The Empress and Li Rong stared at each other, neither yielding. After a moment, the Empress was the one to back down. After all, with Li Rong saying this, if she still forcibly made Li Rong withdraw, it would not only embarrass Li Rong but also make the scene too ugly.

In any case, the person Li Chuan was to select had already been decided—Li Rong joining in didn’t matter.

So the Empress smiled and only said, “You’re so mischievous. Then prepare an incense burner for Princess Pingle as well.”

“Thank you, Mother Empress.” Li Rong smiled and bowed.

Before long, incense burners and commonly used incense materials were placed on trays one by one and brought before each young lady.

If it was just identifying fragrances, most daughters of aristocratic families knew how to do it. But if it came to actually blending incense by hand, not every young lady could do it. However, being able to identify fragrances meant having a foundation, so when everyone began working, they could at least blend some of the fragrances they commonly used in their sachets and place them in the incense burners.

Li Rong wasn’t an expert at this, but in the past, Pei Wenxuan had been skilled at blending incense and had once prepared several sachets for her. Following a formula Pei Wenxuan had given her years ago, she leisurely blended incense while constantly observing her surroundings.

Everyone was lowering their heads, selecting and sniffing the materials at hand. Especially Shangguan Ya and Consort Rou’s recommended Xiao clan daughter Xiao Wei—they were clearly masters at this, their movements elegant, practiced, and beautiful.

Behind Shangguan Ya, Qin Zhenzhen didn’t know what she was doing, constantly lowering her head to grind the materials beside her, as if trying hard to blend into the group and find something to do.

While selecting materials, Li Rong pondered everyone’s thoughts in this scheme.

Consort Rou was promoting her niece, while her mother empress was supporting Shangguan Ya. Emperor Li Ming actually didn’t care whether the Crown Prince married Consort Rou’s niece or someone else—as long as he didn’t marry someone from a great clan like Shangguan Ya or Su Rongwen.

And Consort Rou’s methods had always been far superior to her mother’s. She couldn’t possibly not have guessed that the Empress would definitely secretly instruct the Crown Prince, telling him in advance what incense Shangguan Ya would blend, then having the Crown Prince select Shangguan Ya’s incense.

Therefore, Consort Rou must have her own arrangements.

Li Rong observed the incense burners before her. These burners were all identical, with a section of goose-yellow silk below, and beneath the silk were fragrance papers with each young lady’s name written on them. In a while, palace servants would carry the burners on trays to Li Chuan. Li Chuan would smell the incense to select people, then retrieve the names from below and send them back.

If she were Consort Rou, she would definitely arrange for someone to intercept Shangguan Ya’s incense halfway and switch Shangguan Ya’s incense with Xiao Wei’s.

Li Chuan selecting Shangguan Ya’s incense would equal selecting Xiao Wei’s incense.

Li Rong guessed through everyone’s thoughts at the entire venue, her face showing nothing. While blending incense, she also seemed to be recording something, writing and drawing on paper.

Before long, time was almost up. The Empress announced for attendants to collect the incense burners and bring them forward to the main hall one by one.

The scene became chaotic for a moment. Everyone relaxed. Li Rong raised her eyes to glance at Xiao Wei, seeing her face carry a smile as if she had everything under control, then looked at Shangguan Ya across from her.

The attendant collecting incense burners was almost at Shangguan Ya. Shangguan Ya covered her burner, raised her hand to pick it up, then she seemed to have dropped something. She turned her head to look at Qin Zhenzhen behind her: “Miss Qin Er, could you help me?”

Qin Zhenzhen looked up to see Shangguan Ya smile somewhat apologetically: “My sachet rolled over to you. Could you trouble Miss Qin Er to help pick it up?”

Qin Zhenzhen didn’t say much and turned to pick up Shangguan Ya’s sachet. Just as she lowered her head, Shangguan Ya swiftly switched the two incense burners, turning to place Qin Zhenzhen’s burner on her own tray, then turned back to hand it to the attendant who had just walked over.

Shangguan Ya’s movements were extremely fast. By the time Qin Zhenzhen turned back, the attendant had already carried away the incense burner.

