If she didn’t choose Pei Wenxuan, what other options did she have?
A fool, a madman, a wastrel—in comparison, even though Pei Wenxuan had fed her a bowl of Xiang Meiren poison, she actually felt… it wasn’t that hard to accept?
After all, Pei Wenxuan had one fatal advantage—he was good-looking.
A good-looking person, whether male or female, was pleasing to the eye. Whatever they did, she could forgive much.
However, living life with Pei Wenxuan in the previous lifetime couldn’t be said to have been particularly vexing, but there certainly hadn’t been much happiness either. Too much scheming and plotting—just thinking about it felt exhausting. To live a second life and still follow the same path as the previous one seemed rather pointless.
She had never gotten to know the other three men. Why not this time… see them with her own eyes?
While pondering this, Li Rong entered Taiqing Hall. By this time, Li Ming was already seated, having changed into casual robes. He was chatting with the head eunuch De Song while wiping his freshly washed hands with a cloth.
Li Ming was not yet forty years old this year, in the prime of life. He looked quite spirited, possessing a heroic spirit different from the elderly and a composure that youth lacked—truly a man at the most glorious time of his life.
He was naturally handsome, and to appear more dignified, he had deliberately grown a beard, which gave him a stable, mature air unique to elders. As Li Rong entered the room, she glanced at Li Ming. Her face showed nothing, but inwardly she felt somewhat dazed.
After all, she hadn’t seen Li Ming in nearly thirty years. Suddenly seeing her birth father, regardless of what had happened in the previous life, she couldn’t help but feel emotional.
She recalled her youthful mannerisms and respectfully performed her courtesy. Li Ming smiled and had her sit beside him. Li Rong picked up her chopsticks, blinked her eyes, and said in a coquettish tone, “Why did Father Emperor have the inclination today to invite your daughter to dine?”
Hearing Li Rong’s delicate, girlish tone, even when discussing serious matters, Li Ming softened his voice. Watching the eunuchs test the food for poison first, he said leisurely, “Today in court, your marriage was brought up. I thought you’re not young anymore, so I called you over to discuss it.”
“Marriage?”
Li Rong feigned surprise, then lowered her head as if embarrassed. “Shouldn’t this matter be discussed with Mother Empress?”
“You are my daughter,” Li Ming said with dissatisfaction in his words, though his eyes showed appreciation for his daughter’s obedience. “Your marriage, of course you should decide yourself. You should pick someone you like.”
With that, Li Ming turned and instructed De Song, “Bring up the portraits.”
De Song responded and had someone bring up four portraits, then opened them to reveal the faces of four men.
Li Rong instinctively looked over, then felt it wasn’t proper. She was now supposed to be an eighteen-year-old young lady—upon seeing portraits of men, she should be modest. So she made an effort to appear shy, turned her head away, and coughed lightly. “These four are…”
“They are the husbands Father Emperor has selected for you. Take a look and choose one.”
“Yes.”
Li Rong responded softly, then turned back to look at the four paintings.
She actually didn’t remember very clearly what the candidates from back then looked like. After all, so many years had passed—she only remembered the stunningly beautiful Pei Wenxuan. Back then, she had been too embarrassed to look carefully, just hastily glanced and immediately settled on Pei Wenxuan, and that was that. Now she had nothing to be embarrassed about. Staring at these four portraits, she examined them seriously.
It must be said, her father Emperor hadn’t treated her too badly. Although these four men assembled the four non-options of fool, madman, wastrel, and fallen noble young master, they uniformly possessed good faces. Perhaps Li Ming had considered the appearance issue from the start, afraid she would make a fuss if they were too ugly. So although these four young masters had some slight differences in appearance, each had their own merits.
Marquis Ningguo’s heir Lu Yusheng appeared gentle and refined, looking clean and neat, like the boy next door, with an air of innocent cheerfulness.
