Chapter 41: Are You Eighteen Years Old This Year?

Upon hearing these words, Pei Wenxuan remained composed, coldly staring at Su Ronghua. The contrast between Su Ronghua and Pei Wenxuan was stark; Su Ronghua wasn’t careful, and he could’ve really caused harm to Li Rong. On the other hand, from start to finish, except for hiding the help to Qin Zhenzhen from Li Rong, Pei Wenxuan had not caused any harm to Li Rong. If Li Rong gave him one point, he would reciprocate with one point; if she gave him ten points, he would return ten points. He said, “What was Lord Su doing just now? Lord Su should be well aware, isn’t this slap undeserved?”

Su Ronghua, seeing Pei Wenxuan asking with righteousness, felt bewildered. “What did I do?”

“The princess, with her noble status, was actually enticed by Lord Su to jump from such a high place. What if she had fallen?!”

“Well,” Li Rong heard the anger in Pei Wenxuan’s words and pulled him from the side. “This was something I wanted to do.”

“And he didn’t stop her?” Pei Wenxuan, seeing Li Rong still speaking up for Su Ronghua, became even angrier. “You are the ruler, and he is a subject. If you act recklessly, does he have to follow suit?”

“You also said,” Su Ronghua immediately picked up, “she is the ruler, and I am the subject. If she wants to jump, should I not follow her words?”

“You…”

“Don’t argue,” Li Rong, seeing the two about to quarrel, quickly interrupted them and said to Pei Wenxuan, “Finding people is crucial; let’s go first.”

Saying that, Li Rong grabbed Pei Wenxuan’s hand and dragged him out. Pei Wenxuan initially wanted to confront Su Ronghua, but seeing Li Rong glaring at him, his emotions calmed a bit. He felt it was not dignified to quarrel like this, so he followed Li Rong out. Just as they reached the door, Pei Wenxuan suddenly stopped. He lowered his head to look down, then turned back.

Following his gaze, Li Rong discovered the issue. On the grassy path they had just walked, there was a section with only their footprints, obviously untouched by anyone else. Looking up at Su Ronghua, they noticed a grass frame inverted, conspicuous in the grass pile. Next to the grass pile, there were broken branches, indicating that someone had stepped on them just now.

Li Rong immediately walked towards Su Ronghua, and Su Ronghua smiled, “Why did Your Highness come back again?”

Li Rong ignored him, walked towards the grass frame, and Su Ronghua raised his hand to stop her. Pei Wenxuan quickly stopped Su Ronghua, “Brother Su, let me apologize to you.”

Before the words were finished, Li Rong had already grabbed the edge of the grass frame. She raised her hand to pull it up, but the grass frame remained firmly on the ground, unmoved.

Li Rong narrowed her eyes, “Shangguan Ya, let go.”

From inside came Shangguan Ya’s deliberately altered voice, “What is this little lady doing? Why is she pulling my grass frame?”

“Shangguan Ya,” Li Rong confirmed that it was indeed Shangguan Ya inside. She stood up, kicked the grass frame, and said, “I have something to discuss with you. Come out and talk.”

There was silence for a moment inside. Pei Wenxuan guessed Shangguan Ya’s concern and quickly said, “Miss Shangguan, rest assured, we are not here to arrest you on behalf of the Shangguan mansion.”

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ya decisively lifted the grass frame, stood up, and said, “Why did you chase me for so long? You should have said earlier.”

With that, she turned to Li Rong, raised her hand with a respectful and somewhat charming gesture, and said, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Li Rong looked at the radiant girl in front of her, feeling a bit complicated. Shangguan Ya was very beautiful, dressed in a male servant’s outfit, hair scattered. She stood confidently in front of Li Rong, exuding a unique charm.

Seeing Li Rong in a daze, Pei Wenxuan walked behind her, cleared his throat, and then said to Shangguan Ya, “Shall we talk somewhere else?”

Shangguan Ya nodded, raised her hand, and said, “Please.”

