Chapter 55: I Am Already Here, And You Still Don’t Stand Up?

Pei Wenxuan closed his eyes and leaned back in the carriage, quietly contemplating all the possibilities of his visit to the Pei family. Although Madam Wen’s health wasn’t great, she had lived for many more years in his previous life without any major illnesses. So, her sudden illness now, right after Li Rong established the Supervisory Office, seemed too coincidental.

If Madam Wen wasn’t seriously ill and the Pei family called him back, it could only be related to Li Rong. Li Rong was now targeting the major families, and it would be easier to trouble him than her. After all, family rules and etiquette were paramount, and even Li Ming would find it difficult to interfere in the Pei family’s internal affairs.

Today, the Pei family likely planned to use both kindness and severity to persuade him to influence Li Rong. If Madam Wen was truly ill, he would just visit her. But if they were using her illness as a pretext to trouble him, he would have to deal with them accordingly.

Pei Wenxuan made up his mind. When he arrived at the Pei residence, he glanced around and saw the secret guard who always followed him. He withdrew his gaze, got off the carriage, and walked into the Pei residence.

As soon as he got off the carriage, someone approached him respectfully, “Young Master, please.”

Pei Wenxuan clasped his hands in his sleeves and followed the person, asking, “Didn’t you say my mother was seriously ill? Why aren’t we heading towards her courtyard?”

“The Madam is waiting for you in the main hall.” The person didn’t answer directly, only saying this. Pei Wenxuan understood.

He followed the person to the main hall and saw that almost all the Pei family members were present. His grandfather sat at the head, his mother beside him, and several elders of the clan, along with his two uncles, were seated. His cousins stood by the side, and guards surrounded the entire courtyard. Pei Wenxuan, accompanied by two of Li Rong’s men, entered the courtyard and greeted everyone respectfully, “Greetings, Grandfather, Mother, elders, and brothers.”

After greeting, Pei Wenxuan looked at Madam Wen and said calmly, “I heard that Mother was seriously ill, so I rushed back. It seems that Mother is in good health.”

“I… I called you here…”

“I called you here.” Pei Xuanqing interrupted Madam Wen, “Knowing you wouldn’t come back, I had your mother summon you.”

“Grandfather, you must be joking,” Pei Wenxuan smiled gently, “How could I not return when summoned by the elders? You could have just called for me. Claiming that Mother was seriously ill only caused me unnecessary worry.”

“Worry? You know how to worry?” Pei Xuanqing slammed his hand on the table, “If you knew how to worry about your family, you wouldn’t have encouraged the princess to do those heinous things!”

“I don’t understand what Grandfather means.”

Pei Wenxuan’s voice was calm. Pei Liwen, hearing this, became angry and stood up, “Are you pretending to be ignorant? Tell me, was it you who encouraged the princess to establish the Supervisory Office?”

“The Supervisory Office was the princess’s own idea. What does it have to do with me?”

Pei Wenxuan looked up at Pei Liwen: “Third Uncle, if you’re dissatisfied, you can speak directly to the princess. Did all the elders gather here today just for this?”

“Wenxuan,” Pei Xuanqing spoke again, “you are the princess’s husband. She acts without considering the consequences, and you don’t either? Now the other families are questioning us. The princess never cared about politics before, but after marrying you, she started causing trouble. Even if the family believes you, who else will?”

“So what?” Pei Wenxuan looked at them calmly, “What do you mean by this today?”

“What do you mean, ‘what do you mean’?” Pei Liwen shouted angrily, “Is this how you speak to your elders?!”

Pei Wenxuan said nothing, looking at Pei Lixian, who had been silent. Seeing Pei Wenxuan ignoring him, Pei Liwen rushed forward to strike him. Pei Wenxuan, sensing his intention, turned his head and shouted angrily, “How dare you?!”

His shout startled Pei Liwen, who hesitated, raising his hand, “You… you are just a junior. Why wouldn’t I dare to hit you!”

“Third Uncle, think carefully,” Pei Wenxuan said coldly, “I am the imperial consort. If you hit me today, you are slapping the face of Princess Rong.”

Pei Liwen, hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, felt embarrassed with his hand raised in mid-air. Pei Lixian sighed, looking at Madam Wen, “Sister-in-law, I told you, Wenxuan lost his sense of propriety after marrying the princess. He is still young and doesn’t know the depth of things. You must teach him with a mother’s dignity. Look, he has forgotten he is a member of the Pei family.”

Pei Wenxuan finally heard Pei Lixian speak. He looked at Pei Lixian, who didn’t glance at him, only speaking to Madam Wen, “Sister-in-law, Wenxuan is still young. Don’t let him ruin himself halfway.”

“Second Uncle is right.” Madam Wen, hearing Pei Lixian’s words, seemed to calm down.

