Chapter 85: The Corners Of The Mouth Curved Up Wildly

Pei Wenxuan was silently pondering how to respond when an old man’s voice called out from a distance, “Your Highness.”

Both of them looked over and saw Xie Lanqing approaching from afar. Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong exchanged a quick glance, both seeing a hint of surprise in each other’s eyes. Xie Lanqing walked up to them and saluted Li Rong, “Your Highness.”

“Minister Xie,” Li Rong nodded, acknowledging the greeting, then smiled and said, “Minister Xie usually doesn’t speak to me, why the sudden greeting today?”

This remark was quite a slap in the face, especially for Xie Lanqing, who had held the key position of Minister of Justice for many years. However, Xie Lanqing’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, “I heard that Your Highness encountered an assassination attempt yesterday. As an old minister, I was quite worried, fearing that Your Highness, being young, might lack experience in handling such cases. So I came to ask if the Ministry of Justice could be of assistance.”

“I’ve already captured the culprits and interrogated them thoroughly,” Li Rong looked into Xie Lanqing’s eyes, “so there’s no need for you to worry, Minister Xie.”

“Then does Your Highness know who the mastermind is now?” Xie Lanqing asked directly. Li Rong clasped her hands in front of her and smiled without speaking. Xie Lanqing frowned, “Why doesn’t Your Highness answer?”

“Why does Minister Xie ask?” Pei Wenxuan interjected at the right moment. Xie Lanqing looked at Pei Wenxuan, who said with a half-smile, “Could it be that Minister Xie has some concerns and needs to confirm them with Your Highness?”

“I was just asking out of concern, Minister Pei. You are overthinking it,” Xie Lanqing said coldly, clearly displeased. Pei Wenxuan clasped his hands in front of him and bowed as an apology.

“Since my concern has only aroused suspicion, I will ask no more,” Xie Lanqing turned and said coldly, “Your Highness can investigate on your own.”

With that, Xie Lanqing returned to his position. Pei Wenxuan glanced at Li Rong and then smiled, “Your Highness, I will take my leave.”

After bowing, Pei Wenxuan also returned to his position.

Not long after, Li Ming arrived at the main hall, and the morning court session began as usual. Li Ming looked somewhat tired and seemed very irritable. After inquiring about the weather in various regions, he turned to Li Rong and said stiffly, “Pingle.”

“Father,” Li Rong heard the restraint in Li Ming’s voice and knew he was in a bad mood today. She quickly knelt and assumed a posture of asking for forgiveness. Seeing her actions, Li Ming’s expression softened a bit, “I heard you were attacked yesterday. Is this true?”

“Yes, Father,” Li Rong replied.

“Outrageous!” Li Ming stood up abruptly and shouted, “Who dared to attack you? Do they have a death wish?”

“Father, the captured assassin confessed that he was from the family of Chen Guang, the former Assistant Minister of the Treasury, seeking revenge.”

“Revenge?” Li Ming laughed angrily, “He’s not even dead yet, what revenge? Besides, he committed the heinous crime of embezzling military funds. Doesn’t he deserve to die? How dare his family seek revenge?”

“Your Majesty, I have a petition,” an official from the Censorate stepped forward. Li Ming looked up and said coldly, “I’m speaking with the princess. Can’t your petition wait?”

“Your Majesty,” the official did not retreat and continued, “My petition is related to the princess.”

Li Ming frowned, and Li Rong also turned to look. After a moment, she recognized the person as Wang Huan, Chen Guang’s cousin.

Li Rong raised her eyebrows and saw Li Ming impatiently wave his hand. Wang Huan bowed and said, “I request Your Majesty to summon Madam Chen Wang.”

“Madam Chen Wang?” Li Ming was puzzled. Wang Huan respectfully said, “She is Chen Guang’s mother, Madam Chen Wang.”

Li Ming hesitated for a moment, then seemed to remember something and impatiently said, “Summon her.”

Li Rong observed Li Ming’s expression and began to ponder. After a while, hurried footsteps were heard at the door, and an elderly woman with white hair walked in, respectfully saying, “Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty.”

Everyone looked over, and Li Ming seemed to think for a moment before hesitantly saying, “You seem to be…”

“Your Majesty,” the woman raised her head respectfully, “I used to serve as a lady-in-waiting in the palace and took care of Your Majesty when you were young. I didn’t expect Your Majesty to still remember.”

“I remember now,” Li Ming’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded, “You served in the Empress Dowager’s palace for a while.”

Madam Chen Wang quickly kowtowed again, tears already in her eyes. Seeing her white hair, Li Ming said softly, “Madam Chen is not young anymore. Please have a seat. What brings you to court today?”

“Your Majesty, I am here today to seek justice for my son,” Madam Chen Wang said, raising her head and crying, “I am here to accuse Princess Pingle of torturing my son, Chen Guang, into a false confession. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth.”

