Неаring thаt vоiсe, Li Rong wаs mоmеntаrilу dazed befоrе quickly rеalizing it was Su Rоngqing!
Whу wаs hе hеrе?
This questiоn flashed through Li Rong’s mind, but she alsо rеlaхed аt thе sаmе time. Sinсе it wаs Su Rоngqing, thеre shоuldn’t be any immеdiаte thrеat for now.
Nеither of thеm spokе аs thе рursuеrs hurriеd рast outsidе. Su Rоngqing relеаsеd Li Rong, quiсkly stерped bасk, and рerformed а deep bоw, sауing, “Thе situation was urgеnt, аnd I hаve оffеndеd Yоur Нighnеss. I hoре Your Нighness will fоrgive me.”
Li Rоng noddеd. Shе glаncеd аrоund thе room, which sеemed to be a guеst chamber. Su Rоngqing lookеd differеnt frоm usual—his hаir was disheveled, his robes were loose, and he resembled someone who had attended the banquet, as if he had come here to rest after drinking.
Li Rong gripped her fan thoughtfully. She had specifically instructed Su Rongqing to go to the Ministry of War to retrieve the account books. Not only had he not gone there but had come here instead, but given Tuoba Yan’s style of doing things, Su Rongqing shouldn’t have had any dealings with him.
She was unsure how to ask but was still weighing her words when Su Rongqing spoke first: “Your Highness, earlier, while I was in this guest chamber, I heard commotion outside. A servant mentioned that a maid had been knocked unconscious, and they suspected someone had infiltrated the premises. They are currently searching everywhere. Just now, I saw Your Highness being pursued, so I guessed that the one who knocked out the maid must have been Your Highness. Tonight, Tuoba Yan’s residence is filled with many distinguished guests, so his men likely won’t dare to search too aggressively for now. Your Highness, why not change into this outfit and allow me to escort you out of the residence? As for other questions, Your Highness can discuss them with me in detail on the way.”
Su Rongqing’s arrangements were thorough, and Li Rong did not hesitate. She immediately replied, “Very well.”
Su Rongqing turned around and promptly presented a set of Persian dancer’s attire, lowering his gaze respectfully as he said, “I must ask Your Highness to condescend to wear this outfit temporarily so that I may lead you out discreetly.”
The Persian dancer’s attire included a veil. By changing into it, Li Rong could openly follow Su Rongqing out. She was not one to fuss over clothing, so she agreed, took the outfit, and went behind the screen. Su Rongqing turned his back as Li Rong asked softly from behind the screen, “Why are you here?”
“I suspected that retrieving the account books from the Ministry of War would be meaningless at this point, so I wanted to try a different approach. Tuoba Yan is closely connected with the nobility of Huajing, and rumors say that most of the illicit money in Huajing passes through his hands. In the past, while investigating other cases, the Ministry of Justice had me make contact with Tuoba Yan, and we developed some rapport. So, to investigate the Yang family’s accounts, I came here to try my luck, never expecting to encounter Your Highness.”
By the time Su Rongqing finished speaking, Li Rong had changed into the outfit. As she adjusted her veil and stepped out, she remarked calmly, “You are quite thoughtful.”
Hearing this, Su Rongqing turned around, about to say something, but when he lifted his gaze, he froze in place.
The Persian dancer’s attire was quite revealing, and for a woman as stunning and charming as Li Rong, it accentuated her beauty even more than her palace robes. The short top and long skirt, adorned with beads at the waist, partially concealed her figure, yet the curve of her waist swayed with her movements, making it difficult to look away.
“Minister Su?” Li Rong asked, noticing Su Rongqing’s dazed expression. “Shall we not go?”
Su Rongqing snapped back to reality at her words, forcibly averting his gaze as he stepped aside and said, “Your Highness, please.”
With that, Su Rongqing opened the door and led Li Rong out.While Li Rong was busy, Pei Wenxuan accompanied Tuoba Yan in the courtyard, admiring the flowers.
Pei Wenxuan calculated the time Li Rong needed and guided Tuoba Yan away from the rockery, heading in the opposite direction. After walking for a while, Pei Wenxuan noticed what seemed like torchbearers running in the distance. Sensing trouble, he saw a waterside pavilion ahead and exclaimed with admiration, "The scenery here is splendid, but it’s a shame there’s no wine."
"In my courtyard, how could there be no wine?"
Tuoba Yan laughed heartily, pointing to the pavilion ahead and pulling Pei Wenxuan along. "Come, brother, let me take you to the waterside pavilion for a drink."
Tuoba Yan had already drunk quite a bit and was stumbling as he walked. Pei Wenxuan had a decent tolerance for alcohol, but after drinking all evening, he too was feeling unwell. He forced himself to keep up with Tuoba Yan as they entered the pavilion.
