The two of them slept for barely two hours before knocking came from outside. Jing Lan stood outside and said respectfully, “Your Highness, Prince Consort, His Majesty is holding a banquet at noon today in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. You must rise.”
Hearing this, Li Rong used willpower to force her eyes open and pushed Pei Wenxuan: “Get up, hurry and get up.”
Pei Wenxuan raised his hand to cover his eyes, his brow furrowing in pain. After a moment, he propped himself up and shook his head: “Let’s get up.”
The two encouraged each other to climb out of bed. Just as they were about to leave, when Li Rong moved, she brought down the white silk that had been on the bed. Both stared at this white silk together. Li Rong looked up at Pei Wenxuan: “You handle it.”
Pei Wenxuan helplessly went forward, picked up the white silk, cut his finger to stain it with blood, then tossed it back on the bed and called out, “Come in to attend to us.”
Jing Lan pushed open the door. A line of maids came forward to attend to them as they washed and dressed. The two changed into court attire, then got into a carriage to head to the palace.
On the road, both were terribly sleepy, each leaning against one side of the carriage for a brief nap. When they slept their way to the palace, they felt the carriage stop and only then groggily came back to themselves.
The two recovered for a moment in the carriage before finally exiting one after the other. At this time, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was already full of people.
Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan greeted officials all along the way as they walked toward the rear of the great hall. At the back of the hall was a small room where the Emperor and Empress led members of the imperial family in a separate banquet. Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan entered the small hall, first bowing to the Emperor and Empress. The Emperor and Empress bestowed gifts upon them, then let them rise. The husband and wife together took seats beside the Emperor.
This palace banquet was held with great liveliness. Everyone from the rear palace was present. No one spoke, but all secretly observed Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan’s expression remained unchanged. Pretending not to notice the gazes from those beside him, he exchanged sporadic conversation with Li Ming.
Li Ming was quite familiar with Pei Wenxuan. Usually they discussed official business, but at this moment, he rarely brought up family matters, asking about small daily affairs. But that Li Ming would take such care with Pei Wenxuan carried another meaning in everyone’s eyes.
After Li Ming exchanged a few words with Pei Wenxuan, he also asked Li Rong about the situation at the Princess Manor. Li Rong answered accordingly. They hadn’t chatted long before it was time to begin the feast.
Dishes were brought out one after another. After Li Rong had disciplined the other princesses into obedience, they now didn’t dare cause trouble. The meal was quite harmonious. After they had nearly finished eating, everyone sat chatting idly. The consorts questioned Pei Wenxuan one by one. Pei Wenxuan answered flawlessly. After finishing, Consort Rou laughed softly: “I never expected that in the blink of an eye, the children would grow so big. Now that Princess Pingle’s marriage is settled, Elder Sister,” Consort Rou turned her head to look at the Empress and said gently, “I wonder if Elder Sister has made preparations for the Crown Prince’s marriage?”
Li Chuan was two years younger than Li Rong. Now that Li Rong had married, everyone’s eyes fell on Li Chuan.
The Empress smiled and said calmly: “Chuan’er is still young. We’re not considering these matters for now.”
“The Crown Prince isn’t young anymore.” Consort Mei chimed in from the side. “At this age, His Majesty had already arranged a marriage with Your Ladyship, hadn’t he?”
Hearing this, the Empress glanced imperceptibly at Consort Mei with a hint of warning: “You’re quite concerned about the Crown Prince.”
“The Crown Prince’s matters,” Consort Rou laughed from the side, “who wouldn’t be concerned? But Elder Sister is right—the Crown Prince still has four years before his coming-of-age ceremony, so there really isn’t any rush. But these four years can’t be idle either. We should slowly select and see which family is suitable.”
“If you say this,” the Emperor heard Consort Rou’s enthusiasm and turned his gaze to her, his face showing neither pleasure nor anger, “do you have some ideas?”
“The Crown Prince’s matters,” Consort Rou seemed somewhat embarrassed, “are all decided by Elder Sister. What ideas could this consort have?”
