With repaying the debt on her mind, Li Rong unconsciously covered her forehead.

She glanced at Pei Wenxuan, then turned her head away. Somehow, for no particular reason, she felt somewhat aggrieved.

Pei Wenxuan acted as if he knew nothing at all, keeping his head lowered as he flipped through the documents in his hands without saying a word.

The two rode in silence back to the Princess Manor. The moment Li Rong jumped down from the carriage, she saw Shangguan Ya waiting at the manor entrance. Seeing Li Rong, Shangguan Ya asked in surprise: “Your Highness, what happened to your forehead?”

Hearing this, Li Rong immediately turned to glance back at Pei Wenxuan behind her.

Even this rough character Shangguan Ya could notice—Pei Wenxuan was truly blind.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go inside first and talk. Did you hear the news?”

Li Rong withdrew her gaze from Pei Wenxuan’s face and led Shangguan Ya into the manor. Pei Wenxuan watched the two return to the study together. He stood in the courtyard for a moment, then turned to instruct someone: “Go fetch the jade skin ointment and gauze for me.”

Li Rong and Shangguan Ya entered the room, and Shangguan Ya immediately spoke: “I heard Chen Guang’s mother killed herself by ramming into a pillar in the court hall today.”

“Yes,” Li Rong sat down and recounted the entire incident. “Xie Lanqing came to inquire about the situation this morning, then in court they brought out Chen Wang Shi. Chen Wang Shi insisted we extracted a confession from Chen Guang through torture, and said she had never committed assassination. To prove her innocence, she rammed her head and died.”

“Ruthless enough,” Shangguan Ya sighed as she sat across from Li Rong. “Qin Zhenzhen gave them inspiration. You used Qin Zhenzhen’s death to force a retrial of the Qin family case, and now they’re using Chen Wang Shi to force this case to close. Your Highness,” Shangguan Ya leaned back in her chair, “do we still have control over this case?”

“How do you think my head got this injury?”

Li Rong glared at Shangguan Ya, then continued: “Father Emperor agreed with me that the case will be under Pei Wenxuan’s management.”

Shangguan Ya nodded, her expression easing considerably. She was about to speak when someone knocked on the door. Li Rong called out: “Come in,” and then saw Pei Wenxuan walk in leisurely carrying ointment and bandages.

He smiled and bowed to Shangguan Ya. Li Rong asked somewhat strangely: “What are you doing here?”

“Nothing much.” Pei Wenxuan smiled as he walked to her side, saying mildly: “I’ve come to apply medicine for Your Highness. Please continue your conversation—don’t mind me.”

With that, Pei Wenxuan grasped Li Rong’s chin and lifted it up. He raised his hand and smeared the ointment on her head, then before either of them could react, wrapped it with gauze layer after layer, finally tying a large bow. It was as if what had hit her forehead wasn’t a document folder but an inkstone, and she hadn’t just broken the skin but had been struck with a gaping bloody wound.

After finishing, he didn’t say much more. He picked up the medicine jar and the remaining items and left. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to close the door behind him for Li Rong. Only after he’d gone did Shangguan Ya mutter: “What’s wrong with him? Acting so passive-aggressive?”

“Probably because I haven’t paid him back yet.”

Li Rong came back to her senses. Wearing the bow on her head, she continued: “Don’t worry about him. Let’s continue with what we were discussing. Now that the case is under Pei Wenxuan’s management, we can set our minds at ease. But I think the Chen Wang Shi matter won’t end so simply.”

“So what does Your Highness plan to do?”

Shangguan Ya immediately responded. Li Rong thought for a moment, then said gravely: “Release Lin Feibai tonight.”

“Tonight?” Shangguan Ya cried out in surprise. After thinking, she finally said: “Your Highness, at this critical juncture, having Lin Feibai go out to assassinate Xie Lanqing is too risky.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Li Rong said calmly. “You secretly let him out and make things clear to him. Remind him of his agreement with me.”

“Your Highness…”

“Just do as I say. Don’t worry.” Li Rong raised her eyes. “I’m confident.”

Seeing Li Rong’s expression, Shangguan Ya hesitated for a moment before respectfully saying: “Yes.”