Qin Zhenzhen handed her the dropped sachet. Shangguan Ya nodded and said, “Thank you.”

Just as she was about to turn around, she heard Qin Zhenzhen say in a low voice, “You shouldn’t have switched my incense burner.”

Shangguan Ya hadn’t expected Qin Zhenzhen to discover it so quickly and couldn’t help but be stunned. Then she immediately showed some bewilderment, as if she didn’t know what had happened: “What does Miss Qin Er mean?”

Qin Zhenzhen raised her eyes to look at her, her clear eyes seeming to know everything clearly. At this moment, the attendant bent down to collect Qin Zhenzhen’s tray. Qin Zhenzhen turned to look at the attendant, about to say something, when Shangguan Ya grabbed her wrist. Shangguan Ya spoke extremely quickly: “What incense did Miss Qin Er blend just now? It smells very interesting.”

Qin Zhenzhen was interrupted by this and just watched as the attendant carried the incense burner away.

After the attendant left, Shangguan Ya released her, saying in a low voice, “Don’t worry, I won’t harm you. Please help me with this favor.”

Having said that, Shangguan Ya released her and turned back around.

All this happened in just a moment. Li Rong watched from afar. Although she couldn’t see clearly what exactly happened between the two or what they said, seeing Shangguan Ya’s extremely quick movements in delivering the incense burner and Qin Zhenzhen’s attempt to say something, she could guess a bit.

Shangguan Ya should have been persuaded by her words, but Shangguan Ya didn’t have the ability to convince the Shangguan family and the Empress, so she could only use this method.

Now if Li Chuan randomly selected any second-tier aristocratic family’s daughter, Li Ming would grant a marriage on the spot. Qin Zhenzhen’s status was just right—plus the Qin family was originally a military family. Although Qin Zhenzhen’s father had died, her uncles and other relatives were still alive. If Li Chuan married Qin Zhenzhen, he would gain more bargaining chips in military power.

Shangguan Ya knew the Empress had paved the way for her. She was giving this path to Qin Zhenzhen. As long as Qin Zhenzhen received a marriage decree today, with Shangguan Ya’s status, she couldn’t possibly become a secondary consort, so the marriage between the Shangguan family and Li Chuan would also fall through. And Qin Zhenzhen’s status was always better than Xiao Wei’s—this decision was indeed for everyone’s benefit.

However, Li Rong always worried that Qin Zhenzhen and Li Chuan would repeat their past mistakes. So just as Shangguan Ya turned back around, she lowered her eyes to drink tea and said to Jing Lan beside her, “Go find the Prince Consort. Have him give the Crown Prince the formula for my incense and have the Crown Prince select mine.”

Jing Lan acknowledged and inconspicuously took the incense ingredients Li Rong had just written down, then quietly withdrew.

Messages from various parties made their way to the main hall. Attendants brought the Empress’s message and the incense from various aristocratic family daughters to the seats. The Emperor heard the Empress’s intent and laughed loudly: “Today is a gathering for you young people. Since we’re selecting, let everyone do it together. The champion of this incense blending will be personally selected by the Crown Prince, and the remaining two will be selected together by everyone. How about it?”

Those present immediately agreed. So starting from the highest seats in the great hall, each incense burner was passed down one by one, then the top three were selected and their numbers written on paper.

Li Chuan sat in the high seat. His expression was indiscernible between joy and sorrow. Before entering the banquet, he had already received the Empress’s instructions and confirmed who he was to select today. He felt something pressing on his heart. Everyone else was happy, but he only felt bewilderment mixed with indescribable oppression.

Just like countless times in his life, waiting for the moment of being decided.

The powerless feeling of having his fate controlled washed over him again and again. As he sat in the high position overlooking others, this absurd sense of contrast emerged exceptionally clearly in his heart.

Along with the incense burners, Li Rong’s note also came in. Pei Wenxuan received the note from the attendant. He quickly scanned it and pondered for a moment.

He looked at Li Chuan sitting on the high platform. After thinking for a moment, when the attendant handed him the incense burner, he had someone whisper, “Tell His Highness the Crown Prince to select Princess Pingle’s white sandalwood incense.”

