Chapter 88: Would I Let My Son Kill His Father?

Li Rong listened to Pei Wenxuan’s words, casting a smiling glance at him. “What’s the rush, Lord Pei?”

Seeing Li Rong’s unhurried demeanor, Shangguan Ya couldn’t hold back her impatience. Even though she suspected Li Rong might already have a plan, she couldn’t help but urge, “Your Highness, you need to prepare early. The Xie family has captured Lin Feibai alive, and he’s likely to implicate you.”

“Did you send him to assassinate Xie Lanqing?” Pei Wenxuan turned back in shock.

Li Rong ignored Pei Wenxuan, twirling her fan as she instructed Shangguan Ya, “Go gather all the evidence of their previous attempt to assassinate me. Is Lin Feibai’s earlier confession still available?”

“It is,” Shangguan Ya replied, frowning. “But the only evidence pointing to Xie Lanqing is Lin Feibai’s confession. In the Butterfly Gorge assassination, all the assassins were hired by the Chen family. From the flow of money to the intermediaries, everything traces back to the Chen family. If Lin Feibai retracts his statement, I’m afraid…”

“Afraid of what?” Li Rong laughed. “Prepare whatever evidence we have. Just make sure the Chen family is pinned down. You don’t need to worry about the rest.”

Shangguan Ya hesitated for a long time after hearing this but finally nodded and withdrew.

As soon as Shangguan Ya left, Pei Wenxuan spoke directly, “What’s your plan?”

“Hm?” Li Rong turned to look at Pei Wenxuan, who was frowning. “Why did you send Lin Feibai to assassinate Xie Lanqing? Xie Lanqing is the Minister of Justice—someone that easy to kill? Now that Lin Feibai has been captured and has implicated you, with all the trouble you’re already in, I’m afraid even His Majesty won’t be able to protect you!”

After speaking, Pei Wenxuan felt his words were too harsh. Li Rong wasn’t that foolish.

He thought it over and analyzed, “The Seven Star Hall’s stronghold is built where the Xie clan resides, deeply intertwined with the Xie family. Did you target Xie Lanqing because he sent those people?”

Li Rong didn’t respond. She was searching the room for the case files to hand over to Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan followed her, continuing, “The Seven Star Hall is known for its tight lips. They’d rather die than betray their employer. How did you get Lin Feibai to name Xie Lanqing and leave a confession?”

Before Li Rong could answer, Pei Wenxuan continued, “Did you threaten him with knowledge of their stronghold’s location? But that doesn’t make sense. Lin Feibai would know the influence of the noble families in the area. Even if you sent troops immediately, they could escape with the Xie family’s help. Lin Feibai isn’t a fool; he wouldn’t fall for such a threat. Yet he still named Xie Lanqing…”

“He thinks I’m the fool,” Li Rong said with a smile, turning back and handing a case file to Pei Wenxuan. “He’s scheming against me alongside Xie Lanqing.”

“There are many possibilities in this assassination,” Li Rong continued, pulling more files from the wall and placing them in Pei Wenxuan’s hands. He held the files, following her as she explained, “With an old fox like Xie Lanqing, he wouldn’t fail to prepare a backup plan. Lin Feibai confessed so easily because it was prearranged. According to Xie Lanqing’s plan, once Lin Feibai implicates me, I’d likely pursue Xie Lanqing’s accountability. But with no evidence beyond Lin Feibai’s confession, if I accuse Xie Lanqing in court and Lin Feibai retracts his statement, claiming I tortured him into confessing—coupled with Chen Guang’s coercion scandal—the charges of false accusation and coerced confession would firmly pin me down.”

“Since you know this, why did you let Lin Feibai attempt to assassinate Xie Lanqing? Were you serving him up on a platter?”

“So, I had two choices,” Li Rong explained. “If I believed Lin Feibai, I’d fall right into their trap. If I didn’t act on his words, I’d miss my chance to catch Xie Lanqing, the old wolf. Since they set a trap for me, I decided to play along—not only jumping in but diving deeper. I sent Lin Feibai to assassinate Xie Lanqing. Tomorrow, Xie Lanqing will surely accuse me in court, exposing himself from the shadows. That’s my chance to take him down.”

Hearing Li Rong’s clear calculations, Pei Wenxuan felt slightly reassured. Holding the files, he respectfully asked, “Where are Your Highness’s fangs?”

Li Rong turned and beckoned him closer. Pei Wenxuan, holding the files, leaned in, and Li Rong whispered a few words.

