Chapter 67: I’m Back, I’ve Come To Take You Home

When Li Rong heard these words, she instinctively stood up. However, she quickly remembered that she was under house arrest and couldn’t leave. She took a deep breath and said to Jinglan, “Send someone to gather information and report back to me immediately. Have people keep an eye on the main hall. If news of Qin’s pardon comes from the hall, immediately order all inspectors to clear the imperial path so the messenger can rush to the execution ground.”  

Jinglan acknowledged the order and withdrew. Li Rong stood still for a moment, then turned to look at Su Rongqing, who was quietly gazing at the chessboard. She walked back to her seat, sat down, and said, “Minister Su, the consort has returned.”  

“Hmm.”  

Su Rongqing replied softly, “I heard.”  

“As for those words earlier…”  

“Your Highness, please pretend I never said them,” Su Rongqing said calmly. Li Rong nodded slightly.  

Given Su Rongqing’s personality, the reason he had said those words was likely because Pei Wenxuan had died.  

With Pei Wenxuan gone, he wanted to keep her by his side…  

But why? Why keep a princess who had lost her power and clearly broken ties with the crown prince?  

Li Rong pondered this, finding it difficult to understand. She glanced at Su Rongqing, her mind preoccupied with Pei Wenxuan’s return. Noticing her distraction, Su Rongqing said, “Since Lord Pei has returned, he surely didn’t come back for nothing. Your Highness need not worry too much.”  

With that, Su Rongqing placed a chess piece on the board and said gently, “Your Highness, perhaps you could humor me and finish this game.”  

Li Rong remained silent, quietly observing Su Rongqing. Today, he seemed different from his usual self, more like the slightly unrestrained Su Rongqing she remembered from when he was drunk.  

There was less formality and a touch of unpredictability.  

After a moment of hesitation, Li Rong returned to the chessboard and gestured, “Please.”  

While Li Rong and Su Rongqing were engrossed in their game high in the tower, Pei Wenxuan was galloping on horseback, speeding into the palace. He dismounted and sprinted toward the main hall, shouting at the top of his lungs, “Your Majesty, the Qin family has been wronged! Hold the execution!”  

The morning court had just begun when Pei Wenxuan’s cries echoed from outside the hall. Everyone turned to see a young man in a mud-stained green robe, clutching a scroll of paper, rushing into the hall.  

“Pei Wenxuan?”  

Li Ming, the emperor, exclaimed in shock. The officials present exchanged uneasy glances. Pei Wenxuan, panting heavily, knelt and saluted, “Greetings, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years.”

“You…” Li Ming uttered in disbelief. The words “Didn’t you die?” almost slipped out, but he quickly remembered that Li Rong had previously reported Pei Wenxuan as being on sick leave. After a moment of restraint, he changed his question, “Aren’t you still ill?”

“Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan replied respectfully, “Her Highness must have informed you that my illness was merely a pretext. In truth, I left the capital in secret to investigate the Qin family case. After leaving the capital, I realized I was being followed. To throw off my pursuers, I faked my death by falling off a cliff, which allowed me to proceed to the northwest and thoroughly investigate the Qin family’s case. Now, I have obtained evidence proving the Qin family’s innocence. I implore Your Majesty to immediately send someone to the execution ground and order the executioner to stay the blade.”

Upon hearing this, Li Ming quickly grasped the urgency of the situation and exclaimed, “Quick, go to the execution ground and stop the execution of the Qin family!”

The eunuch, having received the order, rushed out. Several senior officials frowned and exchanged glances, signaling to the eunuchs standing behind the curtains, who then quietly retreated.

The messenger eunuch, having received the imperial decree, had just left the palace when a group of assassins suddenly ambushed him. The eunuch, startled, urged his horse to retreat hastily. Just as an arrow flew toward him, leaving him no room to dodge, a blade suddenly appeared from the side, slicing the arrow in half. A guard grabbed the eunuch and threw him onto his own horse, urgently saying, “Sir, I am under orders from the Inspectorate to protect you. Please come with me.”

With that, the guard led the eunuch through the chaotic crowd. The alley was densely packed with assassins, who clashed fiercely with the Inspectorate’s men, turning the narrow lane into a battlefield.

