Воth hаrboring their оwn thоughts, thеу bеgan their resреctive рrepаrаtiоns.
Тhе сase in Li Rоng's hands was nearing its conсlusiоn. All invоlved hаd bееn сonviсtеd: оvеr sеventу officials, with mоrе than fоrty demotеd, thirteen еxiled, sеvеn ехесutеd, and a fеw оthers whо hаd сommittеd suicidе аs soon аs thе investigаtion began, whо were not соuntеd amоng them.
When this memоriаl rеaсhеd Li Мing, hе dеlibеratеd fоr a dаy bеfore finаlly writing thе wоrd "Аpрrоvеd."
Аfter the memоrial was submitted to the Сhancellеry for rеview, it wаs rеjeсted the same day. The response was lengthy, detailing the past merits of those officials, but its essence boiled down to two words: too severe.
Li Rong had no patience for verbal sparring with these civil officials, so she had Pei Wenxuan draft a memorial to rebuke them.
Pei Wenxuan had been in a remarkably good mood lately. In the evenings, he would sit beside her, and for every harsh word she uttered, he would rephrase it elegantly in writing.
When she grew tired of cursing, he would hand her a cup of water to soothe her throat.
While openly engaging in a war of words with these aristocratic families, she secretly dispatched people to set an ambush at Butterfly Gorge. The day before her planned trip to Butterfly Gorge, she ordered Shangguan Ya to bury gunpowder there as a precaution. That very night, Shangguan Ya came to report: "Your Highness, have you mentioned the ambush at Butterfly Gorge to anyone else?"
Li Rong looked up from her documents. "What's the matter?"
"There is another group of people doing something else at Butterfly Gorge."
"Something else?" Li Rong grew alert. "Have you found out who they are?"
"I thought you knew," Shangguan Ya said with a smile. "It seems they are the Imperial Son-in-Law's people."
"The Imperial Son-in-Law?" Li Rong was somewhat surprised. "What are his people doing there?"
"It's not clear yet, but today they transported a large quantity of flowers there, as if arranging something."
Upon hearing this, Li Rong thought for a moment and asked, "If they're transporting so many flowers, wouldn't that cause quite a stir?"
"Exactly," Shangguan Ya replied, seeming somewhat pleased. "I was worried about what to do if the Chen family showed no reaction to Your Highness's trip. Now there's no need to worry. The Imperial Son-in-Law's actions today have already alerted the Chen family. According to intelligence from our informant in the Chen residence tonight, many people visited the Chen estate today, and Lady Chen withdrew a large sum of gold and silver from the accounts, likely making preparations."
"The older ginger is spicier," Li Rong said with a hint of resignation. "As expected, I couldn't keep it from Pei Wenxuan."
"The Imperial Son-in-Law is a clever man," Shangguan Ya said with a smile. "Seeing that Your Highness has come this far, he understands he cannot stop you and has simply decided to assist instead."
"If things go well tomorrow, everyone will be rewarded."
Li Rong brightened, then remembered something else. "Is the gunpowder buried?"
"It is," Shangguan Ya replied, taking out a map of Butterfly Gorge and pointing to the locations. "It's placed at these three points. After entering Butterfly Gorge, at the third pool, dive in and swim westward. After ten zhang, you'll see light when you surface. There is a hidden small cave there. In case of any emergency, Your Highness can take shelter in this cave."
Li Rong nodded and discussed the entire process in detail with Shangguan Ya. Seeing that it was late, she walked out with Shangguan Ya. Just as they reached the entrance, they encountered Su Ronghua, who was also about to leave. Su Ronghua bowed to Li Rong respectfully and said, "Your Highness."
Li Rong nodded. "Is Minister Su heading back?""Yes." Su Ronghua smiled. "Your Highness and Miss Shangguan are also planning to return?"
The three of them stepped out of the Supervisory Department together. Li Rong smiled and said, "It's getting late."
