The Princess Royal

Тhe threе оf thеm lооked outward simultаnеously. Li Rоng spokе uр, "Lеt him in."

Jing Lаn рushеd the doоr open and saw Cui Yulаng stаnding anхiouslу аt thе еntranсе. Не stеpрed forward аnd bоwed tо Li Rong. "Your Highnеss."

"Speаk," Li Rong said dirесtlу. "Whаt hаs hарpenеd?"

"Yоur Highnеss, I inquirеd with аn aсquaintаnсe at Рrinсe Su's rеsidence. Li Сheng is likely nоt gоing tо makе it." Cui Yulang had bееn undеrcоvеr nеаr Соnsort Rоu fоr a lоng time. Еven though Сonsоrt Rоu hаd begun tо susресt him, his network of infоrmants within Prince Su's residеnce far еxcеedеd thаt of оrdinary people.

"Li Cheng was struck by three arrows, all in vital organs. The physicians say death is only a matter of days. Before I left Prince Su's residence, I heard a sharp, piercing scream from within the inner courtyard. The voice seemed to belong to Her Highness Hua Le."

Li Cheng was on the brink of death, and Hua Le's scream echoed from the inner courtyard. Putting these two together, it was easy to guess what had transpired.

Shangguan Ya glanced at Li Rong and finally mustered the courage to confirm, "Li Cheng is dead?"

Cui Yulang nodded. "Most likely."

"Excellent."

Shangguan Ya let out a sigh of relief, as if she had narrowly escaped disaster. She took a step back, her strength giving way as she slumped into a chair, murmuring, "This means the Crown Prince's position is secure."

"However, on my way to the Princess's Manor, I noticed the Xiao Clan's carriage heading toward Prince Su's residence. I suspect there may still be unforeseen developments."

Cui Yulang frowned, looking quite concerned, but Shangguan Ya paid it no mind, reassuring him, "The man is already dead. What more could change?"

Cui Yulang remained silent. Li Rong nodded. "I understand. You may go and rest now. Do not return to Prince Su's residence, and do not go home either."

If he left now, Consort Rou would surely grow suspicious. If things were indeed as she suspected, Cui Yulang might not survive.

Cui Yulang was well aware of the risks involved. He bowed to Li Rong and withdrew.

Once Cui Yulang had left, Shangguan Ya turned to Li Rong, looking quite pleased. "Your Highness, with Li Cheng dead, His Majesty now has only the Crown Prince as his son. No matter what, he cannot depose the Crown Prince. The plans we discussed earlier are no longer necessary. To be honest," Shangguan Ya patted her chest, still shaken, "I was truly afraid to carry them out."

Li Rong remained silent. The tea in her hand had grown cold.

"Wenxuan," she paused for a moment before looking at Pei Wenxuan, "go next door and see what the physicians have to say."

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan understood that Li Rong wished to speak with Shangguan Ya privately. He nodded and stood up to leave.

After Pei Wenxuan left the room, Shangguan Ya glanced at the two people remaining and sensed something amiss. Maintaining her usual carefree demeanor, she picked up some melon seeds from the side, gently cracking one open. "Your Highness, keeping me here alone—is there something even the Imperial Son-in-Law shouldn't hear?"

"If Li Cheng is dead, Chuan'er, as the Crown Prince, is firmly secured," Li Rong said, her voice calm and devoid of any discernible emotion.

"Exactly," Shangguan Ya nodded. "What else concerns Your Highness?""That also means His Majesty will spare no effort to uproot the Shangguan Clan, A-Ya," Li Rong looked up at her. "Are you prepared?"

"Wasn't this already agreed upon long ago?" Shangguan Ya smiled. "Your Highness has long felt the Crown Prince's maternal relatives hold too much power, but now that only the Crown Prince remains among the princes, does he have any choice?"

"His Majesty may not have a choice, but the Crown Prince now does."

