Li Rоng lookеd аt Реi Wеnxuan leаning аgainst the рillar befоrе hеr, sееing his hаlf-smiling exрression, and for a momеnt shе was sоmewhаt stunnеd. Sееing her rеmаin silеnt, Реi Wenхuan raised аn еyеbrow and said, "Нmm, why arеn’t you sреаking?"
"Nоthing," Li Rоng snарped bасk to hеr sеnsеs and lеd Pеi Wеnxuan оutsidе, smiling as shе said, "Let’s go."
Рei Wenxuаn fоllоwed bеhind Li Rong, and onlу thеn did shе remеmbеr tо аsk, "Whу wеre уоu in such а hurry еarlier?"
"Нmm?" Pеi Wеnхuan sееmеd рuzzled. Li Rong remindеd him, "Why did you act sо rashly?"
Pеi Wenxuаn didn’t answеr. Аfter а moment, he chuckled, "I acted on impulse."
"Oh?" Li Rong turned her head and smiled, "What could possibly make you impulsive?"
"I thought you were going to jump off the building."
Pei Wenxuan looked rather embarrassed, "I was in a panic."
"Pei Wenxuan," Li Rong showed a surprised expression, "I thought you wanted to kill me off early to inherit my wealth."
"If I killed you," Pei Wenxuan said, both amused and exasperated, "I wouldn’t be able to inherit your wealth anyway. And if you died in a place like this, I’d probably have to be buried with you."
"I like hearing that."
Li Rong nodded. Pei Wenxuan looked puzzled, "What part?"
"Being buried with me." Li Rong glanced up at him, her eyes lively, "If I were to die, I’d feel a bit lonely without Lord Pei by my side."
"You really do love me," Pei Wenxuan sighed helplessly, "Always thinking of me when it comes to unpleasant things."
"Exactly," Li Rong said cheerfully, "Good things might not always come to mind, but bad things are never wrong."
Pei Wenxuan rolled his eyes at her, too lazy to respond, and quickened his pace as he walked out.
When he stepped outside, he looked up and glanced at the gardenias blooming beautifully in the distance.
Truthfully, he also wondered why he had been in such a hurry earlier.
The two boarded a carriage and returned together to the Princess’s Manor. As soon as Li Rong arrived, she gave orders to have people keep an eye on Consort Rou and Shangguan Ya.
Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but find it strange, "Keeping an eye on Shangguan Ya is one thing, but why are you watching Consort Rou?"
"You know," Li Rong leaned back in her chair, holding a teacup, "Women in the inner palace always rely on another woman to get things done."
Pei Wenxuan listened to this, thought it over carefully, and nodded, "That’s true indeed."
After resting for a while upon their return, Pei Wenxuan went to check on the progress of his current operations. He had gathered his former subordinates and began connecting with beggars in the city, planting spies in various households. Money flowed like water every day, and since he was spending it, he naturally wanted to see results. Thus, he also had to keep an eye on the specific situation daily.
While Pei Wenxuan spent money, Li Rong had to audit the accounts. While Pei Wenxuan busied himself with his own affairs, Li Rong began reviewing her income and expenses for the month, then carefully read through the messages brought by spies from various places before burning them.
One was busy building his covert network, while the other was busy visiting various friends, delivering money and gifts. Half of their nine-day wedding leave quickly passed.
Around this time, some ballads began circulating in Huajing.
As soon as these ballads appeared, they reached Li Rong’s ears. At the time, she hadn’t fully woken up yet, lying in bed half-asleep, when she heard Pei Wenxuan reciting beside her, "The phoenix falls into the official’s courtyard, flowers bloom for four generations without decline."
Hearing this, Li Rong jolted awake. She looked up at Pei Wenxuan, who was sitting beside her and tossing a piece of paper into the brazier, shook her head, and asked, "What was it you just recited?""Recent rumors in Huajing."
Pei Wenxuan smiled: "It seems your friend has indeed taken action."
No ballad in Huajing spreads without reason, especially one carrying such phoenix prophecies.
Pei Wenxuan pulled out another piece of intelligence from the side, casually remarking: "She’s quite bold. Even after you told her the Emperor has his eyes on the Shangguan family, she still dares to spread such a ballad."
"It probably wasn’t her doing."
Li Rong yawned as she got up, summoning Jing Lan to attend to her.
Jing Lan, Jing Mei, and others entered, beginning to help Li Rong dress. As they fussed over her, Li Rong continued: "She’s not insane. Even if she wanted to do something, she definitely wouldn’t use this method."
