Реi Wenxuаn thоught it thrоugh сlеarly. In truth, evеrуthing Li Ming had dоne was ultimаtеlу аimеd аt testing him.
Hе was questioning Pei Wenхuаn's loуaltу. If Реi Wеnxuаn simрlу fоllоwed аlong with his probing—if Li Мing wаnted а divorce, hе agreеd to a divоrсе—thеn nо mаttеr what, Li Ming wоuld rеmain susрiсiоus.
It would bе bettеr tо turn the tablеs аnd shift from dеfense to оffense.
"What dо уоu meаn by this?"
Li Ming furrowеd his brоw. "Yоu want tо divоrсе Рing Lе? What is wrоng with mу daughtеr that уou would sеek tо divоrсe hеr?!"
Тhе mоre Li Ming spоke, the angrier he bеcame. Нe slammеd his hand оn thе tablе and shouted, "Pei Wenxuan, you have some nerve!"
Hearing Li Ming's words, Pei Wenxuan quickly kowtowed. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. But Wenxuan... Wenxuan is also..."
As he spoke, Pei Wenxuan seemed somewhat embarrassed. He straightened up and pulled open his official robe, revealing the marks on his body.
Bite marks that nearly reached the bone on his shoulders, mixed with scratches all over Pei Wenxuan's body, made everyone gasp in shock. Li Ming couldn't help but pause. "What is this?"
"Your Majesty," Pei Wenxuan said with a pained and indignant expression, "these were all inflicted by the princess last night."
Hearing this, Li Ming felt somewhat awkward. He couldn't help but follow Pei Wenxuan's lead. "How did you two end up fighting? And so severely at that." Then, as if remembering something, he added, "You didn't hit her, did you?"
"The princess is of noble birth. This humble official would not dare."
Pei Wenxuan's expression grew even colder at Li Ming's words. Knowing that Li Rong had not been wronged, Li Ming relaxed. "What happened? Tell me."
"Your Majesty," Pei Wenxuan began, first taking a talisman from his sleeve. "This matter must start with this talisman. Last night, when the princess returned from the palace, I went to pick her up. But when we reached the palace gate, she handed me this talisman and said that I shouldn't have casually written talismans outside, nearly causing her to fall into Consort Rou's trap."
Hearing this, Li Ming frowned but did not interrupt, allowing Pei Wenxuan to continue. "After examining the talisman, I am certain it is not my handwriting."
"It wasn't written by you?" Li Ming asked seriously. Pei Wenxuan shook his head. "Your Majesty can summon a master to verify it. This is not my handwriting. Your Majesty should know that such talismans are extremely difficult to obtain. I am usually busy with official duties—where would I find the time for such things?"
Li Ming remained silent, only having someone take the talisman and quietly instructing, "Have it examined."
Afterward, he turned back to Pei Wenxuan. "If the talisman is fake, why did Ping Le claim it was real? And why did she say you both went to the temple together?"
Consort Rou had accused Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan of secretly contacting Master Hongde to help Li Chuan lie so he wouldn't have to marry. As evidence, she produced the talisman to prove that Pei Wenxuan had contacted Master Hongde. Li Rong explained that although the talisman was real, it had been obtained at the temple, thereby refuting Master Hongde's lie.
But if the talisman was fake from the start, why didn't Li Rong simply say it was fake? Or was it that Li Rong was refuting the accusation just for the sake of refutation, and in truth, she had indeed secretly contacted Master Hongde to delay Li Chuan's marriage?Li Ming pondered silently in his heart. Pei Wenxuan respectfully said, "Your Majesty, rather than wondering why the talisman is fake and why the princess admitted it, why not consider why Master Hongde presented a fake marriage talisman written by me to prove that the princess pressured him regarding the Crown Prince?"
"Even if the marriage talisman was written by me, it cannot prove that the princess met with Master Hongde, nor can it prove that she sought matters related to the Crown Prince from him. Whether the princess admits to this talisman or not, it proves nothing. So why would Hongde say such a thing?"
Upon hearing this, Li Ming’s expression remained unchanged, but he suddenly understood in his heart.
The fake marriage talisman proved nothing at all. Why would Hongde go to such lengths to present it?
"In truth, Your Majesty has long formed conclusions about many matters, and there is no need to say more. Both the princess and I are well aware of this."
For example, his suspicion that Li Rong and Li Chuan were involved stemmed from his subconscious certainty that Li Rong would speak on Li Chuan’s behalf before Master Hongde. This led him to overlook how unreasonable the appearance of the talisman was and the fact that there was no substantial evidence to prove the matter.
Since Li Rong knew of this, it was natural for her to panic. When faced with accusations, it was possible for her to instinctively refute all evidence.
Li Ming grasped Pei Wenxuan’s implication. Although he did not directly explain why Li Rong had lied, he had allowed Li Ming to deduce the reason.
"Since I was appointed to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, the princess and I have been treading on thin ice, cautious in every matter, fearing that we might make a mistake and give others a handle against us."
"The noble families dislike us, the Crown Prince resents us, and behind the scenes, someone first placed the princess and me in the hot seat with the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, then framed us using Master Hongde, and now this fake talisman incident. Although neither Her Highness nor I understand Hongde’s true intentions, they are undoubtedly planning something. In my haste and frustration, I reprimanded Her Highness for speaking recklessly about matters she knew nothing of."