Li Rong unconsciously tapped her cup, the ripples in the water spreading out with each tap. Shangguan Ya listened to Li Rong's words, her smile gradually fading. Li Rong reminded her: "Tell me—on one side, all the power of His Majesty's direct line; on the other, the Shangguan Clan. On one side, ascending the throne without any obstacles; on the other, having to defy the imperial will, even needing to rebel to seize the throne. A-Ya, which do you think the Crown Prince will choose—the Shangguan Clan, or the throne?"

"Your Highness," Shangguan Ya examined Li Rong, "are you worried the Crown Prince will abandon us after crossing the river, or switch sides at the last moment?"

"Aren't you worried, A-Ya?" Li Rong turned to look into Shangguan Ya's eyes. "Do you believe the Crown Prince would never betray the Shangguan Clan?"

"Your Highness," Shangguan Ya listened to Li Rong's question, observing her as she reminded her, "he is your own younger brother."

Li Rong fell silent. When the words "own younger brother" came from Shangguan Ya's mouth, it felt as if a knife had struck her heart—pain so intense it drove her mad, yet also filled her with bitter irony.

Own younger brother?

When faced with power, hadn't Li Chuan ultimately killed her?

Life and death, power, desire—how could anyone withstand such tests?

She was Li Chuan's elder sister, but wasn't Li Ming also Li Chuan's father?

Li Rong said nothing. Shangguan Ya observed her and understood that Li Rong disdained the source of her trust.

Shangguan Ya set down the melon seeds, thought for a moment, and finally spoke: "Then what does Your Highness intend to do?"

"I don't intend anything. I'm just asking you, A-Ya—if the Crown Prince abandons the Shangguan Clan, what will you do?"

Shangguan Ya remained silent. Li Rong raised an eyebrow: "With your cautious nature, A-Ya, you wouldn't stake the survival of your entire clan solely on the Crown Prince, would you?"

"This subordinate is foolish," Shangguan Ya smiled. "If Your Highness has something to say, please speak plainly."

"What I want to say is simple."

"A-Ya," Li Rong straightened up and leaned closer to Shangguan Ya, "rather than entrusting power to others, it's better to keep it in our own hands."

Shangguan Ya watched Li Rong quietly as she softly asked: "What if... you and I join forces to put a compliant ruler on the throne?"

Shangguan Ya remained silent for a long time, simply gazing at Li Rong before her.

She was very close, her hair loosely draped on either side. The pure red wide-sleeved inner robe made her skin appear unnaturally pale, as if she were a ghost who had crawled back from hell, staring intently at her.

The two women looked at each other in silence. After a long while, Shangguan Ya smiled: "Then may I ask, Your Highness, whom do you intend to put on the throne?"

Li Rong observed her. She knew Shangguan Ya was testing her.

Yet she still spoke, slowly uttering a name—

Li Cheng.

While Li Rong and Shangguan Ya were speaking in the room, Pei Wenxuan arrived at the side chamber.

Inside, the physicians seemed to be arguing fiercely about something. Pei Wenxuan frowned, feeling quite uneasy.

When the physicians saw Pei Wenxuan enter, they all looked somewhat apprehensive. Pei Wenxuan's heart tightened, but he raised his hand: "Tell me directly—what is Her Highness's condition?""Please rest assured, sir. Her Highness only has some external injuries and is not in serious condition." Under the urging gazes of the others, Physician Zhao mustered his courage and stepped forward to report. Pei Wenxuan nodded. "And?"

If it were just this, the physicians wouldn't have reacted this way.

"And also..." The physician hesitated for a moment, carefully observing Pei Wenxuan's expression before slowly saying, "Her Highness is pregnant."

Upon hearing this, Pei Wenxuan froze for a moment. Having spoken the most difficult words, the physician continued, "The recent turbulence has caused the fetus to become unstable. We hope Her Highness will rest and nurture the pregnancy in the future to avoid any mishaps."

Pei Wenxuan listened without speaking. Everyone waited for him, their hearts filled with anxiety.

