The Princess Royal

Неаring Li Rоng call him, Li Сhuаn hurriеdlу drоpped his swоrd аnd rushed towаrd her.

"Sister," Li Сhuаn's еуеs wеre filled with urgеncy and excitеmеnt, "why аre уоu hеrе?"

"Rong'еr?"

Shаngguаn Yuе wаs alsо bewildered: "Ноw did yоu..."

"Su Rongqing has troоps waiting оutside the сitу, just wаiting fоr Сhuаn'еr to assаssinаte thе еmрerоr." Li Rong's vоiсe was саlm. "Mоther, you аnd Chuan'er shоuld lеаve thе palaсе quiсkly. I'll stау hеrе."

"Su Rоngqing is оutside thе сity?"

Li Сhuan сouldn't understаnd: "Why... whу is hе gеtting involvеd in аll this?"

"Dоn't wоrry about thаt. Mother, hurry and gо."

"What about уou?" Shangguаn Yue quiсklу reаlized, "You alone in the palace?"

"That won't do."

Li Chuan firmly rejected the idea.

"Then let's go together."

Li Rong smiled. Hearing this, Li Chuan finally agreed, his spirits lifting: "Good, let's go together."

As he spoke, he reached out to pull Li Rong along.

His hand holding Li Rong's trembled continuously, and Li Rong quietly watched him.

He was already much taller than her, yet in her presence, he still seemed like a child.

He led Li Rong out of the bedchamber. Before leaving, Li Ming called out to him: "Li Chuan."

Li Chuan halted his steps. Li Ming's voice was cold: "The opportunity I gave you still stands. As long as you are willing to eliminate the Shangguan Clan, I can give you command of the Imperial Guards."

As Li Ming spoke, he coughed lightly.

He appeared to be in poor condition, but he still fixed his gaze on Li Chuan: "If Su Rongqing allies with the noble families, you cannot win against the military forces they control. Since you are unwilling to kill me, I can still regard you as my son. Come back," Li Ming extended his hand, "I will give you the empire."

Hearing this, a flicker of fear passed through Shangguan Yue's eyes. Li Rong looked up at Li Chuan, waiting for his decision.

Li Chuan gazed at the world beyond the palace gates. After thinking for a long time, he softly said: "No."

"Li Chuan!"

Li Ming grew anxious, coughing violently: "Have you gone mad!"

"Father, I don't want to kill you, nor do I want to sacrifice my sister and mother for my own survival."

Li Chuan spoke with difficulty. Li Rong stood beside him, not deliberately suppressing her emotions. She looked up at Li Chuan, at her younger brother.

In the past, she would have considered Li Chuan's disregard for gains and losses as foolish compassion. But when she cast aside those deliberate calculations and watched Li Chuan simply as a sister, she suddenly felt that her younger brother was a very, very good person.

He was still young; he didn't yet understand what was right and what was wrong.

Li Rong reached out and took Li Chuan's hand. The moment she grasped it, Li Chuan suddenly froze. He turned to look at Li Rong, who smiled and said: "Go on."

"I," Li Chuan spoke haltingly, "I may not be a qualified crown prince, nor a qualified ruler."

He looked into Li Rong's eyes, unable to hold back the redness in his own.

"But I don't want to become like you."

"I want," Li Chuan took a deep breath, "I want to be a good person. I want to protect my family. I want to be with someone I love. I want to do things I enjoy. I wish to live without harming anyone."

"I want to be indecisive. I want to be naive. I want to be kind. I want to disregard gains and losses."

"Li Chuan, you fool!"Li Ming shouted loudly, Li Chuan took a deep breath: "Go ahead and curse, it doesn't matter anymore. You never liked me anyway. But whether you like me or not, Father," Li Chuan looked at him one last time, "I don't want to kill you. It would stain my heart."

After saying this, Li Chuan took Li Rong's hand.

He felt like a bird whose leash had been untied.

Though heading toward life or death, he had never felt such exhilaration.

He held Li Rong tightly, leaning on her as they walked out together.

When they reached the corridor outside the bedchamber, Li Rong suddenly stopped.

Soldiers were everywhere, and the closest were Li Rong's shadow guards.

As Li Rong halted, Li Chuan grew puzzled: "Elder Sister?"

