Li Rоng gаzеd intо Pei Wеnхuаn's еуes, listening to his inquirу thаt seemеd both plауful аnd еаrnеst. After а long while, she gave a light lаugh. "Lоrd Pеi asks а strаngе quеstion. Ноw соuld I hаve nеver been sinсеre? Fоr every hаndsome mаn, I have indееd hаrbоrеd sinсеrity."
"Doеs Yоur Highnеss knоw whаt sincеrity trulу mеans?"
Pеi Wеnxuаn pressed furthеr. Li Rong tapреd hеr small fаn lightly against hеr раlm and rерliеd, "Whаt kind оf sinсeritу dоes Lоrd Pеi believе it to bе?"
"In mу humblе oрiniоn, sinсеrity means рlacing that persоn in your heаrt, trusting them, chеrishing them, аsking fоr nothing in rеturn, and fearing no future. Wholehearted and flawless, devoted to one person for a lifetime. Your Highness claims to have been sincere, but I wonder to whom you have given this heart?"
Hearing this, Li Rong pursed her lips and smiled, lowering her head as if amused.
Pei Wenxuan frowned. "What is Your Highness laughing at?"
"Pei Wenxuan," Li Rong raised her head, covering half her face with a golden fan, her eyes filled with teasing, "I never expected that at your age, you still harbor such youthful dreams."
At these words, Pei Wenxuan's expression stiffened. Then he composed himself, turned away calmly, placed his hands behind his head, and said indifferently, "It is simply that Your Highness has never considered such matters."
"Indeed," Li Rong replied with a smile. "I lack the leisure and elegance of Prime Minister Pei to ponder such things. Truly, one who has guarded a single affection for a lifetime," she nodded, "such childlike sincerity is admirable."
Hearing her sarcasm, Pei Wenxuan opened his mouth to say something but felt that whether he explained or refuted, it would seem as if he were conceding defeat. So he swallowed his words, turned away, and pretended to sleep, saying nothing more.
Seeing him turn his back to her, Li Rong lightly tapped her fan and slowly let her smile fade.
When it came to matters of affection, Pei Wenxuan and she were vastly different. She was calculating and resolute in love, always giving back less than she received, ensuring that between two people, there was only "you" and "me." She was stingy with her emotions, demanding much in return, afraid to give yet desiring wholehearted devotion.
Pei Wenxuan, on the other hand, was far more generous. Once he determined his affection, he would give everything to the other person. He could love Qin Zhenzhen for a lifetime, even if she married someone else and never reciprocated. He could silently guard this affection, devoting himself wholeheartedly. Even nearly twenty-seven years after Qin Zhenzhen's death, he could remain chaste in her memory, honoring her spirit.
Back then, she had broken off with Pei Wenxuan decisively, partly because she could not tolerate the slightest impurity in her own feelings, having misplaced her affections. Partly, she had vaguely sensed that Pei Wenxuan might not have been entirely indifferent to her, but he, having first pledged his affection to Qin Zhenzhen, could not allow himself to love another.
They each had their own stubbornness, and looking back now, this deeply ingrained obstinacy had long destined that, even without Qin Zhenzhen, the two of them would never have been together.
Her sincerity was too scarce. Even if she offered Pei Wenxuan all she had, to him, it would always be an unfair affection. Even if he accepted it, she herself would struggle to find balance.She and Su Rongqing were different. Su Rongqing and she were more alike—born into noble families, their genuine feelings were already rare in this world. Before them stood power, family, life, and death. To offer even a sliver of true emotion amidst all that was everything. Li Rong didn’t need someone to give her much; if they could give her all they had, that was enough.
So even though she knew Su Rongqing might kill her, even though she knew there might be layers of schemes and hatred between them, she never resented him. Because Su Rongqing had given her all the sincerity he could offer, and he gave it to her alone.
As for Pei Wenxuan, even if he hadn’t done anything to her in her past life and hadn’t truly betrayed her, when it came to matters of the heart, she always felt Pei Wenxuan fell short.
