Неаring this, Li Rоng instinctivelу turnеd tо glаnсe at Pеi Wеnxuan. Нe seеmеd mоmеntаrilу stunned. Li Rong thеn looked at the phуsiсian аnd askеd sоftlу, "Тherе's nо immеdiаtе urgenсy—does thаt mеan it's just tеmporarilу difficult to сoncеivе, оr роssiblу а lifetime issuе?"
Тhe рhуsiсian рausеd, аppеаring hesitаnt, as if searсhing for a balаnсеd resрonse. Seеing his rеluсtanсе, Li Rоng sроkе direсtlу, "Plеasе speаk freеlу."
"Yоur cоnstitutiоn, Маdam, suffers from еxcessive yin сold. Judging by yоur pulse, уou hаvе likelу undergone some previous treatment. However, you harbor too many worries and anxieties. Medicine alone may prove insufficient. If you can avoid excessive brooding, ease your heart's burdens, and properly recuperate for a period, then there should be no major issues. Yet knowing is easier than doing. If you could truly achieve this, an old man like me might not need to be sitting here."
Li Rong nodded upon hearing this. Pei Wenxuan furrowed his brow and asked, "Could it affect other aspects?"
"An imbalance of yin and yang," the physician affirmed, "not only impacts childbearing but also affects one's lifespan."
Upon receiving this answer, Pei Wenxuan took Li Rong's hand and said calmly, "Then please write the prescription."
The physician acknowledged and rose to leave and prepare the prescription.
Li Rong turned back to Pei Wenxuan, feigning lightheartedness, "It seems Lord Pei's wish for a child may be difficult to fulfill."
Hearing her words, Pei Wenxuan shook his head and replied, "A child is a minor matter. Focus on recuperating your health first."
In their previous life, they had been together for a year without conceiving a child. He had considered finding a physician to examine her for women's issues, but being young, he felt too embarrassed. Looking back now, he realized he had neglected many things.
The physician they consulted today was the most renowned in Huajing for treating women's health. Since he had spoken thus, there should be no mistake.
Nevertheless, Pei Wenxuan had the physician's prescription taken out for consultation with several other doctors before finally finalizing the formula.
That night, as Li Rong lay beside him, he seemed unable to sleep well into the night. Li Rong drowsily opened her eyes and couldn't help but ask, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"It's nothing," Pei Wenxuan smiled slightly. He reached out to pull the quilt, wrapping Li Rong entirely within it, leaving only her head exposed. Looking down at her with a touch of bitterness, he asked, "Did you seek treatment for this in your previous life?"
Li Rong immediately understood he was referring to the childbearing issue. She leaned against his chest and said, "Naturally, I did. After more than a year without any sign, how could that woman in the palace not grow anxious? I had already secretly consulted physicians long before."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Pei Wenxuan held her, feeling somewhat sorrowful. Li Rong chuckled softly, "If I had difficulty conceiving, why would I tell my husband? Of course, I had to conceal it carefully, treat myself discreetly, lest you develop other ideas."
"How could you think of me that way?" Pei Wenxuan smiled bitterly. Li Rong embraced him, closed her eyes, and replied with unshakable confidence, "After knowing you for just over a year, where would such trust come from?"
Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan momentarily didn't know whether to feel angry or relieved.
That year with her, fleeting as a night-blooming cereus, was the most beautiful time in his heart. Yet, throughout that period, Li Rong had always maintained vigilance and wariness toward him.
He shouldn't blame Li Rong, though—he had been much the same.
Love can make people pledge their lives to each other in a brief moment.
But only time and trials can slowly allow hearts to truly open.
"From now on, you must tell me everything."
"I know."Li Rong found him annoying. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered softly, "I'm afraid I might never be able to have a child in my lifetime."
"That doesn’t matter," Pei Wenxuan said gently. "What I look forward to is only your child."
"Then why did you make me take medicine?" Li Rong grumbled. "You say one thing but mean another, lying to me."
"I was worried about your health," Pei Wenxuan replied, both amused and exasperated. "Why are you being so unreasonable?"
Li Rong snorted and didn’t bother arguing further. Pei Wenxuan hesitated for a while before slowly saying, "Since you’re here with me and have nothing else to do, just focus on recuperating."
"Don’t worry about anything else. I’ll handle everything."
Li Rong remained silent. After some thought, Pei Wenxuan finally added, "Look, in both my past life and this one, I’ve always been on your side. No matter how much we argue or quarrel, I’ve always protected you, haven’t I?"
