Chapter 17: May A Wutong Tree Be Planted In The Courtyard, To Invite The Phoenix Carriage Home

Li Rong heard these words, chuckled softly, opened the small golden fan in her hand, covering half of her face, and smiled with narrowed eyes, “Then, this princess will await master Pei’s good news in silence.”

Pei Wenxuan bowed his head and saluted, respectfully seeing Li Rong off.

After Li Rong took back the fan, she walked out.

Upon reaching the outer gate, she saw palace servants waiting outside. Li Rong’s expression turned cold, and she instructed the people beside her, “Prepare the carriage, we’re going to the Eastern Palace.”

Not long after Li Rong left, the empress slowly regained her senses. She adjusted her appearance for a moment and called out, “Shande.”

Upon hearing the call, Shande hurriedly ran in and knelt in front of the empress, saying, “Your Majesty.”

The empress, sitting on the golden throne, looked somewhat weary and said, “Summon Pei Wenxuan.”

Upon hearing this, Shande was initially stunned, then realized that the empress probably didn’t know that Pei Wenxuan was right outside. However, he didn’t say anything extra, just nodded quietly, and turned to the door. He raised his voice and announced, “Pei Wenxuan, summoned by Her Majesty.”

Pei Wenxuan saluted Shande and then walked out from the doorway. The empress was sitting on the golden throne, supporting her forehead with her hand. As he entered, she lifted her eyes and gazed quietly at this young man.

Pei Wenxuan entered the main hall with a calm expression, knelt down to pay his respects, and the empress, looking at him, spoke slowly after a moment, “Were you outside the hall just now?”

If he had entered from the outer gate, he shouldn’t have appeared in front of her so quickly.

Kneeling on the ground, Pei Wenxuan replied calmly, “Just now, the princess asked this humble servant to wait outside the hall for Your Majesty’s summons.”

The empress nodded, and Shande, understanding the situation, withdrew and waited outside. The empress stood up straight, her voice low and hoarse: “During the conversation with the princess just now, you also overheard it.”

Pei Wenxuan remained silent, and the empress knew he was acquiescing. After a moment of silence, she spoke slowly, “Your father passed away early, and there are no elders at home to plan your future. Getting involved in court affairs recklessly is not beneficial for you. Regarding last night’s incident, do not mention it to anyone. After you go back, I will appoint you to another official position and arrange a suitable marriage for you. You don’t have to worry.”

Pei Wenxuan remained silent, and the empress seemed to have a headache. She supported her forehead and said, “Do you have any other dissatisfaction?”

“Your servant thanks the empress for understanding my difficulties and planning for my future. There is just one thing I don’t understand.”

“What is it?”

“If I were to retreat,” Pei Wenxuan raised his head, facing the empress’s gaze, “what about princess? How should she be handled?”

“This is not something you should consider.”

The empress spoke coldly, and Pei Wenxuan looked at her calmly and said, “What if I want to consider it?”

“What do you mean?”

The empress frowned, and Pei Wenxuan calmly continued, “Your Majesty, last night, Lady Ning entered the Wei Yang Palace, using threats and enticements, wanting to tie lord Yang and the crown prince together. However, she also went to the Ming Le Palace afterwards. Your Majesty might not have thought about why she went there.” 

The empress stiffened and said, “Go on.”

“Now lord Yang is wholeheartedly trying to gain favor with the princess, and concubine Rou is currently favored. Lady Ning’s visit to the Ming Le Palace must be to seek concubine Rou’s help in marrying lord Yang to the princess. But concubine Rou and the crown prince are mortal enemies. If the alliance between lord Yang and the princess is a good thing, why would she help? It shows that lord Yang’s marriage to the princess may have hidden dangers. I hope Your Majesty will think twice.”

The empress remained silent, and Pei Wenxuan continued, “Lord Yang promised Your Majesty military power. However, if lord Yang still has the power to resist, then forming an alliance with the crown prince is mutually beneficial. If lord Yang is already a fish without water, struggling desperately, then forming an alliance with the crown prince is dragging him into the mud. The crown prince currently holds no actual military power; the only military power depends on lord Yang’s maternal family, the Ouyang Clan. What His Majesty fears most now is the crown prince being the legitimate eldest son. If he wants to abolish him, he is afraid of the ministers’ anger, shaking the foundation of the country. But if the crown prince himself admits to his mistakes, do you think, with lord Yang and the Ouyang Clan joining forces, can they suppress the ministers and His Majesty?”

“In your opinion,” the empress hesitated, “what should be done now?”

“Your Majesty doesn’t need to do anything,” Pei Wenxuan said calmly, “these people each have their own plans. Right now, Your Majesty and the crown prince only need to do two things. First, as soon as I leave the Wuyang Palace, immediately block the news of my entry into the palace and the princess being with me last night.”

“I have already taken care of this matter,” the empress said, somewhat puzzled. “Why do you ask me to do these things?”

“With His Majesty’s eyes and ears in the palace, the actions of the empress cannot be concealed,” Pei Wenxuan said calmly. “It is only by the empress’s actions against me that I can gain His Majesty’s trust. Therefore, the next step for the crown prince is to prepare a case accusing lord Yang. Once lord Yang is in trouble,” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes and spoke earnestly, “the crown prince should immediately present the accusations and then promptly provide an alternative candidate for the position of general of the Northern Garrison.”

“And why is that?” the queen asked.

“In the future, Your Majesty will know.”

Pei Wenxuan looked at the empress. “I just don’t know if Your Majesty believes in me now.”

The empress looked at Pei Wenxuan. He appeared to be in his early twenties, but his speech was clear, his thoughts meticulous, and even in the presence of someone in her high position, he remained calm. He didn’t seem like a young man at all.

