Реi Wеnхuаn steadiеd his еmоtiоns. Nоw was indeed nоt thе time to dwеll on such thоughts. Suрроrting Маdam Wen, hе helped her into the саrriagе. As thеу trаvеled, hе rеhеаrsеd the рreparеd stаtemеnts with her severаl times.
"If His Мajestу summоns уоu tо thе рalaсе, yоu must sау yоu knew nоthing аbout this mattеr. It wаs Seсond Uncle whо ordered уоu tо cаll me back, sауing уou hаd tо disсiрlinе mе, or еlsе he wоuld harm уou."
Aftеr Pеi Wеnхuan finishеd sреаking, he had Mаdam Wen repeаt it. Only aftеr she had rеpеаted аnd confirmed it multiple times did he feel at ease.
He was somewhat exhausted. Madam Wen quietly observed his expression and cautiously asked, "Your injuries..."
"It's nothing," Pei Wenxuan replied calmly. "Mother need not worry."
"Wenxuan..." Madam Wen began, seeming on the verge of tears again. Pei Wenxuan immediately interjected, "Mother, please control your tears. I no longer have the energy to comfort you."
Hearing his words, Madam Wen hurriedly held back her tears.
Pei Wenxuan looked at the woman before him, feeling little emotion. After all, he had grown accustomed to a life without Madam Wen for decades.
In his youth, he had felt weary and resentful toward such a mother. Later, as she aged, he even grew annoyed and impatient with her.
Yet, when Madam Wen truly passed away, he sat in the mourning hall, watching the wind whip the white cloth and the flickering lanterns swaying in the breeze. He felt utterly alone, like a solitary floating lantern, with no one left to cherish. It was then that he recalled the times in his youth when Madam Wen and his father had taught him to read and taken him to fly kites.
Parents are perhaps the greatest source of helplessness for their children.
Love is mixed with dissatisfaction, and resentment is tinged with pity.
Fortunately, having experienced life and death, the passage of time had worn down his sharp edges, making him more tolerant. Now, as he watched Madam Wen weeping softly, Pei Wenxuan felt no irritation. Instead, he thought of Li Rong. He imagined that a woman like Li Rong would likely never be reduced to such a state in her lifetime.
Gazing at the rain outside, which was growing heavier, he couldn’t help but smile. After crying for a while, Madam Wen noticed his expression and asked, "Have you... been well lately? Has Her Highness mistreated you?"
"Hmm?"
Pei Wenxuan turned to her, and upon hearing her words, he couldn’t help but laugh. "Mother, you jest. Do you think Her Highness would mistreat me?"
"People say the princess is willful," Madam Wen sighed. "You have such a gentle temperament. Even if you were mistreated, you might not realize it or tell me about it."
"Don’t worry," Pei Wenxuan’s voice softened considerably at the mention of Li Rong. "Her Highness treats me very well, and I am very fond of her."
Madam Wen fell silent. After a moment, she said hoarsely, "You are very much like your father. He used to protect me in the same way..."
As Madam Wen began to speak of Pei Lizhi again, Pei Wenxuan listened quietly. When they neared the palace, he interrupted her, "Do you remember what we discussed earlier? Please repeat it once more."
Madam Wen was taken aback, seemingly surprised by his abrupt interruption. Her expression dimmed momentarily. After a pause, she repeated everything as instructed. Pei Wenxuan nodded in approval. Upon reaching the palace gates, after negotiating with the guards, he led Madam Wen into the palace.The two switched from carriage to sedan chair at the palace gate, proceeding to the Imperial Study. By then, the heavy rain had blurred their surroundings. Pei Wenxuan lifted the sedan curtain, observing the area. As they neared the Imperial Study, he suddenly spotted a figure walking toward it under an umbrella.
That person must have already returned to their office, heard about the incident at the Imperial Study, and rushed over specifically.
It was unclear why they were hurrying there, but Pei Wenxuan clearly recognized the attire.
It was Su Rongqing.
Even after a lifetime, at a different time and under different circumstances, in this heavy rain with Li Rong kneeling before the Imperial Study, Su Rongqing was still wearing the same clothes, walking over with an umbrella.
Pei Wenxuan’s pupils contracted sharply. He shouted, "Stop!"
The sedan bearers were bewildered. Pei Wenxuan hurriedly stepped out of the sedan and instructed those nearby, "I have urgent business to attend to first. You carry Madam and follow afterward."