The attendant’s expression didn’t change. After a while, when the incense burners were passed to the Crown Prince, the attendant whispered extremely quickly, “Select Princess Pingle’s white sandalwood incense.”

Li Chuan’s hand paused slightly. The attendant stood up and went to the next table.

Pei Wenxuan distinguished the continuously passing incense fragrances. Identifying incense was extremely difficult, especially in this continuous identification process—many people almost couldn’t distinguish and lost their sense of smell.

However, Pei Wenxuan was originally skilled in the way of incense. He continuously searched for the white sandalwood incense Li Rong had written about while pondering what exactly had happened at the women’s seating area.

The incense burners circulated among the seats. Shangguan Ya’s and Xiao Wei’s incense burners were brought in one after the other. Before even entering the hall, the two attendants carrying them quickly exchanged the name papers pressed beneath the burners, then passed them up.

After two exchanges, Qin Zhenzhen’s incense burner was completely switched to Xiao Wei’s name, while Xiao Wei’s burner was switched to Shangguan Ya’s name, and Shangguan Ya’s burner was switched to Qin Zhenzhen’s name.

The three people’s incense burners were sent up in order. Xiao Wei and Shangguan Ya had extremely high incense-blending skills. Not long after being sent into the great hall, Su Ronghua exclaimed in admiration, “I wonder whose handiwork this number thirty-four incense burner is? It deserves to be among today’s top three!”

He had always been unruly, so no one was surprised by his outburst. Only Su Rongqing beside him reminded, “Elder Brother, just write it on paper. The champion should be decided by His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Li Chuan heard Su Rongqing remind Su Ronghua. He had been waiting for messages from various parties and was afraid this would make it difficult for others to pass words to him, so he quickly smiled, “Everyone express your opinions. It’s good to discuss.”

As he spoke, Li Rong’s incense was brought up.

Li Rong had no talent for blending incense—the formula she used was entirely copied from Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan recognized it at once with a sniff, and he also smelled that Li Rong’s hand had shaken and she had put in one qian less of agarwood.

Pei Wenxuan was rather disdainful, thinking that when they returned, he really needed to teach Li Rong properly. Otherwise, a princess constantly copying his formulas would be too embarrassing.

While he pondered how to teach Li Rong when they returned, his face showed an appreciative expression. His voice steady, using a volume Li Chuan could hear, he smiled, “This number forty-one white sandalwood incense is excellent—it should be the best.”

Hearing this, Li Chuan looked up at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan smiled at Li Chuan and inconspicuously nodded.

Li Chuan understood and knew this was Li Rong’s incense burner. He didn’t know why, but suddenly felt somewhat happy and somewhat moved.

She was ultimately his sister, different from the other people in this deep palace.

Li Rong’s incense burner was passed to Li Chuan. Li Chuan picked up the burner and smelled it, pretending to be composed as he wrote down the burner’s number beside him.

After all the incense burners were passed around, they began tallying the scores.

Because the champion would be personally selected by Li Chuan, the others only needed to select the top two. After tallying the numbers, Li Chuan handed over the champion number he had determined. Then the attendant drew out the corresponding number’s name from under the tray and handed it to Li Chuan for him to announce.

Li Ming slowly waited with a smile for Li Chuan to announce the top three. Li Chuan took the names and said calmly, “Third place, Shangguan Ya.”

With Shangguan Ya in third place, Li Ming’s smile deepened. Li Chuan drew out the second paper: “Second place, Qin Zhenzhen.”

As he spoke, Li Chuan saw the name on the last paper and showed a smile. He raised his head, seemingly somewhat happy: “First place, Princess Pingle, Li Rong.”

Hearing this, Li Ming was immediately stunned. Then he frowned: “Why is Pingle also in there?”

“Father Emperor,” Li Chuan acted as if he didn’t know what had happened, turning his head with a smile, “Sister’s incense blending was poor in the past, but this time it’s truly excellent. Father Emperor, don’t let previous impressions cloud your judgment.”

