Pei Wenxuan steadied his emotions. Now truly wasn’t the time to think about such things. He helped Yun Shi up and boarded the carriage with her. As they traveled, he went over the prepared statements with Yun Shi repeatedly.
“If His Majesty summons you into the hall, just say you knew nothing of this matter. Say that second uncle-in-law told you to call me back and had you discipline me, otherwise he would harm you.”
After Pei Wenxuan finished speaking, he had Yun Shi repeat it. Only after Yun Shi had repeated and confirmed it several times did Pei Wenxuan feel at ease.
He was somewhat exhausted. Yun Shi quietly observed his expression, asking cautiously, “Your wounds…”
“It’s nothing.”
Pei Wenxuan said calmly, “Mother needn’t worry.”
“Wenxuan…” As soon as Yun Shi spoke, she seemed about to cry again. Pei Wenxuan immediately said, “Mother, please control your tears. I no longer have the strength to comfort you.”
Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Yun Shi hurriedly held back her tears.
Pei Wenxuan looked at the woman before him, feeling nothing particular in his heart. After all, he had grown accustomed to a life without Yun Shi—it had been decades already.
With such a mother, in his youth he had also felt exhausted and resentful. Later, in her twilight years, he had felt even more annoyed and impatient.
Yet when Yun Shi truly departed, as he sat in the mourning hall watching wind sweep the white cloth, the hall’s lamplight flickering in the breeze, feeling himself alone in the world like that floating lamp with no one left to think of—only then did he recall his childhood, when Yun Shi and his father had accompanied him as he learned to read and flew kites with him.
Parents and children—perhaps that was the greatest helplessness.
Love mixed with dissatisfaction, resentment concealing compassion.
Fortunately, having experienced life and death, the passage of long years had worn down his sharp edges, making him increasingly tolerant. Now, watching Yun Shi crying softly, Pei Wenxuan didn’t even feel irritated. He only thought of Li Rong, thinking that a woman like Li Rong would probably never become like this in her entire life.
He watched the rain outside growing heavier, unable to help smiling. After Yun Shi had cried for a while and saw Pei Wenxuan’s expression, she couldn’t help but ask, “Have you been… doing well lately? Has Her Highness been bullying you?”
“Hm?”
Pei Wenxuan turned his head. Hearing Yun Shi’s words, he couldn’t help but laugh, “Mother, you jest. Do you think Her Highness would bully me?”
“Everyone says the Princess is spoiled,” Yun Shi said, sighing, “And you have such a good temperament. If someone bullied you, you probably wouldn’t even know, or wouldn’t tell me.”
“Don’t worry,” Pei Wenxuan’s voice became much gentler when mentioning Li Rong, “Her Highness treats me very well, and I like Her Highness very much.”
Yun Shi didn’t speak. After a while, she said hoarsely, “You’re very much like your father. He used to protect me this way too…”
As Yun Shi spoke, she couldn’t help mentioning Pei Lizhi again. Pei Wenxuan listened quietly. When they neared the palace, he interrupted Yun Shi, “Do you still remember what I said earlier? Repeat it once more.”
Yun Shi froze. She seemed not to have expected Pei Wenxuan to interrupt her so decisively. Her expression showed momentary dejection. After a while, she repeated everything. Pei Wenxuan nodded. Upon reaching the palace gates and negotiating with the guards, he brought Yun Shi into the palace together.
The two changed from carriage to sedan chair at the palace gates. As they proceeded toward the Imperial Study, by this time the heavy rain made it impossible to see the surroundings clearly. Pei Wenxuan rolled up the sedan curtain, looking around. Just as they neared the Imperial Study, he suddenly saw someone holding an umbrella, walking toward the Imperial Study.
That person should have already returned to his office, heard about the Imperial Study incident, and deliberately rushed over.
What he was rushing over to do was unknown, but Pei Wenxuan clearly recognized those robes.
It was Su Rongqing.
Even having passed through a lifetime, different time, different circumstances, yet with Li Rong kneeling in this rainstorm at the Imperial Study, Su Rongqing still wore these same clothes, carrying an umbrella over.
Pei Wenxuan’s pupils contracted sharply. He shouted loudly, “Stop!”
The sedan bearers were somewhat confused. Pei Wenxuan hurriedly exited the sedan, instructing those beside him, “I have urgent business to attend to first. You carry Madam and follow after.”
Having said this, Pei Wenxuan grabbed an umbrella and rushed into the rain.
Yun Shi hastily rolled up the curtain, calling urgently, “Wenxuan, where are you going?!”