Princess Ping Le had already divorced, yet she was now diagnosed as pregnant. The first to know was her former Imperial Son-in-Law. Whether it was the princess's pregnancy or the former Imperial Son-in-Law learning of it, either scenario was enough to unsettle these physicians.

Pei Wenxuan remained silent for too long. All the physicians looked at Physician Zhao, who steeled himself and asked, "Sir?"

"Oh," Pei Wenxuan finally snapped back to reality upon hearing this. He nodded, appearing composed, and immediately instructed, "Do not let this matter spread. Is Her Highness's health otherwise fine?"

"Please rest assured, sir," everyone relaxed upon hearing Pei Wenxuan's tone. "Her Highness will recover well with proper rest and is not in serious danger. We will certainly keep this matter strictly confidential and ensure no outsiders learn of it."

Pei Wenxuan nodded, seemingly distracted. "First, prescribe the medicine. Inform me of any taboos and what is best for a pregnant woman."

The physicians nodded repeatedly. After discussing with Pei Wenxuan for a long time and carefully explaining how to care for Li Rong, they finally left.

He appeared very calm, showing no trace of emotion. But when he reached the door, he didn't even notice it was closed and walked straight into it. Everyone heard a loud "bang," followed by Pei Wenxuan sucking in a sharp breath, clutching his nose in pain.

"Sir?"

A nearby physician hurried forward to support him. Pei Wenxuan waved him off and straightened up. "It's nothing."

After steadying himself for a moment, he regained his composure, opened the door, and walked out.

Once outside, a cold wind blew against his face. He stood blankly at the entrance for a while before remembering to go find Li Rong.

Just as he reached the door, he heard Shangguan Ya's furious shout from inside: "Have you gone mad?"

Then the door was flung open by Shangguan Ya, letting in a gust of cold wind. She shoved Pei Wenxuan aside at the entrance and cursed, "Get out of the way!"

Pei Wenxuan was pushed aside by her. Seeing that the two seemed to be arguing, he glanced at Jing Lan standing nearby. Jing Lan quickly led the servants away and out of the courtyard.

Li Rong sat in her chair, her expression calm throughout. Seeing Shangguan Ya leave, she picked up her teacup and said slowly, "Think carefully about what I said. Everyone is here for profit—there's no need for pretentious sentimentality."

These words made Shangguan Ya pause in her steps. She turned her head, looking from the doorway at the woman inside, sipping tea with her head lowered.

She was elegant, composed, and speaking such words seemed as simple to her as everyday conversation.

Shangguan Ya stared at her intently. After a long while, she finally spoke: "Li Rong, you truly disgust me."

Hearing this, Li Rong let out a low laugh. Shaking her head, she placed the teacup on the table. "I disgust you?"She laughed as she looked up at Shangguan Ya. When she saw the other's seemingly clear yet furious eyes, past and present suddenly overlapped, and she sharply raised her voice: "You're the truly disgusting one!"

"If I gave up on Li Chuan is disgusting, then isn't you giving up on Su Ronghua the same?!" Li Rong supported herself and stood up. "You assisted Li Chuan for power, you got close to me for power—it was all for power. What's with this act of purity and innocence now?"

If she hadn't believed their disguises back then.

If she hadn't thought people still held some bottom line in their hearts.

How could she have died at Li Chuan's hands back then? How could she have frequently argued with Li Chuan for Shangguan Ya's sake, exhausting herself for the sake of her legitimate heir?

Since none of them were good people, why pretend to be sentimental and righteous, why pretend to have no choice?

These words seemed to finally wound Shangguan Ya. She stood in the courtyard, her eyes glistening with moisture as she quietly watched Li Rong.

The two stared fiercely at each other until Pei Wenxuan finally stepped forward, placing himself between the two women and blocking their line of sight.

"Miss Shangguan, Her Highness is unwell today. Perhaps it would be best if you visited another day."