After speaking, Pei Wenxuan rushed into the rain with his umbrella.
Madam Wen frantically lifted the curtain, exclaiming, "Wenxuan, where are you going?!"
Pei Wenxuan did not reply. Holding his umbrella, he sprinted through the rainwater that soaked his shoes, racing toward the Imperial Study.
Li Rong knelt at the entrance of the Imperial Study, her eyes lowered. The rain had completely drenched her clothes, wetting her hair and eyelashes.
A chill seeped up from her kneecaps, and she began to feel her legs prickling with sharp, stabbing pain.
This was an old ailment from her youth when she had angered Li Ming and was punished by kneeling in the snow. It flared up whenever the weather turned cold, the pain capable of taking half her life.
But now she was determined to hold out against Pei Liwen, so she clenched her teeth, kneeling in the rain until her vision blurred from the pain.
Rain pelted her face and head. Among the kneeling officials, several had already collapsed and been carried away. Pei Liwen was also trembling as he knelt, but he stubbornly held on, refusing to yield.
Li Rong had no idea how long she had endured or when it happened, but she suddenly felt the rain above her cease.
Someone stood behind her, breathing lightly but rapidly.
At first, Li Rong thought the rain had stopped. But as her vision cleared slightly, she saw the heavy rain still falling not far ahead and heard the panting behind her. She realized someone had sheltered her from the storm.
She remembered this feeling—one of the rare, deeply etched moments of tenderness in her lifetime memories.
Her heart raced, aching slightly. Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes first falling on white robes, which came as no surprise.
Then she lifted her gaze bit by bit, finally resting on the person’s face.
The young man wore white robes and a jade crown, his features elegant yet strikingly beautiful. He should have been an immortal from the heavens, but in that moment of gentle panting, he was pulled into the mortal world.
Pei Wenxuan watched as Li Rong’s expression shifted gradually—from initial complexity to astonishment. The moment she saw it was him, all emotions seemed to vanish.
Pei Wenxuan felt an indescribable ache in his heart, but he pretended to know nothing. He simply looked at Li Rong and smiled lightly. "Your Highness, I’ve come. Won’t you rise?"
He was mimicking the words Li Rong had used when she came to the Pei residence to fetch him, intending to tease her. But as soon as he spoke, he noticed something off about Li Rong’s expression.
"No," Li Rong began, her voice trembling. She raised her eyebrows, her pale face showing no sign of backing down. "Minister Pei..."Before he could finish speaking, Pei Wenxuan realized what had happened. He crouched down and reached out to grasp Li Rong's hand. The moment he touched her icy skin, he immediately snapped in a low voice, "What reckless nonsense!"
Li Rong was stunned by his outburst. Pei Wenxuan handed the umbrella to a nearby attendant and went straight to pick her up.
Li Rong flustered, "What are you doing—"
"Stay still."
Pei Wenxuan chided softly, scooping her up in his arms.
The movement was too abrupt, causing his wound to tear open again. Worried about his injury, Li Rong dared not struggle too much, nor did she want to lose face. She could only cooperate by wrapping her arms around his neck, hoping to ease his burden.
Holding her, with a palace attendant holding the umbrella over them, Pei Wenxuan cast a cold glance at Pei Liwen, who was still kneeling. "I have already brought my mother here, Third Uncle. If you truly intend to confront His Majesty, then keep kneeling. If you still wish to preserve some dignity, meet me at the ancestral hall tomorrow evening. Let the clan elders gather to discuss this matter properly. Don’t make a disgraceful scene here."
With that, Pei Wenxuan paid no further attention to anyone else. Carrying Li Rong, he strode swiftly toward the sedan chair waiting at the entrance, instructing people along the way to take Madam Wen back to the Princess's Manor.
He had no time to waste on these disputes now—Li Rong’s condition was more important than anything else.
Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Pei Liwen was momentarily stunned. After a brief pause, he realized: with Madam Wen’s weak-willed nature, if Pei Wenxuan had brought her here, they must have conspired beforehand. What good could come from confronting Li Ming now?
Gritting his teeth, Pei Liwen closed his eyes and simply feigned a faint.
As chaos erupted behind them, Li Rong couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. Pei Wenxuan shot her a cold look, and for some reason, Li Rong felt a twinge of guilt. She cleared her throat lightly and asked, "Why are you so angry? What’s with this temper?"
Pei Wenxuan remained silent. Just as he reached the entrance with her in his arms, he saw Su Rongqing turning the corner.
