Hearing this, Li Rong instinctively stood up, but then remembered that she was currently confined and couldn’t leave at all. She took a deep breath and only said to Jing Lan, “Send someone out to gather information about the situation and report back to me constantly. Have people watch the great hall. Once news of pardoning the Qin family comes from the hall, immediately have all Constabulary Bureau personnel clear the imperial road to let the messenger pass through to the execution ground.”

Jing Lan acknowledged and withdrew. Li Rong stood in place, composed herself for a moment, then turned her head to look at Su Rongqing, who was gazing down at the chess board. She walked back to her original position, sat down, and said, “Lord Su, the Prince Consort has already returned.”

“Mm.”

Su Rongqing said softly, “This official heard.”

“Those words just now…”

“Your Highness may consider that this official never said them.” Su Rongqing’s expression was very composed. Li Rong nodded.

Given Su Rongqing’s personality, he would only say those words because Pei Wenxuan had died.

With Pei Wenxuan dead, he wanted to keep her…

But why would he keep her? Keep a princess who had already lost power and clearly broken with the Crown Prince?

Li Rong pondered this, finding it somewhat difficult to understand. She raised her eyes to glance at Su Rongqing. Her mind was preoccupied with Pei Wenxuan’s return. Su Rongqing saw her distraction and only said, “Since Lord Pei has returned, naturally he wouldn’t return in vain. Your Highness needn’t worry too much.”

Speaking thus, Su Rongqing placed his chess piece on the board and said slowly, “Why doesn’t Your Highness give me the courtesy of finishing this game?”

Li Rong didn’t speak. She quietly looked at Su Rongqing. Today’s Su Rongqing differed greatly from usual—more like the Su Rongqing in her memory after drinking, with a hint of abandon.

Less restrained by propriety, somewhat more unusual.

Li Rong hesitated for a moment, then walked back before the chess board and raised her hand, “Please.”

While Li Rong and Su Rongqing played chess in the high tower, Pei Wenxuan rode his horse with raised whip, galloping all the way into the palace. Then he dismounted in one motion and ran madly toward the great hall, calling out urgently, “Your Majesty, the Qin family has been wronged! Stay the execution!”

At this moment, morning court had just begun. Pei Wenxuan’s loud call came all the way from outside the hall. Everyone turned to look and saw the young man in green robes, his hem stained with mud, holding a roll of papers in his hand, striding rapidly from outside the hall.

“Pei Wenxuan?”

Li Ming saw who it was and cried out in shock. The officials present showed various expressions. Pei Wenxuan, breathing heavily, knelt and bowed, “This official greets Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!”

“You…” Li Ming spoke incredulously. Before the words “weren’t you dead?” could leave his mouth, he remembered that Li Rong had requested sick leave for Pei Wenxuan. He restrained himself for a moment before changing his words, “Aren’t you still ill?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan said respectfully, “Her Highness should have told Your Majesty that this official claimed illness on the surface but actually secretly left the capital to thoroughly investigate the Qin family case. After leaving the capital, this official detected someone following and, to divert attention, feigned falling off a cliff. Only then could I successfully proceed to the northwest to thoroughly investigate the Qin family case. Now this official has obtained evidence of the Qin family’s wrongful conviction. Please have Your Majesty immediately send someone to the execution ground to have the executioner stay his blade.”

Hearing this, Li Ming immediately reacted and said urgently, “Quickly, go to the execution ground and spare the Qin family!”

The eunuch received the order and immediately rushed out. Several old ministers frowned and gave an eye signal to a eunuch behind them. The eunuch standing behind the curtain silently withdrew.

The messenger eunuch, having received the order, left the palace. Not long after walking out the palace gates, he saw a wave of assassins charging straight at him.

The eunuch, terrified, rode his horse in hasty retreat. Seeing a feathered arrow flying toward him with no way to avoid it, the eunuch stared in shock with wide eyes. At this moment, a blade suddenly charged out from the side, splitting the arrow with one stroke. A hand grabbed the eunuch and threw him onto his own horse, saying urgently, “Sir, this humble one, on orders from the Constabulary Bureau, has come specially to protect you. Please come with me.”

Speaking thus, that guard led the eunuch fighting all the way through the crowd. The alley was densely packed with assassins who tangled with the Constabulary Bureau’s people, fighting throughout the alley.

