Chapter 65: Pei Wenxuan Is Dead

“Yes,” Li Rong knelt and replied calmly. “They were collectively slaughtered in the outskirts of the city and their bodies were abandoned in the wilderness. It took me a long time to finally locate their remains. Father, now that all the witnesses are gone, I cannot rest easy leaving the Qin family in the custody of the Ministry of Justice.”

“So, Your Highness means that since all the witnesses are dead, their testimonies can no longer be overturned. With both witnesses and evidence intact, the Qin family’s guilt cannot be changed.”

Xie Lanqing spoke slowly, “If the Qin family’s guilt cannot be changed, yet Your Highness firmly believes in their innocence, then you must protect the Qin family at all costs. But may I ask, Your Highness, why are you so convinced of their innocence? Have you obtained any evidence to support this?”

“In any case,” Li Rong’s voice remained steady, “if all the witnesses are killed, doesn’t that suggest there’s a problem with the case?”

“Then who killed these people?” Xie Lanqing raised his voice, as if hinting at something. Li Rong turned her head and coldly stared at Xie Lanqing, who smiled and said, “Your Highness, with all due respect, the death of the witnesses could mean there’s a problem with the case, or it could mean there’s no problem at all.”

Xie Lanqing didn’t finish his sentence, but Li Rong understood his implication. A young official, seemingly puzzled, whispered, “How could there be no problem with the case?”

Another official chuckled softly, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, as if discussing privately but just loud enough for everyone to hear: “Minister Zhang, you don’t understand. If all the witnesses in a case are dead, it may seem like there’s a problem. But what if, in reality, there’s no problem, and someone is simply trying to prevent the case from being concluded?”

Once people are dead, everything becomes uncertain. If Li Rong insists, she would be indefinitely delaying the case without any evidence.

“So, Your Highness, the death of the witnesses proves nothing. Even if the witnesses are dead, the evidence remains. Yang Lie’s letters are genuine, and the bribed gold was found in the Qin family’s possession. These pieces of evidence have been verified by the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Dali Temple. Are you suggesting that all three institutions are deceiving you?”

As Xie Lanqing spoke, he sneered, “Your Highness, you’ve just married. It would be best for you not to involve yourself in court affairs. Return to the duties befitting a woman—embroidery, reading scriptures, and cultivating your character.”

After Xie Lanqing finished speaking, the court officials murmured in agreement.

Li Rong knelt on the ground, pretending not to hear.

This was how the world treated women. Even as a princess, if she made a misstep, her identity would be her original sin.

When Li Rong was young, such words would have incited her anger, and she would have wanted to prove herself. But now, though she still felt injustice, she remained calm.

She simply said, “If the three institutions truly believe there’s no problem, then why was it so difficult for me to obtain the case files, access evidence, or interrogate the prisoners?”

“Your Highness jests,” Xie Lanqing replied calmly. “The Ministry of Justice has always operated according to regulations and would never deliberately hinder anyone.”

“Minister Xie, as a veteran of two dynasties and the esteemed Minister of Justice, you truly live up to your reputation,” Li Rong said, placing one hand on her knee as she slowly rose to her feet. Xie Lanqing frowned, watching as Li Rong turned to face him, her gaze calm but piercing. “With your silver tongue, you excel at deceiving hearts. While you fail at your duties, your eloquence is truly unmatched.”

“Has Your Highness been struck by the truth and is now lashing out in shame?” Xie Lanqing retorted.

“Angry? Of course, I am angry! How could I not be?!” Li Rong shouted. “You, the dignified Minister of Justice, faced with a case full of doubts, do not think about how to investigate or uncover the truth. Instead, you focus on playing political games, treating human lives as worthless. How could I not be furious?!”

“When I established the Inspectorate, all of you,” Li Rong raised her hand, pointing at the officials in the court one by one, “spent your days scheming about how to seize power and force me to retreat. When I requested the case files, the Ministry of Justice gave me the runaround, passing the buck until an entire afternoon was wasted without a single approval. If I hadn’t forced my way in, how could I have obtained the files?”

“The evidence held by the Ministry of Justice is still being withheld, refusing to let me see it. How am I supposed to verify its authenticity?”