Pei Wenxuan didn’t respond. Holding his umbrella, stepping through rainwater that had risen above his shoe soles, he sprinted all the way toward the Imperial Study.
Li Rong knelt at the Imperial Study entrance. She lowered her eyes, rain having completely soaked her garments, dampening her hair and lashes.
Cold penetrated from her kneecaps upward. She began to feel her legs become like needles, both piercing and painful.
This was an old ailment from when she had angered Li Ming in her youth and been punished by kneeling in snow. It would flare up whenever the weather turned cold, the pain capable of taking half her life.
But right now she needed to hold out against Pei Liwen to the end. So she clenched her teeth, kneeling in the rainwater, the pain making her vision blur.
Rain pounded down on her head. Among the kneeling officials, several had already collapsed and been carried away. Pei Liwen also knelt with his body trembling, but still clung to a breath of determination, kneeling there.
Li Rong didn’t know how long she had endured, nor when it happened—she just suddenly felt the rain on her head stop in an instant.
Someone stood behind her, gently panting.
At first Li Rong thought the rain had stopped, but when her vision cleared slightly and she saw the heavy rain still falling not far ahead, hearing the breathing of the person behind her, she knew—someone had created a shelter for her.
She remembered this feeling. In her lifetime of memories, it was one of the rare, unforgettable moments of tenderness.
Her heart beat somewhat quickly and ached somewhat. She slowly turned around. The first thing she saw was white robes—this didn’t surprise her.
Then she gradually raised her eyes, finally stopping at that person’s face.
A young man in white robes with a jade crown, his refined features carrying a touch of breathtaking beauty. He should have been a celestial immortal, yet in that moment of gentle panting, he was dragged into the mortal world.
Pei Wenxuan watched Li Rong’s expression change bit by bit, from initial complexity transforming into astonishment. The moment she saw it was him, all emotions seemed to vanish into smoke.
Pei Wenxuan felt an indescribable discomfort in his heart, yet he still had to pretend he knew nothing. He only looked at Li Rong and smiled softly, “Your Highness, I’ve already come. Won’t you stand up?”
These words mimicked what Li Rong had said when she came to the Pei family to fetch him, intending to tease. But after speaking, he noticed Li Rong’s complexion was somewhat off.
“I can’t.” As soon as Li Rong opened her mouth, she trembled. She raised her eyebrows, her pale face showing no hint of yielding, “Minister Pei…”
Before she could finish, Pei Wenxuan realized what was happening. He crouched down and grasped Li Rong’s hand. Touching ice-cold flesh, he immediately shouted in a low voice, “What foolishness!”
Li Rong was stunned by his scolding. Pei Wenxuan raised his hand, passed the umbrella to a nearby attendant, and directly moved to embrace Li Rong.
Li Rong hurriedly said, “What are you doing…”
“Be still.”
Pei Wenxuan gave a light reprimand and lifted her horizontally into his arms.
His movement was too large—his wounds tore open again. Li Rong, thinking of his injuries, didn’t dare struggle too much. Fearing loss of dignity, she could only cooperate by wrapping her arms around Pei Wenxuan’s neck, hoping to ease his effort.
Pei Wenxuan lifted her up. As palace attendants held umbrellas for them, he looked coldly at the still-kneeling Pei Liwen, “I’ve already brought my mother. Third Uncle, if you truly intend to confront us before His Majesty, continue kneeling. If you still want to preserve some dignity for yourself, meet at the ancestral hall tomorrow evening. Have the clan elders come together to discuss a resolution. Don’t embarrass yourself here.”
Having said this, Pei Wenxuan paid no further attention to others, carrying Li Rong and striding rapidly toward the entrance sedan chair, while ordering someone to take Yun Shi back to the Princess’s mansion.
Right now he had no time to argue with these people. Li Rong’s situation was more important than anything.
Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Pei Liwen froze. Within moments, he came to his senses. With Yun Shi’s soft-eared nature, since Pei Wenxuan had brought her here, he must have coordinated with her. If they confronted each other before Li Ming now, what good outcome could he expect?
Pei Liwen gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and simply fainted.
Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan heard chaos behind them. Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh softly. Pei Wenxuan looked at her coldly. Li Rong didn’t know why, but felt somewhat guilty. She coughed lightly and said, “What are you angry about, having such a temper?”
Pei Wenxuan said nothing. Carrying her to the entrance, he saw Su Rongqing just turning in.
The umbrella in his hand was still that same one from years ago. The moment he saw the two of them, his eyes showed some surprise. Pei Wenxuan met his gaze. Li Rong felt somewhat awkward and said apologetically, “Lord Su.”