"The weather has been cold lately," Su Ronghua said respectfully as he escorted Li Rong to her carriage. "Your Highness should go out less in the coming days."
Hearing this, Li Rong paused for a moment. She turned back and looked at Su Ronghua. After a long while, she gave a light smile. "Thank you for the reminder, Minister Su. The night is deep, so you should also avoid walking in the dark."
Su Ronghua chuckled softly, a hint of helplessness on his face. "Your Highness, whether I walk at night or not is not something I can decide. The only thing I can do is try to stay under the light."
"Even someone as bold as Young Master Su," Li Rong said with some confusion, "cannot choose whether to walk or not?"
Su Ronghua did not answer. He raised his hands in a salute and said softly, "I bid Your Highness farewell."
Li Rong looked at Su Ronghua for a moment before finally nodding and bidding farewell to Shangguan Ya and Su Ronghua.
When Li Rong returned to her residence, she saw Pei Wenxuan waiting for her as usual. Having heard of her return in advance, he stood at the entrance. As soon as Li Rong entered the estate, she saw the young man in blue standing in the corridor.
Seeing Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong couldn't help but smile. She walked up to him and patted his shoulder encouragingly. "Well done."
Pei Wenxuan was somewhat bewildered. He asked cautiously, "What does Your Highness mean by 'well done'...?"
"I know what you did at Butterfly Gorge."
Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan was startled. He hadn't expected Li Rong to care so much about him that she would even inquire about such details. Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but ask, "Since Your Highness knows, then tomorrow..." He felt uneasy. "Does Your Highness still plan to keep the appointment?"
"After putting in so much effort, how could I not go?"
Li Rong smiled. "Just do as you planned. But make sure it's done beautifully."
Pei Wenxuan was momentarily stunned by her words. His heart raced as he watched Li Rong clasp her hands behind her back and walk ahead. He opened his mouth, wanting to ask many questions but feeling it might be presumptuous.
Since Li Rong knew what he was doing at Butterfly Gorge, with her intelligence, she naturally also knew what was on his mind. If she still allowed him to proceed, did it mean... another kind of response?
Pei Wenxuan dared not think too much. He feared that if he overthought, he might say too much. But he had already prepared himself to say what he needed to say tomorrow. So he smiled and said solemnly, "Your Highness can rest assured. I will arrange everything properly."
Li Rong nodded happily. "Alright, let's eat."
That evening, Li Rong was in high spirits. Pei Wenxuan noticed her joy and felt somewhat uneasy.
He thought Li Rong must be looking forward to his performance tomorrow. If he didn't do well, would he disappoint her?
He understood Li Rong's temperament. She was cautious and guarded, so she likely wouldn't lower her defenses just because of one confession from him. Yet she seemed to be looking forward to tomorrow, probably because she expected him to do something for her.
Young girls always have a bit of vanity, wanting to receive unique care and attention. But Li Rong had seen many grand occasions, and Pei Wenxuan wasn't sure if he could give her the answer she wanted.Pei Wenxuan thought about the next day's events and ended up staying awake all night. Tossing and turning in bed, afraid of disturbing Li Rong, he repeatedly rehearsed every detail in his mind—every word he would say, every action he would take, every nuance...
By the time he had confirmed everything, it was nearly dawn.
Both of them had taken leave in advance. Li Rong, fond of sleeping in, remained in bed, while Pei Wenxuan rose early and went to the adjacent room. After washing up, he left the city before daybreak.
Li Rong slept in a daze and only woke when the sky was already bright. Yawning as she got up, she saw Jing Lan approaching to attend to her and couldn’t help asking, “Where is the Imperial Son-in-Law? Why is he nowhere to be seen?”
“The Imperial Son-in-Law left early this morning,” Jing Lan replied with a smile. “He left a message saying he would wait for Your Highness in advance at Butterfly Gorge.”
“How many people did he take with him?”
