Pei Wenxuan was silently pondering how to respond when an elderly voice called out from nearby: “Your Highness.”

Both of them looked over and saw Xie Lanqing walking toward them from a distance.

Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong exchanged an extremely quick glance, both seeing surprise in each other’s eyes. Xie Lanqing walked up to them and bowed to Li Rong: “Your Highness.”

“Minister Xie.” Li Rong nodded in acknowledgment, essentially returning the courtesy, then smiled and said, “Minister Xie usually doesn’t even speak to me, so why are you taking the initiative to greet me today?”

These words were quite face-losing, especially for someone like Xie Lanqing who had held a key position as Minister of Justice for many years—this was an exceedingly rare occurrence.

But Xie Lanqing’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly said: “I heard that Your Highness encountered an assassination yesterday. This old minister was quite worried, fearing that Your Highness, being young, might lack experience in handling cases, so I came specifically to ask if the Ministry of Justice could be of assistance.”

“I’ve already captured everyone and finished most of the interrogation,” Li Rong said, looking into Xie Lanqing’s eyes. “There’s no need to trouble Minister Xie.”

“So Your Highness now knows who the mastermind is?”

Xie Lanqing’s question was rather direct. Li Rong placed her hands in front of her and looked at Xie Lanqing with a smile but gave no answer. Xie Lanqing frowned: “Why won’t Your Highness answer?”

“Why does Minister Xie need to ask?” Pei Wenxuan interjected at the right moment. Xie Lanqing looked toward Pei Wenxuan, who wore an ambiguous smile as he said, “Could it be that Minister Xie has something he’s worried about, and specifically needs to confirm it with Her Highness?”

“This old minister is merely concerned and asking casually. Minister Pei is overthinking things.”

Xie Lanqing’s face was cold, showing considerable displeasure. Pei Wenxuan placed his hands in front of him and bowed as an apology.

“Since showing concern only earns Her Highness’s suspicion, this old minister won’t ask anymore,” Xie Lanqing turned directly around, saying coldly, “Your Highness can investigate on your own.”

With that, Xie Lanqing returned to his position. Pei Wenxuan glanced at Li Rong, then smiled: “Your Highness, this humble minister will take his leave now.”

After finishing his words and bowing, Pei Wenxuan also retreated to his position.

Before long, Li Ming arrived at the great hall, and morning court began as usual. Li Ming looked somewhat weary and appeared quite irritable. After ascending, he first inquired about the weather conditions across various regions, then turned to look at Li Rong, saying stiffly: “Pingle.”

“Father Emperor.”

Hearing the restraint in Li Ming’s voice, Li Rong knew his mood wasn’t good today. She quickly knelt forward, already in a posture of requesting punishment. Seeing her movement, Li Ming softened a bit: “I heard you were assassinated yesterday. Is this truly what happened?”

“Reporting to Father Emperor, this is indeed the case.”

“Outrageous scoundrels!”

Li Ming suddenly stood up and shouted loudly: “They even dared to assassinate you—who are they? Do they not want their lives?!”

“Reporting to Father Emperor, the captured assassins confessed that they were from the household of Chen Guang, former Director of the Granary Department, who came seeking revenge.”

“Revenge?” Hearing this, Li Ming laughed in anger. “The man isn’t even dead yet—what revenge is there to take? Moreover, he embezzled military provisions and committed such a heinous crime—shouldn’t he deserve death?! His family members still have the face to seek revenge?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble minister has a memorial to present.” From the Censorate’s ranks, a censor stepped forward. Li Ming looked up and said coldly, “I’m speaking with the Princess—can’t whatever you want to report wait?”

“Your Majesty,” the censor didn’t retreat but continued, “What this humble minister wishes to report is precisely related to the Princess.”

Li Ming frowned, and Li Rong also turned to look. After a moment, she finally recognized him—it was Wang Huan, Chen Guang’s cousin.

Li Rong raised her eyebrows. Seeing Li Ming impatiently wave his hand, Wang Huan bowed and then said: “This humble minister requests Your Majesty to summon the commoner woman Chen Wang Shi.”

“Chen Wang Shi?”

Li Ming was somewhat puzzled. Wang Huan respectfully said: “That’s correct—Chen Guang’s mother, Chen Wang Shi.”

Li Ming hesitated for a moment, then seemed to remember something and said impatiently: “Summon her then.”

Li Rong observed Li Ming’s expression, forming some thoughts in her mind. Not long after, hurried footsteps came from the entrance. Moments later, a white-haired old woman walked in and respectfully said: “Greetings to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live forever.”