While the messenger eunuch was being delayed on the road, another group swiftly left the palace and headed straight for the execution ground. They arrived ahead of time and found a guard, whispering a few words into his ear. The guard immediately approached the execution supervisor and relayed the message in a low voice.

The execution supervisor frowned, hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded.

“The time has come,” the execution supervisor suddenly declared, reaching for the token marked with the character “斩” (execute) and throwing it to the ground. “Execute…”

Before he could finish, a hoarse shout erupted from the crowd, “Sir, the time has not yet come!”

The execution supervisor, taken aback by such open defiance, gritted his teeth and angrily shouted, “Execute them immediately!”

The executioner, seemingly aware that the timing was off, hesitated. Seeing this, the execution supervisor slammed the table and roared, “What are you waiting for? I ordered you to execute them!”

Under the pressure of his superior’s anger, the executioner no longer dared to delay. He removed the placard from Qin Lin’s back and raised his blade. Just as the sword was about to fall, a young man burst out from the crowd, kicking the executioner away. With a swift motion, he cut the ropes binding Qin Lin and tossed him a sword.

“Prison break!” the soldiers shouted, immediately rushing forward to intervene.

After Xun Chuan muttered the words “Save them,” he kicked away the soldiers charging toward him and raised his sword to shield the Qin family. He angrily shouted, “The time hasn’t come yet! How dare you execute them early? Such audacity!”

“Arrest them!”  

The execution supervisor, panicking as the situation spiraled out of control, yelled, “This is a prison break! Stop them, stop them all!”  

As the supervisor shouted, soldiers rushed toward the execution platform. Xun Chuan held them off while Qin Lin stumbled to rescue his family. The two worked together, protecting the Qin family and causing chaos on the execution platform.  

At that moment, a eunuch, shielded by guards, galloped in on horseback, holding an imperial decree and shouting, “Hold the execution! Spare their lives!”  

While chaos reigned in two places in Huajing, an unexpected tranquility enveloped the North Yan Tower.  

“Minister Su seems to be in high spirits today,” Li Rong said as she placed a chess piece, listening to the sound of copper bells ringing in the wind. “You’re actually willing to spend time playing chess with me.”  

“Accompanying Your Highness in a game of chess is something I am always willing to do,” Su Rongqing replied naturally, his eyes on the board. “Moreover, I thought Your Highness might have many questions for me, which is why I chose to stay.”  

“You’re right,” Li Rong smiled. “I do have many questions I’d like to discuss with you.”  

“Please, go ahead.”  

“What you said earlier—I don’t understand it,” Li Rong said as they took turns placing pieces. “Why do you want to marry me? Even if Pei Wenxuan is dead, I am still a widow. And now that I’ve completely broken ties with the Crown Prince, marrying me holds no advantage for you. Why go to such lengths to marry a widow?”  

Su Rongqing remained silent. Li Rong pondered and continued, “From the moment we first met, you’ve shown an inclination to align yourself with the Crown Prince. Going to such lengths to protect me—are you still trying to maintain a connection with the Crown Prince through me? But why is the Su family so keen on maintaining ties with the Crown Prince? The Crown Prince is gentle by nature and doesn’t require…”  

“Your Highness,” Su Rongqing interrupted her, “must you always tie everything to power and influence?”  

Li Rong’s hand, holding a chess piece, paused. Su Rongqing raised his eyes and gazed calmly at her. “I don’t wish to be your enemy. I want you to live well. Is such a simple reason not enough?”  

Li Rong stared at Su Rongqing in stunned silence. Outside, birds flew past, soaring from the North Yan Tower all the way to the main hall.  

In the main hall, Pei Wenxuan had already submitted the accounts he had investigated along the way, as well as the testimonies from the common people of Huangping County regarding the records of that battle.

