Nоt mаnу dауs аftеr Pei Wеnхuаn bеgаn making arrests, Соnsort Rou rеceivеd а sесrеt lеtter from Su Rоngqing. After glancing over thе сontеnts, she frоwnеd.
Сui Yulаng was nеаrbу tеаching Рrince Su how tо рaint. Sеeing Consоrt Rou aрpeаr trоublеd, hе соuldn't hеlp but ask, "Yоur Нighness, hаs sоmеthing troubling оcсurrеd?"
"Tell mе," Сonsоrt Rou hesitatеd before аsking Сui Yulаng, "cаn we truly trust Pеi Wеnхuan tо hаndlе this mаttеr рroреrly?"
Нeаring this, Cui Yulang quiсkly glаnсеd at thе lеttеr in Сonsort Rou's hаnd and roughly guessed thе situation—somеone must hаve infоrmеd her thаt Pei Wenxuan's actions were improper. He smiled lightly and said, "Whether he can be trusted or not, shouldn't we judge by the results? As long as Pei Wenxuan proves useful, what is there for Your Highness to worry about?"
Consort Rou remained silent. Cui Yulang fetched boiling water from the side, poured it into the teapot, and said leisurely, "After all, Pei Wenxuan is under Your Highness's control. If he performs well, use him. If not, simply discard him—he isn't part of the Supervisory Department anyway. In the court, everyone has their own allegiances. Now that Your Highness is targeting the noble families," he poured the tea into small cups one by one, looked up at Consort Rou, and smiled faintly, "it's only natural that some will grow restless."
Consort Rou pondered Cui Yulang's words carefully.
Pei Wenxuan was intricately connected to Ping Le, making him untrustworthy. But Su Rongqing came from a noble family, and the current reforms to the imperial examination system were clearly aimed at weakening the influence of such families. Could Su Rongqing be trusted either?
"Go back and inform Lord Su," Consort Rou looked up at the messenger and said calmly, "I have my own considerations. Thank him for the reminder."
Upon receiving the message, the messenger immediately relayed it back to the Su residence.
Su Rongqing was drinking tea in the courtyard. Hearing the message from Consort Rou, his expression remained unchanged as he gazed at the tea in his cup.
His attendant, Su Zhizhu, couldn't help but frown. "Young Master, if Consort Rou refuses to listen to advice, then..."
"It's fine."
Su Rongqing raised his hand to stop Su Zhizhu, picked up his teacup, and asked, "Are the arrangements in the northwest ready?"
"They are ready."
Su Zhizhu replied calmly, "Everything is proceeding as you instructed."
"Good." Su Rongqing nodded, his expression steady. "Then there's no need to worry about it."
"But Consort Rou..."
"If she wants to die," Su Rongqing turned to look at Su Zhizhu, "isn't that even better?"
Su Zhizhu was taken aback. Su Rongqing changed the subject. "Who was the advisor by her side today?"
Hearing the question, Su Zhizhu collected himself and replied, "It was Cui Yulang."
"Have someone keep an eye on him." Su Rongqing took a sip of tea. "As for the rest, no further action is needed."
With Su Rongqing not interfering, Pei Wenxuan enjoyed a period of peace. After helping Consort Rou send the members of the Shangguan family to the Supervisory Department, Consort Rou's reputation in Huajing soared to unprecedented heights.
This commoner-born imperial consort, unafraid of the powerful and pleading for the people, quickly gained fame for both Consort Rou and Prince Su. Even in the countryside, whispers of support for Prince Su began to emerge.
With her reputation secured, Consort Rou began to pull back. After all, her goal was to eliminate rivals, not truly to plead for the people's welfare.
During that time, members of various noble families flocked to Prince Su's residence. Those who had once looked down on her now bowed and scraped, speaking honeyed words and showering her with treasures. Though Consort Rou and Hua Le maintained a composed exterior, they found it difficult to restrain their inner excitement.When they were in a good mood, they couldn't help but think of Pei Wenxuan, feeling that this person was indeed quite good.
Consort Rou pondered how to secure Pei Wenxuan firmly on her side. Hua Le thought for a moment and couldn't help but say, "Why not marry Sister Wei to him?"
Hearing this, Consort Rou turned her head, a look of surprise on her face.
Hua Le immediately felt she had said something wrong and quickly added, "I was just joking, Mother. Please don't punish me."
"Why would I punish you?" Consort Rou thought for a moment and couldn't help but laugh. "I think your idea is excellent."
As she spoke, Consort Rou mused, "If she can't marry the Crown Prince, she should at least be of some use."
The arrogance of Consort Rou and her daughter also reached Li Rong's ears. Confined to her home, Li Rong listened to these matters as entertainment.
Having gained favor, Consort Rou told Li Ming she was exhausted and was thus exempted from paying respects. It was one thing to skip the Empress, but she even neglected the Empress Dowager. Though the Empress Dowager said nothing, she sent a ruler to Consort Rou, specifically instructing the messenger maid to ask, "Does Her Ladyship know the meaning of propriety?"
It was bad enough to be disrespectful to the Shangguan Clan, but she also loved to show off. At a recent palace banquet, she openly criticized the quality of the grapes prepared by the Empress, then brought out the freshest grapes from the Western Regions to distribute to everyone.
In her conversations, she often discussed state affairs, criticizing current events, which quickly made everyone in the palace weary.
