Li Rong quietly gazed at Pei Wenxuan. She looked at his profile in this moment. He was slender, like pine, bamboo, and white snow. Standing there in the hall, he embodied the most typical image of a civil official in everyone’s hearts throughout Great Xia.

What he held in his hand was a writing brush. What his gaze beheld were the mountains and rivers.

In this moment, Li Rong saw in him not merely his elegant and refined features, but also the image of the most admired lover in a young girl’s dreams of budding romance.

A man’s greatest charm never lies in how much he loves a woman or how completely he devotes himself to one woman.

Rather, it lies in how his vision encompasses the four seas and his shoulders bear the weight of mountains and rivers, yet he’s willing to lower his head for you and gently brush away a single peach blossom petal from your hair.

Pei Wenxuan noticed Li Rong’s gaze. He turned his head, somewhat puzzled. “Your Highness?”

Li Rong collected herself and forcibly averted her gaze, looking toward Xie Lanqing in the prison. She smiled. “Minister Xie, what you wanted to know, I’ve told you. Minister Xie should be able to walk this path with peace of mind.”

Xie Lanqing seemed somewhat dazed. Li Rong nodded slightly and turned to Su Rongqing. “Vice Minister Su, if there’s nothing else, this palace will return to the manor first.”

Su Rongqing bowed respectfully. Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan bid farewell to Xie Lanqing. Xie Lanqing sat in his cell. He didn’t respond, staring blankly in one direction as if seeing some person, some event.

Su Rongqing bowed farewell to Xie Lanqing and followed Li Rong out.

When they reached the entrance, the three discovered winter rain was falling. The winter rain fell fine and dense, mixing with snow. Pei Wenxuan had someone summon attendants to fetch the carriage, and the three stood together under the long corridor in silence.

Su Rongqing looked at the rain and snow outside. After a long while, he spoke slowly. “What Lord Pei said just now, Su believes is incorrect. The heavenly way operates with its own rules. Blindly breaking rules to maintain one’s own desires and harming others cannot be considered right. Minister Xie’s greatest mistake was that he should never have gotten involved with Lin Xia in the first place. There are distinctions between high and low, differences between clouds and mud. Destined to have no result, he should have restrained himself from the beginning. Even if feelings arose beyond his control, he shouldn’t have indulged them.”

“Just like Vice Minister Su?” Pei Wenxuan looked at the rain and snow, speaking calmly. “In Vice Minister Su’s world, for the sake of family, can even wives be killed?”

As Pei Wenxuan spoke, he turned to look at Su Rongqing. Li Rong’s heart tightened. She said coldly, “What inauspicious words is the Prince Consort spouting for no reason?”

“I was just asking casually.” Pei Wenxuan smiled and raised his hand in a bow. “Vice Minister Su, please don’t take offense.”

“I do take offense.” Su Rongqing spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse. “I hope Lord Pei won’t joke about my wife.”

“Vice Minister Su hasn’t married yet, has he?” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyebrows. “Already protecting this title like this—do you have someone in your heart?”

“Whether I do or not,” Su Rongqing stared at Pei Wenxuan, not yielding an inch, “it’s not something Lord Pei should joke about.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled and turned his head, smiling as he reminded him. “It seems Vice Minister Su has never once called me Prince Consort until now?”

Su Rongqing’s form stiffened. The carriage was being led over. Pei Wenxuan watched people approach. He naturally reached out to hold Li Rong’s hand and reminded Su Rongqing. “Currently, the Prince Consort’s rank is still higher than my position as Supervising Censor. If Your Highness is verbally accustomed to it, that’s fine, but Vice Minister Su comes from a distinguished family and is most rule-abiding. Such verbal mistakes shouldn’t be repeated.”

Speaking thus, Pei Wenxuan took an umbrella from someone nearby, raised his hand to rest it on Li Rong’s shoulder, and said warmly, “Your Highness, let’s go.”

Li Rong was led forward by him. In the darkness that others couldn’t see, Li Rong quietly jabbed his waist with her elbow and said in a low voice, “Did you eat gunpowder?”

Pei Wenxuan smiled without speaking, only leading Li Rong forward. After the two walked a few steps, Su Rongqing suddenly spoke, his voice trembling with hoarseness. “Your Highness…”

Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan both turned back. Su Rongqing looked at Li Rong, his gaze entirely upon her. He seemed to want to say something, with countless sorrows and joys hidden in his eyes. Li Rong quietly watched him. Seeing him remain silent for a long time, she couldn’t help but say, “Vice Minister Su?”