While the messenger eunuch was blocked on the road, another group of riders quickly left the palace, heading straight for the execution ground. They arrived at the execution ground early, found a guard, and whispered a few words in his ear. The guard immediately stepped forward, found the supervising official, and said something in a low voice.

The supervising official frowned, hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.

“The hour has arrived,” the supervising official suddenly reached out and took the token marked with the character for “execute,” raising his hand to throw it to the ground. “Exe—”

Before he finished speaking, a hoarse shout came from the crowd, “Sir, the hour hasn’t arrived yet.”

The supervising official hadn’t expected anyone to openly challenge him like this. He gritted his teeth and said angrily, “Execute immediately!”

The executioner seemed to know the timing was wrong and hesitated. Seeing the executioner not moving, the supervising official slammed the table, “What are you standing there for? This official orders you to execute!”

Having received his superior’s anger, the executioner dared not delay further. He raised his hand to remove the placard behind Qin Lin at the very edge, raising his great blade. As the blade was about to fall, a young man from the crowd suddenly charged out, kicking him away with one foot. Then he raised his hand, cutting Qin Lin’s ropes with one sword stroke while simultaneously throwing another sword over.

“Prisoner rescue!”

The soldiers instantly reacted and rushed forward urgently.

After Xun Chuan said “save them” in a low voice, he kicked away the soldiers charging up, raised his sword to block before the Qin family old and young, and said angrily, “The hour hasn’t arrived yet, and you dare execute people early—what audacity!”

“Arrest them!”

Seeing the scene turn chaotic, the supervising official panicked and shouted loudly, “Defying the law—this is prisoner rescue! Stop them, stop them all!”

The supervising official shouted loudly. Soldiers charged toward the high platform. Xun Chuan blocked people while Qin Lin stumbled about rescuing others. The two coordinated, protecting the Qin family, creating complete chaos on the execution platform.

Just then, a eunuch protected by others rode swiftly forward, holding an imperial edict and shouting loudly, “Spare them! Stay the execution!”

While swords flashed in two places in Hua Jing, atop the North Swallow Pagoda there was an unexpected tranquility.

“Lord Su is in quite a mood today.” Li Rong placed a chess piece, listening to the copper bells outside ringing in the wind, and said slowly, “You’re actually willing to accompany this palace in playing chess like this.”

“Accompanying Your Highness in chess—this official is always willing, at any time.” Su Rongqing looked at the board, speaking naturally. “Moreover, this official thought Your Highness must have many questions to ask, so I deliberately stayed.”

“Lord Su is correct.” Li Rong smiled. “This palace indeed has many questions I’d like to consult Lord Su about.”

“Please speak, Your Highness.”

“Actually, I don’t understand what Lord Su said earlier.” Li Rong and Su Rongqing alternated placing chess pieces. “Why would Lord Su want to marry me? Even if Pei Wenxuan died, I would still be remarrying. Moreover, now the Crown Prince and I have long since broken apart. Marrying me would have no meaning for Lord Su. Why go through such trouble to marry a twice-wed woman?”

Su Rongqing didn’t speak. Li Rong pondered and said, “When Lord Su and I first became acquainted, you already had intentions of allying with the Crown Prince. Going through such effort to protect me—do you still want to use me to maintain your relationship with the Crown Prince? But why does the Su family value the relationship with the Crown Prince so much? The Crown Prince has a gentle personality and doesn’t need…”

“Your Highness,” Su Rongqing interrupted her, “must you link everything to power and influence?”

Li Rong’s movement of picking up a piece halted. Su Rongqing raised his eyes, quietly gazing at Li Rong. “I’m unwilling to be Your Highness’s enemy. I hope Your Highness lives well. Is such a simple reason not acceptable?”

Li Rong stared blankly at Su Rongqing. Outside, birds flew past, sweeping from the North Swallow Pagoda all the way to the great hall.

In the great hall, Pei Wenxuan had already submitted the accounts he had investigated along the route, as well as the testimonies recorded by the common people of Huangping County about that battle.

