Li Rong remembered Pei Wenxuan’s inexperience.

Though many years had passed, she still remembered when they first kissed—Pei Wenxuan’s careful yet flustered appearance.

At the very beginning, it was just lips lightly touching lips. She only felt something soft, but didn’t have any other feelings. It wasn’t as mysterious as rumored.

Later on, it was reckless and clumsy, with a bit more desire added, but Li Rong still didn’t feel particularly happy. It was just between husband and wife, having just married, going through the motions.

Only her going through the motions fell into Pei Wenxuan’s eyes, and this person was always a good student. He had learned to arrange her hair and paint her brows for her. He wouldn’t neglect this matter either, so every night he would try different methods, constantly asking her earnestly, “What does Your Highness think?”

Thinking back, it was rather amusing, but he was unashamed to ask questions, and he truly found his way.

He could paint over a dozen makeup styles for Li Rong.

He could also, with one kiss, deliver to Li Rong the ultimate pleasure of the mortal world.

Su Rongqing had kissed her. In their long companionship, he fulfilled the duties a bedside partner could give.

Only his kisses were always restrained and controlled, just like the person he was, like his feelings. They allowed one to always maintain clarity. All the sensations were merely the sensations inherent to being human.

But the joy Pei Wenxuan gave was beyond basic desire—he gave something additional. No matter how strong one’s rationality, it could be transformed into soft longing wrapped around one’s fingers.

The moment he kissed her, Li Rong initially felt somewhat shocked. However, it was only brief disorientation before Li Rong’s entire consciousness collapsed. She only felt pleasure she hadn’t experienced in decades exploding in her mind, leaving her without even the strength to push this person away.

It wasn’t until Pei Wenxuan’s lips moved down along her neck, biting open the knot of her clothing and raising his hand to pull at her waist belt, that Li Rong finally gained some clarity and pressed down on Pei Wenxuan’s hand.

Both were breathing heavily. Pei Wenxuan paused for a moment and slowly raised his head.

His face bore a smile, his eyes carrying a trace of pride, suppressing the spring passion hidden beneath.

“You…” Li Rong spoke hoarsely. “What are you doing?”

Li Rong wasn’t a fool. She absolutely didn’t believe Pei Wenxuan wanted to be “just friends” with her.

What kind of friend was this?

Normally kissing and pulling her around was one thing, but going this far as friends—did he think she was stupid?!

What made her even more annoyed was that knowing full well he had ulterior motives, she had still responded!

She hadn’t pushed him away at the first opportunity—she had responded!

Li Rong was angry at herself and angry at Pei Wenxuan, glaring at him fiercely.

Pei Wenxuan saw the wariness in Li Rong’s eyes. She seemed terribly afraid he would kiss her again. Seeing Li Rong so guarded, thinking about the reason for her vigilance, Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help laughing softly.

“What are you laughing at?”

Li Rong raised her hand and pushed Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan followed her force and fell back onto the bed, laughing continuously. Li Rong raised her hand to grab a soft pillow beside her and threw it at him. Pei Wenxuan held his head, allowing Li Rong to throw things at him.

Li Rong knew he was laughing at her loss of composure just now. Just one kiss, and she had completely forgotten herself. The more Li Rong thought about it, the more annoyed she became—angry at herself and furious at Pei Wenxuan. She threw the pillow aside and raised her hand to hit Pei Wenxuan. After letting her hit him a few times, Pei Wenxuan finally caught one of her striking hands. Li Rong glared at him. Pei Wenxuan propped himself up halfway, pulled her hand to his lips, gently blew on it, then raised his eyes to look at her and smiled. “Don’t hurt your hand from hitting.”

“Pei Wenxuan!”

Li Rong shouted sternly, “You’re being presumptuous!”

“Doesn’t Your Highness like it?” Pei Wenxuan reclined on the bed, propping up his head, looking at Li Rong with a smile. “I think Your Highness should have felt happy just now.”

Hearing this, Li Rong laughed coldly. “Censor Pei’s skills in serving people are quite excellent. How could this palace not be pleased?”

“That’s good then.” Pei Wenxuan smiled at Li Rong. “Whenever Your Highness wants this official to serve, this official awaits your call at any time.”

Li Rong didn’t speak. She stared at Pei Wenxuan. Seeing his completely relaxed demeanor, after a long while she finally gritted out, “What madness has possessed you?”

