Реi Wenxuаn's еrhu sееmеd to be harmоnizing with Li Rоng's plaуing, yet it wаs соmрlеtеly out оf sync with the drumming beside them. Whеn Li Rоng plаyеd fаst, hе рlaуеd slоw; whеn shе slowеd down, he spеd uр. Yet, bizаrrely, theу blended tоgether, сrеаting аn аbruрt уet strangеlу... plеаsаnt sound?
Еverуоne listenеd in аstonishmеnt. Li Ming turned to аsk the Minister оf Ritеs, Gu Zidаo, whо was most skilled in musiс: "Мinistеr Gu, is this how 'Тhе Маrсh intо Pingсhuаn' is supрosеd to be рerfоrmеd?"
Gu Zidаo, strоking his раlе beard, had bеen listening intently with his eуes closеd. Upon Li Мing's inquiry, hе slоwly оpened his eyes, turned, and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the original 'March into Pingchuan' was certainly not performed this way. Initially, Princess Pingle, Princess Hua Le, and Vice Minister Su's collaboration with the qin, flute, and drum was perfectly orthodox and proper. Imperial Son-in-Law Pei's addition of the erhu afterward is an innovative move."
Li Ming nodded, rotating the prayer beads in his hand. "It's not unpleasant to listen to, though."
"With Imperial Son-in-Law Pei's erhu added, this rendition of 'The March into Pingchuan' differs greatly from the past, yet it brings out other nuances. Previously, the piece depicted the fervent scene of the Prince of Pingchuan leading troops into battle, sweeping all before him. But with the erhu, a touch of desolation is added. The erhu enters in the final section, precisely describing the aftermath of war—corpses strewn across the fields and the suffering of the people. This suddenly enriches the piece with deeper meaning, adding layers to the music. It's a pity Imperial Son-in-Law Pei is clearly not proficient in the erhu, and Vice Minister Su seldom plays the drum," Gu Zidao chuckled. "If masters were to perform it, it would surely be even more remarkable. Still, the two have captured the essence. To appreciate such music from these young talents in the grand hall is a delight in itself."
As Gu Zidao offered his critique, the music gradually faded, and applause erupted from below. Most were discussing the changes brought by the erhu's inclusion, while Li Cheng and Hua Le were already forgotten.
Hua Le could still endure it, but Li Cheng, seeing this, angrily threw down his sword and, tears in his eyes, rushed back to Consort Rou's side.
Hua Le's expression was also far from pleasant, but being older, she couldn't afford to be as willful as Li Cheng. Li Rong stood up and walked over to Hua Le, smiling as she said, "Your flute playing was quite good, sister."
"You flatter me," Hua Le forced a smile and, without saying more, returned to her seat.
As soon as Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan took their seats, Pei Wenxuan whispered softly, "Your qin playing was quite impressive. The urge to show off couldn't be held back, could it?"
"Minister Pei is no less remarkable," Li Rong replied with a smile on her face, her lips barely moving as she spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear. "If the musician hadn't held onto the suona tightly, I'm afraid you would have played a funeral dirge right here in the hall, wouldn't you?"
"You underestimate me too much," Pei Wenxuan replied in the same hushed tone, leaning his head slightly toward Li Rong. "I am broad-minded. Today, I could have played a joyous tune like 'A Good Marriage' for you."
"You..."
Li Rong was about to retort, but before she could utter a word, she was interrupted by a loud voice of praise.
"Today, the qin was played well, the flute was blown well, the drum was beaten well, and the erhu... was also played quite well," Li Ming's voice rang out cheerfully. "But most importantly, Prince Su's sword dance was excellent! It was full of vigor! This is exactly how a man of Great Xia should be. Don't you all agree, my ministers?"The entire hall fell into a somewhat awkward silence. After a moment, it was the old fox Gu Zidao who spoke first, smiling as he said, "Your Majesty speaks truly. For Prince Su to possess such courage at such a young age is truly rare. In the future, the Crown Prince will bring prosperity to the nation through civil governance, while Prince Su will secure the state through military prowess. With one civil and one military, brothers united in heart, it is a blessing for Your Majesty and a blessing for the Great Xia dynasty!"
"Minister Gu speaks wisely," Su Minzhi chimed in with a smile, following Gu Zidao's lead by praising both Li Chuan and Li Cheng. By offending neither side, he finally prompted others to start speaking.
With everyone chiming in one after another, the atmosphere finally grew lively. Seeing that the ministers did not take up his words, Li Ming could not press further, but he seemed unwilling to let it go. He turned to Li Chuan and asked, "Crown Prince, you see your elder sister and younger siblings all wish to do something to celebrate the New Year. As the Crown Prince, do you have any thoughts on the matter?"
"I am not as talented in music or dance as my siblings," Li Chuan replied calmly. "I can only strive to be diligent in court affairs, sharing more of Your Majesty's burdens and bringing more benefits to the people."
