The Princess Royal

Рei Wenхuаn wаs silеntlу pondering hоw tо respоnd when an еldеrlу vоiсе callеd out from nearby, "Your Нighnеss."

Bоth turned tо sее Хie Lаnqing аррrоaсhing from a distanсе.

Pеi Wenxuan аnd Li Rong eхchangеd а quiсk glаnсе, еach sееing surprisе in thе оther's еyеs. Хie Lanqing wаlkеd up tо them and bowеd to Li Rong. "Your Нighnеss."

"Мinister Хie." Li Rong noddеd in асknowlеdgmеnt, thеn smilеd. "Мinistеr Xiе usuаlly dоesn't sрeak tо me. Whу thе suddеn greеting tоdау?"

These wоrds were quite humiliating, esрeciallу for somеonе likе Xiе Lanqing, who had held the crucial position of Minister of Justice for many years.

But Xie Lanqing remained expressionless and calmly replied, "I heard Your Highness was attacked yesterday. As an old minister, I was quite concerned, fearing that someone as young as Your Highness might lack experience in handling such matters. So I came to ask if the Ministry of Justice could be of assistance."

"I've already captured the culprits and interrogated them thoroughly," Li Rong said, looking directly into Xie Lanqing's eyes. "There's no need for Minister Xie to trouble himself."

"Then does Your Highness know who the mastermind is?"

Xie Lanqing's question was rather direct. Li Rong clasped her hands in front of her, smiling at Xie Lanqing without answering. Xie Lanqing frowned. "Why does Your Highness not reply?"

"Why does Minister Xie ask?" Pei Wenxuan interjected at the right moment. Xie Lanqing turned to him, only to see Pei Wenxuan wearing a faint, ambiguous smile. "Could it be that Minister Xie has something to worry about and specifically needs to confirm it with Her Highness?"

"This old minister was merely concerned and asked casually. Lord Pei is overthinking."

Xie Lanqing's face turned cold, clearly displeased. Pei Wenxuan clasped his hands and bowed slightly as an apology.

"Since showing concern only invites suspicion from Your Highness, this old minister will not ask further," Xie Lanqing said bluntly, turning away with a cold tone. "Your Highness may investigate on your own."

With that, Xie Lanqing returned to his position. Pei Wenxuan glanced at Li Rong and then smiled. "Your Highness, I shall take my leave and return to my place."

Pei Wenxuan bowed and also retreated to his position.

Not long after, Li Ming arrived in the hall, and the Morning Court Assembly began as usual. Li Ming appeared weary and somewhat irritable. After the court session commenced, he first inquired about the weather conditions across the regions, then turned to Li Rong and said stiffly, "Ping Le."

"Imperial Father."

Hearing the restraint in Li Ming's voice, Li Rong knew his mood was not good today. She quickly knelt and moved forward, already adopting a posture of seeking forgiveness. Seeing her action, Li Ming softened slightly. "I heard you were attacked yesterday. Is this true?"

"Reporting to Imperial Father, it is indeed true."

"Outrageous!"

Li Ming suddenly stood up and shouted, "Who dares to attack you? Do they not value their lives?!"

"Reporting to Imperial Father, the captured assailants confessed that they were family members of the former Granary Bureau Director Chen Guang, seeking revenge."

"Revenge?" Li Ming laughed in anger upon hearing this. "He isn't even dead yet. What revenge? And after embezzling military funds and committing such a heinous crime, doesn't he deserve death? How dare his family seek revenge?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present." A censor stepped forward from the Censorate ranks. Li Ming looked up and said coldly, "I am speaking with the princess. Can't you wait to present your memorial?"

"Your Majesty," the censor did not retreat and continued, "the matter I wish to present is directly related to the princess."Li Ming furrowed his brow, and Li Rong also turned to look. After a moment, she finally recognized the person—it was Chen Guang’s cousin, Wang Huan.

Li Rong raised an eyebrow, watching as Li Ming impatiently waved his hand. Wang Huan bowed and then said, “Your Majesty, I humbly request that you summon the commoner woman, Chen Wang-shi.”

“Chen Wang-shi?”

Li Ming seemed puzzled. Wang Huan respectfully replied, “Indeed, she is Chen Guang’s mother, Chen Wang-shi.”

Li Ming hesitated for a moment, then, as if recalling something, said impatiently, “Summon her.”