Everyone looked over. Li Ming seemed to think for a moment, then said hesitantly: “You… seem to be…”

“Your Majesty,” the woman raised her head respectfully. “This commoner woman once served as a female official in the palace and even cared for Your Majesty for some time when you were young. I didn’t expect Your Majesty would still remember.”

“I remember now,” Li Ming’s expression eased somewhat as he nodded. “You once served in the Empress Dowager’s palace for a period of time.”

Hearing this, Chen Wang Shi quickly kowtowed again, tears already welling in her eyes. Seeing Chen Wang Shi’s white hair, Li Ming said quietly: “Lady Chen is also getting on in years. Grant her a seat first. Coming to court today—what is this about?”

“Your Majesty, this commoner woman has come today to seek justice for my son.”

Chen Wang Shi spoke, raising her head and crying: “This commoner woman comes before the court today to accuse Princess Pingle of extracting a confession from my son Chen Guang through torture, forcing him to confess falsely. I beseech Your Majesty to investigate clearly!”

Li Ming frowned and glanced at Li Rong.

Li Rong had just finished reporting that the Chen family had assassinated her, and now Chen Wang Shi came to accuse Li Rong of extracting false confessions through torture. Everyone watched Li Rong as if watching a spectacle. Li Ming hesitated for a moment before saying: “You say Pingle beat Chen Guang—you’re just a woman of the inner chambers. How would you know this?”

“Your Majesty, though this commoner woman is merely a woman of the inner chambers, my concern for my son is deep. I had servants make arrangements everywhere and finally obtained an opportunity to see my son. This commoner woman knows what she did was wrong and is willing to bear all responsibility, but what this commoner woman says is entirely true. I beseech Your Majesty to order other ministers to re-examine the military provisions case and restore my son’s innocence!”

“Besides you, are there other witnesses to this matter?”

“Besides this commoner woman, there are also family servants who visited together with me, as well as other guards from the Constabulary Bureau. However, whether they’re willing to speak the truth or not, this commoner woman doesn’t know.”

“Your family servants share the Chen surname and should naturally avoid involvement. As for guards from the Constabulary Bureau, you can’t produce anyone either. In other words, what you’re saying has no actual evidence.”

Li Ming pondered, then said slowly: “Yet today Pingle accuses your Chen family of assassinating her, with both witness and physical evidence. Do you acknowledge this?”

“My Chen family assassinated the Princess?”

Chen Wang Shi’s eyes widened, then she said urgently: “No, impossible. Your Majesty, my Chen family has been loyal to the sovereign for a hundred years. We would never dare show the slightest disobedience to the imperial family. Even if Her Highness executed my son and exterminated the Chen clan, we would never dare assassinate Her Highness!”

“Then do you have evidence?”

Li Ming countered calmly. Chen Wang Shi’s face turned deathly pale. She knelt there in a daze. After a long while, she kowtowed: “Reporting to Your Majesty, this old body has none. This commoner woman is merely a woman of the inner chambers. Even spending all my family’s wealth, I could only see my son once. I cannot extract confessions through torture, cannot bribe others, and have no expert assassins to forge evidence or reverse truth and falsehood. But this commoner woman believes that in this world, heaven’s principles shine clearly—there are gods three feet above one’s head. This commoner woman has no evidence, but this commoner woman,” Chen Wang Shi spoke calmly, “is willing to prove my innocence with death!”

With that, Chen Wang Shi slammed her head down toward the ground.

Li Rong suddenly stood up and shouted: “Stop her!”

The moment she stood, Pei Wenxuan had already rushed forward in one swift stride. Everyone else watched in shock. By the time Pei Wenxuan reached Chen Wang Shi, the old woman maintained her kowtowing position on the ground, with a pool of blood already spreading beneath her.

Pei Wenxuan quickly turned her over and placed his hand under the woman’s nose. Li Rong calmly issued orders: “Imperial physician—summon the imperial physician!”

Speaking thus, Li Rong arrived at Chen Wang Shi’s side, her hands trembling slightly. Pei Wenxuan raised his head and shook it with a grave expression.

Then he stood up. The imperial physician rushed in and checked Chen Wang Shi’s pulse. A moment later, the physician raised his head and said fearfully: “Your Majesty, this lady… has passed away.”

Li Ming’s face looked extremely unpleasant. He seemed to struggle to control himself for a long while before finally speaking: “Take her down first.”

The guards received the order and quickly stepped forward, carrying Chen Wang Shi away. The court hall fell into a deathly silence. After a long while, Li Ming picked up his tea and took a sip before saying: “Court is dismissed for now.”

Everyone bowed, then silently departed. Pei Wenxuan walked to Li Rong’s side and called quietly: “Your Highness.”