"Chuan'er," Li Rong looked at him, "are you willing to give the world to me?"

"Elder Sister?" Li Chuan didn't understand what she meant. Li Rong clasped her hands in her sleeves, a smile on her face. "I don't like making wedding clothes for others. If I defend Huajing for you this time, can I have the world?"

"Elder Sister," Li Chuan looked at Li Rong and laughed, "I know you don't trust me, but I still have to say it."

"I became Crown Prince for Mother and you, Elder Sister. If you want the world, I'll offer it with both hands. I was never suited for this place. Here, I would destroy myself and perhaps harm others."

"Then," Li Rong gazed at him, "if one day, I am the ruler and you the subject, would that be acceptable?"

"Why not?" Li Chuan found it amusing. Shangguan Yue frowned, "What are you two still talking about? Hurry and go."

"Right," Li Chuan remembered, "Elder Sister, I'll protect you and Mother..."

Before he could finish, a guard struck him from behind with a hand chop, knocking him unconscious. The guard caught Li Chuan. Shangguan Yue looked horrified and urgently said, "What are you doing!"

"Mother, I cannot leave."

Li Rong's voice was calm: "I must pretend to be Chuan'er and hold the palace to avoid arousing Su Rongqing's suspicion. You take Chuan'er away."

"But you're just a girl..."

"I can do it." Li Rong interrupted her, staring firmly at Shangguan Yue. "If we don't leave now, no one will escape. Mother, go."

Shangguan Yue stared intently at Li Rong. She didn't reply, but Li Rong already knew her answer.

Li Rong turned and walked back toward the bedchamber. When she pushed the door open and entered, she saw Li Ming panting on the dragon bed.

He seemed in great distress, breathing heavily. Li Rong bent down, picked up a sword. Seeing Li Rong with the sword, Li Ming's eyes filled with panic. As Li Rong approached with the sword, Li Ming clenched his fists, feigning composure.

Li Rong raised the sword, pointing it at Li Ming's face, and examined him.

After a moment, she found it strange: "You're afraid of me."

"I am not."

"You're not afraid of Chuan'er, but you're afraid of me. Why?" Li Rong looked at him, seeing fear in his aged eyes. She lowered her head, smiled, sheathed the sword, and tossed it aside.

"You think I will kill you, but he won't."

"Isn't that so?" Li Ming said coldly, "You and he are different."

Li Rong sat by the bed, silent. After a while, Li Ming seemed to recover somewhat. Li Rong stood up, fetched water from nearby, and handed it to Li Ming.

Li Ming dared not drink. Li Rong understood his meaning and reassured him: "Don't worry, killing you now would be easy. No need to bother with poison."Li Ming received her words and stiffened for a moment. Li Rong sat down and fed him water.

After drinking, Li Ming felt much better. Li Rong helped him lie down and covered him with a quilt.

"What exactly do you want to do?" Li Ming stared at her. Li Rong thought for a moment, "Nothing much, I suppose. It's the final moments, and I don't want to argue with you. I've never taken care of you before, so let me do it one last time. Don’t be too grateful."

Li Ming remained silent, watching Li Rong as she finished tucking him in. After a moment, Li Rong asked, "Where is Consort Rou?"

"I ordered her and Prince Su to flee."

Li Rong nodded, showing no anger. She sat on the steps below, while Li Chuan lay on the couch. After a long while, Li Ming whispered, "Didn’t you leave the palace? Why did you come back? To die in Li Chuan’s place?"

"It’s not exactly dying in his place. I’m quite clever, you know. My chances of surviving here are better than his."

"You’re not killing me because you’re afraid Su Rongqing will use regicide as an excuse to harm you, aren’t you?"

"Is there much difference between attacking the imperial palace and regicide?" Li Rong found Li Ming’s questions rather pointless at this moment. She leaned against the bed and, after a while, began chatting aimlessly. "Actually, I don’t understand what you’re fighting for."

"You want to suppress the noble families, suppress the Shangguan Clan, but can’t you see that Chuan’er shares your intentions? What’s the point of exhausting yourself to depose him? Besides, the Li Cheng that Consort Rou is holding now is a fake. Are you really willing to pass the throne to an imposter?"

"There’s no need for you to slander Cheng’er," Li Ming said coldly. "I won’t believe you."

