Chapter 52: They Bullied Me for Being Young, So I’ll Show Them What It Means to Be Young

Pei Wenxuan finished speaking, turned around with Li Rong, and Shangguan Xu approached Li Rong. After bowing to her, he said without acknowledging Pei Wenxuan, “Your Highness, could you step aside for a moment to talk with this old minister?”

“Uncle, please don’t stand on ceremony.”

Li Rong smiled and turned to Pei Wenxuan, “Wait for me at the palace gate.”

Pei Wenxuan bowed in acknowledgment and left. Li Rong turned back to Shangguan Xu and asked, “Uncle, are you returning home or heading to the government office?”

“The old minister intends to return home. Are you leaving the palace, Your Highness?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go together.”

Shangguan Xu gestured for Li Rong to join him.

As they walked out together, Li Rong held a folding fan. After they left the main hall, Shangguan Xu spoke in a slow voice, “Why did Your Highness suddenly decide to intervene in the Qin family’s affairs?”

“Didn’t I just explain earlier?” Li Rong replied slowly, “Miss Qin approached me. I couldn’t bear to see the Qin family wrongly accused.”

“Her Highness is already married,” Shangguan Xu sighed, “why bother with all this?”

“Uncle…” Li Rong hesitated and turned back, “Does that mean I shouldn’t interfere?”

“This matter in the northwest,” Shangguan Xu walked down the steps with Li Rong, “was originally a mess His Majesty handed to the Crown Prince. Concerned for His Highness, I contacted several relatives to stabilize the situation in the northwest. Just before a major victory, His Majesty changed the general abruptly, forcing Xiao Su to take command. Xiao Su’s report to His Majesty for rewards has many issues, which I’m not sure if Her Highness is aware of.”

Li Rong lowered her head slightly, “Please elaborate.”

“Most names on the reward list are from humble backgrounds; many scions of prestigious families were left unrewarded. This has caused disputes in the court. Her Highness wants justice for the Qin family, I understand, but the justice I seek,” Shangguan Xu looked at Li Rong with a hint of pressure, “how does Her Highness intend to achieve it?”

Li Rong listened quietly to Shangguan Xu’s words, momentarily feeling what Li Chuan had experienced when he ascended the throne in his previous life.

To manage these people meant dealing not just with relatives, but also with benefactors.

To ignore them meant unbridled actions.

Li Rong remained silent for a while before speaking softly, “So, does the Qin family truly bear guilt?”

Shangguan Xu didn’t speak. As they walked across the square, Li Rong looked towards the distant palace gate, watching birds flutter over the vermilion walls, and said softly, “I know Uncle cares for me and Chuan’er. In taxation matters, exempting taxes for the noble families, the Shangguan family in Youzhou owns nearly half the land, yet pays minimal taxes yearly, even across different dynasties,” Li Rong smiled, “but when the border was troubled and disasters struck, with the court stretched thin, Father wanted to forcibly levy taxes on noble families. Chuan’er considered your feelings and persuaded His Majesty.”

Li Rong’s words seemed scattered, but Shangguan Xu’s expression turned cold.

Noble families exempt from taxes and enjoying numerous privileges, when the court’s revenues were insufficient, and during invasions from neighboring countries, these noble families hid behind the court, watching it spend money. The court sent money to the borders, but these families like the Yangs, fearing their own weakening, engaged in absurd actions like paying off enemy states.

The Shangguan family supported Li Chuan, and he in turn had to protect the Shangguan family, despite the accumulated sins of the noble families.

“I’m not very clear about the situation on the northwest border during wartime. However, from my limited understanding, the court manages everything, and though the Rong state is small, it surely has its own entanglements. Uncle, as the Left Supervisor of the Ministry of Personnel, you’ve worked hard and contributed greatly, yet His Majesty failed to understand this—it’s His Majesty’s fault.”

“Your Highness is too kind,” Shangguan Xu replied sternly, understanding Li Rong’s empathy but discerning her underlying meaning.

According to the court’s operations, if the noble families didn’t obstruct, everyone could unite against Rong State with little issue. However, each had their own calculations. Thus, from deciding to engage in battle to preparing military funds, allocating them, and transporting provisions, various issues arose. This time, if the Shangguan family hadn’t persuaded the other noble families with promises of benefits, it wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.

The northwest was a mess, and so was the capital.

But these problems were originally rooted in the noble families. The Shangguan family’s intervention was commendable, but it also initiated the problem.

Shangguan Xu gripped his tablet tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Li Rong couldn’t bear it for a moment longer. As they neared the palace gate, she suddenly said, “Uncle.”

Shangguan Xu looked up at the sound of “Uncle.” Li Rong gazed at him and said earnestly, “Uncle has always been Rong’er’s family. I hope all my family members can live well. As water fills and moon wanes, let us remember the ways of the sage.”

Shangguan Xu didn’t speak. Li Rong took a deep breath, then smiled and said, “We’ve reached the palace gate. I won’t keep you any longer, Lord Shangguan. I’ll take my leave.”

With that, Li Rong bowed and departed.

Once Li Rong was out of earshot, several ministers hurried over to Shangguan Xu and asked anxiously, “Lord Shangguan, how did Her Highness respond?”

Shangguan Xu remained silent for a while before speaking slowly, “Her Highness just told me a lot. With her insight, she shouldn’t have said these things.”

The few individuals looked at each other, and after a moment, Shangguan Xu spoke slowly, “Perhaps I should talk to Pei Lixian. This child has been a bit too audacious.”

“Young people,” Shangguan Xu chuckled, “are still hot-blooded.”