“There’s one more thing,” Shangguan Ya said, having finished discussing Chen Wang Shi’s matter. “Last night, Consort Chen went to Princess Mingle’s palace.”

Hearing this, Li Rong paused, then responded: “I understand.”

“Your Highness,” Shangguan Ya felt somewhat uneasy. “Should we slow down a bit? We’re pushing too hard—many among the aristocratic families might defect to Prince Su’s side.”

Hearing this, Li Rong smiled.

“Aya, do you know why Father Emperor dotes on Consort Rou?”

Shangguan Ya remained silent. Li Rong toyed with her teacup: “He gives her unconditional favor and love. Everyone says he lavishes favor on Consort Rou, that she’s a seductive woman bringing disaster to the nation. If he truly cared so much about Consort Rou, how could he let her bear such a reputation?”

“Your Highness means that His Majesty doesn’t love Consort Rou as a person, but rather what Consort Rou represents?”

“Consort Rou’s favor is a means to counterbalance Mother Empress.”

Li Rong’s voice was flat: “As long as she remains a bargaining chip, no matter what mistakes she makes or how great Prince Su’s crimes, Father Emperor could never truly abandon them. If he were to abandon them, there could only be one reason.”

With that, Li Rong raised her eyes to look at Shangguan Ya, smiling meaningfully: “They’re no longer bargaining chips.”

Shangguan Ya said nothing. She looked at Li Rong for a long while before finally, with a stern face, raising her hand to point at the bow on Li Rong’s head: “Your Highness, please deal with your head properly before discussing these matters with me. Otherwise I’m afraid I’ll laugh, which would seem rather disrespectful to you.”

Li Rong’s expression shifted. She then barked: “Hurry up and get out to handle business.”

Shangguan Ya laughed aloud. She stood up and bowed: “Your Highness, then I’ll go back first to release the rat from its cage. You rest well.”

Li Rong nodded. Shangguan Ya walked toward the exit. After two steps, she suddenly remembered something and leaned back halfway, looking at Li Rong with smiling eyes: “By the way, your head got hit like that—aren’t you angry? Do you want me to avenge you?”

“No need for you to handle such a small matter.”

Li Rong waved her hand: “Hurry up and go.”

Shangguan Ya smiled: “Then I’m leaving.”

With that, Shangguan Ya withdrew and disappeared from the doorway. Li Rong thought for a moment, touched her forehead, and looked up at Jing Lan: “Tell me, does my head really look that ugly?”

“How about I get you a mirror to see for yourself?”

Jing Lan spoke hesitantly. Li Rong hesitated for a moment, then waved her hand: “Forget it, it’s not that important anyway.”

With that, Li Rong stood up and instructed Jing Lan: “Go to the accounting office and ask how much the Prince Consort spent on the peonies. Return the money to him. I’m going to sleep for a while first.”

“Your Highness,” Jing Lan looked at Li Rong and said quietly, “perhaps you should stop thinking about this matter.”

Li Rong paused her movement and looked up: “What’s wrong?”

“I asked about those flowers—they cost half a year’s expenses for the Princess Manor. The accounting office can’t produce that much money right now.”

Hearing this, Li Rong nearly fainted from anger.

Since her rebirth, she had been frugal and economical with money, precisely to save up funds and develop her own power.

Supporting secret guards, intelligence networks, connections in officialdom, and now also supporting the Constabulary Bureau—which of these didn’t require money? Pei Wenxuan casually spent half a year’s expenses for the Princess Manor. Hearing this, all romantic sentiments vanished—she was so angry she immediately wanted to go scold someone.

But just as she lifted her foot to move forward, she quickly calmed down. She and Pei Wenxuan had already had one conflict over this matter. The incident was over—saying more would be useless.

Pei Wenxuan wasn’t someone who didn’t know the proper measure of things. If he was willing to expend such effort, it showed his sincerity. She had destroyed his flowers—if she now accused him of extravagance and waste, they’d likely have another conflict.

Li Rong calmed down and realized that Pei Wenxuan was clear about her accounts and knew how much money he’d spent. He probably already knew she couldn’t afford to repay this debt.

