(Тhеre werе rеvisiоns in thе рrevious chарter. If it doеsn’t connесt smооthlу, уou maу reread it.)
Li Rong spent thе night аt the Рrincеss’s Маnоr. Eаrlу thе nехt morning, shе receivеd а summons frоm the palаce.
Shе had long bееn рrераrеd. As soоn аs the раlаcе envоу arrived, shе fоllowеd the attendаnts into the pаlасe. Shе knew well that аftеr fоrcеfullу disruрting Соnsоrt Rou аnd thе Emрress’s рlans yеsterdау, this mаtter соuld nоt bе resolved sо simply.
On the waу, she pondеred how tо resроnd to thе Empress’s questioning. Soon, she arrived at the palace. As soon as she entered Weiyang Palace, she saw Li Chuan kneeling on the ground, while the Empress sat on the high seat, holding her forehead as if suffering from another headache. Everyone else in the hall had been dismissed, leaving only the mother and son—one seated, one kneeling—in the center of the hall. Upon entering, Li Rong smiled and glanced at the two, saying, “What is this? Last time I came, it was like this, and now it’s the same again. Have you two quarreled once more?”
“How dare you speak?!” Shangguan Yue, hearing Li Rong’s voice, shouted angrily, “Kneel!”
If Li Rong were still young, she would have panicked upon hearing Shangguan Yue’s outburst. Fortunately, she now possessed the temperament of someone in her fifties, so she calmly knelt down and said with a smile, “What has upset you so much today, Mother?”
Hearing Li Rong feign ignorance, Shangguan Yue raised her head with a cold glare, staring at Li Rong. “Must we, mother and daughter, be so hypocritical?”
Seeing Shangguan Yue’s icy expression, Li Rong’s smile faded from her face.
“What did you mean by your actions last night?”
“That’s what I should ask you, Mother,” Li Rong replied calmly. “What did you mean by your actions?”
“My intentions were clear!” Shangguan Yue shouted angrily. “I wanted Shangguan Ya to become the Crown Princess! I had already instructed Chuan’er to choose Ya’er’s incense. Why did you come in and stir up trouble? He is the Crown Prince!” Shangguan Yue pointed at Li Chuan, glaring at Li Rong in fury. “If he acts recklessly, must you follow suit?!”
“It is my fault,” Li Chuan immediately kowtowed to the ground upon hearing Shangguan Yue’s scolding, speaking urgently. “This has nothing to do with my sister. I said it was I who asked for her help. Please calm your anger, Mother.”
Li Rong understood—Li Chuan had taken all the blame, claiming that last night’s events were his doing and that she had merely assisted him.
Shangguan Yue’s anger surged. She stood up and paced back and forth on the high platform, cursing as she walked. “What a perfect opportunity last night was, and you wasted it just like that! Are you insane or foolish? Your father has been suppressing your marriage with A-Ya all along. Last night, we were fully prepared. If you had chosen A-Ya’s sandalwood, your uncle would have brought people out and forced an imperial decree on the spot. Why did you choose your sister’s? Do you know how much effort it will take to get another chance like this?!”
“It is my fault. Please calm your anger, Mother.” Li Chuan repeated numbly, remaining kneeling on the ground without rising.
Watching Shangguan Yue vent her anger from above, Li Rong felt an indescribable sense of humiliation welling up inside her. Even though this person was her mother, she couldn’t understand why, upon seeing Li Chuan kneeling quietly and listening to the reprimand, she found it both pitiful and tragic.
“What are you both thinking? If you refuse to cooperate with the Yang family, so be it. But now, are you even abandoning the Shangguan family? A marriage alliance is a matter of great importance. If you do not marry Ya’er, how can your uncle continue to trust you?”
“If he refuses to trust you simply because you won’t marry a woman?”Li Rong suddenly spoke up, startling both Shangguan Yue and Li Chuan. Li Chuan lifted his head, staring blankly at Li Rong, and exclaimed in surprise, "Sister?"
"What has Chuan'er done wrong?" Li Rong said calmly, turning to Shangguan Yue. "The Shangguan Clan has already produced three generations of empresses. Don't you understand where the conflict between Father and us comes from now?!"
"So we must bind ourselves together!" Shangguan Yue leaned forward, her gaze fixed on Li Rong. "Do you think Chuan'er still has a way out? He is a child of the Shangguan Clan, destined to have no retreat."