The carriage rocked and swayed. Li Rong closed her eyes and dozed for a while. Moments later, the carriage suddenly came to a stop. A shadow guard lifted the curtain and jumped into the carriage, whispering, "Your Highness, the invitation has been obtained."
With that, the shadow guard handed over the invitation and a detailed document recording the identities of the two individuals, along with a set of clothes. He explained, "It was obtained from the Crown Prince’s side. They are said to be a wealthy merchant couple from Yangzhou, dealing in silk. Not many people should recognize them."
"Good." Li Rong flipped through the invitation, confirmed the names, and nodded. "You may go."
"Your Highness," the shadow guard hesitated for a moment, "Tuoba Yan’s network of connections is extremely complex. His estate may not be very safe. Are you truly willing to take such a risk…"
"It’s fine." Li Rong said calmly. "I’ve brought signal flares. If anything happens, you can surround the estate directly."
Seeing Li Rong’s determination, the shadow guard acknowledged and left. Beside her, Pei Wenxuan was still sound asleep. Li Rong tapped him with her fan and shooed him out. "I’m changing clothes. Go outside."
Pei Wenxuan opened his eyes in confusion. He seemed to have been asleep and was not fully awake when suddenly roused. Seeing him like this, Li Rong couldn’t help but smile.
Even in his youth, he loved to linger in bed. When they first married, waking him up every morning to attend court was a difficult task.
Li Rong gently waved her small fan and said softly, "What, after all these years, Minister Pei still hasn’t shaken off his habit of sleeping in?"
Hearing Li Rong’s question, Pei Wenxuan became more alert. He sat up, shook his head, then deftly rolled up the curtain and said calmly, "Call me when you’re done changing."
Then he jumped out of the carriage.
After changing her clothes and stepping out of the carriage, Li Rong saw a merchant-style carriage already prepared by the attendants nearby.
This carriage was not as luxurious or spacious as Li Rong’s, and many of its features adhered to the regulations for merchants. Li Rong boarded the carriage and waited for a while before Pei Wenxuan walked up.
The two sat in the carriage. Li Rong took out the document detailing the couple’s life story and reviewed it with Pei Wenxuan. Only then did Pei Wenxuan ask, "What do we do once we arrive at the villa?"
"Tuoba Yan’s secret chamber is built in the backyard. After we enter, you first approach Tuoba Yan and find a way to have him lead us into the backyard. I’ll excuse myself to use the restroom and make my way to the secret chamber. Once I retrieve the ledger, we’ll leave."
"How do I get him to lead us into the backyard?" Pei Wenxuan frowned. Li Rong shot him a glance. "Figure it out yourself."
As they spoke, the carriage arrived at Tuoba Yan’s villa.
The estate was built in the outskirts of Huajing, nestled against mountains and water, and was exceptionally large in scale.The two alighted from the carriage to find the area bustling with activity. Despite the late hour, it was extremely lively. Even at the entrance, the sounds of silk strings and bamboo flutes could already be heard.
Li Rong followed Pei Wenxuan, and the two presented their invitation. Leading the shadow guards disguised as servants, they approached and, after the doorman verified their invitation, were escorted into the courtyard.
Upon entering the villa, they saw a diverse crowd, with people of various nationalities and attire mingling among them. Persian dancers came and went, and even many women from Great Xia wore Persian dance costumes as they accompanied others along the corridors.
In such a place of indulgence, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan walked with upright postures, appearing somewhat out of place.
Among these merchants, Pei Wenxuan seemed too upright and dignified, coupled with his handsome appearance and the stunningly beautiful Li Rong following behind him, they attracted many gazes.
Pei Wenxuan sensed the awkwardness and was about to do something when he felt Li Rong reach out and hook her arm through his, leaning against him as she cooed, "You walk so fast, I can barely keep up."
Pei Wenxuan stiffened slightly but quickly regained his composure. He smiled gently, as if doting, and said, "You're right, my dear. It was my fault."