“You keep talking about procedures and regulations. If every investigation requires a month just for the lead investigator to access evidence, then perhaps the Ministry of Justice should be abolished and rebuilt!”

“With a bunch of incompetent fools like you, who can’t even protect witnesses and only know how to obstruct those trying to do their jobs, I’m doing you a favor by even addressing you as ‘Minister.’ Do you really want me to tear off your mask and trample it underfoot?”

Li Rong’s outburst left Xie Lanqing’s expression darkening. An official from the Ministry of Justice stepped forward and shouted, “Your Highness, this is the grand hall, not a place for you to throw a tantrum. You—”

“Step back!” Li Rong roared at the official. “Who do you think you are to speak to me like that?!”

“I know what you’re all trying to do,” Li Rong scanned the room. “But today, I want to make it clear to you: the Qin family, who may be wrongfully condemned, are not just a few court officials or mere lives. They are the high walls of our borderlands, the backbone of our Great Xia! What you are destroying today is the foundation of Great Xia, its future! I will never yield on this matter.”

“But the Qin family is guilty,” Xie Lanqing said calmly. “Your Highness has no evidence to prove otherwise.”

“Whether they are guilty or not, we both know the truth!” Li Rong’s voice thundered. “Xie Lanqing, there are many things I haven’t brought up in court, but I ask you this: can you face your own conscience? Even if you can’t hear the cries of the borderland people, can’t you see the blood left by the Qin family’s second daughter at the gates of my residence?! You bully the Qin family today simply because they come from humble origins, powerless and easy to oppress. But have you considered this: if the Qin family is wronged today, who will remain loyal to the borderlands in the future? And in this court, will anyone from a humble background ever be safe from such humiliation?”

“Your Highness, you are going too far,” Su Minzhi, the Right Chancellor, frowned. “In trials and sentencing, evidence is paramount. Your Highness has already taken a stance, and acting on emotions like this undermines any claim to fairness.”

Su Minzhi’s words were reasonable, and the elder officials nodded in agreement. However, they failed to notice the subtle shifts among the younger officials.

Li Rong’s emotional appeal was not directed at these seasoned politicians but at the younger officials and those from humble backgrounds who still harbored genuine concern for the empire. Her words were meant to resonate with those who had not yet been fully consumed by the machinations of power.

Having achieved her purpose, Li Rong turned her gaze back to Su Minzhi and said calmly, “Yes, Chancellor Su is correct. Everything should be based on evidence. But now that the witnesses have been collectively killed, doesn’t that suggest there are doubts about this case?”

“There is a connection, but it does not definitively prove anything,” Su Minzhi replied calmly. “Your Highness, you have been investigating for so long. The Qin family’s case should have been concluded long ago. It was your insistence on reopening it, and yet you have found nothing. We cannot delay this case indefinitely based on your personal beliefs. Please return the Qin family to the Ministry of Justice and restore authority to His Majesty. Rewards and punishments should be carried out according to the law.”

“What Chancellor Su fears is that I am using the investigation as an excuse to delay the Qin family’s execution. Then let us compromise,” Li Rong stared at Su Minzhi. “I will not postpone the Qin family’s execution date, but until then, they must remain under my protection in the princess’s residence. No one may interrogate them, and my people will continue to investigate the case. If at any point evidence of the Qin family’s innocence is found, the case can be overturned.”

Su Minzhi hesitated for a moment, but Xie Lanqing firmly interjected, “No. His Majesty has already given Your Highness many opportunities, yet you have repeatedly caused trouble at the Ministry of Justice. What we should be discussing today is not the Qin family’s case but how to deal with Your Highness’s repeated violations of the law.”

“I will take responsibility for storming the Ministry of Justice!” Li Rong shouted. “I ask you, do you dare to leave the Qin family in my care? Do you dare to let me investigate their case? If the death of the witnesses doesn’t prove there’s a problem with the case, what are you afraid of?!”

“I am not afraid of Your Highness investigating the case,” Xie Lanqing stood his ground. “I am afraid of Your Highness causing trouble!”

“Then what do you propose?”

Li Rong stared at Xie Lanqing. “I must investigate the Qin family.”