Li Rong closed her eyes, listening to Pei Wenxuan’s words. After a long while, she whispered softly, "I know."
With Pei Wenxuan’s reassurance and this opportunity at hand, Li Rong truly began to focus on recuperating.
While Li Rong stayed at home, drinking tea, teasing birds, and reading leisurely books, Consort Rou was bustling with activity.
As a new official eager to make a mark, Consort Rou wasted no time. First, she used Chen Hozhao’s disappearance as a pretext to surround Li Rong’s residence and place her under house arrest. Then, she began ordering arrests all over Huajing.
The first to bear the brunt was the Shangguan family. She sent people directly to the Shangguan family’s doorstep to make arrests, only to be driven away as soon as they arrived.
Consort Rou was so furious she nearly burst into tears. She immediately took the list of people she wanted to arrest and hurried to the palace, where she complained to Li Ming for a long time.
Li Ming continued reviewing memorials calmly as he said, "If you can’t catch them, find a way. Did I give you the Supervisory Department so you could cause trouble for me? Am I the head of the Supervisory Department, or are you?"
"But the Shangguan family is too overbearing. I truly have no way to deal with them."
"If you have no way, can’t you think of one?" Li Ming said irritably. "You can’t even arrest someone from the Shangguan family. In the past, Ping Le even sent Xie Lanqing to prison—did she ever say a word to me about it?"
"But she’s a princess of the Shangguan family," Consort Rou emphasized. "I come from a humble background. Besides Your Majesty’s favor, I have nothing. If Your Majesty doesn’t help me, what am I to do?"
Hearing this, Li Ming paused his writing. He glanced at the list, thought for a moment, and finally said, "Pei Wenxuan is currently overseeing the imperial examinations. Since you haven’t finalized the list of candidates, the exams can’t begin. He’s capable of getting things done. I’ll summon him to assist you later."
Consort Rou felt uneasy upon hearing Li Ming’s words. Pei Wenxuan had some connection to Li Rong, and even though they were now divorced, she still couldn’t feel at ease.
Seeing her hesitation, Li Ming couldn’t help but ask, "What else are you concerned about?"
Consort Rou forced a smile. "Minister Pei is still young. Would Your Majesty consider assigning a more experienced official to assist me?"
"Do you think any of the old foxes in the court would help you with this?"
Li Ming’s expression turned mocking. "Only those from humble backgrounds who want to climb the ranks will work for you. Pei Wenxuan is ambitious. If you entrust this matter to him, he’ll handle it properly. You need to make this look good, but don’t take the lead yourself." Li Ming added meaningfully, "You are Cheng’er’s mother. Let Pei Wenxuan take the front line in everything."Consort Rou carefully pondered these words.
She was no fool.
When Li Ming handed the Supervisory Department over to her, it was never about delivering justice for the common people. An emperor could not concern himself with the fates of so many individuals; what he wanted was the "greater picture" in his mind.
The Supervisory Department was the source of power Li Ming had given her—to let her put on a show, to establish her prestige among the humble-born scholars, and to allow her to rely on the Supervisory Department as a foundation to build her own faction.
Only by aligning with her and gaining tangible benefits would the court officials truly take this humble-born imperial consort seriously.
Now, by befriending the noble families, she had used their internal strife to bring down the Shangguan family and helped Prince Su ascend to power. After channeling talent through the imperial examination system, she then used the humble-born scholars to balance the remaining noble families.
Li Ming's planning on her behalf could not be described as anything less than far-reaching.
Thus, there was a matter of degree in all this. In this round of reforms to the imperial examination system, she could not go too far and truly offend the noble families completely. Yet, she could not merely scratch the surface either, leaving the court unscathed, as that would disappoint the humble-born scholars and fail to establish her authority in the court.
After mulling over Li Ming's words, Consort Rou agreed.
By the afternoon, Pei Wenxuan had originally planned to leave work promptly and head home. But just as he was packing up, Li Ming sent someone to instruct him to go to the Supervisory Department to assist Consort Rou with the investigation and follow her orders.
Upon receiving the decree, Pei Wenxuan showed not a hint of displeasure on his face. He smiled and accepted the order. Once the messenger left, his expression immediately fell.
Tong Ye, watching Pei Wenxuan's sudden change in demeanor, cautiously asked, "Young Master, you don't seem very happy."
Pei Wenxuan remained expressionless for a long while before finally saying, "How annoying."