With her arm linked in his and their shared smiles, they blended in much better with the surroundings. Although Pei Wenxuan still seemed out of place in this environment, Li Rong's charming allure and his slightly softened demeanor made them appear like an elegant merchant and his wife, drawing less attention. After all, aside from merchants, few respectable families would marry such an improper woman.
The attendant led them into the room, where they immediately heard loud laughter. Li Rong glanced up and saw a man with thick eyebrows and a heavy beard sitting at the head of the room, embracing a dancer as he laughed and chatted with others. The two were escorted forward by the attendant, who announced to Tuoba Yan, "Master, this is Master Wang and his wife from the Wang Family Silk Shop in Yangzhou."
Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong then bowed to Tuoba Yan, respectfully addressing him, "Sixth Master."
Tuoba Yan was the sixth in his family, and because his name was of a foreign ethnicity, which was inconvenient to address in Great Xia, people called him Sixth Master. Tuoba Yan looked the two up and down, his gaze lingering on Li Rong for a moment longer before he laughed and said, "Brother Wang, I didn’t expect you and your wife to be so young. I thought you were an old man. Come, take a seat."
With that, Tuoba Yan pointed to a nearby seat and had someone fill their cups with wine. "Come, have a drink."
The Rong people loved wine, and Pei Wenxuan did not refuse. He downed his cup in one go. Seeing Pei Wenxuan's boldness, Tuoba Yan's eyes lit up. "I didn’t expect Brother Wang, who looks so refined, to be such a man. Come, let’s have a drink together."
Having won Tuoba Yan's favor, Pei Wenxuan immediately engaged in lively conversation with him. The two drank and chatted as they went. Pei Wenxuan, when he ignored someone, could infuriate them, making them think he was an uninteresting person. But when he deliberately sought to get close to someone, his broad knowledge allowed him to pick up any topic.
The two hit it off immediately. Pei Wenxuan kept drinking, and Li Rong poured wine for them. After a few rounds, Tuoba Yan and Pei Wenxuan began addressing each other as brothers. Seeing the timing was right, Li Rong gave Pei Wenxuan a meaningful look. Pei Wenxuan caught her signal, his expression unchanged as he continued chatting and laughing with Tuoba Yan. Gradually, the topic shifted to flowers and plants."I have a fondness for flowers and plants, particularly peonies. In the past, I spent a fortune acquiring several varieties of Wei Purple, which I cultivated in my courtyard. When they bloom, their beauty is truly breathtaking—a sight of unparalleled elegance. I wonder, elder brother, do you have any particular favorites?"
Among merchants, discussions of rare treasures are commonplace—antiques, paintings, exotic flowers, and rare birds. Wealthy merchants often collect such items, let alone a tycoon like Tuoba Yan? Hearing Pei Wenxuan mention flowers, Tuoba Yan laughed heartily: "Younger brother, you haven't seen truly fine peonies. What is Wei Purple worth? Come," Tuoba Yan stood up, "let this elder brother take you to the courtyard and show you what it truly means for flowers to captivate the capital in their season of bloom."
"What treasures does elder brother possess?" Pei Wenxuan smiled. "Though I may not match elder brother's immense wealth, I have seen countless varieties of flowers and plants. For elder brother to speak so highly of them, I fear you may have been deceived?"
"Lacking in experience!" Tuoba Yan, hearing Pei Wenxuan's words, felt somewhat displeased. Grabbing Pei Wenxuan, he said, "Come, follow me and see whether I am deceiving you."
"Elder brother, slow down," Pei Wenxuan, being pulled along by Tuoba Yan, glanced back at Li Rong. "Madam, hurry and catch up. Elder brother, don't rush, take it slow."
As Pei Wenxuan walked alongside Tuoba Yan, Li Rong rose with a smile and said to the maid beside her, "The sixth master truly has an impatient temperament."
The maid smiled gently and replied, "The master has always been this way."