"Since we are bound so tightly and must rely on the Shangguan Clan, what is Uncle still worried about? What value or meaning is there in forcing them to marry?"
This question left Shangguan Yue stunned. Li Rong looked at her calmly and said, "Mother, in truth, we all know that what Uncle wants is not the position of Crown Princess, but that of Empress. He wants the bloodline of the Li family to carry half the blood of the Shangguan Clan in every generation. You are already the present of the Shangguan Clan. What Uncle wants from Chuan'er is a promise for the future."
"But this is the Li family's empire," Li Rong said earnestly, looking at Shangguan Yue. "The Shangguan Clan should step back."
"What did you say?" Shangguan Yue stared at Li Rong in disbelief. "Say that again."
"I said," Li Rong raised her voice, "if the Shangguan Clan still wants to remain intact, it should step back!"
The hall fell into sudden silence. Shangguan Yue stared blankly at Li Rong, who stood up, her expression composed. "When water overflows, it becomes full; at the peak of prosperity, decline is inevitable."
She looked at Shangguan Yue calmly and said, "Mother, Father will never tolerate Shangguan Ya becoming Chuan'er's Crown Princess. If Shangguan Ya becomes Chuan'er's Crown Princess, Father will never allow Chuan'er to ascend the throne. He cannot bear the thought of the next emperor having another Empress from the Shangguan Clan."
"Let the Shangguan Clan gradually withdraw from the imperial city, Mother," Li Rong said softly. "This is better for everyone."
Shangguan Yue stood dazed on the high platform. Li Rong turned to Li Chuan and said lightly, "Get up, let's go."
Li Chuan glanced at Shangguan Yue. Seeing his hesitation, Li Rong shouted, "Get up!"
Startled by her shout, Li Chuan scrambled to his feet. Li Rong nodded slightly to Shangguan Yue and said, "Mother, we shall take our leave now."
With that, Li Rong led Li Chuan out.
Once outside Weiyang Palace, Li Chuan was still in a daze. After walking a good distance, he suddenly snapped back to reality and exclaimed excitedly, "Sister, you were amazing just now!"
Li Rong glared at him and tapped his head with her fan. "Hopeless."
Even after being tapped, Li Chuan remained overjoyed. He followed closely beside Li Rong, and though he tried to restrain himself, the excitement in his voice was still evident. "I never expected you to say that. I always thought you also believed I was wrong and would help Mother persuade me."
Li Rong and Li Chuan strolled into the imperial garden. As she listened to his words, her expression grew distant.
In truth, in her previous life, it was she who had persuaded Li Chuan to marry Shangguan Ya and the four concubines.
Back then, she had thought Li Chuan was being willful. But now, looking back, she realized how naive she had been.
No one would ever lend their full support simply because of a marriage.
The alliance between Qin and Jin was merely a facade, with each side harboring ulterior motives. When conflicts of interest arose, what did a woman matter?Whether Li Chuan married into the Shangguan Clan or not, as long as their core interests aligned, the Shangguan family would inevitably be bound to Li Chuan.
Marrying into the Shangguan Clan would bring Li Chuan nothing but harm.
It was only because back then, the Shangguan Clan had taken advantage of their youth, threatening to withdraw support for Li Chuan. At that time, she had not yet seen through the true intentions of all parties in the court, which was why she had been constrained by others.
Her thoughts drifted aimlessly as Li Chuan chattered on beside her about the specifics of the previous night. After a while, he cautiously asked, "Sister, why did you suddenly help me?"
"Haven’t I always been helping you?"
"Not this kind of help," Li Chuan thought for a moment, trying to explain. "It’s like... you suddenly seem to know what I’m thinking. You definitely wouldn’t have helped me with this before. You would’ve joined Mother in giving me trouble."
"If I gave you trouble, would you have accepted it?"
Hearing this, Li Chuan fell silent. Li Rong noticed his quietness and turned to see him hanging his head, seemingly filled with guilt.
"Why aren’t you saying anything?"
"Actually, I was being willful," Li Chuan smiled bitterly. "You didn’t get to choose the person you married, so why should I have such a privilege? Forget it, let’s not talk about it. I’m just happy you helped me. How about I treat you to a meal another day?"
Listening to this, Li Rong lowered her head and smiled. They stopped in front of the waterside pavilion. After a moment of thought, Li Rong spoke gently, "Chuan'er, you’re not being willful. You’re just not strong enough yet."
