Xie Lanqing first accused Li Rong, but was counter-accused by Li Rong. This matter occurred right under the noses of the court officials, and everyone was waiting for a result.

Pei Wenxuan had already given Pei Liming advance notice, so Pei Liming had no intention of showing favoritism. He handled the case wholeheartedly, and with Lin Feibai’s cooperation, in just three days, the matter of Xie Lanqing instructing Chen Guang to assassinate Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan was confirmed and closed.

Seeing that the New Year was approaching, Li Rong processed the Qin Shi case, the military provisions case, and Xie Lanqing’s case together. She invited the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Constabulary Bureau to conduct a joint trial by the three departments, with the Secretariat observing. In the public court, they settled each case one by one.

Xie Lanqing had always been a veteran official who served two dynasties. His merits and faults offset each other, and he was ultimately sentenced to exile. Among the seventy people in the other two cases, three were executed, while the others received different degrees of punishment—exile and demotion—each dealt with accordingly.

When the verdict was announced, Xie Lanqing appeared exceptionally calm.

He seemed to have already emerged from all his previous emotions, presenting a transcendent attitude that placed life and death beyond consideration. After the verdict was announced, he bowed respectfully, then was helped up by someone, turned around, and left.

By the time all cases were judged, it was already night. When Li Rong walked out the door, she felt ice shards falling on her face. Li Rong raised her head and looked toward the dark night. The snow particles could only be seen as they passed through the faint light around the lanterns. Li Rong looked up for a moment, then felt someone walk up behind her. A hand reached over and used wide sleeves to cover her back, enveloping her entire person in an embrace. “Let’s go home.”

Pei Wenxuan spoke. Li Rong turned her head and smiled. “Not going back to the Censorate with Censor Shangguan?”

Pei Wenxuan had come to observe the trial following Shangguan Minzhi. Logically, he should return together with Shangguan Minzhi. Pei Wenxuan put his arm around Li Rong and walked out of the government office toward the carriage, saying with a smile, “Tomorrow we’re on holiday, and it’s almost New Year. He himself can’t wait to hurry home. Why would he care about us? He already told us subordinates to go home on our own.”

“I heard that although Cousin Minzhi looks cold and aloof, he’s very family-oriented.”

Li Rong nodded and walked out together with Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan sighed. “When court is so cold, how can one not yearn for the gentle comfort of one’s wife?”

“What a pity then.” Li Rong understood his hint and said with a half-smile, “Lord Pei doesn’t have a wife who can provide gentle comfort.”

“She can’t provide gentle comfort,” Pei Wenxuan smiled, “but my wife has arms that rival a mountain bear and a person like a fierce tiger. She can give this humble one someone to rely on. Very secure. I think that’s also quite good.”

Li Rong knew Pei Wenxuan was secretly calling her fierce and formidable. She sneered. “Before, you only called me a mature peony. Now you dare directly call me a beast. Pei Wenxuan, do you drink bear bile juice daily? Your mouth is both bitter and poisonous, and your guts are both fat and large.”

“Why must Your Highness ask?” Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong walked to the entrance together. The two stepped over the threshold together. Pei Wenxuan leaned close to Li Rong’s ear. “Just taste and you’ll know.”

Hearing his words, Li Rong turned her head, raised her eyebrows, and lifted her hand to pinch his chin.

Pei Wenxuan knew she was bold, but didn’t expect her to be this bold. Frightened, he quickly retreated. Seeing his restrained expression tinged with a few traces of panic, hurriedly dodging her hand, Li Rong couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Pei Wenxuan froze in his movements. Li Rong lightly scraped under his chin with her fan. “With just this little bit, what kind of swagger are you putting on with me?”

Speaking thus, Li Rong turned around and stepped down from the platform.

Pei Wenxuan’s ears turned slightly red. He felt he had lost face, but still had to pretend nothing happened. He chased after her, saying in a low voice, “This is outside. Don’t be so unrestrained.”

Having won this round, Li Rong knew when to stop and said nothing more. Smiling, she reached the side of the carriage. Just as she arrived at the carriage, Li Rong heard a calm voice call from the side, “Your Highness.”

Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan both looked up to see Su Rongqing standing to one side. He bowed to Li Rong. Li Rong was somewhat surprised. “Vice Minister Su?”

“Your Highness.” Su Rongqing smiled, his expression gentle. “I wonder if Your Highness has time?”

“Does Lord Su have business?” Pei Wenxuan stepped forward, blocking half of Li Rong’s front, and said with a smile, “Now that the cases have been judged, tomorrow begins the court-wide rest period to welcome the New Year. Whatever Lord Su has to say, why not wait until after the Spring Festival?”

“It’s not actually my business.” Su Rongqing spoke plainly. His gaze turned toward Li Rong, and he said slowly, “It’s Minister Xie who wishes to see the Princess.”

“Xie Lanqing?”

Pei Wenxuan was somewhat surprised. Su Rongqing nodded. “Minister Xie has many questions and wishes to ask the Princess.”

Li Rong thought for a moment and nodded. “Has Vice Minister Su already made arrangements?”

“Minister Xie is currently at the Ministry of Justice. I can lead Your Highness there.”

“Then let’s go now.”

Li Rong decided and invited Su Rongqing. “Shall Vice Minister Su join us?”

Su Rongqing bowed in thanks, essentially agreeing.

The three boarded the carriage together. After getting on, Li Rong realized this atmosphere seemed familiar. Fortunately, this time she didn’t need to consider the order of taking care of two people. As soon as Su Rongqing sat down on the side of the carriage, Pei Wenxuan sat next to Li Rong. With a tea table in the middle between him and Li Rong, he placed himself on the same side as Su Rongqing, forcibly separating Su Rongqing and Li Rong.

Su Rongqing gave Pei Wenxuan a faint glance. Li Rong pretended not to know what was happening at all. Just as she was about to lower her head to pour tea, she saw Pei Wenxuan proactively pick up the teapot and pour Li Rong a cup of tea. “Your Highness, have some tea.”

“Uh, thank you.”

Li Rong took the tea, then, worried that Pei Wenxuan would take the opportunity to retaliate against Su Rongqing and make the scene awkward, quickly said, “Pour a cup for Vice Minister Su as well.”

“Naturally.”

Pei Wenxuan spoke and also poured tea for Su Rongqing. With the bearing of a host, he handed the tea to Su Rongqing. “Vice Minister Su, have some tea.”

Su Rongqing nodded. “Thank you.”

Then Pei Wenxuan set down the teapot. Li Rong found it somewhat strange. “Why aren’t you pouring for yourself?”

“I’ll just drink from Your Highness’s cup.” Pei Wenxuan said warmly, “There aren’t enough cups.”

Hearing this, Li Rong turned to look at the cups still sitting on the table. Pei Wenxuan noticed her gaze and smiled in explanation. “This cup has a chip.”

How could there possibly be a chipped cup on her table?

But she didn’t dare ask. She was afraid that if she asked, Pei Wenxuan could immediately smash one to create a chip.

Su Rongqing held his cup. He lowered his head to look at the ripples in the water. Pei Wenxuan, seeing that neither of them was speaking, began introducing the tea leaves to Su Rongqing.

Once he started speaking, the atmosphere finally wasn’t so awkward. Su Rongqing was also tactful, and the two began chatting idly about tea leaves. Li Rong lowered her head and pretended to read a book, saying nothing.

Finally, they arrived at the Ministry of Justice. Pei Wenxuan helped Li Rong down, and Su Rongqing led them together into the prison.

Xie Lanqing sat in his cell. Someone had arranged a stool for Li Rong. Li Rong sat down and looked at Xie Lanqing sitting on the bed. “I heard Minister Xie has something to ask me?”

Xie Lanqing looked at Li Rong. He didn’t bow. Li Rong turned her fan, also not bothering about his discourtesy. The two stared at each other quietly for a long time before he finally said, “Have you met her?”

Li Rong didn’t speak. Xie Lanqing said in a hoarse voice, continuing to ask, “Lin Xia. You’ve met her, haven’t you?”