He silently watched the empress, and after a long while, the empress finally asked, “What are you seeking?”

With that, she stood up. “You are just a low-ranking official of the eighth grade. Why are you getting involved in the palace disputes?”

“If there is no ambition, why not retire?” Pei Wenxuan said lightly. “Those in the court, aren’t they all seeking the same things?”

“Then why choose the princess?”

The empress stared at Pei Wenxuan, who pondered for a moment before speaking truthfully.

“Your servant cannot bear to see princess humiliated.”

“Do you have affection for my daughter?” The empress showed a hint of realization, and Pei Wenxuan remained silent.

After a moment, he respectfully bowed, saying, “May the wutong tree be planted in the courtyard, and may the phoenix carriage return.”

The empress scrutinized Pei Wenxuan. She remained silent, observing him for a long time, and finally said, “You may go.”

“Your servant takes his leave.”

Pei Wenxuan bowed and then calmly left. As he walked out of the gate, a eunuch came forward, leading him to a sedan chair.

After he sat in the sedan chair, it didn’t take long for him to sense that the direction of the chair was not right. Having spent many years in and out of the palace in his previous life, he was familiar with the layout. He lifted the curtain and took a brief look, realizing that the sedan chair was heading towards the Imperial Study.

In his mind, he quickly deduced that Li Ming had received the news from Wei Yang Palace and was probably summoning him.

With a calm heart, Pei Wenxuan pretended to be in a light slumber. When the sedan chair stopped, he heard a voice calling, “Master Pei?”

Pretending to wake up from a light sleep, he opened his eyes and saw a smiling eunuch in front of him. He feigned confusion, “Master is…”

“I am a eunuch who serves His Majesty. His Majesty has summoned master Pei, please follow me.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan feigned surprise. After getting off the sedan chair, he followed the eunuch into the courtyard of the Imperial Study.

Walking cautiously behind the eunuch, Pei Wenxuan inquired, “Does the eunuch know why His Majesty has summoned me?”

The eunuch smiled, “Master must have an idea in his heart.”

Pei Wenxuan’s expression changed slightly but he didn’t say anything. When they reached the entrance, he saw Yang Quan standing there. Pei Wenxuan walked over, greeted Yang Quan, and the eunuch instructed both of them to wait there before entering.

After the eunuch went inside, Pei Wenxuan glanced at Yang Quan and smiled, “What is master Yang doing here today?”

Yang Quan coldly looked at Pei Wenxuan and said, “Seeking marriage.”

“In that case, master might be disappointed,” Pei Wenxuan folded his hands in front of him, standing upright, and whispered, “This matter is probably already settled.”

“What do you mean?” 

Yang Quan raised his eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan, and Pei Wenxuan smiled and said, “Why did the bandits turn back last night?”

Upon hearing this, Yang Quan’s face changed immediately.

Others couldn’t understand what was going on, but Yang Quan knew clearly. The ambush he set up last night should have been unknown to anyone, but Pei Wenxuan not only knew about it but also turned back and even saved the princess, spending the night alone with her.

“Your Majesty is a wise ruler,” Pei Wenxuan whispered, “Master Yang should not have any regrets. It’s better to return to the northwest. The Sangge flowers there are quite beautiful.”

Sangge flowers are scattered on coffins during funerals in the northwest. Most people in Hua Jing couldn’t comprehend, but Yang Quan understood Pei Wenxuan’s meaning.

Pei Wenxuan was already the designated son-in-law, and yesterday things went wrong. The emperor even sent him here, using Yang Quan as a stepping stone for Pei Wenxuan and the princess.

The Yang family was destined to be a dead end, and not only did the emperor know about it, but he also informed the ignorant Pei Wenxuan, allowing him to flaunt himself in front of Yang Quan. Seeing Yang Quan furious, Pei Wenxuan smiled and said nothing. At this moment, the voice of the emperor summoning them came from the hall.

The two entered the hall together, Li Ming was reviewing documents, and after the two bowed, Li Ming remained motionless at the top.

Li Ming leisurely took a sip of tea, then looked up and said, “You’re here?”

Speaking, Li Ming looked at Pei Wenxuan, first saying, “Minister Pei, please rise.”

Pei Wenxuan immediately happily complied, then stood aside. Yang Quan knelt on the ground, clenching his fists.

Li Ming glanced at him and said lightly, “What are you here for?”

“Your Majesty, today I specially come to request marriage.”

Yang Quan respectfully spoke, Li Ming raised his eyebrows, “Request marriage? Whom do you want to marry?”

“I am fond of princess Rong,” Yang Quan said with a stiff voice, “I ask Your Majesty to decree the marriage.”

“In that case,” Li Ming nodded but said, “This matter, I need to think about it again. Minister Pei, let’s go for a walk in the garden.”

Pei Wenxuan agreed and quickly went forward to help Li Ming up, walking past Yang Quan. When they reached the door, Pei Wenxuan suddenly remembered, “Your Majesty, master Yang is still kneeling.”

“Oh.” Li Ming seemed to remember suddenly, turned his head to glance at Yang Quan, and said indifferently, “Get up, if there’s nothing else, you can leave.”

After that, Li Ming led Pei Wenxuan and walked slowly towards the imperial garden.

When they reached a less crowded place and the attendants around them seemed to have disappeared, Pei Wenxuan supported Li Ming. Li Ming spoke slowly, “I heard that you saved princess Rong last night.”

Pei Wenxuan remained silent, and Li Ming raised his eyes, “Why aren’t you speaking?”

Pei Wenxuan stopped walking, and after a long while, he took a deep breath, as if making a significant decision. He circled in front of Li Ming, knelt down, and said, “I beg Your Majesty, spare my life!”

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