Li Rong observed Li Ming’s expression, her mind already turning over possibilities. Before long, hurried footsteps echoed from the doorway, and soon after, an elderly woman with white hair entered, bowing respectfully. “I greet Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years.”

Everyone looked over. Li Ming seemed to think for a moment before hesitantly saying, “You… seem to be…”

“Your Majesty,” the woman lifted her head, speaking respectfully, “I once served as a palace maid in the inner court. When Your Majesty was young, I even looked after you for a time. I never imagined Your Majesty would still remember.”

“I remember now,” Li Ming’s expression softened slightly as he nodded. “You served in the Empress Dowager’s palace for a time.”

Hearing this, Chen Wang-shi quickly kowtowed again, tears already welling in her eyes. Seeing her white hair, Li Ming said softly, “Madam Chen, you are no longer young. Please, take a seat. What brings you to court today?”

“Your Majesty, I have come today to seek justice for my son.”

As she spoke, Chen Wang-shi raised her head and wept, “I have come to the court today to accuse Princess Ping Le of torturing my son, Chen Guang, forcing a false confession from him. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!”

Li Ming frowned and glanced at Li Rong.

Li Rong had just accused the Chen family of attempting to assassinate her, and now Chen Wang-shi was accusing Li Rong of forcing a false confession. Everyone watched Li Rong as if observing a spectacle. After a moment’s hesitation, Li Ming finally asked, “You claim Ping Le beat Chen Guang, but as a woman, how could you know this?”

“Your Majesty, though I am but a woman, my longing for my son drove me to have my servants make arrangements everywhere. Finally, I was granted an opportunity to see my son. I know my actions are punishable, and I am willing to bear the consequences alone. But every word I speak is true. I beg Your Majesty to order another official to reopen the investigation into the military provisions case and restore my son’s innocence!”

“Aside from you, are there any other witnesses to this matter?”

“Apart from myself, there are the servants who accompanied me on the visit, as well as other guards in the Supervisory Department. However, whether they are willing to speak the truth, I cannot say.”

“Your family’s servants are of the Chen surname and should avoid suspicion. As for the guards in the Supervisory Department, you cannot produce them. In other words, there is no concrete evidence for your claims.”

Li Ming pondered, speaking slowly, “And today, Ping Le has accused your Chen family of attempting to assassinate her, with both witnesses and material evidence. Do you admit to this?”

“Our Chen family attempted to assassinate the princess?”

Chen Wang-shi’s eyes widened, and she spoke urgently, “No, impossible! Your Majesty, for a hundred years, the Chen family has remained loyal to the throne, never daring to show the slightest disrespect to the imperial family. Even if Her Highness were to execute my son and wipe out the entire Chen clan, we would never dare to assassinate Her Highness!”

“Then do you have any evidence?”Li Ming calmly retorted, and Madam Chen Wang’s face turned deathly pale. She knelt there in a daze, and after a long while, she kowtowed and said, “Your Majesty, this humble woman has no evidence. I am merely a woman confined to the inner chambers. Even if I exhausted all my family’s wealth, I could only see my son once. I cannot torture anyone to extract a confession, nor can I bribe others. I have no skilled experts to forge evidence or twist the truth. But I believe that in this world, justice prevails, and the gods watch from above. I have no evidence, but I,” Madam Chen Wang said calmly, “am willing to die to prove my innocence!”

With that, Madam Chen Wang slammed her head toward the ground.

Li Rong abruptly stood up and shouted, “Stop her!”

The moment she rose, Pei Wenxuan had already rushed forward in a swift stride. Everyone else watched in shock. By the time Pei Wenxuan reached Madam Chen Wang, the old woman remained in her kowtowing posture on the ground, and a pool of blood had already spread beneath her.

Pei Wenxuan hurriedly turned her over and placed his hand near her nose. Li Rong calmly ordered, “Summon the imperial physician! Bring the imperial physician here!”

As she spoke, Li Rong approached Madam Chen Wang. Her hands trembled slightly. Pei Wenxuan looked up, his expression grim, and shook his head.

Then, he stood up. The imperial physician rushed in and checked Madam Chen Wang’s pulse. After a moment, the physician looked up and said fearfully, “Your Majesty, this lady… has passed away.”

Li Ming’s expression was extremely unpleasant. He seemed to have struggled to control himself for a long time before finally saying, “Take her away first.”