“Your Majesty, this official visited the county offices along the military provisions route and copied down each county office’s specific grain records from that year. According to Ministry of War records, Huangping County had a total of three thousand soldiers. Before the battle began, ten thousand shi of grain were allocated for one month’s rations. But in reality, when it reached Huangping County, the grain was less than three thousand shi. Each county the grain passed through lost a portion. In several major counties, almost nothing remained after being divided up. These county records show that each county received less grain than what the previous county reported they should receive. After verification, each county reported incorrect total grain amounts that other counties should receive, but the grain each county actually received matches Huangping County’s records. This shows Huangping County receiving three thousand shi is accurate, while the Ministry of War’s record of ten thousand shi is likely erroneous.”

“Besides the grain records, this official also sought out local soldiers and common people, recording testimonies about that battle. Before the battle began, more than half the soldiers were already sick and starving, completely unable to fight. Under those circumstances, that the Qin family could still evacuate the city’s common people in advance without major casualties—not only should they not be punished, they should be rewarded, lest we chill the hearts of frontier soldiers.”

“This official humbly petitions Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, calling out, “to thoroughly investigate the embezzlement of military provisions at Huangping County that year.”

As soon as Pei Wenxuan spoke, the Vice Minister of War jumped out urgently, shouting loudly, “Slander! This is naked slander!”

“Whether it’s slander or not,” Pei Wenxuan raised his head, speaking passionately, “one investigation will reveal all!”

“Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan kowtowed on the ground, shouting loudly, “please thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, and Censorate to clear the Qin family’s name and give frontier soldiers justice!”

Li Ming didn’t speak. Everyone else also remained silent.

The evidence Pei Wenxuan brought back was too abundant, too solid. At this moment, no one wanted to step forward.

But the more evidence there was, the more people were implicated. Those who had participated back then, seeing no one speaking up during the long silence, finally couldn’t help but rush out. Wen Ping of the Censorate took the lead, saying angrily, “Pei Wenxuan, what do you mean? The Ministry of Justice, Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, Censorate—are you saying the entire court conspired together to deceive those above and frame the Qin family? Where does the Qin family get such influence? And you—as a censorial official, not performing your duties, deceiving the monarch and defying the law by leaving the capital, then fabricating a pile of evidence to deceive His Majesty—do you think His Majesty will be deceived by you?”

“That’s right,” Wen Ping having started, other officials hurriedly stepped out of line, saying anxiously, “You audited accounts? As a censorial official, where did you get the authority to audit so many counties’ accounts? Why would others give them to you? Where did these accounts actually come from? Confess truthfully!”

“Your Majesty,” Wen Ping turned to look at Li Ming and knelt down. “Pei Wenxuan neglected his duties and deceived the monarch. His father Pei Lizhi and the Qin family are old friends. Now, to show favoritism, he didn’t hesitate to forge evidence. This official hopes Your Majesty will investigate clearly and punish him!”

Speaking thus, many people followed Wen Ping in kneeling, saying urgently, “Your Majesty, please investigate clearly!”

Li Ming didn’t speak. Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground in silence.

Actually, everyone present knew that faced with such evidence, whether Li Ming would investigate further wasn’t a question of evidence at all, but whether Li Ming could investigate and whether he wanted to investigate.

The aristocratic families were a sword hanging over Li Ming’s head. If he pressed too hard, the sword might fall.

The aristocratic families were betting on Li Ming’s fear, and Li Ming was indeed afraid.

Right now he only wanted to balance the aristocratic families, but only balance them, not completely shake them.

He didn’t dare now, nor could he.

And this memorial Pei Wenxuan gave him was sufficient to cut the rope of this sword and let it fall.

Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, waiting for Li Ming’s decision. When Li Ming remained silent for a long time, Pei Wenxuan said, “Your Majesty.”

“The frontier soldiers guard not only the frontier, but also Great Xia’s mountains and rivers.”

This was a hint, reminding Li Ming that if frontier matters weren’t handled well, what would be shaken was Great Xia’s very foundation.

Li Ming gripped Pei Wenxuan’s memorial. After a long while, he finally said, “Beloved Minister Pei has worked hard on this journey. This case is of great importance. Zhen will think about it more. You’re also tired—go rest first.”

“Yes.”

Pei Wenxuan bowed respectfully. After rising, just as he was about to leave, he heard Li Ming say, “Pingle is currently confined at the North Swallow Pagoda. Go fetch her and return together.”