“Your Majesty, I have visited the county offices along the route of the military provisions and transcribed the specific records of provisions from each county office for that year. According to the Ministry of War’s records, Huangping County had three thousand soldiers at the time. Before the war began, ten thousand dan of grain were allocated to provide one month’s rations. However, in reality, when the provisions reached Huangping County, there were less than three thousand dan of grain. At each county along the way, the amount of provisions decreased, and in several large counties, the remaining provisions were almost entirely divided up. The records of these counties show that the amount of grain received by each county was less than what the previous county reported. After verification, the total amount of rations each county reported as owed to the other counties was incorrect. However, the actual amount of grain received by each county matches the records of Huangping County. This shows that the figure of three thousand dan of grain received by Huangping County is accurate, while the Ministry of War’s record of ten thousand dan is likely incorrect.”

“Beyond the records of grain, I have also interviewed local soldiers and civilians, documenting their testimonies from the battle that year. At that time, more than half of the soldiers were already starving and ill before the battle even began, rendering them utterly incapable of fighting. Under such circumstances, the Qin family managed to ensure the evacuation of the city’s civilians in advance, resulting in minimal casualties. Not only should they not be punished, but they should also be rewarded, lest we demoralize the soldiers stationed at the border.”

“Your Highness,” Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground and spoke loudly, “I implore you to thoroughly investigate the embezzlement of military provisions in Huangping County that year.”

As soon as Pei Wenxuan finished speaking, the Vice Minister of War jumped forward in a panic, shouting, “Slander! This is blatant slander!”

“Whether it is slander or not,” Pei Wenxuan raised his head and declared passionately, “will be revealed once an investigation is conducted!”

“Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan kowtowed to the ground and spoke loudly, “I beg you to thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Censorate, to clear the Qin family’s name and deliver justice to the soldiers at the border!”

Li Ming remained silent, and the rest of the court also held their tongues.

The evidence Pei Wenxuan had brought back was too extensive and too solid. At this moment, no one dared to step forward and speak up.

However, the abundance of evidence also implicated many people. Among those who had been involved in the matter years ago, after a long silence and seeing no one else speak out, one finally couldn’t hold back and rushed forward. 

Wen Ping from the Censorate was the first to explode in anger, shouting, “Pei Wenxuan, what do you mean by this? The Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Censorate—are you suggesting that the entire court conspired to deceive the Emperor and frame the Qin family? What kind of influence does the Qin family even have to warrant such a thing? And you, as a supervising censor, abandoning your duties, deceiving the Emperor, leaving the capital unlawfully, and forging a pile of evidence to mislead His Majesty—do you think the Emperor can be fooled by your tricks?”

“Exactly,” Wen Ping took the lead, and other officials quickly stepped forward, flustered and exclaiming, “You investigated the accounts? As a supervising censor, where did you get the authority to examine the records of so many counties? Why would anyone hand them over to you? Where did you really get these records? Confess the truth at once!”

“Your Majesty,” Wen Ping turned to Li Ming, knelt down, and pleaded, “Pei Wenxuan has neglected his duties, deceived the Emperor, and broken the law. His father, Pei Lizhi, has long been a close friend of the Qin family. Now, to protect his own interests, he has gone so far as to forge evidence. I beg Your Majesty to see through this and punish him accordingly!”

As he spoke, many others followed Wen Ping’s lead and knelt down, urgently pleading, “Your Majesty, we beg you to investigate thoroughly!”

Li Ming remained silent, while Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, saying nothing.

In truth, everyone present knew that in the face of such evidence, whether Li Ming would investigate further was not a matter of evidence, but rather whether he *could* investigate and whether he *wanted* to. 

The aristocratic families were a sword hanging over Li Ming’s head. If he pushed too hard, the sword might fall. 

The aristocratic families were betting on Li Ming’s fear—and indeed, Li Ming was afraid. 

For now, he only sought to balance the power of the aristocratic families, not to completely upend them. 

He dared not, nor could he, do so at this moment. 

Yet the memorial Pei Wenxuan had presented to him was enough to cut the rope holding that sword, causing it to fall. 

Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, waiting for Li Ming’s decision. When Li Ming remained silent for a long time, Pei Wenxuan finally spoke: “Your Majesty.” 

“The soldiers at the border defend not only the frontier but also the very foundation of Great Xia.” 

This was a subtle reminder to Li Ming that mishandling the affairs of the border would shake the very roots of Great Xia. 

