Su Rоnghuа's lоud саll snаppеd Su Rоngqing оut оf his rеverie. Su Rongqing rаisеd his hands, knelt dоwn with respесtful соmроsure, and sаluted Li Rong: "Your humble servant Su Rоngqing рaуs his resресts tо Your Нighnеss."
Li Rоng nоddеd and rаised her hand. Аt hеr signal, Jing Мei and Jing Lan rеleasеd Changlе, аnd thе suреrvising mаtrоn stepреd asidе. Li Rоng turnеd to thе two Su brоthеrs, puzzled: "Whу аre уou two gentlеmen here?"
Ассording tо regulations, оutsidеrs wеre nоt реrmittеd in thе innеr pаlаcе, so whу were bоth brothеrs рrеsent?
"Rероrting tо Your Highness," Su Rоnghua spoke first, aрpearing quitе respеctful, "Wе twо humble sеrvants have been ordered by His Majesty to instruct Prince Su in his studies. We come here every afternoon for lessons and usually arrive early to wait."
Hearing this, Li Rong was not surprised. In her previous life, Su Ronghua had been Prince Su's teacher, and because of this relationship, he had spoken up for Prince Su during the rebellion, angering Li Chuan. What she hadn't known was that Su Rongqing had also served as Prince Su's teacher earlier.
Using members of the Su Clan as Li Chun's teachers carried clear implications. Xiao Rou came from an ordinary background. If Prince Su was to gain support in court to counter the Empress, he needed to cultivate sufficient allies. Now, Li Ming had placed Xiao Ping in the northwest to build military power for Prince Su. Having the Su Clan serve as his teachers was meant to win over aristocratic families. Five years ago, when the imperial examination system was established, commoners flooded into the court. Though their numbers were still small and their positions lowly, given time, they would become a new force in the court. These commoners naturally felt affinity for leaders like Consort Rou who shared similar origins. Faced with similar situations, they would prioritize supporting Consort Rou.
To pave the way for Prince Su, Li Ming had truly exhausted his ingenuity. And the core reason for such elaborate preparations was probably that Li Ming believed...
he could live ten thousand years.
Li Rong felt somewhat helpless. If Li Ming knew he would die in three years, perhaps he wouldn't go to such lengths.
But if Li Ming knew he would die in three years, perhaps... he wouldn't use such gradual methods either.
Li Rong's thoughts shifted briefly, but on the surface, she merely nodded slightly to Su Ronghua and Su Rongqing, telling the eunuch beside her: "Since it's still before afternoon lessons and the two gentlemen have arrived early, please take them elsewhere to rest."
"Yes."
After they responded, the two men stood up and were led away by attendants. Once they had left, Li Rong looked up to see Hua Le still looking pale. As soon as Changle noticed Li Rong's gaze, she immediately tried to speak, but Li Rong cut her off: "Must I slap your face today before you'll stop?"
Hearing this, Changle froze. She knew Li Rong would truly slap her today. Li Rong lowered her head to look at the Buddhist scriptures and said calmly: "Supervising Matron, I will now begin teaching the scriptures to the other princesses."
Hearing this, the supervising matron respectfully acknowledged and made a "please" gesture toward Princesses Changle and Hua Le. Changle flung her sleeve and stormed out.
Li Rong turned to the clearly frightened young princesses and said: "Sisters, come, let us recite together first."
With their two leading troublemakers dealt with, the young princesses trembled with fear, lining up like little radishes in a vegetable patch, quickly lowering their heads to begin reciting.
The sound of children chanting scriptures in unison drifted from the waterside pavilion, accompanied by summer insect chirps and bird calls. Li Rong fanned herself with a small fan in the morning breeze, lowering her head to peruse the Buddhist scriptures."Thus have I heard, all conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows..."
As Li Rong listened to the chanting, she inadvertently lifted her head and saw the Su brothers conversing across from each other in a pavilion not far away.