Pei Wenxuan was slightly startled, then lowered his eyes and said respectfully, “Yes.”

When Pei Wenxuan rushed toward the North Swallow Pagoda, Su Rongqing and Li Rong’s chess game was not yet finished.

After Su Rongqing said “is it not acceptable?” he quietly looked at Li Rong without saying more.

When ordinary people finish such a statement and look at the other party, the purpose is to await a response. But when he looked at Li Rong, he truly was just looking.

Li Rong couldn’t sense any desire from his gaze.

That look contained many complex emotions, but regardless of what it contained, it lacked this particular anticipation for her response.

As if he was only saying it for her to hear, and whether she responded or not didn’t matter.

Even her answer seemed superfluous.

“Lord Su…” Li Rong considered her words, wanting to speak. But before she could say anything to ease the atmosphere, Su Rongqing interrupted her.

“Your Highness,” his hand rested in the chess box. He seemed somewhat weary and changed the subject. “I was speaking nonsense just now. Your Highness shouldn’t take it to heart. Your Highness allying with the aristocratic families to assist the Crown Prince’s ascension—this is your best path. Even if you establish the Constabulary Bureau, you must maintain proper limits. Power struggles are all swords and shadows—you must be extremely careful.”

Li Rong didn’t speak. Su Rongqing stood up, his tone steady. “This game of chess—this official has lost. I won’t disturb Your Highness further and will take my leave now.”

Li Rong lowered her eyes, looking at the chess board where victory and defeat had not actually been determined at all.

Su Rongqing turned to walk out. Before reaching the door, Li Rong suddenly called out, “Su Rongqing.”

Su Rongqing stopped. Li Rong looked at the black and white pieces clearly distinguished on the board. She wanted to say something.

She wanted to ask him if he liked her.

Wanted to ask him what he meant by hoping she lived well and not wanting to be her enemy.

But when the words reached her lips, she felt countless questions behind them.

If he truly had feelings, why didn’t he seek to marry her back then?

With the Su family’s power, if he truly risked his life to marry her, wouldn’t it have been possible?

If he truly liked her, if he truly had such intentions…

Yet he still watched her marry Pei Wenxuan, which showed the nature of these feelings.

Feelings that didn’t dare even be mentioned before the family—whether asked or not, answered or not, what meaning did they have?

Numerous questions came at her. Li Rong suddenly lost courage.

Her spirits suddenly deflated. She waved her hand. “Go.”

Su Rongqing didn’t speak. He stood for a while before finally leaving.

Having heard Li Rong was at the North Swallow Pagoda, Pei Wenxuan didn’t even change his clothes and rushed over urgently. Just entering the North Swallow Pagoda courtyard, he saw Su Rongqing walking out from inside.

Pei Wenxuan was slightly startled, then realized Su Rongqing must have come to see Li Rong.

Pei Wenxuan frowned. Seeing Pei Wenxuan, Su Rongqing also stopped.

The two gazed at each other. After a moment, Pei Wenxuan smiled first and bowed. “Vice Minister Su.”

“Censor Pei.”

“Vice Minister Su didn’t attend morning court today?”

Pei Wenxuan made small talk, casually glancing at the North Swallow Pagoda. “Coming to the North Swallow Pagoda for a leisurely stroll—quite refined tastes.”

“I had business with Her Highness.”

Su Rongqing spoke plainly. Pei Wenxuan smiled. “Must have been urgent business.”

Su Rongqing didn’t speak. The wind gently brushed the withered grass around them. Su Rongqing stared into Pei Wenxuan’s eyes. After a long while, he suddenly spoke. “What do you fear about me?”

“I fear you?” Pei Wenxuan raised an eyebrow. “What nonsense is Vice Minister Su saying in broad daylight?”

“You fear me seeing Her Highness.”

Su Rongqing spoke directly. Pei Wenxuan’s expression suddenly turned cold. “Vice Minister Su, mind your words.”

“Isn’t it so?”

Su Rongqing folded his hands in his sleeves, saying indifferently, “If not for His Majesty’s wariness of powerful in-laws, you wouldn’t be able to touch even the hem of the Princess’s robe in your entire life. Do you think, among those around the Princess, it would be your turn?”

