Li Rоng hаd рrivаtely соmе tо Рei Wenxuаn's рlacе, arranging fоr thе substitutе tо stау in the Prinсess's Manor. By thе nеxt dаy, shе hеаrd thаt Huа Lе hаd surrоundеd the mаnor with her pеоplе.
It was said that Нua Le аrrived with reddеnеd еуеs, likеlу having beеn rеprimаndеd bу Li Ming thе prеviоus night. Thus, she оnlу darеd to surround the mаnor, not daring tо еntеr.
Li Rong listеned hapрilу аs Zhaо Сhоngjiu rероrted this. Sееing her рleаsed, Zhaо Chоngjiu соntinued, "Веsidеs bеing reprimandеd, Her Highness Huа Le has reсently еncоuntеred аnother misfortune."
"Oh?" Li Rong felt somewhat curious. "What else happened?"
"During today's Morning Court Assembly, the matter of establishing diplomatic relations with the northeastern border was discussed," Zhao Chongjiu reported methodically as Li Rong sipped her tea. "Lord Pei suggested that Princess Hua Le be sent for a marriage alliance."
Upon hearing this, Li Rong spat out her tea, coughing as she choked.
Zhao Chongjiu calmly handed her a handkerchief. Li Rong took it, covering her mouth as she coughed. "Did he... did he propose this himself?"
Zhao Chongjiu nodded, then added, "Her Highness Hua Le was so frightened she cried all afternoon."
Li Rong: "..."
She knew Hua Le was timid, but she hadn’t expected her to be this timid.
After recovering, Li Rong waved her hand, too lazy to dwell on Hua Le’s affairs, and asked directly, "What else? Any news about the Conscription Order?"
"Not yet."
Li Rong nodded. She had only warned Li Ming the previous night, so there was no need to rush.
After asking Zhao Chongjiu about the situations of Cui Yulang, Qin Lin, and Lin Feibai, Li Rong felt tired and dismissed him. She lay down in the courtyard to bask in the sun.
Pei Wenxuan had concealed her identity, forbidding anyone except trusted aides from entering the inner courtyard. Li Rong enjoyed the leisure, covering herself with a blanket and dozing off on the recliner until evening.
Pei Wenxuan usually wouldn’t return this early, but the thought of Li Rong at home made him hurry back as soon as his duties allowed, not lingering at the office.
Upon returning, he heard that Li Rong was sleeping in the courtyard. Without disturbing her, he quietly approached her side, casually picked up an orange from the table, and began peeling it while keeping watch over her.
When Li Rong woke, she saw Pei Wenxuan reading beside her. She gazed at him groggily for a moment. Noticing she was awake, he turned to her and smiled. "Awake? Are you hungry?"
"Hungry."
Li Rong wrapped her arms around his neck, rising softly to kiss him. "You’re back so early?"
"You’re at home—how could I not return early?"
Pei Wenxuan turned to have someone fetch an outer robe, draped it over her, and helped her up. Together, they walked toward the small dining hall in the inner courtyard.
As Li Rong surveyed the furnishings in the residence, she remarked, "Your family’s estate is truly nice."
"Father didn’t like large estates, but Mother did," Pei Wenxuan explained. "So, we bought a large estate according to Mother’s wishes but designed the inner courtyard to be compact and complete, following Father’s preferences. Now it’s perfect," he added, turning to smile at her. "It allows me to hide a beauty away."
"I heard you criticized Hua Le in court today?"
Not wanting to let him have the upper hand in banter, Li Rong changed the subject, poking his waist with her fan. "Why scare a young girl like that for no reason?"
"She’s still a young girl?" Pei Wenxuan scoffed. "Scaring her is letting her off easy. Let me see your face."Pei Wenxuan thought of Hua Le when he mentioned her, which reminded him of Li Rong’s injury. He turned and cupped Li Rong’s face, examining it carefully for a moment.
Although Hua Le hadn’t managed to hit her yesterday, her nails had still left a faint scratch. Today, it had scabbed over and become more noticeable. At the sight, Pei Wenxuan grew angry, frowning as he said, “The one I cherish in the depths of my heart, yet day after day, your Li family treats you like this…”
“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong raised an eyebrow, “you’re overstepping. What do you mean, ‘Li family’?”
Li Rong tapped him with her fan, and Pei Wenxuan dodged with exaggerated groans. She reminded him, “It’s called the imperial family.”
“In my heart, there’s no such thing as this family or that family,” Pei Wenxuan reached out and pulled Li Rong into his embrace. “In my heart, there are only two kinds of people.”
“Which two?” Li Rong asked curiously. Pei Wenxuan smiled. “Your Highness, and everyone else.”
“The distinction between noble and humble in this world lies only between Your Highness and everyone else. Your Highness is noble; everyone else is humble.”
“Stop,” Li Rong raised her hand and covered Pei Wenxuan’s mouth, her eyes filled with tenderness. “If you keep talking, I won’t be able to eat.”
Suddenly, she understood why Pei Wenxuan was so favored by two emperors.
His little mouth was so eloquent, too skilled at flattery.
Li Rong pulled Pei Wenxuan to sit down for their meal. They chatted about the day’s events, and with many matters in the court, Pei Wenxuan spoke for a long time. When it was Li Rong’s turn, she thought for a moment and simply said, “Eat, sleep, eat.”
As she spoke, she seemed displeased, waving her hand dismissively. “It’s all so dull.”
“What’s dull about it?” Pei Wenxuan, seeing her expression, ladled a bowl of soup for her. “Now is a time of fierce contention in the court, and you’ve just stepped down from the Supervisory Department—it couldn’t be more fitting. Once they’ve exhausted themselves with chaos, they’ll remember you.”
“For now, you don’t need to do anything,” Pei Wenxuan placed the soup in front of her. “Taking this opportunity to recuperate is what matters most.”
Both of them were in less-than-ideal health. Pei Wenxuan’s condition was due to his own recklessness, while Li Rong’s stemmed from childhood ailments.
As a child, she had been punished with harsh kneeling, which not only damaged her bones and muscles but also left her with poor health overall.
Pei Wenxuan watched her sip the soup slowly and asked, “Shall I invite a physician to the residence tomorrow to examine you?”
Li Rong looked puzzled. “Examine me for what?”
“You’re about the right age,” Pei Wenxuan said gently, raising his hand and placing it lightly on her stomach. “I was thinking, when you turn twenty, we could have our first child. How does that sound?”
When Li Rong heard him mention a child and saw the hopeful look in his eyes, she turned her head away, pretending to be calm. “Fine. Go ahead and choose.”
The next day, Pei Wenxuan returned early from court and had Li Rong cover her face, sitting behind a screen while the physician conducted the examination.
After taking her pulse for a while, the physician sighed. “It’s nothing serious, but this lady’s constitution is too weak. Matters of pregnancy may not be something to rush for the time being.”
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