Li Ming frowned and glanced at Li Rong.

Li Rong had just finished accusing the Chen family of attempting to assassinate her when Madam Chen Wang came forward to accuse Li Rong of extracting a confession through torture. Everyone watched Li Rong with interest, and after a moment of hesitation, Li Ming said, “You say Pingle beat Chen Guang. How would a woman like you know this?”

“Your Majesty, although I am a woman, my heart aches for my son. I had my servants make arrangements, and finally, I got a chance to see my son. I know my actions are illegal, and I am willing to bear the consequences, but every word I say is true. I hope Your Majesty will order other officials to re-investigate the military funds case and clear my son’s name.”

“Besides you, are there any other witnesses?”

“Besides me, there were family servants who visited with me and other guards from the Supervisory Office. But whether they are willing to tell the truth, I do not know.”

“Your family servants are from the Chen family and should avoid suspicion. You can’t find the guards from the Supervisory Office, which means you have no solid evidence.”

Li Ming pondered and said slowly, “And today, Pingle accuses your Chen family of attempting to assassinate her, with witnesses and evidence. Do you admit it?”

“My Chen family attempted to assassinate the princess?” Madam Chen Wang’s eyes widened, and she said urgently, “No, impossible. Your Majesty, my Chen family has been loyal to the throne for a hundred years. We dare not defy the royal family. Even if the princess executed my son and exterminated the Chen family, we would not dare to assassinate the princess.”

“Do you have any evidence?”

Li Ming asked calmly. Madam Chen Wang’s face turned pale. She knelt there, stunned, and after a long time, she kowtowed and said, “Your Majesty, I have none. I am just a woman from the inner chambers. I spent all my family’s wealth to see my son once. I cannot torture for confessions, bribe others, or fabricate evidence. But I believe in the justice of heaven and the gods above. I have no evidence, but I,” Madam Chen Wang said calmly, “am willing to die to prove my son’s innocence.”

With that, Madam Chen Wang slammed her head onto the ground.

Li Rong stood up abruptly and shouted, “Stop her!”

As she stood up, Pei Wenxuan had already rushed out. Everyone watched in shock as Pei Wenxuan reached Madam Chen Wang. The old woman remained in a kowtowing position on the ground, with a pool of blood spreading out.

Pei Wenxuan quickly turned her over and checked her breathing. Li Rong calmly ordered, “Summon the imperial physician.”

She approached Madam Chen Wang, her hands trembling slightly. Pei Wenxuan looked up and shook his head with a solemn expression.

He stood up as the imperial physician rushed in and checked Madam Chen Wang’s pulse. After a moment, the physician looked up in fear and said, “Your Majesty, this lady has passed away.”

Li Ming’s face was extremely grim. He seemed to struggle to control himself before saying, “Take her away.”

The guards quickly stepped forward and carried Madam Chen Wang away. The court was silent. After a long time, Li Ming took a sip of tea and said, “Court is dismissed.”

Everyone bowed and left in silence. Pei Wenxuan walked to Li Rong’s side and softly called, “Your Highness.”

“I am fine.”

Li Rong composed herself. At this moment, Fulai approached and whispered, “Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned you.”

Li Rong nodded and turned to Pei Wenxuan, “You go back first.”

Pei Wenxuan bowed to Li Rong and Fulai, hesitated for a moment, and said, “I will wait for Your Highness outside the imperial study.”

Li Rong, not in the mood to respond, nodded and followed Fulai.

Led by Fulai, she walked to the imperial study. Upon entering, she saw Li Ming standing with his back to her. She knelt and saluted, “Greetings, Father.”

“Look at the mess you’ve made!”

Li Ming threw a document at Li Rong’s head, instantly bruising her forehead.

Seeing the injury, Li Ming paused but then continued sternly, “How many times have I told you to be steady and not to act rashly? Look at you now, handling such a big case so recklessly. Do you think I spoil you so much that you can do whatever you want?”

“I don’t understand what Father is reprimanding me for.”

Kneeling on the ground, Li Rong calmly said, “Does Father think I shouldn’t investigate the Qin family case and the military funds case?”

“What kind of attitude is this?” Li Ming’s anger flared, “Are you threatening me? I let you handle these two cases, not to cause trouble. Don’t you know that the law does not apply to the nobility? And you even used torture on officials?”

“I did not.”

Li Rong spoke decisively. Li Ming looked around, waved his hand to dismiss everyone, then walked to Li Rong and squatted down, “Do you think I’m angry because you used torture on them? You investigate the case your way; I only want results. I’m angry because you didn’t clean up properly.”

“I didn’t.” Li Rong raised her head and said firmly, “Father, why don’t you believe I didn’t use torture? They wanted to harm me, to assassinate me. You don’t blame them, but you blame me today. Don’t you understand how much resistance there is to these two cases? I endured immense pressure for the sake of justice and for you. Don’t you understand?”