As he walked out, he quietly instructed, "Go back and tell Madam that I'll be home late tonight."
"Huh?" Tong Ye was taken aback and slowly replied, "But didn Her Highness say today that she wanted you to come home early for dinner?"
Pei Wenxuan paused for a moment. After a long while, he still said, "You... have someone go back and tell her the truth—that I’ve been held up by Consort Rou and have to go to the Supervisory Department. I’ll return as soon as possible, and she should eat well."
Tong Ye nodded. Pei Wenxuan got into the carriage alone and sat with a cold expression as it headed toward the Supervisory Department.
At home, Li Rong had nothing to do and personally went to the small kitchen to supervise the cooking while waiting for Pei Wenxuan to return.
But before she could see him, she received the news that he wouldn’t be coming back. Li Rong, who had been enthusiastically directing things in the kitchen, instantly lost interest and even felt a bit angry.
She returned alone to the small dining hall to eat. After only a few bites, she saw the steward hurriedly rushing in from outside, looking somewhat agitated as he said, "Madam, you should find a place to hide for now."
Li Rong looked at the steward blankly and repeated, "Hide?"
"The old madam has arrived and insists on seeing the eldest young master."
As soon as the steward finished speaking, Li Rong immediately knew it was Madam Wen who had come. She quickly stood up, directed the servants to clear the tableware, and tried to retreat to her bedroom.
But just as she reached the door, she heard Madam Wen's voice coming from outside. Seeing that it was too late to leave, Li Rong turned back and hid behind the curtain at the back of the screen.
No sooner had she hidden herself than she heard Madam Wen's voice from outside: "Don’t try to fool me. Aunt Qian saw it a few days ago—she said Wenxuan summoned Imperial Physician He to the residence. Do you think I don’t know what Imperial Physician He does?"Madam Wen spoke as she strode through the doorway, her tone fierce. "Has he hidden some woman here?"
"Madam," the steward knew Li Rong was behind the screen and was sweating anxiously, "the young master isn't that kind of person."
"He better not be!" Madam Wen declared emphatically. "If she's a proper young lady from a decent family, he should marry her properly. What's the point of hiding her away? And if she's not a proper girl..."
As she spoke, her voice choked with tears. She simply sat down on the side, weeping, "His father was such a good man, how could he have such a son!"
Behind the screen, Li Rong listened, fanning herself silently as she rolled her eyes.
"With such a fine wife as Her Highness," Madam Wen continued, and Li Rong quickly retracted her eye-roll. She suddenly found Madam Wen's words rather pleasing. Madam Wen complained between sobs, "What hasn't she done for him? Even if she's a bit fierce or makes a fuss, isn't that how women are? Her Highness is willing to understand him and empathize with him—that's already quite remarkable. Yet he still insists on divorcing her... It's simply outrageous!"
"Madam, you shouldn't put it that way," the steward said with an apologetic smile. "How about this—wait until the young master returns to discuss it, alright?"
"I don't care," Madam Wen wiped her tears and straightened up. "Bring that woman out. I'll make it clear to her: my son has Her Highness in his heart. This is just a little quarrel between a young couple. She shouldn't harbor any foolish hopes of ruining their marriage."
"Madam, there really isn't any woman."
"I don't believe you." Madam Wen sat firmly in the hall. "If there isn't, I'll wait right here for Wenxuan until he returns!"
Hearing this, Li Rong's legs began to ache.
She glanced at the sky outside. Waiting here from now until Pei Wenxuan returned...
She wasn't sure she could stand that long.
"Bring me a cup of tea," Madam Wen steadied her emotions. "I'll wait right here. Either I'll lecture Wenxuan, or I'll lecture that little hussy. As long as Her Highness is alive, no one else is getting through the doors of the Pei family!"
Listening to Madam Wen's words, Li Rong, the so-called "little hussy," felt a subtle, indescribable sensation slowly rising within her.
Pei Wenxuan was completely unaware of the situation at home. After resting his eyes for a while, he heard the carriage arrive at the Supervisory Department. He began rubbing his face, softening his expression before resuming his usual cheerful demeanor as he stepped out of the carriage.
Shangguan Ya had already heard of Pei Wenxuan's arrival and was waiting at the entrance. As Pei Wenxuan descended, Shangguan Ya approached with a smile. "I have been ordered by Prince Su to await Lord Pei here."
Pei Wenxuan smiled politely. "My apologies for the trouble."