With that, Shangguan Ya turned around, bowed to Su Ronghua, “Thank you, master Su. We’ll meet again another day. However…”

Shangguan Ya gestured with her eyes to Su Ronghua, and Su Ronghua smiled, “Don’t worry, I will keep it confidential.”

He smiled at Shangguan Ya and bowed, “We’ll meet again another day.”

Shangguan Ya nodded, picked up the headscarf that fell on the ground, tied her hair, and then led Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan to a tea room.

The “Jucai Inn” was favored by high-ranking officials and nobles not only because of its strict management but also because, despite being a gambling den, it had everything one could need, making it very convenient.

The three of them sat down in the tea room, with Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan on one side and Shangguan Ya alone on the other.

Li Rong used a fan to look at her palm, while Shangguan Ya raised her hand to tidy up her hair. Seeing the two girls not speaking, Pei Wenxuan poured tea and chatted, “Miss Shangguan, how long have you been in the capital?”

“Two days before the wedding.”

Shangguan Ya smiled and looked at Li Rong, “Considering that I and Your Highness are probably distant relatives, I came to the capital specifically to witness the ceremony. I regret not being able to personally congratulate Your Highness, but I didn’t expect to meet today.”

Shangguan Ya was still as assertive as Li Rong remembered, getting straight to the point, “I don’t know why Your Highness is so anxious to find me. Do you want to talk about something?”

“Sister Ya should be seventeen this year, right?” Pei Wenxuan handed a teacup to Li Rong and another to Shangguan Ya.

Shangguan Ya nodded, “Just turned seventeen a month ago.”

“After I got married, mother became concerned about Chuan’s marriage. I wonder what miss Shangguan thinks about this matter?”

Upon hearing these words, Shangguan Ya’s movements paused. She pondered for a moment and then smiled, “So, Your Highness came for this matter. Are you here to discuss the marriage of the crown prince?”

“Yes,” Li Rong didn’t beat around the bush. She directly said, “I heard that the candidate for the crown prince’s consort in the Shangguan family is you.”

“In that case, why did Your Highness come today?” Shangguan Ya raised one hand, picked up the teacup, and looked at Li Rong, “Are you dissatisfied with something?”

“I…” 

“But it’s okay,” Shangguan Ya put down the cup, smiled lightly, “The Shangguan family has plenty of girls. If Your Highness is not satisfied with Ah Ya, just tell my father. There is also another sister, Ah Wen, who came to Hua Jing this time. As long as she is from the Shangguan family,” Shangguan Ya turned her head, her eyes showing a hint of mockery, “you are free to choose.”

Li Rong frowned. She sensed the dissatisfaction in Shangguan Ya’s tone. After a pause, she slowly said, “It’s not that I think you’re not suitable. It’s just that the Shangguan family has been the crown prince’s consort for three generations.”

Li Rong looked at Shangguan Ya and said seriously, “Aren’t you afraid, sister?”

Shangguan Ya turned to look at Li Rong, putting away her smile, “What do you mean?”

“I and Chuan’er both come from the Shangguan family. Naturally, we will unconditionally support the Shangguan family. But if you marry Chuan’er, how do you think the emperor will feel?”

“Your Highness, your words are interesting,” Shangguan Ya’s eyes carried a coldness, “The crown prince is from the Shangguan family. Isn’t the current emperor also?”

“But Chuan’er governs with benevolence and virtue, seeking only stability. Is the current emperor the same?”

Li Rong knew that Shangguan Ya was not ignorant of court affairs. Li Rong reminded Shangguan Ya, “Why do you think the Yang family fell?”

Shangguan Ya didn’t speak. She sipped her tea and remained silent. Li Rong continued, “The Shangguan family and Chuan’er are already close. There is no need for you to enter the palace to solidify this relationship. Marrying now would be too ostentatious for the emperor.”

