Chapter 27: Only The Peony Is The True National Beauty, And Li Rong Is The Only Peony In His Heart

“Long time no see.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled, “It’s been more than three years, I guess?”

While they were talking, Li Rong gave a signal to Li Chuan. Leading him to the edge of the prison cell, farthest from Pei Wenxuan, she whispered, “How did she come here?”

“Sis, do you know her?”

Li Chuan glanced at the two people talking and whispered to Li Rong, “Met her at the entrance of Jiulu Mountain. She hit me when she saw me, quite fiercely.”

Li Rong: “…”

It was the first time she heard someone describe Qin Zhenzhen like that.

“Then what happened?”

Ignoring Li Chuan’s description, Li Rong jumped to the main point, “She said she’s Qin Lin’s sister. I don’t know if it’s true. Anyway, after the palace learned about my presence, she immediately offered to help me get Qin Lin’s attention. But the condition is,” Li Chuan raised his chin, “to come and see Pei Wenxuan.”

Saying this, Li Chuan furrowed his brow, “Sis, is there something going on between them?”

Li Rong: “…”

Li Chuan surprisingly showed a moment of intelligence.

While Li Chuan managed affairs smoothly in politics, Li Rong felt that when it came to matters of the heart, his mindset was not much different from that of a six-year-old.

Qin Zhenzhen was talking to Pei Wenxuan, asking about his situation. After Pei Wenxuan answered all her questions, Qin Zhenzhen, relieved, said, “Knowing that my elder brother is fine, I can rest assured. By the way,” Qin Zhenzhen remembered, “Did you receive the jade pendant I sent earlier?”

“Sending a jade pendant again,” Li Chuan leaned close to Li Rong’s ear and whispered, “They indeed have some issues.”

Li Rong tapped his shoulder with the fan, smiled with a hint of enjoying the show, opened the fan, covered her face with it, approached Li Chuan, and whispered, “It’s time to watch the drama.”

“I received it,” Pei Wenxuan’s voice sounded, calmly saying, “I know it wasn’t your intention. I don’t blame you; there’s no need to worry.”

“Big brother Pei misunderstood. It was my idea,” Qin Zhenzhen openly, with sincerity on her face, said, “I had wanted to return the jade pendant to brother Pei long ago, but he was in mourning at that time and couldn’t come. Now that he’s back, I intended to personally give it to him. However, elder brother said that I’ve grown up, and it might be inconvenient for him to see me, so he volunteered to deliver it on my behalf.”

Li Chuan listened with confusion, while Li Rong, still using the fan to shield herself, shook her shoulders in silent laughter.

Looking at the currently sincere Qin Zhenzhen, she recalled Pei Wenxuan’s previous earnest assurances that Qin Zhenzhen was forced into the situation. She heard the invisible sound of a resounding slap, “Smack, smack, smack.”

Pei Wenxuan remained silent. After a moment, he stiffly spoke, “Brother Qin is thoughtful.”

“Yeah,” Qin Zhenzhen smiled, “Although you and brother don’t often meet, he cares a lot about you. Brother Qin told me that when our families were engaged, no one had expected the current influence of the Pei family. Now that you, brother Pei, are the legitimate heir of the Pei family, your future is limitless. Elder brother advised me not to delay you due to the past jokes between our families and not to hinder your good marriage.”

Pei Wenxuan: “…”

Leaning against the wall, Li Rong laughed so much that she turned over, while Li Chuan wore a bewildered expression.

After a long pause, Li Rong heard Pei Wenxuan’s emotionless voice, “Did Qin Lin tell you all of this?”

This emotionless tone revealed Pei Wenxuan’s restrained emotional state. Just by listening to his voice, Li Rong could sense his impulse to tear Qin Lin apart.

All the talk about Pei being the legitimate heir of the family with a limitless future was just deceptive nonsense. If he had such a promising future, would he settle for a low-ranking official position?

It was clear that Qin Lin looked down on him and was fooling Qin Zhenzhen.

However, Qin Zhenzhen, being a sheltered woman, seldom bothered with the complex relationships of the outside world. Pei’s family maintained its reputation well, and for aristocratic children to start from influential low-level positions was a norm. Whether a particular position had real power or not was something Qin Zhenzhen couldn’t comprehend.

