Li Rоng listеned as Li Сhuаn rаmblеd оn with comforting wоrds fоr a long timе. Finally grоwing sоmеwhаt wеаry, she hаd Jing Lan remove the neаrlу cоld egg аnd lооkеd up аt Li Сhuаn, sауing, "Alright, stоp beating аrоund the bush with mе. If you havе time, helр me loоk intо sоmеthing."
Неаring Li Rong's requеst, Li Сhuan quiсklу rеpliеd, "Go оn."
"Нas the Сhiеf Eхaminer for thе imperial ехаminatiоns been deсidеd?"
Li Сhuan hаdn't ехресted Li Rоng tо ask this quеstion. Нe instinctivеly rеsроnded, "It shоuld hаvе bеen decidеd by now."
"So earlу?" Li Rong frowned. Li Сhuan thought fоr a mоmеnt and sаid, "It wasn't supposed to be this early. After all, the imperial examinations have never been a major affair. Those who pass—the scions of noble families already have their positions arranged, while those from humble backgrounds either get appointed to insignificant minor posts or are sent to remote regions and never return. In the past, this matter was usually handled by the Examination Merit Secretary. Having a Vice Minister oversee it was already considered high-level. So originally, it should have been decided later. But this year is strange. Minister Wang said that this year, the court truly regards selecting talents as a top priority. He took the initiative to tell Father that he wants to be the Chief Examiner."
As Li Chuan spoke, he couldn't help but laugh. He picked up a teacup from the side, held it in his hand, and looked at Li Rong. "Once he spoke up, who could say anything? With the Minister himself serving as Chief Examiner, who could possibly surpass him? So although it hasn't been officially confirmed, it's pretty much settled."
Li Rong fell silent, lost in thought. Li Chuan took a sip of tea and then earnestly brought up the topic of her marriage again. "Actually, you shouldn't be too upset. Out with the old, in with the new. How about I take you to meet some prospects recently? If you see someone you like..."
"Enough, enough," Li Rong interrupted him with a frown. "Still worrying about this? Worry about yourself instead. How's your marriage situation?"
"What control do I have over that?" Li Chuan laughed. "I've already said, let them do as they please. They can choose a Crown Princess whenever they want, and pick whomever they want. I don't care at all. But now, guess what happened?" Li Chuan leaned in, speaking mysteriously. "Sister, guess what?"
"What happened?"
"Father and Mother have secretly agreed," Li Chuan said, unable to hide his delight, "to postpone the selection for now."
"Postpone it?"
Li Rong exclaimed in surprise, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized what was going on.
Now that the Shangguan family had given up on the idea of marrying into the Crown Prince's household and was focusing on internal reforms, the competition for the position of Crown Princess had shifted to the other noble families.
For Li Ming, he didn't want the position of Crown Princess to fall into the hands of any noble family, as that would strengthen Li Chuan's ties with the aristocracy. He would prefer Li Chuan to marry a woman from a humble background, or even better, not marry at all.
After all, whether Li Chuan's position as Crown Prince was stable or not didn't matter—in fact, Li Ming didn't want it to be stable.
With both sides holding different views and without the Shangguan family's forceful pressure, the selection for Crown Princess had now reached a stalemate.
"That's actually a good thing," Li Rong nodded.
Li Chuan shelled some melon seeds nearby and, seeing that Li Rong didn't seem displeased, asked curiously, "Sister, aren't you worried that if I don't marry, my position as Crown Prince will become unstable?"
"If not marrying could make your position as Crown Prince unstable," Li Rong turned to look at him with a faint smile, "then your position as Crown Prince truly is unstable."Li Chuan furrowed his brow, seeming somewhat puzzled, so Li Rong laid it out plainly for him: "Chuan'er, remember this: to secure your position in the court, it all comes down to three things—wealth, military power, and people. With wealth, you can afford provisions, troops, and those who will carry out your orders. With people who speak and act on your behalf, your words will carry weight. And with military power, you can protect both your wealth and your people. If you possess these three things, whether you marry or not will not affect your standing. But if you lack them," Li Rong's smile turned cold, "even if you marry women from the most prestigious families, in the eyes of others, you will still be nothing more than a puppet."
"If the day comes when they need to replace one puppet," Li Rong tapped her fan lightly against her palm, "do you think it would be difficult?"
Just like in her previous life, when Li Chuan married five women, and Li Ming established the Supervisory Department for Prince Su internally while seizing military power in the northwest externally. When the northwestern military power fell into Xiao Su's hands, who was left by his side?
"Elder Sister, I actually understand all of this," Li Chuan listened to Li Rong's words and couldn't help but smile bitterly. "It's just that Mother doesn't."
"Mother understands too, but people always want to take the easiest path. By urging you to marry, she hopes to gain these three things through marriage—a far simpler approach than acquiring them directly."
Li Chuan nodded in agreement, then turned to gaze into the distance, seeming somewhat weary. Seeing his expression, Li Rong patted his hand. "Don't dwell on it anymore. Head back early. Have someone keep an eye on Father's 'little Grand Secretariat' and see who he plans to appoint. We must block those who need to be blocked. Positions like these cannot be yielded."