"I knew you wouldn’t believe me. If I die this time, you can go and verify it yourself."

After saying this, Li Rong felt the floor was too cold, so she got up to find a stool, brought it over, and sat down beside Li Cheng.

She also brought a small table, placed tea on it, hugged a warming stove, and settled in comfortably.

Li Ming watched her bustling about. Once she was seated, Li Rong continued, "You haven’t answered my earlier question."

"He is a child of the Shangguan Clan," Li Ming said coldly. "He can never truly break away from you all. He can’t even bring himself to act against you now. How can I expect him to do so after I’m gone?"

Hearing this, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh.

Li Chuan was not just capable of acting—he was far more ruthless than Li Ming.

Li Ming seemed infuriated by these thoughts. "I have two sons. Li Chuan was perfectly fine, but you all ruined him. And you—I cherished you so much, yet you..."

"And yet I what?" Li Rong turned to look at him. "I have always revered you," she said, staring at him. "But you were determined to marry me off to the worst possible husband, to keep me from interfering with your interests, and to push me aside in everything."

"You cherished Hua Le as if she were the apple of your eye, but what about me?"

"Haven’t I cherished you enough?" Li Ming roared in anger.

"And has my reverence for you been any less than Hua Le’s?"

She had never questioned Li Ming like this before.

Like the most ordinary of daughters.

Li Ming was taken aback. Li Rong looked at him and said, "Am I not your daughter just because I am a daughter of the Shangguan Clan?"

Li Ming remained silent, as if such questioning embarrassed him.

After a moment, Li Rong smiled and said, "Forget it, let’s not talk about these unpleasant things. Let’s chat about something happier. After all, tomorrow, either I die, or..."

Li Rong didn’t finish her sentence. She shrugged. "It doesn’t matter anymore. Father," she placed a hand on her abdomen, as if thinking of something joyful, "I’m pregnant. You’re about to become a grandfather."Upon hearing this, the words "bastard" nearly escaped his lips, but seeing Li Rong's joyful expression, he held them back at the tip of his tongue.

He stared intently at Li Rong, who smiled back at him. "Father, this is my first child in over fifty years."

"Fifty years?"

Li Ming frowned. "What nonsense are you talking?"

Li Rong chuckled softly. "Let me tell you a secret—I've actually lived two lifetimes."

"You've gone mad!" Li Ming exclaimed in shock. Li Rong wasn't surprised by his reaction and spoke slowly, "I know you don't believe me, so I'll just say a few words casually. When I say you're confused, it's because you don't understand Chuan'er at all. Do you think he's weak? That he doesn't want to crush the noble families? No, he later became far more ruthless than you."

Li Rong calmly recounted everything Li Chuan had done, and Li Ming listened quietly.

At first, he wore an expression of disgust, thinking Li Rong was deceiving him. But as she continued, he began to ask questions, and the details were flawless, without a single loophole.

As they questioned and answered each other, the palace lanterns were gradually lit.

Pei Wenxuan followed Zhao Chongjiu galloping through the outskirts, but before long, he sensed something was wrong.

He gave a sidelong glance to the man beside him, and the guards suddenly spurred their horses faster, blocking Zhao Chongjiu's path ahead. Zhao Chongjiu was taken aback. "My lord?"

Pei Wenxuan pulled on the reins behind him, his voice cold. "How far are you planning to deceive me?"

Zhao Chongjiu was startled, never expecting Pei Wenxuan to react so quickly. Concerned for Li Rong, Pei Wenxuan shouted, "Where is Her Highness?"

Zhao Chongjiu pressed his lips together tightly. After a long while, he finally spoke. "In the palace."

"Why did she go back?"

Pei Wenxuan was stunned. Zhao Chongjiu dismounted and presented a letter with both hands.

"Su Rongqing may have up to thirty thousand soldiers lying in ambush in Huajing. Her Highness is stalling for time in the palace to ensure the Crown Prince's safe escape. Fearing you might also be trapped, she ordered me to coax you out."

Upon hearing this, Pei Wenxuan tightened his grip on the reins and stared at the letter in Zhao Chongjiu's hand. "What is this?"

"Her Highness said to give this to you once we reached the inn."

Pei Wenxuan took the letter and opened it, recognizing Li Rong's handwriting.