“Censor Pei, are you not curious what I said to Her Highness?” Su Rongqing spoke, moving closer to Pei Wenxuan. He leaned near Pei Wenxuan’s ear and said softly, “I told Her Highness,” Su Rongqing lowered his voice, “that I’m willing to marry her.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan’s eyes suddenly widened.

“It’s a pity you returned.”

Su Rongqing’s voice carried a trace of coldness. “But if you continue to drag Her Highness into opposing the aristocratic families, continue to place Her Highness in such danger, Pei Wenxuan—you won’t always have such good luck.”

Speaking thus, Su Rongqing raised his hand and patted Pei Wenxuan’s shoulder lightly. “Take care of yourself.”

After Su Rongqing finished speaking, he departed composedly.

Pei Wenxuan stood quietly in place. He felt that October’s weather was indeed somewhat cold.

He suddenly wanted to see Li Rong—so urgently, so longingly, he wanted to see her.

But thinking about seeing her, he inexplicably felt somewhat afraid, anxious.

Afraid she would open her mouth to tell him Su Rongqing had proposed to her, open her mouth to tell him she would accept Su Rongqing.

Afraid that the moment they met, she would let him know that actually, in this relationship, he had already been left behind long ago.

The previous life was like this. This time as well.

This anxiety made him stand in place, unable to move for a long time.

Li Rong sat atop the high tower. She drank tea to compose herself for a moment, then heard Jing Lan say happily, “Your Highness, the Prince Consort is at the tower base.”

Hearing this, Li Rong instantly smiled. She hurriedly stood up, walked to the window, and indeed saw Pei Wenxuan standing below the tower, lost in some daze.

“This fool.”

Li Rong pursed her lips, cursing once, then lifted her skirts and ran down the stairs all the way.

When she ran to the first floor, she couldn’t help breathing a bit heavily. She still had to pretend composure, saying to the gatekeeper, “The Prince Consort has come to fetch me. Open the gate.”

The gate guards naturally knew Li Rong’s confinement was just for show. News from morning court had already passed to the North Swallow Pagoda several times. These soldiers hurriedly opened the gate for Li Rong.

The vermilion gate made a creaking sound as it opened. Hearing the sound, Pei Wenxuan turned his head and saw the vermilion gate open inch by inch, revealing the slender figure behind it.

She wore a white gauze robe with blue edges printed with white plum blossoms, wide sleeves and broad skirt. Her long hair flowed loose, with only a small portion gathered by a jade hairpin, looking pure and transcendent, like an immortal descending to the mortal realm.

She looked at him with a smile in her eyes, still carrying a trace of teasing. Her entire being fell into his heart, melting, making his whole heart become soft.

No matter what emotions—dejection, panic, unease, anxiety—all were forgotten the instant he saw that person’s smile. He just stared at her blankly, like a mortal seeing an immortal.

Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan before her. The young man wore simple green cloth robes, his face had grown stubble. He looked to be in one of the rare disheveled moments of his life, yet somehow it added a measure of reality, touching her heart.

Li Rong smiled looking at him, but when her gaze touched the mud on his body, his swollen red palms, the wounds on his face, she couldn’t help slowly losing her smile.

A wordless heartache spread through her heart. She suddenly wanted to embrace him, yet felt it would seem too improper.

She called out hoarsely, “Pei Wenxuan.”

In that moment, the young man seemed to awaken. Before Li Rong could say anything, he strode forward and pulled her into his embrace.

Li Rong was slightly startled, then heard Pei Wenxuan call out with what seemed like relief, his voice low and hoarse, “Rong Rong.”

“I’ve returned. I’ve come to take you home.”

Author’s Note: [Mini Theater]

Su Rongqing: “Pei Wenxuan, if you dare let her fall into danger again, you won’t always have such good luck.”

Pei Wenxuan: “What, my luck is up to you now? If your luck is bad, go far away and don’t infect me. I’m taking my wife home.”

Su Rongqing: “…”

Pei Wenxuan: “Also, acting cool in the main story is fine, but you still act in the mini theater? Don’t you know I have OOC privileges in the mini theater?”

Su Rongqing: “Such as insulting me?”

Pei Wenxuan: “Not only can I insult you, I can hit you too.”