Chapter 42: Sister, I Am Tired

Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan leaning against a pillar in front of her. Seeing his ambiguous smile, she was momentarily stunned. When Li Rong didn’t speak, Pei Wenxuan raised an eyebrow and said, “Hmm, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Nothing,” Li Rong came back to her senses, leading Pei Wenxuan out with a smile. She asked, “Let’s go.”

Pei Wenxuan followed behind Li Rong, and she suddenly remembered, “Why were you in such a hurry just now?”

“Hmm?” Pei Wenxuan was a bit puzzled. Li Rong reminded him, “Why did you take action so suddenly?”

Pei Wenxuan remained silent for a moment, then smiled, “Acted on impulse.”

“Oh?” Li Rong turned her head and smiled, “What made you so impulsive?”

“I thought you were going to jump off the building.”

Pei Wenxuan felt a bit embarrassed, “I was anxious.”

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong looked surprised, “I thought you wanted to kill me to inherit my property sooner.”

“If I killed you,” Pei Wenxuan chuckled, “I wouldn’t inherit your wealth, and if you died in a place like this, I’m afraid I would have to accompany you in burial.”

“I like hearing that.”

Li Rong nodded, and Pei Wenxuan was a bit puzzled, “What are you talking about?”

“Accompany in burial,” Li Rong looked at him with lively eyes, “If I die, it feels a bit lonely without lord Pei.”

“You really love me,” Pei Wenxuan helplessly sighed and said, “You always associate me with everything, good or bad.”

“That’s right,” Li Rong became happy, “I may not think of you for good things, but for bad things, it’s always correct.”

Pei Wenxuan gave her a cold glance, ignored her, accelerated his pace, and walked outside.

As they stepped out of the door, he looked up at the blooming gardenia flowers in the distance.

In fact, he also wanted to know why he had acted so urgently just now.

The two of them boarded the carriage and returned to the princess’s residence together. As soon as Li Rong arrived, she gave orders for someone to keep an eye on concubine Rou and Shangguan Ya.

Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but wonder, “Watching Shangguan Ya makes sense, but why keep an eye on concubine Rou?”

“Do you know,” Li Rong leaned back in her chair, holding a teacup, “the women in the harem always rely on another woman to accomplish things.”

Pei Wenxuan, after pondering the statement, nodded, “Indeed.”

After returning and resting for a while, Pei Wenxuan went to check the progress of his expanding influence. He gathered his former subordinates and began to contact beggars in the city, placing spies in various mansions. Spending money like water, he expected to see results, so he had to pay attention to the specific situations every day.

While Pei Wenxuan was busy with his affairs, Li Rong began to audit the accounts whenever he spent money. Pei Wenxuan focused on his tasks, while Li Rong went through her monthly income and expenses, burning the messages brought by spies one by one.

The two of them were busy, one building their own dark network, the other visiting various friends, delivering money and gifts. Half of the nine-day wedding leave quickly passed.

During this time, some songs and rumors started circulating in Hua Jing.

As soon as these rumors appeared, they reached Li Rong’s ears. At that time, she hadn’t fully awakened and was lying in bed in a daze. Then, she heard Pei Wenxuan reciting beside her, “In the phoenix courtyard of the official’s residence, flowers bloom for four generations, flourishing endlessly.”

Li Rong woke up suddenly when she heard these words. She looked up at Pei Wenxuan, who was sitting beside her, throwing a piece of paper into the brazier. She shook her head and said, “What were you reading just now?”

“The recent rumors in Hua Jing,” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “It seems your friend has indeed taken action.”

There were no rumors in Hua Jing that started without reason, especially those with phoenix omens like this one.

Pei Wenxuan casually pulled out another piece of information from the side. “She’s quite bold. Even after you told her that the emperor is interested in the Shangguan family, she still dares to spread such rumors.”

“It’s probably not her doing.”

Li Rong yawned and got up, signaling Jinglan to come and serve. As Jinglan, Jingmei, and others came in to help Li Rong get dressed, she continued, “She’s not crazy. Even if she wants to do something, it definitely wouldn’t be in this way.”

Pei Wenxuan thought for a moment and realized, “Are you talking about the lady from the palace?”

“Didn’t she say last time that she wanted her niece to marry into the imperial family?”

“The emperor won’t allow it,” Pei Wenxuan looked down at the information, saying calmly, “Her status is too low.”

