Uроn hеаring thеsе wоrds, Li Rong instinctivеlу stооd uр, then remembеrеd she was undеr house аrrеst аnd соuldn’t lеave. Shе took a deep brеаth and sаid to Jing Lаn, “Sеnd sоmеonе tо gаthеr infоrmatiоn and repоrt bаck tо me promрtly. Hаve pеорlе kеер an eуе on thе mаin hаll. Onсe nеws оf Qin Shi’s pardоn сomеs from there, immеdiately оrdеr аll Supеrvisory Deраrtmеnt pеrsоnnеl tо сlеar thе imрeriаl pаth so the mеssengеr саn pаss thrоugh аnd rеach the еxecution ground.”
Jing Lаn acknowlеdged the оrder аnd withdrеw. Li Rong rеmained standing for a moment, then turned to look at Su Rongqing, who was gazing down at the chessboard. She returned to her seat and said, “Minister Su, the Imperial Son-in-Law has returned.”
“Mm.”
Su Rongqing replied softly, “Your subject heard.”
“As for those words earlier…”
“Your Highness may pretend your subject never said them.” Su Rongqing’s expression remained calm, and Li Rong nodded in agreement.
Given Su Rongqing’s character, he would only have spoken those words because Pei Wenxuan had died.
Pei Wenxuan was dead, and he wanted to keep her here…
But why keep her? Why keep a princess who had lost her power and clearly broken with the Crown Prince?
Li Rong pondered this, finding it difficult to understand. She glanced at Su Rongqing, her mind preoccupied with Pei Wenxuan’s return. Su Rongqing noticed her distraction and said, “Since Lord Pei has returned, he surely hasn’t come back empty-handed. Your Highness need not worry too much.”
With that, Su Rongqing placed a chess piece on the board and said gently, “Your Highness, perhaps you could grant me the favor of finishing this game.”
Li Rong remained silent, quietly observing Su Rongqing. Today, he seemed different from his usual self, more like the slightly unrestrained Su Rongqing she remembered from when he was drunk.
He was less restrained, a bit more uncharacteristic.
After a moment’s hesitation, Li Rong returned to the chessboard and gestured, “Please.”
While Li Rong and Su Rongqing were playing chess in the high tower, Pei Wenxuan whipped his horse, galloping all the way into the palace. He dismounted and sprinted toward the main hall, shouting urgently, “Your Majesty, Qin Shi has been wronged! Spare her life!”
The Morning Court Assembly had just begun. Pei Wenxuan’s shouts echoed from outside the hall, and everyone turned to see a young man in a mud-stained blue robe, clutching a scroll of papers, rushing into the hall.
“Pei Wenxuan?”
Li Ming exclaimed in shock at the sight of the newcomer. The officials present wore varied expressions. Pei Wenxuan knelt, panting heavily, and saluted, “Greetings, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years.”
“You…” Li Ming uttered in disbelief. He swallowed the words “Weren’t you dead?” and remembered that Li Rong had reported Pei Wenxuan as ill. After a pause, he changed his question: “Aren’t you still unwell?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan replied respectfully, “Her Highness must have informed you that I feigned illness to secretly leave the capital and thoroughly investigate Qin Shi’s case. After departing, I realized I was being followed. To avoid detection, I pretended to fall off a cliff, which allowed me to proceed smoothly to the northwest and complete the investigation. I have now obtained evidence proving Qin Shi’s innocence. I implore Your Majesty to immediately send someone to the execution ground and order the executioner to spare her life.”
Upon hearing this, Li Ming quickly grasped the situation and urgently said, “Quick, go to the execution ground and stop the Qin family!”
The eunuch received the order and hurried out. Several senior ministers frowned, exchanging glances with the eunuchs behind them. The eunuch standing behind the curtain silently retreated.The messenger eunuch received the order and left the palace. Shortly after exiting the palace gates, he encountered a wave of assassins charging straight toward him.
The eunuch panicked, urging his horse to retreat swiftly. As a feathered arrow flew toward him, he found himself with no way to dodge, his eyes widening in shock. At that moment, a blade suddenly emerged from the side, slicing the arrow in two. The wielder grabbed the eunuch and threw him onto his own horse, urgently saying, "Your Excellency, I have been ordered by the Supervisory Department to protect you. Please follow me."