Her calligraphy bore the framework of his own, for after their marriage, she had practiced copying his handwriting for a year.

In this lifetime, it seemed she had picked up the habit again.

The letter contained only a short line, concise and to the point, as was Li Rong's usual style.

But this time, she didn't discuss strategies or the state of the war.

In this final, most important letter, she gave him only one sentence.

"My husband loves me more than life itself, and so do I, finding it sweeter than honey."

"Signed: Li Rong."

Holding the letter, Pei Wenxuan felt a sudden surge of moisture welling up in his eyes.

He lowered his head, as if unsure how to compose himself. Zhao Chongjiu cautiously said, "My lord, Her Highness was also thinking of the greater situation..."

"Who has Su Rongqing contacted?"

Pei Wenxuan folded the letter and tucked it into his sleeve. Zhao Chongjiu paused for a moment before reciting the names.

After Su Ronghua's message was delivered to Shangguan Ya, she had relayed all the information to him. Pei Wenxuan nodded and called out to the man beside him. "Tong Ye."

"Young master."

"Find the families of these people. If they have left the city, pursue and capture them directly. For those still in their mansions in Huajing, station men around their residences. At dawn tomorrow, they will lead troops to surround the palace, and the number of guards at their mansions will decrease. Take the opportunity to capture them.""The Wang and Su Clans can bear the brunt first. As for the rest, capture as many as you can find, arrest them all."

"But, Young Master," hearing this, Tong Ye grew anxious, "if you do this, you'll be cursed by future generations."

"Carry it out."

As Pei Wenxuan spoke, he immediately turned his horse around and rode back.

Li Rong's letter was still tucked in his chest, burning like a piece of charcoal against his heart.

She rarely expressed her emotions in life, almost never saying much to him. He was constantly anxious, always uneasy.

But when she laid her feelings before him, he wished she would forever remain aloof and untouchable.

He didn't need her to say these things.

Because when others speak of love, it's mere sweet talk.

Only this foolish girl, if she says she loves you more than life itself, truly means she would trade her life for yours.

Pei Wenxuan galloped his horse all the way into the city.

Huajing was now in complete chaos. Citizens were frantically fleeing toward the city gates, making it impossible for Pei Wenxuan to ride in. He could only squeeze through the crowd, struggling to push his way inside.

As he forced his way through the throng, he saw Shangguan Ya disguised as a peasant woman, squeezing out of the city alongside Su Ronghua. Beside them was a young man carrying an unconscious woman on his back, leading his "mother" as they desperately pushed outward.

Shangguan Ya, Su Ronghua, Lin Feibai, Li Chuan, Shangguan Yue—everyone was here, except for Li Rong.

Their eyes met briefly in the air, as if entrusting everything to each other.

Shangguan Ya and the crowd surged out of Huajing, while Pei Wenxuan fought his way in. Not long after they passed each other, the gates of Huajing slowly closed. Pei Wenxuan heard the cries and wails of the people echoing through the sky. Walking along the long street, he looked up at the dark heavens.

Snowflakes drifted down from the sky. Pei Wenxuan raised his head to gaze at the distant Northern Yan Tower, pressed a hand to his chest, took a deep breath, and then sprinted toward the Princess's Manor.

Once outside the city, Su Ronghua quickly wiped the dust from his face and said urgently, "I'll go stop my cousin and inform him of the situation. Don't worry, and don't try to be a hero."

"I know."

Shangguan Ya nodded. "Thank you."

Su Ronghua acknowledged her words. He wanted to say more but caught sight of Lin Feibai standing behind Shangguan Ya.

He paused for a moment, then smiled, raising a hand. "Take care."

Without waiting for Shangguan Ya's response, he turned and hurriedly mounted his horse, riding away.

Shangguan Ya watched Su Ronghua depart into the distance as Lin Feibai walked up behind her.

"Reluctant to see him go?"

"Hmm?"

Shangguan Ya turned at the sound of his voice and quickly said, "First, settle the Crown Prince. Have someone contact Xun Chuan to see where he is. Take stock of the troops outside. I can't stay with His Highness," Shangguan Ya spoke calmly, "but I must save her."

While Huajing descended into chaos, Li Rong and Li Ming chatted leisurely.