Pei Wenxuan looked up in shock. “Really?”

Li Rong lowered her voice. “Absolutely true. That case was investigated by Su Rongqing back then. Since it wasn’t exactly a glorious matter, he only reported it to me. But it was confirmed by three parties.”

“Does Lin Feibai know?” Pei Wenxuan frowned.

Li Rong shook her head. “He only found out just before he died.”

“And Xie Lanqing?”

“At least for now, he doesn’t know.”

Pei Wenxuan fell silent, thinking for a long time before saying slowly, “If what Your Highness says is true, then Xie Lanqing has indeed shot himself in the foot this time.”

“So don’t worry,” Li Rong said, patting Pei Wenxuan’s shoulder. “Think about who should replace the Minister of Justice once he’s gone.”

Leaning closer, she whispered, “I can’t afford to compensate you with peonies, but how about the Minister of Justice position?”

“Those peonies are worth a fortune then,” Pei Wenxuan said with a laugh. He walked to the table with the files, pondering, “With my qualifications, it won’t be easy for Your Highness to push me up, will it?”

“Pick someone from your family,” Li Rong suggested, following him to the table and leaning against its edge. She tapped her shoulder lightly with her fan, saying gently, “You’ve taken back some of the money from your second uncle. It’s time he returned some power, too, don’t you think?”

Pei Wenxuan paused. After a moment, he looked up at Li Rong’s suggestive gaze and gave a soft smile. “It seems Your Highness isn’t satisfied with the little I currently hold.”

“Hey, I didn’t say that,” Li Rong quickly pointed at him, protesting. “Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“I’m not slandering Your Highness; I’m pledging my loyalty,” Pei Wenxuan said, leaning on the table and moving closer to her. “Rest assured, Your Highness, I am yours, and so is the Pei family.”

“Young Master Pei doesn’t make losing deals,” Li Rong replied, sitting on the table and crossing her arms with a sly smile. “With such a generous offer, what does Young Master Pei expect in return?”

“Guess,” Pei Wenxuan teased.

“Riches and glory?” Li Rong raised an eyebrow, deliberately guessing off the mark.

Pei Wenxuan knew she was teasing and pressed, “What else?”

“High rank and wealth?”

“Isn’t that the same as before? It seems Your Highness has nothing else to offer this humble servant.”

Li Rong sat on the table, slightly higher than the standing Pei Wenxuan. She looked at him with a beaming smile, sensing the tangible weight of his gaze. Their eyes met, both wearing their usual smiles, but an unspoken tension simmered beneath—a silent clash spreading between them.

It was like intertwining vines, battling and entangling, wrapping each other tightly in a struggle to dominate. Neither would yield, and it was this unyielding intensity that stirred something indescribable in Li Rong.

Her heart beat faster, her palms grew sweaty. In moments like this, Pei Wenxuan was especially… enticing, sparking a certain unspeakable desire.

It was seduction, but laced with playful mockery, as if he were waiting for her to yield.

If she gave in to his allure, she would lose.

In matters of the heart, the deepest passion doesn’t come from tumbling into bed but from this delicate dance of restraint and attraction, the push and pull when both are drawn yet hold back.

She couldn’t lose, so she couldn’t touch him.

Yet she knew this vibrant flower was already leaning over the wall, swaying in the breeze, tempting her to pluck it.

All she could do was match his game, making him kneel at her feet and come to her willingly.

Li Rong leaned forward, closing the distance, her voice softening with a touch of charm. “So, what does Lord Pei really want?”

Pei Wenxuan felt half his body melt at her words. He sucked in a breath, straightened up, and said, “Enough talk, Your Highness. I’m off to see my cousin. Have someone send the files back to the Princess’s residence. I’ll review them tonight.”

With that, he strode out, his steps steady but his retreating figure carrying a hint of flustered retreat.

Li Rong sat on the table, leisurely picking up a teacup and smiling as she watched Pei Wenxuan’s silhouette fade.

Shangguan Ya entered, leading people carrying files. Seeing Li Rong sipping tea on the table with a delighted expression, like a satisfied cat lazily licking its paws, Shangguan Ya paused and blurted, “You two are having quite the time, huh?”

Li Rong’s hand froze. She shot Shangguan Ya a cold, raised-eyebrow glance. “What kind of nonsense are you reading these days?”

“Since Your Highness knows, we’re kindred spirits,” Shangguan Ya said, seriously clasping her hands. “A pleasure to meet you.”