Li Chuan saying this, Li Ming couldn’t find words for a moment. He couldn’t very well say that this whole thing was arranged by them to select a consort for Li Chuan, that it was impossible for Li Rong to participate, much less possible for Li Chuan to select Li Rong.

Fortunately, Li Chuan selecting Li Rong, though it didn’t let him choose a humble-born Crown Princess, was still better than selecting Shangguan Ya. Li Ming quickly smiled: “You’re right. We shouldn’t underestimate her. She should be rewarded as deserved. Summon the three of them to receive their rewards.”

Li Ming’s order was sent down, delivered by Fulai to the imperial garden.

All the young ladies were waiting for the results. From afar, they saw Fulai walking on the lakeside corridor, crossing through the lake center. Everyone became somewhat nervous.

Fulai arrived at the waterside pavilion edge, first bowing to the Empress and Consort Rou, then explaining his purpose: “The top three winning young ladies have been selected in the front hall. This old servant comes by His Majesty’s decree to invite the three young ladies to the main hall to receive their rewards.”

The Empress nodded and raised her hand: “You may announce them.”

Fulai bowed, turned around, and looked at the crowd: “Please Princess Pingle Your Highness, Miss Qin Zhenzhen of the Qin clan, and Miss Shangguan Ya of the Shangguan clan follow this old servant to the main hall to receive rewards.”

Hearing this, Consort Rou’s expression changed drastically. Xiao Wei raised her head in disbelief. Both Shangguan Ya and Qin Zhenzhen showed astonished expressions. The Empress frowned, quite uneasy: “Who is the champion of this incense blending?”

“In response to Your Majesty,” Fulai smiled, “it is Princess Pingle Your Highness.”

The Empress raised her eyes to look at Li Rong. Li Rong immediately showed a surprised expression, happily saying, “It’s me?”

“Yes,” Fulai praised, “Your Highness’s incense-blending skills are extraordinary—everyone praised them highly. Your Highness, please rise quickly and go to the front hall to receive your reward.”

“Excellent,” Li Rong stood up, her expression joyful, “I haven’t received a reward in a long time. This is truly a happy occasion.”

With that, Li Rong turned to bow to the Empress: “Mother Empress, I’m going to Father Emperor to receive my reward.”

The Empress looked at Li Rong, momentarily speechless. She held it in for a while and finally suppressed it, saying, “You may go.”

Li Rong bowed and withdrew, leading Shangguan Ya and Qin Zhenzhen to follow Fulai toward the main hall.

Li Rong walked in front, Shangguan Ya and Qin Zhenzhen side by side. Shangguan Ya secretly poked Qin Zhenzhen and whispered, “Your incense-blending skills are pretty good?”

Qin Zhenzhen frowned. She lowered her voice and said softly, “I can’t do it. The incense burner is empty.”

“This can still get a reward?”

Shangguan Ya couldn’t believe it and began rapidly thinking about what conspiracy there might be. Li Rong in front heard them and smiled with pressed lips. She turned her head to remind Shangguan Ya, “Your incense—could it have your name written on it?”

Shangguan Ya immediately understood, shocked: “It’s Xiao…”

Li Rong raised her hand and gently pressed it to her lips. Shangguan Ya understood and immediately indicated she got it.

Fulai heard the three talking and walked up front to make it convenient for them to talk. Li Rong retreated a few steps and walked between the two, turning to look at Qin Zhenzhen beside her: “You knew she switched your incense burner?”

Qin Zhenzhen hesitated for a moment, then responded, “I knew.”

“You didn’t say anything?”

Qin Zhenzhen raised her eyes to look at Shangguan Ya beside her, who was crossing her arms with a smile. She shook her head: “I didn’t put anything in the incense burner. If she was harming me, I could prove that burner wasn’t mine. If she wasn’t harming me, she must have her own difficulties. Helping her in passing costs me nothing.”

Hearing this, Li Rong felt somewhat helpless.

Shangguan Ya sighed: “Then you should be glad you met me today.”

Qin Zhenzhen smiled: “If it weren’t Miss Shangguan, I might not have helped either.”

