Chapter 56: Seeing You Work So Hard, I Feel Bad

“Your Highness,” Pei Xuanqing frowned as he stood up, “Wenxuan may be your husband, and I understand your desire to protect him, but he is also a member of the Pei family. In our Great Xia, becoming an imperial consort does not sever one’s ties to their clan. He is a Pei family member for life. I hope Your Highness can understand.”

“Understand what?” Li Rong sneered, “Understand your ingratitude and shortsightedness?”

“Your Highness,” Pei Liwen hurriedly spoke, “How can you…”

“Shut up!” Li Rong slapped Pei Liwen across the face, shouting angrily. Pei Liwen was stunned, holding his face and staring at Li Rong in shock.

With this outburst, no one in the Pei family dared to speak. Li Rong turned to Pei Xuanqing, her voice cold, “I know very well why you called Pei Wenxuan here today. Do you think that by beating him, you can give an explanation to the other noble families and warn me not to meddle with the Supervisory Office?”

“Do you think,” Li Rong looked around, “that the Pei family is now a major clan in the court, with Pei Lixian as the Minister of the Interior, a position equivalent to a prime minister, and Pei Liwen as the Minister of Works, along with other members scattered throughout the court? Do you think you are now on par with those noble families? They want you to trouble me, and you are eager to be their tool? Should I remind you,” Li Rong mocked, “that the Pei family originated from a humble background in Luzhou? Before this generation, you weren’t even considered a second-rate noble family in the court, with the highest position being a fourth-rank minister. It was Pei Wenxuan’s father, Pei Lizhi, who brought your clan from Luzhou to the court, elevating you from a humble background to a noble family!”

“And now? How long has it been since Pei Lizhi passed away, and you are already bullying his widow and orphan.”

“Your Highness,” Pei Lixian said coldly, “You have gone too far.”

“Too far?” Li Rong laughed, “Pei Wenxuan, a top scholar for three years, from a noble family, should have been in a position of real power long ago? But what now? If he hadn’t married me, he would still be a minor official, not even as good as a prison guard! You can fool Madam Wen with the excuse that noble family members need to gain experience, but do you think you can fool me?!”

“When he was sick, you prevented him from seeing a doctor; when he went out for social engagements, you didn’t give him money, making things difficult for him at every turn. Now, in the court, he is trying to carve out a path for the Pei family on his own, and you blind fools treat him like this!”

“You claim to be his family,” Li Rong looked at everyone with disdain, “Have you ever cared for him or helped him even once?”

“Establishing the Supervisory Office is my decision and the emperor’s. Even if you beat him to death, neither the emperor nor I will stop. And you should remember how the Pei family rose to power. Don’t sit in high places for too long and forget your roots.”

Turning to Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong asked, “Who hit you?”

Pei Wenxuan, knowing Li Rong was furious, dared not say much and pointed out the person honestly.

Li Rong immediately ordered, “Break his hand.”

After giving the order, Li Rong pulled Pei Wenxuan up and walked out.

As they reached the door, the sound of two men screaming in pain echoed from the hall. Li Rong suddenly stopped, turned back to the Pei family, and said, “Let me say this one last time: Pei Wenxuan is my husband, my consort. If the Pei family doesn’t like him, then expel him from the family register. I will establish a new household with him. If you want to keep him, then respect him as you respect me.”

“As for Madam Wen,” Li Rong guessed that Madam Wen was present and raised her voice, “if you can’t learn to care for your child, then return to your Buddhist hall, eat vegetarian food, and pray for your husband for the rest of your life.”

“Pei Wenxuan already has a new family. He has people who care for him and love him. If you can’t fulfill your responsibilities as a mother, please don’t cause him any trouble. What he can tolerate, I cannot.”

“Do you understand?”

Li Rong looked around at everyone. No one dared to speak. The servant with the broken hand was rolling on the ground, wailing in pain. Seeing that no one responded, Li Rong turned and pulled Pei Wenxuan to leave.

She walked quickly, clearly trying to control her emotions. Pei Wenxuan, being dragged along, felt pain in his wounds with every movement. Yet, for some reason, being pulled by Li Rong, walking through the familiar corridors of the Pei residence, even with the pain in his back, he felt a strange sense of joy.

He felt as if he was walking on a path lined with blooming flowers, with Li Rong leading him towards a new, unknown, yet wonderfully beautiful world.

He looked at Li Rong’s back and couldn’t help but smile. He tightened his grip on her hand, wanting to hold her hand forever, to follow her and see all her emotions displayed for him.

He realized that when Li Rong lost her composure for him, he felt an overwhelming sense of happiness.

Li Rong dragged him out of the Pei residence. Once they reached the gate, she finally let go of him, then suddenly turned around and slapped him hard across the face. “Are you stupid?! Don’t you know what they were doing?”

“I calculated it, it’s fine.” Pei Wenxuan, seeing Li Rong angry, couldn’t stop smiling. Li Rong, hearing this, became even angrier. She laughed in exasperation, “Fine, fine, you calculated it. Did you ever think that if your second uncle had been determined to harm you today, and the servants had taken the opportunity to cripple you, your life would be over?”