“Your Highness must also be punished.”

Xie Lanqing met her gaze coldly. “As the Minister of Justice, I cannot tolerate anyone trampling on the law, even if you are a princess. You must abide by the rules of the Son of Heaven.”

“Fine,” Li Rong nodded. “Minister Xie, I will grant your wish.”

With that, Li Rong spread her sleeves, turned, and kowtowed to Li Ming, declaring loudly, “Your Majesty, I admit my wrongdoing in storming the Ministry of Justice. I willingly accept thirty strokes of the cane and one month of reciting scriptures at the North Yan Pagoda.”

After Li Rong finished speaking, Xie Lanqing’s expression showed satisfaction. But then Li Rong continued, “However, the Ministry of Justice has failed in its duties. They did not adequately protect key witnesses or record their movements, indirectly leading to the deaths of all the witnesses. This is their first crime.”

“Disregarding His Majesty’s authority, the Ministry of Justice refused to fully cooperate with the investigation despite His Majesty’s decree appointing me as the head of the Inspectorate. Instead, they used regulations as an excuse to obstruct me at every turn. This is their second crime.”

“Now, knowing that all the witnesses are dead and that there are doubts about the case, they are lazy and negligent, refusing to investigate further. This is their third crime.”

“Minister Xie, as the head of the Ministry of Justice, is responsible for these failures. While I am willing to accept punishment, the Ministry of Justice must be thoroughly reformed. These three crimes, though focused on the Qin case, reveal the Ministry’s usual way of handling cases, which is a threat to the stability of the state. I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and show no mercy!”

As Li Rong laid out her accusations one by one, the faces of the Ministry of Justice officials grew increasingly grim. Li Rong kowtowed to the ground and said calmly, “As for the Qin case, since I have intervened, I will not let it go. I ask Your Majesty to grant me twenty more days…”

“No!”

The court officials began to protest, but before they could finish, Li Rong shouted, “If, after twenty days, I still cannot find any evidence to prove the Qin family’s innocence, it will be clear that the case has no merit and that I have been causing trouble. I will willingly accept punishment, including being exiled from the capital and returning to my fiefdom, never to return to the court!”

Exile from the capital and never returning—for a princess, this meant being completely removed from the center of power, with no chance of ever returning. It was a form of banishment.

The entire court fell silent. Shangguan Xu frowned, showing a hint of pity. “Your Highness…”

“I beg Your Majesty to grant me this opportunity!”

Li Rong knelt on the ground, her voice resounding through the hall. Li Ming looked at his daughter, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse. “Since Princess Rong is willing to stake her exile from the capital, I will grant you this chance to redeem yourself. However, since you offended the Ministry of Justice, to prevent further trouble, you will be confined to the North Yan Pagoda during the investigation, copying Buddhist scriptures and cultivating your character. The thirty strokes of the cane will be waived—after all, you are a woman, and thirty strokes would be a death sentence.”

Li Ming then looked at Xie Lanqing, his tone weary. “Minister Xie, what do you think?”

Xie Lanqing frowned. Li Ming added, “In fact, some of Rong’s points are not without merit. The Ministry of Justice has indeed become too rigid in its ways over the years.”

This was a veiled threat. If Xie Lanqing continued to press the issue, Li Ming would use this as an excuse to punish the Ministry of Justice.

Understanding the implication, Xie Lanqing bowed respectfully. “Your Majesty, I am but a minister. This matter should be decided by the court and Your Majesty.”

Li Ming nodded and looked around at the officials. “What do you all think?”

No one spoke. Li Rong knelt on the ground, silently kowtowing without a word. After a long silence, a voice filled with amusement rang out from the back of the hall, loud and clear: “Your Majesty, this humble official believes this is the best possible outcome.”

Everyone turned to look, and Li Rong also glanced sideways to see who had spoken.

The speaker stood at the rear of the court, an insignificant minor official. He was extremely young, with features that seemed naturally inclined to smile, giving him a somewhat charming and carefree air. His demeanor clashed sharply with his official robes, making him stand out conspicuously in the court.