“Oh?” Li Rong was somewhat curious. “Why would you help if it’s her?”

“Because my father once said,” Qin Zhenzhen looked at the bright moon reflected in the water, her eyes showing some remembrance, “if you want to know whether a person is trustworthy, look at their eyes.”

“What about when you look at me?” Li Rong was somewhat curious. Qin Zhenzhen turned her head. She quietly looked at Li Rong. After a long while, Qin Zhenzhen said gently, “Your Highness is a very good person.”

“Then you’re mistaken.” Shangguan Ya raised her hand to rest on Li Rong’s shoulder, leaning over half her body with a smile, “This Highness is someone who eats people without spitting out bones.”

Li Rong had Shangguan Ya’s arm on her shoulder. She glanced at Shangguan Ya lightly. Shangguan Ya wasn’t afraid at all, smiling as she met Li Rong’s gaze. After Li Rong and she looked at each other for a moment, she couldn’t help but smile, pushing Shangguan Ya with a soft voice, “You’re quite bold.”

Shangguan Ya, pushed by her, laughed happily and only said, “Anyway, Your Highness already knows my worst side—might as well be more unrestrained. If Your Highness is interested, find a time another day to go to the poetry society with me for tea?”

“Tea?” Li Rong laughed coldly. “Should we bring more silver to gamble big or small?”

Being asked this by her, Shangguan Ya immediately felt somewhat embarrassed. She touched her nose and said in a low voice, “In the palace, can’t you ask more tactfully?”

The three played around all the way to the main hall. Li Rong raised her eyes to first see Li Ming on the high seat, then Li Chuan, then below was Su Rongqing, followed by Pei Wenxuan.

Seeing Li Rong look over, Pei Wenxuan held his wine cup and raised his eyebrows, seeming somewhat like he was claiming credit.

Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan’s appearance and couldn’t help but smile. Her gaze swept over him inconspicuously, then returned to Li Ming. She smiled and bowed to Li Ming: “Greetings, Father Emperor.”

“Rise.” Li Ming on the high platform raised his hand to let her rise, then propped his hand on his knee with a smile: “We remember you weren’t very skilled in the way of incense before. Today you truly shone brilliantly.”

“I must thank the Prince Consort for that,” Li Rong smiled, placing her gaze on Pei Wenxuan. “The formula I used to blend incense today was actually all taught by the Prince Consort.”

“That’s what We thought,” Li Ming turned to look at Li Chuan beside him. “With your sister’s amateur skills, how could We not know?”

As he spoke, Li Ming surveyed Qin Zhenzhen and Shangguan Ya behind Li Rong, leisurely saying, “We’ve heard of Ya’er’s abilities, but this Miss Qin Er is rather unfamiliar. Miss Qin,” Li Ming looked at Qin Zhenzhen and raised his hand, “step forward one step and let Us see what a young lady capable of blending such incense looks like.”

Qin Zhenzhen frowned. She glanced at Shangguan Ya and stepped forward.

Li Ming quietly observed her. Everyone’s hearts were beating rapidly.

Li Rong rapidly considered—if at this moment Li Ming found an excuse to grant a marriage, how should she respond?

She instinctively raised her eyes, intending to look in Pei Wenxuan’s direction, but unexpectedly, sitting directly in the direction she faced was Su Rongqing. Su Rongqing was also looking at her, so the moment she raised her eyes, their gazes met, and Li Rong froze.

Su Rongqing seemed to see what she was worried about. Before Li Rong could react, she heard Su Rongqing suddenly speak: “Your Majesty, the three young ladies have been standing the whole time and are probably tired. You should reward them quickly and let them withdraw first.”

These words were rather lacking in propriety. If Su Ronghua had said them, it wouldn’t be strange, but coming from the always self-controlled Su Rongqing, it was somewhat bizarre.

Everyone looked over. Su Rongqing’s face carried a smile as he respectfully looked at Li Ming.

Li Ming thought for a moment and smiled: “Minister Su is right. Chuan’er, on Our behalf, deliver the items to the three of them.”