“So she wants everyone in Hua Jing to sing this song.” Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan and smiled. “Once this song spreads, maybe the emperor will have different thoughts?”

Li Ming was never a gentle ruler, and for him, the spread of such rumors about the Shangguan family might be a kind of stimulation.

On ordinary days, Li Ming would never let a niece of consort Rou become the crown princess. But now, with the whole city singing such a song, Li Ming might have other thoughts.

If she were consort Rou, she would do the same.

And why did consort Rou suddenly do this now…

Li Rong smiled, finding some amusement in the situation.

As the song spread, Li Rong speculated that the palace would take action. As expected, in the afternoon, she received news from the palace that empress planned to hold a banquet on the upcoming Qixi Festival, inviting eligible young men and women from the nobility to attend.

Hosting a palace banquet on Qixi Festival seemed to have a connection with Li Chuan. Li Rong thought for a moment and instructed someone to go to the palace directly.

When she arrived, Li Chuan was also there. The empress was discussing something with him. Li Rong announced her arrival and, seeing that both of them didn’t look very pleased, couldn’t help but laugh, “Oh, what are you two talking about? You both look so worried. Tell me about it?”

“When have you come?” The empress, upon seeing Li Rong, showed a hint of joy in her expression. Li Rong smiled and sat beside the queen. “Mother, don’t be surprised. I just left the palace, not married off to a foreign land. Staying in Hua Jing every day, I took the opportunity to come and see you. What’s so strange about that?”

Listening to Li Rong’s words, the empress also smiled. She observed Li Rong for a moment and expressed some concern, “That Pei Wenxuan… “

“He’s fine,” Li Rong knew what she wanted to ask and interrupted, “He’s good, you can rest assured. Can I let myself be at a disadvantage?”

The empress looked at her daughter. She wanted to say something, sighed, and said helplessly, “Forget it, since you’re married, just live well. After all, you’re not relying on him.”

“Not talking about him,” Li Rong knew the empress always disliked Pei Wenxuan’s status. She didn’t know why, but she herself didn’t feel much about Pei Wenxuan’s status, but when others looked down on him, she couldn’t help but feel a bit uncomfortable. So, she changed the subject directly and said, “I received an invitation from the palace. I heard that you’re planning to host a banquet on Qixi. Is it related to Chuan’s marriage?”

“This isn’t my idea,” the queen smiled bitterly. “It’s consort Rou’s idea. She got the emperor’s approval and insisted on doing it.”

“Oh,” Li Rong nodded. “She seems determined.”

“With all those messy rumors outside every day,” Li Chuan sneered, “she’s indeed determined.”

“You heard about it too,” Li Rong turned to look at Li Chuan, smiling, “You’re not foolish.”

“Consort Rou’s intentions are clear to all,” Li Chuan said disdainfully, “Always playing these lowly tricks.”

“She’s been doing this for quite some time,” Li Rong recalled, “She plans to host this Qixi banquet. Do you know what it’s for?”

“Probably to introduce her niece,” the empress speculated, speaking slowly. “It might be done under the pretext of the banquet. I’m currently bribing people on her side to see if we can gather any information.”

Li Rong nodded, having a rough idea of the situation. Seeing her daughter worried, the empress consoled, “Forget it, it’s not a big deal. The ones in charge of the palace banquet are on our side. We’ll handle it when the time comes. If they seek approval, there must be a reason. We’ll be on guard. If they don’t give face to Chuan, ” the empress chuckled coldly, “they shouldn’t expect any face from me.”

“Look at what mother said,” Li Rong stood up and went behind the empress, massaging her shoulders. “Where does she have the ability? Mother, rest assured. You are like the Buddha, and consort Rou is like Sun Wukong. She can’t overturn your Five-Finger Mountain.”

The empress listened to Li Rong’s words and then smiled.

Li Rong confirmed the news, feeling somewhat relieved. The three of them stopped discussing the previous topic and began talking about Li Rong’s marriage.

After Li Rong got married, it was the first time she returned to the palace. The empress was reluctant to see her go, so she arranged a meal in the palace. When it was dinner time and Li Rong hadn’t returned, Pei Wenxuan, looking at the sky, decided to go and fetch her.

These days, he had been having dinner with Li Rong. Alone in the room, he didn’t feel like eating much for some reason.