Li Ming held Pei Wenxuan’s memorial in his hand. After a long pause, he finally said, “Minister Pei, you have worked hard on this journey. This case is of great importance. I will think on it further. You must be tired. Go and rest for now.” 

“As you command.” 

Pei Wenxuan bowed respectfully, then rose to his feet and prepared to leave. Just as he was about to exit, Li Ming added, “Rong is currently under house arrest at Beiyan Tower. Go and fetch her. Take her back with you.” 

Pei Wenxuan was momentarily stunned, but then he lowered his gaze and replied respectfully, “As you command.” 

As Pei Wenxuan hurried toward Beiyan Tower, Su Rongqing and Li Rong’s game of chess was still unfinished. 

After Su Rongqing said, “Is that not allowed?” he simply looked at Li Rong in silence, saying nothing more. 

When most people spoke such words and looked at someone, their purpose was to await a response. But when he looked at Li Rong, it truly was just looking. 

Li Rong could sense no desire for a response in his gaze. 

That gaze carried a multitude of complex emotions, but no matter what it contained, it lacked any expectation for her reply. 

It seemed he had spoken merely to let her know, and whether she responded or not was of no importance.

Even her response seemed superfluous.

“Lord Su…” Li Rong hesitated, trying to find the right words to ease the tension, but before she could say anything, Su Rongqing interrupted her.

“Your Highness,” he said, his hand resting in the chess box. He seemed somewhat weary and shifted the topic. “I spoke out of turn earlier. Please do not take it to heart. Your alliance with the aristocratic families to support the Crown Prince’s ascension is the best path for you. As for the Inspectorate you are establishing, it must be done with caution. The struggle for power is fraught with danger. You must be careful.”

Li Rong remained silent. Su Rongqing stood up, his tone calm. “This game of chess, I have lost. I will not disturb Your Highness further and will take my leave now.”

Li Rong lowered her gaze to the chessboard, where the game was clearly still undecided.

Su Rongqing turned and walked toward the door. Before he reached it, Li Rong suddenly called out, “Su Rongqing.”

He stopped in his tracks. Li Rong stared at the black and white pieces on the board, her mind swirling with questions she wanted to ask.

She wanted to ask him if he loved her.

She wanted to ask him what he meant when he said he wished her well and did not want to be her enemy.

But as the words reached her lips, she felt a flood of other questions pressing behind them.

If he truly had feelings for her, why had he never sought to marry her?

With the power of the Su family, if he had truly been willing to risk everything to marry her, it might not have been impossible.

If he truly loved her, if he truly had such feelings…

Then he had still stood by and watched her marry Pei Wenxuan. That alone spoke volumes about the depth of his affection.

A love that dared not even be mentioned in the face of family—what meaning was there in asking or answering?

A wave of questions overwhelmed her, and Li Rong suddenly lost her courage.

She exhaled heavily and waved her hand. “Go.”

Su Rongqing said nothing. He stood there for a moment, then finally left.

Pei Wenxuan, upon hearing that Li Rong was at Beiyan Tower, rushed over without even changing his clothes. As he entered the courtyard of Beiyan Tower, he saw Su Rongqing walking out.

Pei Wenxuan was momentarily taken aback but quickly realized that Su Rongqing must have come to see Li Rong.

Frowning, Pei Wenxuan approached, and Su Rongqing, noticing him, also stopped in his tracks.

The two men stared at each other for a moment before Pei Wenxuan broke into a smile and bowed slightly. “Vice Minister Su.”

“Censor Pei.”

“Vice Minister Su didn’t attend the morning court today?” Pei Wenxuan made small talk, his eyes casually glancing toward Beiyan Tower. “Strolling around Beiyan Tower—quite the refined pastime.”

“I had business with Her Highness,” Su Rongqing replied flatly.

Pei Wenxuan chuckled. “Must have been urgent.”

Su Rongqing didn’t respond. A gentle breeze rustled the withered grass around them. Su Rongqing stared into Pei Wenxuan’s eyes for a long moment before suddenly speaking. “What are you afraid of?”

“Afraid of you?” Pei Wenxuan raised an eyebrow. “Vice Minister Su, what nonsense are you spouting in broad daylight?”

