Li Rоng stерреd оut of the Imреriаl Studу аnd immediatelу wiрed the tеars from hеr fасе, hеr еxprеssion turning cold.
She boardеd thе cаrriagе, grаduаllу cаlming hеr еmоtiоns, and bу the time she rеturnеd homе, Pei Wenхuan had just finishеd a gamе оf сhеss аgаinst himsеlf and was рutting аwaу thе рieсes.
Аs Li Rоng enterеd thе roоm, Pei Wenхuan hapреnеd to lоok up and sаw hеr tеar-strеаkеd fасе. Hе рausеd for а moment, thеn smiled subtlу, sауing, "Hоw did а triр tо the palаce turn you into а little tear-stаined kitten?"
"Yоu still havе thе moоd to care about my 'kitten face'?" Li Rong scoffed. "Aren't you more concerned about your own official career?"
"My official career isn't all that important," Pei Wenxuan replied, though his gaze still lingered on Li Rong's face. After a moment, he sighed and beckoned her over gently. "Your Highness, come here."
Li Rong was somewhat puzzled but walked over to him. Pei Wenxuan pulled her down to sit, then went to fetch a damp cloth. Returning to her, he bent down and carefully wiped her face.
He was very close, his movements gentle and slow, wiping away her tear stains as if it were the most important task at hand.
Li Rong let him tend to her, her demeanor softening involuntarily, like a cat whose fur had been smoothed. She murmured quietly, "Aren't you going to ask what I said in the palace?"
"If the Vice Minister of Personnel position is gone, it's gone," Pei Wenxuan said lightly. "As for the remaining Examination Merit Secretary role, I'll think of another way."
"I secured the position for you," Li Rong suddenly blurted out.
Pei Wenxuan paused, looking up to see Li Rong gazing at him earnestly. "I told Father that you were being bullied, that our lives were difficult, so I had someone transfer you to the Examination Merit Secretary position. Someone else moved you to the Vice Minister of Personnel role—it must be a plot against us. I asked him to intervene on my behalf."
She continued with a smile, "I also accused Hua Le, saying she claimed Father only married me off to you because he was suspicious of me, and that he wouldn't even grant you a sixth-rank official position. I told him I was constantly mocked by Hua Le and that everyone gossiped behind my back for marrying you."
"Now Father will surely investigate the matter of your transfer. Since we weren't involved, if he insists on digging, it'll likely lead back to Consort Rou. By then, he'll grow uneasy. To prove he isn't suspicious of me, he'll have no choice but to secure the Vice Minister of Personnel position for you."
Pei Wenxuan listened to her words without any reaction, simply gazing into her eyes in silence.
Li Rong nudged him with her elbow. "Why are you staring at me? Say something."
"This humble official is just a little curious," Pei Wenxuan said, having finished wiping her face. He set the cloth aside and picked up a comb to gently smooth her hair. "Your Highness has rarely cried in front of me in all these years, yet before His Majesty, you can shed tears at will. Why is that?"
"Fake tears are easy to shed. Real tears—what's the point?" Li Rong sighed. "Besides, being seen crying is so embarrassing."
No matter how dramatic the fake tears, they remain just an act.
But when genuine tears fall, even a single drop can pierce straight to the heart."By the way, why are you asking this?" Li Rong suddenly remembered and asked, "Do you think what I said was appropriate? Father won't overthink it, will he?"
"That shouldn't be the case."
Pei Wenxuan finished combing Li Rong's hair, set the comb aside, straightened the crooked hairpin, and then said, "Your Highness need not worry too much. His Majesty will take it to heart."
"Why are you so confident?" Li Rong found it rather strange. Pei Wenxuan smiled but didn't elaborate further. After a moment of thought, he added, "However, what we should worry about now is whether His Majesty can find the person who arranged for me to be placed in the Ministry of Personnel."
Upon hearing Pei Wenxuan's words, Li Rong understood his meaning.
Given Consort Rou's cautious nature, if she wanted to insert someone, she would naturally do it flawlessly. No matter how much one investigated, it would be difficult to trace it back to her.
If they couldn't find evidence of Consort Rou colluding with the Ministry of Personnel, it would be challenging to make Li Ming believe Li Rong's words.
Li Rong pondered for a moment. Seeing her thinking of a solution, Pei Wenxuan reminded her, "If you can't find evidence, you can create suspicion."
"Suspicion?"
"Previously, Hua Le wore the Xie family's white magnolia hairpin, which has already made His Majesty suspicious of their relationship with the noble families. Now that you've also mentioned Consort Rou colluding with the noble families to frame me, even without evidence, given His Majesty's temperament, he will likely start to harbor doubts. Why not add fuel to the fire and give His Majesty a few more reasons to be suspicious?"
"Once suspicion arises," Pei Wenxuan picked up the purple clay teapot and poured himself some tea, "His Majesty will certainly still protect Consort Rou. But by protecting her, he will feel a bit more guilt toward you, and everything will proceed smoothly."
"Alright."
Li Rong nodded. "I'll discuss this matter with Aya."
Pei Wenxuan acknowledged her response. Sensing his low spirits, Li Rong couldn't help but ask with concern, "You seem quite unhappy?"
"Not really."
Pei Wenxuan smiled. "Your Highness need not be overly sensitive."
"Pei Wenxuan," Li Rong leaned closer to him, staring intently, "I've already fought to get your official position back for you. Why are you still unhappy?"
"Your Highness standing up for me naturally makes me happy."
Pei Wenxuan sighed and spoke truthfully, "It's just that when I think about how, even though Your Highness's tears were fake, the words you spoke were all true, it makes me feel somewhat distressed."
"What words?"
Li Rong looked puzzled. Pei Wenxuan continued, "Your Highness, I don't know if what I'm thinking is correct."
As he spoke, Pei Wenxuan knelt on one knee before Li Rong. He raised his hand to hold hers and lowered his gaze. "When a person can cry, whether the tears are real or fake, it must be because they carry sorrow in their heart."
"Your Highness has many sorrows, but you never speak of them to me."
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