Su Ronghua sat in a slovenly manner, fidgeting constantly, slapping his knees as he laughed, showing not a trace of propriety—truly the odd one out in the Su Clan.
Opposite him, Su Rongqing sat upright, his expression carrying a lingering ease. Though his demeanor was impeccable, it was also somewhat different from usual—a relaxed posture Li Rong had never seen before. Even from a distance, where only his silhouette could be made out, one could sense his gentle and serene demeanor.
Li Rong watched quietly, listening to the Buddhist sutra chanting, and for a moment felt somewhat dazed, as if caught in an illusory dream on the wheel of reincarnation, a dream that had brought her back to youth.
Unable to pull her thoughts back, she simply closed her eyes, pretending to listen attentively to the sutras. Just then, an announcement came from outside, whispered: "Your Highness, His Majesty has arrived."
Hearing this, Li Rong hurriedly rose and led several young princesses out of the waterside pavilion.
Li Ming stood at the entrance with Pei Wenxuan. Seeing Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong was quite surprised. She first paid her respects to Li Ming, then said, "What brings Your Majesty here?"
"I was strolling in the imperial garden with Minister Pei, discussing some matters," Li Ming gestured toward Pei Wenxuan, then looked toward the pavilion. "Hearing the sound of recitation here, I came to take a look."
"How long have you been here?"
Li Rong walked alongside Li Ming, instructing Jing Lan to watch over the princesses. Li Ming thought for a moment. "Not long, just before you started daydreaming."
At these words, Li Rong’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t know whether Li Ming had seen her looking at Su Rongqing, but she showed no sign of it on her face, merely smiling as she said, "You’ve been here so long, yet Your Majesty didn’t let me know."
"These children are usually quite mischievous," Li Ming chuckled. "But today, you’ve managed to keep them well-behaved."
"I didn’t pay much attention before, thinking the palace had governesses. When Consort Rou asked me to discipline them, I wasn’t sure what to do," Li Rong tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her movements graceful, her voice gentle. "But seeing them today, I realized Consort Rou has her difficulties. These are children’s matters, and sometimes even she can’t manage them. It’s better for me, as their elder sister, to step in. I should have come earlier."
Though these words seemed considerate of Consort Rou, to others, they subtly implied that Consort Rou was incapable of managing the children.
If Consort Rou lacked discipline, it naturally brought to mind her background. Li Ming fell silent, as if lost in thought.
Li Rong glanced discreetly at Pei Wenxuan, who was following behind her, but couldn’t tell what he was thinking. His expression seemed distant, as if he hadn’t been listening to their conversation at all.
After accompanying Li Ming for a couple of rounds, Li Ming instructed her to leave first. As Li Rong bowed to Li Ming, she heard him say, "Ping Le, aren’t you going to say a few more words to Minister Pei before you go?"
Li Rong smiled as if embarrassed. She pressed her lips together and bowed to Pei Wenxuan, saying, "Safe travels, Minister Pei."
Pei Wenxuan remained composed as he returned the courtesy.
Li Rong couldn’t help but find it strange. At times like these, Pei Wenxuan would at least give her a meaningful look.
She grew somewhat worried, wondering if Li Ming had said something to Pei Wenxuan.
After the lessons ended, Li Rong sent someone to inquire about the day’s events. Pei Wenxuan replied with only two words: "Nothing happened."Along with it came a pile of bills.
Li Rong gasped in shock at the speed with which Pei Wenxuan was spending money, convinced that something was definitely amiss.
She hurriedly wrote back, and the next day, Pei Wenxuan’s reply finally seemed somewhat normal, roughly stating:
“Money flows like water, and my heart is filled with worry.”
This was indeed the matter that had troubled Pei Wenxuan his entire life. Li Rong felt relieved, knowing that no major court affairs she was unaware of had occurred.
Thanks to the conversation between Li Rong and Li Ming, before Changle could go to Li Ming to complain, Li Ming had already bestowed a ruler upon Li Rong, instructing all the princesses to listen well to their eldest sister. Thus, Changle no longer dared to defy Li Rong and obediently studied etiquette and recited scriptures every day.