General Yang’s second son Yang Quanxing had starry eyes and sword-like brows, naturally carrying the weathering of battlefields. Setting aside that he was a bloodthirsty madman, in terms of appearance alone, he could bear the description of handsome.
The new top scholar Cui Yulang had a face full of peach blossom smiles with spring breezes—clearly the appearance of a romantic gentleman, the kind that attracted women’s affection.
As for Pei Wenxuan, the portrait actually captured barely one-tenth of his elegance. Phoenix eyes and thin lips, as handsome and refined as an immortal. Just in the portrait alone, those eyes were already supremely beautiful. In person, he was even more soul-stirring, possessing the bearing of a banished immortal that ordinary people could never achieve.
Of course, it would be best if he were a true immortal. Unfortunately, in his bones he was a blind jackal, wolf, tiger, or leopard—ultimately lacking somewhat in artistic conception.
She lazily scanned the four men, propping up her chin thoughtfully. Seeing her look for a while, Li Ming stirred his tea bowl and couldn’t help but laugh. “Why have you been looking so long? Is there no one you fancy? I’ve already vetted the family backgrounds of these young masters for you. You only need to choose one you feel drawn to. Other matters, I will help you arrange.”
“It’s not that there’s no one I fancy,” Li Rong lazily straightened up, seeming somewhat worried. “Rong’er just feels that they’re all good-looking. I want them all.”
Hearing this, Li Ming, who was drinking tea, choked on a mouthful of water. Li Rong hurriedly stood to help Li Ming catch his breath, saying frantically, “Your daughter knows her error! Your daughter was only joking!”
Li Ming slowly recovered. Hearing Li Rong say it was a joke, he calmed down somewhat. He shook his head helplessly and said with a laugh, “You’re truly bored, frightening Father Emperor like this.”
“It’s mainly that I truly don’t know how to choose. They all look good,” Li Rong said, then after thinking, she moved closer and rubbed Li Ming’s shoulders, discussing tentatively, “Father Emperor, why don’t you give me a chance to meet them?”
Hearing her words, Li Ming’s gaze became rather profound. Li Rong’s face pretended to know nothing, as if she were truly innocent and naive, speaking casually.
Saying this was somewhat risky.
Her marriage was, for Li Ming, a test—testing whether this daughter he had personally cultivated had become what he wanted her to be.
Back then, she had no doubts whatsoever. Facing this father without the slightest suspicion, Li Ming had been completely reassured, or perhaps, his heart had softened.
Between members of the imperial family, it wasn’t merely about strategic maneuvering—there was also emotional confrontation. After all, people weren’t plants or trees. Beneath power and influence ultimately lay those few pitiful bits of genuine feeling. This was why her mother Empress, while cultivating her to be clever and adaptable in all situations, never truly discussed too much about the court struggles between Emperor and Empress.
As long as she remained forever that innocent and cheerful princess, her father would retain some measure of affection for her. Just like when she married Pei Wenxuan—given Pei Wenxuan’s conditions at that time, marrying a princess was naturally inappropriate, and there was no prospect for the future to speak of. But for a stable, peaceful life, it was still fairly secure.
Now that she hadn’t chosen directly and had raised an objection, Li Ming would naturally be suspicious. But in this lifetime, to directly marry Pei Wenxuan—her heart still held a few regrets.
After all, these were all such handsome young masters. To get to know them better—what if there was a miracle?
Rumors were just rumors after all. What if there were inaccuracies?
Li Rong pondered Li Ming’s thoughts, raising her hand to rub his shoulders, mumbling, “Your daughter has already waited so many years. The most important thing about marriage isn’t appearance—it’s mainly character. Your daughter thinks, why not disguise your daughter as an ordinary young lady, have someone introduce us, let me meet them, chat with them, cultivate feelings first. It would be best if they could take your daughter out of the palace to enjoy herself. Your daughter has heard that Linglong Pavilion’s roast duck is the most delicious, Huguo Temple’s peach blossoms are beautiful, and also…”
“Stop, stop,” Li Ming was amused by her words and laughed. “Are you really here to look at husbands, or do you just want to leave the palace to play?”