Li Rong studied him for a moment and soon recognized him. Then, she heard the Minister of Rites, Gu Zidao, bark sharply, “Cui Yulang, what nonsense are you spouting?”

The young official, holding his ceremonial tablet, smiled warmly. “Minister Gu, I am speaking from the heart. Look, Her Highness has accepted her punishment, and the execution date for the Qin family has not been postponed. As a princess, using her future to protect a military family—what’s wrong with that? If the Qin family is guilty, Her Highness has not delayed anything. If they are innocent, then Her Highness has performed a great act of merit. Isn’t this a win-win situation?”

As Cui Yulang spoke, he knelt down with a smile and kowtowed. “Your Majesty, I believe Her Highness’s proposal is sound. I beg Your Majesty to grant her request.”

After Cui Yulang spoke, it wasn’t long before another young official stepped forward, closed his eyes, and knelt. “I beg Your Majesty to grant Her Highness’s request.”

Then, one by one, a few more officials stepped forward. Though their numbers were small, their presence on the grand hall floor seemed to carry an unspoken power.

Li Ming looked at them for a long time, then turned to Li Chuan, who had been standing silently nearby. “Crown Prince, what do you think?”

“Your Majesty…” Li Chuan seemed hesitant. After a long pause, he finally said, “I defer to Your Majesty’s decision.”

“Very well, then it shall be as the princess has proposed,” Li Ming said indifferently. “From today, Princess Rong will be confined to the North Yan Pagoda to copy one hundred Buddhist scriptures as an act of filial piety for the Empress Dowager. She will go directly after the court session, and her servants may fetch what she needs. The execution date for the Qin family remains unchanged, but they will remain under the princess’s custody for now. The Ministry of Justice will undergo a thorough reform to streamline its procedures. Submit a detailed report to me once the reforms are complete.”

“Yes,” Xie Lanqing bowed respectfully.

After handling these matters, Li Ming addressed a few other political issues before finally declaring the court session adjourned.

Once the session ended, Li Rong’s gaze fell on Cui Yulang, who was chatting and laughing with others as they exited the hall. She hesitated for a moment but did not approach him. Instead, she turned to Li Chuan, who was walking toward her.

Li Chuan’s expression was troubled. Li Rong glanced at Shangguan Xu behind him and understood that Shangguan Xu had likely urged Li Chuan to speak with her. Li Chuan still had to maintain a delicate balance with the aristocratic families, and since Li Rong was now opposing them, Li Chuan needed to make his stance clear in front of the court.

As soon as Li Chuan approached, Li Rong’s expression turned cold. She said directly, “There’s no need for you to say anything. We walk different paths—let’s leave it at that.”

“Elder Sister,” Li Chuan frowned, “you’ve gone too far.”

The exchange between the siblings drew the attention of the officials who had not yet left. Li Rong sneered, “Is it me who has gone too far, or is it them? The punishment has been dealt. I’m leaving now. Crown Prince, do as you please.”

With that, Li Rong turned and walked away. Li Chuan frowned deeply, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, no words came out.

As soon as Li Rong stepped out of the hall, many officials surrounded Li Chuan, their faces filled with distress. “Your Highness, even a princess must have limits to her willfulness. What is she trying to do?”

“Everyone, I will try to reason with her, but she is, after all, my sister…” Li Chuan said, his expression troubled. “She was spoiled too much in the past. When the time is right, I will speak to her privately. After all,” Li Chuan lowered his voice, “she is still a princess of the Shangguan family.”

Hearing this, the officials calmed down slightly and sighed. “We can only hope that Her Highness comes to her senses. If it truly comes to her being exiled from the capital…”

The official shook his head and left with a sigh.

Li Rong didn’t need to hear the conversation between the officials and Li Chuan to guess what was being said. She was the best candidate to establish the Inspectorate not because of her abilities, but because she was a princess of the Shangguan family and the Crown Prince’s sister. This was her protective talisman. If anyone else had done what she did today, the aristocratic families would never have let it slide so easily.

They simply believed that, in the end, she would rein herself in out of consideration for the Crown Prince and the Shangguan family’s influence.

This was why Li Ming had chosen to use her, but it was also why he had not fully supported her, always observing and testing her from the shadows.