She looked up at Pei Wenxuan, took a deep breath, and said, “Wenxuan, you should listen to the family’s advice. You must persuade the princess not to make enemies with so many noble families. If it involves our family, the princess is the princess, but we don’t have an immunity token.”

“So?” Pei Wenxuan, hearing Madam Wen’s words, laughed angrily, “Is this what they told you? What do you want me to do?”

“Go back and tell the princess to drop the Qin family case. Your uncle is involved in it. Tell the princess not to interfere.”

“Alright.” Pei Wenxuan laughed, “If that’s all, you could have said so earlier. Anything else?”

“Wenxuan!” Madam Wen, hearing the sarcasm in Pei Wenxuan’s words, became angry, “What kind of attitude is this? Do you still see me as your mother?”

“I do, but do you,” Pei Wenxuan looked at her seriously, “still see me as your son?”

Madam Wen was stunned by his question. Pei Xuanqing coughed lightly, “Madam, this child needs discipline.”

Madam Wen, hearing this, seemed to remember something. She stood up and said urgently, “You’ve gone too far. Someone, bring the family law!”

Pei Wenxuan, hearing Madam Wen’s words, lowered his eyes and laughed softly.

Madam Wen, seeing Pei Wenxuan laugh, felt uneasy, “What… what are you laughing at?”

“Mother,” Pei Wenxuan said softly, “did they tell you that beating me would give an explanation to the other families and also serve as a warning to the princess? If I encourage the princess again, they will trouble me again, and I will eventually stop.”

Madam Wen was stunned. The servants rushed in, trying to hold Pei Wenxuan down. Pei Wenxuan shouted, “Don’t touch me! I’ll kneel myself!”

Saying this, Pei Wenxuan took off his outer robe, placed it calmly on a small table, and then knelt down straight.

He stared at Madam Wen, saying calmly, “Mother, I expected this today, but I didn’t think it would be you.”

Madam Wen looked into Pei Wenxuan’s eyes, stunned. A moment later, the sound of a cane striking his back echoed. Pei Wenxuan’s expression didn’t change; he just looked at her quietly.

Madam Wen shivered. She wanted to speak, but Pei Lixian said, “Sister-in-law, you can’t bear to see this. Please go inside.”

Madam Wen looked at Pei Lixian in a daze, then was half-pulled and half-pushed out by the maids.

The cane struck Pei Wenxuan hard. Once Madam Wen left, the servants increased their strength, causing sharp pain that made Pei Wenxuan’s face turn pale.

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. At this time, Li Rong had arrived at the Pei residence.

Xun Chuan had already led people to the Pei residence gate. When Li Rong arrived, Xun Chuan stepped forward respectfully, “Your Highness.”

“How long has he been inside?”

“Just under a quarter of an hour.”

Xun Chuan, following behind Li Rong, lowered his voice, “The secret guards haven’t responded. Something must have happened inside.”

Li Rong’s expression changed slightly. She personally went to knock on the door. As soon as the gatekeeper opened the door, Xun Chuan pressed his sword against it. Li Rong shouted, “Break it down.”

“A side door was violently kicked open, sending the gatekeeper tumbling to the ground. Startled, he stammered, “You…”

“My consort entered your Pei residence just now,” Li Rong declared coldly, drawing her sword from a guard. Pointing it at the gatekeeper, she demanded, “Where is he?”

“Your… Your Highness Rong,” the gatekeeper stammered, realizing who she was. “The consort… he’s in the main hall.”

Ignoring him, Li Rong led her entourage towards the main hall. She knew exactly what Pei Wenxuan was up to. With his intelligence, he must have known why she was coming. The other powerful families were circling like vultures, and while they dared not harm her, they were eager to target her husband. By injuring him, they were sending a clear message. Yet, Pei Wenxuan had come here anyway. What was he hoping to gain?

Undoubtedly, he was trying to use this situation to his advantage. But did she need him to do that? Li Rong felt a surge of anger. Perhaps it was because she felt disrespected, or maybe it was because of Pei Wenxuan’s reckless behavior.

Reaching the courtyard, her men burst into the main hall. Everyone turned to see Li Rong standing at the doorway, a regal figure in her crimson robes.

Pei Wenxuan’s eyes widened in shock. Li Rong saw the scene and couldn’t help but scoff. She strode into the hall and stood over Pei Wenxuan. “Why are you still kneeling? Get up!” she commanded.

Pei Wenxuan, though clearly injured, managed to stand. “They told you to come. Why didn’t you wait for me?”

Li Rong glared at him. She wanted to slap him, but seeing his pale face, she hesitated. “So you just sat here and took it? If I hadn’t come, what would they have done to you?” she asked, her voice dripping with contempt. She turned to the others and roared, “Who gave you the audacity to harm someone under my protection? I’ll make you pay for this!”

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