“This official heard that Lord Su previously proposed marriage to Your Highness.”

Pei Wenxuan held Li Rong’s hand, carelessly caressing it, his gaze falling on where he touched, speaking slowly, “This official fears Your Highness might be tempted by Vice Minister Su’s beauty, so I’m merely giving Your Highness a reminder.”

“Reminder?” Li Rong laughed coldly. “What kind of reminder is this?”

“Your Highness, if you’re just lacking someone by your side, Wenxuan is right here beside you.” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes, his gaze resting on Li Rong, speaking softly, “This official said before—whatever Your Highness wants, this official can give.”

Speaking thus, Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help smiling as he repeated Li Rong’s previous words, “Including kissing you.”

Li Rong didn’t speak. She looked into Pei Wenxuan’s eyes.

Pei Wenxuan shifted his gaze and said slowly, “This official knows that Lord Su is special to Your Highness. His willingness to propose marriage is probably no small shock to Your Highness. After all, across two lifetimes,” Pei Wenxuan’s voice was somewhat low, “you never properly married him with legitimacy. This is probably a regret in Your Highness’s heart.”

“Your Highness admired him from youth—Rongqing in white robes, no immortal in the world could compare. Later you accompanied each other through life, but were hindered by this official’s lack of proper status. Being able to bow to heaven, earth, ruler, and parents with Su Rongqing—for Your Highness, this would fulfill a long-cherished wish. But Your Highness, now is not a suitable time.”

Pei Wenxuan brushed aside the sleeve pressed beneath him, seemingly casual. “If it were earlier, when you and the Su family had no conflicts of interest, you two coming together would have been a good match. But now you want to establish the Constabulary Bureau, to seize power from the aristocratic families into your own hands. So if he’s willing to stand on Your Highness’s side, your relationship becomes mixed with power and influence—this isn’t the Su Rongqing Your Highness wants. If he’s unwilling to stand on Your Highness’s side, then Your Highness’s marriage prospect with him is severed. What’s even more frightening is if he wants to use Your Highness’s feelings to seek benefits for himself, just like in the previous life.” Pei Wenxuan’s tone carried some coldness. He raised his eyes to look at Li Rong. “What would Your Highness do then?”

Li Rong didn’t speak. She watched Pei Wenxuan say all this with such detachment. Seeing she didn’t respond, Pei Wenxuan thought his words had reached her heart. He shifted his gaze and changed his tone. “If Your Highness must choose someone, compared to Su Rongqing, Your Highness might as well choose me.”

“Choose you?” Li Rong’s voice carried mockery.

“Isn’t it good?” Pei Wenxuan turned to look at Li Rong, speaking indifferently. “In terms of family background, though the Su family is aristocracy, the Pei family is also a prominent clan. What the Su family can give Your Highness, the Pei family can give no less. Moreover, now that His Majesty is establishing the Constabulary Bureau and opposing the aristocratic families, the Pei family will fully align with you—much easier to control than the Su family.”

“And as for individuals,” Pei Wenxuan raised an eyebrow, “in what way am I inferior to him?”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

Seeing Pei Wenxuan spouting nonsense, Li Rong was too lazy to continue with him. She turned over to lie down, her back to Pei Wenxuan. “Sleep.”

“Don’t sleep,” Pei Wenxuan, seeing Li Rong wouldn’t respond to this topic, felt somewhat dissatisfied. He reached out to pull Li Rong, wanting to turn her over, pressing, “In what way am I inferior to him? Tell me!”

Li Rong, with her back to him, didn’t speak. She covered her ears, not wanting to pay attention to him. Pei Wenxuan grew angry and said through gritted teeth, “In the six arts of a gentleman, I ranked first every year—no worse than him. In terms of appearance, I don’t lose to him either. As for temperament, is he better to you than I am? He couldn’t even manage to propose marriage to you—what are you pining for?”

“Not listening, not listening,” Li Rong, hearing that he was angry, actually became somewhat pleased. “Turtle chanting scriptures.”

“Li Rong, explain yourself clearly,” Pei Wenxuan turned her over, saying angrily, “How am I inferior to him?”

“Then you tell me,” Li Rong suppressed her amusement, feigning seriousness, “you’re about equal to him in everything, and he’s from a prominent aristocratic family. How are you better than him?”