Su Rongqing was called back to his senses by Li Rong’s voice. Li Rong watched his gaze calm down bit by bit. He took a deep breath and smiled. “The New Year is approaching. This humble official wishes Your Highness in advance a happy new year and all the best.”

Su Rongqing clearly rarely spoke such simple blessings. Hearing him speak them, Li Rong was somewhat surprised, then smiled. “Then I also wish Vice Minister Su a happy new year and a bright future.”

“Thank Your Highness.” Su Rongqing smiled. Li Rong turned back and entered the carriage with Pei Wenxuan.

After the two entered the carriage, they each sat on opposite sides. As the carriage began moving, Li Rong casually raised her eyes and saw, when the curtain lifted, a figure revealed through the window.

A lone figure in white robes holding an umbrella, walking through wind and rain. Heaven high and earth vast, utterly alone.

Li Rong froze. Pei Wenxuan poured himself tea, held the teacup, leaned against the carriage wall, and said sourly, “Stop looking. He’s already gone.”

“It seems he didn’t take a carriage?”

Li Rong found it somewhat strange. With the Su family’s resources, how could they let Su Rongqing walk back?

Pei Wenxuan used the tea lid to stir the tea leaves, speaking slowly. “Walking back exercises the body. How healthy?”

“You’re right.” Li Rong nodded and turned to look at Pei Wenxuan. “I don’t know what kind of vinegar Lord Pei drank today and from where?”

Pei Wenxuan said nothing, blowing on the tea leaves. Li Rong gave him a faint glance and couldn’t help saying, “Stop blowing. The tea leaves are flying up.”

“What a pity.” Pei Wenxuan raised his head. “How come they didn’t fly onto Your Highness’s face to wash Your Highness’s eyes?”

“With a beauty washing my eyes,” Li Rong smiled, “I don’t need Lord Pei’s tea leaves.”

“Li Rong.” Pei Wenxuan placed the teacup on the table, rested his hand on the table, leaned forward, and smiled. “You’re really good at stabbing hearts.”

“This palace doesn’t have the habit of indulging people.” Li Rong also placed her hand on the table, meeting Pei Wenxuan face to face. “After all these years, Lord Pei as Prince Consort still hasn’t learned well.”

“Will Your Highness teach me?” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyebrows. Li Rong lifted her chin. “Figure it out yourself.”

“Will Your Highness point the way?”

Li Rong nodded and lowered her voice as if speaking of extremely confidential matters. “Seeing as you’re sincerely seeking instruction, I’ll tell you your only advantage. You must comprehend it well.”

“Please speak, Your Highness.” Pei Wenxuan cooperated with her, also lowering his voice and listening attentively. Li Rong dipped her finger in water from Pei Wenxuan’s teacup and wrote a character on the table. As she wrote, she said, “This is confidential. Prince Consort must not spread it. Prince Consort, please look.”

Speaking thus, she finished writing. Pei Wenxuan turned to look and saw a neat and proper character for “face.”

Pei Wenxuan remained silent. Li Rong raised her hand and patted Pei Wenxuan’s shoulder. “Prince Consort has this strong point. You must make good use of it.”

“How should I use it?” Pei Wenxuan raised his head and sneered. “Perform a striptease for you?”

Li Rong hadn’t expected Pei Wenxuan to say such things. She thought seriously for a moment, leaned forward, and whispered, “When? Where? I’ll definitely come.”

“Go away.” Pei Wenxuan pushed Li Rong. “A young lady with not a bit of modesty.”

Li Rong laughed and fell toward Pei Wenxuan, raising her hand to rest on his shoulder, softening her voice. “Pei Wenxuan, have you forgotten? I’m already fifty years old.”

“Don’t talk like that.” Pei Wenxuan sat upright, pulling Li Rong away and saying seriously, “Like a spirit demon. Creepy.”

“Now that you mention it, I’ve discovered,” Li Rong pondered, “you really do look like a little Taoist priest now.” As Li Rong spoke, she threw him a flirtatious glance. “Quite likable.”

Pei Wenxuan’s expression didn’t change, as if thinking about something. Li Rong sat up straight, poured herself tea from the table, and said in a low voice, “But seriously, why did you mention past life matters to Su Rongqing? He doesn’t remember anyway. What’s the use of saying it?”

“Just said it casually.” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “Your Highness needn’t take it too much to heart.”

“Speaking of which,” Pei Wenxuan suddenly remembered, “how does Your Highness plan to spend the New Year? Does Your Highness plan to enter the palace?”