“I haven’t.” Li Rong spoke calmly. “I’ve always been in Hua Jing. She died two years ago and even sent someone to Hua Jing to find you. You knew, but you didn’t go back. I couldn’t possibly have met her.”

Hearing her words, Xie Lanqing’s eyes widened. “She died two years ago?”

“You didn’t know?” Li Rong smiled, then nodded, as if understanding. “That’s right. Twenty years, and you never went to see her. But Minister Xie,” Li Rong propped up her chin, “although I’ve never gone to see her, the things Minister Xie wants to know, I may not be unaware of.”

After all, back then, Su Rongqing had investigated almost everyone around Lin Xia, completely piecing together this woman’s drifting half-life.

Born into a distinguished martial arts family, she mistakenly entered Hua Jing in her youth. A hero saving a beauty, an unexpected encounter with a noble young master from Hua Jing.

The elegance bestowed upon a man by a prestigious family of a hundred years, combined with youthful innocence—even a resolute heart forged through martial arts training from childhood couldn’t help but soften into flowing water and long silk.

“Feibai,” Xie Lanqing stared at Li Rong, “is he really my child?”

“Do you still think I’m deceiving you even now?” Li Rong was somewhat helpless. “Minister Xie, I wouldn’t falsely accuse you of such a thing. Back then, when you were in love with Lin Xia, you were pressured by your family, so you broke off with Lin Xia. When you were together with Lin Xia, she promised you three wishes. Your second wish was for her to leave.”

“At that time, she was already pregnant with Lin Feibai.”

“But she never told me!” Xie Lanqing roared. Li Rong was somewhat puzzled. “Why would she need to tell you? You couldn’t possibly marry her, and she didn’t plan to marry anyone else. This child was her only solace. She wouldn’t harm him. And if he was born and entered the Xie family, he would just be a bastard with a lowborn mother. Why tell you?”

Xie Lanqing stared blankly at Li Rong. Li Rong said calmly, “She left with the child, but wasn’t accepted by her family clan or sect, so she and her junior martial sister hid here and there. Out of desperation, she wrote a letter and asked you for money.”

“When she asked for money, you probably felt relieved, thinking you finally didn’t owe this woman anything. So with a grand wave of your hand, you gave her Qinqu Mountain.”

“Later, she established the Seven Stars Hall. Among her left and right protectors, martial arts circles rumored that she and her right protector, who was also her senior martial brother, had an ambiguous relationship. So you assumed Lin Feibai was Lin Fei’s child. After all, as far as you knew, Lin Feibai came a full year later.”

“Lin Feibai’s true age isn’t twenty. He’s only nineteen this year.”

“Lin Xia lived her whole life alone on Qinqu Mountain. Even before dying, she was still thinking of you and sent someone to find you, but you were unwilling to go.”

“After she died, fearing martial arts people would seek revenge and bully Lin Feibai for being young, she requested that no funeral announcement be made, maintaining the pretense that she was still alive.”

“So when I went to Seven Stars Hall at that time, the person I saw…”

“Wasn’t her.”

Li Rong confirmed. Xie Lanqing sat in place, his expression somewhat dazed. Li Rong watched him. After a long while, she lightly tapped her fan and said slowly, “Does Minister Xie have anything else to ask? If not, this palace will take its leave.”

“Did she hate me?” Xie Lanqing suddenly spoke. Li Rong thought about it. “That I don’t know. But I’m also very curious.” Li Rong leaned slightly forward. “Did you love her?”

Xie Lanqing remained silent. After a long time, he smiled. “I dare not speak of love.”

“I thought as much.” Li Rong stood up and said indifferently, “For people like you, romantic love is inherently thin and cold. What a pity for Lin Xia, drifting alone and suffering her entire life, falling for someone like you.”

Xie Lanqing said nothing. As Li Rong walked out, he spoke in a low, hoarse voice. “I hoped she would live well her entire life.”

