Реi Wеnхuan listenеd tо thеsе wоrds, his exprеssiоn unchangеd, his facе соld аs hе stаred at Su Rоnghua. He thought to himself thаt Gu Сhusheng аnd Pеi Wеnхuаn werе соmрlеtelу different—Gu Chushеng сould nоt mend a brokеn mirror beсause hе hаd gеnuinеlу hurt Сhu Yu. Вut from beginning tо еnd, asidе frоm hiding thе truth from Li Rоng to hеlр Qin Zhenzhen, Реi Wenхuan had nevеr actuallу саused Li Rоng any harm. Fоr еvеry bit Li Rоng gаvе him, hе rеturnеd a bit; fоr еverу ten shе gave, hе returnеd tеn. Нe sаid соldlу, "What Minister Su wаs doing just now, Minister Su knows bеst. Wasn’t that slaр well-desеrved?"
Sееing Pеi Wenxuan speak with such righteous indignation, Su Ronghua was baffled: "What did I do?"
"Her Highness’s body is worth a thousand pieces of gold, yet Minister Su actually coaxed her into jumping from such a high place. What if she had fallen?!"
"Um," Li Rong understood the point of Pei Wenxuan’s anger. She tugged at his sleeve from the side, "I was the one who wanted to jump."
"Then why didn’t he stop you?" Seeing Li Rong still trying to defend Su Ronghua, Pei Wenxuan grew even angrier. "You are the ruler, he is the subject. If you act recklessly, should he follow along?"
"You said it yourself," Su Ronghua immediately interjected, "she is the ruler, I am the subject. If she wants to jump and tells me to catch her, how could I defy her?"
"You..."
"Stop arguing," Li Rong, seeing the two about to quarrel, quickly interrupted them and said to Pei Wenxuan, "Finding people is urgent. Let’s go first."
With that, Li Rong grabbed Pei Wenxuan’s hand and dragged him outside.
Pei Wenxuan had originally wanted to argue further with Su Ronghua, but seeing Li Rong glare at him, his temper cooled somewhat. He felt that such a quarrel was truly undignified, so he followed Li Rong out. Just as they reached the doorway, Pei Wenxuan suddenly stopped in his tracks. He looked down, then turned back.
Following his gaze, Li Rong noticed the problem. On the path leading out of the courtyard, there was a section of grassy ground, and on that grassy section, only their own footprints were visible—clearly, no one else had walked there.
The two looked up at Su Ronghua together and noticed a grass basket overturned behind him, standing out conspicuously in the grass pile. Beside the grass pile, there were broken traces on the low branches, clearly indicating that someone had stepped there earlier.
Li Rong immediately walked toward Su Ronghua. Su Ronghua smiled and asked, "Why has Your Highness returned?"
Li Rong ignored him and headed toward the grass basket. Su Ronghua raised his hand to stop her, but Pei Wenxuan quickly intercepted him: "Brother Su, I apologize."
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Rong had already grabbed the edge of the grass basket. She lifted it upward, but the basket remained firmly planted on the ground, unmoving.
Li Rong narrowed her eyes: "Shangguan Ya, let go."
From inside came Shangguan Ya’s deliberately altered voice: "What is this young lady doing? Why are you pulling my grass basket?"
"Shangguan Ya," Li Rong, certain it was Shangguan Ya inside, straightened up and kicked the grass basket. "I have something to discuss with you. Come out and talk."
There was a moment of silence inside. Pei Wenxuan guessed Shangguan Ya’s concern and immediately said, "Miss Shangguan, rest assured, we are not here to capture you on behalf of the Shangguan family."
Hearing this, Shangguan Ya decisively flipped the grass basket open, stood up, and said, "Then why have you been chasing me for so long? You should have said so earlier."
With that, she turned toward Li Rong, raised her hand in a gesture that was both respectful and somewhat flirtatious, and smiled, "Greetings, Your Highness."Li Rong gazed at the spirited young woman before her, her emotions momentarily complex. The Shangguan Ya before her was strikingly beautiful, dressed in men's servant attire, her hair loose. As she stood gracefully in front of Li Rong, she carried an air of poise uncommon among ordinary people.