Hearing Li Rong’s greeting, Su Rongqing turned to look at her. He looked at Li Rong for a moment, seeming to want to speak but hesitating. Finally he only nodded lightly and performed a bow, “I greet Your Highness.”
With that, he stepped aside, respectfully waiting to one side, letting Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan leave.
Pei Wenxuan carried Li Rong away. Li Rong couldn’t help but raise her eyes to look at Su Rongqing over Pei Wenxuan’s shoulder. Pei Wenxuan looked ahead calmly, “What is Your Highness looking at?”
“I just remembered,” Li Rong said with some emotion, “The umbrella he held for me that year seems to be this same one.”
As Li Rong spoke, the person was no longer visible. Pei Wenxuan placed her in the sedan chair, had her sit down, then lowered the curtain, half-kneeling before her and lifting her skirt.
The sedan’s space was very small. With two people squeezed inside, it became extremely cramped. As soon as Pei Wenxuan lifted her skirt, she couldn’t help pressing down on his hand, saying urgently, “What are you doing?”
“Your skirt is wet,” Pei Wenxuan said in a low voice, “Covering it will make it hurt more.”
With that, Pei Wenxuan gave no room for argument. He pulled away her hand, pulled up her skirt, wrung it out and tied it, then used his own sleeve to dry her calves before wrapping her legs in the blanket placed in the sedan.
Warmth instantly attacked her calves, contrasting sharply with the cold of her body. Pei Wenxuan felt his outer robe—it was also somewhat damp. He removed his outer garment, placed it over her, and said in a low voice, “It’s a bit damp, but better than nothing. Bear with it—we’ll be back soon.”
Having finished speaking, Pei Wenxuan withdrew from the sedan, then had people hurry to lift it and send Li Rong out of the palace.
Li Rong rested in the sedan for a while, finally feeling somewhat better. Only then did she realize she was wearing Pei Wenxuan’s clothes. His garments carried his unique incense—an extremely faint scent that could only be detected at very close range. At this moment, these scents enveloped her entire being. Li Rong couldn’t explain why, but her heartbeat quickened a few beats.
She thought this must be because the sedan was stuffy, giving her illusions. She used her small fan to lift the sedan curtain, wanting ventilation. But after raising the curtain, she saw Pei Wenxuan outside.
The young master held an umbrella, walking through wind and rain, his form like bamboo, his face like jade. Li Rong looked at this person, momentarily forgetting to lower the curtain.
Pei Wenxuan sensed Li Rong’s gaze and looked up. Then he frowned, “Lower the curtain. The wind will make you catch cold.”
Hearing this, Li Rong couldn’t help but smile. Not only did she not lower it, she placed both hands at the window edge, leaned her head over, looked at Pei Wenxuan and said, “Pei Wenxuan, I suddenly realize you’re really quite good-looking.”
Pei Wenxuan silently tilted the umbrella toward her direction, only saying, “At a time like this you still don’t forget to look at faces. You really are something.”
“Pei Wenxuan, are you angry?” Li Rong’s speech carried a tremor—whether from cold or pain was unclear. Pei Wenxuan frowned, only saying, “Does it still hurt badly?”
“Not much anymore,” Li Rong said softly, “After you covered me with the blanket earlier, it got much better.”
“I’ve already instructed people to return to the mansion ahead and prepare medicinal soup. When we get back, immediately change clothes and soak in the bath.”
Pei Wenxuan carefully explained the subsequent arrangements, “The medicinal soup is the formula you commonly used before. In this lifetime you’re still young—take good care of yourself.”
The “before” Pei Wenxuan mentioned naturally referred to the previous life.
In the previous life, she later encountered a renowned physician who prescribed a new formula for her. The pain-relieving effect was quite good, but this ailment of hers couldn’t be cured—they said she had been damaged too severely in her youth.
Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Li Rong’s attention focused on another point, “You even know my medicinal formula. You must have planted quite a few people around me.”
Pei Wenxuan hadn’t expected Li Rong to bring this up. He choked for a moment, then said, “It’s all in the past. We agreed not to hold grudges. Besides, you planted plenty of people too. We’re even.”
Hearing Pei Wenxuan say this, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh.
Pei Wenxuan brought Li Rong onto the carriage. After boarding, the carriage had their commonly used spare clothes. Pei Wenxuan said in a low voice, “Your Highness, change your clothes first.”
With that, Pei Wenxuan turned his back to Li Rong and sat down.
Li Rong didn’t think much of it. Shivering, she changed her clothes. Pei Wenxuan heard rustling behind him for a while, then heard Li Rong say, “Done.”