Li Rong stopped in her tracks. She turned back to see Xie Lanqing looking up at the sky outside through the window. “In youth, not knowing the height of heaven or the depth of earth, thinking that if I risked my life, I could protect our peaceful existence together. I begged her to stay, secretly married her, promised her Hua Jing. I thought if I didn’t want my life, didn’t want glory and wealth, I could love her.”

“But later I discovered, under the weight of family, what right does one have to speak of love? The nobility of aristocratic surnames lies in the nobility of bloodline, the nobility of marriage alliances. As a disciple of the Xie family, if I casually married a wandering martial artist woman, that would bring shame to my family’s reputation. My hundred years of noble prestige would become others’ joke. My clan’s men and women, their marriage alliances would all be affected because of this. The Xie family couldn’t accommodate her and me. I could die, but what about her?”

“Originally a person of heaven, why must she fall to the mortal realm?”

Xie Lanqing closed his eyes. “I made her leave because I wanted her to live well. I didn’t go see her because I knew that since there was no result, why provoke heartache?”

“It’s not that I didn’t love her. I simply had no qualifications and dared not speak of it.”

“Sometimes I would ask myself over and over—why? What did I do wrong? I like someone, she likes me. Why must so many people be punished, so many people be unhappy? Is this my mistake, or theirs?”

“But my parents weren’t wrong. My clan members weren’t wrong. And what about me? Liking someone outside the marriage alliance surnames is a sin, but why should it be a sin?”

Xie Lanqing seemed to find it ridiculous. He closed his eyes. “I thought about it my entire life. Later I understood. Because I was born into a prestigious family, enjoyed such wealth and honor, I must maintain this wealth and honor. Pain doesn’t matter. Romantic love doesn’t matter. Maintaining the family is the greater righteousness. A hundred years thus, a thousand years thus. I must maintain the Xie family, maintain this noble surname, this noble bloodline. You of the Li clan are originally of imperial descent,” Xie Lanqing turned his head to look at Li Rong, “yet you married a man from a humble clan. A humble clan would be one thing, but you actually listened to this humble clan member’s manipulation, severing the Crown Prince from the aristocratic families.”

“Your Highness, I couldn’t speak of the past, but now I want to ask—what is Your Highness seeking with today’s actions? To let the vile offspring of Prince Su ascend to high position?!”

Li Rong said nothing. She quietly watched this completely contradictory, completely fractured person.

She felt Xie Lanqing was pitiful, but she didn’t know where his pitifulness lay.

Was it pitiful to be bound by rules, like herself in her previous life?

Or was it pitiful to have grown an unruly heart within the rules, like Li Chuan in her previous life?

She couldn’t speak. She quietly watched Xie Lanqing, falling into a certain indescribable confusion and sharp pain.

Just in that moment of silence, she felt someone reach out and quietly hold her hand.

“Everything Your Highness does today is so that people like Minister Xie won’t need to ask ‘why’ anymore in the future.”

Xie Lanqing froze. Li Rong turned her head and slowly looked up.

Pei Wenxuan stood beside her, like tall trees and mountains, shielding her from wind and rain. He looked at Xie Lanqing and said calmly, “Liking someone, marrying the person you love—this represents not merely romantic love, but the most fundamental right of being human. Minister Xie says romantic love doesn’t matter. Indeed. But hasn’t Minister Xie noticed? Under such rules, for the sake of family, it’s not just romantic love that doesn’t matter—people, morality, justice—none of it matters anymore.”

“The world Your Highness desires isn’t one where family is most important, but where every person lives happily with hope in life. Perhaps it cannot exist today. It may even require a hundred years, a thousand years. But Your Highness still hopes that one day, there won’t be another Minister Xie asking himself what he did wrong.”

“And there won’t be another Minister Xie reproaching Your Highness for being of imperial descent yet marrying into a humble clan.”

“Li Rong married Pei Wenxuan. Your Highness married a person who loves her and whom she loves,” Pei Wenxuan’s expression was calm, his tone steady as a mountain. “He can make her happy for a lifetime, can love her for a lifetime, protect her for a lifetime, never disappoint her, never betray her, never abandon her.”

“Even if he’s from a humble family, it’s not wrong.”