So, with Qin Lin’s grand deception, Qin Zhenzhen didn’t doubt him at all. She handed over the jade pendant and asked her brother to annul the engagement. Now, seeing no joy in Pei Wenxuan’s expression, she sensed something was wrong and hesitated, “Did my brother say something wrong?”

Pei Wenxuan: “…”

Wrong, everything was wrong.

But Pei Wenxuan didn’t want to explain to Qin Zhenzhen at this point. The decision had been made, and there was no need for explanations. So, with an expressionless face, he replied, “Nothing, just grateful for brother’s concern.”

Hearing this, Li Rong couldn’t hold back and finally burst into laughter.

Qin Zhenzhen couldn’t help but wonder why Princess Rong had been laughing non-stop from the beginning.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, what are you laughing at?”

“Nothing,” Li Rong composed herself, wiped away the tears of laughter from her eyes, and hastily said, “Just thinking of something amusing.”

Pei Wenxuan heard Li Rong making fun of him and felt somewhat helpless. He knew Li Rong must be recalling their recent argument. Unable to endure, he lightly coughed and continued, “I have nothing to worry about. You can go back and advise your brother. His Highness the crown prince…”

“This matter, my elder brother is well aware of it,” Qin Zhenzhen said when Pei Wenxuan mentioned it, adding, “Brother Pei, rest assured, my brother will go, but we have to wait for one more day.”

“Oh, your brother will go, and you tell me to persuade him for you? Are you deceiving me?” Li Chuan, listening on the side, raised his eyebrows, looking suspicious. “Are you lying to me?”

Qin Zhenzhen, hearing Li Chuan speak, immediately lost her previous calm demeanor and said indifferently, “I persuaded him before he agreed, why would I lie?”

“You…”

“Chuan, don’t be rude,” Li Rong reminded Li Chuan. 

Li Chuan, hearing this, turned to Li Rong, quite surprised. “Sister, you say I’m rude even before I speak?”

“I already know what you want to say.”

Li Rong raised her eyebrows and continued, “Enough of these unnecessary words. Go back now, find out the situation in the court, and prepare tomorrow morning. If father emperor sent me here, it means the Yang family is pressuring him. If everything goes as expected, tomorrow morning, father emperor should send you to monitor the northwest. Do not agree directly; keep refusing.”

“I understand,” Li Chuan pursed his lips. “I’ve prepared for these matters long ago; you can trust me.”

“Miss Qin,” Li Rong looked at Qin Zhenzhen beside her and asked, “If the crown prince is forced to go to the front lines tomorrow, can your elder brother confirm his attendance?”

Staring at Qin Zhenzhen, she respectfully replied, “Princess, rest assured. My brother just wants to explore the crown prince’s character and has no intention of refusing. He only wants to serve the princess.”

Li Rong nodded and then turned to Li Chuan, saying, “If Qin Lin goes with you to the front lines, don’t let anyone know. Sneak him into the military camp quietly, and don’t let others know he is your person.”

Li Chuan was stunned for a moment, but soon he realized and nodded, “Understood.”

After going through so much trouble to bring down the Yang family, they weren’t doing it for the benefit of Li Ming. The ultimate goal was to have Li Chuan place his people in the northwest. Li Ming would likely replace the main commander in the later stages of the war, taking credit for all the achievements. If Qin Lin followed Li Chuan directly, it might be risky, and Li Ming could suppress him later. The safest plan now was for Qin Lin to go to the front lines with his friend Cui Qinghe, unrelated to Li Chuan, and use their intelligence to advise and strategize for Li Chuan, solving the issues at the northwest border caused by the Yang family before launching an attack on the enemy nation.

When the situation stabilizes in the northwest, with Li Ming replacing the main commander, it’s impossible to replace all the generals below. If Qin Lin stays in the northwest and they coordinate with his military funding arrangements and mobilizations in Hua Jing, given enough time, the military power in the northwest will eventually fall into Qin Lin’s hands.

Everyone present, except for Qin Zhenzhen, understood these calculations. Li Chuan respectfully said, “Sister, rest assured, I will make arrangements.”