Pei Wenxuan turned around and saw Li Rong curled up in a corner with a blanket covering her.
Seeing Pei Wenxuan looking at her, Li Rong quickly smiled in explanation, “This is warmer.”
Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. After a while, he leaned forward. Li Rong became somewhat nervous, involuntarily leaning back until she pressed against the carriage wall, saying warily, “What are you doing again?”
Pei Wenxuan reached out and pulled Li Rong into his embrace in one motion.
The wide sleeves of his freshly changed outer robe pressed against Li Rong’s back. His embrace carried not a trace of romance, calmly stating, “This is warmer.”
Li Rong didn’t dare speak. She just let Pei Wenxuan hold her quietly like this. After a long time, she laughed with difficulty, “You… why do you keep wanting to hold me lately?”
“Because our relationship is good.”
Pei Wenxuan’s answer flowed very smoothly, “We’ve even shared a bed. Are you really going to fuss with me about this? You’re cold right now—don’t you know? Why suffer needlessly?”
“But last time…”
“I felt bad in my heart,” Pei Wenxuan immediately continued, “I offended the Princess, but you agreed to it, didn’t you?”
Li Rong was at a loss for words. She felt a strange sensation she couldn’t quite articulate.
Seeing Li Rong stop talking, Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but smile. He continued adding fuel to the fire, “You said it yourself—we’re good sisters. You wouldn’t have any ideas about me, would you?”
“Don’t you dare wrong me.” Li Rong quickly said, “We’re so familiar. I’m not that kind of person.”
Pei Wenxuan laughed softly. Li Rong felt somewhat nervous, “What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing,” Pei Wenxuan sat on the cushion, adjusted his position to let Li Rong lean against his chest, and raised his arm around Li Rong’s shoulder, “I was just thinking Your Highness and I really are kindred spirits. Coincidentally, I think the same way.”
“That’s good then.”
Li Rong nodded, but somehow still felt somewhat guilty.
The two sat quietly for a while. Pei Wenxuan seemed tired and leaned against the carriage wall, closing his eyes to sleep.
Li Rong leaned in his embrace. Warmth rose around her, bringing an indescribable sense of security transmitted from this person. She unexpectedly felt drowsy too, leaning against Pei Wenxuan and drifting off in a daze.
After the two dozed for a while, they arrived at the Princess’s mansion. Pei Wenxuan carried Li Rong out of the carriage. Li Rong had grown accustomed to his actions and naturally wrapped her arms around Pei Wenxuan’s neck. Seeing her movement, Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but smile, “You certainly know how to climb up a pole.”
“What,” Li Rong raised her eyebrows at him, “Is Lord Pei a pole?”
Seeing Li Rong in the mood to joke, Pei Wenxuan countered, “Then is Your Highness a monkey?”
“That mouth of yours can never bear a loss even for a moment.”
Li Rong sighed. Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly, “There are times when I take losses.”
“Oh?”
“Mm,” Pei Wenxuan thought for a moment, as if being serious, “When Your Highness and I were husband and wife, didn’t I suffer plenty of losses?”
Hearing this, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh, “That was suffering losses? You were clearly just not familiar with me then.”
“You’ve misunderstood those words,” Pei Wenxuan’s face was completely serious, “I’ve always been tolerant toward my wife. If Your Highness wants me to suffer losses, this is the only method.”
Li Rong froze for a second. She felt Pei Wenxuan’s words had hidden meaning, yet felt she was overthinking. After all, Pei Wenxuan had always been someone without proper boundaries—one careless moment and it was easy to misunderstand.
But before she could speak to smooth things over, Pei Wenxuan smoothed things over himself, “What a pity—Your Highness no longer has this opportunity.”
“You really…”
Li Rong felt somewhat helpless. She sighed and turned to ask another question, “Aren’t you going to deal with the Pei family now?”
“Pei Liwen feigned fainting and ran away. I don’t want to disturb His Majesty over such a small matter.” Pei Wenxuan brought Li Rong to the bathing pool. The pool was already filled with medicinal soup. Pei Wenxuan placed Li Rong on the small couch, saying calmly, “The Pei family can still be of use. I’ll negotiate tomorrow. Your Highness can rest assured.”
With that, Pei Wenxuan called Jing Lan over and explained all the key points of the medicinal bath one by one. Then he said to Li Rong, “Your Highness, please bathe first. I’ll go down now.”
Li Rong lazily acknowledged. Pei Wenxuan withdrew. After leaving the room, Pei Wenxuan stood at the entrance. He folded his hands into his sleeves, listening to the young lady’s laughter inside, hearing water sounds. He couldn’t help but form corresponding images in his mind.