The umbrella in Su Rongqing’s hand was still the same one from years past. The moment he saw the two of them, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. Pei Wenxuan met his gaze, while Li Rong felt somewhat awkward and said apologetically, "Minister Su."
Hearing Li Rong’s greeting, Su Rongqing turned to look at her. He gazed at her for a moment, as if wanting to say something but hesitating. In the end, he merely gave a slight nod and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."
With that, he stepped aside, standing respectfully to the side to let Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan pass.
As Pei Wenxuan carried her away, Li Rong couldn’t help but glance over his shoulder at Su Rongqing. Pei Wenxuan, looking straight ahead, asked calmly, "What is Your Highness looking at?"
"I was just reminded," Li Rong said with a touch of nostalgia, "that the umbrella he held for me back then seems to be this very one."
By then, she could no longer see him clearly. Pei Wenxuan placed her inside the sedan chair and helped her sit down. Then, he lowered the curtain and knelt before her, lifting her skirt.
The sedan was cramped, and with the two of them squeezed inside, it felt even more confined. As soon as he lifted her skirt, she instinctively pressed her hand over his, exclaiming anxiously, "What are you doing?"
"Your skirt is wet," Pei Wenxuan said softly. "Keeping it on will only make it worse."
Without another word, he gently pulled her hand away, lifted her skirt, wrung it out, and tied it up. Then, using his own sleeve, he dried her calves before wrapping them in a blanket stored inside the sedan.Warmth instantly spread from her calves, a stark contrast to the chill enveloping her body. Pei Wenxuan touched his outer robe, then untied it and draped it over her, speaking softly, "It's a bit damp, but better than nothing. Bear with it a little longer—we'll be back soon."
After saying this, Pei Wenxuan stepped out of the sedan chair and quickly instructed the bearers to carry Li Rong out of the palace.
Inside the sedan chair, Li Rong gradually recovered, finally feeling a bit better. It was then that she realized she was wrapped in Pei Wenxuan’s robe. His clothes carried his distinctive scent of incense—an extremely faint fragrance that could only be detected at an extremely close distance. Yet now, this aroma enveloped her entirely. Li Rong couldn’t explain why, but her heart began to beat a little faster.
She thought it must be the stifling heat inside the sedan chair that was causing her to imagine things. So, she lifted the curtain with a small fan to let in some air. But as soon as she raised it, she saw Pei Wenxuan walking outside the sedan chair.
The young master walked through the wind and rain, holding an umbrella. His figure was as elegant as a tall bamboo, his face as fair as polished jade. Li Rong stared at him, momentarily forgetting to lower the curtain.
Noticing Li Rong’s gaze, Pei Wenxuan looked up and frowned. "Lower the curtain. The wind will make you catch a chill."
Hearing this, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh. Not only did she not lower it, but she also rested her hands on the windowsill, leaning her head forward to look at Pei Wenxuan. "Pei Wenxuan," she said, "I suddenly realize you’re really quite handsome."
Pei Wenxuan silently tilted the umbrella in her direction and replied, "Even at a time like this, you still find time to admire appearances. You really are something."
"Pei Wenxuan, are you angry?" Li Rong’s voice trembled, whether from cold or pain, she couldn’t tell. Pei Wenxuan frowned and asked, "Is the pain still severe?"
"Not so much anymore," Li Rong whispered. "After you covered me with the blanket, it got much better."
"I’ve already sent someone ahead to the residence to prepare medicinal broth. Once we return, change your clothes immediately and soak in it."
Pei Wenxuan carefully explained the arrangements. "It’s the same prescription you often used before. In this lifetime, you’re still young—you need to take good care of yourself."
When Pei Wenxuan said "before," he naturally meant their previous life.
In their previous life, she later met a renowned physician who prescribed a new formula that effectively relieved her pain. However, her condition could not be completely cured—it was said to have been caused by excessive strain in her youth.
But Li Rong’s attention was caught by something else in Pei Wenxuan’s words. "You even know my prescription? You must have placed quite a few people around me."
Pei Wenxuan hadn’t expected Li Rong to bring this up. He paused for a moment before replying, "That was all in the past. We agreed not to dwell on it. Besides, you didn’t hold back either—we’re even."
Hearing this, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh.
Pei Wenxuan helped Li Rong into the carriage. Inside, there were spare clothes they often kept for emergencies. Pei Wenxuan said softly, "Your Highness, please change your clothes first."
With that, he turned his back to Li Rong and sat down.