Li Rong nodded and glanced at the sky, “It’s not early now. You can go back first.”

Li Chuan nodded and then turned to Qin Zhenzhen, “Can you leave now?”

Qin Zhenzhen looked at Pei Wenxuan and hesitated for a moment before saying, “I can leave once I see brother Pei is well. Seeing him in such a situation, I cannot be at ease. It’s inconvenient to meet now, but if brother Pei ever needs help in the future, just send someone to Jiulu Mountain to find my brother’s people to pass on the message. I won’t refuse.”

Listening to Qin Zhenzhen’s words, Pei Wenxuan remained calm, nodded, and only responded, “You can rest assured, I am doing well.”

Qin Zhenzhen nodded, put on her hat again, and returned to Li Chuan’s side. Li Chuan looked at Li Rong and said, “Sister, I’m leaving.”

Li Rong nodded, and as Li Chuan led Qin Zhenzhen out, he teased her about her height. Qin Zhenzhen ignored him, and Li Rong watched them go, suddenly calling out to Li Chuan, “Chuan’er.”

Li Chuan turned back, somewhat puzzled, and saw Li Rong standing at the end of the corridor, quietly looking at him. He saw the struggle in her expression, and Li Chuan couldn’t quite understand. After a while, Li Rong spoke, “When you have someone else escort Miss Qin, there are still matters in the palace waiting for you. Go back soon.”

Understanding, Li Chuan smiled, “Got it. Do you have to give me orders like I’m a child?”

Saying that, Li Chuan waved his hand and left with Qin Zhenzhen. Seeing Li Chuan’s back, Li Rong stood there still a bit dazed. Although Pei Wenxuan didn’t see Li Rong’s expression, he guessed her thoughts to some extent, “Don’t want the crown prince and second miss Qin to meet again this time?”

This time he paid attention to his wording and didn’t call her “Zhenzhen.”

Li Rong, upon hearing his words, responded indifferently, “What do you think?”

“This encounter came a bit early,” Pei Wenxuan expressed concern. “I don’t know what unexpected changes might occur.”

Li Rong remains silent, and Pei Wenxuan understands her concerns. It’s like she’s only half of the spring banquet, turning everything upside down compared to the previous life. Now, with Li Chuan and Qin Zhenzhen meeting early, no one knows what changes may occur.

In the previous life, Li Chuan and Qin Zhenzhen only met a year later.

Qin Zhenzhen entered the palace as a concubine due to the imperial selection and became Li Chuan’s side consort. In the early days in the Eastern Palace, Qin Zhenzhen and Li Chuan didn’t get along, hardly meeting each other. She often suffered bullying in the Eastern Palace, and it was only after several interventions and matchmakings by Pei Wenxuan that she caught Li Chuan’s attention.

It’s unclear what happened to Li Chuan. He had never understood love before, but after being with Qin Zhenzhen, he seemed to go mad, thinking only of her wholeheartedly.

However, beneath the flourishing favor, it brought not only love but also a double-edged sword.

A year after Li Chuan ascended the throne, Qin Zhenzhen gave birth to Li Ping and then died in the harem shortly after.

On the day she died, Li Chuan held her lifeless body and refused to let go. It was only when Li Rong came over that she managed to drag the body out of Li Chuan’s arms.

After Qin Zhenzhen’s death, Li Chuan insisted on giving her a burial befitting an empress and placed her in his imperial tomb ahead of time. At that time, everyone thought that Li Chuan was grieving, expecting that he would eventually recover after a few years.

Little did they know that he didn’t. His temper worsened, becoming more and more ruthless. The crown prince, who had been known for benevolence and virtue since his youth, ultimately followed a path similar to Li Ming’s.

He was impoverished and resorted to military force, suppressing prominent families and using an iron-fisted approach to control the court. Only Li Rong could somewhat manage him.

However, after the Su family incident, the bond between them, brother and sister, eventually became strained.

After the Su family incident, she was bedridden due to injuries, and Li Chuan came to visit her.

At that time, he had become quite thin. They were separated by a curtain, and Li Rong watched his figure, feeling as if he were a silhouette.