Sure enough, wine was prepared inside. Pei Wenxuan smiled and said, "This amount of wine is far from enough. Go," he turned and instructed a servant, "fetch more wine. I wish to drink heartily with my elder brother."
The guard acknowledged the order and went to retrieve more wine. Knowing that Li Rong likely wouldn’t have much time left, Pei Wenxuan poured wine for Tuoba Yan and remarked leisurely, "Elder brother, your tolerance for alcohol seems lacking."
"Nonsense!" Tuoba Yan retorted, displeased. "I’ve traveled across many countries, and few have been able to outdrink me."
"Then let’s make a wager. I’ll drink two cups for every one of yours, and we’ll see who falls first. How about it?"
"You underestimate me too much," Tuoba Yan said, picking up the wine pot and filling a cup. After downing it in one gulp, he poured a cup for Pei Wenxuan, slammed it on the table, and shouted, "Drink!"
Pei Wenxuan remained expressionless and drank it all in one go.
The two drank quickly and intensely. Pei Wenxuan felt his insides churning, his face turning pale, while Tuoba Yan, after three cups, couldn’t hold on any longer and rushed toward the edge of the pavilion. Pei Wenxuan gave a meaningful glance to a nearby guard, then stood up as if to help Tuoba Yan. The guard, understanding Pei Wenxuan’s intention, immediately stepped forward as if to assist, inadvertently blocking the path and view of Tuoba Yan’s guards.
Pei Wenxuan reached Tuoba Yan’s side and gave him a slight push. Tuoba Yan plunged straight into the lake. Pei Wenxuan cried out in alarm, "Sixth Master!"
Chaos erupted instantly. Tuoba Yan’s guards hurriedly jumped into the water to rescue him. Pei Wenxuan urged anxiously, "Save him! Hurry and save him!"
As he spoke, Pei Wenxuan felt increasingly nauseous. He turned and leaned against the pavilion, vomiting.
The commotion alerted the steward who was stationed nearby. The steward rushed over and exclaimed, "How could they drink to this state!"
Seeing Pei Wenxuan leaning against the pavilion and vomiting violently, he quickly added, "Bring water immediately and escort Master Wang to the guest room!"
At this command, servants hurried forward, offering Pei Wenxuan water to rinse his mouth while others fished Tuoba Yan out of the lake.
After Pei Wenxuan rinsed his mouth and leaned weakly against a servant, seemingly exhausted, the steward bowed respectfully and said, "My lord, you are heavily intoxicated tonight and have startled Master Wang. I hope you will forgive this disturbance. If you don’t mind, why not stay in the mansion tonight and return tomorrow?"
"No need," Pei Wenxuan shook his head and waved his hand. "It’s getting late, and I have official business in the city early tomorrow morning. Please have someone inform my wife. I’ll return to the carriage first and wait for her so we can go home together."
As they spoke, Tuoba Yan was pulled out of the water. Pei Wenxuan quickly added, "Sir, you should go check on Sixth Master immediately. I’ll be fine."The steward, preoccupied with thoughts of Tuoba Yan, nodded without further comment. Pei Wenxuan exchanged a glance with his guards and slipped away amidst the chaos.
Not long after leaving, just as Pei Wenxuan passed through the corridor, a figure suddenly emerged from the crowd and fell in step behind his guards, whispering with bowed head, "Sir, I became separated from Her Highness while fleeing. She went toward the guest quarters."
Having just vomited, Pei Wenxuan felt somewhat clearer-headed, yet a throbbing headache persisted, and his insides churned violently. Suppressing his discomfort, he was about to issue orders when he spotted Su Rongqing, dressed in loose robes and holding a folding fan, with a dancing girl in his arms. After saying something to the guards at the rear courtyard gate, Su Rongqing walked out with a smile.
"Let's go," Pei Wenxuan said upon seeing Su Rongqing, immediately following him. Anxiang whispered softly, "Her Highness..."
"She's fine."
Pei Wenxuan quickened his pace, leading his men as they trailed Su Rongqing out of the rear courtyard.
Upon reaching the front courtyard, the atmosphere instantly grew lively, bustling with people everywhere. Pei Wenxuan caught a fleeting glimpse of Su Rongqing leading Li Rong by the arm before they turned a corner and disappeared down the corridor.
His head pounded fiercely, yet his steps remained urgent. He struggled to maintain his composure, ensuring no one noticed his distress, while simultaneously pursuing the figures ahead.
Around him, fleeting glimpses of revelry passed by—the sounds of strings, flutes, and music filled the air. Dancers' sheer veils fluttered in the breeze, occasionally brushing against passersby with fragrant gusts. For a moment, Pei Wenxuan felt as though he were trapped in a prolonged dream, unable to distinguish reality from illusion. Yet he knew with clarity that the person beside Su Rongqing was Li Rong, and he must catch up to her and bring her back.