Li Rong didn’t overthink it. Shivering, she changed her clothes. After a rustling sound behind him, Pei Wenxuan heard Li Rong say, "Done."
Pei Wenxuan turned around to see Li Rong curled up in a corner, wrapped in a blanket.
Noticing Pei Wenxuan looking at her, Li Rong quickly smiled and explained, "It’s warmer this way."Pei Wenxuan did not speak. After a while, he leaned in closer. Li Rong grew somewhat nervous and instinctively leaned back, pressing against the carriage wall. She asked warily, "What are you trying to do again?"
Pei Wenxuan reached out and pulled Li Rong into his embrace.
The wide sleeves of his freshly changed outer robe pressed against her back. His embrace held no hint of impropriety, and he said calmly, "This way, it's warmer."
Li Rong dared not speak. She allowed Pei Wenxuan to hold her quietly like this. After a long while, she forced a laugh and said, "Why... why have you been so fond of hugging me lately?"
"We're close," Pei Wenxuan replied smoothly. "We've even shared a bed—why fuss over such things now? Don't you realize how cold you are? Why suffer like this?"
"But last time..."
"I was upset," Pei Wenxuan immediately interjected. "I offended you, Princess, but you agreed to it, didn't you?"
Li Rong fell silent, feeling an indescribable sense of strangeness.
Seeing that Li Rong had stopped talking, Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but laugh and added fuel to the fire, "You said it yourself—we're good sisters. You wouldn't have any thoughts about me, would you?"
"Don't wrong me like that," Li Rong quickly replied. "We know each other so well—I'm not that kind of person."
Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly. Li Rong grew nervous again. "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing," Pei Wenxuan said, settling onto the cushion and adjusting his position so that Li Rong leaned against his chest. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I was just thinking how perfectly in sync Your Highness and I are. Coincidentally, I feel the same way."
"That's good."
Li Rong nodded, but for some reason, she couldn't shake a faint sense of guilt.
The two sat quietly for a while. Pei Wenxuan seemed tired and leaned against the carriage wall, closing his eyes to rest.
Li Rong nestled in his embrace, warmth enveloping her. An inexplicable sense of security emanated from him, and she couldn't help but feel drowsy. Leaning against Pei Wenxuan, she drifted into a hazy sleep.
They dozed off briefly before arriving at the Princess's Manor. Pei Wenxuan carried Li Rong out of the carriage. Accustomed to his actions, Li Rong naturally wrapped her arms around his neck. Seeing her response, Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but laugh. "You certainly know how to take advantage of the situation."
"What?" Li Rong raised an eyebrow at him. "Is Lord Pei the 'situation'?"
Seeing Li Rong in a teasing mood, Pei Wenxuan retorted, "Then is Your Highness the 'monkey'?"
"You and your mouth—never willing to take a loss," Li Rong sighed.
Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly. "There are times when I do take losses."
"Oh?"
"Hmm," Pei Wenxuan thought for a moment, as if speaking seriously. "When Your Highness and I were married, didn't I suffer plenty of losses?"
Hearing this, Li Rong couldn't help but laugh. "Were those really losses? We just weren't close back then."
"You're mistaken about that," Pei Wenxuan said with a serious expression. "I've always been patient with my wife. If Your Highness wants me to suffer losses, that's the only way."
Li Rong was stunned for a moment. She felt there was more to Pei Wenxuan's words but wondered if she was overthinking it. After all, Pei Wenxuan had always lacked a sense of boundaries, and it was easy to misunderstand him if one wasn't careful.
Before she could say anything to salvage the situation, Pei Wenxuan resolved it himself. "What a pity—Your Highness won't have that opportunity."
"You..."Li Rong felt somewhat helpless. She sighed and turned to ask another question, "Aren't you going to deal with the Pei family now?"
"Pei Liwen pretended to faint and ran off. I don’t want to bother His Majesty with such trivial matters either." Pei Wenxuan escorted Li Rong to the bathhouse, where medicinal water had already been prepared. He placed Li Rong on a small couch and calmly said, "The Pei family can still be of use. I’ll go negotiate tomorrow, so Your Highness need not worry."
As he spoke, Pei Wenxuan called Jing Lan over and explained the key points of the medicinal bath in detail. Then, he turned to Li Rong and said, "Your Highness, please enjoy your bath. I’ll take my leave now."