"Moreover, Her Highness has long been dissatisfied with me. As I come from a humble background and my official career has been fraught with difficulties, Her Highness has faced much criticism among the court officials. I suggested that the princess establish the Supervisory Department to share Your Majesty’s burdens, but now the court officials harbor great resentment toward Her Highness. The Crown Prince has also turned against her, and the Empress despises her. Thus, last night... Her Highness and I inevitably quarreled."
"In her anger, Her Highness exclaimed that I was lowly, even inferior to the entertainers in the southern pleasure houses. She then took an entertainer on a flower boat for a night cruise. In my desperation, I intercepted Her Highness, intending to reason with her, but she beat and berated me. Your Majesty," Pei Wenxuan straightened up, his face filled with grief and indignation, "though I come from a humble background, I am still a man of stature. Even if Her Highness is a princess, how can she humiliate me like this? I married Her Highness only to fulfill Your Majesty’s command and to serve as a loyal subject. I have endured Her Highness’s usual arrogance, willfulness, rudeness, and even her secret affections for others. I have never overstepped my bounds as a husband or a subject. Yet Her Highness still went on a night cruise on a flower boat, summoning dozens of..."
Pei Wenxuan could not continue for a moment. He took a deep breath, prostrated himself on the ground, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I know I am guilty and have failed Your Majesty’s immense grace. But I beg Your Majesty, in consideration of my late father’s lifelong loyalty and my own devotion, to grant me a divorce from Her Highness..."Pei Wenxuan's voice was hoarse, nearly on the verge of tears: "This humble official truly cannot go on like this..."
Pei Wenxuan's plea left Li Ming momentarily speechless.
As a fellow man, how could Li Ming not understand the humiliation in Pei Wenxuan's heart?
Even if Pei Wenxuan were putting on a show for him, there was no need to have Li Rong call so many entertainers...
Li Ming carefully pondered Pei Wenxuan's words, and another line of thought emerged in his mind.
In fact, Pei Wenxuan's words had awakened him. From the Ministry of Personnel's Vice Minister to the current Hongde, it had always seemed as though Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan had gained some advantage that he discovered, which made him constantly doubt their loyalty.
But what if he considered it from another angle? What if the incidents involving the Ministry of Personnel's Vice Minister and Hongde were both orchestrated by someone else? What exactly were they scheming?
If he hadn't known before, now that this talisman had appeared, wasn't it clear?
A talisman that couldn't prove Li Rong's relationship with the Crown Prince at all was used to trick Li Rong into admitting it, only to later inform him that it represented the strong marital bond between the couple.
The purpose of the Ministry of Personnel's Vice Minister incident was to make him begin to worry about Li Rong's power.
The Hongde incident made him worry about Li Rong's relationship with Li Chuan.
And the talisman incident made him worry that Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong were united as husband and wife. Why worry about their unity? Because deep down, he was already concerned that Li Rong wielded too much power and was colluding with Li Chuan. Now, if Pei Wenxuan and she were truly united, how much more dangerous would that be?
Thinking this way, the other party was truly attacking his mind step by step, and their target wasn't Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan—it was him!
Li Ming's heart was in turmoil, but his expression remained unchanged.
After all, this was only Pei Wenxuan's side of the story. He couldn't fully believe it, so he followed Pei Wenxuan's words and said, "If what you say is true, Rongrong has indeed become too arrogant. Since you wish to separate, I have no intention of forcing you. Return for now, and I will draft the decree. How does that sound?"
Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan grew excited and respectfully replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is wise!"
Li Ming watched Pei Wenxuan's barely concealed joy with mixed emotions. After all, Li Rong was still his daughter, and seeing her so despised by someone left him feeling unsettled. He waved his hand and said calmly, "You may leave."
Pei Wenxuan bowed respectfully and withdrew.
As he left the imperial study, a young eunuch followed him to see him out. Pei Wenxuan walked out with a cold expression, and just before exiting, he whispered, "Have His Majesty investigate how Hongde entered the palace."
The young eunuch said nothing but clearly heard him.
After escorting Pei Wenxuan out of the palace gates, the young eunuch hurried back.
While Pei Wenxuan was returning to his office from the imperial study, in the Su Clan's residence, a young nobleman held a book in one hand and placed a chess piece with the other.
Beside him knelt a woman, her posture one of palace etiquette. Though she appeared calm, her eyes held a trace of unease.
"Her Ladyship said that talisman is fake and was taken out by Princess Pingle. What if they take it for verification?"
The maid was somewhat flustered: "Now Hongde has also been taken away, my lord. If he speaks carelessly, it will implicate Her Ladyship."
"He won't have the chance to speak carelessly. Tell Her Ladyship to rest assured," the young nobleman said calmly as he placed another chess piece. Hearing this, the maid understood his meaning. Though slightly reassured, she still asked, "What about the talisman?""Since Her Highness has already admitted it, what does it matter if it's proven false? If they tell His Majesty that the princess lied, then why would she lie? His Majesty would still harbor doubts and would inevitably test Pei Wenxuan and the princess. And Pei Wenxuan cannot pass His Majesty's test."
"Are you so certain, my lord?" The maid frowned. "It is not impossible for Pei Wenxuan to agree to a separation."
"He will not agree."
The young man set down the scroll and began calmly tidying the chessboard, his voice gentle. "He dares not, he will not, and he does not wish to."
"What if he does agree?" the maid persisted. The young man paused briefly, and after a long moment, he frowned. "Then he deserves to die."
"Those who betray Her Highness," the young man's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. He tilted his head slightly, watching the early spring butterflies alight in the courtyard, his desolate eyes tinged with mockery, "all deserve to die."
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