With that, the guard led the eunuch through the crowd, fighting their way forward. The alley was densely packed with assassins, who clashed with the Supervisory Department’s men, turning the narrow lane into a chaotic battlefield.
While the messenger eunuch was delayed on the road, another group quickly left the palace and rushed straight to the execution ground. Arriving ahead of time, they found a guard and whispered a few words into his ear. The guard immediately stepped forward, approached the supervising official, and murmured something to him.
The supervising official frowned, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded.
"The time has come," the supervising official suddenly reached out, took the token inscribed with the character "behead," and threw it to the ground. "Execute—"
Before he could finish, a hoarse shout erupted from the crowd: "Your Excellency, the time has not yet arrived."
The supervising official had not expected anyone to openly challenge him like this. Gritting his teeth, he angrily declared, "Execute immediately!"
The executioner seemed to know the timing was off and hesitated. Seeing the executioner unmoved, the supervising official slammed the table. "What are you waiting for? I ordered you to execute!"
Provoked by his superior’s anger, the executioner dared not delay any longer. He reached out, removed the placard from behind Qin Lin, raised his broadsword, and swung it down. At that moment, a young man burst out from the crowd, kicking the executioner away. With a swift motion, he sliced through Qin Lin’s ropes and tossed a sword to him.
"Prison break!"
The soldiers instantly reacted, charging forward urgently.
Xun Chuan muttered "rescue them" under his breath before kicking away the advancing soldiers. Sword in hand, he stood protectively in front of the Qin family, shouting angrily, "The time has not yet arrived! How dare you execute someone ahead of schedule? Such audacity!"
"Arrest them!"
As chaos erupted, the supervising official panicked and yelled, "This is lawlessness! It’s a prison break! Stop them, stop them all!"
Amidst the supervising official’s shouts, soldiers surged toward the platform. Xun Chuan held them off while Qin Lin stumbled to rescue others. The two worked together, protecting the Qin family and turning the execution ground into utter chaos.
At that moment, a eunuch, shielded by guards, galloped forward on horseback, holding an imperial decree and shouting, "Spare them! Spare them from the blade!"
While Huajing was engulfed in clashes of swords and blades, an unexpected tranquility prevailed atop the Northern Yan Tower.
"Minister Su seems quite at ease today," Li Rong placed a chess piece, listening to the sound of bronze bells ringing in the wind outside. "You’re willing to accompany me in a game of chess."
"Accompanying Your Highness in chess is something I am always willing to do," Su Rongqing replied naturally, his gaze fixed on the board. "Moreover, I thought Your Highness might have many questions for me, which is why I deliberately stayed."
"Minister Su is right," Li Rong smiled. "I do have many questions I’d like to discuss with you."
"Your Highness, please speak.""I actually don't understand what Minister Su said earlier," Li Rong said as she and Su Rongqing took turns placing chess pieces. "Why does Minister Su want to marry me? Even if Pei Wenxuan is dead, I am still a remarried woman. Moreover, I have long since broken with the Crown Prince. Marrying me holds little significance for Minister Su, so why go to such great lengths to marry a twice-married woman?"
Su Rongqing remained silent. Li Rong pondered and continued, "From the moment Minister Su first met me, you intended to align with the Crown Prince. Going through all this trouble to protect me—do you still hope to use me to maintain ties with the Crown Prince? But why does the Su family place such importance on their relationship with the Crown Prince? The Crown Prince's temperament is gentle, he doesn't need..."
"Your Highness," Su Rongqing interrupted her, "must you link everything to power and influence?"
Li Rong's hand, holding a chess piece, paused. Su Rongqing lifted his gaze, quietly watching Li Rong. "I do not wish to be your enemy. I hope Your Highness lives well. Is such a simple reason not enough?"
Li Rong stared blankly at Su Rongqing. Outside, birds flew past, sweeping from the Northern Yan Tower all the way to the main hall.
In the main hall, Pei Wenxuan had already submitted the accounts he had investigated along the way, along with the testimonies recorded by the common people of Huangping County regarding that battle.
