Chapter 1: If I Die, Pei Wenxuan Cannot Live

At the end of winter, the coldest time in Hua Jing, the snow quietly melted, bringing a chill to the air. 

In the Long princess’s residence, Li Rong lay on the bed covered with a thick brocade quilt. The room had many braziers, heating it to an extremely high temperature, resembling the heat of midsummer.

There were many people in the room, but none of them spoke. Li Rong felt dizzy, not exactly comfortable, but compared to the alternating days of sudden chills, fever, and unstoppable coughing from a few days ago, it was much better.

“Change the wash-cloth again.”

A refined male voice echoed, and a maid nearby responded with a “yes” before the sound of water could be heard. Then, Li Rong felt someone wiping the sweat from her forehead. The person’s movements were gentle, as if wiping a porcelain doll, afraid that it might break with a slight touch.

Li Rong opened her eyes in a daze and saw a man in white.

The man appeared to be in his forties, with an elegant temperament, handsome and gentle. Every gesture and movement exuded an indescribable elegance, making him incredibly attractive at first glance.

He noticed her waking up, looked into her eyes, and after a brief moment of surprise, he smiled gently, saying, “Princess, awake?”

Hearing these words, Li Rong was momentarily lost in thought. The man extended his hand to help her up, placed a pillow behind her back, and took a bowl of pear soup from the maid, bringing it to her lips. He softly said, “Drink some first to moisten your throat.”

As he spoke, he fed her spoonful by spoonful, the perfectly sweet soup entering her mouth, gradually bringing her back to full consciousness. She finally recognized the person in front of her. He was Su Rongqing, the steward who had served her for many years in the princess’s residence.

This is her most trusted counselor, and also the person closest to her.

Li Rong was about to say something when she felt a tickle in her throat. She pushed away Su Rongqing’s hand offering soup, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and started coughing violently.

Su Rongqing gently patted her back to help her ease the coughing. After a long while, she finally recovered and immediately asked about the court affairs, saying directly, “The matter of the crown prince, how is it going?”

“It’s still deadlocked,” Su Rongqing slowly spoke about her concerns, calmly saying, “Prime minister Pei refuses to relent, insisting on supporting the eldest prince as the crown prince. On my side, we’ve already found some dirty secrets of the eldest prince’s subordinates, and tomorrow it will be presented in court.”

“He’s really persistent.” Li Rong gasped for breath, and Su Rongqing let her lean against him.

Li Rong felt his warmth and coughed softly, saying, “He wants to establish Li Ping, isn’t it just for Qin Zhenzhen? So many years have passed since her death, and he still can’t let go. Yan is the legitimate son born to the empress, the rightful heir to the crown prince position. How can Li Ping be considered for the position?”

“You’re also speaking out of anger.”

Su Rongqing lightly laughed, raising his hand to massage her temples. Li Rong felt much more comfortable.

Leaning against Su Rongqing, she listened as he spoke softly, “Pei Wenxuan wants to support the eldest prince because he has his own intentions. The eldest prince’s maternal family is not powerful, and since childhood, he has been close to Pei Wenxuan. If the eldest prince becomes the emperor in the future, he can only rely on Pei Wenxuan. For Pei Wenxuan, it means he can continue to hold power securely until old age.”

“How is the emperor now?”

Listening to Su Rongqing’s words, Li Rong became much calmer.

Su Rongqing continued, “The emperor is still the same, unconscious and unlikely to last a few more days. The empress sent a message from the palace yesterday, urging you to prepare early. The matter of appointing a successor cannot be delayed any longer.”

Li Rong remained silent. Leaning against this person, after a long while, she slowly spoke, “Rong Qing.”

“Hmm?” Su Rongqing responded. Li Rong remained silent for a while, and after a long time, she said, “I feel like I won’t last much longer.”

Su Rongqing paused the hand that was pressing acupuncture points for her, and Li Rong didn’t say anything. She genuinely felt this way. When she opened her eyes this morning, she felt that she couldn’t go on.

“Actually, in this lifetime, I’ve had enough.”

Li Rong spoke slowly, “I’m just worried about the empress and Yan’er. If I’m gone, Pei Wenxuan will have free rein, and they might not be able to contend with him.”

“Don’t worry,” Su Rongqing’s voice lowered, “If you die, he won’t live either. I will kill him to accompany you.”

Upon hearing Su Rongqing’s words, Li Rong chuckled softly. She lifted her head and looked at the face of the person in front of her. In fact, he was almost fifty-one, but he didn’t show signs of aging at all. If not for a few strands of white hair on his forehead, you couldn’t tell his real age. Even now, he still had the appearance that many young girls would adore.