It was an inexplicable obsession, deeply rooted yet emerging silently. His steps grew increasingly hurried, and he occasionally caught brief glimpses of the two ahead, laughing and walking intimately together.
He lost track of time and distance until they finally reached a less crowded area. Abruptly, he called out to the figures ahead, "Rongrong!"
Hearing Pei Wenxuan's voice behind her, Li Rong halted instantly. Turning around, she saw the young master in blue robes and white attire, a jade crown adorned with pearls, gazing at her under the lantern light.
He seemed to have searched for her for a long time, yet in the moment she looked back, the restless urgency of his pursuit settled into calm.
Persian dancers excelled at the swirling Hu Xuan dance, their lively and joyous melodies mingling with distant applause and laughter. Yet here in the corridor, illuminated by candlelight, Pei Wenxuan was enveloped in a tranquility akin to moonlight.
He strode toward her and stopped before her. His outer robe, still carrying his warmth, arced through the air and settled gently over her shoulders, shielding her skin from the cool night air. He seemed intoxicated, barely able to stand steady. Placing his hands on Li Rong's shoulders, he spoke with a hint of wine on his breath, frowning as he asked, "Shall we return?"
"Alright."
Li Rong smiled, glancing at Su Rongqing standing nearby before nodding. "Minister Su, we shall meet another day."
Su Rongqing offered a light smile, clasped his hands before him, and bowed. "Until we meet again."
With that, Li Rong gently removed Pei Wenxuan's hands and walked ahead. "Let's go."
Pei Wenxuan forced himself to follow her. His guards waited at a distance down the corridor and hurried to join them as they moved.
Unwilling to appear inferior before Su Rongqing, driven by an inexplicable pride—for he had always felt compelled to compete with Su Rongqing—Pei Wenxuan refused any assistance.Li Rong walked ahead of him. After a few steps, noticing that Pei Wenxuan seemed to be struggling as he followed behind her, she glanced sideways at him. Recalling his stubborn habit of always competing with Su Rongqing, she found it both amusing and somewhat exasperating.
She cleared her throat softly and reminded him in a low voice, "Following behind me like this, don’t you think it makes me, a mere dancer, appear far too arrogant and conspicuous?"
Pei Wenxuan looked up at her. Li Rong had expected him to say something, to hold out a little longer. She was even prepared to reason with him further, but to her surprise, Pei Wenxuan simply strode forward, placed a hand on her shoulder, and pulled her into his embrace.
His warmth shielded her from the chill of the night breeze. Wrapped in his outer garment, Li Rong smiled as they strolled along the corridor together. "You drank quite a bit tonight, didn’t you?" she asked.
Pei Wenxuan remained silent. Li Rong continued, "But don’t worry, your drinking wasn’t in vain. We’ve obtained the account books. Tomorrow, we’ll start looking for Qin Lin. When the Yang family puts pressure on the court, we’ll have Chuan'er take Qin Lin to handle matters at the front lines."
Pei Wenxuan still didn’t respond. Li Rong glanced at him, noticing his extremely unpleasant expression. She raised an eyebrow. "What’s wrong? Has your dislike for Su Rongqing reached the point where you’re upset even when I speak to him?"
Pei Wenxuan shot her a glare. Together, they stepped over the threshold and left Tuoba Yan’s courtyard. Li Rong spoke slowly, "You’re not a child anymore. Don’t act like one. What happened in the past doesn’t matter. What matters now is whether he can be of use—"
Before she could finish, Pei Wenxuan suddenly released her, rushed to a nearby tree, and leaned against it as he began retching violently.
Li Rong was startled, only then realizing that Pei Wenxuan’s silence earlier had been because he was trying not to vomit.
Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, retching as if trying to expel his very insides. Panicked, Li Rong quickly crouched beside him, patting his back, and ordered the nearby attendants, "Go, fetch some water from the carriage!"
As the attendants hurried to retrieve water, Pei Wenxuan finished vomiting and collapsed forward, utterly exhausted. Li Rong hastily pulled him toward her, and Pei Wenxuan leaned heavily against her, resting his head on her shoulder.
The smell of alcohol washed over her, and Li Rong wrinkled her nose. Just then, the attendants brought water. Li Rong quickly helped Pei Wenxuan drink, and after a moment of resting against her shoulder, she asked softly, "Feeling better?"
Pei Wenxuan closed his eyes, taking a moment to recover. When he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse. His first words were, "That bastard Su Rongqing, what kind of ridiculous outfit did he make you wear?"
Li Rong: "..."
Expressionless, she continued to give him water and said calmly, "Rinse your mouth again. I don’t like what you’re saying."
Author’s Note:
Li Rong: Your breath is too strong. I can’t stand it.
Pei Wenxuan: ...
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