Li Rong’s bathing pool—in this lifetime he had almost never come here, much less stayed here together with Li Rong.
Now, just stopping briefly stirred up countless waves rolling continuously in his mind.
In the past he might not have thought much of it, but now recalling it, he couldn’t stop, like floodwater with a suddenly opened gate, instantly rushing forth.
This made him clearly aware that he remembered every detail of the past, even the smallest particulars, so very clearly.
Heaven and hell intertwined. He stood quietly at the entrance. A maidservant beside him couldn’t help but come forward, “Prince Consort, do you need a bath prepared?”
“Mm.”
Pei Wenxuan acknowledged, saying lightly, “Add extra cold water.”
Having said this, he turned and headed toward the room.
After Li Rong finished her medicinal bath, she felt entirely comfortable. But she remained cautious, wrapping herself in a thick robe before returning to the room.
When she returned to the room, she discovered charcoal fires had all been lit. The entire room was not merely “warm”—it was actually somewhat hot.
Pei Wenxuan wore light clothing, kneeling at his desk working. As soon as Li Rong entered, he said in a low voice, “Close the doors and windows. Don’t catch cold.”
Li Rong entered wearing her robe and half-crouched before him. Pei Wenxuan’s pen-holding motion paused. He looked up and saw Li Rong crouching before him.
Her robe was edged with a circle of white fur. This fluffy outfit made her entire person appear somewhat adorable.
Such a Li Rong was rarely seen, quite different from her external image. Pei Wenxuan gazed at her quietly for a while, then couldn’t help but smile.
“Doesn’t it hurt anymore?”
“With Divine Physician Xue’s medicine, I could be cured even worse than this later. Today is naturally a small matter.”
“Go lie down first.” Pei Wenxuan said gently, “I’ve placed the memorials you need to review by the bed. Look at them under the covers. Once I finish approving these documents, I’ll massage your acupressure points tonight.”
“Why not teach others,” Li Rong heard Pei Wenxuan speak and immediately said, “So you won’t be troubled.”
“Teaching others is even more exhausting. Please don’t torment me.” Pei Wenxuan lowered his head to look at documents, saying lightly, “I didn’t learn it easily back then.”
Hearing this, Li Rong froze. Seeing her not speaking, Pei Wenxuan looked up, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Li Rong smiled, “I just suddenly feel that… you actually treated me quite well back then.”
Pei Wenxuan’s pen paused. After a moment, he said, “Your Highness, don’t be too easily moved. This doesn’t count as anything. Don’t casually give your heart away just because someone treats you well.”
Pei Wenxuan’s words carried meaning. Li Rong completely failed to hear it, nodding, “You’re right. You treated me so well back then, yet didn’t you have other thoughts in mind?”
Pei Wenxuan’s heart clenched. He then looked up, rather angrily saying, “Your Highness, the matter isn’t as you say…”
“Time to rest, time to rest,” Li Rong saw Pei Wenxuan about to explain again and quickly said, “I misspoke. Don’t hold it against me. I’m leaving.”
With that, Li Rong ran off. Pei Wenxuan gripped his pen. After a while, he didn’t know whether to be angry or amused. He helplessly lowered his head and continued reviewing memorials.
Li Rong reviewed all recent information. Xun Chuan had been pursuing witnesses all along, but after witnesses like Luo Jun had been transferred multiple times, their whereabouts were long unknown. Xun Chuan had now pursued them out of Hua Jing.
Besides the disadvantage in finding evidence, the biggest problem still stemmed from court officials. Today nearly one hundred fifty memorials had been sent to Li Ming, all about abolishing the Supervisory Bureau. The reasons were varied and sundry, but the objective was extremely unified. If Li Rong couldn’t find powerful evidence, Li Ming would likely be unable to withstand the pressure.
After Li Rong finished reading these, it was nearly nighttime. Pei Wenxuan came to her side. Seeing her worried expression, he directly pulled away the memorial in her hands. Li Rong froze for a moment, then cried out, “What are you doing?”
“You’ve asked this question many times today.” Pei Wenxuan tossed the memorial aside, directly picked up the small table holding memorials and moved it far away, then extinguished the lamp and returned to bed, “Lie down. I’ll massage for you.”
“No need.” Li Rong felt inexplicably nervous in the darkness, “It doesn’t hurt today. Another time. Besides, aren’t you still injured? Rest well. Don’t exert yourself.”
“Really better?” Pei Wenxuan frowned, somewhat skeptical. Li Rong hurriedly said, “Better, better. By the way, did you apply medicine to your wounds?”
