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Chapter 14: This Life Has Begun Again, But Li Rong Is Still The Same Li Rong As Before

Regret is a complex emotion.

He couldn’t clearly articulate what was mixed into that regret.

Perhaps there was a bit of liking, but more importantly, at that moment, he knew he had lost Li Rong forever, his wife.

And Li Rong represented not only someone he might have liked but also the possibility of having a complete family.

If he had known how to be a good husband, understood how a man should act after marriage, how to bear his responsibilities, he could have figured out what matters he should have handled and what he shouldn’t have. Perhaps he and Li Rong would have had children early on, and they could have lived their lives happily.

This regret peaked when Li Rong and Su Rongqing were together.

They had quarreled, Li Rong slapped him, and he had pushed and struggled with Li Rong. They had shown each other their ugliest sides. Li Rong scolded him as weak, and he accused Li Rong of being promiscuous. In the long years, they argued whenever they met, he thought this woman was fierce and unreasonable, indulgent and decadent; she thought he was cunning and petty.

After arguing for so long, he couldn’t remember what Li Rong was like in the past. He didn’t recall that, in the beginning, he might have liked her a little. For the rest of their lives, they played the roles of allies, discussing political matters while disliking each other’s actions and harboring suspicions.

From the initial bitterness and regret when he first saw Li Rong with Su Rongqing, to later, when he saw them, he felt only numbness and disapproval.

Because the two of them could lean on each other, accompany each other, even though Su Rongqing eventually killed Li Rong. But Pei Wenxuan knew that even in the moment before the violence, Su Rongqing must have genuinely cared for Li Rong.

They had been through twenty-five years, but he remained perpetually alone.

Every time he saw children or happy families, he felt lost. Sitting in the homes of friends with many children made him uncomfortable.

As he aged, he found it easier to recall moments from his youth. He vividly remembered times when Li Rong and he lay together on a bed, contemplating how many children they should have and whether they would prefer boys or girls.

He had once hated Su Rongqing, thinking he had stolen his happiness. However, after experiencing life and death, realizing that Su Rongqing was not the same person and Li Rong had become an eighteen-year-old Li Rong, he looked back and discovered that reaching that point in life was not someone else’s fault. He bore great responsibility.

If he could start his life over again, he wanted to live a good life with Li Rong. He wanted to be a good husband.

However, in this lifetime, Li Rong is still the same Li Rong as before.

He could never have the wife who was wholeheartedly devoted to him at the age of eighteen, so he lost interest in this marriage. Even though he knew that this marriage might be unavoidable.

As Pei Wenxuan was lost in his thoughts, he drifted off to sleep in a daze.

When they woke up in the early morning, the campfire beside them had already gone out, leaving only some warm ashes. Unconsciously, they had huddled together during the cold night. Li Rong woke up somewhat bewildered, leaning on Pei Wenxuan’s arm and calling out, “Pei Wenxuan.”

Pei Wenxuan opened his eyes, feeling a bit numb in his hand. Then he realized what had happened. He pretended to be calm, withdrew his hand, and got up. Li Rong blinked at him, observing his stiff posture, and couldn’t help but say, “Why are you so nervous?”

“I’m afraid you’ll misunderstand.”

“So I’m thinking about how to prove my innocence.”

Li Rong laughed when she heard this, “What innocence?”

“I didn’t do anything last night,” Pei Wenxuan said seriously, “so don’t wrongly accuse me.”

“I know.”

Seeing him so serious, Li Rong lost interest in teasing him, yawned, and got up, “You haven’t reached the point where you don’t feel anything after doing something.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan first paused, then suddenly realized, blushing instantly. After holding back for a while, he finally blurted out, “Li Rong, you should be more reserved in the future.”

Li Rong ignored him, lightly chuckled, and walked to the riverbank to freshen up.

After hesitating for a while, Pei Wenxuan finally chose to join Li Rong at the riverbank. After taking care of themselves, they stood up and walked along the river. When the sun was about to rise, suddenly the sound of horse hooves came from the surroundings. Pei Wenxuan immediately grabbed Li Rong and said, “Hide!”

The two quickly entered the nearby bushes. Pei Wenxuan broke off a branch with leaves and handed it to Li Rong, who was a bit puzzled, “What is this for?”

Pei Wenxuan raised the branch seriously and whispered, “Cover.”

Li Rong: “…”

Suddenly, she realized what the swaying reeds she had seen in a daze earlier were. She had thought it was an illusion.

Although Li Rong felt that Pei Wenxuan’s behavior seemed a bit silly, she couldn’t help but raise the branch as well. She comforted herself that it’s better to be cautious.

The two of them crouched holding branches for a while until they finally saw the approaching people. Su Rongqing was riding a horse at the forefront, leading some servants from the Su family who were searching for something.

Seeing Su Rongqing, Li Rong relaxed. The Su family was a noble family with a prestigious background, and Su Rongqing was known for his gentlemanly demeanor, staying away from political disputes. Moreover, the mastermind this time was Yang Quan, not under Su Rongqing’s control, so there shouldn’t be any threat from Su Rongqing’s people.

She was about to stand up, but Pei Wenxuan grabbed her and shook his head, indicating to wait a bit longer. Knowing Pei Wenxuan’s extreme caution, Li Rong didn’t object and crouched back down, waiting with him.

After a while, several Eastern Palace attendants hurried over. Then a young voice sounded from afar, shouting, “Young master Su, I heard you found sister Ah Jie?”

A young man dressed in white, with a four-finger dragon pattern embroidered on his robe and a pearl-studded golden crown on his head, galloped into Li Rong’s view and stopped in front of Su Rongqing.

Su Rongqing saluted respectfully, saying, “Your Highness.”

“No need to be formal,” the young man said while looking around, “Where’s Sister Ah Jie?”

“Seeing the traces of the campfire earlier, I assume she went downstream.” Su Rongqing replied calmly, then with a hint of confusion, he asked, “Why is Your Highness in such a hurry?”

While Su Rongqing and Li Chuan were talking, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan hid in the shadows. Li Rong saw the newcomer and no longer hesitated. She turned to Pei Wenxuan and asked, “Shall we go?”

Pei Wenxuan nodded, and Li Rong stood up, confidently walked out of the grass pile, and shouted towards the distance, “Chuan’er.”

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look, and Li Chuan was momentarily stunned. Then, excitedly dismounting from his horse, he ran towards Li Rong.

Li Rong looked at the hurried young man. He seemed to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, and perhaps due to running too fast, a faint blush appeared on his otherwise pale complexion.

His eyes were filled with unabashed concern. He ran all the way to Li Rong, panting, and said, “Ah Jie, are you okay?”

“What could possibly happen to me?” Li Rong assessed the young Li Chuan and smiled, saying, “It’s you who ran so urgently. Don’t run out of breath.”

“I’m fine,” Li Chuan waved his hand, “I just heard someone say you were assassinated, and now they can’t find the culprit. I got scared. Sister, are you okay? Were you harmed by someone…”

Before he could finish speaking, Pei Wenxuan walked out from behind the bushes.

His clothes were stained with dirt, and his hair was not very neat. However, his exceptionally handsome features, even in such a disheveled state, exuded a kind of imposing composure.

Li Chuan’s words were cut off, and everyone stared blankly as Pei Wenxuan walked out. Upon seeing Li Chuan, Pei Wenxuan respectfully saluted, “This humble official, Pei…”

Upon hearing the voice, Li Chuan finally reacted. Without saying a word, he raised his fist and slammed it towards Pei Wenxuan, shouting, “You deceitful scoundrel, today I’ll kill you!!”

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