As Li Rong reflected on everything that had happened in the court, she made her way to the North Yan Pagoda.

The North Yan Pagoda had been built by Li Ming in his youth as a place for stargazing, dedicated to her mother, the Empress. Over time, as the Emperor and Empress rarely visited, the pagoda fell into disuse. Later, due to its remote and quiet location, it became a common place for confinement within the palace.

Li Rong instructed Jingmei on what items to bring and chattered all the way to the pagoda. The North Yan Pagoda was the tallest structure in the palace, with towering gates, long corridors, and bronze bells hanging from its eaves. Li Rong gazed up at it for a moment before leading her attendants inside.

She climbed the stairs to the top floor, where her living quarters were located. As the servants pushed open the door, she was surprised to see Li Ming sitting inside, sipping tea.

Li Rong paused for a moment, then feigned surprise. “Father?”

Li Ming, seated at the table brewing tea, said calmly, “Come in.”

Li Rong said nothing. She lifted her skirts and entered, kneeling respectfully beside Li Ming. Li Ming personally poured her a cup of tea and said slowly, “It has been many years since I last visited the North Yan Pagoda.”

Li Rong dared not respond. Li Ming’s voice carried a hint of nostalgia. “When this pagoda was built, your mother had just become pregnant with you. I was overjoyed to become a father for the first time. Back then, your mother and I were very close. On her birthday that year, I didn’t know what she liked, but I often saw her gazing at the sky, so I thought she enjoyed stargazing. In the first year of my reign, I went to great lengths to build this North Yan Pagoda.”

The small fire under the teapot hissed softly as the water began to boil. Li Ming turned his head to look out the open window in the distance.

The windows in this room were large, and when opened, the sky outside looked like a painting. Li Ming spoke slowly, “Sometimes, I wish I could go back to those days, when I didn’t think too much or understand too much. Maybe life would have been better. At the very least, I would have been deeply in love with my wife, and with you and Chuan,” Li Ming turned to look at Li Rong, his gaze lingering on her for a long time before he continued, “we would have had a good relationship. I would have been a good father.”

“Your Majesty has always been good,” Li Rong offered comfort.

Li Ming waved his hand and smiled, “I know what kind of person I am. There’s no need for you to say it.”

He paused for a moment, then after a long silence, he said, “You’re a smart child, smarter than Chuan.”

“Father, Chuan is still young.”

“You’re also young,” Li Ming chuckled, “but you see things much more clearly than he does. If only you had been born a boy.”

Li Rong said nothing.

In truth, she wasn’t much smarter than Li Ming. If anything, her advantage came from having lived through a lifetime and knowing the outcome in advance.

In her previous life, like Li Chuan, she had chosen what seemed like an easier path, relying entirely on others. As the years passed, Li Chuan had become the next Li Ming, and the cycle repeated.

“I used to think that you were just a bit clever, no different from your mother. When you helped me deal with the Yang family, I thought it was just for your own marriage. When you established the Inspectorate, I thought it was just Pei Wenxuan’s influence, a way for you to grasp more power. But today, I suddenly realized that you’re better than I imagined. Rong’er,” Li Ming sighed, “many things are beyond my control. I don’t expect you not to blame me, but I hope that one day, when I’m gone, you’ll know that in my heart, I truly wished for you and Chuan to live well.”

Li Rong quietly watched Li Ming. In truth, Li Ming was not yet forty, but he looked like a man in his fifties.

His time was running out.

Li Rong knew this clearly. In her previous life, Li Ming had died in the winter two years from now.

She had always thought that her feelings for Li Ming had faded long ago, but now, as she listened to him apologize, knowing full well that power meant far more to him than she ever did, she still felt an indescribable ache in her heart.

“Why are you telling me this now, Father?” Li Rong asked with a bitter smile. “You never said these things before.”

“I didn’t say them before because I was afraid it would make you sad one day,” Li Ming said calmly. “Back then, I didn’t know what you would ultimately do. What if, in the end, you and Chuan were the ones to send me off? If I said these things, you’d remember them and carry that pain for the rest of your lives. What would be the point?”

