"Yоur Нighnеss," Реi Хuаnqing furrowed his brоw, rising tо his fееt аs he spokе with а frown, "Althоugh Wenxuаn hаs mаrriеd уоu and is yоur husband, and I understand your fiеrсe рrotесtivеnеss of уоur sроusе, Wenхuan is also а mеmber оf the Pei fаmily. In Greаt Xia, thеrе is nо рrinсiрlе that beсоming an Imреriаl Son-in-Lаw meаns sеvering ties with оnе's clаn. He is a Рei now, and hе will rеmаin a Рei for life. I hоре Your Нighnеss will shоw sоmе undеrstanding."
"Undеrstаnding of whаt?" Li Rong snеered. "Undеrstanding hоw уоu pеорlе are ungratеful and short-sighted?"
"Your Highnеss," Pei Liwen hаstily interjеctеd, "hоw cаn you..."
"Silence!" Li Rong slapped Pei Liwen across the face, her voice thundering with anger. Pei Liwen was stunned by the blow, covering his cheek as he stared blankly at Li Rong.
After this outburst, no one in the Pei family dared to speak. She turned her gaze to Pei Xuanqing and said coldly, "I know exactly why you made Pei Wenxuan come here today. Do you think that by beating him today, you can give an explanation to the other noble families and issue a warning to me? To tell me not to meddle by establishing the Supervisory Department?"
"Do you think," Li Rong scanned the room, "that because the Pei family is now considered a prominent clan in the court, with Pei Lixian as the Chief Secretary of the Chancellery, holding a position equivalent to that of a prime minister, Pei Liwen as the Minister of Works, and numerous other members scattered throughout the court, you have become just like those other noble families? So when they ask you to trouble me, you eagerly act as their blade? Should I remind all of you,"
Li Rong mocked, "that the Pei clan originated as a humble family from Luzhou. Before this generation, you weren't even considered a second-rate noble family in the court, with the highest official rank barely reaching the fourth-grade minister. It was Pei Wenxuan's father, Pei Lizhi, who led your clan from Luzhou to the court, elevating you from humble origins to a noble family!"
"And now? How long has it been since Pei Lizhi passed away, and you already dare to bully his orphaned son and widowed mother like this?"
"Your Highness," Pei Lixian said coldly, "your words go too far."
"Too far?" Li Rong laughed. "Pei Wenxuan was the top scholar in the imperial examinations three years ago, born into a noble family. With his status, he should have long been seated in a position of real power. But where is he now? If he hadn't married me, he would still be stuck in a petty official post worse than a prison guard! You've been using the excuse that all noble scions need experience to fool Madam Wen, but can you fool me?!"
"When he fell ill, you blocked others from seeing him; when he went out to socialize, you withheld funds and made things difficult for him at every turn. Now, in the court, he is trying to secure a path to survival for the Pei family on his own, and you are so blind as to bully him to this extent!"
"You claim to be his family," Li Rong swept her gaze over everyone, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "but have you ever cared for him even a little? Have you ever helped him even once?"
"Establishing the Supervisory Department is my business, and it is His Majesty's business. Even if you beat him to death, neither His Majesty nor I will back down. And you had better remember how the Pei family rose to prominence. Don't sit so high for so long that you forget where you came from."
With that, Li Rong turned to Pei Wenxuan. "Who laid hands on you?"
Pei Wenxuan knew Li Rong was in a rage and dared not say more. He could only obediently point out the person.
Li Rong immediately ordered the attendants beside her, "Break his hands."
After giving the order, Li Rong took Pei Wenxuan's hand and strode toward the exit. As the agonized screams of two men echoed through the hall, Li Rong led Pei Wenxuan to the doorway. Suddenly remembering something, she stopped, turned back, and looked at the members of the Pei family."Today, this palace will say it one last time: Pei Wenxuan is this palace's Imperial Son-in-Law, this palace's person. If your Pei family does not like him, then expel him from the family register—this palace will accompany him to establish his own household. If you still wish to keep him, then respect him as you respect me."
"As for Madam Wen," Li Rong guessed Madam Wen was likely present as well, raising her voice, "if you cannot learn to care for your child, then return to your prayer hall, eat vegetarian meals, chant sutras, and mourn your husband for the rest of your life."
"Pei Wenxuan already has a new family. He has someone to care for him and someone to love him. If you cannot bear the responsibility of being a mother, then please do not cause trouble for him. He may tolerate it, but this palace will not."
"Do you understand?"
Li Rong swept her gaze over the crowd. No one dared to speak. The attendant whose hand had been broken rolled on the ground, wailing in agony. Seeing that no one responded, Li Rong turned and pulled Pei Wenxuan away, heading outside.
She walked hurriedly, clearly restraining her emotions. Pei Wenxuan was dragged along by her, his wounds aching with every movement. Yet, for some reason, as Li Rong pulled him through the familiar corridors and paths of the Pei residence, even with the pain in his back, he felt an inexplicable joy.
He felt as though he were walking on a path blooming with flowers. Li Rong led him, guiding him toward a brand-new, unknown, yet extraordinarily beautiful world.
Watching Li Rong's back, he couldn't help but smile. He tightened his grip on her hand, unable to let go. He wanted—more than anything—to keep holding her, to keep following behind her, to watch her reveal all her emotions for him.
Only now did he realize that when Li Rong lost her composure for him, he could feel such immense happiness.
Li Rong dragged him all the way out of the Pei residence. Once they reached the entrance, she finally released him, then abruptly turned around and slapped Pei Wenxuan across the face. "Are you an idiot?! Don't you know what they were doing?"