“Although the Crown Prince is the Empress’s son, you’ve also watched him grow up,” the Emperor picked up his tea and raised his hand. “Speak freely.”
“This consort thinks thus,” Consort Rou tucked her hair behind her ear and looked up at Li Chuan. “The Crown Prince has noble status. Speaking of status, which woman in this world could truly match him? Status need not be the first consideration in marriage. Character is most important. This consort has a young niece in her family with a gentle and virtuous temperament, similar in age to His Highness. This consort presumes to recommend her, feeling this niece is very suitable.”
As these words came out, Li Chuan’s cold gaze swept over. The Empress’s expression also turned very ugly. The Emperor looked up at Li Chuan. Seeing his unpleasant expression, he frowned and turned to look at Li Rong. Seeing Li Rong lowering her head to blow on tea leaves in her cup, looking perfectly content, he couldn’t help feeling somewhat strange and asked, “Pingle, aren’t you concerned about your brother’s marriage?”
Having been called out by name, Li Rong raised her head with a bewildered expression: “What’s there to ask about?”
“Such an important matter,” Li Ming was amused by Li Rong, “and you don’t care?”
“Father Emperor,” Li Rong put down her teacup, her face entirely serious. “The palace has its rules. Even if Consort Rou doesn’t know them, how could I not? Although Chuan’er is my brother, he’s also the nation’s heir apparent. His marriage—aside from Father Emperor and Mother Empress who can decide, who would dare say more? Moreover, Father Emperor is so wise, you’ll surely find an excellent match for Chuan’er. I won’t fret over such idle concerns.”
With that, she looked up at Consort Rou and smiled: “Consort Rou is the same—why meddle so much?”
Receiving these words, Consort Rou’s expression remained unchanged, but Huale jumped in: “Elder Sister’s words are wrong. We’re all one family. My mother consort is thinking of the Crown Prince’s welfare. Your words truly hurt people’s feelings.”
“Alas, must little sister make me speak so plainly?” Li Rong sighed. She turned her head to look at Li Ming: “Father Emperor, your daughter doesn’t wish to hurt Consort Rou’s feelings. After all, in my heart, Consort Rou also watched me grow up. In an ordinary commoner family, she would be like a wet nurse or concubine mother. But there are some things I feel shouldn’t be said. I don’t know if Father Emperor thinks I should speak or not?”
Using terms like wet nurse and concubine mother, Huale’s expression immediately changed. Li Ming looked at both sides, then said, “Speak.”
“Chuan’er is the heir to the state. His selection of a wife is extremely important. Family background, appearance, and character—none can be lacking. Among the nobility, there are many women. Why must we choose a girl from a small, insignificant family? If we truly welcomed Consort Rou’s niece as Crown Princess, what would the court ministers think? What would the common people think? If Chuan’er is to marry a girl, she should at least be like me,” Li Rong smiled as she took Pei Wenxuan’s hand. “At minimum, she should be the legitimate daughter of a great aristocratic family, shouldn’t she?”
Li Rong spoke with innocent sincerity. Li Ming’s expression had been poor listening to the earlier part, but when Li Rong took Pei Wenxuan’s hand, Li Ming immediately felt reassured, thinking this daughter simply looked down on Consort Rou’s origins in her bones.
Though this displeased him somewhat, it was understandable. After all, Consort Rou’s birth truly wasn’t presentable. Given Li Rong’s temperament, finding it disagreeable was common. That Consort Rou would try to send her niece to become Crown Princess—Li Ming also felt was inappropriate.
Li Ming nodded and steered the topic away: “Chuan’er is still young. We’ll discuss this matter later. If there are suitable girls, pay some attention and inform the Empress.”
With these words, the Empress’s expression improved. The group chatted idly for a few more sentences. A eunuch returned from outside and whispered in Li Ming’s ear. Li Ming acknowledged, then raised his head to tell everyone, “It’s about time. I still have matters to attend to. Let’s disperse.”