"Understood."
Li Chuan acknowledged, as he had a good grasp of such matters.
After giving her instructions, Li Rong had Li Chuan slip out through the back door, advising him to visit less frequently in the future.
His visits to the Princess's Manor were too risky now, so it was better for him to come sparingly.
Once Li Chuan had left, Li Rong returned to the courtyard and lay on the rocking chair for a while, suddenly feeling the emptiness of the surroundings.
She turned to Jing Lan and asked, "Has the Imperial Son-in-Law moved all his belongings?"
"The Imperial Son-in-Law didn't take much with him," Jing Lan replied as she tidied up. Li Rong glanced at her. "Why? Does he plan to buy everything anew?"
"The Imperial Son-in-Law said," Jing Lan crouched down and whispered, "that he'll be back sooner or later, so he decided not to move everything for now."
Upon hearing Jing Lan's message, Li Rong felt, for some reason, that the desolate atmosphere in the courtyard had suddenly vanished.
She couldn't help but ask a few more questions: "Did the Imperial Son-in-Law move back to the Pei residence?"
"Not exactly."
Jing Lan shook her head. "Chancellor Pei originally owned a mansion in the capital, and the Imperial Son-in-Law moved there."
Li Rong nodded. After lying on the rocking chair for a while longer, she stood up and instructed, "Find Tuoba Yan and have him inquire about the mansions adjacent to the Imperial Son-in-Law's residence. See which family is willing to sell. If they are, it doesn't matter if the price is a bit high."
Hearing Li Rong's words, Jing Lan couldn't suppress a smile and glanced at her, saying with a chuckle, "Didn't Your Highness say we shouldn't spend money recklessly?"
"Buying a house is acquiring property," Li Rong declared with righteous confidence. "How can that be called reckless spending?"
Beside her, Jing Mei, who was massaging Li Rong's legs, couldn't hold back a soft laugh.
Li Rong raised an eyebrow and looked at her. Jing Mei quickly apologized with a smile. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I didn't mean to laugh at you."Without needing further explanation, Li Rong knew exactly what they were laughing about. She raised her hand and lightly tapped Jing Mei with her fan, chiding, "You insolent girl."
The three of them frolicked and joked in the courtyard for a while before the captain of the Supervisory Department guards walked in.
Ever since Xun Chuan left Huajing, the captain of the Supervisory Department guards had been replaced by a man named Zhao Chongjiu. This man had been personally trained by Xun Chuan and had undergone several rounds of assessment by Li Rong before being appointed. He held a tray of paper scrolls in his hands—these were all the messages sent back from all corners of the land.
After Li Rong was reborn, she had Pei Wenxuan rebuild the covert network from her previous life. But aside from the network Pei Wenxuan established, she also maintained a backup set of personnel.
She wasn’t accustomed to betting all her important matters on a single possibility. Pei Wenxuan was useful, but that didn’t mean she relied solely on him.
Later, after she established the Supervisory Department, these covert networks were directly merged into it. Once Xun Chuan left Huajing and began traveling around to help her establish branches of the Supervisory Department, the speed at which these information networks spread doubled, especially in the northwest and southwest.
In the northwest, with Qin Lin there, Xun Chuan’s establishment of the covert network was almost unimpeded. In the southwest, although Lin Feibai hadn’t yet made significant progress, there were no powerful aristocratic officials there either, making it much easier for Li Rong to send people to lay the groundwork.
Of course, corresponding to this was the consumption of money.
The Supervisory Department had funds provided by Li Ming, but it was far from enough. As a result, she had no choice but to dip into her own private treasury. But at the current rate of expenditure, she wouldn’t be able to sustain it for long. Fortunately, last year, Pei Wenxuan had made a series of arrangements in various industries—from inviting Gu Chenzi to her fiefdom in Qingzhou to teach farming, to acquiring land and various other industries, and even recruiting Tuoba Yan to help manage and handle finances. This year, her accounts were barely enough to keep things running.
Zhao Chongjiu presented the information respectfully, saying, "Your Highness, these are the latest messages sent back from various regions."
Li Rong acknowledged with a hum and took the messages to quickly skim through them.
As she scanned the information, she listened to Zhao Chongjiu’s report: "Your Highness, the matter regarding the divorce has been roughly clarified."
"Go on."
Li Rong’s voice was calm as she glanced at the report Xun Chuan had written about the situation in the northwest.
In the northwest, there were no major battles anymore, but this winter was exceptionally harsh. Many livestock had frozen to death outside Great Xia’s defensive lines, leading to several small-scale raids targeting specific cities—striking quickly, looting, and then fleeing.
Qin Lin had been sent to guard the front lines alone. He temporarily recruited civilians whose grain had been stolen to form an army, supplementing the forces originally controlled by Qin Shi. The biggest problem now was a lack of funds, and he was asking Li Rong to find a way to help raise money.
"Last night in the palace, Su Rongqing had a secret conversation with His Majesty. Afterward, His Majesty issued an edict to cut the Supervisory Department’s funding and ordered half of Qingzhou’s tax revenue to be handed over to the court to support the military provisions in the north."