While teaching the princesses to recite scriptures, Li Rong counted the days until her wedding approached. Under her guidance, the princesses behaved properly and finished copying ten volumes of scriptures. Li Rong collected and bound them before sending them to the Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager was originally from the Shangguan Clan and had a good relationship with Li Rong and the Empress. However, in recent years, Li Ming disliked them spending too much time together, so the Empress Dowager feigned illness and secluded herself to cultivate Buddhism.
Now that Li Rong had sent her some scriptures, the Empress Dowager remained quiet, but soon Li Ming’s rewards arrived. It was said that the Empress Dowager had been unwell, but after receiving the scriptures, her condition improved significantly. Upon hearing this, Li Ming deeply appreciated Li Rong’s filial piety and commended her.
However, he did not only reward Li Rong but also specifically praised Princess Hua Le, saying that her scriptures were beautifully copied and that the Empress Dowager was extremely pleased. It was her sincerity that moved the heavens, leading to the Empress Dowager’s recovery.
When Li Rong heard this in the palace, she couldn’t stop laughing. What Li Ming probably didn’t know was that Hua Le hadn’t copied the scriptures herself at all. However, with the imperial decree issued, Hua Le had no choice but to accept it. Afterward, she knelt in her room, desperately praying to the Bodhisattva, hoping no one would expose her.
In her younger days, Li Rong would have been eager to expose this immediately, but now she knew that while exposing it would damage Hua Le’s reputation, it wouldn’t bring her much benefit. Instead, it was better to keep it as leverage, to be revealed at the appropriate time to humiliate Consort Rou.
In the blink of an eye, it was her last day teaching the princesses. Early in the morning, she arrived at the waterside pavilion, only to find it completely empty. Li Rong turned to Jing Lan beside her and asked, “Did you decide today was the last day?”
Hearing Li Rong’s question, Jing Lan immediately sensed something was wrong. She replied, “It was Qiufeng who delivered the message.”
“Investigate it thoroughly.”
Li Rong glanced at Jing Mei and said, “Go inform Lord Pei and have him wait for me at the place he mentioned before. Also, send someone to keep watch near His Majesty to see who reports to him, and keep an eye on Qiufeng as well.”
After receiving her orders, Jing Mei quickly withdrew, leaving only Li Rong and Jing Lan in the waterside pavilion. Jing Lan said anxiously, “Your Highness, since we know it’s a trap, perhaps we should…”
“It’s fine,” Li Rong smiled. “The schemes of these princesses in the rear palace won’t be anything major, but it’s a good opportunity to see how those around us behave. There must be some trouble to truly understand people’s hearts, right?”
Jing Lan was momentarily stunned before she grasped the meaning.
In the struggles of this world, most defeats are not due to clever schemes but rather to the people around you.
Although Jing Lan didn’t know why Li Rong trusted her so much, since Li Rong had spoken, she simply stayed by her side, quietly waiting.The master and servant enjoyed the breeze in the waterside pavilion for a while before hearing footsteps approaching from behind. Li Rong turned around and saw Su Rongqing appear in the courtyard. Upon seeing Li Rong, he was slightly taken aback. Li Rong hadn’t expected Su Rongqing to be the one to arrive. She had assumed that, given the capabilities of Chang Le and her associates, they would likely frame her by using a guard or someone similar. She never imagined they could actually summon Su Rongqing.
Li Rong smiled faintly. "How did Minister Su come to be here?"
Su Rongqing’s expression changed drastically, and he turned to leave, only to hear Li Rong say, "Minister Su, do not rush. Come closer first. I have something for you."
Seeing Li Rong’s calm demeanor, Su Rongqing stepped forward and respectfully said, "Your Highness."
As he made this gesture with his back to the pavilion, Li Rong reached out to help him up, whispering, "Just say that Pei Wenxuan sent you to deliver a letter to me."