Shangguan Ya feigned composure. She nodded, then turned and left.

After Shangguan Ya departed, Pei Wenxuan turned back to see Li Rong sitting in her chair, staring coldly at the words on the wall: "No need to persuade me, and don't ask me anything. I don't want to talk."

Pei Wenxuan paused at the doorway. After a long moment, he said softly, "Well... you still need to eat."

"I won't eat!"

Li Rong grabbed a soft pillow from beside her and threw it at him: "Get out!"

Pei Wenxuan watched the pillow hit the floor. He bent down, picked it up, brushed off the dust, and placed it back in its original spot.

After doing this, he coaxed her gently: "I had someone prepare longan, red date, and lotus seed porridge. You haven't eaten all night—you should at least have some."

Listening to Pei Wenxuan's words, Li Rong knew her argument with Shangguan Ya had been inappropriate.

How old was Shangguan Ya? How old was she? What was the point of venting past grievances and arguing like this?

Her emotions gradually calmed, and Pei Wenxuan understood she had relented. He stood up and went out, calling Jing Lan and Jing Mei in to attend to her while he personally went to the kitchen to check on the medicine and porridge.

After Pei Wenxuan left, Li Rong took a deep breath and finally gave an order: "Jing Lan."

Jing Lan looked up, somewhat puzzled: "Your Highness?"

"Secretly send a group of people to find Su Rongqing and bring him back safely."

Jing Lan was taken aback. Li Rong looked up at her: "Don't alert the Imperial Son-in-Law."

Hearing this, Jing Lan finally came to her senses. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded and withdrew.

Not long after, Pei Wenxuan returned with the medicine and porridge. He fed Li Rong the porridge, then gave her the medicine.

Li Rong hated bitterness, but she never blinked when drinking medicine. She never easily revealed any of her preferences to anyone.

Just as she was actually more rule-abiding than anyone, yet always appeared unreasonable; cared more deeply than anyone, yet pretended indifference and heartlessness.

After finishing the porridge and medicine, she seemed tired. Pei Wenxuan observed her expression and asked softly, "Shall I accompany Your Highness to rest for a while?"

"Alright." Li Rong smiled. "You should rest properly too. Sleep for a bit, then go attend to your duties."

"Mm."

Pei Wenxuan stood up and carried Li Rong to the bed.Li Rong only had some scratches on her feet, but he didn't want her to exert herself either. After carrying Li Rong to the bed and putting down the bed curtains, he also lay down.

Although it was daytime, the moment the bed curtains were lowered, everything darkened. In the narrow space, Pei Wenxuan's scent filled the air. Li Rong lay with her back to him, and after a long while, she finally couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going to ask what Shangguan Ya and I were arguing about?"

"You girls quarreling," Pei Wenxuan seemed to treat it as an ordinary dispute between friends, chuckling lightly, "I shouldn't ask."

Li Rong knew this was Pei Wenxuan's way of being considerate toward her. She hesitated for a long time before raising her hand to cover the back of his hand that was holding her.

"Wenxuan," her voice was very soft, "when everything is over, let's have a child. I want to give all the beautiful things in this world to you, and to him."

"He will be the most noble person in this world, and his mother will also be the strongest person in this world. Even if she has nothing," Li Rong's voice paused for a long time before she continued hoarsely, "she will still have you."

Pei Wenxuan listened to Li Rong's words but did not speak.

He simply gently pulled her into his embrace and said tenderly, "Sleep."

As the two fell asleep, inside Prince Su's residence, the inner courtyard had long been sealed off. Everyone knelt outside Prince Su's bedroom, trembling with fear.

In Prince Su's bedroom, Prince Su lay on the bed, his face already turning blue and purple. Consort Rou stood in place, her voice hoarse as she asked, "What you just said, say it again?"

"Prince Su... His Highness Prince Su... has passed away."

"You're lying."