Attendants knocked on the door from time to time to report the situation to Li Rong, who then deployed the troops accordingly.

She had mobilized all available garrison forces into the palace grounds. Hearing her actions, Li Ming understood her intentions. "It seems you plan to fight to the death within the palace."

"Not exactly."

Li Rong smiled. "If defeat is certain, we might as well surrender."

"Women have no backbone."Li Ming mocked, but Li Rong paid no mind: "Where were we just now? Ah, the failure of the aristocratic reform—why? Because there are too many local magnates. Dealing with the Su Clan is easy, dealing with the Shangguan Clan is easy, but dealing with the local gentry is far more difficult. They are too small, too numerous. Fighting them isn’t worth it, but if you don’t fight, what can you do about them?"

"So Chuan'er’s policies are not only too hasty but also very difficult to implement."

"He wants to uproot them," Li Ming pondered, "but the aristocratic families have been entrenched for so many years. Trying to pull them out in such a short time is nothing but courting destruction. However, if Great Xia is ruined by his meddling, and after a few more years of war, the aristocratic families are slaughtered clean, perhaps the next dynasty will be different."

Li Rong chuckled softly: "It always feels too cruel."

"Cruel?" Li Ming sneered, "More like fearing death. Neither of us wants Great Xia to fall. That’s human nature."

"Father is right," Li Rong mused, then asked, "But I’ve never understood—what exactly is human nature?"

At these words, Li Ming also fell silent. Li Rong spoke of that person, a smile unconsciously gracing her face: "Pei Wenxuan always tells me that behind power lies human nature. He says I don’t understand human nature, and that if I did, I would be a good ruler."

"You truly don’t understand," Li Ming’s eyes held a trace of desolation.

"If your past life was as you described, if you understood human nature, you wouldn’t have pushed Chuan'er so hard, nor would you have pushed yourself so hard. This palace… it forces a person into becoming a ghost, and the ghost then believes the world is just like that, forcing others in turn."

"In truth, back then, you had two paths: either compete alongside Chuan'er. With more people competing, the rules could be changed. But that path was too difficult, so you didn’t choose it. You’d rather sink into the swamp yourselves and drag those who haven’t entered in with you."

"Rongrong, ordinary people follow the rules, regardless of the reason, only looking at the outcome."

"But for a ruler, the rules are not meant to be followed—they are meant to be used."

"So, they must look at both the outcome and the cause. As a ruler, only by understanding why someone errs can you use tools to restrain them. Like Pei Wenxuan and Chuan'er’s northern campaign in their early years," Li Ming laughed, "if enacting harsh punishments could stop people from being corrupt, their northern campaign wouldn’t have failed back then. Only by understanding under what circumstances a person would covet silver and under what circumstances they would act as a good person can you have effective rules."

"Pei Wenxuan is right—behind power," Li Ming chuckled softly, "lies human nature. I," Li Ming sighed, "understood it too late."

Li Rong quietly watched Li Ming as a servant’s reminder came from outside: "Your Highness, the Morning Court Assembly is about to begin."

Hearing this, Li Rong nodded.

Li Ming looked at her: "Are you really planning to act out the whole charade? Will you attend court on his behalf?"

"I’ve never sat on that golden phoenix throne," Li Rong smiled, "sitting on it once is an experience in itself."

As she spoke, Li Rong stood up: "You should rest for a while. I’ll take my leave now."

Li Ming remained silent. Li Rong turned and walked toward the door. Li Ming watched her retreating figure and, just as she was about to step out, suddenly asked: "How did you know Li Cheng is fake?""Su Rongqing told me," Li Rong answered frankly. "Moreover, has Father seen the physician who treated him again? If Li Cheng were genuine, why would Consort Rou be in such a hurry to contact Su Rongqing and other noble families? Those families are all wolves and tigers—can they be commanded without offering substantial benefits?"

Li Ming fell silent. Li Rong left the bedchamber and went to her original palace.

She bathed and burned incense, donned the formal crimson robe with gold trim reserved for sacrificial ceremonies, and styled her hair into a high bun before proceeding to the main hall.

The sky was still dark at this time. Fulai held a palace lantern for her, leading her to the center of the hall.