He spoke somewhat absentmindedly and, somehow, started talking about Qin Zhenzhen.

On that day, he spoke a lot, as if he were young again. Towards the end, he suddenly spoke.

He said, “Sister, there’s a wild beast in my heart. I can’t contain it. I fear it, and I fear myself. I hurt you, and I’m sorry.”

“Fortunately,” Li Chuan smiled lightly, “I’ve done what I should. In the future, I’ll rely on my sister for everything.”

After saying this, he stood up and left her room as if he were a Daoist leaving the mortal world.

Shortly after the Su family’s funeral, Li Chuan announced his intention to become a monk. Pei Wenxuan and his ministers knelt outside the grand palace for a day, finally reaching a compromise: Li Chuan wouldn’t become a monk, but he would no longer handle state affairs.

For the next twenty-five years, Li Chuan never attended the morning court again. He immersed himself daily in the illusions depicted by Daoists, attempting to find a way to revive the dead.

In the latter half of her life, she often wondered if she hadn’t let Li Chuan experience the prince’s removal and hadn’t let him meet Qin Zhenzhen. Would her brother’s life have been like his youth, forever hopeful, like the fire on a cold day, illuminating the world?

But at that time, there was no turning back, and she chose not to dwell on things she couldn’t change, stumbling through life in a daze.

Now, however, things were different; she truly had a choice.

The two of them leaned against the same wall, standing on opposite sides. Li Rong remained silent, while Pei Wenxuan gazed at the afternoon sky. After a while, Li Rong spoke slowly, “This time, you won’t let her enter the palace again, right?”

Pei Wenxuan remained silent, and Li Rong was somewhat puzzled, “Why no response?”

“Watching you,” Pei Wenxuan spoke calmly, surprising Li Rong, “Why watch me?”

“If you agree, I’ll go talk to Qin Lin. If it’s agreed upon that she will enter the palace again, that’s her business. As for whether to directly intervene and prevent her from entering the palace, that’s up to you.”

This statement left Li Rong confused; she couldn’t quite understand.

After a moment of hesitation, she thought carefully and cautiously said, “I’m sorry, can you… be clearer? I don’t quite understand.”

Pei Wenxuan, upon hearing this, lowered his gaze, “I shouldn’t have intervened back then.”

Li Rong was even more puzzled; she vaguely seemed to grasp the literal meaning of the sentence. Pei Wenxuan seemed to be saying that he didn’t intend to meddle with Qin Zhenzhen anymore—

But how could that be possible?

Li Rong was at a loss.

Putting aside the weight Qin Zhenzhen held in Pei Wenxuan’s heart, even if she didn’t hold much significance, just as a friend, considering Pei Wenxuan’s personality, he couldn’t knowingly watch Qin Zhenzhen enter the palace and face death without doing anything.

And what does he mean by “up to you”?

What does she need to agree to?

When did Pei Wenxuan’s affairs become something she needed to agree on? Could she control them?

Li Rong was completely baffled; she didn’t even know how to approach this question or from which angle to ask.

Pei Wenxuan leaned against the wall, silent with his head bowed. He knew Li Rong had questions, and his heart was beating a bit faster. There was a hint of nervous anticipation as he somewhat looked forward to Li Rong voicing her inquiries, after all, these were words he hadn’t found the right moment to say for many years.

Yet, he didn’t know whether he should answer. After all, so many years had passed, and speaking these words might only add to the emotional regrets without serving any other purpose.

The two stood quietly for a while, and Li Rong finally spoke, “Um, does it mean that if I let you take charge, you will, but if I don’t let you, then you won’t?”

Pei Wenxuan kept his head down, and after a moment, he softly replied, “Yes.”

“Why… why is that?”

Li Rong’s speech became a bit stuttered, and Pei Wenxuan, with lowered eyes, spoke slowly, “Between people, there are boundaries. Each person carries a spider’s web on them, and one web is connected to others. Everyone needs to navigate within these boundaries. If you exceed them, no matter which side you lean towards, it will cause pain to the other.”

Pei Wenxuan’s words were subtle, but Li Rong understood. She leaned lightly against the wall, listening to Pei Wenxuan’s rare serious and calm words.

