Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan leaning sideways against the pillar before her, seeing his half-smiling expression, and was somewhat stunned for a moment. Seeing her not speaking, Pei Wenxuan raised his eyebrows: “Well, why aren’t you talking now?”

“It’s nothing,” Li Rong snapped back to her senses and led Pei Wenxuan outside, laughing as she said, “Let’s go.”

Pei Wenxuan followed behind Li Rong. Only then did Li Rong remember: “Why were you in such a hurry just now?”

“Hmm?” Pei Wenxuan was somewhat puzzled. Li Rong reminded him: “Why did you start hitting people?”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. After a moment, he smiled: “I was impulsive.”

“Oh?” Li Rong turned her head with a smile. “What did you have to be impulsive about?”

“I thought you were going to jump off a building.”

Pei Wenxuan seemed rather embarrassed: “I got anxious.”

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong showed an astonished expression, “I thought you wanted to kill me off early to inherit my fortune.”

“If I killed you,” Pei Wenxuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “I couldn’t inherit your fortune anyway. Besides, if you died in that kind of place, I’d probably have to be buried with you.”

“I love hearing you say that.”

Li Rong nodded. Pei Wenxuan was somewhat puzzled: “What did I say?”

“Buried with me.” Li Rong raised her eyes to look at him, her expression lively. “If I died without taking Lord Pei along, I’d feel somewhat lonely.”

“You really do love me.” Pei Wenxuan was helpless and sighed. “You think of me for all the bad things.”

“That’s right,” Li Rong became cheerful. “I might not always think of you for good things, but for bad things, it’s never wrong.”

Pei Wenxuan rolled his eyes at her, too lazy to bother with her. He quickened his pace and walked outside.

As he walked out the door, he raised his head and glanced at the gardenia flowers blooming beautifully in the distance.

Actually, he also wanted to know why he had been in such a hurry just then.

The two boarded their carriage and returned to the Princess’s Mansion together. As soon as Li Rong arrived at the mansion, she gave instructions for people to keep watch on Consort Rou and Shangguan Ya.

Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but feel somewhat strange: “Watching Shangguan Ya is one thing, but why are you watching Consort Rou?”

“Do you know,” Li Rong leaned back in her chair and picked up her tea cup, “when women in the inner palace do things, they always have to rely on another woman.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan thought seriously for a moment and nodded: “That’s indeed true.”

After the two returned and rested for a while, Pei Wenxuan went to check on the current expansion progress of his people. He had found all his former subordinates, began making connections with beggars in the city, planted spies in various mansions, and spent money like water every day. Having spent the money, he naturally wanted to see results, so he had to pay attention to the specific situation every day.

With Pei Wenxuan spending money, Li Rong had to examine the accounts. While Pei Wenxuan was busy with his own matters, Li Rong began checking her income and expenditures for the past month, then looked through the information brought by various spies one by one before burning it.

One person was busy building their own secret network, while the other was busy going out to visit friends from all circles, delivering money and gifts to their doorsteps. The nine-day marriage leave quickly passed by more than half.

At this time, some ballads began circulating in Hua Jing.

As soon as these ballads appeared, they reached Li Rong’s ears. At that time, she hadn’t yet woken up and was lying in bed sleeping drowsily. Then she heard Pei Wenxuan reciting beside her: “The phoenix falls into the mortar of the official’s courtyard, flowers bloom for four generations without decline.”

Hearing these words, Li Rong jolted awake. She raised her eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan, who was sitting beside her throwing a piece of paper into the brazier, and shook her head: “What were you just reciting?”

“Recent rumors in Hua Jing.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled: “It seems this friend of yours has indeed taken action.”

No ballad in Hua Jing began spreading without reason, especially this kind of ballad with phoenix omens.

Pei Wenxuan pulled out another piece of intelligence from the side and said casually, “She’s quite bold. You told her the Emperor was watching the Shangguan family, yet she still dares to spread such ballads.”

“It probably wasn’t her doing.”

Li Rong yawned as she got up and summoned Jing Lan to come attend to her.

Jing Lan, Jing Mei, and the others entered and began serving Li Rong as she dressed. While allowing them to attend to her, Li Rong said, “She’s not crazy. Even if she wanted to do something, she absolutely wouldn’t use this method.”

Listening, Pei Wenxuan thought for a moment and understood: “You mean that person in the palace?”

“Didn’t she say last time that she wanted to marry her niece in?”

“His Majesty won’t allow it.” Pei Wenxuan looked down at the intelligence and said flatly, “Her status is too low.”