"Fine words, spoken beautifully," Li Ming snorted coldly. Li Chuan kept a straight face, pretending not to hear the sarcasm in Li Ming's tone. After a moment of silence, Li Ming spoke directly, "You are already seventeen years old. The matter of selecting a Crown Princess should be brought up. How much longer do you plan to delay?"
Hearing this, Li Rong's heart tightened. She feared Li Chuan would refuse outright and was about to speak up to help him out of the predicament when she heard Li Chuan reply calmly, "Your son has never intended to refuse. I will follow the arrangements of Your Majesty and the Empress."
Li Rong was momentarily surprised. She had not expected Li Chuan to respond so smoothly. With Li Chuan agreeing, Li Ming could not say much more and simply stated, "Then after the spring begins, you should prepare to select a consort."
"Yes."
Li Chuan replied respectfully. Seeing that Li Chuan was neither swayed by soft words nor intimidated by harsh ones, Li Ming simply turned away and rewarded the four performers. After lingering a while longer, he hastily concluded the palace banquet.
Once Li Ming left, everyone dispersed—some went to the imperial garden to sober up, while others simply departed.
Li Chuan had drunk quite a bit with the others and seemed unable to handle the alcohol. He waved off the ministers and left on his own. Seeing Li Chuan rise and head toward the waterside pavilion, Li Rong patted Pei Wenxuan's hand and whispered, "I'll be back soon. Cover for me."
Without waiting for Pei Wenxuan's reply, Li Rong quickly stood up and followed Li Chuan out.
Li Chuan, accompanied by a eunuch, walked all the way to the waterside pavilion. Li Rong quietly trailed behind him, noticing his tall and slender figure, which seemed to have grown even taller. Vaguely, it overlapped with the image in her memory of that emaciated emperor who had lost all vitality, making her heart flutter with unease.
Li Chuan walked to the pavilion in the middle of the lake and had the curtains lowered. Li Rong entered and saw Li Chuan sitting at a long table. When he noticed Li Rong walking in, he smiled and asked, "Why has Elder Sister come as well?"
"The main hall was stifling," Li Rong hesitated. "I came out to get some fresh air."
As she spoke, she walked to the opposite side of Li Chuan and sat down. "Did they force too much wine on you?"
Li Chuan laughed. "How could that be? None of them dared to force me to drink. I just didn’t want to stay, so I came out."
"Your marriage..." Li Rong hesitated, but before she could finish, Li Chuan cut her off directly. "Sister, let me ask you a question."
Li Rong looked up at him. She knew Li Chuan would not ask a question lightly.She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Go ahead and ask."
"If," Li Chuan smiled bitterly, "I mean if, I had refused Father today, would you have helped me?"
"I would." Li Rong answered without hesitation. Li Chuan nodded gently, "I know, I've always known," his voice grew hoarse, "Sister has always been the best to me."
"Chuan'er," Li Rong looked at Li Chuan's expression, feeling a pang of sorrow in her heart, "Actually, you could have refused today."
"And what about next time?" Li Chuan asked directly, "I can't keep refusing others forever, refusing for a lifetime. Being willful comes with a price."
"Sister," Li Chuan paused, hesitating for a long time before slowly speaking, "It's my fault for letting the Qin family down. And it's also my fault... for letting Qin Zhenzhen down."
"If I had agreed to marry Sister Ya back then," Li Chuan said with confusion, "would the Qin family not have been framed?"
"No."
Li Rong replied firmly. Li Chuan looked up at her, puzzled, "No?"
Li Rong hesitated for a moment, and after a long while, she slowly said, "Chuan'er, no matter what you do, Sister will always support you. You don't have to force yourself."
Li Chuan remained silent. He lowered his gaze, staring at the tea in his hand. After a long time, he smiled, "Sister, I find it strange. I don't know from which day it started, but your attitude toward me has become especially indulgent. It's as if no matter what I do, you're willing to support me. Why?"
"I am your sister," Li Rong said earnestly, "I want you to live well, always as you are now."
"Then tell me the truth," Li Chuan stared at her, "Did I do the right thing?"
Li Rong was momentarily speechless. Li Chuan looked at her quietly, "In this palace, I want to marry someone I love, and I want the person who marries me to do so because they truly love me. Sister, do you think that's right?"
Before Li Rong could answer, Li Chuan took a deep breath, "It's not right. Sister, when you first stood by my side, I was overjoyed. But from the day the Qin family fell into misfortune, I began to regret it."
"When Qin Zhenzhen left, I went to see her off," Li Chuan closed his eyes, one hand resting on his knee, the other supporting himself, "At that time, I thought, if I had married Shangguan Ya as Mother wished, and taken a few concubines as Father and the ministers desired, then it would just be a pack of beasts tearing at each other in a cage. I would be a beast, and so would the others. At least innocent bystanders wouldn't be harmed."