“I’m fine.”

Li Rong steadied her emotions. At that moment, Fulai walked over and said quietly: “Your Highness, His Majesty summons you.”

Li Rong responded affirmatively, then turned to Pei Wenxuan: “You go back first.”

Pei Wenxuan said nothing. He bowed to Li Rong and Fulai, hesitated for a moment, then said: “I’ll wait for Your Highness outside the imperial study.”

Li Rong had no mind to respond to him. She simply nodded and left with Fulai.

Led by Fulai, she walked all the way to the imperial study. Upon entering the room, Li Ming stood with his back to her. The moment she entered, she knelt and began to bow: “Paying respects to Father Emper—”

“Look at what you’ve done!”

Li Ming threw a memorial tablet at Li Rong’s head, instantly raising a bruise on her forehead.

Seeing the injury he’d caused on Li Rong’s head, Li Ming paused, but still maintained his harsh tone, saying coldly: “How many times have I told you to be steady and not reckless? Look at you now—investigating such a major case, how can you be so willful and arbitrary? Do you really think that just because I dote on you, you can do whatever you please?!”

“This daughter doesn’t know what Father Emperor is reprimanding me for.”

Li Rong knelt on the ground and said calmly: “Does Father Emperor feel that this daughter shouldn’t have investigated the Qin family case and the military provisions case?”

“What kind of attitude is that?” Seeing Li Rong’s appearance, Li Ming’s anger rose. “Are you threatening me? I assigned you these two cases not so you could cause me trouble! Don’t you know the principle that punishment doesn’t extend to the gentry? Yet you still went and extracted confessions from officials through severe torture…”

“I didn’t.”

Li Rong spoke decisively. Li Ming looked around, then raised his hand and waved everyone out. He then walked before Li Rong and crouched down: “Do you think I’m angry because you used torture on them? You investigate cases your way—I only want results. What angers me is that you didn’t think ahead and didn’t clean up properly afterward!”

“I didn’t.” Li Rong raised her head, saying emphatically: “Father Emperor, why won’t you believe that I didn’t extract confessions from them through torture? They’re the ones trying to harm me, trying to assassinate me. You don’t blame them—that’s fine—but today you actually blame me?! How much resistance these two cases face—doesn’t Father Emperor understand clearly? How much pressure I’ve endured for Father Emperor’s sake, for that little bit of justice in my heart—doesn’t Father Emperor comprehend?”

As Li Rong spoke, her eyes reddened. She stared at Li Ming: “You clearly know how many people want to harm me, yet you still believe them…”

“Pingle…” Seeing Li Rong cry, Li Ming immediately felt somewhat guilty. “Father Emperor doesn’t disbelieve you. It’s just your temper…”

“What about my temper?” Li Rong couldn’t care about propriety anymore and simply sat on the ground, crying loudly: “My temper is bad, isn’t it? I’m not qualified to be a princess or a daughter, am I? They try to kill me day after day, and you still expect my temper to be good? You’re my Father Emperor—not protecting me is one thing, but you even join them in bullying me.”

“How did you turn this into that?” Li Ming felt somewhat headachy. “What bullying? You’re now a court official—how can you still act like a child? What kind of decorum is this?”

“I don’t want decorum anymore,” Li Rong cried. “I don’t want to be an official either. Let me go back. Changle and Huale are both doing fine—why should I wade into these murky waters? Why should I? Father Emperor, tell me what I’m trying to gain?!”

Speaking thus, Li Rong raised her head and clutched at the clothes on her chest: “Going through life and death like this—isn’t it all for Father Emperor’s sake? I couldn’t bear watching those aristocratic families pressure Father Emperor. Did I do wrong?”

These words struck directly at Li Ming’s heart. Looking at Li Rong crying so wretchedly at his feet, he suddenly found himself unable to say anything.

His heart felt somewhat tight and sour. Li Rong cried in anguish. After Li Ming hesitated for a long while, he still couldn’t say anything. He sighed and finally said: “Go back first. Don’t worry about the military provisions case and the Qin family case anymore.”

“If I don’t handle them, who will?”

Li Rong’s voice was hoarse: “Father Emperor? Or the Crown Prince? Or someone else? Whoever handles these matters will face misfortune. After putting in so much effort, does Father Emperor want to bow his head once again?”

Li Ming remained silent. Li Rong supported herself and slowly climbed to her feet: “Father Emperor can decide. This daughter won’t concern herself with anything anymore.”

“Rong’er,” Li Ming watched Li Rong’s seemingly dejected back and called out hesitantly. After a long while, he finally said: “Then let Pei Wenxuan decide. He’ll determine the verdict—you should be satisfied with that, right?”