As she spoke, her eyes reddened. She stared at Li Ming, “You know how many people want to harm me, yet you still believe them.”

“Pingle,” Li Ming felt a bit guilty seeing Li Rong cry, “It’s not that I don’t believe you. It’s just your temper…”

“What’s wrong with my temper?” Li Rong, disregarding her demeanor, knelt and cried, “Is my bad temper unworthy of being a princess, a daughter? They want to kill me every day, and you expect me to have a good temper? You are my father. If you don’t protect me, fine, but you join them in bullying me.”

“Why are you bringing this up?” Li Ming felt a headache, “Bullying or not, you are now an official of the court. How can you act like a child? What kind of decorum is this?”

“I don’t want decorum,” Li Rong cried, “I don’t want to be an official anymore. Let me go back. Chang Le and Hua Le are living well. Why should I wade into this mess? Why, Father, tell me what I’m doing this for?”

Li Rong said, clutching her chest, “I risk my life for you. Isn’t it all for you? I can’t bear to see those noble families pressuring you. Did I do wrong?”

These words struck Li Ming’s heart. He looked at the tearful Li Rong at his feet and couldn’t say anything for a moment.

He felt a pang of sadness. Li Rong cried in pain, and after a long hesitation, Li Ming couldn’t say anything. He sighed and finally said, “Go back first. Don’t worry about the military funds case and the Qin family case.”

“If I don’t handle it, who will?” Li Rong said hoarsely, “Father? The Crown Prince? Or someone else? Whoever handles it will be unlucky. After all this effort, Father, do you want to bow down again?”

Li Ming remained silent. Li Rong supported herself and slowly stood up, “Father, decide. I won’t handle anything anymore.”

“Rong’er,” Li Ming looked at Li Rong’s seemingly dejected back and hesitated for a long time before finally saying, “Then let Pei Wenxuan decide. He will determine the punishment. Will you be reassured then?”

Li Rong, with her back to Li Ming, respectfully said after a long time, “Thank you, Father.”

She bowed, “I take my leave.”

Li Ming responded, and Li Rong wiped her tears and left. After she left, Fulai brought tea and smiled, “Your Majesty, the princess is still a child, still young.”

“I thought she had grown up,” Li Ming sighed, “but she’s still young.”

Li Rong wiped her tears as she walked out of the imperial study. As soon as she left the corridor, her expression turned cold.

Li Ming’s mood was off today, clearly dissatisfied with her. Madam Chen Wang’s matter was also prepared in advance. It seemed that as soon as she set the trap yesterday, those in the shadows devised today’s drama.

But who influenced Li Ming?

Li Rong pondered as she stepped out of the courtyard. She saw a young man standing in the corridor, wearing a dark official robe with red trim, holding a tablet, quietly looking at the withered branches in the courtyard.

Hearing the surrounding sounds, he turned his head and saw Li Rong. He smiled and respectfully said, “Your Highness.”

Li Rong didn’t expect Pei Wenxuan to be waiting here all along. She felt a bit flustered, lowered her head to hide the traces of her tears, and walked to him, saying hoarsely, “Why didn’t you go to the office?”

“Your Highness didn’t listen to me properly earlier,” Pei Wenxuan said, as if he hadn’t seen anything, and sighed, “I said I would wait for Your Highness, but Your Highness didn’t take it to heart. It seems I don’t weigh enough in Your Highness’s mind.”

Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh at his words, “How much weight do you want?”

“Not too much, not too little,” Pei Wenxuan lightly tapped his heart with the tablet, “Just the whole heart.”

“Your appetite is too big,” Li Rong scoffed, “Daydreaming.”

Pei Wenxuan nodded slightly, “Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness. My greatest strengths are a good appetite, great ambition, frequent insomnia and dreams, and generally good luck.”

With just a few words, Li Rong was amused. She glanced at him and raised an eyebrow, “Weren’t you insisting on sleeping separately last night? Not angry today?”

“Your Highness is joking. When have I ever been angry with you?” Pei Wenxuan replied calmly, “I just thought it necessary to maintain some distance. Our feelings haven’t reached that level yet, and I can’t let Your Highness tarnish my purity and take advantage of me.”

Li Rong: “…”

Well, he certainly has a temper.

Seeing Li Rong’s expression soften, Pei Wenxuan felt the atmosphere was right. He leaned in slightly and whispered, “I just checked. Last night, His Majesty stayed with Consort Rou. Hua Le threw a tantrum and was punished to copy the ‘Female Commandments’ ten times.”

Li Rong glanced at Pei Wenxuan, who smiled, “I hope this clears up Your Highness’s confusion.”

Li Rong didn’t respond. She walked with Pei Wenxuan down the corridor, understanding the situation.