Shangguan Ya gestured inward with a "please," escorting Pei Wenxuan into the Supervisory Department. As they walked, Shangguan Ya lowered her voice. "The dozen or so scholars being interrogated today are all connected to the Shangguan faction. Be careful."
Pei Wenxuan nodded without further comment and stepped into the room.
Upon entering, he saw Consort Rou seated in the high position with Li Cheng beside her. Hua Le sat to the side, flanked by their usual palace guards. Below them were the officials of the Supervisory Department.
Currently, Li Ming was short on funds and couldn't increase their manpower for the time being. As long as no major incidents occurred, Consort Rou had to rely on the people Li Rong had previously appointed—which was why Shangguan Ya was still present.
Pei Wenxuan first paid his respects to Consort Rou. She gestured for him to rise, smiling as she said, "Lord Pei has received the imperial decree, I presume?""Yes," Pei Wenxuan replied respectfully, "It is my honor to serve Your Highness."
"Troubling you, my lord," Consort Rou sighed as if embarrassed, "As a woman, I cannot handle many matters well. I hope you will assist me more in the future and not take offense."
"Your Highness is too modest," Pei Wenxuan glanced meaningfully at Consort Rou, "I too come from humble origins, so I naturally wish to help Your Highness more. Please rest assured."
Consort Rou naturally did not believe Pei Wenxuan's words, but she did not refuse outright either. She nodded and said, "Then bring them in first."
Pei Wenxuan remained silent, picking up tea from the side as over a dozen scholars were brought in.
The scholars knelt one by one, and Consort Rou said softly, "Please each recount how you discovered you had been replaced."
After speaking, she pointed to the person at the far end: "You first."
The scholar at the far end stepped forward and knelt, saying, "This commoner is Zhang Wenzhi, a scholar from Youzhou, who participated in the county examination last year. In my hometown, I have long been known for my studies, having been an outstanding student in the academy since childhood. After taking the county examination, I did not pass, while the county magistrate's son, Zhao Ping, succeeded. Zhao Ping was my classmate, consistently idle and unlearned, which I found deeply strange. Later, when the essays of those who passed were posted on the announcement board, I recognized that the handwriting of this essay was definitely not Zhao Ping's. Resentful, and having heard of similar replacement incidents elsewhere at the time, I went to the announcement board at night and carefully examined the essay. I discovered that the paper where the name was written was slightly thinner, with ink bleeding through, clearly indicating that someone had scraped off and repaired the name. So I contacted friends from various places to help me check the essays posted on announcement boards elsewhere. Finally, on the announcement board of a neighboring county, I found my own essay. Only then did I realize that my place in the Spring Imperial Examination had been taken by someone else."
According to the rules of the Great Xia imperial examination system, to prevent favoritism and fraud in local areas, examiners and supervisors for local examinations were all dispatched from Huajing. After the exams, the candidates' papers were collected and sent to Huajing, where the Ministry of Personnel sealed the names for grading. The results were then directly transmitted back to the local areas, and the essays of those who passed were posted on announcement boards. This served both to showcase the talents of the examination candidates for public appreciation and to avoid such replacement incidents.
However, the opportunity to enter officialdom was too great a temptation for local aristocratic families. Thus, despite repeated prohibitions by Great Xia, it could not stop them from continuously sending money to Huajing.
The imperial examination had long become a grand marketplace for transactions between upper and lower aristocratic families, almost openly selling official positions at fixed prices.
As Pei Wenxuan listened to these scholars recount one by one how they discovered they had been replaced, he was not at all surprised.
However, after listening for a while, he noticed issues.
First, all these people were from Youzhou, which was the territory of the Shangguan family.
Second, the way they discovered the problem was almost always through issues with the essays posted on the announcement boards.
Before the examination papers entered Huajing, no one knew who had passed, so it was unlikely anyone would intervene at that stage.
The alteration of names on the papers to replace candidates could only occur in two stages: the first was after grading, when names were unsealed and papers were sorted by region; the second was when the papers were transported back to the local areas.The individuals managing these two aspects were often from the prominent clans governing those territories.
Pei Wenxuan had nearly discerned Consort Rou's intentions. After listening to her words, he silently sipped his tea. Once everyone had finished speaking, Consort Rou turned to Pei Wenxuan with a beaming smile and asked, "Minister Pei, you understand now, don't you?"
"This humble official understands," Pei Wenxuan replied, setting down his teacup and adopting a focused demeanor. Consort Rou observed him and probed further, "Then, Minister Pei, what do you think we should do next?"