This question stumped Pei Wenxuan for a moment. Li Rong sighed. “Can’t say, can you? If you can’t say, don’t disturb me. I’m going to sleep.”

After Li Rong finished speaking, she lay back down. Pei Wenxuan sat behind her for a while. Li Rong thought about it and worried she had gone too far. Preparing to speak some comforting words to him, before she could open her mouth, she heard Pei Wenxuan say, “But I dared to marry you.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Li Rong sat up dissatisfied. “Is marrying me some kind of disadvantage?”

“I dared to risk my life to marry you,” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes to look at her seriously. “Does he dare?”

Hearing this, Li Rong suddenly froze. Pei Wenxuan gazed at her quietly. “Li Rong, I fought to win you back.”

It was when he had only himself, risking his life to bring down the Yang family and stir up the court, that he married this princess.

“But he didn’t dare.”

Clearly he had noble status, clearly he held power, but he didn’t dare.

Hearing these words, looking at the young man before her, he was like a lone blade—from the previous life to this one, always advancing alone.

Actually, she knew.

She had always known that this man who climbed his way up had the courage and ambition rarely seen in aristocratic sons, yet uniquely with her, he carried a trace of youthful innocence.

“So,” Li Rong stopped joking. She smiled bitterly. “I married you.”

“Pei Wenxuan, do you know,” Li Rong reached out her hand, pulled his hand over, and held it in hers, “actually you’re good in every way, except for one thing.”

“In your heart, you always feel you’re not good enough.”

“When you praise yourself, you must attach some achievement. You’re first in the six gentlemanly arts, you can do everything, you became such a high official, you write such beautiful characters, you’re so talented, and even,” Li Rong raised her head with a half-smile, “your technique is so good.”

Hearing Li Rong’s words, Pei Wenxuan’s face suddenly burned. He feigned composure. “When speaking, one cannot speak without basis. If I say I’m good, naturally I must have some reasons.”

“But I don’t think it’s necessary.”

Li Rong spoke directly. “You being Pei Wenxuan is already very good.”

Pei Wenxuan’s body stiffened slightly. Li Rong continued, “You told me before that your mother always compared you to your father, to others. But now let me tell you—you don’t need to compare with anyone, and especially not with Su Rongqing.”

“You’re afraid Su Rongqing proposed to me and I’ll be moved. I know what you’re worried about. Don’t worry,” Li Rong spoke calmly, “I won’t ruin my future prospects for a man.”

Pei Wenxuan: “…”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Ruining prospects for a man wasn’t impossible—just that the man could only be him.

This answer flashed through Pei Wenxuan’s mind, but he couldn’t say it. He opened his mouth with difficulty, choosing his words carefully, thinking about how to phrase it.

Li Rong raised her eyes to look at him. Her eyes were clear and transparent. She seemed to know everything, yet didn’t mention it.

Pei Wenxuan fell silent. For a moment, he didn’t know whether he should say it, whether he should pierce through this thin veil.

He feared that if he spoke openly, this person would push him away, and they couldn’t even remain friends.

But not saying it, he worried this person wouldn’t understand clearly.

He paused for a moment. His gaze flashed quickly across Li Rong’s lips. After a moment, he smiled and said, “I know Your Highness understands clearly. I worried too much.”

“Your Highness still has other matters tomorrow,” Pei Wenxuan lay down. “Let’s sleep.”

Having dealt with him all night, Li Rong was also somewhat tired. She lay down. In just a moment, she felt someone press against her from behind.

Pei Wenxuan embraced her from behind. She tensed her body, constantly guarding against Pei Wenxuan’s next move.

“Your Highness,” Pei Wenxuan sensed her tension. He smiled, murmuring by her ear, “We have days and days ahead of us.”

Li Rong didn’t speak.

She understood clearly—this old fox Pei Wenxuan was truly going to make his move on her.

Bah.

Li Rong cursed inwardly. Beast.

Author’s Note: [Mini Theater]

Author: Please use song lyrics to describe yourselves.

Shangguan Yue & Li Ming: [Song reference describing a troubled past relationship]

Li Rong & Pei Wenxuan: [Song reference about getting closer and bravery in love]

Su Rongqing & Li Rong: [Song reference about promises and meetings]

Shangguan Ya & Su Ronghua: …

Author: Why did you stop singing?

Su Ronghua: [Teasing song reference]

Shangguan Ya: I’d like to request muting his mic, thanks.