Consort Rou's eyes were red, but her voice was unusually calm: "My son, he will be fine. You quack, talking nonsense." Consort Rou turned her head, looked at the physician on the ground, and coldly shouted, "Drag him out and behead him!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the attendants beside her rushed forward and restrained the physician. Before the physician could even cry out, someone stuffed a handkerchief into his mouth.

Consort Rou glanced at the eunuch who had been following her, and the eunuch immediately understood. He called in guards to arrest everyone present.

A few muffled groans were heard from outside, then silence fell. The people died quickly and disappeared just as fast. When everything around had quieted down and only Hua Le and Consort Rou remained in the room, Hua Le hurriedly knelt beside Consort Rou, her voice trembling: "Mother, what do we do? Cheng'er is dead, what do we do?"

Consort Rou did not speak. Hua Le reached out and grabbed Consort Rou's hand: "Mother, don't stay silent. Think of something, you..."

"It's all your fault!"

Consort Rou finally couldn't hold back, her emotions exploding completely. She slapped Hua Le across the face. Hua Le was knocked to the ground by the blow, staring blankly at the woman who had always been gentle, now with tears streaming down her face, pointing at her as if looking at an enemy and shouting: "You couldn't even kill someone properly! Now Li Chuan is alive, Li Rong is alive, but Cheng'er is dead! It's all because of you, you useless thing!"

"Mother?" Hua Le spoke in disbelief, "You... you blame me?"

"It was your people!" Hua Le suddenly realized, roaring out, "Your people failed at their task, and you blame me?!"

Consort Rou, scolded by her daughter like this, sobered up a bit. Her chest heaved violently as she stared fixedly at Hua Le.

She couldn't argue with Hua Le here.Li Cheng was already dead, and she had long been imprisoned. If not for the need to care for Li Cheng, she would never have been allowed out. Now, the only one still safe and sound, Hua Le, would certainly not be spared once Li Chuan ascended the throne.

No, it should be said that the entire Xiao Clan would not be spared. She was doomed.

But she couldn’t control herself.

She was at the end of her rope, with no way out.

Consort Rou tried hard to calm herself, but she couldn’t think of any solution. It was at this moment that a servant’s voice came from outside: “Your Highness, General Xiao has arrived.”

Hearing this, Consort Rou felt as if she had been granted a reprieve. She quickly said, “Hurry, let A’qian in.”

When Hua Le heard that her uncle Xiao Qian had arrived, she also stood up quickly. The mother and daughter covered Li Cheng with the blanket, pretending he was still alive. After a while, Xiao Qian entered with a young man.

The young man wore a veil and stood respectfully in place. His figure was extremely similar to Li Cheng’s, and he was covered from head to toe.

Seeing Xiao Qian bring such a person, Consort Rou couldn’t help but frown. “Third Brother, why have you come now…”

“Second Sister, I heard that Cheng’er is critically ill and feared something might go wrong, so I specifically brought Cheng’er’s double.”

Hearing this, Consort Rou was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly stood up. “Quick, let me see.”

As she spoke, she lifted the young man’s hat and saw a face identical to Li Cheng’s. This face was almost indistinguishable from Li Cheng’s, even down to the mole being in the same spot.

He also had wounds, which were nearly identical in location to Li Cheng’s, though clearly shallower. If compared side by side, the difference would naturally be noticeable, but once the real Li Cheng disappeared, it would be almost impossible to tell with the naked eye.

This was truly a timely rescue. Consort Rou turned around urgently. “Did you raise this double?”

“Yes.”

Xiao Qian nodded. “A year ago, while drinking with Su Rongqing, he inadvertently reminded me that His Majesty only has two princes, and our entire clan relies on Cheng’er. What if something were to happen to him? He happened to have a servant who looked very similar to Cheng’er, so I took that servant and taught him manners, etiquette, speech, and actions. I even prepared his voice and the scars on his body. On the day Cheng’er was injured, I came to see him and had already fabricated similar wounds on the double. Second Sister, if Cheng’er…”

“I understand.” Consort Rou raised her hand, interrupting Xiao Qian. “Leave him here. If needed, I will use him.”