Li Chuan acknowledged. He stood up, leading attendants carrying items, and walked to Li Rong. He handed her a pair of golden phoenix carrying pearl hairpins, winked at Li Rong, and whispered, “Sister, thank you.”

He seemed very happy. Li Rong was stunned—she hadn’t expected Li Chuan to be this happy.

Li Chuan handed her the items, smiling as he left. Li Rong stood in place, following Li Chuan’s gaze, and saw Li Chuan reach Qin Zhenzhen.

Qin Zhenzhen was respectful and proper. Li Chuan looked at her with some teasing in his eyes: “I didn’t expect Miss Qin Er to not only be skilled in martial arts but also so talented in the art of incense blending.”

“Your Highness flatters me.” Qin Zhenzhen lowered her eyes to look at the ground, without the slightest impropriety.

Li Chuan handed the items to Qin Zhenzhen. Qin Zhenzhen properly thanked him, and Li Chuan walked to Shangguan Ya.

Shangguan Ya and he were considered maternal cousins, but they weren’t very familiar. Li Chuan was much more respectful toward her. After handing the items to Shangguan Ya, he returned to his position.

The three received their rewards. Li Ming seemed somewhat fatigued and then said, “It’s late at night. We are a bit tired. You young people may do as you please.”

With that, Li Ming, supported by Fulai, stood up and left amid a chorus of respectful farewells.

After Li Ming left, the three young ladies walked out of the great hall together. Shangguan Ya glanced at the two and smiled: “Are you going back now?”

“I should go back first by myself.”

Qin Zhenzhen said this, raising her eyes to look at Shangguan Ya: “What about you?”

“My father might still be a while,” Shangguan Ya pointed at the great hall. “I’ll go back to the imperial garden to chat with some friends for a bit. You do as you please.”

“Go on.” Li Rong nodded. “I’ll wait for the Prince Consort and go back together.”

“You two have quite good feelings.” Shangguan Ya raised her eyebrows. Li Rong wanted to kick her. She clearly noticed that Shangguan Ya seemed to think they shared some secret and had become somewhat unrestrained, so she urged, “Hurry and go. I’ll find you at the teahouse another day.”

“Sounds good.”

Shangguan Ya agreed and then turned to leave.

After Shangguan Ya left, Qin Zhenzhen turned to look at Li Rong, respectfully bowing: “Your Highness, if there’s nothing else, this commoner will take her leave first.”

“Wait!” Li Rong called out to her. Qin Zhenzhen turned back to look at Li Rong standing on the steps.

Qin Zhenzhen’s clothing was plain and elegant, her features understated. The breeze gently blew, lifting her simple robe.

Perhaps because she practiced martial arts, her whole person always had an indescribable uprightness, like pines and bamboo standing pavilion-like, or like a sword showing its edge.

In this palace court, even just standing there, she showed an obvious sense of not belonging. She was similar yet different from the Qin Zhenzhen Li Rong had met in the past.

Her heart suddenly trembled. In an instant, the image of Li Chuan joking with her flashed through her mind, that scene overlapping with the later image of Qin Zhenzhen’s funeral procession, causing her throat to tighten as invisible panic spread densely.

She looked at the young lady quietly awaiting her words beneath the moon. After a long while, she finally said, “Today Shangguan Ya switched your incense burner. She originally intended to have you be granted marriage in her place to become Crown Princess.”

Qin Zhenzhen showed an astonished expression. Li Rong continued, “I helped you because someone entrusted me to. Pei Wenxuan and I have no feelings for each other. We made an agreement that after we break free of these constraints, we’ll divorce.”

Hearing these words, Qin Zhenzhen slowly widened her eyes. Li Rong smiled: “There are many conflicts in the palace. In the future, if you travel in the palace, you must be more careful.”

Having said this, Li Rong didn’t wait for Qin Zhenzhen to respond. She turned around and stepped into the great hall to find Pei Wenxuan.

Pei Wenxuan had just finished saying goodbye to people. Turning back to see Li Rong waiting for him at the door, his heart warmed. He smiled and walked forward, stopping beside Li Rong. He looked her up and down, bending his eyes with a smile: “Your Highness achieved great victory today. You seem very pleased?”