“They wouldn’t.” Pei Wenxuan smiled, “Besides, didn’t you come?”

Then, as if remembering something, Pei Wenxuan asked, “Didn’t you go to have dinner with Su Rongqing? I specifically instructed not to disturb you.”

Li Rong didn’t speak. She stared at Pei Wenxuan, unable to describe her emotions. She just looked at him, facing everything as if nothing had happened, feeling an indescribable pain and bitterness in her heart.

Pity, sadness, and a mix of indescribable emotions made her face cold as she stared at him.

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong finally spoke, “when will you start thinking more about yourself and realize that you are important? Stop risking yourself for everything.”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t speak. Although Li Rong’s expression was no different from usual, in that moment, he seemed to see a hint of moisture in her eyes.

The tenderness seeped into his heart, making him suddenly feel that he was somewhat valuable.

She worried about him, cared for him, felt injustice for him, and felt heartache for him.

Pei Wenxuan smiled. He stepped forward and hugged Li Rong, pulling her into his arms and tightening his embrace.

“I will try harder in the future.”

Pei Wenxuan said softly, “I’ll try to be stronger so you won’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.”

Li Rong’s voice was stiff, “I just feel that you embarrassed me. You are my husband, and only I can bully you.”

“Alright.” Pei Wenxuan smiled and hugged her tighter, “From now on, I’ll only let you bully me.”

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong’s tone softened as she heard him give in, “why are you so spineless?”

“I was wrong.”

Pei Wenxuan said gently, “I won’t let anyone bully me again.”

Li Rong felt that Pei Wenxuan was just humoring her, but with the conversation reaching this point, she had nothing more to say. Xun Chuan led people out, and being hugged in public made Li Rong a bit embarrassed. She whispered, “Let’s get on the carriage.”

Pei Wenxuan responded and slowly let go of Li Rong. Xun Chuan walked over, saw the two of them, nodded at Pei Wenxuan, and then reported the situation to Li Rong.

Li Rong instructed Pei Wenxuan to get on the carriage and listened to Xun Chuan’s report about what she had observed at the Pei residence. She said, “I’ll deal with the Pei family tomorrow. You continue to look for Luo Juan. Have you found him?”

“No,” Xun Chuan frowned. “He hasn’t been at his house and has been missing for several days. I’m still tracking him.”

“Alright,” Li Rong nodded. “Keep investigating. It’s late, let’s head back.”

After speaking, Li Rong got on the carriage. Inside, Pei Wenxuan was already seated, looking pale but otherwise composed.

Li Rong, with a stern expression, sat next to him and said, “Let me see.”

“Wait until we get home and let the doctor take a look,” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “It won’t help if you see it.”

“Turn around.”

“Li Rong’s voice was cold. Pei Wenxuan’s expression stiffened, but after glancing at her face, he turned around and smiled, “Don’t blame me if you’re scared.”

Li Rong saw his shirt, stained with blood. She had only gotten a glimpse of it in the darkness, but now, in the candlelight, the extent of his injuries was clear. She watched him silently. When he saw that she wasn’t saying anything, he joked, “What, do you want me to take my shirt off for you to see?”

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong’s voice was hoarse. “Doesn’t it hurt?”

Pei Wenxuan, facing away from her, sighed after a moment. “Your Highness, we are different people. You were born into nobility. You can rely on your status and power to intimidate others. But I can’t. Morality, duty—there are always constraints on me. I can’t be like you.”

“Today, Your Highness can say these things, but I can’t,” he continued.

Pei Wenxuan gave a bitter smile. “I’ve grown accustomed to this life. It doesn’t bother me much. But I feel guilty for involving Your Highness. I didn’t want to trouble you, but I didn’t expect you to come. Don’t worry, though. Now that I’m injured, and with my mother being so fickle, if I can persuade her to be on our side tomorrow, I can negotiate with my grandfather. I may not be able to take control of the entire Pei family, but I must secure my father’s portion of the inheritance.”

Li Rong listened without interrupting. She reached behind him and loosened his belt, pulling down his shirt.

Pei Wenxuan, feeling her touch, knew she was examining his wounds. But for some reason, he felt a strange tension.

Li Rong looked at his entire back exposed in the dim light. He was pale and slender, the kind of figure one would expect from a scholar. The crisscrossing bloodstains were quite gruesome.

She leaned in closer, her breath fanning against his back, as she examined the wounds.

Pei Wenxuan’s body tensed.

She was too close, yet he yearned for her to be even closer. It was a strange mixture of heaven and hell. Gently, Li Rong placed her hand on his shoulder and touched his uninjured back with her forehead.

“Pei Wenxuan,” she whispered, “I used to tease you about being poor, but I was just joking.”

She continued softly, “Don’t do this to yourself. Seeing you like this hurts me.”

Previous

Next