Pei Wenxuan paused for a moment, then said, “They need changing.”
“Mm? Then I’ll help you.”
Li Rong sat up, patting the bedside, “Come. Light the lamp. Give me the medicine and bandages.”
Pei Wenxuan listened to her words, lit the lamp beside them, took medicine and bandages, then raised his hand, removed his upper garment, and lay prone on the bed.
His movements flowed like water, extremely composed. Li Rong repeatedly told herself not to overthink. She focused all her attention on the wounds on Pei Wenxuan’s back, frowning, “These people really could bear to strike so hard.”
“Family discipline.” Pei Wenxuan said lightly, “All clan children have endured it. It’s nothing.”
“Speaking of which,” Li Rong lowered her eyes, “Did you endure it in the previous life?”
“How could I not have,” Pei Wenxuan smiled bitterly, “You just didn’t know.”
“Oh.”
Li Rong spoke softly, “Did you hate them then?”
Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. After a while, he said slowly, “One only hates when one cares. I hated them in my youth. Later I forgot—it wasn’t anything major. Besides, those who should have gone are gone. I’ve gotten everything I should have. I don’t want to dwell on them.”
“Pei Lixian,” Li Rong recalled, “In the previous life, you killed him, didn’t you?”
Pei Wenxuan fell silent. After a while, he suddenly said, “What were you worrying about earlier?”
Li Rong heard Pei Wenxuan change the subject so abruptly and knew he didn’t want to talk about it. So she didn’t press, following his lead, “Xun Chuan went to find witnesses. It’s been a long time, but she still hasn’t found them. I’m afraid these people have already met with trouble. If they’ve met trouble, our only remaining evidence is to find the people who originally sealed the mansion and figure out where the gold came from.”
As she spoke, Li Rong sprinkled medicinal powder on Pei Wenxuan’s wounds. Pei Wenxuan trembled slightly. Li Rong looked up, “Does it hurt?”
“No,” Pei Wenxuan quickly said, “You want to find evidence that the gold was planted by them. You can only find the people who handled it. Are you worried you don’t have a list?”
“Yes,” Li Rong pondered, “It seems I still need to find Su Rongqing once.”
“He won’t give it.” Pei Wenxuan said decisively, “You’d better change your approach.”
Li Rong looked up at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan continued, “The Pei family has someone in the Ministry of Justice. Though his position isn’t high, he mainly manages everyone’s duty logs. If tomorrow I can reach an agreement with the Pei family and have them follow your arrangements, we can find the duty logs of officers and soldiers on the day the mansion was sealed, and we’ll be able to find people.”
“That’s also a method.”
Li Rong nodded. Pei Wenxuan propped up his body, letting Li Rong wrap gauze around him, continuing, “More reliable than finding Su Rongqing. Shangguan Ya just wants to watch the excitement—what a terrible idea.”
“She meant well,” Li Rong smiled, “Wanting to kill two birds with one stone.”
“In matters of the heart,” Pei Wenxuan said seriously, “one cannot kill two birds with one stone. Otherwise, there will be endless misunderstandings.”
“You didn’t used to tell me this.” Li Rong tied his bandages in a knot. Pei Wenxuan contemplated for a moment, then said slowly, “Back then, I didn’t understand many principles.”
“And now you do?”
Li Rong thought, “I don’t feel we’ve recently encountered anything that would make you think of these things.”
Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. After a while, he said, “Your Highness, take my advice. If you’re uncertain about a relationship, don’t try to develop feelings with the other party. Before, I was wrong. I kept thinking you and Su Rongqing being together would be reuniting an old love, so I wanted to bring you together. But now I’ve thought it through—matters of the heart are about fate. Fate cannot be forced.”
“Your Highness needn’t do anything. Just quietly wait.”
“Wait for what?”
“Wait for the right fate.”
As Pei Wenxuan spoke, he stood up and went to extinguish the lamp. Li Rong sat on the bed, pondering his words. Pei Wenxuan returned to the bedside, bent down, half-supporting his body before Li Rong, leaning close to her.
He was very close. She could clearly see his fair, smooth skin in the moonlight. His gaze seemed intoxicated, instantly making hearts drunk. He looked somewhere between smiling and not, “In any case, Your Highness has me by your side. There’s no need to be anxious at all.”
“If Your Highness feels lonely, I can keep Your Highness company in conversation. If Your Highness lacks someone’s care, I can also attend to every detail until Your Highness is satisfied. Your Highness should still focus wholeheartedly on court affairs, build the Supervisory Bureau well, and let fate take its course.”
Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Li Rong couldn’t help raising her eyebrows, “You can do everything?”
“What does Your Highness think there is that I cannot do?”
“There’s one thing you can’t do.” Li Rong became cheerful.
“Such as?”
Pei Wenxuan gently tilted his head, an appearance of listening attentively. Li Rong smiled and fell back toward her side of the bed, loudly declaring, “Kiss me!”
The moment the words left her mouth, she felt a tremendous force from behind, pulling her into an embrace. One hand circled her waist, one hand gripped her chin, forcing her to raise her head.
Li Rong sensed what he was about to do. Her heart suddenly raced. She hurriedly raised her hand and pressed it against his face, saying urgently, “I was wrong, I was wrong!”
Pei Wenxuan had his face pushed away by her. For a long time he didn’t turn back. Li Rong cautiously leaned over, “Are you angry?”
After a moment, Pei Wenxuan began laughing softly. Li Rong felt somewhat strange, “What are you laughing at?”
Pei Wenxuan sat there holding her, laughing. Then he raised his eyes, bright as stars, saying happily, “Your Highness, you’re truly too adorable.”
Li Rong knew Pei Wenxuan was teasing her. She couldn’t be bothered with him. She lay down, turning her back to him, “Going to sleep.”
Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. He smiled as he watched her.
He had slept more during the day than she had. By the time Li Rong fell asleep, he still hadn’t fallen asleep.
After Li Rong had slept on her back for a while, she turned over. Pei Wenxuan propped his head up, watching her sleep peacefully. Moonlight fell on her face. She must have been having pleasant dreams—there was a smile at the corners of her mouth.
Pei Wenxuan watched for a while, then leaned down and placed a kiss lightly beside Li Rong’s lips.
The kiss was very light, like a dragonfly touching water, then returning to make several passes. After several times, Li Rong seemed to feel bothered. She raised her hand to swat him away, then turned over.
Pei Wenxuan took a deep breath. After much hesitation, he finally still pulled her into his embrace.
Li Rong made a soft “mm” sound in protest. Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly. His voice was low and husky as he spoke quietly, “You say such things to me—do you think I’m vegetarian?”
He knew the other party couldn’t hear these words. After speaking, he sighed.
Holding her, he fiercely breathed in her fragrance, then closed his eyes to sleep.
The two slept until their usual morning court time. Li Rong groggily woke up. When she woke, she was still being held completely in Pei Wenxuan’s embrace. Li Rong was still drowsy and didn’t realize, mumbling confusedly, “Time for court…”
Pei Wenxuan pulled the person back into his embrace by the waist, holding her down, “I had someone request leave for you. Sleep.”
Hearing the words “request leave,” all of Li Rong’s willpower completely collapsed. She instantly fell asleep.
When she woke again, she finally noticed something was wrong. She instantly became alert, staring at Pei Wenxuan beside her.
Pei Wenxuan sensed she had awakened. Yawning, he slowly sat up, then looked up at Li Rong, somewhat bewildered, “Your Highness?”
As he spoke, he shrank back, pulling his clothes closer, “You… what are you staring at me like that for?”
“You…”
Seeing his appearance, Li Rong didn’t know how to bring up what had just happened. She wasn’t even certain whether Pei Wenxuan knew.
Things had been fine before—both of them had very proper sleeping postures. How did they end up embracing last night?
Li Rong didn’t know what to say for a moment. But Pei Wenxuan spoke up first, his face full of warning, “You already held me all night last night. Don’t go too far.”
Li Rong: “???”
“You didn’t know?” Pei Wenxuan looked at her expression, somewhat uncertain, “Last night you kept saying you were cold. Forgot?”
Li Rong: “…”
No recollection whatsoever.
“I think you’re deceiving me.” After a long while, Li Rong finally managed to produce a rebuttal. Pei Wenxuan’s gaze swept over Li Rong from top to bottom, then from bottom to top. Then he suddenly reached out and placed his hand on Li Rong’s leg, saying seriously, “Your Highness, what is this?”
“A leg.” Li Rong was somewhat bewildered, then raised her hand to hit him, “What are you doing?”
But though Li Rong’s hand moved quickly, Pei Wenxuan’s hand retracted even faster. He immediately placed his hand on his own leg, “What is this again?”
“Your… your leg?” Li Rong was somewhat uncertain.
Pei Wenxuan smiled, “Correct. They’re both legs. This is how I view the relationship between Your Highness and myself. To speak frankly, when I touch Your Highness’s leg, I can’t even tell it’s not mine. I’d trouble Your Highness not to fantasize too much. Save that rich imagination for the storybooks you read.”