“She has her brother, her husband, and herself. Originally, she should bear the responsibility for her own life. Every choice she makes will bring its consequences, and anyone meddling is not a good thing.”

“I have my responsibilities, regardless of where these responsibilities come from. Since I’ve agreed to marry you, I will restrain myself according to the requirements of a husband.”

“Until our contract ends?” Li Rong chuckled.

Pei Wenxuan fell silent, and after a moment, he said calmly, “Perhaps.”

Listening to Pei Wenxuan speak, Li Rong dragged a cushion to the corner of the wall, sat cross-legged, and adjusted her clothes. She sighed, “Pei Wenxuan, you’ve really lived these fifty years with purpose. If you had realized this earlier, in our past life, maybe we could have grown old together.”

Upon hearing this, Pei Wenxuan’s eyelashes trembled lightly.

For some reason, he felt like Li Rong’s words were like a sharp blade, instantly piercing through him. He couldn’t discern where this feeling came from—whether it was regret, dissatisfaction with the previous life, or perhaps the emotions that had been dormant for years, suddenly erupting in a moment. With one fierce bite, it tore at him, causing blood to spill.

The pain made Pei Wenxuan subconsciously calm down. He was accustomed to entering a state of extreme calmness under intense emotions.

Li Rong continued to laugh, unaware of Pei Wenxuan’s feelings, “I knew back then that you were clever. You would figure things out sooner or later. Look at you now; with this appearance and mindset, how many girls outside would like you?”

“Do you already know that I would figure it out?” Pei Wenxuan spoke indifferently. Li Rong shook her fan and replied, “I have a keen judgment of people.”

“So, how do you see me?”

“Now or in the past?”

“In the past.”

Upon hearing this, Li Rong thought seriously, recalling the Pei Wenxuan of thirty years ago. Slowly, she said, “Back then, you were a good person, but you were stubborn inside, unable to let go.”

“What do you mean?”

“Back then, you promised to take care of Qin Zhenzhen. You were fixated on the principle that a gentleman’s word is his bond, regardless of your own situation, you wanted to help her.” Li Rong poured tea for herself as she spoke, analyzing, “And you always thought you liked Qin Zhenzhen. When you saw me, you suddenly knelt under my pomegranate skirt. Your heart collapsed, conflicted. You couldn’t accept it, feeling like you were such an indecisive man. So, your motivation was fine, but you couldn’t accept it.”

Listening to Li Rong casually describing the past, Pei Wenxuan lowered his eyes. Every comment she made about him felt harsh, but he knew deep down that everything she said was true.

“Back then,” he spoke calmly, devoid of emotion, “you knew I liked you.”

“I’m not that foolish.”

Li Rong blew on the tea leaves in her cup. “If you didn’t like me, why would you be so good to me? It’s just that back then, I had thin skin and felt unsure about your feelings towards me.”

“Why didn’t you wait for me then?” Pei Wenxuan’s voice was dry.

“If you didn’t like me, why should I wait for you?” Li Rong laughed. “Pei Wenxuan, you’re funny. I’m not someone who collects junk. Why should I wait for you?”

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong looked at the reflection in her cup, her voice gentle, “in fact, you’ve never seen things clearly.”

“In the last life, it’s not that you wronged me, and I left in despair, giving up on myself, spending the rest of my life with a eunuch. It’s that I could have had you, but I chose not to. I sought new love, accompanying the one my heart truly desired until old age.”

“A woman hates her love rival because she feels that in the competition for affection, facing a good woman like herself, there is no chance of winning. So she always hopes that the other person is repulsive, that her lover is blind. One day, her lover will wake up and realize how good and beautiful she is. But I don’t need that kind of consolation,” Li Rong said with a gentle smile.

“I know I easily surpassed Qin Zhenzhen. If I wanted to have you, I didn’t need to do anything. Just waiting would be enough. But I didn’t want to,” Li Rong raised her head, observing the colorful clouds in the sky, and the evening swallows chirping. “I, Li Rong, am from a noble lineage, with imperial blood ties. My beauty may not be unparalleled, but it is renowned in the capital. Wealth and power are just embellishments. I am well-read, courteous, intelligent, and as a woman like me, when you ask me why I didn’t wait for you, what you should be asking is—”

Li Rong emptied the tea from her cup. “Why should I wait for you? Even if Lord Pei is handsome,” she elongated her tone, with a hint of playfulness, “I wouldn’t be so dazzled by appearance to wait for you.”