“Already married out. What would I go back for?”

Li Rong shook her head. “I’ll just spend it at the Princess Manor. You arrange it.”

Pei Wenxuan nodded and began thinking about the Spring Festival.

The two returned home together. Starting from the next day, they began the rest period according to court regulations. Li Rong slept until she woke naturally every day. Pei Wenxuan maintained his usual schedule. After getting up, he led people to clean the courtyard, directed them to hang lanterns and paste spring couplets, arranged the placement of objects in the rooms, and personally selected incense.

From major decorations to the placement of a single vase, he had to handle everything personally. By New Year’s Day, when Li Rong woke up, she discovered the Princess Manor seemed much the same as in their previous life.

Li Rong walked in the courtyard. Pei Wenxuan went with her to have a meal. Li Rong looked at the decorative rockery in the courtyard and couldn’t help saying, “You used to love this style. You still love it now.”

“It’s not really that I love this style.” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “I just always felt that separating that way back then was somewhat regrettable. I always want to pretend nothing ever happened.”

“And then?”

Li Rong turned her head. “If it never happened, what would you do?”

“Then I would keep being a pair of newlywed young couple with Your Highness, doing housework together, celebrating New Year together.”

Li Rong raised her eyebrows. “Housework? You dare make me do housework?”

“I’ll do it.” Pei Wenxuan quickly said, “You just watch.”

Hearing this, Li Rong smiled. “Then I’ll watch.”

Pei Wenxuan did as he said. He led Li Rong to the dining hall. When Li Rong sat down and saw the peach blossom soup, she smiled.

The appearance of this peach blossom soup was still quite good, but the details weren’t refined enough. At a glance, it clearly wasn’t made by her chef. She pretended not to know anything, sat down, and ate the peach blossom soup. Pei Wenxuan casually asked, “How does Your Highness find the peach blossom soup?”

“Mm.” Li Rong said indifferently, “Compared to the previous craftsmanship, it’s somewhat lacking.”

Pei Wenxuan’s expression didn’t look too good. Li Rong continued, “However, I still quite like it.” As Li Rong spoke, she raised her eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan, saying meaningfully, “I can finish it all.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan seemed to brighten up. He picked up his chopsticks and said to Li Rong, “In a moment, I’ll paste spring couplets and blessing characters with Your Highness, then I’ll go clean.”

“You’re just creating work for yourself.”

Li Rong found him boring, but after finishing the meal, she still went with him to paste blessing characters and spring couplets.

At first, Pei Wenxuan was pasting while she directed from behind. After directing for a long time and Pei Wenxuan still couldn’t paste correctly, Li Rong got somewhat annoyed and scolded, “How can you be so stupid!”

Speaking thus, she walked forward, took the horizontal scroll from Pei Wenxuan’s hands, and was about to paste it on the door, instructing, “It needs to be pasted here.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled without speaking, only watching Li Rong stand on her tiptoes reaching upward. Pei Wenxuan found her effort to reach up adorable, so he took the horizontal scroll from behind her and directly pressed it up on the wall to spread it open. He lowered his head to look at Li Rong in his embrace. “Your Highness, is it here?”

When he raised his hand behind her, Li Rong felt as if her entire person was encircled by him. His presence overwhelmed her. Li Rong didn’t know why, but suddenly her ears felt somewhat hot. She said softly, “Mm.”

Pei Wenxuan pressed his lips together in a light smile. He had someone bring paste and properly affixed the horizontal scroll. The people around looked at the horizontal scroll with various expressions, seeming to want to speak but not daring to. After the two finished pasting, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan stepped back to look, and indeed it was crooked.

The two looked quietly for a moment. Li Rong frowned. “I think I pasted it crooked.”

“No.” Pei Wenxuan immediately said, “The horizontal scroll Your Highness pasted cannot be crooked.”

“But I think…”

“It’s not crooked.” Pei Wenxuan tilted his head. “What’s crooked is people’s eyes, not Your Highness’s horizontal scroll. Look, when I look at it this way, it’s straight.”

“Pei Wenxuan, you’re really good at mocking me.”

Li Rong glared at him. Pei Wenxuan laughed, put his arm around her shoulder, and pushed her forward. “It’s already pasted. Let’s do the next thing. Let’s go.”

Speaking thus, Pei Wenxuan pushed Li Rong into the house. Li Rong followed him, only to find he had actually brought her to the kitchen.

The kitchen seemed to have all the tools prepared. Everything was orderly. Everyone stood to the side. Li Rong raised her eyebrows and turned back. “What are you doing?”