Su Rongqing’s expression shifted subtly as he discreetly accepted the letter from Li Rong, while secretly passing her a small note in return.
Li Rong took the note and, beneath her sleeve, slid open the patterned side of her golden fan, placed the note inside the pattern, and closed the cover again. She smiled and gestured toward the outside. "Let’s go meet Lord Pei together."
Su Rongqing complied, following Li Rong as they walked out. Just as they reached the waterside pavilion, they heard a loud shout: "You still think you can run!"
Li Rong looked up to see Chang Le leading a group of people, including Li Ming, charging toward her with an imposing air. Feigning surprise, Li Rong stepped forward to greet Li Ming. "Father…"
"Sister, how could you do this?!" Chang Le exclaimed excitedly. "You’re about to marry Lord Pei. Even if Minister Su is admirable, you shouldn’t be meeting him in secret like this…"
"Watch your words!" Li Rong glared coldly at Chang Le. "You, a princess of noble standing, speaking such vulgar gossip—have you forgotten all the etiquette you learned recently?!"
"You dare lecture me about etiquette?" Chang Le turned to Li Ming. "Father, just look at her…"
"Ping Le," Li Ming frowned as he looked at Li Rong. "What are you and Su Rongqing doing here?"
"Father," Li Rong bowed. "Minister Su was entrusted by someone to deliver a message to me."
"If he was delivering a message, why didn’t he simply have someone from your palace relay it?" Li Ming asked, clearly displeased.
Just as Li Rong was about to respond, Su Rongqing knelt down and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, this is my fault. I usually give lectures at the waterside pavilion in the afternoon. I arrived early today and heard that the princess often spends her mornings here playing with the other princesses. I thought I could take a shortcut and personally deliver the letter to her. Usually, the other princesses are present…"
"Minister Su is talking nonsense," Chang Le interrupted. "Yesterday, Consort Rou already suspended all classes so that Sister could focus on preparing for her wedding. What classes could there be today?"
"Did he know that?" Li Rong retorted directly, looking at Chang Le with a mocking tone. "Did Consort Rou specifically inform Minister Su that I wouldn’t be coming?"
Chang Le faltered for a moment before quickly recovering. "Then why are you here?"
"What, am I not allowed to visit the imperial garden? I was reminiscing about the time I spent with my sisters and, with my wedding approaching, felt a bit sentimental. I came here for a walk, happened to meet Minister Su, and exchanged a few words in broad daylight, with my maid present. Is that a crime?"Li Rong spoke with utter frankness, her words causing Princess Changle's face to pale, then flush, then pale again. Changle truly could not understand—how could Li Rong, who was as incompatible with her as fire and water, utter such nauseating words?
Li Rong watched Changle with a beaming smile, then swept her gaze around the surroundings. "However, I am quite puzzled. Why have all of you arrived as if to apprehend someone when I am merely meeting with Minister Su? Father, what brings you here?"
Upon hearing this, Li Ming turned to Changle, who then snapped back to reality and blurted out, "I saw your attendant pass a note to Su Rongqing, inviting him for a secret rendezvous! If you don’t believe me, search him!"
"Search him?" Li Rong laughed. "Minister Su is the Vice Minister of Justice, a court official. How dare you demand he be publicly searched for such a matter?!"
Li Rong’s reminder caused Li Ming’s expression to shift. He spoke up, "Changle, do not be rude."
"But—"
Changle was about to protest urgently when Su Rongqing, kneeling beside her, spoke first. "Your Majesty, today I was truly entrusted by Lord Pei to deliver a letter to Her Highness. As Lord Pei cannot enter the inner palace, I was asked to deliver it on his behalf. It was due to my momentary laziness that such a misunderstanding arose. For the sake of the princess’s reputation, I beg Your Highness to search me publicly to prove my innocence."
As he spoke, Su Rongqing turned his gaze to Li Rong. "Please present Lord Pei’s letter, Your Highness."