Li Rong stood with her back to Li Ming. After a long while, she said respectfully: “Thank you, Father Emperor.”

With that, Li Rong bowed: “This daughter takes her leave.”

Li Ming acknowledged, and Li Rong left while wiping her tears. After she exited, Fulai brought tea up with a smile: “Your Majesty, Her Highness is still a child after all—still young.”

“I thought she’d grown up,” Li Ming sighed. “In the end, she’s still so young.”

Li Rong wiped her tears as she walked out of the imperial study. Just as she exited the corridor, she composed her expression.

Li Ming’s emotions had been off today—clearly dissatisfied with her. And the Chen Wang Shi matter had obviously been prepared in advance. It was likely that right after she set her ambush yesterday, those people in the shadows had devised today’s performance.

But who had influenced Li Ming?

Li Rong pondered as she stepped through the doorway. Just as she exited the courtyard, she saw a young man standing in the corridor wearing a black official robe with red trim, holding his tablet, quietly gazing at the bare branches in the courtyard.

Hearing sounds nearby, he turned his head and looked toward Li Rong. Seeing it was her, he smiled and said respectfully: “Your Highness.”

Li Rong hadn’t expected Pei Wenxuan to be waiting here all this time. She immediately felt somewhat flustered, lowering her head to try to conceal the traces of her earlier crying. Walking beside him, she said hoarsely: “Why didn’t you go to the office?”

“Your Highness didn’t listen properly to what this humble minister said earlier,” Pei Wenxuan spoke as if he hadn’t noticed anything, sighing. “This humble minister said I would wait for Your Highness, but Your Highness paid no attention. It seems this humble minister’s importance in Your Highness’s heart is still insufficient.”

Hearing his words, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh: “How important do you want to be?”

“Not too much, not too little,” Pei Wenxuan lightly tapped his tablet against his chest. “Just one whole heart would be fine.”

“Your appetite is too large.” Li Rong scoffed. “Daydreaming.”

Pei Wenxuan lightly nodded: “Thank you for Your Highness’s praise. This humble minister’s greatest strengths are having a good appetite, great ambitions, suffering from insomnia and many dreams at night, and having exceptionally good luck during the day.”

In just two or three exchanges, Li Rong was made to laugh. She glanced at him lightly and raised her eyebrows: “Weren’t you going to sleep in separate beds with me just yesterday? Not angry today?”

“Your Highness jests. When have I ever been angry at Your Highness?”

Pei Wenxuan spoke mildly: “This humble minister simply felt that I should maintain some distance from Your Highness. Our feelings haven’t reached that stage yet—I can’t let Your Highness defile my purity or take advantage of me for nothing.”

Li Rong: “…”

Wonderful. His temper was quite large indeed.

Seeing Li Rong’s expression ease, Pei Wenxuan felt the atmosphere was about right. Noticing no one around, he leaned over slightly and whispered: “I went to investigate just now. Last night His Majesty lodged at Consort Rou’s place, and Princess Huale had a tantrum with His Majesty and was punished with copying the Women’s Precepts ten times.”

Li Rong glanced at Pei Wenxuan, who smiled: “This should resolve Your Highness’s confusion.”

Li Rong said nothing. As she walked along the corridor with Pei Wenxuan, she indeed understood.

Yesterday she had set her ambush at Butterfly Gorge. The Chen family had made this assassination attempt. By rights, today she should have been able to use this assassination as a bargaining chip to force a conclusion to the military provisions case and the Qin family case.

And those people behind the scenes must have anticipated this as well. They were unwilling to let these two cases be concluded. Once concluded, not only would there be the problem of a large number of officials being replaced, but more importantly, many of Li Rong’s people would certainly be promoted among these replacement officials. Li Rong’s position in the court would then be completely stabilized.

They feared Li Rong would establish a firm foothold. At the same time, they feared Li Rong would investigate deeply. Those involved in the assassination were also extremely panicked, so overnight they must have reached some agreement—at least with Consort Rou—which led to Consort Rou having Huale act as a messenger to say something that angered Li Ming at her.

Based on Li Ming’s attitude today, Huale probably just said things like she was incompetent in handling matters, extracted confessions from officials through torture, was too arrogant and unrestrained, and so on. So Li Ming punished Huale, but these thoughtless words stayed in Li Ming’s mind, which is why he came to trouble her.

When Li Ming already had opinions about her, having Chen Wang Shi appear in court to prove her innocence with death made the assassination case nearly impossible to investigate further. After all, the current “mastermind” was already dead. And no matter how much evidence Li Rong had for these cases, in the perception of ordinary people, there would be several degrees more suspicion.