Hearing this, Li Rong paused for a moment. After a while, she pulled out the message from Lin Feibai in the southwest.
In the southwest, several larger battles had occurred this year. Lin Feibai had risen quickly but now faced a problem: to advance further, he needed to bribe officials.
In summary, it also came down to two words: lack of money.
Seeing the word "money," Li Rong felt a headache coming on. The thought that Li Ming’s initial edict was also about asking her for money made her feel relieved. Without looking up from the messages, she asked, "Who made His Majesty change his mind?""His Majesty visited Consort Rou," Zhao Chongjiu replied flatly, "and upon returning, changed his mind."
Hearing this, Li Rong smiled. "It seems Pei Wenxuan's calculations weren't far off."
The cooperation between Consort Rou and Su Rongqing indeed had cracks.
Otherwise, since Su Rongqing had already provided a plan, Consort Rou should have fully supported its advancement, not changed Su Rongqing's intentions midway like this.
This relieved Li Rong.
Su Rongqing still understood the Princess's Manor's resources too well. Having Li Ming cut her income truly struck her weakness. Fortunately, Consort Rou hadn't listened to him, misjudging her relationship with Pei Wenxuan.
But such coincidences likely wouldn't happen too often.
Su Rongqing must have realized Consort Rou now held reservations toward him. Since he intended to use Consort Rou, he wouldn't let this rift persist. He would certainly do something to mend their cooperation.
And Li Rong couldn't give him that opportunity.
As Li Rong pondered, she thought of the matter regarding the Chief Examiner for the imperial examinations and suddenly recalled someone.
She quickly looked up at Zhao Chongjiu and instructed, "Go help me contact Cui Yulang. Ask him if he still intends to proceed with what he discussed with me last time."
Zhao Chongjiu respectfully raised his hands and responded, "Yes."
Zhao Chongjiu worked with high efficiency. That very night, he found Cui Yulang in a small alley.
Cui Yulang had just returned from drinking at a pleasure house, staggering along the road. He recited poetry as he walked, and halfway, saw someone standing in the middle of the alley.
Zhao Chongjiu wore the official uniform of the Supervisory Department, a sword at his waist. Cui Yulang frowned, leaned against the wall, took a sip of wine, and said, "What is this official doing here? Has Cui committed some offense requiring a visit to the Supervisory Department?"
Zhao Chongjiu's expression remained unchanged as he said, "Her Highness sent this humble official to ask Lord Cui."
Hearing this, Cui Yulang looked up, his gaze turning cold. Then he heard Zhao Chongjiu continue, "Do you still intend to proceed with what you discussed with her last time?"
At these words, Cui Yulang froze.
His expression shifted several times, seeming deeply conflicted. Zhao Chongjiu frowned. Seeing Cui Yulang remain silent for a long time, he couldn't help but urge, "Lord Cui?"
"Sir," Cui Yulang hesitated for a long time, took another sip of wine, and finally said, "then I must trouble you to ask on my behalf: if I comply with Her Highness's wishes, can she guarantee my safety?"
Zhao Chongjiu nodded. "Is there anything else you wish to ask?"
"Also," Cui Yulang replied solemnly, "afterward, will Her Highness agree to help me investigate the case and bring justice for my friend?"
Zhao Chongjiu agreed and confirmed once more, "Any other questions?"
"If Her Highness agrees to both, please inform me." Cui Yulang wore a look of grim determination. "Three days from now, during the rest day, I will reserve the private room on the top floor of Deshun Inn to await Her Highness's arrival. However, before coming, I ask that Her Highness ensure the Imperial Son-in-Law remains unaware."
"I am but an ant before the Imperial Son-in-Law," Cui Yulang bowed respectfully. "I beg Her Highness for mercy."
Zhao Chongjiu: "..."
For some reason, he felt this matter carried a hint of mystery. Still, he nodded. Seeing Cui Yulang had nothing more to say, he turned back to convey Cui Yulang's message.Zhao Chongjiu repeated Cui Yulang's words almost verbatim. Li Rong, soaking her feet, listened quietly. Jing Mei, hearing Zhao Chongjiu's report, couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, why did he suddenly bring up the Imperial Son-in-Law? What does he want Your Highness to pity?"
Li Rong glanced at Jing Mei with a calm yet slightly pitying tone, saying, "He's ill. We should be tolerant of him."
With that, Li Rong turned to instruct Zhao Chongjiu, "Go back and tell him to wait for me at the Qingyue Teahouse three days from now."
Zhao Chongjiu nodded and withdrew to deliver the message. Just as he turned to leave, Li Rong couldn't resist adding, "Also, tell him to stop overthinking things all day and act normal!"
Zhao Chongjiu agreed with this sentiment. He, too, felt that Lord Cui's mind seemed a bit off.
When Li Rong's message reached Cui Yulang, he was momentarily taken aback upon hearing the location was the Qingyue Teahouse, then couldn't help but sigh with admiration, "Her Highness really knows how to have fun."
Zhao Chongjiu looked up at him and said calmly, "Her Highness also said"—this made Cui Yulang tense up again—"that you should act normal."
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