Thirty years ago, Su Rongqing, the eldest son of the Su family, at the age of nineteen, was the dream lover of all the women in Hua Jing. And now, even though he had aged, he was still the old dream in the hearts of many.

“I didn’t know,” Li Rong smiled as she looked at him, “that lord Su could also get angry.”

“I have many things to be angry about,” Su Rongqing smiled.

He was about to say something when a maid outside said, “Your Highness, Prime minister Pei requests an audience.”

Upon hearing this, Li Rong glanced at Su Rongqing strangely, “Why is he coming at this time? What does he want?”

“If Your Highness doesn’t want to see him,” Su Rongqing remained calm, “you don’t have to.”

Li Rong thought for a moment and then smiled, “Forget it, after all, we are a married couple. Let’s meet. Perhaps this meeting will be the last one?”

Su Rongqing didn’t say anything. He sat quietly. Li Rong turned to look at him, a bit puzzled, “Rong Qing?”

Su Rongqing seemed to have come back to his senses. He stood up and respectfully said, “Then, I will invite prime minister Pei on behalf of Your Highness.”

With that, Su Rongqing stabilized Li Rong against the pillow, adjusted her clothes, and then left. Li Rong had someone bring a bronze mirror, touched up her makeup a bit, and after a while, Su Rongqing led Pei Wenxuan in.

Pei Wenxuan was still wearing the black court attire, with wide sleeves and a red cloud pattern imprinted on the broad sleeves, matching a red inner shirt that made him appear even leaner. He was born exceptionally handsome in his youth, and now, at the age of acknowledging fate, although not as youthful, he gained a certain stability that few young people had.

As he entered the room, he saluted towards Li Rong. His every move exuded a fragrance that filled the air with his actions. Li Rong couldn’t help but take a few more glances. Pei Wenxuan was usually reserved, so why would he use such an obviously scented sachet?

Sensing something unusual, she didn’t show it on her face, curved her eyebrows and was about to ask him to sit down when she couldn’t help but cough lightly.

Su Rongqing hurried forward to pat her back. Pei Wenxuan watched coldly. After a while, Li Rong recovered, looked up at Pei Wenxuan, and smiled, “No small matters come to the Three Treasures Hall. Prime minister Pei hasn’t visited the princess’s residence for many years. Today, I assume there must be important matters.”

Pei Wenxuan remained silent, his eyes fixed on Su Rongqing. Su Rongqing pretended not to notice Pei Wenxuan’s gaze, standing motionless by the side.

After a long time, Pei Wenxuan finally spoke, his voice cold, “Let him leave.”

Li Rong wasn’t surprised by this command. Pei Wenxuan’s dislike for Su Rongqing was known, and not directly insulting him was already giving Su Rongqing face. Although she and Pei Wenxuan were technically still married, even if they had been separated for many years, they were still allies. She didn’t want to make things difficult, so she gently looked at Su Rongqing and advised, “Rong Qing, wait outside for a while.”

With Li Rong’s order, Su Rongqing saluted the two and left.

Once he left, everyone in the room followed suit, leaving only Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong. Li Rong coughed lightly, and Pei Wenxuan remained silent. After a while, Li Rong said, “What is it? Speak.”

“Regarding the matter of the crown prince,” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes, and he began discussing state affairs, “I came today to discuss it with you.”

“What is there to discuss?” Li Rong pretended not to know about court affairs, casually saying, “Yan’er is the legitimate heir, gentle and humble. What else is there to consider?”

“We have cooperated for many years. I don’t want to beat around the bush with you,” Pei Wenxuan’s eyes carried a hint of coldness, and his tone became much heavier, “The third prince is arrogant and unsuitable for the throne. Moreover, his maternal family is too powerful. If anything happens to you and me, the court may not be able to control the influence of the maternal relatives.”

“What’s the difference between maternal relatives and you and me?” Li Rong scoffed with a smile. “You speak so high-mindedly, what is it that you really want? You know it yourself! Instead of discussing with me, why don’t you tell me, what will you do if I don’t agree?”

“Do you insist on letting Li Yan ascend the throne?”

“Enough!” Li Rong raised her voice, “Yan’er is the legitimate heir of the main consort. Should we let a concubine’s son ascend the throne?!”

Pei Wenxuan remained silent. After a long while, he said, “Do you hold a grudge against Zhenzhen?”

“Can you call her Qin Guifei?” Li Rong couldn’t help but remind him. “Is Zhenzhen a name you can call?”