Yesterday, she set a trap at Butterfly Gorge, and the Chen family attempted an assassination. Today, they should use this assassination as leverage to force a resolution on the military funds case and the Qin family case.

Those behind the scenes must have anticipated this. They didn’t want these cases resolved because it would lead to significant changes in officials, many of whom would be Li Rong’s supporters, solidifying her position in court.

They feared Li Rong gaining a foothold and thoroughly investigating the matter. Those involved in the assassination were also terrified, likely reaching an agreement overnight, at least with Consort Rou. Consort Rou had Hua Le relay something to His Majesty, causing him to be angry with Li Rong today.

Judging by His Majesty’s attitude, Hua Le probably said something about her mishandling the case, using torture on officials, and being too reckless. So His Majesty punished Hua Le but took these words to heart, thus causing trouble for her.

With His Majesty’s disapproval, Madam Chen Wang’s self-sacrifice in court made it difficult to continue investigating the assassination. The “mastermind” was already dead, and the evidence Li Rong had would be viewed with suspicion by the common people.

For public opinion and to appease the noble families, Madam Chen Wang’s death likely meant the military funds case and the Qin family case couldn’t be rejudged.

Li Rong frowned deeply, looking down as she walked. After a few steps, she heard Pei Wenxuan respectfully say, “Minister Xie.”

Li Rong looked up and saw Xie Lanqing standing before her.

Xie Lanqing seemed quite pleased and saluted Li Rong, “Your Highness Pingle.”

“Where is Minister Xie headed?” Li Rong’s voice was hoarse. Xie Lanqing smiled lightly, “I was just going to see His Majesty. Your Highness, why are your eyes red? Have you been crying?”

“Sand in my eyes,” Li Rong pretended not to hear the mockery in Xie Lanqing’s words, “Since Minister Xie has business, I will go ahead.”

“Your Highness, wait,” Xie Lanqing called out. Li Rong turned to look at him. Xie Lanqing smiled, “Your Highness, the sea of bitterness has no bounds; turn back to the shore.”

Li Rong stared at Xie Lanqing for a long time before smiling, “Thank you for your advice, Minister Xie. I have a word for you too.”

“Oh,” Xie Lanqing raised his hand, “I’m all ears.”

“Mind your own business and enjoy your old age.” With that, Li Rong left, shaking her sleeves. Pei Wenxuan saluted Xie Lanqing and followed Li Rong. He whispered, “Don’t be angry. Why get angry with that old man? He won’t live long anyway.”

In the previous life, Xie Lanqing was the first high-ranking noble official to be executed after Li Chuan ascended the throne.

Li Rong glanced coldly at Xie Lanqing’s back and leaned close to Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan bent slightly, listening to Li Rong whisper in his ear, “I understand why Chuan’er wanted to execute him.”

“Hmm?”

Li Rong gritted her teeth, “That old man is infuriating.”

Pei Wenxuan thought for a moment. Xie Lanqing hadn’t said much, but Li Rong was furious, likely because he saw her crying.

Pei Wenxuan discreetly glanced in the direction Xie Lanqing left and smiled, “Your Highness is right. That old man is bad.”

Li Rong felt much better hearing Pei Wenxuan side with her. As Pei Wenxuan helped her into the carriage, she remembered and said somewhat discontentedly, “Why didn’t you comfort me?”

Pei Wenxuan sat across from her, smiling, “What does Your Highness mean?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

Li Rong tapped him with her fan, “Your courage is growing.”

Pei Wenxuan knew she meant he hadn’t spoken when he saw her crying. He found it amusing but didn’t show it. He opened a document and said calmly, “Your Highness may not care about face, but I do.”

Li Rong frowned, then heard Pei Wenxuan leisurely say, “You haven’t paid me back yet, and you already want me to comfort you?”

Li Rong was momentarily speechless, feeling a bit uneasy. She decided that she would repay Pei Wenxuan for the peonies when she returned. Once the debt was settled, they could talk properly.

Pei Wenxuan secretly glanced at Li Rong’s expression, suppressing a smile and pretending to be focused.

He suddenly found this version of Li Rong extremely interesting. Like a cat trying to extend its paw to touch you but feeling embarrassed, scratching its head and heart, thinking about how to attract your attention.

He had never seen Li Rong like this before. Now that he did, it was both fresh and amusing, so he kept his plans to himself and didn’t speak.

Li Rong decided to repay the money. Seeing Pei Wenxuan with his head down and the corners of his mouth crazily upturned, she stopped her initial words, feeling speechless.

How happy was he? If he had a tail, it would be wagging. How could he still pretend to be indifferent, feigning refusal while actually welcoming?

Li Rong felt a bit helpless with Pei Wenxuan. After thinking for a moment, she decided not to speak.

Pretend.

She thought, once she repaid him, if he still acted aloof, she wouldn’t be polite.

Previous

Next