“That’s why she wants everyone in Hua Jing to sing this ballad.” Li Rong raised her eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan and smiled. “Once this ballad is sung, Father Emperor might have other thoughts, right?”

Li Ming had never been a gentle monarch. For Li Ming, the fact that such ballads could spread from the Shangguan family might be a provocation.

Under ordinary circumstances, Li Ming would never let someone of Consort Rou’s niece’s background become Crown Princess. But now with the entire city singing such ballads, Li Ming might have other ideas.

If she were Consort Rou, she would do the same.

And why would Consort Rou suddenly do this at this time…

Li Rong smiled, finding this matter somewhat interesting.

Once the ballads spread, Li Rong guessed that the palace would take the next step soon. As expected, by the afternoon she received news from the palace saying that five days later would be the Qixi Festival, and the Empress planned to host a banquet in the palace, inviting all noble young men and women of suitable age to attend.

Hosting a palace banquet on the Qixi Festival—no matter how you looked at it, it was related to Li Chuan. Li Rong thought about it and then ordered someone to go directly to the palace.

When she arrived, Li Chuan happened to be there too. The Empress was discussing something with Li Chuan. After Li Rong was announced and entered, seeing both their expressions weren’t very good, she couldn’t help but laugh: “Oh my, what are you discussing that’s made both of you look so troubled? Tell me about it.”

“Why did you come?” Seeing Li Rong, the Empress’s expression immediately showed some joy. Li Rong smiled and sat down beside the Empress. “Mother Empress, you’re joking. I only left the palace, I didn’t marry off to some foreign land. I stay in Hua Jing every day—taking time to come see you, what’s so strange about that?”

Hearing Li Rong’s words, the Empress also smiled. She looked at Li Rong for a moment, then said with some worry: “That Pei Wenxuan…”

“He’s fine,” Li Rong knew what she wanted to ask and interrupted her. “He’s quite good. Don’t worry, would I let myself suffer?”

The Empress looked at her daughter. She wanted to say something but sighed and said helplessly, “Fine, since you’re already married, just live well together. After all, you’re not relying on him.”

“Let’s not talk about him,” Li Rong knew the Empress had always disdained Pei Wenxuan’s status. She didn’t know why, but when she herself looked down on Pei Wenxuan, she didn’t think much of it, but when others looked down on him, she always felt somewhat uncomfortable. So she changed the subject, saying directly, “I received an invitation from the palace. I heard you’re planning to hold a banquet in the palace for Qixi—are you considering Chuan’er’s marriage?”

“How is this something I want to do?” The Empress smiled bitterly. “This is what Consort Rou wants to do. She requested His Majesty’s decree and insisted on doing this.”

“Oh,” Li Rong nodded, “she’s certainly thoughtful.”

“With those chaotic ballads being sung every day outside,” Li Chuan let out a cold laugh, “she’s certainly very thoughtful indeed.”

“You’ve heard too,” Li Rong turned to look at Li Chuan and said with a smile, “you’re not so foolish after all.”

“Sima Zhao’s intentions are known to all on the road.” Li Chuan’s eyes showed some disdain. “Always using these lowly tactics.”

“She hasn’t been doing this for just a day or two,” Li Rong recalled. “As for her planning this Qixi banquet, do you know what it’s for?”

“Probably to introduce her niece,” the Empress pondered and said slowly, “I’m afraid she’ll request a decree during the banquet. I’m having people bribe those on her side to see if we can find out any information.”

Li Rong nodded, roughly understanding the situation. Seeing her worried, the Empress comforted her: “Forget it, it’s not a big deal. Those responsible for the palace banquet are all my people. When the time comes, we’ll adapt as needed. For them to request a decree, they need a reason. We’ll just guard against it then. If they really do request it and don’t give Chuan’er face,” the Empress let out a cold laugh, “then don’t blame this palace for not giving them face.”

“Look at what Mother Empress says,” Li Rong stood up and moved behind the Empress to massage her shoulders. “How would she have the ability to do that? Mother, rest assured, you’re the Buddha, and Consort Rou is Sun Wukong—she can’t escape your Five Finger Mountain.”

Hearing Li Rong’s words, the Empress finally smiled.

Having confirmed the news, Li Rong felt much more at ease. The three no longer discussed the previous topic and instead talked about Li Rong’s marriage.

This was Li Rong’s first time returning to the palace after her marriage. The Empress couldn’t bear to have her leave so soon and kept her to dine in the palace. When dinner time came and Pei Wenxuan didn’t see Li Rong return, he looked at the sky and decided to go pick her up.

These past few days he had eaten dinner with Li Rong, and now alone in the room, he didn’t know why, but he didn’t even feel like eating.