Li Chuan turned to look at Li Rong, who calmly said, "Only when a person is strong enough do they have the right to choose. I will always support your desire for that right, but the prerequisite is that you have the ability."
"So," Li Chuan gazed at Li Rong, "if I have the ability to do this without harming those who shouldn’t be harmed, then you wouldn’t think I’m wrong, right?"
"As long as you believe you’re not wrong," Li Rong withdrew her gaze from the distance and looked at Li Chuan, smiling, "even if I think you’re wrong, it doesn’t matter. Because I’m not always right."
"What if my thoughts differ from yours?" Li Chuan asked earnestly, a hint of unease in his eyes.
Li Rong looked at the young man before her, faintly seeing in him traces of the Li Chuan he would become in the future.
She suddenly realized what a lonely and desperate path the Li Chuan of that time had walked alone.
His father despised him, his mother used him, and his sister stood on the opposite side, never supporting him, never understanding him.
Li Rong quietly watched him for a long time before she finally said softly, "Even if one day, your thoughts differ from mine, you will still be my brother."
"I will never abandon you."
Hearing Li Rong’s words, Li Chuan’s eyes reddened for some reason.
Realizing his emotional state, he lowered his head and smiled, seemingly a little embarrassed, his voice hoarse as he said, "I’m sorry, Sister. I feel... I feel like you’re too good, and I couldn’t protect you." Li Chuan paused for a long moment before continuing, "I’m sorry."
The young man worried about Li Rong being married off for political alliance and was determined to pacify the realm in the future. But before he could grow up, his sister had already been forced to marry someone she didn’t love.
Hearing the guilt in Li Chuan’s words, Li Rong was taken aback. After a moment, she hesitantly said, "Actually... Pei Wenxuan is quite good too.""Don't worry about me," Li Rong smiled. "My marriage is going quite well."
Li Chuan chuckled: "I can tell."
Li Rong raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"
"I feel like since you got married," Li Chuan looked up at her, "you've been smiling more and more."
Li Rong was momentarily stunned. Just then, a servant hurried over from a side path and respectfully said: "Your Highness, the Imperial Son-in-Law is waiting at the gate. He said he's here to pick you up."
"How annoying!" Li Chuan immediately exclaimed upon hearing this. "Can't I escort my sister back myself? Tell him to get lost!"
"Your Highness," Pei Wenxuan's voice sounded from nearby, "Your Highness is busy with many affairs. There's no need to trouble you."
"You're busy, but he isn't? Are you that idle? If you're free, tell me—I have plenty of tasks for you!"
Listening to Li Chuan's scolding, Li Rong couldn't help but laugh. Pei Wenxuan smiled without speaking, then turned his gaze to Li Rong and explained: "I just finished court. When I heard you were in the palace, I thought I'd pick you up so we could return together."
"Alright," Li Rong nodded, then turned to Li Chuan. "We'll be going now. You can escort me next time."
"Then, sister, when are you free? Let me know," Li Chuan quickly added. "I'll treat you to a meal at a restaurant."
Li Rong waved her hand behind her back: "Anytime."
The two walked out of the palace gate together. Li Chuan watched their retreating figures for a long time before he couldn't help but smile.
Meanwhile, in Weiyang Palace, Shangguan Yue had nearly finished crying.
As she composed herself, her attendant, the elderly maid Cuiyu, whispered: "Don't be too upset. The princess and the Crown Prince are grown now, just at that spirited age. Don't take it to heart. They'll understand your good intentions in time."
"Rong'er is one thing," Shangguan Yue sobbed. "After all, she's married off and has little to do with the palace now. But how can I explain Chuan'er's behavior to my brother?"
"Your Majesty, don't overthink it. The Crown Prince has always been filial. There must be a reason for this sudden rebellion."
These words struck a chord with Shangguan Yue. She suddenly realized: "Why is he so resistant to marriage? Does he have someone in his heart?"
Cuiyu brought tea from the side and said respectfully: "His Highness is not young anymore. It's common for him to have some unsavory people around him. It's possible he's been influenced by someone."
Shangguan Yue fell into thought. After a moment, she immediately ordered: "Have someone investigate. Check if there are any suspicious women around the Crown Prince recently. Where he's been, what he's done, who he's met—have everyone around him report everything to me!"
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