Li Rong lazily acknowledged him, and Pei Wenxuan withdrew. Once outside the door, he stood still, his hands tucked into his sleeves. Listening to the laughter of the women inside and the sound of splashing water, he couldn’t help but conjure corresponding images in his mind.
In this lifetime, he had rarely visited Li Rong’s bathhouse, let alone spent time there with her.
Now, lingering for just a moment stirred up waves of memories, churning endlessly in his mind.
In the past, he might not have dwelled on such thoughts, but now, once the memories surfaced, they seemed unstoppable—like floodwaters suddenly released from a dam, rushing forth in an instant.
This made him realize with clarity how vividly he remembered every detail of the past, no matter how small.
Heaven and hell intertwined within him as he stood quietly by the door. A maid nearby couldn’t help but step forward and ask, "Imperial Son-in-Law, would you like to prepare for your bath?"
"Hmm."
Pei Wenxuan responded softly and added, "Add more cold water."
With that, he turned and headed toward his room.
After finishing her medicinal bath, Li Rong felt completely refreshed. Still cautious, she wrapped herself in a thick cloak before returning to her room.
Upon entering, she noticed that the charcoal fire had been lit, making the room not just warm but almost hot.
Pei Wenxuan was kneeling by the desk in a thin robe, attending to official documents. As soon as Li Rong entered, he said softly, "Close the doors and windows. Don’t catch a chill."
Li Rong, still wrapped in her cloak, crouched down in front of him. Pei Wenxuan paused his brush and looked up to see her crouching before him.
The edges of her cloak were trimmed with white fur, making her appear soft and somewhat adorable in this fluffy attire.
This side of Li Rong was rarely seen, vastly different from her usual image. Pei Wenxuan gazed at her quietly for a moment before he couldn’t help but smile.
"Does it still hurt?"
"With Physician Xue’s medicine, I’ve recovered from worse than this. Today’s discomfort is nothing."
"Go lie down first," Pei Wenxuan said gently. "I’ve placed the memorials you wanted to read by the bedside. Read them under the covers. I’ll finish reviewing these documents, and tonight I’ll massage your acupoints for you."
"Why don’t you teach someone else?" Li Rong immediately suggested upon hearing his words. "That way, you won’t have to trouble yourself."
"Teaching others is even more exhausting. Please don’t make things harder for me," Pei Wenxuan replied, lowering his head to look at the documents. "It wasn’t easy for me to learn back then."
Li Rong was momentarily taken aback by his words. Noticing her silence, Pei Wenxuan glanced up and asked, "What’s wrong?"
"Nothing," Li Rong smiled. "I just suddenly realized that... you were actually quite good to me back then."
Pei Wenxuan’s brush stilled for a moment. After a pause, he said, "Your Highness, don’t be too easily moved. This is nothing. You mustn’t give your heart away just because someone treats you kindly."Pei Wenxuan's words carried an implied meaning, but Li Rong completely failed to catch it, nodding as she said, "You're right. You were so good to me back then, yet you still had other thoughts in your heart, didn't you?"
Pei Wenxuan felt a pang in his chest, then raised his head, somewhat angrily replying, "Your Highness, that's not how it was..."
"Let's rest, let's rest," Li Rong, seeing Pei Wenxuan about to explain again, quickly interjected, "I misspoke. Don't take it to heart. I'm leaving."
With that, Li Rong ran off. Pei Wenxuan held his brush, and after a moment, unsure whether to be angry or amused, he helplessly lowered his head and continued reviewing the memorials.
Li Rong went through all the recent reports. Xun Chuan had been pursuing witnesses all along, but Luo Juan and the others had been moved multiple times and were long gone; Xun Chuan had already chased them out of Huajing.
Beyond the difficulty in finding evidence, the biggest problem stemmed from the court officials. Today, nearly one hundred and fifty memorials had been sent to Li Ming, all concerning the abolition of the Supervisory Department. The reasons were varied, but the goal was extremely consistent. If Li Rong couldn’t find solid evidence soon, Li Ming might not be able to withstand the pressure.
By the time Li Rong finished reading these, it was already night. Pei Wenxuan came over to her side and, seeing her troubled expression, directly took the memorial from her hand. Li Rong was stunned for a moment before exclaiming, “What are you doing?”
“You’ve asked that question many times today,” Pei Wenxuan said, tossing the memorial aside. He lifted the small table holding the memorials and moved it far away, then extinguished the lamp and returned to the bed. “Lie down, I’ll give you a massage.”