Seeing Pei Wenxuan not even eating before wanting to pick up Li Rong, Tong Ye couldn’t help but laugh: “Young Master treats the Princess so well—she’s only been gone a short while and you’re already missing her?”

Pei Wenxuan glared at him. Among several umbrellas in the corner, he looked them over and selected one painted with reeds, saying in a low voice: “Just drive your carriage properly and mind less of my business.”

Tong Ye laughed without saying anything more. Pei Wenxuan took the umbrella and boarded the carriage. Sitting in the carriage, he raised his hand to look at the clouds accumulating outside, thinking that he simply had too little official business and too much time, to actually be bored enough to want to go pick up Li Rong.

But then he thought about how Li Rong actually quite liked having company. Coming back alone, she’d probably feel bored. If he went to pick her up, playing chess and bickering along the way, she’d probably be happier.

Thinking of her being happy, Pei Wenxuan no longer felt what he was doing was boring. He just felt he really was a good person—he’d consider today his good deed for the day.

He happily headed toward the palace. After Li Rong and the Empress and Li Chuan finished dinner, the Empress tired early and felt somewhat weary, so she had Li Chuan escort Li Rong out. As Li Rong walked out of the Empress’s small courtyard with Li Chuan, she asked, “I saw your and Mother’s expressions weren’t very good earlier. Did you have an argument?”

“Not really an argument.” Li Chuan was somewhat helpless. “It was just… a disagreement.”

“This doesn’t count as an argument?” Li Rong laughed. “What did you disagree about?”

Li Chuan didn’t speak. Li Rong tapped him with her fan: “At your age, you’re already hiding things from your sister?”

“It’s not that.” Li Chuan smiled bitterly. “I’m just afraid you’ll laugh at me if I tell you.”

“Oh?” Li Rong raised her eyebrows. “Then tell me.”

“Mother just told me she wants me to marry more than one Crown Princess. She wants to select several young ladies this time and have them all decided at roughly the same time. She’s already found some people and wants me to choose.”

“You’re unwilling?” Li Rong heard the implication in his words. Li Chuan remained silent.

Li Rong smiled: “What’s there to be unwilling about? Being able to marry so many good young ladies—how many people would be envious?”

“But what if, one day, I fall in love with someone?”

Li Chuan suddenly spoke. Li Rong’s expression froze. Li Chuan raised his head and looked at her seriously: “What if one day I fall in love with someone, and she loves me too. If I have so many wives, what would she do? If I agree to Mother today, that means for my entire life, I’ll never again have the right to love someone.”

Li Rong didn’t speak. Li Chuan continued: “Moreover, taking a step back, even if I don’t have the right to love someone anymore, marrying one Crown Princess would be enough. I could treat only her well. No woman can tolerate her husband being shared with others. Mother has already suffered for her entire life—must I ruin others too, making them suffer for their entire lives as well?”

Li Rong lowered her eyes. Seeing Li Rong not responding, Li Chuan smiled bitterly: “I know, Sister, you must think I’m very childish. I’m just speaking casually with you. I know I’m the Crown Prince. I carry yours and Mother’s expectations. I can’t be willful.”

“It’s alright, I understand everything.”

Li Chuan seemed somewhat weary. He looked at the palace gate and said gently, “Sister, you should head back first. I’ll see you off to here. I’m tired.”

With that, Li Chuan bowed and turned to return in the direction of the Eastern Palace.

Li Rong quietly watched his retreating figure. In that instant, she seemed to see the later Li Chuan—he and she separated by a screen, the screen outlining his gaunt silhouette.

At that time he was taller than now, thinner than now. He seemed very close to her, yet also seemed very far away.

Li Rong didn’t know why, but she felt an indescribable sourness welling up. She suddenly felt this imperial city was like a man-eating beast. Though it was clearly the summer wind of early seventh month, it carried several traces of coolness, bringing muffled thunder that rumbled past her with a roar, blowing cold through her body and heart.

Large raindrops began hammering down. Li Rong stood in a daze.

It was at that moment that an invisible warmth suddenly pressed against her back, and a paper umbrella painted with reeds opened above her head.

That person instantly blocked this cold wind. A voice carrying both surprise and hidden amusement sounded behind her: “What are you standing here foolishly for? The rain’s started and you still don’t know to go home?”

Li Rong turned around in a daze to look at the suddenly appearing Pei Wenxuan. Seeing her astonished expression, Pei Wenxuan raised his eyebrows: “What, you’re not happy I came?”

“No,” Li Rong came back to her senses. She spoke slowly, saying softly, “Your timing is very good.”