking in such a tone?

She was used to being domineering and never felt sorry for or cared about others. Now suddenly saying these things, Pei Wenxuan found it even more uncomfortable than when she scolded him.

“Don’t keep mentioning you’re old, you’re old,” Pei Wenxuan said in a muffled voice. “We’re both twenty. We’re very young.”

Li Rong smiled gently. She said nothing more. Pei Wenxuan felt stifled for a while. He got up, went to the corner, and called to Li Rong, “Your Highness, come over for a moment.”

Li Rong was somewhat puzzled, but she still went to the corner and squatted down, asking in confusion, “What for?”

“Your Highness, give me your hand.”

Pei Wenxuan extended his hand. Although Li Rong didn’t understand what he wanted to do, she still reached out. The two couldn’t see each other, but could see each other’s hands. Pei Wenxuan grasped her hand firmly. Li Rong couldn’t help but tremble.

Pei Wenxuan’s hand was thin with distinct knuckles, skin dry, warm, with a bit of masculine roughness.

Li Rong’s hand was slender and soft, skin delicate and smooth, nails carefully manicured and dyed with rouge. When Pei Wenxuan grasped it, he held her entire hand in his.

An indescribable tingling sensation surged upward. In just an instant, both recalled certain absurd years from their youth. But letting go hastily now would seem unseemly, so both pretended to be composed, as if feeling nothing.

Li Rong said flatly, “What are you doing? If you can’t give a reason, this is insubordination.”

Pei Wenxuan’s face was burning red, but he also forced himself to remain calm, grateful that they couldn’t see each other now. He gently placed something in Li Rong’s palm, then calmly released her hand, simply saying, “Your Highness, I’m giving you something good. Try eating it.”

Li Rong was somewhat bewildered. She withdrew her hand and opened it to see a round little pill. She couldn’t help but be wary, “What is this?”

“Your Highness, you’ll know once you eat it.”

“What if it’s poison?”

“If I wanted to poison you, would I need to wait until now? You already ate my fish before.”

Li Rong: “…”

That made sense. Li Rong thought about it and put the pill in her mouth.

The sweet taste with plum blossom fragrance spread in her mouth. Li Rong was somewhat bewildered, then heard Pei Wenxuan ask, “Is it sweet?”

“Sweet…”

Li Rong didn’t understand, “Why are you giving me this?”

“It’s a sugar pill.” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “Didn’t you like eating sweets back then? If you thought it was sweet at eighteen, you’ll think it’s sweet at fifty too. Li Rong, don’t pay too much attention to age. As long as you don’t think you’re old yourself, you’ll always be a young lady.”

Li Rong said nothing. She and Pei Wenxuan squatted together. She held the sugar pill in her mouth, hugged her knees, pressed her face against her arms, and smiled, “What other nice things do you have to say? Tell me more?”

Hearing the smile in her words, Pei Wenxuan felt better himself. He stood up and returned to his bed, “I won’t say anymore. I’m not in the mood. If you want to hear more, come again tomorrow. If this young master is in a good mood, I’ll tell you a few more things.”

Having received these words from him, Li Rong spat at him, pulled down the curtain, and got up to return to her own bed.

Li Rong slept until dawn. The next day after waking, Jing Lan brought people over. They led servants to attend to Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan’s morning washing, then began cleaning the cells. Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan stood in the courtyard with nothing to do, so they simply started practicing tai chi.

After much hardship in youth, one loves health preservation in old age. Both had suffered from illness later in life and paid much attention to their bodies.

When Li Chuan arrived, he saw the two practicing tai chi. He stood behind Li Rong, who was practicing, and asked in confusion, “Sister, when did you start practicing tai chi?”

“I can also practice the Five Animal Frolics.” Li Rong answered incongruously. Li Chuan choked, then said, “No, I’m asking when you started doing these things that the Grand Empress Dowager likes to do.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan was unhappy. He had just persuaded Li Rong last night and feared Li Chuan’s words would make her think badly again. He immediately said, “It’s never too late to start maintaining one’s body. Your Highness, you should start practicing early too.”

Li Chuan felt these two were ill.

But he didn’t have time to bicker with them much and said directly, “Sister, the imperial decree came down today.”

“You’re going?” Li Rong knew Li Chuan was referring to the northwest matter. The Yang family had submitted their resignation, so Li Ming had to dispatch someone to the northwest to resolve the war. Sending Li Chuan out now was something they had planned long ago.

“I’m going as military supervisor.” Li Chuan responded. Li Rong nodded, “Is that person going?”

Li Rong was asking about Qin Lin. Li Chuan nodded, “He’s going. We’ll travel in two groups. I’ll give him an identity first and arrange things secretly.”

“Good.” Li Rong spoke calmly. “After you arrive, get the account books as quickly as possible.”

“I understand.” Li Chuan responded. Li Rong practiced tai chi as she said, “Go ahead. I’m here.”

Having received these words, Li Chuan looked at Li Rong, then at Pei Wenxuan. After a moment, he called out to Pei Wenxuan, “Hey.”

Pei Wenxuan pretended not to hear and continued practicing tai chi. Li Chuan knew he was ignoring him. Though somewhat angry, he couldn’t afford to quibble and simply said, “While I’m away these days, you must take good care of my elder sister.”

“I don’t need him to take care of me,” Li Rong immediately said. “Just hurry up and leave.”

“Won’t see you off.” Pei Wenxuan continued practicing tai chi as he responded. Li Chuan was choked by these two people. After holding it in for a long time, he finally said, “Fine, I’m leaving.”

Having said this, he flicked his sleeves and walked toward the corridor. After walking a few steps, he suddenly called out, “Elder Sister.”

Li Rong turned her head to see Li Chuan suddenly run back and embrace her.

His body trembled slightly as he said in a low voice, “Elder Sister, if I don’t come back…”

“Elder Sister is here.” Li Rong raised her hand and gently stroked Li Chuan’s back, speaking peacefully. “You’ll be safe. No matter when, Elder Sister will protect you.”

Hearing Li Rong’s words, Li Chuan felt an inexplicable peace within. He suddenly gained much courage, feeling as if someone had spread their wings on this journey, silently protecting him from behind.

“Elder Sister,” Li Chuan said in a low voice, “I’ll come back safely. Don’t be afraid either.”

“When I return, I’ll protect you.”

Hearing Li Chuan’s words, Li Rong couldn’t help but smile.

Li Chuan released her. This time he didn’t look back and jogged out.

Pei Wenxuan stood behind Li Rong. He looked at Li Rong’s expression—that peaceful, composed expression with a hint of hope was something he hadn’t seen in the decades that followed.

“Li Rong,” he couldn’t help but call her. Li Rong turned around, somewhat puzzled, “Mm?”

Pei Wenxuan quietly watched Li Rong turn to look at him. He saw the young woman’s clear water-like eyes reflecting his own image, saw late-spring peach blossoms falling gracefully from who knows where, saw Li Rong at this moment.

He suddenly felt an inexplicable impulse.

He hoped Li Rong could live her whole life with such eyes, such a smile.

If Li Rong could live like this for a lifetime…

Being a bit wronged and treating her better—it wasn’t impossible.

“Pei Wenxuan?” Seeing Pei Wenxuan not speaking, Li Rong couldn’t help but call him. Pei Wenxuan came back to his senses. He smiled gently and raised his hand to brush over the top of her head.

“A flower fell on your head.”

He spoke softly, “I’m brushing it away for you.”

Willing to brush away dust and snow for you, willing to toil half a lifetime for you.

Just at that moment, Pei Wenxuan himself didn’t know that there were so many things he could do for Li Rong.