“I’m of course seriously looking at husbands,” Li Rong blinked, reached over to embrace Li Ming, and acted coquettishly, shaking him. “Father Emperor, Father Emperor, please, I’m your most beloved little daughter. You love me the most.”
“Alright, alright, alright.”
Li Ming was coaxed and swayed by Li Rong until he helplessly laughed. “Then let’s meet them. It’s almost time for the Spring Banquet. Didn’t I give you an estate in the suburbs of the capital?”
Li Rong blinked. After a moment, she pretended to just realize, saying in surprise, “Father Emperor wants me to host a Spring Banquet?”
“Your aunt holds banquets in the imperial gardens every year. You’re also a princess—why shouldn’t you host a Spring Banquet?” Li Ming smiled. Then he patted Li Rong’s hand. “Father Emperor will assign some people to help you. When you hold the Spring Banquet, invite all four of them. In private, you can meet them from behind a screen, speak with them. However,” Li Ming became serious, earnestly instructing, “you must be reserved. Don’t lose face for the imperial family.”
“Understood!” Li Rong became delighted. She hurriedly said, “I just knew Father Emperor treats me the best! Your daughter loves Father Emperor the most!”
“Then what about your mother Empress?” Li Ming said with a half-smile. Li Rong said seriously, “When I see Mother Empress, naturally I must say she’s good. But Mother Empress is too fierce—how can she compare to how well Father Emperor treats me?”
Hearing such words, Li Ming laughed heartily, lightly tapped her nose, and said with a laugh, “Little flatterer.”
The meal was eaten in harmony and joy. When leaving, Li Rong even had someone take away the four portraits, swaggering out with the appearance of a proud little peacock.
As soon as she entered the sedan chair, Li Rong immediately lost her smile, her entire body collapsing.
After all, she wasn’t truly eighteen years old. Pretending to be charming and pleasing required such care—she was afraid of inadvertently overdoing it and letting Li Ming notice.
Between Li Ming and herself, it wasn’t truly only imperial ruthlessness. She was his first child, and a daughter at that. His affection for her wasn’t false—it was just that power and influence ran through everything. Her mother Empress’s maternal family was too powerful, and as Li Ming’s age advanced, his desire for control over power grew stronger.
Add to that her younger brother, Crown Prince Li Chuan, who was already sixteen years old now.
Li Ming was a severe and warlike monarch, while Li Chuan advocated governing with benevolence and virtue. He had very strong support in court. A son who had prestige, capability, opposed political views, and was even approaching his coming-of-age; maternal relatives who controlled military power; a suspicious and controlling monarch—these things destroyed most of the trust in this palace.
And she was caught in the middle. It was just that in the past she had been unaware. Not until she awakened at eighteen years old—thus eighteen became the most difficult year of her life.
However, this difficulty was relative to the Li Rong of that time. The current Li Rong could handle it with ease. She recovered after a moment and called softly to the outside, “Jing Lan.”
Jing Lan approached the sedan chair and responded quietly, “Princess.”
“In a while, His Majesty will send over people to oversee the Spring Banquet. You receive them.”
Jing Lan was stunned, then reacted and said softly, “Understood.”
The so-called sending people to help was nothing more than sending people to monitor. If Li Ming monitored her, she would have Jing Lan monitor those people.
She knew Jing Lan was clever—the words didn’t need to be too explicit.
After a while, Li Rong thought for a moment, used her golden fan to lift the curtain, and beckoned to Jing Lan.
Jing Lan brought her head close, puzzled. “Princess?”
“Find some people,” Li Rong lowered her voice and continued, “to watch each of these men’s households separately. Report all their activities to me in detail.” With that, Li Rong paused, then once again instructed, “Especially Pei Wenxuan.”