“No need,” Li Rong felt inexplicably nervous in the darkness. “It doesn’t hurt today, maybe another time. Besides, aren’t you still injured? You should rest properly and not exert yourself.”
“Really better?” Pei Wenxuan frowned, somewhat skeptical. Li Rong quickly replied, “Yes, yes. Speaking of which, have you applied medicine to your wound?”
Pei Wenxuan paused for a moment before saying, “It’s time to change it.”
“Hmm? Then let me help you.”
Li Rong sat up and patted the edge of the bed. “Come, light the lamp and give me the medicine and bandages.”
Pei Wenxuan did as she said, lighting the nearby lamp and fetching the medicine and bandages. Then he raised his hands, removed his upper garment, and lay face down on the bed.
His movements were fluid and composed. Li Rong repeatedly reminded herself not to overthink it. She focused her gaze on Pei Wenxuan’s wound and frowned. “These people really had the heart to do this.”
“Family discipline,” Pei Wenxuan said calmly. “All clan members have endured it. It’s nothing.”
“Speaking of which,” Li Rong lowered her eyes, “did you endure it in your previous life?”
“How could I not have?” Pei Wenxuan smiled bitterly. “You just didn’t know.”
“Oh.”
Li Rong spoke softly, “Then do you hate them?”
Pei Wenxuan didn’t answer. After a while, he said slowly, “You only hate when you care. I hated them when I was young, but later I forgot. It’s not a big deal. Besides, those who should be gone are gone, and I have what I should have. I don’t want to dwell on them.”
“Pei Lixian,” Li Rong recalled, “you killed him in your previous life, right?”
Pei Wenxuan remained silent. After a while, he suddenly asked, “What were you worrying about earlier?”
Hearing Pei Wenxuan abruptly change the subject, Li Rong knew he didn’t want to discuss it. So she didn’t press further and followed his lead. “Xun Chuan went to find the witnesses, but it’s been a long time with no success. I’m afraid something might have happened to them. If they’re gone, our only remaining evidence would be to find the people who sealed the mansion and figure out where the gold came from.”
As she spoke, Li Rong sprinkled the medicinal powder onto Pei Wenxuan’s wound. He trembled slightly, and Li Rong looked up. “Does it hurt?”
“No,” Pei Wenxuan quickly replied. “If you want to prove the gold was planted as evidence, you’ll have to find the people who handled it. Are you worried there’s no list?”
“Yes,” Li Rong said thoughtfully. “It seems I’ll have to seek out Su Rongqing again.”"He won't give it," Pei Wenxuan stated decisively. "You should consider another approach."
Li Rong looked up at Pei Wenxuan, who continued, "There's someone in my family who works in the Ministry of Justice. Although his position isn't high, he's in charge of everyone's duty logs. If I can reach an agreement with the Pei family tomorrow and get them to follow your arrangements, we can find the attendance logs of the soldiers from the day the mansion was sealed. That way, we can locate the person."
"That's also a viable method."
Li Rong nodded. Pei Wenxuan propped himself up, allowing Li Rong to wrap the gauze around him, and continued, "It's more reliable than seeking Su Rongqing's help. Shangguan Ya just wants to watch the fun and gave terrible advice, didn't she?"
"She meant well," Li Rong said with a smile. "She wanted to kill two birds with one stone."
"When it comes to matters of the heart," Pei Wenxuan spoke earnestly, "you can't kill two birds with one stone. Otherwise, misunderstandings are bound to pile up."
"You didn't use to say that to me," Li Rong remarked as she tied the bandage. Pei Wenxuan fell silent for a moment before saying slowly, "Back then, I didn't understand many things."
"And now you do?"
Li Rong thought for a moment. "I don't recall anything happening between us recently that would make you think of these things."
Pei Wenxuan didn't respond. After a while, he said, "Your Highness, listen to my advice. If you're uncertain about a relationship, don't think about getting involved. Before, it was my fault. I always thought that you and Su Rongqing being together was a reunion of old ties, so I wanted to bring you two together. But now I understand—matters of the heart are about fate, and fate isn't something you can force."
"Your Highness doesn't need to do anything. Just wait quietly."
"Wait for what?"
"Wait for the right fate."
As Pei Wenxuan spoke, he stood up to extinguish the lamp. Li Rong sat on the bed, pondering his words. Pei Wenxuan returned to the bedside, bent down, and leaned in close to her, half-propping himself up in front of her.