After Li Ming spoke, everyone knelt to see him off. Li Ming went to the outer hall, exchanged a few more words with the assembled ministers, then departed first.
After Li Ming left, the Empress announced the banquet’s end. Li Rong went forward to bid farewell to the Empress and Li Chuan, then left together with Pei Wenxuan.
The two greeted people all along the way as they withdrew. Getting into the carriage, the moment they entered, Li Rong breathed a sigh of relief. Her whole body sat down beside the table and went limp. Pei Wenxuan sat across from her, also quite exhausted. While pouring himself tea, he said, “Eating a meal with your family is too tiring. One meal feels like attending morning court, and it’s all women’s topics. I’m suffering to death.”
“You think I’m not suffering?”
Li Rong took the tea he poured, growing somewhat angry: “What is Consort Rou! Just because of her niece, she wants to cling to Chuan’er? She should look at herself—a toad wanting to eat swan meat. Today she got off easy!”
“What else did you want to do?” Pei Wenxuan sipped his tea with a completely serious expression. “Poison her to death?”
“I’d like to,” Li Rong turned to look at him. “Can you? If you can, I’ll pay a thousand gold for her head.”
“An Imperial Consort’s head is only worth a thousand gold?” Pei Wenxuan laughed. Li Rong smiled mockingly and turned away: “A thousand gold is overvaluing her.”
“However,” Pei Wenxuan mused seriously, “His Highness’s marriage truly should be considered.”
In the previous life, Li Chuan’s marriage would be in the coming spring—meaning the candidates would be decided around this time. The Empress actually already had a Crown Princess candidate in mind. What she was looking for were merely secondary consorts.
Li Rong pondered as she heard Pei Wenxuan say, “I don’t know what the Princess plans for the Crown Prince’s marriage. Will it be like the previous life, using marriage to connect with aristocratic families to consolidate the Crown Prince’s position, or do you have other plans?”
“What do you think?” Li Rong picked up her teacup and took a light sip.
Actually, both understood they weren’t discussing Li Chuan’s marriage, but rather how Li Chuan’s position as Crown Prince should be fought for.
“In the previous life, the Empress found one primary consort and four secondary consorts for the Crown Prince, which indeed consolidated the relationship between the Crown Prince and aristocratic families. If Your Highness feels that in this life the Crown Prince should still walk the old path—borrowing the power of aristocratic families and supplementing with military authority from the Northwest to directly confront His Majesty—this is indeed one road.”
Li Rong said nothing. She lightly tapped her folded golden fan against her palm: “And the other?”
“Does Your Highness remember how the Crown Prince was deposed in the previous life?”
Pei Wenxuan suddenly asked this question. Li Rong knew he wouldn’t ask questions randomly, so she thought carefully and answered, “Chuan’er held no military power and relied entirely on aristocratic families. Father Emperor used Prince Su as a puppet, secretly supporting ordinary scholar-gentry families. Any scholar-gentry family that pledged allegiance to Prince Su received promotion, using them to counter Chuan’er.”
Li Ming was an extremely patient emperor.
His encirclement of Li Chuan was nearly all-encompassing. He supported ordinary scholar-gentry families, secretly backing these second-tier clans in their confrontations with first-tier aristocrats, suppressing Li Chuan’s supporters in court.
He plotted to seize the Yang family’s military authority and give it to Prince Su’s maternal uncle, granting Prince Su military power to counter Li Chuan.
At the same time, he sowed discord among several consorts in Li Chuan’s harem. Using one secondary consort’s death, he deepened the rift between Li Chuan and his in-law aristocratic families.
From inner palace to court, there was barely a peaceful place anywhere.
“The Crown Prince was bound to these great noble families, but His Highness’s thoughts were on the realm, not on any one family. In the later period, the Crown Prince and these families had superficial harmony but inner discord, with disputes between both sides. Then Prime Minister Shangguan passed away, the Shangguan clan declined accordingly, and the Crown Prince was forced to connect more closely with other aristocratic families. But those families didn’t absolutely obey His Highness. So after Qin Lin won victories on the border and His Majesty’s suspicion of the Crown Prince reached its peak, the Taizhou Case occurred.”