Li Rong looked down with a smile: “Lord Pei also seems very happy today.”

“Unless Your Highness bullies me, when am I ever unhappy?”

Pei Wenxuan returned with Li Rong, curiously asking, “What happened in the imperial garden on your side? It was so lively today?”

Li Rong told Pei Wenxuan about what happened in the imperial garden. The two talked while boarding the carriage. Pei Wenxuan sighed, “The world of women is always so exciting.”

“You can join in.” Li Rong smiled.

Pei Wenxuan quickly waved his hands: “Forget it, forget it. No need. This kind of situation—only Princess Your Highness can handle it.”

Li Rong laughed lightly without speaking. She turned her head to look out the window.

At this moment they had already left the palace city. Outside the window, the bright moon hung high. She quietly gazed at the moon, saying slowly, “When the moon wanes, it will wax again. Pei Wenxuan, do you think things that are destined are always difficult to change?”

Pei Wenxuan found it strange that Li Rong would suddenly ask this. He couldn’t help but say, “What are you asking about?”

“Today, I suddenly understood why Chuan’er would like Qin Zhenzhen.”

Li Rong turned her head to look at Pei Wenxuan: “With Chuan’er’s temperament, encountering such a person in the palace—liking her isn’t strange.”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. He looked at Li Rong’s eyes. In an instant, he seemed to understand her meaning: “Why are you telling me all this?”

“Have you thought about what you’ll do after the divorce?”

Li Rong looked at him curiously. Pei Wenxuan quietly looked at Li Rong. He felt a sourness spreading, yet the smile at his lips didn’t fade: “I haven’t thought in detail.”

“In the previous life when Qin Zhenzhen died, you didn’t have any regrets?”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. He smiled looking at Li Rong. Li Rong continued, “I know you have feelings for her in your heart. In the previous life she left early—you feel guilty toward her. You’re the kind of person who never thinks of asking for anything from the person you like, but for her sake in this lifetime, you should make some effort.”

“Effort to do what?”

Pei Wenxuan tucked his hands in his sleeves and leaned against the carriage wall, listening to Li Rong calmly say, “She’s at marriageable age now. If our divorce goes smoothly, it will probably take three years. If you don’t make an agreement with her now, I’m afraid by then she’ll have married someone else first. Before, most of what I said to you was joking, but today I’m speaking seriously to you,” Li Rong raised her eyes to look at him, “you should do something.”

“Such as?”

“Today I told her that I helped her because of you. I also told her that we have no feelings for each other and will divorce in three years. She didn’t react in time—I left first. Later we’ll arrange some opportunities for you to interact with her. You already have feelings for each other. Be good to her, confess to her. Once you’ve pledged yourselves to each other, we’ll inform Qin Lin and send her to the North, letting her avoid these three years. After that, we divorce,” Li Rong smiled. She raised her eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan, “I’ll go propose marriage for you.”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. He quietly looked at Li Rong.

Li Rong was somewhat puzzled: “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“What should I say?” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “Hasn’t Your Highness already arranged everything? What everyone should do in your heart—isn’t it all clear?”

“If you’re dissatisfied,” Li Rong said slowly, “you can tell me. Do you think sending her to the North would wrong her?”

Pei Wenxuan couldn’t listen anymore. He stood up and shouted, “Stop the carriage!”

The carriage suddenly stopped. Pei Wenxuan lifted the curtain and jumped out.

Li Rong was stunned. She only got Pei Wenxuan’s back, then saw the person get off the carriage.

She didn’t know what happened. She just felt as if they had suddenly returned to the previous life. When Pei Wenxuan was dissatisfied, he never said much to her. After an argument and losing his temper, he would just leave.

But in the past when they argued, arguing was just arguing. Today when Pei Wenxuan left like this, she actually felt somewhat uncomfortable—she didn’t know if it was because too many things had happened today, leaving her mentally and physically exhausted.

She controlled her emotions and calmly ordered outside, “Send people to follow the Prince Consort to prevent anything from happening to him. Return first.”