Now that she couldn’t repay the flower money and Pei Wenxuan was still upset, his current coldness toward her was only natural.

Her fury turned to guilt in mere moments. But thinking of Pei Wenxuan’s hot-and-cold attitude these past few days, especially today, her dissatisfaction rose again.

Jing Lan observed Li Rong’s ever-changing expressions and said carefully: “Your Highness, between husband and wife there’s no need to divide things so clearly. If you actually send the money to the Prince Consort, he might get even angrier. Why don’t you just treat the Prince Consort better? The Prince Consort has a good temper—if you say some kind words and soften your stance, he’ll probably be happy.”

“Soften my stance? How should I soften it more?”

Li Rong said coldly: “Haven’t I been soft enough?”

“Your Highness,” Jing Lan felt rather helpless, “the Prince Consort is still sleeping in the study. How is that soft?”

“Then what should I do? Carry him back in an eight-bearer sedan chair?”

Li Rong’s temper flared. She walked to the small couch nearby and flopped down onto it. Jing Lan quickly covered her with a blanket and said gently: “Just have a good talk with the Prince Consort.”

“What’s there to talk about?” Li Rong closed her eyes. “I can’t afford to repay him that money, and he’s uncomfortable about it. Why should I go there seeking rejection? Today I suffered grievances and he didn’t comfort me. Seeing me injured, he acted like he didn’t see anything, and even wrapped my head so ugly. You can see his current mindset—I’m not going there to suffer his cold treatment.”

After Li Rong finished this tirade, Jing Lan was speechless. Somehow, she actually heard several notes of grievance in Li Rong’s words. But she also thought that Li Rong wasn’t such a delicate person—she wouldn’t make a fuss over such small matters.

Unable to persuade her, Jing Lan could only sigh: “Your Highness should rest first.”

Li Rong acknowledged and closed her eyes to rest.

After Jing Lan left, Li Rong felt quite annoyed. She sat up, grabbed one of Pei Wenxuan’s favorite books from nearby and threw it down, then lay back down to sleep.

After being busy for half the day with not a single thing going smoothly—how infuriating.

She drowsily fell asleep, sleeping until nightfall. When she woke, she heard that Pei Wenxuan was still at the office and hadn’t returned.

She ate dinner alone, then returned to the study to handle Constabulary Bureau matters. Before long, Jing Lan entered carrying a pile of small paper scrolls, respectfully placing them before Li Rong: “Your Highness, these are the intelligence reports delivered today from various places.”

Every day, the informants Li Rong maintained would compile valuable information about major and minor affairs in the capital and send it back. Li Rong acknowledged and began reading these notes.

She already knew this morning about Li Ming visiting Consort Rou yesterday and punishing Huale. It seemed trivial. But when she opened the next note, she read: “Princess Huale dined with His Majesty. For wearing a white magnolia hairpin, she was reprimanded. The Princess deceived the sovereign. The sovereign was enraged and had her bound.”

Li Rong stared at this note, somewhat stunned. As Consort Rou’s daughter with a temperament for reading the wind and sailing accordingly, Huale had always been favored. How could Li Ming beat her over a mere hairpin?

Li Rong pondered, raising her hand to read through all the messages, but couldn’t find the reason for Huale’s punishment. She thought again and reviewed Li Ming’s schedule, finally noticing that before evening meal, Li Ming had summoned Pei Wenxuan.

Li Ming met with Pei Wenxuan, then met with Huale, and proceeded to discipline Huale. Li Rong thought for a moment and couldn’t help wondering—had Pei Wenxuan done something?

Pei Wenxuan never involved himself in harem matters. Why would he interfere with Huale’s affairs today?

As this question arose, Li Rong immediately had a vague answer. This answer left her stunned for a moment, until Jing Lan asked: “Your Highness, what are you daydreaming about?”

Only then did she react, hurriedly saying: “It’s nothing.”

She continued organizing the items in her hands. She actually wanted to ask Pei Wenxuan what had happened, but felt that asking about such a small matter would be embarrassing. So she simply pretended not to know and continued with proper business.

She sat there waiting until Pei Wenxuan returned. The moment Pei Wenxuan entered the manor, Jing Mei ran back happily: “Your Highness, the Prince Consort has returned.”