Pei Wenxuan’s voice was calm as he reminded Li Rong of the previous life’s events.
The Taizhou Case was the nominal reason Li Chuan was deposed. One of the Crown Prince’s secondary consorts, Lady Nie—her family, using the Crown Prince’s name, seized nearly a thousand acres of good farmland in their Taizhou hometown, brutally killing nearly a hundred people. One victim managed to escape and came to Hua Jing to appeal for justice.
This case shocked all of Great Xia. Everyone throughout the realm was outraged. Before this, illegal acts by nobles connected to Li Chuan had already occurred more than once. Adding this case, popular grievance boiled throughout Great Xia. Scholars everywhere wrote articles denouncing Li Chuan. Hundreds of officials knelt at the Imperial Study’s entrance, remonstrating unto death to depose the Crown Prince. Li Chuan held no military power and had lost the people’s hearts—his deposition was logical.
After Li Chuan was imprisoned, Li Ming, to display fairness, announced a thorough investigation of the Shangguan clan. Thus Li Rong was imprisoned, Qin Zhenzhen went far to the Northwest, and Pei Wenxuan traveled in all directions to persuade.
Finally, Pei Wenxuan convinced those great nobles. Fearing the commoner-favoring Prince Su’s ascension, and offered great benefits, they finally united the great families and, together with Qin Lin, attacked Hua Jing and supported Li Chuan’s ascension.
Defeated by aristocratic families, succeeded by aristocratic families—Li Chuan clearly understood what kind of existence these families were. They were like blood-sucking beasts coiled around this nation. The emperor was a puppet in their hands. They could enthrone him and they could depose him.
Thus, for his entire life, Li Chuan walked Li Ming’s old path, spending his life in opposition to aristocratic families.
“So in this life, why shouldn’t the Crown Prince distance himself from aristocratic families?”
“Distance himself from aristocratic families?” Li Rong frowned. “Then who will help Chuan’er in the future?”
“Aren’t you and I here?” Pei Wenxuan turned to look at Li Rong. “Now we’ve already sent Qin Lin to the Northwest. He and Cui Qingyuan will join forces. We’ll secretly assist them to help them control the military authority in the Northwest.”
“And then?”
“I’ll pledge allegiance to His Majesty, cooperating with His Majesty to become the ordinary scholar-gentry family he wants to cultivate to counter the Shangguan clan. As for the Crown Prince—he doesn’t need to do anything. He only needs to be a good Crown Prince, not form factions, have no blemishes whatsoever, and win the people’s hearts. This will be enough.”
“But if Father Emperor intends to harm him, won’t he be isolated and helpless?”
Li Rong was somewhat worried. Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but laugh.
“Does Your Highness still not understand why His Majesty wanted to depose the Crown Prince?”
At Pei Wenxuan’s question, Li Rong didn’t immediately respond. She looked at Pei Wenxuan. After pondering a moment, she only said, “What do you think?”
“His Majesty didn’t want to depose the Crown Prince—he wanted to depose the Crown Prince in the hands of the nobility.”
Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Li Rong toyed with the fan in her hand and lowered her eyes.
Many things unclear in youth became somewhat understandable in old age.
Li Ming back then was so persistent in wanting to depose the Crown Prince—not only because he didn’t want the Shangguan clan to grow too powerful, but perhaps he also clearly realized the pressure these aristocratic noble families brought to his regime.
Li Ming was an emperor even more warlike than Li Chuan. Unifying the northern borders was his lifelong aspiration. And if he attempted foreign wars, these nobility who yearned for peace, these family powers entrenched above and below, would certainly be the core problem most difficult to resolve on the battlefield.
In his youth, Li Chuan advocated benevolent governance and came from the Shangguan family. His so-called benevolence was the kind of monarch aristocratic families loved most. The more closely Li Chuan connected with aristocratic families, the more Li Ming would think he was a puppet cultivated by these families, an imperial heir ruined by their upbringing.