The guards obeyed the order and quickly stepped forward to carry Madam Chen Wang away. The court fell into a deathly silence. After a long while, Li Ming took a sip of tea and said, “Let us adjourn the court for now.”

Everyone bowed and then left in silence. Pei Wenxuan walked over to Li Rong’s side and called softly, “Your Highness.”

“I’m fine.”

Li Rong took a moment to steady her emotions. At that moment, Fulai approached and whispered, “Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned you.”

Li Rong acknowledged this and turned to Pei Wenxuan, saying, “You go back first.”

Pei Wenxuan said nothing, bowing to Li Rong and Fulai. After hesitating for a moment, he said, “I will wait for Your Highness outside the imperial study.”

Li Rong had no mind to respond to him. She nodded and followed Fulai away.

Led by Fulai, she made her way to the imperial study. Upon entering, she saw Li Ming standing with his back to her. As soon as she entered, she knelt and saluted, saying, “I pay respects to Father…”

“Look at the mess you’ve made!”

Li Ming threw a memorial at Li Rong’s head, instantly bruising her forehead.

Seeing the injury on Li Rong’s head, Li Ming paused for a moment, but then he hardened his tone and said coldly, “How many times have I told you to be steady and not act rashly? Look at you now. How could you be so reckless in handling such a major case? Do you truly think that because I favor you, you can act lawlessly?!”

“I do not know what Father is blaming me for.”

Li Rong knelt on the ground and said calmly, “Does Father think I should not have investigated the Qin Shi case and the military provisions case?”

“What kind of attitude is this?” Li Ming grew furious at Li Rong’s demeanor. “Are you threatening me? I assigned you these two cases, not to cause trouble for me! Don’t you know that punishment does not extend to the noble families? Yet you went so far as to torture officials to extract confessions…”

“I did not.”Li Rong spoke decisively. Li Ming glanced around, waved his hand to dismiss everyone, then walked over to Li Rong and crouched down. "Do you think I'm angry because you tortured them? You investigate the case your way—I only care about the results. What angers me is that you acted recklessly without cleaning up the mess!"

"I didn't," Li Rong raised her head, her voice firm and resolute. "Father, why won't you believe that I didn't torture them? They wanted to harm me, to assassinate me. Instead of blaming them, today you blame me?! Don't you understand how much resistance these two cases face? For you, for the sake of justice, don't you realize how much pressure I've endured?"

As she spoke, Li Rong's eyes reddened. She stared at Li Ming. "You know perfectly well how many people want to harm me, yet you still believe them..."

"Ping Le..." Seeing Li Rong cry, Li Ming felt a pang of guilt. "It's not that I don't believe you. It's just your temper..."

"What's wrong with my temper?" Li Rong, disregarding decorum, knelt on the floor and sobbed loudly. "Is my temper bad? Am I unfit to be a princess or a daughter? They want to kill me every day—how can my temper be good? You're my father. Not only do you not protect me, but you also join them in bullying me."

"Why are you bringing this up?" Li Ming felt a headache coming on. "What bullying? You're now an official of the court—how can you still act like a child? Where is your dignity?"

"I don't want dignity anymore," Li Rong cried. "I won't be an official anymore. Let me go back. Chang Le and Hua Le are living well—why should I wade into this muddy water? Why? Father, tell me, what am I after?"

As she spoke, she raised her head and clutched the fabric over her chest. "Going through life and death like this—isn't it all for you, Father? I couldn't bear to see those noble families pressuring you. Did I do wrong?"

These words struck Li Ming's heart. Looking down at Li Rong, crying pitifully at his feet, he found himself speechless.

A sour ache swelled in his chest. As Li Rong wept in anguish, Li Ming hesitated for a long time, unable to say anything. Finally, he sighed and said, "Go back for now. Don't concern yourself with the military provisions case or the Qin Shi case anymore."

"If I don't handle it, who will?"

Li Rong's voice was hoarse. "You, Father? Or the Crown Prince? Or someone else? Whoever handles this will suffer. After all this effort, does Father intend to yield once again?"

Li Ming remained silent. Li Rong pushed herself up slowly. "Father, you decide. Your daughter will not interfere anymore."

"Rong'er," Li Ming called out hesitantly, watching Li Rong's seemingly dejected back. After a long pause, he finally said, "Then... let Pei Wenxuan decide. He'll pass the judgment—you should be at ease with that, right?"