Seeing Li Rong lost in thought, Pei Wenxuan stepped behind her, cleared his throat softly, and addressed Shangguan Ya, "Shall we move elsewhere to talk?"
Shangguan Ya nodded and gestured with her hand, "Please."
With that, she turned to Su Ronghua and clasped her hands in a salute. "Thank you, Young Master Su. We shall meet again another day. However..."
Shangguan Ya signaled with her eyes, and Su Ronghua smiled. "Rest assured, I will keep it confidential."
He looked at Shangguan Ya with a cheerful expression and returned the salute. "Until we meet again."
Shangguan Ya nodded, walked over to pick up the fallen headscarf on the ground, tied up her hair, and then led Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan to a tea room with practiced familiarity.
The Jucai Hall was favored by high-ranking officials and nobles not only for its strict management and controlled access but also because, as a gambling house, it offered everything one might need, making it exceptionally convenient.
The three of them settled into the tea room, with Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan sitting on one side and Shangguan Ya alone on the other.
Li Rong tapped her palm with a fan, while Shangguan Ya adjusted her hair. Seeing the two women silent, Pei Wenxuan poured tea and made small talk. "How long has Miss Shangguan been in the capital?"
"I arrived two days before your wedding."
Shangguan Ya smiled as she looked at Li Rong. "By my reckoning, Your Highness and I should be considered cousins. I came to the capital specifically to attend the ceremony. I had regretted not being able to personally congratulate Your Highness, but I never expected to meet you here today."
Shangguan Ya was as assertive as Li Rong remembered, getting straight to the point. "I wonder what Your Highness wishes to discuss with me, given the urgency of seeking me out?"
"Cousin Ya must be seventeen this year, right?" Pei Wenxuan handed a cup of tea to Li Rong and then offered another to Shangguan Ya.
Shangguan Ya nodded. "I just turned seventeen a month ago."
"After my marriage, Her Majesty has been concerned about Chuan'er's marriage prospects. What are your thoughts on this matter, Miss Shangguan?"
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ya paused briefly. After a moment of thought, she smiled. "So Your Highness came for this matter. You wish to discuss the Crown Prince's marriage?"
"Yes," Li Rong replied without beating around the bush. "I heard that the Shangguan Clan has you in mind as the Crown Princess."
"Then Your Highness came today," Shangguan Ya bent one leg, picked up her teacup, and turned her gaze to Li Rong, "because you are dissatisfied?"
"I..."
"But it doesn’t matter," Shangguan Ya set down her cup and smiled faintly. "The Shangguan Clan has plenty of daughters. If Your Highness is dissatisfied with Aya, you can simply speak to my father. There is also a younger cousin named Awen who came to Huajing this time. As long as she is of Shangguan descent," Shangguan Ya turned away, a hint of mockery in her eyes, "you may choose as you please."
Li Rong frowned, sensing the displeasure in Shangguan Ya's tone. After a moment of composure, she spoke slowly, "It’s not that I find you unsuitable. It’s just that the Shangguan Clan has produced empresses for three generations."
Li Rong looked up at Shangguan Ya earnestly. "Aren’t you afraid, cousin?"
Shangguan Ya turned to face Li Rong, her smile fading. "What do you mean?"
"Both Chuan'er and I are from the Shangguan Clan, so we naturally support the clan unconditionally. But if you marry Chuan'er, how do you think His Majesty will view it?""Your Highness's words are quite intriguing," Shangguan Ya's eyes turned cold. "The Crown Prince comes from the Shangguan family, but isn't the current Emperor also from the Shangguan family?"
"But Chuan'er governs with benevolence and virtue, seeking only stability. Is the current Emperor like that?"
Li Rong knew Shangguan Ya was not entirely ignorant of court affairs. She reminded her, "Why do you think the Yang family fell?"