Li Rong felt delighted listening to these stories every day. Jing Lan, who accompanied Li Rong daily, heard about Consort Rou's antics and, within a month or two, felt as though Consort Rou had become a different person.
She couldn't help but feel puzzled. "Your Highness, Consort Rou isn't a fool. She's had a decent reputation in the palace all these years. How could she..."
Jing Lan hesitated to continue. Li Rong smiled, picking a freshly washed grape from the plate beside her and saying leisurely, "Do you know what the most terrifying thing about power is?"
She looked up at Jing Lan with a smile. "It's that when power corrupts a person, the one being corroded to the core feels nothing at all."
"Many people, at some point in their lives, suddenly gain a bit of power—becoming a minor official, earning a fortune, passing the imperial exams, or even topping their class in a private school. These things plunge them into an illusion where they indulge in their behavior and speech, believing everything is acceptable."
"So, the easiest way to destroy someone is to let them suddenly obtain far more than they ever could have."
Li Rong pushed the grape into her mouth with her fingers, watching the butterflies fluttering in the distance with a smile. "You don't need to lift a finger. She will bring about her own downfall."
Jing Lan listened silently. As Li Rong swallowed the grape and was about to lie back down, a voice announced from the doorway, "Your Highness, Madam Wen, Pei Wenxuan's mother, requests an audience."
Hearing this, Li Rong couldn't help but frown.
Why was Madam Wen here to see her now? Had she chased her all the way from the Pei residence to scold her?
Although Li Rong was currently under house arrest, the guards knew it was merely for show. Thus, while Li Rong couldn't leave, others could freely enter.
Li Rong remained silent for a moment. Jing Lan cautiously asked, "Your Highness, shall I summon her?"
Since this was Pei Wenxuan's mother, she couldn't be left waiting outside. Li Rong nodded and said, "Summon her, then."With that, Li Rong stood up and went to the main hall.
Upon arriving, she saw Madam Wen already seated there.
Upon seeing Li Rong, Madam Wen was like a mouse spotting a cat, sitting stiffly to the side. She wanted to project some of the dignified ease befitting an elder, yet felt somewhat short of breath.
From the moment Li Rong entered, Madam Wen had carefully and discreetly adjusted her posture three times, finally settling on one she found somewhat satisfactory, sitting up straight. After they exchanged greetings and courtesies, Li Rong sat down and said with a smile, "What brings you here today, Madam?"
"Your Highness," Madam Wen put on a troubled expression, "I really shouldn't disturb you, but there are some matters I must come and clarify."
Madam Wen lifted her head, revealing a very earnest expression. Li Rong nodded and said casually, "Go ahead."
"Wenxuan actually doesn't want to divorce you."
Madam Wen opened with this statement. Li Rong gave a bitter smile but said nothing more, lowering her head to pour tea.
Taking Li Rong's silence as acquiescence, Madam Wen immediately continued, "That child Wenxuan, since he was little, has never particularly liked anything. Only with Your Highness have I seen what it truly looks like when he cares for someone. Your Highness, he truly cannot bear to part with you."
"Hmm," Li Rong lifted her head, responding perfunctorily, "I know all this. Is there anything else, Madam?"
"I must also apologize for my son."
Madam Wen spoke with difficulty: "My son has recently been bewitched by a vixen, hiding a woman in his room."
Li Rong's hand trembled slightly. Madam Wen continued, gritting her teeth: "Fortunately, I discovered it early. I had a fierce argument with that woman and persuaded Wenxuan to see the error of his ways, sending her away promptly. But that woman truly has no shame! Even after being driven out, she still lingers around my son, idly loitering outside the Pei residence when she has nothing to do. Now she's gone even further!"
Madam Wen spoke indignantly, pulling a piece of paper from her sleeve with a "swish": "She actually dared to write a formal visiting card to enter the residence, inviting my son to meet her at the lake's center! Tell me, how shameless can she be!"
Hearing this, Li Rong found it strange.
The woman living in the residence was her. So who was this woman lingering outside and even sending a visiting card?
"Madam, may I see the visiting card?"
Li Rong reached out, wanting to get to the bottom of this. Seeing that Li Rong wanted to intervene, Madam Wen quickly handed over the card: "Look, this is that vixen."
Li Rong took the visiting card from Madam Wen and quickly scanned it.
The card was written in a standard, proper manner, but its strength lay in the beautiful handwriting. After casually reading through it, Li Rong saw at the end of the card a single character: "Hua."
Li Rong paused for a moment.
Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan, who was secretly discussing the next steps with Li Chuan, couldn't help but sneeze violently.
Seeing Pei Wenxuan suddenly sneeze, Li Chuan couldn't help but ask, "Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Pei Wenxuan waved his hand: "It's nothing, let's continue."
With that, Pei Wenxuan picked up where Li Chuan left off, speculating: "Consort Rou's next move will likely be to abandon the other group of scholars. She's already taken their money; she can't possibly arrest them now. To placate these students, she'll probably make some promises."
"By then, she won't send you to negotiate with the students, will she?" Li Chuan frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy.Pei Wenxuan smiled. "Of course she wants me to handle the negotiations, but I’ve already done so much—it’s time for a break."
"How do you plan to rest?" Li Chuan asked, somewhat puzzled.
Pei Wenxuan grinned as he looked toward the estate gates. "Naturally, I’ll rest somewhere she can’t order me around."
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