Pei Wenxuan listened, thought for a moment, and understood: "You mean the one in the palace?"
"Didn’t she say last time she wanted her niece to marry into the family?"
"The Emperor won’t allow it," Pei Wenxuan said, lowering his head to look at the intelligence. "Her status is too low."
"That’s why she wants all of Huajing to sing this ballad," Li Rong glanced at Pei Wenxuan and smiled. "Once this ballad spreads, perhaps Father will have other ideas?"
Li Ming was never a gentle ruler. For him, such a ballad circulating from the Shangguan family might be a provocation.
Under normal circumstances, Li Ming would never allow someone of Consort Rou’s niece’s background to become Crown Princess. But now, with the entire city singing this ballad, Li Ming might just have other thoughts.
If she were Consort Rou, she would do the same.
And why would Consort Rou suddenly act at this moment...
Li Rong smiled, finding the matter rather intriguing.
As the ballad spread, Li Rong guessed the next move would come from the palace. Sure enough, by the afternoon, she received news from the palace: in five days, it would be the Qixi Festival, and the Empress planned to host a banquet in the palace, inviting eligible noble youths and maidens to attend.
A palace banquet on the Qixi Festival was clearly related to Li Chuan. After some thought, Li Rong ordered someone to go directly to the palace.
When she arrived, Li Chuan happened to be there as well. The Empress was speaking with him about something. Li Rong announced her arrival and entered, noticing both of them looked rather troubled. She couldn’t help but smile: "Oh, what are you two discussing that has you both so gloomy? Tell me about it."
"Why are you here?" The Empress, seeing Li Rong, brightened with delight. Li Rong smiled and sat down beside her: "Mother, you jest. I’ve only left the palace, not married off to some foreign land. I’m staying in Huajing all day, so it’s only natural I’d find time to visit you. What’s so strange about that?"
Hearing Li Rong’s words, the Empress also smiled. She studied her daughter for a moment, a hint of worry in her eyes: "That Pei Wenxuan..."
"He’s fine," Li Rong knew what she was about to ask and cut her off. "He’s good, don’t worry. Would I let myself be taken advantage of?"
The Empress looked at her daughter. She wanted to say something but sighed helplessly: "Forget it. Since you’re married, make the best of it. After all, you don’t depend on him.""Let's not talk about him," Li Rong knew the Empress still looked down on Pei Wenxuan's status. For some reason, she didn't mind disliking Pei Wenxuan herself, but when others did, she always felt somewhat uncomfortable. So she changed the subject and said directly, "I received the palace invitation. I heard you plan to host a banquet in the palace on Qixi Festival. Are you considering Chuan'er's marriage?"
"How could this be my idea?" the Empress smiled bitterly. "This is Consort Rou's doing. She requested the Emperor's decree and insisted on holding it."
"Oh," Li Rong nodded. "She's quite thoughtful."
"Those messy folk songs are sung everywhere these days," Li Chuan sneered. "She's being extremely thoughtful indeed."
"So you've heard them too," Li Rong turned to Li Chuan with a smile. "You're not foolish after all."
"Her intentions are obvious to everyone," Li Chuan showed some disdain in his eyes. "She's always using these despicable tricks."
"She's been like this for a long time," Li Rong recalled. "Do you know why she wants to hold this Qixi banquet?"
"Probably to introduce her niece," the Empress thought slowly. "She'll likely request an imperial decree during the banquet. I'm having people bribe her attendants to see if we can get some information."
Li Rong nodded, roughly understanding the situation. Seeing her concern, the Empress comforted her: "Never mind, it's not a big deal. Those in charge of the palace banquet are all my people. We'll deal with whatever comes. If they want to request a decree, they'll need a reason—we'll just guard against it. If they really make the request and show no respect for Chuan'er," the Empress sneered, "then don't blame me for showing them no respect."
"Listen to what you're saying, Mother," Li Rong stood up and moved behind the Empress, massaging her shoulders. "How could she possibly have that capability? Don't worry, Mother. You're like the Buddha, and Consort Rou is Sun Wukong—she can't escape your palm."
Hearing Li Rong's words, the Empress finally smiled.
Having confirmed the information, Li Rong felt much more at ease. The three of them stopped discussing the previous topic and began talking about Li Rong's marriage instead.
This was Li Rong's first time returning to the palace since her wedding. The Empress couldn't bear to let her leave so soon, so she kept her for dinner. When dinnertime arrived and Pei Wenxuan didn't see Li Rong return, he looked at the sky and decided to go pick her up.