Li Rong sighed and bowed slightly. "I have implicated you, Minister Su."
"Evildoers are to blame," Su Rongqing replied with proper deference and an open expression, "not the princess."
Hearing this, Changle looked at Li Ming and urged, "Father, he is willing to be searched!"
Li Ming glanced at Changle as if she were a fool and finally said, "Minister Su is willing to prove his innocence. Fulai, proceed."
With that, Fulai stepped forward and searched Su Rongqing in front of everyone. Li Rong handed over Pei Wenxuan’s letter.
All eyes were fixed on the letter. Even Changle seemed somewhat incredulous. The most taboo aspect of this matter was likely that it might reach Pei Wenxuan’s ears. Even with the princess’s noble status, meeting another man before marriage—others might believe it was a coincidence, but Pei Wenxuan would surely harbor doubts. However, if Pei Wenxuan’s letter was genuine, then no one in the world would believe Su Rongqing and Li Rong were having a secret rendezvous.
After all, no man in the world could be that magnanimous.
Li Ming took the letter with half-belief and scanned it. Before he could finish reading, a eunuch hurried over and whispered, "Your Majesty, Lord Pei requests an audience in the outer palace."
Pei Wenxuan had been promoted to Supervisory Censor due to the Yang family case. Although this position was not high in rank, it held substantial authority. Li Ming had even specially granted him a golden fish pouch, allowing him to move freely before the emperor. He was now highly favored.
Upon hearing Pei Wenxuan’s name, Li Rong’s expression shifted slightly. Changle was somewhat surprised, and then they heard Li Ming say, "Bring him in."
Soon after, Pei Wenxuan followed the eunuch inside. As he approached the waterside pavilion, he saw Su Rongqing and Li Rong from afar—one kneeling, the other standing. Both were calm and composed, standing there like a painting, distinct from their surroundings.
Pei Wenxuan’s steps faltered for a moment. In that instant, it felt as if time had reversed, and a familiar scene from many years ago surged into his mind.
Just then, Li Ming turned and, seeing Pei Wenxuan had arrived, called out, "Lord Pei."Pei Wenxuan instantly realized what was happening and quickly stepped forward. After bowing to Li Ming, Li Rong, and the others, he rose to his feet.
By then, Su Rongqing had also finished the search. Fulai turned back to Li Ming and said, “Your Majesty, there is nothing.”
“Impossible,” Chang Le grew anxious, “I clearly—”
“Minister Pei,” Li Ming looked up at Pei Wenxuan, “why have you come?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan replied respectfully, “today I had some matters I wished to discuss with Her Highness, so I asked Minister Su to help deliver a letter to the princess, arranging to meet her in front of the Xuanwen Pavilion. I waited for a long time but did not see Her Highness arrive. I feared something might have happened to her, so I hurried over.”
Li Ming glanced at the location Pei Wenxuan had specified in the letter, pondered for a moment, then turned to Chang Le. “Chang Le, when and where did you see Ping Le’s people delivering a letter to Vice Minister Su? Do you recognize the messenger?”
“I…” Chang Le stammered for a moment. Li Rong said gently, “Yes, sister, tell us. We’ll investigate slowly to see who is trying to deceive and provoke you to frame me.”
Chang Le froze.
The more lies she told, the harder they became to cover. After hesitating for a long while, she suddenly added, “But even if it wasn’t Young Master Su, it shouldn’t be you, Young Master Pei, engaging in such improper private exchanges…”
“What nonsense are you talking about!”
Li Ming could no longer listen. Exchanging letters privately with Su Rongqing and doing so with Pei Wenxuan were entirely different matters.
Although meeting after an engagement was somewhat improper, it was not a major taboo. Moreover, the Xuanwen Pavilion was not a place for secret rendezvous, so Pei Wenxuan’s choice of location could not be considered disrespectful.