Whether for public opinion or to appease the aristocratic families, with Chen Wang Shi dying in such a manner, both the military provisions case and the Qin family case would most likely be unable to be retried with different verdicts.

Li Rong frowned tightly, lowering her head as she walked forward. After just a few steps, she heard Pei Wenxuan say respectfully: “Minister Xie.”

Hearing this, Li Rong raised her head and saw Xie Lanqing standing before her.

Xie Lanqing looked quite pleased. He raised his hand and bowed to Li Rong: “Princess Pingle.”

“Where is Minister Xie heading?”

As soon as Li Rong spoke, her voice was somewhat hoarse. Xie Lanqing smiled lightly: “This old minister was just about to seek His Majesty. What happened to Your Highness? Your eyes are red—it seems you’ve been crying?”

“Sand got in my eyes from the wind,” Li Rong pretended not to hear the mockery in Xie Lanqing’s words and replied. “Since Minister Xie still has business, I’ll take my leave first.”

“Your Highness, wait a moment,” Xie Lanqing called out to Li Rong. Li Rong turned back to look at him. Xie Lanqing smiled: “Your Highness, the sea of suffering has no bounds—turn back and reach the shore.”

Li Rong stared at Xie Lanqing. After a long while, she smiled: “Thank you for Minister Xie’s instruction. I also have a saying to give to you, Minister.”

“Oh,” Xie Lanqing raised his hand. “I’m all ears.”

“Mind your own business and enjoy your retirement years.” With that, Li Rong turned and left in a sweep of her sleeves. Pei Wenxuan bowed to Xie Lanqing and followed Li Rong. Catching up behind her, Pei Wenxuan said quietly: “Don’t be angry. Why get angry with that old scoundrel? He won’t live much longer anyway.”

In their previous life, after Li Chuan ascended the throne, Xie Lanqing was the first high-ranking aristocratic official to be executed.

Li Rong cast a cold glance at Xie Lanqing’s retreating back, then leaned toward Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan bent slightly to hear Li Rong whisper in his ear: “Now I understand why Chuan’er wanted to execute him.”

“Hm?”

Li Rong said through gritted teeth: “This old bastard is truly infuriating.”

Pei Wenxuan thought about it—actually, Xie Lanqing hadn’t really said much just now. For Li Rong to be this angry, it was probably also because Xie Lanqing had witnessed her crying.

Pei Wenxuan glanced discreetly in the direction Xie Lanqing had departed, then smiled: “Your Highness is right. That old bastard is no good.”

Hearing Pei Wenxuan side with her, Li Rong felt much better. After Pei Wenxuan helped her into the carriage, she suddenly remembered and said with some dissatisfaction: “Why didn’t you comfort me at all?”

Pei Wenxuan settled leisurely in the seat across from her, raising his head with a slight smile: “Your Highness refers to what?”

“Don’t play dumb when you know perfectly well.”

Li Rong raised her hand and tapped him with her fan: “How is your courage growing bigger and bigger?”

Pei Wenxuan knew she was referring to him seeing her cry without saying anything. He found it amusing in his heart but didn’t show it on his face. Lowering his head, he opened a document folder and said indifferently: “Your Highness may not care about face, but I still need mine.”

Li Rong frowned, then heard Pei Wenxuan say leisurely: “You haven’t paid me back yet, and you already want me to comfort you?”

Li Rong was momentarily speechless and couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty. She had decided—when she returned, she would immediately pay Pei Wenxuan back for those peonies. Once the accounts were settled, they could speak properly.

Pei Wenxuan secretly glanced at Li Rong’s expression, suppressing the smile at the corners of his lips while pretending to focus intently.

He suddenly felt that this version of Li Rong was extremely interesting.

Like a cat desperately trying to extend its claws to touch you while also feeling it had lost face, scratching at its heart and liver wondering how to attract your attention.

He’d never seen Li Rong like this before. Now that he had, finding it both fresh and entertaining, he suppressed all his plans and kept them in his heart without speaking.

Having decided on repaying the debt, Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan with his head lowered and the corners of his lips wildly curving upward. She stopped the words she’d been about to speak, finding herself momentarily speechless.

He was happy to such a degree—if he had a tail it would be wagging—yet how could he still put on this unmoved, emotionally stirred yet refusing, welcoming yet distancing appearance?

She felt somewhat helpless about Pei Wenxuan. After thinking for a moment, she decided not to say anything.

Pretend away.

She thought—once she paid him back and no longer owed him anything, if he still acted this way, she wouldn’t be polite about it.