The hall was utterly empty—Li Rong had never seen it so vast and vacant. She looked up at the high throne ahead. Fulai respectfully presented an imperial edict to her: "Your Highness, this was just written by His Majesty and entrusted to you."

Li Rong turned around and looked at the imperial edict before her. She took it and unrolled it to read its contents.

The words "Regent Princess" fell into her eyes. She stared at the text for a long time before lowering her head with a faint smile. "What is he doing? Does he believe me now?"

"On ordinary days, naturally not," Fulai chuckled. "But today, His Majesty might be willing to believe you. Besides, his life is now in your hands—you have no reason to deceive him."

Hearing this, Li Rong glanced at Fulai. "Whose side are you really on?"

"This old servant naturally serves the Eldest Young Master," Fulai replied without evasion. "But if some words are beneficial to Your Highness, I will speak them."

Li Rong remained silent. After a moment of thought, she held the edict gently and said, "Go back and take good care of him. I’ll sit here alone for a while."

Fulai bowed respectfully and withdrew.

The hall was now empty except for Li Rong. She looked up at the golden throne and slowly walked toward it.

She passed along the imperial pathway, stepped onto the soft cushion, and raised her hand to caress the smooth armrest of the throne.

The armrest was cold as jade, evoking an indescribable sense of nostalgia.

Then she turned and sat down gently.

It was her first time sitting here, and she realized—

It was truly high, truly cold.

The time for the Morning Court Assembly was approaching. Pei Wenxuan had already deployed his men outside the Wang and Gu family residences.

He was unaware of the situation outside the city, but he knew the state of affairs within Huajing. Li Rong had withdrawn the guards from the city gates in advance, and Su Ronghua had taken control of the watchtowers, sealing off Huajing.

The Su Clan had evacuated entirely. The Wang and Gu families, believing Huajing to be safer, had chosen to stay, leaving only a few guards behind.

But with Huajing sealed, they assumed Li Chuan’s forces were concentrated within the palace walls and had grown lax in guarding their own homes.

Su Rongqing had stayed awake all night, and the others had kept vigil with him.

"My cousin will arrive at dawn," Su Rongqing said calmly. "Combined with the men from all of you, we will have thirty thousand troops at our disposal. The inner palace remains sealed, but news continues to leak out. The Morning Court Assembly has not been canceled—Li Chuan likely intends to announce his ascension during the assembly. If he dares to declare it, His Majesty will likely be..."

Su Rongqing glanced at the others. "In that case, our actions will be justified, not rebellion."

"However, before my cousin and Minister Wang’s reinforcements arrive, we have only a little over ten thousand troops in the city. I hope none of you hold back, or we may struggle to breach the imperial palace. If we attend the assembly, we risk being controlled instead."

"Rest assured," Gu Zichun immediately responded. "Since we have allied with Minister Su, we will not hold back. This is a matter of life and death—we will not falter."

The others echoed his words, and Su Rongqing nodded.

As the time for the Morning Court Assembly drew near, they all proceeded toward the palace. Pei Wenxuan watched as they withdrew their private guards and waved his hand. "Move."

At the hour of mao, the palace was brightly lit. Ministers dressed in black court robes with red trim entered the palace one by one, seemingly no different from any other day.

Snow had fallen during the night, and their footsteps crunched softly on the snow, making the palace unusually quiet. The ministers, having lost their usual habit of conversing, allowed the fragmented sounds of trampled snow to grow more pronounced.

They stood at the entrance of the grand hall, listening to the rustling of wind and snow.

Today, the emperor did not emerge from the inner palace. He seemed to have been waiting in the hall early, yet none of the ministers found this strange.As the eunuch's high-pitched cry of "Enter the hall—" echoed across the square, the palace gates opened layer by layer.

Su Rongqing stood at the forefront of the officials, holding his court tablet. As the gates creaked open, he slowly raised his head.

Then he saw, beyond the gates, two rows of bronze standing palace lanterns shaped like vermilion birds holding pearls, leading upward to the heights of the hall. At the far end, seated upon the golden throne, a woman dressed in a grand crimson robe with golden trim, her hair styled high and adorned with golden hairpins, gazed at him with a calm expression.

They stared silently at each other across the expanse of the hall. After a long moment, Li Rong's crimson lips parted slightly, and she uttered two words, cold and haughty.

"Kneel."