With that, Li Rong led her attendants, following the maid, and accompanied Pei Wenxuan and Tuoba Yan to the rear courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, Li Rong quickly scanned the surroundings. The courtyard was exactly as she remembered, with no significant changes. In the past, when she investigated Tuoba Yan, she had combed through every inch of this place and was intimately familiar with it. Noticing some people still in the courtyard, she couldn't help but ask, "Are there still people in the rear courtyard?"
"Many at the banquet have had too much to drink," the maid explained with a smile. "If they are close friends of the master, they are brought to the rear courtyard to rest."
Li Rong nodded, her mind already forming a plan. As she contemplated the route, she gradually slowed her pace. After a moment, she showed a troubled expression. The maid beside her, noticing the change in her demeanor, asked, "Is something the matter, madam?"
"I need to relieve myself. I wonder where..."
Seeing Li Rong's inquiry, the maid promptly replied, "Madam, please follow me."
Li Rong nodded, turned to give instructions to the others, and said to the attendants behind her, "Anxiang will accompany me. The rest of you, follow the master."
The other three acknowledged the order, leaving only the female attendant Anxiang to accompany Li Rong. The two followed the maid toward the eastern privy. As they walked, Li Rong calculated the distance to the rockery. When they reached the most suitable spot, she gave Anxiang a meaningful glance. Anxiang swiftly struck with two hand chops, knocking out the two maids walking ahead.
Li Rong and Anxiang dragged the unconscious maids to a hidden spot, quickly changed into their clothes, and then headed directly for the rockery.
Behind the rockery, Li Rong entered a cave and felt her way forward based on memory. Soon, she stepped on a hollow spot. Crouching down, she pressed a nearby button and said to Anxiang, "Sword."
Anxiang handed the sword to Li Rong, who inserted it into the ground and pried open an iron plate. Beneath it was a staircase. Anxiang retrieved the sword and said, "I will go down first."
With that, Anxiang nimbly jumped down. Shortly after, a few muffled sounds were heard from below, and Anxiang called out, "Your Highness, it's safe now."
Li Rong acknowledged and descended.Below was a dungeon, the guards already knocked unconscious on the ground. Li Rong ignored the prisoners inside and headed straight for the side door. On the door was a rotating knob, next to which were Persian inscriptions. Li Rong gestured with her chin toward Anxiang and said, "Go fetch the guard's token for me."
Anxiang complied, retrieving the token from the guard.
The door here required a passphrase—the Persian translation of the guard's name for that day. Having obtained the names of the guards, Li Rong translated them into Persian, aligned the knob with the corresponding Persian inscription, and the door swung open.
Beyond the door was a tiny room, its four walls lined with bookshelves densely packed with ledgers.
Tuoba Yan had arranged these accounts in a specific pattern. Drawing on her memory of Tuoba Yan's habits, Li Rong quickly located the Yang family's ledger. She pulled it out, flipped through it briefly to confirm it was the correct one, then tucked it into her sleeve. "Let's go," she said.
Anxiang acknowledged. After Li Rong securely closed the door, they retraced their steps to the rockery. Not long after emerging, they heard shouts from behind: "Two maidservants ahead—catch them!"
Hearing this, Li Rong realized the two maidservants must have been discovered. She instructed Anxiang, "Split up."
Then she dashed toward the guest quarters. Anxiang stayed behind, briefly obstructing the pursuers before heading in another direction.
Li Rong sprinted down the corridor, desperate to reach the front courtyard and escape. The sounds of pursuit grew louder behind her, her heart pounding. As she heard them closing in, she hurriedly rounded a corner and raced forward. Suddenly, a door to a guest room swung open beside her, and someone yanked her inside, shutting the door.
One hand covered her mouth, the other wrapped around her waist. Li Rong leaned against him as he pressed against the door.
She could clearly feel his warmth, his familiar, subtle scent filling her senses. She froze, not daring to move, while outside, the pursuers shouted as they ran past. He lowered his head, his lips brushing her ear, and whispered softly, "It's me, Your Highness."
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