Shangguan Ya remained silent, holding her teacup and taking a gentle sip. Li Rong continued, "The Shangguan family is already closely tied to Chuan'er. There's no need for you to enter the palace to solidify this relationship. A marriage alliance now would be too conspicuous for His Majesty."
"So you mean," Shangguan Ya looked solemnly at Li Rong, "His Majesty now intends to target the Crown Prince?"
Li Rong remained silent. Shangguan Ya went on, "Your words are useless to me. This matter isn't something I can decide. I'm just trying to enjoy each day before they make their decision. Your Highness," Shangguan Ya raised her cup, using tea in place of wine, "if this is all you have to say, I must take my leave."
With that, Shangguan Ya finished her tea, placed the cup on the table, and stood to leave.
As she reached the door, she suddenly leaned back halfway, looking somewhat nervous. "Your Highness, you mustn't tell anyone you met me here today."
Li Rong felt a headache coming on at this and waved her hand, urging her to leave quickly.
After Shangguan Ya left, Pei Wenxuan sat beside Li Rong. He took a sip of tea and smiled, saying, "It seems approaching Shangguan Ya won't work."
"Not necessarily."
Li Rong stood up and walked out, her expression calm. "She'll consider it."
If this was the Shangguan Ya she knew—her old friend—after hearing these words, Shangguan Ya would likely try to find a way.
As long as Shangguan Ya started thinking of a solution, she could lend a hand.
As Li Rong pondered this, she walked out with Pei Wenxuan. Noticing her somber expression, Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but ask, "You seem unhappy?"
"Not exactly," Li Rong smiled, somewhat helplessly. "It's just that I suddenly realized many things from my past life weren't as clear as I thought."
"Like Shangguan Ya?" Pei Wenxuan tucked his hands into his sleeves, his expression showing understanding.
Li Rong didn't answer, thinking of Shangguan Ya from her past life.
In her past life, when she first met Shangguan Ya, she was already the Crown Princess.
Back then, she wore heavy palace makeup every day, covering her features. She followed rules, understood propriety, had refined tastes, and carried herself with grace. Only occasionally, in private moments, would she show a hint of wildness.
Li Rong had always thought Shangguan Ya was a flower naturally grown in the palace. But today, seeing the brightness in Shangguan Ya's eyes, she suddenly understood: the Shangguan Ya of that time was like someone who had stepped into a coffin, sealing herself inside the moment she entered the palace gates.
Thinking of the bright eyes she had just seen, Li Rong couldn't help but look back. "Speaking of which," she suddenly remembered, "you seemed to know she had this temperament?"
"I didn't know if this was her temperament," Pei Wenxuan glanced sideways at her, "but I knew she wasn't just some simple noble lady. Nothing she did would surprise me."
"Oh?" Li Rong was curious. "Did you have any interactions with her in your past life?""I have no connection with her, but I do with you," Pei Wenxuan said bluntly. "What kind of refined lady could your friend possibly be?"
Li Rong was taken aback by his words for a moment, then raised her fan to tap him. "What do you mean by that?"
Seeing her fan coming, Pei Wenxuan quickly dodged. As he retreated, Li Rong felt an inexplicable itch in her hands and chased after him, trying to pinch him.
Pei Wenxuan dodged while backing away, shouting, "A gentleman uses words, not force. Show some decorum! Hey, hey—don’t pinch my waist... Ouch, ouch, I’m done for!"
Seeing Pei Wenxuan pretend to wail as he leaned against a pillar, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh and stopped. "Why are you so childish?"
"You dare ask me that?"
Pei Wenxuan leaned lazily against the pillar, smiling at Li Rong. "You’re eighteen this year—are you a monkey spirit reborn?"
Li Rong froze. At his words, she suddenly remembered her chase with Shangguan Ya earlier that day. She felt a little embarrassed. She didn’t know what had come over her—the longer she stayed back, especially when seeing old friends, the more her mindset seemed to revert to that of a young girl.
Seeing Li Rong’s awkwardness, Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly.
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