“But today is different,” Li Ming smiled as he looked at Li Rong. “I’m very happy.”

“Father, being able to speak so openly with me,” Li Rong smiled, “makes me very happy too.”

“It’s good that you don’t hold any grudges,” Li Ming sighed. “In today’s court, I couldn’t show too much favoritism toward you. If the aristocratic families thought I was determined to deal with them, I fear they might resort to extreme measures.”

“I understand,” Li Rong said softly. “The aristocratic families are deeply entrenched, and their issues didn’t arise overnight. We must proceed step by step. Besides, I was indeed reckless and deserve to be punished.”

“Why couldn’t you have been a boy?” Li Ming said with a hint of regret. Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh. “Father, Chuan is actually very good. If you take the time to understand him, you’ll see that.”

“He is good,” Li Ming’s voice was faint, “but he’s too much like me. If he continues down this path, I fear he’ll become the next me—or perhaps even worse.”

Li Ming chuckled, then seemed to remember something and waved his hand. “But he’s still young. We’ll see how things go. After all, he is the Crown Prince. As long as he doesn’t make any major mistakes, I won’t interfere too much.”

“I know,” Li Rong said, understanding that Li Ming was worried she might overthink things. “Father just wants Chuan to do better.”

Li Ming nodded. He didn’t say much more, pausing for a moment before continuing slowly, “In the court, you’ve seen it all. Why your mother and I argued, you probably understand as well. In the future,” Li Ming hesitated, then finally said, “let us, father and daughter, work together without any misunderstandings.”

“Father, don’t worry,” Li Rong said calmly. “In my heart, I care deeply for Great Xia.”

Li Ming smiled and patted her shoulder, then seemed to remember something. “Has Pei Wenxuan left the capital?”

“Yes,” Li Rong replied calmly. “Father, don’t worry. He will return.”

As she spoke, she looked up, hinting, “He’ll bring back what you desire.”

“Good,” Li Ming clapped his hands and laughed heartily. He took a sip of tea and said cheerfully, “This is refreshing.”

“Alright,” Li Ming stood up and looked around. “Rest well here. If you need anything, just let Fulai know. I’ll wait with you for Pei Wenxuan’s return.”

Li Rong stood up and bowed respectfully. “Farewell, Father.”

Li Ming nodded, clearly pleased, and walked out.

After Li Ming left, Li Rong sat back down. She picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

She didn’t believe a word Li Ming had said.

She knew Li Ming too well. He had feelings for her and for Li Chuan, but when it came to power, those feelings were insignificant. His reassurance today was partly due to his joy at her apparent loyalty to him, and partly because he had finally decided she was useful and was trying to cultivate her loyalty.

Li Rong held her cup, feeling a chill in her heart, mixed with a sour ache.

For some reason, she suddenly missed Pei Wenxuan intensely. She imagined him sitting across from her, his handsome face carrying a faint smile as he asked, “Your Highness, what troubles you?”

Thinking of his tone, she couldn’t help but smile.

Just as she finished pouring her tea, the door creaked open.

Li Rong looked up to see Shangguan Yue standing at the doorway, dressed in her palace attire.

Li Rong was momentarily stunned, then smiled. “Mother.”

Shangguan Yue looked exhausted. She stood at the door, staring at Li Rong without moving.

After a moment of thought, Li Rong said gently, “Mother, won’t you come in and sit?”

“Rong’er,” Shangguan Yue’s voice was hoarse, “do you realize your mistake?”

“What have I done wrong?” Li Rong’s voice remained calm. “Have I blocked your path, or have I seized your power?”

Shangguan Yue didn’t respond. Seeing her prolonged silence, Li Rong prompted, “Mother, won’t you come in?”

“No,” Shangguan Yue’s voice choked with emotion. “I came to relay a message from your uncle.”

“Pei Wenxuan is dead.”

Li Rong froze. Birds chirped as they flew past the window. Slowly, incredulously, she raised her head to look at the woman in the doorway.

Shangguan Yue maintained her composure, appearing no different from her usual dignified self.

“Every act that goes against the tide comes with a price.”

“Rong’er, from now on,” Shangguan Yue spoke with great difficulty, “stop being so willful.”

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