"I had it all calculated. It's fine," Pei Wenxuan said, unable to stop smiling even as Li Rong grew angry. Hearing this, Li Rong became even more furious. She laughed in anger, saying, "Fine, fine, fine. You had it all calculated? Did you ever consider that if your second uncle was determined to act today and had the servants seize the opportunity to cripple or maim you, your life would be ruined forever?"
"That wouldn't happen," Pei Wenxuan replied, still smiling. "Besides, didn't you come?"
As he spoke, Pei Wenxuan seemed to remember something. "Didn't you go to have a meal with Su Rongqing? I specifically ordered not to disturb you."
Li Rong remained silent. She stared at Pei Wenxuan, unable to put her emotions into words. She looked at this person, who faced everything as if nothing had happened, and an indescribable ache and bitterness spread within her.
Pity, sorrow, and compassion, mixed with inexplicable emotions, made her face cold as she fixed her gaze on him.
"Pei Wenxuan," Li Rong finally spoke, "when will you start thinking more about yourself? When will you realize that you are important, and stop risking yourself in everything?"
Pei Wenxuan didn't respond. In truth, Li Rong's expression was no different from usual, but in that moment, he thought he saw a hint of moisture in her eyes.
A gentle warmth soaked into his heart, making him suddenly feel that he might be worth something after all.
She worried about him, cared for him, felt indignant on his behalf, and ached for him.
Pei Wenxuan smiled. He stepped forward, embraced Li Rong, and pulled her into his arms, tightening his hold."I'll try harder in the future."
Pei Wenxuan spoke softly: "I'll try to be more capable, so you won't have to worry."
"I wasn't worried."
Li Rong's voice was stiff: "I just thought you embarrassed me. You're my Imperial Son-in-Law, only I can bully you."
"Alright." Pei Wenxuan smiled and held her tighter. "From now on, I'll only let you bully me."
"Pei Wenxuan," Li Rong's tone softened as she heard him yield, "why are you so spineless?"
"I was wrong."
Pei Wenxuan said gently: "I won't let anyone bully me again."
Li Rong felt Pei Wenxuan was brushing her off, but since things had come this far, there wasn't much more to say. Xun Chuan led people out, and being held like this in public made Li Rong somewhat awkward. She whispered: "Let's get in the carriage."
Pei Wenxuan acknowledged and slowly released Li Rong. Xun Chuan approached from the side, nodded to Pei Wenxuan upon seeing them, then reported the situation to Li Rong.
Li Rong had Pei Wenxuan board the carriage and listened briefly to Xun Chuan's observations from the Pei family. She simply said: "I'll deal with the Pei family tomorrow. You continue searching for Luo Juan. Have you found him yet?"
"No." Xun Chuan frowned. "He's not at his home. He's been missing for several days. I'm still tracking him."
"Mm." Li Rong nodded. "Keep investigating. It's getting late, go back."
After speaking, Li Rong boarded the carriage. Inside, Pei Wenxuan was already seated in his usual spot. Apart from his pale complexion, his expression was normal.
Li Rong entered with a cold face and sat beside him, saying: "Let me see."
"Wait until we get home and let the physician look. It won't help for you to see."
"Turn around."
Li Rong's voice was icy. Pei Wenxuan's expression stiffened slightly, but after glancing at Li Rong's face, he finally turned around and smiled: "Don't blame me if it frightens you."
As he spoke, Li Rong saw his clothing stained and mottled with blood.
In the darkness earlier, it hadn't been clear, but now under the candlelight, it was much more visible. Li Rong watched silently. Seeing her quiet, Pei Wenxuan joked: "What, do you want me to take off my clothes for you to see?"
"Pei Wenxuan," Li Rong's voice was hoarse, "doesn't it hurt?"
Pei Wenxuan kept his back to her. After a moment, he sighed: "Your Highness, you and I are different people. You come from noble birth. Often, your status and power alone can suppress others. But I cannot. Ethics, morality—there are always things that weigh on me. I cannot act as you do."
"The same words Your Highness can say today, I cannot."
Pei Wenxuan smiled bitterly: "I'm used to this kind of life and don't find it particularly difficult. It's just that involving Your Highness is indeed my fault. I originally didn't want to disturb you, but I didn't expect you to come. But don't worry, Your Highness. Now that I'm injured, and my mother is a fence-sitter, as long as we can persuade her to stand on our side tomorrow, we can negotiate with my grandfather. I may not take control of the entire Pei family, but my father's share of the property must be allocated to me."
Li Rong listened to Pei Wenxuan speak without responding much. She untied his belt from behind and pulled down his clothes.Pei Wenxuan had his back to her, sensing her movements. He knew she wanted to examine his wounds and help him treat them briefly, yet for some reason, an inexplicable tension rose within him.
Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan’s fully exposed back under the lamplight. He had fair skin, and his silhouette carried the lean frame characteristic of a scholar. The crisscrossing bloodstains on his back looked somewhat horrifying.
Li Rong observed those marks. The light in the carriage flickered slightly, and she leaned closer to inspect the wounds.
Her breath brushed against Pei Wenxuan’s back, and he stiffened.
He felt she was too close, yet he wished she were even closer. For a moment, heaven and hell seemed to overlap. Li Rong gently placed her hand on his shoulder and lightly rested her forehead against the uninjured part of his back.
"Pei Wenxuan," she whispered, "I used to tease you about being poor, but it was all just a joke."
She added softly, "Don’t do this again. Seeing you push yourself so hard makes me uncomfortable."
Author’s Note: Little Pei has finally been adopted by the princess and taken home. Off we go!
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