Outside, someone nervously acknowledged. Li Rong raised her hand to her forehead, feeling the carriage move again.

Pei Wenxuan walked forward with his back to Li Rong’s carriage. Anger welled up inside him with nowhere to go.

He didn’t even know what he was angry about.

He knew Li Rong’s temperament.

Li Rong was the kind of person who, once she decided on something, would arrange it well.

In her heart, she believed he still had feelings for Qin Zhenzhen, that Qin Zhenzhen was his lifelong regret.

In her heart, she guessed Li Chuan would still like Qin Zhenzhen, that Qin Zhenzhen and Li Chuan shouldn’t be together and wouldn’t have a good ending.

So she chose what she thought was the best outcome—having Qin Zhenzhen be with him.

It couldn’t be said she was wrong. She had considered everyone, hoping everyone would be well.

What could he blame her for?

Yet Pei Wenxuan just felt uncomfortable, indescribably uncomfortable. He walked in the opposite direction with his back to the carriage. Hearing the carriage begin moving behind him, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

In that instant, he remembered the countless times in the previous life he had seen Li Rong’s retreating back.

He turned around to look at the carriage gradually moving away. He watched quietly. After a moment, he bit his teeth and rushed back, chasing after the carriage. He shouted while pounding on the carriage wall, “Stop! Stop for me!”

Li Rong was startled by Pei Wenxuan. The carriage stopped upon his command. Li Rong immediately used her golden fan to roll up the curtain, raising her eyes coldly to look at Pei Wenxuan standing beside the carriage, angrily saying, “What madness has possessed you?”

Seeing the two about to quarrel, the coachman quickly jumped down from the carriage and left. For a moment, only the two of them remained in the vicinity. Pei Wenxuan stared at Li Rong and said coldly, “Li Rong, I’m telling you—from now on, if you’re going to decide matters concerning me, you need to at least ask me first if I’m willing.”

Li Rong froze in place. Pei Wenxuan stared at her: “What you think I am, what you think I would want, what you think I should do—you should ask me first about all of it.”

“So you’ve come to denounce me,” Li Rong smiled helplessly and bitterly. “For example? What exactly did I misunderstand about Lord Pei today to anger him to this extent?”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. He stared at her fixedly.

He couldn’t say it out loud.

But he clearly knew that if he always couldn’t say it, if he was the same as in the previous life, always avoiding it—

Then this lifetime would be no different from the previous one.

He clenched his fists, staring at Li Rong. After a long while, he struggled to speak: “I don’t like Qin Zhenzhen.”

“I know.” Hearing him say this, Li Rong immediately understood and said slowly, “After all, many years have passed. You can’t possibly like her the same way as before. But actually…”

“There is no ‘but.'”

Pei Wenxuan interrupted her: “Even when I was young, my feelings for her weren’t love.”

Li Rong froze. Pei Wenxuan continued, “I never missed her, I never thought of her, I never walked down the street and saw a hairpin wanting to buy it for her, and I never wanted to kiss her.”

“It was just that from childhood, everyone told me she was my wife, so I always thought—this was love.”

“But later I met someone,” Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong, his eyes moistening slightly as they moved, “seeing her happy made me happy, seeing her sad made me anxious. When she looked at a hairpin, I would remember it in my heart. When she smiled, I felt there was no more winter in the world.”

“When she wasn’t there, I missed her. Even going to the government office, I would think about writing her notes to take home. I would think about how many children we would have. I would think about growing old with her.”

“Li Rong,” Pei Wenxuan took a deep breath, “I have no regrets about Qin Zhenzhen. When she died, as a friend, as an elder brother figure, I did my best. I never thought about reliving a lifetime with her. From the very beginning, I never thought about it. If I had thought about it for even a moment, I wouldn’t have gone to the Spring Banquet.”

“If I have any regrets—”

Pei Wenxuan’s voice stopped. He looked at Li Rong. After a long while, his voice hoarse, he finally spoke: “It’s only you.”

“Because the person I truly loved and then lost,” Pei Wenxuan smiled—a smile that looked like crying, “is only Li Rong.”