"But I couldn't accept that. I couldn't help but feel pity—pity for the woman who would marry me, and pity for myself. And so, I ended up harming the Qin family."
"Mother was right," Li Chuan placed the cup on the table and stood up, supporting himself, "I can no longer take advantage of the love Sister and Mother have for me to act recklessly. Sister, don't worry, I've figured it out. The women who marry into the palace know full well what it's like here. They won't be heartbroken over love."
"I can't cause trouble for Sister. I am the Crown Prince, and these are trivial matters. Sister, don't worry," Li Chuan smiled, "I'll handle it well. Don't be concerned. I'm a man, I'll be fine."
After speaking, Li Chuan glanced around, "We can't let anyone see us talking for so long. I'll leave first."
With that, Li Chuan turned and walked away.Li Rong sat in the lakeside pavilion for a long while before turning her head to look at Li Chuan. In his retreating figure, she could vaguely discern the shadow of an adult.
After sitting in the pavilion for a while longer, Li Rong stood up and walked toward the main hall. Only a few people remained inside. Pei Wenxuan was still seated, waiting for her. After she took her seat, Pei Wenxuan glanced at her expression, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back at the last moment.
A moment later, he finally spoke, "It's getting late. Let's head home first."
Li Rong nodded. Pei Wenxuan instructed someone to prepare the carriage and then had another person fetch a cloak, which he draped over Li Rong's shoulders and tied for her.
Seeing his meticulous care, Li Rong couldn't help but smile softly. "I thought you were still angry with me."
"I am angry," Pei Wenxuan said as he finished tying the knot, smoothed out the cloak, and tucked his hands into his sleeves. Turning to walk out of the hall, he added calmly, "But Your Highness never consoles me anyway. In the end, I'm the one who has to back down. What's the point of putting on airs?"
Hearing this, Li Rong found it somewhat amusing. She walked up beside Pei Wenxuan and explained quietly, "Today, I stood up mainly because I didn’t want Consort Rou to get her way. Hua Le has always been a pawn in Consort Rou’s marriage alliances, and Hua Le knows it herself. She wouldn’t choose such a piece or ask Su Rongqing to accompany her without reason. What she did today was to let the world know that Consort Rou and the Su family are on good terms. That way, the common-born officials who follow Consort Rou would gain more confidence. And if Su Rongqing had truly expressed his stance today, given Father’s temperament, he might even have arranged a marriage."
"His Majesty wouldn’t actually arrange a marriage," Pei Wenxuan analyzed calmly. "Marrying Hua Le to Su Rongqing would still be an overreach for her. If Su Rongqing refused the marriage in court, His Majesty would be in a difficult position. He wouldn’t dare take that risk."
"And as for the other reason," Pei Wenxuan stopped walking and turned to look at her, "I’ll accept it for now, but I still feel uncomfortable and irritated. What do you suggest I do?"
Li Rong tapped her fan lightly against her palm and sighed. "After all this talk, I don’t think you’re really angry at all."
Pei Wenxuan raised an eyebrow. Li Rong looked up, her gaze full of understanding, and said with a hint of helplessness, "You just want to take advantage of the situation."
"Your Highness is joking," Pei Wenxuan retorted directly, speaking earnestly. "This humble official is not—"
Before he could finish, Li Rong threw herself into Pei Wenxuan’s arms, wrapping her arms around his waist and holding him tightly.
Pei Wenxuan’s words cut off abruptly. His body stiffened slightly as people passing by couldn’t help but glance at them. Li Rong looked up at Pei Wenxuan, her expression innocent. "Are you still angry?"
Pei Wenxuan looked into Li Rong’s eyes. Knowing full well that she was setting a trap for him, he could only answer honestly in the end. "I’m not angry anymore."
"Then do you want to take advantage of me?"
Li Rong pressed on, determined to prove that Pei Wenxuan was just looking for an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
Pei Wenxuan sighed, somewhat helpless. "How could I not want to?"
After saying this, Pei Wenxuan reached out and pulled Li Rong’s hands away, taking her hand and leading her forward. "Alright, you win. Let’s go home."
Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh. She took the initiative to link her arm with his and leaned closer. "Pei Wenxuan."
"What else does Your Highness command?" Pei Wenxuan asked, his arm linked with hers, looking as though he was ready to brave any danger.Li Rong smiled and whispered, "Does this count as coaxing you?"
Pei Wenxuan was momentarily stunned. He suddenly realized that just now, Li Rong seemed to have genuinely taken the initiative to coax him?
For a moment, he was at a loss for words. His heart felt a flicker of joy, yet he thought he ought to remain composed. As they walked through the night, passing through the palace gate, shadows enveloped them. In that brief moment of darkness, Pei Wenxuan finally responded softly, "Mm."
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