“You’re afraid of me seeing Her Highness,” Su Rongqing stated bluntly.

Pei Wenxuan’s expression turned cold. “Vice Minister Su, choose your words carefully.”

“Isn’t that so?” Su Rongqing’s hands were tucked into his sleeves, his tone indifferent. “If it weren’t for His Majesty’s wariness of powerful in-laws, you would never have had the chance to even touch the hem of the princess’s robe. Do you think someone like you would ever be by her side?”

“Censor Pei, are you curious about what I discussed with Her Highness?” Su Rongqing stepped closer to Pei Wenxuan, leaning in to whisper in his ear. “I told her,” Su Rongqing’s voice dropped, “that I am willing to marry her.”

Pei Wenxuan’s eyes widened in shock.

“Unfortunately, you returned,” Su Rongqing’s voice carried a hint of coldness. “But if you continue to drag Her Highness into conflict with the aristocratic families, if you keep putting her in such danger, Pei Wenxuan, you won’t always be so lucky.”

With that, Su Rongqing raised his hand and lightly patted Pei Wenxuan’s shoulder. “Take care.”

Having said his piece, Su Rongqing walked away calmly, leaving Pei Wenxuan standing there, his mind racing.

Pei Wenxuan stood quietly in place, feeling the chill of the October air. It was indeed getting colder.

Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming desire to see Li Rong—a longing so urgent and intense that it consumed him. Yet, at the same time, the thought of facing her filled him with an inexplicable fear and dread.

He was afraid that she would tell him Su Rongqing had proposed to her, that she would say she intended to accept his proposal. He was terrified that the moment they met, she would make it clear that, in this relationship, he had already been left behind long ago.

It had been that way in their past life, and it seemed it would be the same this time.

This fear rooted him to the spot, rendering him unable to move for a long time.

Meanwhile, Li Rong sat high up in the tower. After sipping her tea and calming herself for a moment, she heard Jinglan’s excited voice: “Your Highness, the consort is at the foot of the tower.”

Hearing this, Li Rong instantly smiled. She quickly stood up and walked to the window, where she indeed saw Pei Wenxuan standing below, seemingly lost in thought.

“This fool,” Li Rong muttered under her breath, her lips curving into a smile. She then lifted her skirt and hurried down the stairs, her steps light and quick.

By the time she reached the first floor, she was slightly out of breath but tried to maintain her composure as she addressed the guards at the door: “The consort has come to fetch me. Open the door.”

The guards, well aware that Li Rong’s house arrest was merely a formality, had already received news from the morning court. They quickly opened the door for her.

The vermilion gate creaked as it swung open. Pei Wenxuan turned at the sound and saw the gate slowly revealing the slender figure behind it.

Li Rong was dressed in a flowing white gown with blue trim and white plum blossom patterns, her long hair loosely cascading down her back, with only a small portion pinned up by a jade hairpin. She looked ethereal, like a celestial being who had descended to the mortal world.

Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she gazed at him, her smile warm and teasing. In that moment, she melted into his heart, softening it completely.

All his emotions—his discouragement, his anxiety, his unease—vanished the moment he saw her smile. He stared at her, transfixed, like a mortal who had just encountered a goddess.

Li Rong, in turn, looked at Pei Wenxuan. The young man was dressed in simple green robes, his face unshaven, and he looked more disheveled than she had ever seen him. Yet, somehow, this added a layer of authenticity to him, making him all the more endearing.

She smiled at him, but as her eyes fell on the mud staining his clothes, the swollen redness of his hands, and the cuts on his face, her smile gradually faded.

A silent ache spread through her heart. She suddenly wanted to hug him, to comfort him, but she held back, fearing it would be too forward.

Instead, she stepped closer, her voice soft and gentle. “You’re back.”

Her voice was hoarse as she called out, “Pei Wenxuan.”

At that moment, the young man seemed to snap out of his daze. Without waiting for Li Rong to say anything more, he strode forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Li Rong was momentarily stunned, but then she heard Pei Wenxuan murmur in a low, relieved voice, “Rongrong.”

“I’m back. I’m here to take you home.”

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