Listening to Li Rong’s words, Pei Wenxuan found her demeanor composed and open-minded. Even as she criticized him and spoke of unpleasant past events, it remarkably broadened his perspective, bringing a refreshing feeling.

Pei Wenxuan hugged himself, listening to Li Rong. He looked down at his feet, pondering for a while before involuntarily letting out a light laugh.

Suddenly, he felt as if he was meeting Li Rong for the first time.

The current Li Rong was different from her youth. She retained the persistence and principles of the twenty-year-old Li Rong but possessed a maturity and calmness that the younger version lacked.

In the past, they always argued and fought. He couldn’t control himself whenever he saw Su Rongqing by her side.

Now, looking past prejudices, he strangely developed an appreciation and fondness for her.

This fondness had nothing to do with romantic love. It was just a feeling that a woman like Li Rong was truly captivating and hard to look away from.

Seeing that Pei Wenxuan remained silent for a long time, Li Rong couldn’t help but think that she might have touched a nerve. He was usually stingy, and now that she hit a sore spot, he might not speak for a while.

Feeling somewhat helpless, she inwardly cursed him for being too petty. She stood up and said, “Are we still talking or not? If not, I’ll leave.”

Pei Wenxuan remained silent. Li Rong got up and went to pick up a book, sitting by the table, cracking melon seeds, and reading the script.

After a while, Li Rong looked up and noticed a neatly rolled-up scroll in a corner of the prison cell.

This paper was tied with a red ribbon, looking orderly and almost like a gift, beautifully presented. Li Rong felt puzzled, walked over, and bent down to pick up the rolled-up script. She saw Pei Wenxuan’s handwriting on it, saying:

“Princess, please open.”

Pei Wenxuan’s handwriting had the habit of turning the ordinary into something magical. Even the most common thing, with his handwriting, exuded a touch of elegance.

Li Rong pursed her lips, finding it somewhat amusing. She untied the ribbon and opened the paper.

As the paper unfolded, she saw an image of eighteen-year-old Li Rong dressed in palace attire, adorned with a peony hairpin, looking back with a smile.

The appearance was that of an eighteen-year-old, but the smile was not that of the eighteen-year-old Li Rong.

In the bright and flamboyant expression, there was an enchanting charm. Even Li Rong couldn’t distinguish when this depiction represented her.

Below the painting were the words written by Pei Wenxuan.

“Only the peony is truly the nation’s color, blossoming in the season, stirring the capital.”

Seeing this sentence, Li Rong couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Pei Wenxuan stood by the desk, carefully sketching the lines of Li Rong in the painting.

In fact, the one thing he had never dared to face in his previous life was that he had never felt that any woman was more beautiful than Li Rong throughout his entire life.

Only the peony is truly the nation’s color, and the girl in his heart with the brilliance of a peony, there was only one Li Rong.

Qin Zhenzhen may be beautiful, but that kind of beauty has never made his heart pound, nor has it ever astonished him.

Only Li Rong.

But she blossomed early, withered quickly, and eventually became a prickly branch in his memory. He almost forgot those beautiful appearances until he suddenly looked back.

The peony has always been in full bloom, but she just doesn’t want him to see it again, that’s all.

Author’s note: [Little Theater]

Question: “What does Pei Wenxuan’s painting for Li Rong mean?”

Li Rong: “It’s like a good gift. He wants to use these small favors to make me not argue with him, stand on the same front, and prevent him from getting a headache.”

Pei Wenxuan: “…”

Question: “Pei Wenxuan, don’t stay silent. Speak up.”

Pei Wenxuan: “It’s a love letter…”

Everyone: “…”

Pei Wenxuan: “Of course, the positioning of this love letter, you have to wait until later, look back, and you will find my true intentions…”

Everyone: “Intentions?”

Pei Wenxuan: “I don’t want to argue with her. I want to marry her and argue for a lifetime.”

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