Li Rong’s expression remained unchanged as she continued reading documents, only saying: “So he’s back. Why the fuss?”

“Your Highness,” Jing Mei knelt before Li Rong. “Aren’t you going to see him?”

“He doesn’t come to pay his respects to me, yet I should go see him?”

Li Rong spoke mockingly: “What great official airs.”

Jing Mei and Jing Lan exchanged glances. Li Rong kept her head down, only saying: “You may leave. I’ll go to bed soon.”

Pei Wenxuan returned late and didn’t come to pay respects to Li Rong. After washing up, Li Rong extinguished the lights and went to bed.

After the lights went out, Li Rong lay in bed for a while, then couldn’t help turning over.

Without Pei Wenxuan here, the bed was much larger. But somehow, with such a large bed, she found she couldn’t fall asleep.

When something becomes a habit, everything seems taken for granted—like how inquiring about her injuries was taken for granted, yielding to her was taken for granted, laughing and joking with her was taken for granted, and no matter what happened, lying beside her at night was also taken for granted.

And when these taken-for-granted things were silently removed, even though rationally she knew this was also Pei Wenxuan’s right, she still felt an unreasonable sense of discomfort.

She didn’t like this feeling of having her emotions controlled by someone else, yet had no choice but to accept it.

Whether it was the feelings expressed in the corridor, or that inexplicable daze and secret joy when seeing traces of Pei Wenxuan’s involvement in Huale’s punishment—all revealed this relationship spiraling out of control.

Li Rong tried hard to close her eyes, but her mind felt chaotic. After a long while, somehow she kept thinking repeatedly about Huale being bound. Finally she couldn’t bear it and threw off the covers to get up.

She had to go find Pei Wenxuan and get this clear.

She thought to herself—after clarifying the matter, if Pei Wenxuan’s attitude was good, she’d take the opportunity to bring up him moving back to her room. If Pei Wenxuan’s attitude was bad, she’d let him grow old alone in the study.

After all, she had promised him she would try to change her temperament.

Pei Wenxuan said he would wait. She couldn’t always act like before, stubbornly insisting on everything and waiting for Pei Wenxuan to yield first.

Li Rong secretly thought—once this notion arose, she couldn’t suppress it. She seemed to have found some rationalization for all her actions. This reason held a magical power, enticing her to get up and quietly go to the window.

Even if she took the initiative to find Pei Wenxuan, she didn’t want others to see. So she pushed open the window and stuck her head out, looking left and right. Seeing no one outside the window, wearing only a single inner garment, she jumped out the window and ran all the way to Pei Wenxuan’s study.

Upon reaching the study, she surveyed the area and saw only two guards at Pei Wenxuan’s study door, both somewhat drowsy. She circled around to the back of the building and arrived at the window.

It was nighttime now. A charcoal brazier burned in the room, so Pei Wenxuan had the window open for ventilation. Li Rong gently pushed the window open and climbed through.

After entering, it was pitch black. Li Rong relied on memory, carefully walking toward the small couch. After just two steps, her sleeve knocked down several books. She quickly caught them, momentarily uncertain whether she’d awakened Pei Wenxuan.

Holding the books, she froze in the room for a moment. Seeing no movement, she breathed a sigh of relief and continued forward.

By now her eyes had adjusted to the light in the room. She could roughly make out Pei Wenxuan’s direction. Like a cat, she came to Pei Wenxuan’s bedside. Before she could think about why she’d come, the person in bed suddenly reached out and pulled her. Her entire body was dragged into the covers.

Warmth enveloped her completely. Pei Wenxuan covered her mouth with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist. His two legs circled around her, holding her entire person in his embrace.

Li Rong’s heart raced. She heard Pei Wenxuan lean close to her ear and say softly: “The Princess comes exploring this humble minister’s bed at night—what are you seeking?”

Speaking thus, Pei Wenxuan drew closer. His lips nearly touched her ear, his voice carrying traces of laughter. His thin lips opened and closed as he spoke, brushing almost imperceptibly against her ear. His usually clear voice carried a hint of huskiness, like a jewel sliding across brocade silk, creating a gorgeous friction: “Did you miss me?”