Pei Wenxuan fell silent again. After a while, he stood up and said, “You can still argue so loudly. Your health seems not bad. Since you disagree, so be it. In the future, each will have their own means. Don’t blame me for not reminding you.”

With that, Pei Wenxuan turned and left. Li Rong watched his back, her blood boiling, and she spoke in a cold tone, “I’d like to know what kind of means you’re talking about.”

“However you think it is,” Pei Wenxuan said coldly with his back turned, “that’s how it is.”

Li Rong didn’t say anything. She sneered, “Are you capable of killing me?”

“Do you think I can’t?”

Pei Wenxuan turned around to look at her, his eyes carrying a hint of killing intent. Li Rong, under his gaze, had a momentary lapse of concentration. The gaze was too cold, making her instantly clear. Pei Wenxuan, this person, is capable of doing anything to achieve his goals.

There was nothing special between them, just the constraints of being husband and wife, working together. With common interests, Pei Wenxuan could tolerate anything from her. Now, in this confrontation, it’s natural for him to employ all sorts of means.

Li Rong watched him slam the door and hurriedly gasped for breath.

Su Rongqing walked in, seeing her furious, hurriedly came to comfort her, and ordered someone to bring her medicine.

While gently patting her back, he said, “He must have come for no good reason. You are unwell, why bother with him?”

Li Rong didn’t speak, leaning on Su Rongqing and coughing. A maid brought the medicine, and Su Rongqing had it tested first to ensure it was safe before handing it to her.

Li Rong took a sip of the medicine, intending to say something. As soon as the medicine reached her stomach, she felt intense abdominal pain. Then, a rush of blood surged, and grabbing Su Rongqing’s sleeve, she leaned forward, spewing a mouthful of blood.

Su Rongqing was stunned for a moment, shocked, and shouted loudly, “Li Rong!”

Li Rong gasped anxiously by the bedside, her abdomen in turmoil. Su Rongqing held her, yelling for the imperial physician and checking her pulse at the same time. After a while, Su Rongqing’s hand began to tremble.

“It’s Xiang Meiren.”

He blurted out, and upon hearing this poison, Li Rong instantly recalled the fragrance on Pei Wenxuan. Xiang Meiren, back when Qin Zhenzhen was in the harem, died from this poison.

Xiang Meiren was usually placed in an incense burner, gradually inducing poison through the accumulated fragrance. However, there was another usage: after smelling Xiang Meiren, using medicine directly to catalyze the poison.

Enduring the abdominal pain, Li Rong swallowed the blood.

It was Pei Wenxuan.

She gritted her teeth, thinking that this wolf cub had ultimately taken action against her.

He wants to support Li Ping’s ascension to the throne. Currently, in the court, the emperor is immersed in succession politics, and the empress’s methods are not as effective as his. She is his biggest obstacle.

In the past, he tolerated her for many years because of her identity as the eldest princess. Now that the emperor is about to die, he doesn’t need the status of a son-in-law to gain the emperor’s favor. She has become his political enemy, and he naturally wants to get rid of her.

Being able to poison her so naturally in her residence is something only Pei Wenxuan, who has known her for thirty years, could achieve. So, the strange fragrance on him is Xiang Meiren, and this bowl of medicine is probably prepared by his people. If she had agreed to him earlier, this bowl of medicine wouldn’t have ended up in her hands.

But she didn’t, so he killed her.

He actually dared to kill her!

Li Rong realized this and couldn’t help but vomit blood again. She vaguely heard the footsteps of the imperial physician outside, and her mind became unusually clear as never before.

She cannot let him live.

The pain made her exceptionally calm—even if she died, she would make sure he was buried with her!

“Hold onto my token,” the imperial physician rushed over and began to administer acupuncture to Li Rong. Li Rong, gripping Su Rongqing’s hand, urgently said, “Gather the elite forces of the princess’s residence, set out immediately, ambush in the White Cloth Alley, assassinate Pei Wenxuan in the name of killing the princess.”

Blood spewed from her mouth, and Li Rong covered her mouth with a handkerchief, instructing in a muffled voice, “His people will definitely retaliate fiercely. After you finish the task, inform the staff and leave immediately. Once Pei Wenxuan is dead, the empress will handle the rest. You can’t be sitting ducks.”

“Stop talking!” Su Rongqing hugged her, his voice trembling, “I understand, I will handle it. You just look at the doctor, you’ll be fine, you’ll be fine…”

“If I die,” Li Rong’s vision gradually darkened, “Pei Wenxuan cannot live.”

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