"Investigate, of course," Pei Wenxuan answered decisively without hesitation. "Look at these scholars—Candidate A's examination paper appears on the public notice board in Region B. This clearly indicates that those behind the substitution of their papers must have control over the distribution of examination papers across the entire Youzhou region. We should trace the investigation to identify who handled these papers and who was in charge of these matters."
Such an investigation would inevitably lead to the Shangguan Clan.
The Shangguan Clan was deeply entrenched, and with money being funneled from the Youzhou territories, how could there not be someone involved?
Yet Pei Wenxuan firmly expressed his willingness to assist her in the investigation, causing Consort Rou to furrow her brows in confusion. She couldn't discern whether Pei Wenxuan was setting a trap for her or if she had misunderstood him all along.
Noticing Consort Rou's prolonged silence, Pei Wenxuan, with a clear and composed expression, gently reminded her, "Your Highness?"
Consort Rou snapped back to attention and quickly responded, "Oh, you are right. However, this matter involves many officials, and the capital is filled with influential noble families. Getting to the bottom of this won't be easy."
"Your Highness's concerns are understandable. His Majesty sent this humble official here precisely to alleviate Your Highness's difficulties," Pei Wenxuan said with a gentle smile. "If Your Highness trusts this humble official, why not entrust the entire matter to me? I assure you, I will handle it flawlessly."
Hearing Pei Wenxuan's promise, Consort Rou smiled.
She knew full well that the officials implicated in this matter were from the Shangguan Clan.
If Pei Wenxuan was willing to apprehend them on her behalf, it would be nothing short of perfect.
"Then I shall thank Minister Pei in advance. I appreciate your efforts."
"It is my duty," Pei Wenxuan nodded. "Your Highness need not worry excessively."
After exchanging pleasantries, they finalized the arrangements for Pei Wenxuan to proceed with the arrests. Seeing that the matter was settled, Pei Wenxuan rose to take his leave. Consort Rou, accompanied by Li Cheng, personally escorted Pei Wenxuan out. As they walked, she engaged him in casual conversation. "Minister Pei, since your separation from Ping Le, you must be quite alone at home, aren't you? Returning so early, doesn't it feel lonely with only the cold lamplight for company?"
"I still have my elderly mother at home," Pei Wenxuan replied with a gentle smile. "I should return early to attend to her."
Consort Rou showed an expression of admiration upon hearing this. "Minister Pei is truly a filial son. Actually, there is one matter I have never quite understood."
"Please speak freely, Your Highness."
"Previously, I observed that you and Ping Le seemed deeply affectionate, and toward me..." Consort Rou chuckled, leaving the rest unsaid, though both understood her implication. She then turned her head and continued, "Now that you are here to assist me, you appear completely free of any lingering resentment. I wonder, Minister Pei, what exactly are your feelings toward Ping Le?"
"This humble official will always remain loyal to His Majesty," Pei Wenxuan answered earnestly. "Does Your Highness understand this answer?"
Consort Rou frowned slightly. As they spoke, they reached the entrance. Pei Wenxuan bid farewell to Consort Rou and boarded his carriage.After the carriage had moved some distance away, Hua Le stood behind Consort Rou and asked somewhat perplexedly, "Mother, what did he mean?"
In private, Hua Le always addressed Consort Rou as "Mother." Hearing her daughter's question, Consort Rou smiled and said, "What he means is that he treats Ping Le well because your father arranged the marriage. If your father disapproves of him being with Ping Le, he will divorce her. He remains loyal to your father."
As she spoke, a hint of barely concealed pride flickered in Consort Rou's eyes. "This is his way of showing loyalty to us."
"But..." Hua Le hesitated, "can we trust what he says?"
She then added with some anger, "Not long ago, he even suggested I should go for a marriage alliance!"
"With people like him," Consort Rou sneered, "don't pay attention to what he says, watch what he does. I'll just wait and see how he brings back someone from the Shangguan Clan for me."
"You're right, Mother."
While the mother and daughter were discussing Pei Wenxuan's affairs, as soon as Pei Wenxuan stepped into the carriage, he saw Tong Ye hiding inside, wearing a mournful expression.
"Young Master, something terrible has happened."
"What is it?" Pei Wenxuan frowned.
"The Old Madam has come to confront us," Tong Ye said sorrowfully. "She has cornered Her Highness, who has been hiding in a corner for nearly an hour."
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