She roughly understood Pei Wenxuan’s thinking and looked up: “So you hope Chuan’er can withdraw from the battle between aristocratic families and the Emperor, not become the target of their confrontation.”
“Correct,” Pei Wenxuan affirmed. “Then I’ll be His Majesty’s blade. I’ll help His Majesty dig out those aristocratic families’ festering sores, making His Majesty focus on the families rather than the Crown Prince. Then the Crown Prince will be temporarily safe.”
“But Chuan’er can’t be completely without people.” Li Rong still wasn’t reassured. “He must have people working for him.”
“Isn’t there the Imperial Examination system?”
Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong. Li Rong was slightly startled.
If not for living a second life, when Pei Wenxuan spoke these three words, Li Rong would probably have laughed.
Since the Imperial Examination system was implemented, not to mention that the vast majority selected were aristocratic offspring, even the occasional true poor scholar who entered could only serve as minor officials in marginal positions, never entering the field of view of power struggles.
However, Li Rong had seen how Pei Wenxuan utilized this system and seen the effect when the new force produced under this system was used by the monarch. So after pondering a moment, she summarized: “Chuan’er remains virtuous, temporarily avoiding the spotlight, secretly promoting poor scholars to work for him, winning the hearts of the realm. You become the leader of ordinary nobility, struggling against first-tier aristocratic families, weakening Father Emperor’s and existing aristocrats’ power. I’ll connect with the Shangguan clan and other great families to balance relations between both sides. If one day Father Emperor turns back wanting to hold the Crown Prince accountable…”
“More than half the court, from first-tier aristocratic families to poor scholars from the Imperial Examinations, will be Your Highness’s people.”
Pei Wenxuan cut off Li Rong’s words and said seriously, “Not only that, but the Crown Prince won’t have overly intense struggles with aristocratic families in the future. The scene of the Crown Prince’s iron-blooded purge of aristocratic families in the early period of the previous life won’t appear again either.”
Li Rong fell silent. Seeing her not speak, Pei Wenxuan made a slight guess and knew what she was hesitating about.
“You still dislike people of humble origins.”
“People born from lowly beginnings,” Li Rong looked up at him, her gaze sharp, “mostly have bloodthirsty greed for power and position. Give them power, and they can’t control their desire for money. Even families of bell and cauldron are like this—what more of them?”
“All people are thus,” Pei Wenxuan said calmly. “What distinction of noble and base?”
“How many years have you told me this?” Li Rong smiled mockingly. “How many of your people were investigated for corruption and bribery—need I say?”
“And how many of your people were incompetent vegetarians who deceived superiors and concealed from subordinates, leading to failures—need I say?”
Pei Wenxuan reflexively responded. Li Rong looked at him coldly. Receiving that sweeping gaze, Pei Wenxuan paused, then somehow suddenly felt somewhat lacking in confidence.
He coughed lightly and turned away, saying slowly, “I’m just making a suggestion. The result is decided by Your Highness anyway. If you choose the first path, we’ll walk the old road as before. In the future, if the Crown Prince ends up the same as in the previous life, that’s also normal.”
Li Rong said nothing, tapping her palm. Pei Wenxuan glanced at her sideways and continued, “Or we could try the second path. There’s no risk, and once successful, after the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, there won’t be any obstacles. He won’t need to struggle with aristocratic families. You won’t need to painstakingly maintain relations between the Shangguan clan and His Majesty. His Majesty will be happier, and your relationship with His Majesty could improve a bit…”
Hearing Pei Wenxuan desperately listing the future benefits, Li Rong couldn’t help lowering her head and laughing. Seeing her laugh, Pei Wenxuan leaned closer: “What does Your Highness think?”
“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong turned to look at him. “Not sending you to the palace to serve—what a waste of your glib tongue.”
“Not a waste,” Pei Wenxuan smiled at Li Rong. “Serving Your Highness is the same.”