“So, are you suggesting,” Shangguan Ya looked at Li Rong solemnly, “that the emperor wants to make a move against the crown prince?”

Li Rong remained silent. Shangguan Ya continued, “Your words are interesting, but telling me all this won’t make a difference. I can’t decide on this matter. I can only live happily each day before they make a decision. Your Highness,” Shangguan Ya raised her hand, using tea instead of wine, “if that’s all, this humble woman will take her leave.”

Saying that, Shangguan Ya finished her tea, placed it on the table, and then stood up to leave.

As she walked out, she suddenly leaned back halfway, a bit nervous, “Your Highness, what happened today, you must not tell anyone else.”

Li Rong felt a headache coming on hearing this and waved her hand, urging her to leave.

After Shangguan Ya left, Pei Wenxuan sat beside Li Rong. He took a sip of tea and smiled, “It seems trying to intervene through Shangguan Ya didn’t work.”

“Not necessarily.”

Li Rong stood up, walked outside, and said calmly, “She will consider it.”

If she recognizes that Shangguan Ya, her old acquiantance, is in trouble, Shangguan Ya will probably find a way to deal with it. As long as Shangguan Ya starts to take action, helping her is a possibility.

While thinking about this, Li Rong walked out with Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan noticed that Li Rong’s expression was heavy and couldn’t help but ask, “You seem not very happy?”

“Not really,” Li Rong smiled, somewhat helpless. “Just suddenly realized that many things from the previous life don’t seem clear.”

“Such as Shangguan Ya?” Pei Wenxuan’s expression showed some understanding.

Li Rong didn’t speak, thinking of the Shangguan Ya from the previous life.

In the previous life, when she saw this person, Shangguan Ya was already the crown princess. She wore rich palace attire every day, covering her eyebrows and eyes. She spoke with rules, had a broad view, elegant taste, and graceful demeanor. Only occasionally in private, there would be moments of wilfulness.

She always thought that Shangguan Ya was a flower naturally grown in the palace. But today, when she saw Shangguan Ya’s bright eyes, she suddenly understood that the Shangguan Ya of the previous life seemed like a person who had stepped into a coffin with one foot, pressing herself tightly inside from the moment she entered the palace gates.

Thinking of Shangguan Ya’s bright eyes just now, she couldn’t help but turn around. “By the way,” she suddenly remembered, “you seem to know her temperament?”

“I don’t know if she has this temperament,” Pei Wenxuan looked at her with a hint of understanding, “but I know she is definitely not a simple lady. Whatever she does, I’m not surprised.”

“Oh?” Li Rong was curious. “Did you have any interaction with her in the previous life?”

“I had no interaction with her, but I had with you,” Pei Wenxuan said directly. “Your friend can’t be just an ordinary lady.”

Li Rong was stunned for a moment. Then she raised her hand and used the fan to tap him. “What do you mean?”

Pei Wenxuan saw the fan coming and quickly dodged. Li Rong saw him avoiding and, for some reason, couldn’t help but feel a bit itchy in her hands. She chased after him and pinched him.

Pei Wenxuan dodged and retreated, muttering, “A gentleman uses his mouth, not his hands. Talk with some manners. Oh, oh, don’t pinch the waist… Oh, I’m dying, dying.”

Li Rong, seeing Pei Wenxuan pretending to be in pain and leaning against a pillar, couldn’t help but laugh. She stopped and said, “Why are you so childish?”

“Do you have the nerve to ask me that?” Pei Wenxuan leaned against the pillar, smiling. “You’re eighteen this year, a reincarnation of a monkey spirit, right?”

Li Rong stiffened. With Pei Wenxuan’s words, she suddenly remembered the chase with Shangguan Ya today. She felt a bit embarrassed. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. After coming back for a while, especially seeing old friends, her mentality seemed to become more like that of a young girl.

Seeing Li Rong’s embarrassment, Pei Wenxuan laughed lightly. He teased, “What’s the matter? Feeling awkward?”

“How can you ask me that?”

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