"Your Majesty, I visited the county offices along the route of the military provisions and transcribed the specific grain records from each county office at that time. According to the Ministry of War's records, Huangping County had three thousand soldiers. Before the battle, ten thousand dan of grain were allocated for one month's rations. However, when the provisions reached Huangping County, there were actually less than three thousand dan. At each county along the way, the grain diminished, and in several large counties, it was nearly exhausted. The accounts from these counties show that the amount of grain each received was less than what the previous county reported it should have. After verification, the total grain each county reported as due to the others was incorrect, but the actual grain received by each county matches the records up to Huangping County's. This shows that the figure of three thousand dan received by Huangping County is true, while the Ministry of War's record of ten thousand dan is likely erroneous."
"In addition to the grain records, I also visited local soldiers and commoners, recording testimonies about that battle. Before the battle began, more than half of the soldiers were already starving and ill, utterly incapable of fighting. Under such circumstances, the Qin family still managed to evacuate the city's civilians in advance, with minimal casualties. They should not be punished but rather rewarded, lest we chill the hearts of the border troops."
"I implore Your Majesty," Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, raising his voice, "to thoroughly investigate the embezzlement of military provisions in Huangping County back then."
As soon as Pei Wenxuan finished speaking, the Vice Minister of War hastily stepped forward, loudly exclaiming, "Slander! This is blatant slander!"
"Whether it is slander or not," Pei Wenxuan raised his head, speaking passionately, "an investigation will reveal the truth!"
"Your Majesty," Pei Wenxuan kowtowed to the ground, his voice resounding, "I beseech you to thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Censorate, to clear the Qin family's name and deliver justice to the border troops!"
Li Ming remained silent, and everyone else was quiet as well.
Pei Wenxuan had brought back too much evidence, and it was too solid. At this moment, no one wanted to step forward.The evidence was plentiful, and many were implicated. Those who had participated back then, after a long silence and seeing no one speak out, finally couldn't hold back and rushed forward. Wen Ping from the Censorate was the first to speak, angrily saying, "Pei Wenxuan, what do you mean? The Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Censorate—are you saying the entire court conspired to deceive the emperor and frame the Qin family? What kind of face does the Qin family have to warrant that? And you, as a Supervisory Censor, neglecting your duties, deceiving the emperor, leaving the capital unlawfully, and fabricating a pile of evidence to mislead His Majesty—do you think His Majesty will be fooled by you?"
"Exactly," Wen Ping started, and other officials hurriedly stepped forward, flustered, saying, "You investigated the accounts? As a Supervisory Censor, what authority do you have to examine the accounts of so many counties? Why would anyone give them to you? Where did you get these accounts? Confess the truth!"
"Your Majesty," Wen Ping turned to Li Ming, knelt down, and said, "Pei Wenxuan has neglected his duties and deceived the emperor. His father, Pei Lizhi, was a longtime friend of the Qin family. Now, to protect his own interests, he has gone so far as to fabricate evidence. I implore Your Majesty to investigate and punish him!"
As he spoke, many followed Wen Ping in kneeling, urgently pleading, "Your Majesty, we beg for a thorough investigation!"
Li Ming remained silent, while Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, saying nothing.
In truth, everyone present knew that, faced with such evidence, whether Li Ming would investigate further was not a matter of the evidence itself, but whether he could or wanted to investigate.
The noble families were a sword hanging over Li Ming's head. If he pushed too hard, the sword might fall.
The noble families were betting on Li Ming's fear, and indeed, Li Ming was afraid.
He only wanted to balance the noble families, but balance, not topple them entirely.
He dared not, nor could he, do so now.
And the memorial Pei Wenxuan had presented him was one that could cut the rope holding that sword, causing it to fall.
Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, awaiting Li Ming's decision. After a long silence, Pei Wenxuan spoke, "Your Majesty."
"The soldiers at the border guard not only the frontier but also the mountains and rivers of Great Xia."
This was a hint, reminding Li Ming that mishandling the border affairs would shake the very foundation of Great Xia.
Li Ming held Pei Wenxuan's memorial for a long time before finally saying, "Minister Pei, you have worked hard on your journey. This case is of great importance. I will think it over. You must be tired; go and rest for now."
"Yes."