Besides, Su Rongqing was not someone Li Ming intended to protect, but Pei Wenxuan was different. If Pei Wenxuan’s promotion were affected by such a matter, Li Ming would be displeased.
Moreover, Li Ming had long realized that this incident was likely orchestrated by Chang Le to frame Li Rong. Investigating further would only make everyone look bad, so he did not dwell on it and made a decisive decision: “As a princess, listening to slanderous words and falsely accusing your elder sister like this is simply outrageous. You are young, so I’ll let it pass, but what kind of people surround you? Send all those around you to the Laundry Bureau and summon Consort Mei.” Li Ming turned to Fulai. “Take Chang Le back, confine her for a month, and have Consort Mei teach her proper manners!”
“But, Father…” Chang Le spoke urgently. Li Ming gave her a cold look, and sensing his anger, she dared not say more. She retreated, murmuring softly, “Yes…”
Li Ming waved his hand irritably, ordering Chang Le to be taken away.
After Chang Le left, Li Ming glanced at the three young people, then poked Pei Wenxuan’s forehead with his finger, sounding somewhat exasperated. “You’re about to get married—what’s the rush?”
Pei Wenxuan hurriedly knelt and said, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I merely had some lingering doubts about the details of the Yang family’s old case and wished to verify them with the princess…”
“Details?” Li Ming looked at Li Rong, then at Pei Wenxuan, and finally said, “I’ll take your word for it. I’m not some old-fashioned stickler. Your marriage is already settled—if you wish to meet, it’s not impossible. If you had come openly, would I have refused?”
By saying this, Li Ming was giving Pei Wenxuan a way out. Pei Wenxuan quickly replied, “It was my narrow-mindedness. Your Majesty is a magnanimous ruler, compassionate as a father. It was I who failed to understand Your Majesty’s intentions. I beg for Your Majesty’s punishment.”Pei Wenxuan's flattery left Li Ming feeling quite pleased, while Li Rong felt goosebumps rising. Li Ming waved his hand and instructed someone, "Alright, Rongqing and I will leave first. Minister Su has suffered for this matter—you two must properly thank him."
"Of course," Pei Wenxuan bowed to Su Rongqing. "Thank you, Brother Su, for your help this time."
Su Rongqing calmly returned the greeting. Li Ming glanced at Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan, who were still standing in place, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Forget it. If you two wish to speak, go ahead. Just bring more attendants to avoid idle gossip."
"Yes. We respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty/Father." Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong bowed together. Li Ming waved his hand and left with Su Rongqing.
After the entourage departed, Pei Wenxuan turned to look at Li Rong. He hesitated briefly before finally asking, "Shall we take a casual stroll, or would you prefer to sit in the waterside pavilion?"
"Let's sit in the waterside pavilion. I'm rather exhausted from all the commotion." Li Rong appeared weary. Pei Wenxuan nodded, maintaining a distance of half a zhang from her, and gestured politely, "Your Highness, please."
Li Rong followed his steps back to the waterside pavilion. It was nearly noon, and a cool breeze drifted through the pavilion. Whether it was the wind or the company, Li Rong felt considerably more at ease. Pei Wenxuan had tea utensils brought over and began preparing tea for her as he sat opposite.
Pei Wenxuan was not wearing his official robes today, instead donning a blue silk outer garment embroidered with white plum blossoms. His hair was half-tied with a wooden hairpin. With his inherently upright and refined appearance, he sat properly behind the tea table, his gaze lowered as he focused on the tea utensils in his hands. His expression was serene, his posture elegant and dignified. Combined with the fragrance of tea and the faint wisps of steam rising, he exuded an almost ethereal, dreamlike handsomeness.
Li Rong propped her chin on her hand and observed Pei Wenxuan. After resting for a while, she remarked, "Minister Pei seems to be in great favor now. Even my father is willing to bend the rules for you. I must admit, I feel a bit envious."