He was very close. She could clearly see his fair, smooth skin under the moonlight. His gaze seemed to carry a hint of intoxication, instantly captivating her heart. He smiled faintly. "Anyway, Your Highness has me by your side, so there's no need to rush."
"If Your Highness feels lonely, I can keep you company and talk. If Your Highness lacks care, I can attend to every detail and ensure Your Highness is satisfied. Your Highness should focus wholeheartedly on court affairs, build the Supervisory Department well, and let things take their natural course."
Listening to Pei Wenxuan's words, Li Rong couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "You can do everything?"
"What does Your Highness think I can't do?"
"There's one thing you can't do," Li Rong said cheerfully.
"Such as?"
Pei Wenxuan tilted his head slightly, looking as if he was all ears. Li Rong laughed and leaned back onto her bed, exclaiming loudly, "Kiss me!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a strong force pull her from behind, dragging her into his embrace. One arm wrapped around her waist while the other lifted her chin, forcing her to look up.
Realizing what he intended to do, Li Rong's heart raced. She hurriedly raised her hand and pushed his face away, exclaiming urgently, "I was wrong, I was wrong!"
Pei Wenxuan's face remained turned away for a long time. Li Rong cautiously leaned closer. "Are you angry?"
After a moment, Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly. Li Rong found it strange. "What are you laughing at?"
Pei Wenxuan sat holding her and laughed, then raised his bright, star-like eyes, saying happily, "Your Highness, you are truly adorable."Li Rong knew Pei Wenxuan was teasing her. She couldn’t be bothered to respond and lay down, turning her back to him as she said, “Going to sleep.”
Pei Wenxuan didn’t reply, simply watching her with a smile.
He had slept more during the day than she had, so by the time Li Rong fell asleep, he was still wide awake.
After Li Rong had slept with her back to him for a while, she turned over. Pei Wenxuan propped his head up, watching her sleep soundly. Moonlight fell across her face, and she seemed to be having a pleasant dream, a faint smile lingering at the corner of her lips.
Pei Wenxuan gazed at her for a moment, then leaned down and gently pressed a kiss to the edge of her lips.
The kiss was light, like a dragonfly skimming the water, and he repeated it several times. Li Rong seemed to sense the disturbance and raised a hand to swat it away before turning over again.
Pei Wenxuan took a deep breath, hesitated for a long moment, and finally pulled her into his arms.
Li Rong let out a soft “mmph” in protest, and Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly, his voice low and husky as he whispered, “Talking to me like that—do you think I’m made of stone?”
He knew she couldn’t hear him. After speaking, he sighed.
Holding her tightly, he breathed in her scent deeply, then closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The two slept until their usual time for morning court. Li Rong woke groggily to find herself still held tightly in Pei Wenxuan’s embrace. Still half-asleep, she didn’t fully register the situation and mumbled as she tried to get up, “Time for court…”
Pei Wenxuan wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back, pressing her down as he said, “I had someone request leave for you. Go back to sleep.”
At the word “leave,” all of Li Rong’s willpower crumbled, and she instantly fell back asleep.
When she woke again, she finally realized something was off. She snapped awake and stared at Pei Wenxuan beside her.
Pei Wenxuan noticed she was awake, stretching and yawning as he slowly sat up. He looked at Li Rong with a hint of confusion and asked, “Your Highness?”
As he spoke, he shrank back slightly, pulling his clothes closer. “Why… why are you looking at me like that?”
“You…”
Seeing his expression, Li Rong didn’t know how to bring up what had just happened. She wasn’t even sure if Pei Wenxuan was aware of it.
They had always slept properly before, both maintaining proper sleeping positions. How had they ended up holding each other last night?
Li Rong was at a loss for words, but Pei Wenxuan spoke first, his expression full of warning. “You held me all night last night. Don’t push it.”
Li Rong: “???”
“You don’t remember?” Pei Wenxuan studied her expression, seeming uncertain. “You kept saying you were cold last night. Don’t you remember?”
Li Rong: “…”
No recollection whatsoever.
“I think you’re lying to me,” Li Rong finally managed to retort after a long pause. Pei Wenxuan’s gaze swept over her from head to toe, then back up again. Suddenly, he reached out and placed his hand on her leg, asking seriously, “Your Highness, what is this?”
“A leg,” Li Rong replied, bewildered, before swatting at his hand. “What are you doing?”
But Li Rong moved quickly, and Pei Wenxuan withdrew his hand even faster, immediately placing it on his own leg. “And what is this?”