Pei Wenxuan bowed respectfully and rose, preparing to leave when Li Ming added, "Ping Le is currently under house arrest at Northern Yan Tower. Go and fetch her, then return together."
Pei Wenxuan was slightly taken aback, then lowered his gaze and replied respectfully, "Yes."
As Pei Wenxuan hurried to Northern Yan Tower, Su Rongqing and Li Rong's game of chess was not yet finished.
After saying, "Is that not allowed?" Su Rongqing quietly watched Li Rong, saying nothing more.
When ordinary people said such words and looked at someone, their purpose was to await a response. But as he watched Li Rong, it truly seemed he was only watching.
Li Rong sensed no desire in his gaze.
That look contained many complex emotions, but no matter what it held, it lacked any expectation for her response.
It seemed he had only spoken for her to hear, and whether she responded or not was unimportant.
Even her answer felt superfluous.
"Minister Su..." Li Rong hesitated, wanting to say something to ease the atmosphere, but before she could speak, Su Rongqing interrupted her."Your Highness," his hand rested in the chess box, he seemed somewhat weary as he changed the subject, "I spoke nonsense earlier, please do not take it to heart. Aligning with the noble families to assist the Crown Prince in ascending the throne is your best path. As for the Supervisory Department you established, there must be limits. Struggles for power are fraught with danger; you must be cautious."
Li Rong remained silent. Su Rongqing stood up, his tone steady: "This game of chess, I have lost. I will not disturb Your Highness further and shall take my leave."
Li Rong lowered her gaze, looking at the chessboard where victory and defeat were far from decided.
As Su Rongqing turned to leave, before he reached the door, Li Rong suddenly called out: "Su Rongqing."
Su Rongqing halted his steps. Li Rong stared at the distinctly black and white pieces on the board, wanting to say something.
She wanted to ask him if he liked her.
She wanted to ask him what he truly meant by wishing her well and not wanting to be her enemy.
But as the words reached her lips, countless questions seemed to follow.
If he truly had feelings for her, why did he not propose back then?
With the Su family's influence, if he had risked everything to marry her, it might not have been impossible.
If he truly liked her, if he truly had such intentions...
Then he still watched her marry Pei Wenxuan without a word, which spoke volumes about the depth of his feelings.
A sentiment so fragile it dared not even be mentioned before family—what meaning was there in asking or answering?
Faced with these overwhelming questions, Li Rong suddenly lost her courage.
She deflated abruptly and waved her hand: "You may go."
Su Rongqing said nothing. He stood for a moment before finally leaving.
Upon hearing that Li Rong was at the Northern Yan Tower, Pei Wenxuan rushed over without even changing his clothes. As soon as he entered the courtyard of the Northern Yan Tower, he saw Su Rongqing walking out.
Pei Wenxuan was slightly taken aback but quickly realized that Su Rongqing must have come to see Li Rong.
Pei Wenxuan frowned. Seeing Pei Wenxuan, Su Rongqing also stopped in his tracks.
The two men stared at each other. After a moment, Pei Wenxuan was the first to smile, bowing slightly: "Vice Minister Su."
"Censor Pei."
"Vice Minister Su did not attend the Morning Court Assembly today?"
Pei Wenxuan made casual conversation while glancing inadvertently at the Northern Yan Tower: "Strolling at the Northern Yan Tower is quite a refined pastime."
"I had matters to discuss with Her Highness," Su Rongqing replied flatly.
Pei Wenxuan smiled: "They must have been urgent matters."
Su Rongqing remained silent. A gentle breeze rustled the withered grass around them. Su Rongqing stared into Pei Wenxuan's eyes for a long time before suddenly speaking: "What are you afraid of from me?"
"Afraid of you?" Pei Wenxuan raised an eyebrow. "Vice Minister Su, what nonsense are you speaking in broad daylight?"
"You are afraid of me meeting Her Highness."
Su Rongqing spoke directly. Pei Wenxuan's expression turned cold: "Vice Minister Su, choose your words carefully."
"Is that not so?"
Su Rongqing tucked his hands into his sleeves, speaking lightly: "If it were not for His Majesty's wariness of maternal relatives, you would never have even touched the hem of the princess's robe in your lifetime. Do you think someone like you would ever be worthy of standing by the princess's side?"