"Xiao Ping has smoothly assumed the position of General of the Northern Garrison and has just won a battle." Pei Wenxuan poured tea for Li Rong, his tone calm. "You are fond of me and seem to heed my words, while my stance appears to align with the Crown Prince but actually serves His Majesty. Granting me face can lull the Crown Prince into complacency while also honing me as a tool." Pei Wenxuan blew on the hot tea. "Why wouldn't he do it?"
"Most importantly, Minister Pei's skill in flattery has greatly improved after living half a lifetime. No wonder Chuan'er later grew closer to you."
Upon hearing this, Pei Wenxuan paused his movements. After a moment, he replied lightly, "His Majesty favors me not because of sweet words, but because I understand him. Moreover, His Majesty is unaware of our relationship and treats me well out of consideration for your sake."
Hearing Pei Wenxuan answer so earnestly, Li Rong suddenly felt a surge of irritation. She waved her hand dismissively. "Enough, enough. Let's not speak so seriously. What's the matter with you today?" She leaned closer, studying him. "You look unhappy."
Pei Wenxuan stiffened slightly. After a pause, he looked up and smiled. "Perhaps I'm just a bit tired. Lately, I've been attending to His Majesty during the day and seeking out my former subordinates at night, recruiting them one by one. On top of that, I've been busy with our wedding preparations."
"Isn't the Ministry of Rites handling the wedding? What do you have to be busy with?"
"Of course there are things to attend to," Pei Wenxuan said gently. "The palace will send people to teach the court etiquette and instructions for your care. The imperial physicians have also visited several times. Although I've learned it all before and it doesn't take much time, it's still a matter to deal with."
Hearing this, Li Rong covered half her face with a fan and chuckled softly. "Being the Imperial Son-in-Law isn't easy, is it?"
Seeing Li Rong laugh so cheerfully, Pei Wenxuan's expression softened. "It's manageable. I have experience. Let's talk about today's matter," he said, lowering his head. "Did Changle cause trouble for you?""Such a low-class trick was likely orchestrated by Consort Rou. I wasn't really in the mood to stir up trouble, but I wanted to clear out those around me and give Changle a lesson in the process."
"Why did Su Rongqing come?"
Pei Wenxuan took a sip of tea, and Li Rong also found it strange: "You're right, I wondered about that too. Changle said she saw someone from my side deliver a letter to him, so someone must have impersonated me to send it. Someone as clever and cautious as him—couldn't he tell it was a trap? Why would he rush here like this?"
"What about the letter?"
"Here." Li Rong opened her fan, looking rather pleased. "Didn't expect that, did you?"
"Let's take a look."
Pei Wenxuan tilted his chin slightly, and Li Rong activated a mechanism on the fan, pulling out a small slip of paper.
Once unfolded, the handwriting indeed matched Li Rong's, neatly written with the line:
Longing unseen, promised beneath peach blossoms.
The following line was an imitation, somewhat hastily scrawled:
Meet at the waterside pavilion, yet no goddess appears.
Author's Note:
[Mini Theater 1]
Li Rong: "Explain why you've been spending so much money lately."
Pei Wenxuan: "I saw you and Su Rongqing at the waterside pavilion. I'm feeling a little emotional!"
Li Rong: "So you maxed out my card?!"
Pei Wenxuan: "Yes!!"
[Mini Theater 2]
Pei Wenxuan: "You have to take responsibility for me."
Li Rong (startled): "Why?!"
Pei Wenxuan: "You flirted with me."
Li Rong: "I... I haven't even started flirting, and you're already in the 'post-flirtation' phase? Aren't you moving a bit fast?"
Pei Wenxuan: "..."
After a moment of contemplation.
Pei Wenxuan: "No, Your Highness, you can take your time. I can hold out until the day you actually flirt with me before entering the 'post-flirtation' state."
Li Rong: "I think you won't last that long..."
Pei Wenxuan: "Have a little faith in me. I'm your confidant."
Su Rongqing: "Hello, sister."
Pei Wenxuan: "Get lost!"
OpenNovel