“Making dumplings.” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “I’m taking Your Highness to make dumplings.”

“You can make dumplings?” Li Rong found it somewhat novel. “A gentleman stays far from the kitchen. Was the Pei family once this poor?”

“Not really.” Pei Wenxuan spoke and smiled as he went to the table. Li Rong watched him take an apron from the side and tie it on, then skillfully sprinkle flour on the table and begin kneading dough. As he kneaded, he said, “This is my parents’ hobby. My father felt that making dumplings oneself is what makes it New Year. Your Highness, please sit.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled and raised his head. “Your Highness just watch me.”

The chair had already been prepared. Li Rong also found it novel. Sitting down on the chair, she propped up her chin and began watching Pei Wenxuan perform.

Pei Wenxuan made dumplings—kneading dough, rolling wrappers, chopping meat filling—his movements flowing like clouds and water, accomplished in one smooth motion. He himself was naturally good-looking with elegant bearing. Even just making dumplings seemed as beautiful as a carefully prepared solo dance.

Li Rong propped up her chin appreciating the scene. After watching for a while, she found it boring, so she straightened up, requested an apron from a servant, and went to Pei Wenxuan’s side. “Let me help you?”

Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes and smiled. “Your Highness also wants to make dumplings?”

“Idle is idle anyway.”

Seeing Li Rong’s interest, Pei Wenxuan took dumpling wrappers and taught Li Rong how to make them.

Li Rong normally seemed clever, but her hands were extremely clumsy. After making several, none were as pretty as Pei Wenxuan’s—strange shapes that looked quite comical.

Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan’s dumplings—plump and beautiful. Then she looked at her own dumplings—a bunch of useless things.

Li Rong felt she couldn’t save face and became angry for a moment. Pei Wenxuan glanced sideways at Li Rong and patiently taught her again and again. Li Rong still couldn’t make them well. Just as Pei Wenxuan was about to speak, Li Rong lost her temper. “Don’t speak! Does this palace need your teaching?!”

Pei Wenxuan stopped speaking. Fortunately, there was no one else around, only the two of them, so Li Rong still had some dignity.

Li Rong couldn’t make them well herself and wouldn’t let Pei Wenxuan make them either. She just wasted flour by herself there. Pei Wenxuan could only resignedly knead dough and mix meat filling for her to torment.

Watching her struggle until nightfall with no dumplings emerging, Li Rong stared huffily at the dumplings. Pei Wenxuan couldn’t bear it anymore either. He walked behind Li Rong, raised his hand to hold her hands, and said in a low voice, “Your Highness, like this, pinch here.”

Pei Wenxuan’s breath sprayed at her ear. His voice was gentle and kind, without a trace of impatience. Li Rong had been feeling annoyed, but seeing the dumpling in her hand suddenly become beautiful in that instant, she suddenly felt happy again.

Pei Wenxuan held her hands, telling her the process and essentials of making dumplings over and over again.

After repeating it dozens of times, Li Rong finally got the hang of it. Pei Wenxuan released her hands and stood beside her, making dumplings together with her. Li Rong was too absorbed in making dumplings and didn’t notice when she raised her hand to wipe her face, getting white flour on it. When Pei Wenxuan turned back and saw, he found it funny but didn’t dare say anything, afraid of disturbing her dumpling-making.

After making over a hundred, Li Rong’s dumplings finally looked good. Li Rong became happy and turned to Pei Wenxuan. “Pei Wenxuan, look, isn’t this dumpling so beautiful! This is my first time making dumplings. Isn’t it particularly successful?!”

Pei Wenxuan looked at her face covered in flour, holding a dumpling like presenting a treasure, and couldn’t help laughing.

“Beautiful.” His voice was gentle. “Your Highness is even more beautiful.”

Li Rong froze. Just in that instant, fireworks burst outside, suddenly resounding throughout Hua Jing. Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but raise their heads to look at the blooming fireworks. Li Rong held the dumpling in her hand and inadvertently turned back to glance at the young man beside her looking up at the fireworks in the sky.

“Pei Wenxuan.”

She suddenly called out softly.

Hearing her voice, Pei Wenxuan turned back. Just in that moment, he saw the young lady stand on her tiptoes, raise her hands to cup his face, and gently kiss him.

The fireworks bloomed ceaselessly in the night sky, bright then dark. The wind inadvertently extinguished the candle in the kitchen. Pei Wenxuan bent slightly, looking at the young lady with closed eyes in the night.

“Pei Wenxuan, happy new year.”