"Censor Pei, you must be curious about what I discussed with Her Highness," Su Rongqing said, moving closer to Pei Wenxuan. He leaned in and whispered into Pei Wenxuan's ear: "I told Her Highness," Su Rongqing lowered his voice, "that I am willing to marry her."
Upon hearing this, Pei Wenxuan's eyes widened in shock.
"What a pity you returned."Su Rongqing's voice carried a hint of coldness: "But if you continue to drag Her Highness into conflict with the noble families and keep placing her in such danger, Pei Wenxuan, your luck won't hold forever."
As he spoke, Su Rongqing raised his hand and lightly patted Pei Wenxuan's shoulder. "Take care."
With that, Su Rongqing calmly walked away.
Pei Wenxuan stood quietly in place, feeling that the weather in October was indeed growing somewhat cold.
Suddenly, he wanted to see Li Rong—so urgently, so eagerly, he longed to see her.
Yet the thought of meeting her filled him with inexplicable fear and dread.
He feared that as soon as she opened her mouth, she would tell him Su Rongqing had proposed to her, that she was going to accept him.
He feared that the moment they met, she would let him know that in this relationship, he had already been abandoned long ago.
It had been so in their previous life, and it was the same now.
This dread rooted him to the spot, leaving him unable to move for a long time.
Meanwhile, Li Rong sat atop the high tower. After drinking tea to calm herself for a moment, she heard Jing Lan exclaim happily, "Your Highness, the Imperial Son-in-Law is below the tower."
Hearing this, Li Rong instantly smiled. She hurriedly stood up and walked to the window, where she indeed saw Pei Wenxuan standing below the tower, seemingly lost in thought.
"This fool."
Li Rong pursed her lips and muttered the words, then lifted her skirt and hurried down the stairs.
By the time she reached the first floor, she was slightly out of breath but still tried to appear composed as she said to the guard, "The Imperial Son-in-Law is here to pick me up. Open the door."
The soldiers guarding the door naturally knew that Li Rong's house arrest was merely for show. News from the Morning Court Assembly had already reached Northern Yan Tower several times, so the soldiers quickly opened the door for her.
The vermilion gate creaked as it swung open. Hearing the sound, Pei Wenxuan turned around and watched as the gate opened inch by inch, revealing the slender figure standing behind it.
She wore a white gauze gown with blue trim and wide sleeves patterned with white plum blossoms. Her long hair cascaded loosely, with only a small portion half-tied up by a jade hairpin. She looked ethereal and elegant, like an immortal descended to the mortal world.
She gazed at him with a radiant smile, her eyes carrying a hint of teasing. Her entire being melted into his heart, softening it completely.
All his emotions—dejection, panic, unease, dread—vanished the moment he saw her smile. He stared at her, dazed, like a mortal beholding an immortal.
Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan before her. The young man wore plain green robes, his face unshaven with stubble. It seemed like one of the rare moments in his life when he appeared somewhat disheveled, yet somehow, it only made him seem more genuine and touching.
Li Rong smiled as she looked at him, but when her eyes fell on the mud on his clothes, his swollen palms, and the wounds on his face, her smile slowly faded.
A silent ache spread through her heart. Suddenly, she wanted to hug him, but she felt it would be too improper.
She called out hoarsely, "Pei Wenxuan."
At that moment, the young man seemed to snap out of his daze. Without waiting for Li Rong to say another word, he strode forward and pulled her into his arms.
Li Rong was momentarily stunned, then heard Pei Wenxuan murmur in a low, relieved voice, "Rongrong."
"I'm back. I've come to take you home."
Author's Note: 【Mini Theater】
Su Rongqing: "Pei Wenxuan, if you dare to put her in danger again, your luck won't hold forever."Pei Wenxuan: "What, you think you decide my luck? If your luck is bad, stay far away, don't infect me. I'm taking my wife home."
Su Rongqing: "..."
Pei Wenxuan: "Also, you can act cool in the main story, but don't put on airs in the side stories. Don't you know I have the right to be OOC in side stories?"
Su Rongqing: "Like picking on me?"
Pei Wenxuan: "Not only can I pick on you, I can even hit you."
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