“Second Sister, if we use this double, we will be tied to Su Rongqing, which is like taking a gamble. He is wholeheartedly supporting Cheng’er, and whatever his motives, you should agree to them. Right now, Cheng’er ascending the throne and you becoming the Empress Dowager are more important than anything else.”

Consort Rou understood Xiao Qian’s implication. At this point, they had no choice but to win over Su Rongqing, and if they wanted his help now, they would have to offer significant benefits.

Consort Rou nodded softly. “I understand, don’t worry.”

“Then…” Xiao Qian hesitated, glancing at the bed. “Could Second Sister tell me the truth? Cheng’er…”

Xiao Qian looked up at Consort Rou. “Do you need me to handle it?”

If the double was to stay, the real Li Cheng could not remain in Prince Su’s residence, nor could anyone discover the body.

Hearing Xiao Qian’s words, Consort Rou’s hands trembled slightly.Hua Le was momentarily bewildered and couldn't help but ask, "Handle? How do we handle this?"

"I will find a suitable place and burn him to ashes. If Sister misses him, I can bring the ashes back."

"Burn... burn him?" Hua Le exclaimed in shock. "He is Prince Su! He is a prince! You want to—"

"He is not Prince Su."

Consort Rou clenched her fists and raised her head, looking at the frail young man standing before her. "This," she said, tears welling in her eyes as she stared at the youth, "is my son."

With that, Consort Rou turned around and hurriedly began dragging Li Cheng's corpse from the bed.

Realizing what Consort Rou intended to do, Hua Le rushed over and struggled with her: "Mother, don't do this, this is Cheng'er, this is Cheng'er... Mother... Even if you bury him in the wilderness, at least give him a whole body, you..."

"Hua Le!"

Consort Rou shouted sharply: "Don't you know what time it is now?! He's already dead! Leaving him whole leaves evidence against us! If someone digs up his grave and asks who this is, how will you answer?"

Hua Le was momentarily stunned. Consort Rou pushed him aside, called Xiao Qian over, and together they carried Li Cheng out. Then she found a large sack and stuffed Li Cheng inside.

Not long after, Xiao Qian drove a heavy carriage out of Prince Su's residence, heading straight for the outskirts of the capital.

Meanwhile, in the dense forests of the outskirts, Su Rongqing was desperately fleeing forward.

Many people were chasing him from behind. He could taste the metallic tang of blood in his throat. Calculating the distance to the river ahead, as the final volley of arrows rained down, he leaped into the turbulent river!

The news reached Huajing by nightfall.

By then, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan had already woken up. As they were eating, they saw Jing Lan hurriedly enter from outside.

Just by looking at Jing Lan's expression, Li Rong knew something had happened. Pretending nothing was wrong, she leisurely continued eating with Pei Wenxuan and casually asked him, "Are you going back to the Ministry of Personnel later?"

"Not to the Ministry of Personnel, but I have some matters to attend to and need to go out."

Pei Wenxuan served Li Rong some soup and advised her, "Rest well at home later. With your foot injured, don't go out looking for trouble."

Listening to Pei Wenxuan's words, Li Rong felt there was more to his words than met the ear. She smiled, "There's nothing for me to do now, why would I go out?"

"That's good."

Pei Wenxuan smiled gently.

After the meal, Pei Wenxuan instructed others to take good care of Li Rong and then left.

As soon as Pei Wenxuan was gone, Jing Lan approached and whispered, "Your Highness, Su Rongqing had just emerged from the forest when he was chased by the Imperial Son-in-Law's men and jumped into the river to escape. They are now searching along the river. Our people ask whether we should clash with the Imperial Son-in-Law's men?"

Training someone capable wasn't easy, and it wasn't worth such a bloody conflict.

Li Rong hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Prepare a carriage. I'll go there myself."