“Your… your leg?” Li Rong answered uncertainly.
Pei Wenxuan smiled. “Exactly. Both are legs. That’s how I see the relationship between you and me. To be honest, when I touch your leg, I can’t even tell it’s not mine, so please don’t let your imagination run wild. Save that kind of rich imagination for the novels you read.”With that, Pei Wenxuan rose from the bed and said gracefully, "Your Highness, this humble official has other matters to attend to. I shall rise first. Would you like to rest a while longer?"
"No need."
Li Rong adjusted her mindset, thinking it was likely she had misunderstood and overthought things.
After all, given Pei Wenxuan's temperament, if he liked her, he would surely do something "for her own good" and would never take the initiative to hold her at night.
She took a moment to calm her emotions, categorizing the incident as an accident, then nodded and said, "Today, I will first meet with other officials. I'll return in the evening to accompany you to the Pei family."
"Why accompany me?" Pei Wenxuan rubbed a handkerchief, looking up with a half-smile. "Don't trust me?"
"Yes, yes, yes," Li Rong couldn't be bothered to argue with him. "With your ability to get injured for so long just from one visit to the Pei family, I truly admire you."
"Don't worry," Pei Wenxuan, seeing Li Rong's seriousness, stopped joking and said earnestly, "It was all part of my plan. Nothing will go wrong this time."
Li Rong acknowledged this, not doubting Pei Wenxuan's capabilities.
After the two got up and washed, they each went about their own affairs. Li Rong began contacting officials from various regions. Currently, the Supervisory Department had a poor reputation, and everyone was still observing. Those she could reach were mostly officials without much influence or real power, as well as some minor officials.
But Li Rong didn't mind. She made a list of the performances of people from her previous life and began contacting them one by one.
Although Pei Wenxuan had returned home to recuperate, he didn't neglect his duties in the slightest. His intelligence network was widespread, and staying at home didn't hinder him from writing memorials to impeach others.
Both were busy until evening. As night fell, Pei Wenxuan changed his clothes and, upon stepping out, saw Li Rong's carriage waiting for him at the gate.
Li Rong seemed to have heard him leave the residence. She lifted the curtain with a small golden fan and looked at him from the carriage with a smile, her beautiful phoenix eyes filled with teasing. "Where is Lord Pei going? I happened to be passing by. Shall I give you a ride?"
Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly, walked forward, and sat beside Li Rong. "After all these years, Your Highness still enjoys making such jokes."
"Isn't it amusing?"
Li Rong tapped the fan against her palm as she spoke. "Treating every meeting as the first time, pretending to greet each other even though we both know exactly what the other is like—I find it quite entertaining."
"Then Your Highness must find this life very interesting."
Pei Wenxuan responded with a smile. Li Rong paused for a moment before letting out a soft laugh. "Indeed."
"What about my mother?"
Pei Wenxuan stopped joking and got straight to the point. Li Rong pointed behind her. "In the carriage behind. Have you prepared everything you need to say?"
"Yes."
Pei Wenxuan instructed, "When we arrive, sit to the side. You won't need to say a word."
"I know, you're good at arguing."
"This isn't arguing," Pei Wenxuan quickly clarified. "It's reasoning."
Li Rong smiled without replying. The two discussed how to cooperate that evening—one playing the tough role, the other the gentle one—before moving on to lighter topics. Soon, they arrived at the Pei residence.
The carriage stopped at the Pei family's gate. Pei Wenxuan stepped out first, then extended a hand to help Li Rong down.
At the entrance, Li Rong looked up and saw guards stationed at the gate, a clear sign that the Pei family had been frightened by her previous disturbance.Li Rong opened her small fan and softly remarked, "What a coward."
Pei Wenxuan held her hand, smiling without a word.
The two led their guards, walking calmly through the main gate of the Pei residence, passing through the long corridor until they reached the ancestral hall.
Before the hall stood the ancestral tablets of the Pei family. The clan elders sat closest to the tablets, while others stood further out according to their status.
Pei Wenxuan supported Li Rong as they entered. Everyone stared at him, and Pei Wenxuan smiled as he bowed to the crowd, yet no one spoke.
Li Rong raised an eyebrow. "What? The Imperial Son-in-Law greets you, yet you do not bow to this princess?"
Pei Wenxuan clasped his hands before him, smiling as he lowered his head, watching Li Rong make a scene.
Both sides sought to intimidate the other. The Pei family remained unmoved, so Li Rong lifted her gaze to face them.
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