Hearing this, Li Rong’s first concern was Pei Wenxuan’s safety. Understanding her meaning, Jing Lan answered with a smile, “The Imperial Son-in-Law took all the elite shadow guards under his command. Your Highness need not worry; he will arrange everything properly.”
“That’s good.”
Upon hearing that Pei Wenxuan had taken all his elite forces, Li Rong felt reassured and became even more certain that he likely had a plan for the day’s events.
With Jing Lan’s assistance, she dressed, had some porridge in the dining hall, and then boarded the carriage led by Jing Lan, heading out of the city.
Li Rong brought a large entourage, creating an impressive procession. Jing Lan and Jing Mei sat with her in the carriage, and Jing Mei couldn’t help remarking, “Your Highness, with so many people around, who would dare approach you?”
Li Rong, sipping her tea, glanced at Jing Mei with a faint, knowing smile. “You’re still too young. If I brought no one at all, others might be even more afraid to approach.”
“Huh?” Jing Mei looked confused. “I don’t understand what Your Highness means.”
Li Rong chuckled. With nothing else to do in the carriage, she patiently explained to Jing Mei, “Given my status and the critical timing of the case, traveling so ostentatiously without strict precautions would imply I have a backup plan. Compared to overt strength, hidden arrangements are what truly intimidate assassins. After all, with so many people openly present, the level of danger is clear. They can easily gauge whether they have the ability to strike.”
“But what if they see Your Highness so heavily guarded and decide not to act?” Jing Mei asked, still puzzled.
Li Rong sighed helplessly, tapping Jing Mei’s head lightly with her fan. “I naturally have received intelligence, which is why I’m taking such precautions. Don’t worry.”
As she spoke, her eyes turned cold. “Chen Guang is the only heir of the Chen family. The matriarch would risk everything to save him. With someone willing to act as the blade, why would those who want to strike pass up such an opportunity?”
“It’s the perfect chance to deal with them all at once,” Li Rong said with a smile. “They’ve been trying to make an example for my father and me, thinking I’m too mild-tempered to handle them.”
Listening to this, Jing Mei glanced at Jing Lan. Though she didn’t fully grasp everything, she seemed to understand a little.
Jing Lan poured tea for Li Rong and said softly, “Your Highness is right.”
While Li Rong chatted with Jing Lan and Jing Mei, Pei Wenxuan was busy at Butterfly Gorge.
Peonies bloomed in clusters throughout the gorge. Pei Wenxuan directed people to arrange them in precise locations, transforming the entire Butterfly Gorge into a sea of flowers."Young Master," Tong Ye approached from the small path, arriving beside Pei Wenxuan who stood amidst the sea of flowers, and said happily, "Her Highness has arrived."
Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan pursed his lips into a smile, lowering his head as he replied, "Then I shall begin warming the wine just in time. By the time Her Highness arrives, there will be warm wine to drink."
With that, Pei Wenxuan instructed someone to place a small brazier for warming wine beside the long table he had already set up, and then began warming a pot of peach blossom wine.
Once the fire was lit and the wine placed, Pei Wenxuan knelt before the long table, raising his hand to gently touch the ancient zither resting upon it.
It had been many years since he last played the zither.
In the past, Li Rong had enjoyed listening to him play, so he would often perform for her after court. The young lady would lean against the table, quietly watching him, and when a piece ended, she would smile brightly and say cheerfully, "Pei Wenxuan, you are truly handsome."
He never knew whether she truly enjoyed the music or simply found him attractive while playing, but it didn’t matter. As long as she liked it, that was enough.
Pei Wenxuan raised his hand and gently brushed the strings. At that moment, Li Rong’s carriage had already left the city, growing farther and farther from Huajing.
Just as they were approaching Butterfly Gorge, arrows fell like rain, abruptly piercing the walls of Li Rong’s carriage.
Outside, chaos erupted—horses stumbled, people fell, and the sounds of clashing blades suddenly filled the air.
Li Rong sat calmly inside the carriage, her expression steady as she coldly reminded those beside her.
"They’re here."
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