After bidding farewell to Shangguan Xu, Li Rong walked out of the palace gates and saw Pei Wenxuan standing at the door.

He was dressed in a black robe with red trim, waiting by the carriage. When he saw Li Rong coming out, Pei Wenxuan smiled.

Pei Wenxuan, though full of mischief, was handsome and upright. When he smiled, it was like a gentle breeze brushing over lush fields in April, tender yet full of vitality.

Seeing his smile, Li Rong’s mood lightened.

Pei Wenxuan approached with a smile, “Does Your Highness need me to assist you?”

“Why do you ask like that?”

Li Rong was a bit puzzled. Pei Wenxuan extended his hand and said, “If Your Highness is tired, let me support you.”

Li Rong looked at him and placed her hand on his, allowing him to help her into the carriage.

Once inside the carriage, Pei Wenxuan said, “Let’s head back first. When we arrive home, the Emperor’s decree and the special inspector’s badge should have arrived. Then we’ll go to the Ministry of Justice to review the Qin family’s case and see how the Qin family members are doing.”

Li Rong nodded in agreement, and they returned home together. Shortly after arriving at the Princess’s residence, Li Ming instructed her to investigate the Qin family’s case without obstruction, and the imperial decree allowing this arrived promptly. Along with the decree came the specially made badge from the Inspectorate.

Armed with the decree and the badge, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan hurried to the Ministry of Justice. Just as they reached the ministry’s entrance, they were stopped by its personnel. Li Rong displayed the badge and said directly, “I am here by imperial order to consult the archives with the Chief Scribe.”

The ministry’s officials hesitated visibly, clearly not yet informed. Li Rong looked up at them and asked, “What’s the matter? Do you doubt me, or do you doubt the imperial decree?”

“I dare not,” the guard quickly stepped aside and said to Li Rong, “Your Highness, please come in.”

Logically, these people should have led Li Rong inside to find the registrar, but none of them showed any intention to do so. Fortunately, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan had already familiarized themselves with the departments in their previous life and were too lazy to argue with them. She simply stepped forward and walked straight to the area where the files were stored.

Once they reached the warehouse where the files were kept, Li Rong instructed the officials below to call the head official out. After presenting the imperial edict, Li Rong directly said, “Bring me the files for the Qin case. I will take them.”

Upon hearing this, the registrar hesitated for a moment before smiling and saying, “Your Highness, it’s not that I am trying to make things difficult for you, but the Ministry of Justice has its own rules. Files need to be requested with a specific order. Please, Your Highness, obtain the necessary approval.”

“Approval? The imperial edict orders me to take charge of this case. No one is to obstruct me. With my rank, do you think I still need approval?”

“Your Highness,” the registrar sighed, “This is also the rule. Unless His Majesty himself comes, approval is required. Even if the Minister of Personnel were here, the proper procedure must be followed.”

Li Rong did not respond. She and Pei Wenxuan both knew that this was just the subordinates’ way of making things difficult.

It’s always easier to find the king of hell than to deal with a petty official. Li Rong hadn’t been bothered by such small fries in years, and she couldn’t help but laugh. “Then who should I seek approval from?”

“You should find Chief Gao. Let him know, and once he gives the approval, I will immediately hand over the Qin files to Your Highness.”

“Where can I find Chief Gao?” Li Rong continued to inquire. The registrar raised his hand and said, “He should be in the office in the room ahead on the left. Please, Your Highness, proceed that way.”

“Alright,” Li Rong nodded. “I will go and have a look.”

With that, Li Rong, accompanied by Pei Wenxuan, went to find Chief Gao. However, when they arrived at his office, they found it empty. Li Rong raised an eyebrow and looked at the guard by the door. “Where is Chief Gao?”

“Chief Gao is out on official business,” the guard answered cautiously. “Your Highness… perhaps you could come back tomorrow?”

Li Rong remained silent. She glanced at Pei Wenxuan, who then looked at the guard and said coldly, “Where did Chief Gao go on business?”

“This… I am not sure, Your Highness.”

The guard looked uneasy. Pei Wenxuan fell silent, and after a long pause, Li Rong smiled and said, “Fine, I’ll come back another day.”

With that, Li Rong turned around and led Pei Wenxuan directly out of the Ministry of Justice.

Once outside, Pei Wenxuan hurriedly said, “Your Highness, there is no need to be angry. The Supervisory Department only finalized the matter this morning, so the Ministry of Justice probably hasn’t received the news yet…”

“News?!” Li Rong hissed. “Do they think I’m a fool? First, they tell me to find Chief Gao, and if it were Su Rongqing here today, do you think he would need to seek Chief Gao’s approval? They are clearly just trying to take advantage of my youth!”

Pei Wenxuan said nothing. Seeing Li Rong storming off in a fit of anger, he quickly followed and asked in a low voice, “Your Highness, what do you plan to do?”

“What do I plan to do? They think I’m young, so I’ll show them what it means to be young!” 

Saying that, Li Rong reached the carriage and stepped up. Pei Wenxuan, worried that her anger might cause trouble, quickly grabbed her and asked, “Your Highness, where are you going?”

“To find someone! You don’t need to follow me. Go to the army camp and bring me ten of the best soldiers from the ones I’ve picked out. Wait for me there,” Li Rong pointed to a nearby teahouse. “I’ll be waiting for you there.”

“I’ll go find them. What about you, Your Highness?”

“I…” 

Before Li Rong could finish, a voice filled with delight rang out from not far away. “Ah, Your Highness,” Shangguan Ya waved from a distance, “What a coincidence!”

Previous

Next