Seeing Pei Wenxuan not eating and wanting to go fetch Li Rong, Tong Yezhan couldn’t help but laugh, “Young master is really good to the princess. She hasn’t been gone for long, and you already miss her?”

Pei Wenxuan glared at him, glanced at the umbrellas in the corner, chose one with a painted reed pattern, and whispered, “Go take care of your horse, mind your own business.”

Tong Yezhan chuckled and didn’t say anything more. Pei Wenxuan, holding the umbrella, got on the carriage. As he sat in the carriage, he raised his hand to look at the clouds outside, thinking that he had too little official business and too much time, leading to such boredom, prompting him to go and pick up Li Rong.

But thinking about Li Rong, she actually enjoys having someone accompany her. Coming back alone, she might feel bored. If he goes to pick her up, playing chess and bantering along the way, she would probably be happier.

Thinking about her happiness, Pei Wenxuan didn’t feel that what he was doing was boring anymore. He felt like he was indeed a good person, just doing a good deed every day.

He happily went to the palace, Li Rong, Li Chuan and empress had finished dinner. The empress was tired and went to bed early, so she asked Li Chuan to accompany Li Rong out. They walked out of the empress’s courtyard together, and she asked, “Just now, I saw that your and mother’s expression weren’t too good. Did you have a quarrel?”

“It doesn’t really count as a quarrel,” Li Chuan said helplessly. “Just a little disagreement.”

“Isn’t that still a quarrel?” Li Rong smiled. “What did you disagree on?”

Li Chuan didn’t speak, and Li Rong tapped him with her fan. “At such an age, you’re hiding things like a kid?”

“It’s not that,” Li Chuan smiled bitterly. “It’s just that, if I say it, I’m afraid you’ll laugh at me.”

“Hmm?” Li Rong raised an eyebrow. “Then tell me.”

“The empress just told me that she wants me to marry not just one crown princess. This time, she wants me to consider several girls, roughly decide together. She has already chosen some people, and she wants me to choose from them.”

“You’re not willing?” Li Rong sensed his hesitation, and Li Chuan fell silent.

Li Rong smiled, “What’s there not to be willing? To marry so many good girls, many people can’t even dream of it.”

“But, what if one day I like someone?” Li Chuan suddenly spoke, and Li Rong’s expression stiffened. Li Chuan lifted his head and looked at her seriously. “If one day, I like someone, and she likes me too, having so many wives, what should she do? If I agree with my mother today, it means that for the rest of my life, I won’t have the right to like another person.”

Li Rong didn’t speak, and Li Chuan continued, “Moreover, even if I don’t have the right to like another person, just marrying one crown princess is enough. I can treat her well alone. No woman can tolerate her husband being shared by others. The empress has suffered throughout her life, should I make others suffer the same fate?”

Li Rong didn’t speak, and Li Chuan continued, “I know, sister, you must think I’m naive. I just said it casually. I know that I am the crown prince, and I bear the expectations of you and my mother. I can’t be willful.”

“It’s okay, I understand.”

Li Chuan seemed a bit weary. He looked at the palace gate and gently said, “Sister, you go back first. I’ll accompany you to this point. I’m tired.”

With that, Li Chuan bowed, turned around, and headed back towards the Eastern Palace.

Li Rong quietly watched his figure. In that moment, she seemed to see the later version of Li Chuan. He and she were separated by a screen, and the screen outlined his thin silhouette.

At that time, he was taller than now, leaner than now. He seemed close as he looked at her, yet also distant.

For some reason, Li Rong felt an indescribable bitterness surging up. Suddenly, she felt that the imperial city was like a devouring giant beast. Despite it being early July with summer winds, there was a chill, accompanied by muffled thunder, passing by her side, making her body and mind cool.

Raindrops fell heavily, and Li Rong was in a daze.

It was at that moment, an invisible warmth suddenly pressed against her back, and a paper umbrella adorned with reeds was held over her head.

The person instantly shielded her from the cold wind. With a hint of surprise and a faint smile in his voice, the person behind her spoke, “Why are you standing here foolishly? It’s raining, and you don’t know to go home?”

Li Rong turned around in astonishment, looking at the sudden appearance of Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan, seeing her puzzled expression, raised his eyebrows, “What’s wrong, unhappy to see me?”

“No,” Li Rong realized and slowly spoke, “You came at the right time.”

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