“Follow what you said for now.” Li Rong said lightly. “But if so, Chuan’er absolutely cannot marry now. Even if he marries, he absolutely cannot marry into nobility. The other secondary consorts are one thing, but the Shangguan clan…”
Pei Wenxuan knew Li Rong and Shangguan Ya had extraordinary friendship. He raised an eyebrow: “How do you plan to handle it?”
“I need to go see Shangguan Ya.” Li Rong looked up, snapping her fan closed against her palm, saying calmly, “This matter must be raised by the Shangguan clan.”
Otherwise, if the Shangguan family expended such great effort to help and Li Chuan went back on his word, in the future no one would dare help Li Chuan again.
Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan raised his hands in applause: “Excellent strategy.”
Li Rong glanced at him lightly: “Exaggerating.”
“Then it’s settled like this,” Pei Wenxuan resumed his usual expression and picked up his tea, saying composedly, “I’m responsible for helping His Majesty on his side. You’re responsible for connecting with the Shangguan clan, Su clan, and other noble families, not letting them feel the Crown Prince has completely severed ties with them.”
With that, Pei Wenxuan thought of something and looked up at Li Rong, concealing that faint, unclear sourness in his heart: “Your Highness can also take this opportunity to cultivate some feelings with Lord Su.”
“Then I must also entreat you,” Li Rong’s expression was bland, “to connect well with Second Miss Qin and cultivate more feelings. She and Chuan’er share an ill-fated connection—better they don’t meet.”
Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan got a headache. For a moment, he regretted his loose tongue and hurriedly changed the topic: “Later at the Pei Manor, when you meet my family, if there’s anything that displeases you, feel free to let loose.”
Hearing Pei Wenxuan mention his family, Li Rong had long been prepared and nodded.
The two fell silent for a time, sitting quietly in the carriage. After sitting a while, Li Rong somehow suddenly thought of Pei Wenxuan’s words from last night.
She didn’t dare discuss that topic deeply with Pei Wenxuan. When Pei Wenxuan suddenly brought it up, she could only playfully divert as if unconcerned.
But Pei Wenxuan was too persistent, forcing her to think, to look.
She used her golden fan to lift the curtain and watched birds fly past outside.
“Pei Wenxuan.”
She suddenly called Pei Wenxuan’s name. Pei Wenxuan looked up blankly to see Li Rong turn her head and look at him quietly: “I’ll trust you once this lifetime. If you lead me down the wrong path, I’ll have you beheaded and dragged out to feed the dogs.”
Pei Wenxuan was somewhat bewildered for a moment. He didn’t know what Li Rong was trusting him about.
After thinking a moment, he guessed it should be about the succession struggle plan he’d laid out for Li Rong. So he smiled confidently, quite dashingly placing his hand forward and bowing his head slightly: “Your Highness can rest assured. I’ve thought through everything. Absolutely no problems.”
Seeing Pei Wenxuan’s supremely confident smile, Li Rong momentarily didn’t know whether he had truly thought it through or misunderstood…
But Li Rong didn’t want to quibble with him.
Pei Wenxuan—she was already accustomed to him being unexpectedly perceptive about certain details.
Author’s Note:
[Mini Theater]
Li Rong (thinking): “You said I should strive bravely for love. This life I’ve believed your nonsense. I’ll see what foolish moves you make—I’ll try it. But if you lead me down the wrong path, I’ll drag you out, behead you, and feed you to dogs.”
Li Rong (outwardly): “Pei Wenxuan, I’ll trust you once this lifetime.”
Pei Wenxuan (thinking): Trust me? Trust what? Trust my succession struggle plan? That’s absolutely foolproof!
Pei Wenxuan (outwardly): “Your Highness, I’ve thought through everything. Absolutely no problems.”
Later…
Li Rong: “Didn’t you say the decision to let me bravely love had absolutely no problems?”
Pei Wenxuan about to be dragged out to feed dogs: “Your Highness, the plan has no problems—only the target had a slight issue! But it was corrected in time!”
Li Rong: “No need to say more. Give him a grand burial.”