Li Rong stood with her back to Li Ming for a long time before replying respectfully, "Thank you, Father."

With that, she bowed. "Your daughter takes her leave."

Li Ming acknowledged her, and Li Rong wiped her tears as she left the room. After she exited, Fulai brought in tea and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Her Highness is still just a child, after all. Still young."

"I thought she had grown up," Li Ming sighed. "But she remains young at heart."Li Rong wiped away her tears as she walked out of the imperial study. Just as she stepped beyond the corridor, her expression turned cold.

Today, Li Ming’s mood had been off, clearly displeased with her, and the matter of Chen Wangshi had also been prepared long in advance. It was likely that as soon as she set the trap yesterday, those lurking in the shadows had devised today’s little drama.

But who had influenced Li Ming?

Lost in thought, Li Rong stepped through the gate and had just left the courtyard when she spotted a young man standing in the corridor. Dressed in an official robe of black with red trim, he held a court tablet in his hand, quietly gazing at the withered branches in the courtyard.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, he turned and looked toward Li Rong. Recognizing her, he smiled and respectfully said, “Your Highness.”

Li Rong hadn’t expected Pei Wenxuan to be waiting here all along. She felt a sudden rush of panic, lowering her head to hide the traces of her earlier tears. Walking over to him, she said hoarsely, “Why haven’t you gone to the government office?”

“Your Highness didn’t listen carefully to what I said earlier,” Pei Wenxuan replied, sighing as if he hadn’t noticed anything amiss. “I said I would wait for Your Highness, but it seems Your Highness didn’t take it to heart. It appears my place in Your Highness’s heart isn’t quite heavy enough.”

Hearing his words, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh. “How heavy do you want it to be?”

“Not too much, not too little,” Pei Wenxuan gently tapped the court tablet against his chest. “Just the whole heart will do.”

“Your appetite is a bit too big,” Li Rong scoffed. “Daydreaming.”

Pei Wenxuan nodded lightly. “Thank you for the praise, Your Highness. My greatest strengths are a good appetite, great ambition, sleepless nights filled with dreams, and excellent luck in daily life.”

With just a few words, Li Rong was amused by him. She glanced at him lightly, raising an eyebrow. “Weren’t you insisting on sleeping in separate beds yesterday? Not angry anymore today?”

“Your Highness jokes. When have I ever been angry with you?”

Pei Wenxuan spoke calmly. “I merely thought it best to maintain some distance from Your Highness. Our relationship hasn’t reached that point yet, and I can’t let Your Highness tarnish my innocence or take advantage of me for nothing.”

Li Rong: “…”

Very well, quite the temper.

Seeing Li Rong’s expression soften, Pei Wenxuan felt the atmosphere was about right. Noticing no one was around, he leaned in slightly and whispered, “I just looked into it. Last night, His Majesty stayed with Consort Rou. Her Highness Hua Le threw a tantrum with His Majesty and was punished to copy the Admonitions for Women ten times.”

Li Rong glanced at Pei Wenxuan, who smiled. “That should clear up Your Highness’s confusion.”

Li Rong said nothing, walking alongside Pei Wenxuan down the corridor. She indeed understood now.

Yesterday, she had set a trap at Butterfly Gorge, and the Chen family had carried out the assassination attempt. Logically, today she should have been able to use this assassination as a bargaining chip to force the military provisions case and the Qin Shi case to be settled.

Those behind the scenes must have anticipated this. They didn’t want these two cases to be settled, because once they were, it wouldn’t just be a matter of a large number of officials being replaced. More importantly, among those replacements, many would inevitably be people Li Rong wanted to promote, solidifying her position in the court completely.

They feared Li Rong gaining a firm foothold and also worried she would investigate the matter deeply. Those involved in the assassination were also terrified, so they must have reached some agreement overnight, at least with Consort Rou. Thus, Consort Rou had Hua Le act as a mouthpiece to say something, which led to Li Ming’s anger toward her today.Judging by Li Ming's attitude today, Hua Le probably just said things like she was incompetent, used torture to extract confessions from officials, and was too arrogant. So Li Ming punished Hua Le, but he took these thoughtless words to heart and thus came to trouble her.

When Li Ming held a grudge against her, having Chen Wangshi stage that scene in court to prove her innocence, the assassination case would become nearly impossible to investigate further. After all, the current "mastermind" was already dead, and no matter how much evidence Li Rong had handled in these cases, in the eyes of ordinary people, there would always be some added suspicion.