With that, Pei Wenxuan got up from bed, saying elegantly, “Your Highness, this minister still has other matters. I’ll get up first. Would you like to sleep more?”
“No need.”
Li Rong adjusted her mindset, feeling it was very likely she had misunderstood and overthought things.
After all, given Pei Wenxuan’s temperament, if he liked her, he would definitely do something “for her own good.” There was absolutely no possibility he would actively embrace her at night.
She calmed her emotions for a moment, categorizing this incident as an accident. Then she nodded, “I’ll first go see the other ministers today. Tonight I’ll come back and accompany you to the Pei family.”
“Why accompany me?” Pei Wenxuan wiped his face with a cloth, his expression somewhere between a smile and not as he looked up, “Don’t trust me?”
“Right, right, right,” Li Rong couldn’t be bothered to bicker with him, “With your ability to go to the Pei family once and need so long to recover from injuries, I’m truly impressed.”
“Don’t worry,” Pei Wenxuan saw Li Rong was serious. He stopped joking too, putting away his smile and saying seriously, “Everything is within my calculations. Nothing will happen this time.”
Li Rong acknowledged. She truly didn’t doubt Pei Wenxuan’s capabilities.
After the two got up and washed, they each went to handle their own matters. Li Rong began contacting officials from various places. Currently the Supervisory Bureau had a bad reputation and everyone was still observing. Those she could contact were all officials without much use, not in positions of real power, as well as some minor officials.
But Li Rong didn’t mind. She made a list of people’s later performance from the previous life and contacted them one by one.
Though Pei Wenxuan had returned home to recuperate from his injuries, he hadn’t let any matters slide. His intelligence network spread everywhere. Staying at home didn’t hinder his writing of impeachment memorials at all.
Both were busy until evening. As soon as night fell, Pei Wenxuan changed into proper clothes. The moment he walked out the door, he saw Li Rong’s carriage waiting for him at the entrance.
Li Rong seemed to have heard the sounds of him leaving the mansion. She used her small golden fan to lift the window curtain, smiling at him from inside the carriage. Her pair of beautiful phoenix eyes were full of teasing, “Where is Lord Pei going? This Princess happens to be passing by. Shall I give you a ride?”
Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly, walked forward, then sat down beside Li Rong, “After all these years, Your Highness still loves making such jokes.”
“Isn’t it interesting?”
Li Rong spoke, her small fan tapping against her palm, “Every time we meet, treat it as the first meeting. Clearly both know what kind of person the other is, yet still deliberately exchange pleasantries. Don’t you think it’s quite amusing?”
“Then in this lifetime, Your Highness must find it very interesting.”
Pei Wenxuan smiled as he responded. Li Rong paused for a moment, then laughed softly, “Indeed.”
“Where is my mother?”
When Pei Wenxuan stopped joking, he directly asked about the key person. Li Rong raised her hand and pointed behind, “In the carriage behind. Have you coordinated everything you need to say?”
“Done.”
Pei Wenxuan instructed, “When we arrive, you sit to one side. You don’t need to say a single word.”
“I know. You’re formidable at quarreling.”
“This isn’t called quarreling,” Pei Wenxuan quickly explained, “It’s called reasoning.”
Li Rong smiled without speaking. The two discussed how to coordinate tonight, one playing the good cop and one playing the bad cop. Then they began talking about amusing matters. Soon they arrived at the Pei family.
The carriage stopped at the Pei family. Pei Wenxuan got off the carriage first, then extended a hand to help Li Rong down.
Arriving at the Pei family entrance, Li Rong looked up and saw that this time the Pei family had guards stationed from the very entrance—clearly they’d been frightened by Li Rong’s disruption last time.
Li Rong opened her small fan, saying softly, “How cowardly.”
Pei Wenxuan held her hand, smiling without speaking.
The two led their attendants, calmly walking through the Pei family’s main gate, passing through corridors, and arriving at the ancestral hall.
Before the ancestral hall were the tablets of the Pei family’s ancestors arranged in rows. The clan elders all sat closest to the tablets inside. Others stood progressively outward according to status and rank.
Pei Wenxuan helped Li Rong enter. Everyone stared at him. Pei Wenxuan smiled and bowed to everyone. No one spoke.
Li Rong raised her eyebrows, “What, the Prince Consort bows to you all, yet you don’t bow to this Princess?”
Pei Wenxuan placed his hands before him, smiling as he lowered his head, watching Li Rong throw her tantrum.
Both sides wanted to intimidate the other. The Pei family didn’t move. Li Rong looked up toward—