He had been having dinner with Li Rong these past few days. Alone in the room, for some reason, he didn't even feel like eating much.
Seeing that Pei Wenxuan wanted to fetch Li Rong without even eating, Tong Ye couldn't help but laugh: "Young Master treats the Princess so well. She hasn't been gone long, and you already miss her?"
Pei Wenxuan glared at him, looked through several umbrellas in the corner, selected one painted with reeds, and said quietly, "Focus on driving the carriage and mind your own business."
Tong Ye chuckled but said nothing more. Pei Wenxuan carried the umbrella and boarded the carriage. Sitting inside, he lifted the curtain to look at the gathering clouds outside, thinking that he must have too little official business and too much free time—he was so bored that he actually wanted to pick up Li Rong.
But then he thought about Li Rong herself—she actually enjoyed having company. If she returned alone, she'd probably feel bored. If he went to pick her up, they could play chess and bicker along the way, and she'd likely be happier.
Thinking of her happiness, Pei Wenxuan no longer felt that what he was doing was boring. He simply felt that he was indeed a good person—consider it a good deed for the day.He happily made his way toward the palace. Li Rong and Empress Li Chuan had finished dinner. The Empress, feeling tired and sleepy early, asked Li Chuan to escort Li Rong out. As Li Rong walked out of the Empress’s small courtyard with Li Chuan, she remarked, “Earlier, I noticed you and Mother didn’t look too pleased. Did you have an argument?”
“Not exactly an argument,” Li Chuan replied with a hint of helplessness. “Just… a bit of a disagreement.”
“And that doesn’t count as an argument?” Li Rong chuckled. “What was the disagreement about?”
Li Chuan remained silent. Li Rong tapped him with her fan. “How old are you, hiding things from your elder sister already?”
“It’s not that,” Li Chuan said with a bitter smile. “I’m just afraid you’ll laugh at me if I say it.”
“Oh?” Li Rong raised an eyebrow. “Go on, tell me.”
“Mother just told me she wants me to marry more than one Crown Princess. She hopes to select several young ladies this time and have them all settled around the same period. She’s already picked them out and wants me to choose.”
“You’re not happy about it?” Li Rong sensed his reluctance. Li Chuan stayed quiet.
Li Rong laughed. “Why wouldn’t you be happy? Being able to marry so many fine young ladies—many would envy you.”
“But what if one day, I fall in love with someone?”
Li Chuan’s sudden question caught Li Rong off guard. He looked up at her earnestly. “If one day, I fall in love with someone, and she loves me too, what would she do if I already have so many wives? If I agree to Mother’s request today, it means I’ll never have the right to love someone for the rest of my life.”
Li Rong said nothing. Li Chuan continued, “And even if I set aside the right to love someone, wouldn’t one Crown Princess be enough? I could treat her well and only her. No woman can tolerate sharing her husband. Mother has suffered her whole life because of this. Should I ruin others’ lives and make them suffer the same way?”
Li Rong lowered her gaze. Seeing her lack of response, Li Chuan gave a bitter smile. “I know, Elder Sister, you must think I’m being childish. I’m just speaking my mind. I know I’m the Crown Prince, and I carry the expectations of you and Mother. I can’t afford to be selfish.”
“It’s fine, I understand.”
Li Chuan seemed weary. He glanced toward the palace gate and said gently, “Elder Sister, you should head back now. I’ll escort you this far. I’m tired.”
With that, Li Chuan bowed and turned to walk back toward the Eastern Palace.
Li Rong watched his retreating figure quietly. In that moment, she seemed to see the future Li Chuan—separated from her by a screen, his slender silhouette outlined against it.
He was taller then, thinner than he was now. He seemed close, yet distant.
For some reason, an indescribable ache welled up inside her. Suddenly, the imperial city felt like a monstrous beast that devoured people. Though it was the summer breeze of early July, it carried a chill, accompanied by the rumble of distant thunder, sweeping past her and leaving her body and soul cold.
Large raindrops began to fall, and Li Rong stood there in a daze.
Just then, an invisible warmth suddenly enveloped her from behind. A paper umbrella painted with reeds was held over her head.
The person shielded her from the cold wind, and a voice tinged with surprise and a faint hint of laughter sounded behind her. “What are you doing standing here foolishly? It’s raining—don’t you know it’s time to go home?”Li Rong turned back in a daze, looking at Pei Wenxuan who had suddenly appeared. Seeing her astonished expression, Pei Wenxuan raised his eyebrows: "What, you're not happy to see me?"
"No," Li Rong came to her senses, speaking softly and slowly, "You came at just the right time."
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