Whether for public opinion or to appease the noble families, with Chen Wangshi dying in such a manner, both the military funds case and the Qin Shi case would most likely not be severely punished.

Li Rong frowned tightly, lowering her head as she walked forward. After only a few steps, she heard Pei Wenxuan respectfully say, "Minister Xie."

Hearing this, Li Rong looked up and saw Xie Lanqing standing before her.

Xie Lanqing appeared quite pleased, raising his hand to salute Li Rong. "Princess Pingle."

"Where is Minister Xie heading?" Li Rong asked, her voice slightly hoarse as soon as she spoke.

Xie Lanqing chuckled softly. "This old minister was just on his way to see His Majesty. What happened to Your Highness? Your eyes are red, as if you've been crying?"

"Just dust in my eyes," Li Rong replied, pretending not to catch the mockery in Xie Lanqing's words. "Since Minister Xie has matters to attend to, I shall take my leave first."

"Your Highness, wait a moment," Xie Lanqing called out to stop her. Li Rong turned to look at him, and Xie Lanqing smiled. "Your Highness, the sea of suffering is boundless, yet repentance brings the shore."

Li Rong stared at Xie Lanqing for a long while before finally smiling. "Thank you for your guidance, Minister. I also have a word for you."

"Oh?" Xie Lanqing raised his hand. "I am all ears."

"Mind your own business and enjoy your remaining years." With that, Li Rong flicked her sleeve and left. Pei Wenxuan bowed to Xie Lanqing and followed Li Rong. Catching up behind her, he whispered, "Don't be angry. Why bother getting upset with this old scoundrel? He won't live much longer anyway."

In their previous life, Xie Lanqing was the first high-ranking official from a noble family to be executed after Li Chuan ascended the throne.

Li Rong shot a cold glance at Xie Lanqing's retreating figure before leaning closer to Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan bent slightly to listen as she whispered in his ear, "Now I understand why Chuan'er had him executed."

"Hmm?"

Li Rong gritted her teeth. "That old bastard is infuriating."

Pei Wenxuan thought about it. Xie Lanqing hadn't actually said much just now. Li Rong's anger was likely because he had seen her crying.

Pei Wenxuan glanced subtly in the direction Xie Lanqing had left and smiled. "Your Highness is right. That old bastard is no good."

Hearing Pei Wenxuan take her side, Li Rong felt much better. It wasn't until Pei Wenxuan escorted her to her carriage that she remembered and said with some dissatisfaction, "Why didn't you comfort me at all?"

Pei Wenxuan leisurely sat opposite her, looking up with a smile. "What does Your Highness mean?"

"Don't play dumb."

Li Rong raised her fan and tapped him with it. "Why are you getting bolder and bolder these days?"

Pei Wenxuan knew she was referring to him seeing her cry without saying anything. He found it amusing inwardly but showed no expression on his face. Lowering his head, he opened a folding document and said calmly, "Your Highness may not care about face, but I still do."

Li Rong frowned, then heard Pei Wenxuan say leisurely, "You haven't even paid me back yet, and you already want my comfort?"Li Rong was momentarily speechless, feeling somewhat guilty inside. She had made up her mind: she would go back and repay Pei Wenxuan for the peony money. Once the debt was settled, they could talk properly.

Pei Wenxuan stole a glance at Li Rong’s expression, suppressing a smile at the corner of his lips as he pretended to be focused.

He suddenly felt that this version of Li Rong was utterly fascinating.

Like a cat that desperately wants to reach out a paw to poke you but feels too embarrassed, scratching at its heart and mind, wondering how to catch your attention.

He had never seen Li Rong like this before. Now that he had, it felt both novel and amusing, so he kept all his plans to himself and said nothing.

Li Rong had settled the matter of repaying the money in her mind. When she saw Pei Wenxuan with his head lowered, the corners of his mouth uncontrollably lifting, she stopped herself from speaking what she had originally intended to say, momentarily at a loss for words.

How could he be this happy? If he had a tail, it would be wagging wildly. How could he still pretend to be so indifferent, so aloof, and so elusive?

She felt somewhat helpless toward Pei Wenxuan. After a moment of thought, she decided not to speak.

Pretend.

She thought, once she repaid him the money and no longer owed him anything, if he still acted so haughty, he shouldn’t blame her for being unkind.