“You’re not even married, and you’re spouting nonsense all day,” Li Rong snapped, grabbing a book and hurling it at her. Shangguan Ya dodged with a grin as Li Rong scolded, “Let’s see who’ll marry you.”

“No need for Your Highness to worry,” Shangguan Ya said, laughing as she approached. She had the reviewed confessions placed on the table and leaned against it beside Li Rong. “I told my father I’ll stay at the Shangguan household and grow old as a spinster.”

“A spinster?” Li Rong chuckled. “Your father agreed?”

“Of course, I was joking,” Shangguan Ya said, turning serious. “My father wouldn’t let me stay at home forever. But if I become the head of the Shangguan family,” she looked at Li Rong, “he won’t have a say.”

“For the next couple of years, he still needs me,” Shangguan Ya continued, leaning on the table. “I can delay for a while.”

“Are you that afraid of marriage?” Li Rong asked, curious. She recalled the Shangguan Ya of her past life—a perfect noblewoman, always proper, cold, restrained, and disciplined, both with herself and others.

Even when the Shangguan family was nearly destroyed by Li Chuan, she remained impeccable. Despite Li Chuan’s disdain for noble families, she maintained her position as empress.

Li Rong studied Shangguan Ya, who thought for a moment before saying, “If Your Highness had a choice, before knowing the Prince Consort, would you have chosen to marry?”

Li Rong was momentarily stumped. Shangguan Ya continued softly, “What’s so great about marriage? Unmarried, I’m the Shangguan family’s eldest daughter, untouchable. I’m my father’s treasure. I can study, work, or even secure a minor post under Your Highness, with some money to spend and the casino for entertainment.”

“And after marriage?” Shangguan Ya’s expression remained calm. “If I marry into an ordinary family, I’d face my in-laws’ scrutiny, bound by endless rules. A single mistake would disgrace the Shangguan name. A decent husband might treat me with respect, but if he’s the type to chase women or, worse, raise a hand against me, what could I do?”

“No matter my talents,” Shangguan Ya sighed with a bitter smile, “once married, I’m no longer a person. Even if my husband forbids me from visiting my family or serving Your Highness, I’d lose control over everything I’ve worked for.”

“But you’re not the type to obey, are you?” Li Rong raised an eyebrow.

Shangguan Ya smiled faintly. “Of course not. If I had a husband like that, I’d find a lover, bear a child, poison him, and rule as the matriarch in the child’s name. Perfect, no?”

Li Rong felt a chill. Cautiously, she asked, “What if you married into the imperial palace?”

“If I married into the palace,” Shangguan Ya said calmly, “I wouldn’t be marrying a man but a throne. I wouldn’t just be Shangguan Ya but the honor and shame of the Shangguan clan.”

Li Rong wanted to ask more, but the words died on her lips. What was the point of probing into the past life?

It would only stir painful emotions.

Li Rong fell silent. Shangguan Ya smiled. “Why’s Your Highness suddenly asking these things?”

“Just want to know you better,” Li Rong said, standing and patting Shangguan Ya’s shoulder. “We’re good sisters; we should talk more.”

With that, Li Rong pulled Shangguan Ya to sit, propped her chin, and flipped through the files. “Tell me the details.”

As Li Rong and Shangguan Ya discussed how to handle Xie Lanqing in court the next day, Pei Wenxuan took a carriage to the Pei residence.

He first visited his mother, Lady Wen, then went to see Pei Xuanzhao. Pei Xuanzhao, in poor health, had long retired and was living out his days at home. His children and grandchildren were often too busy to visit.

When Pei Wenxuan arrived, Pei Xuanzhao was brewing tea and playing chess alone. Pei Wenxuan approached respectfully. “Grandfather.”

“I hear you’re quite the rising star, busy as ever,” Pei Xuanzhao said calmly. “What brings you to see this old man today? Need help with something?”

“It’s been a while, and I had some time today,” Pei Wenxuan said, kneeling opposite Pei Xuanzhao with a smile. “I came to see family.”

Pei Xuanzhao looked up at him. Pei Wenxuan bore a striking resemblance to his father. Pei Xuanzhao’s gaze lingered on his face briefly before he chuckled. “You look like your father, and your temperament is similar, too.”

He pointed to the chess pieces. “I’m bored playing alone. Join me.”

Pei Wenxuan agreed respectfully and played chess with Pei Xuanzhao, avoiding any mention of business. Instead, Pei Xuanzhao asked about Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong’s marriage.

The relaxed atmosphere put Pei Xuanzhao at ease. He smiled and said, “You’re twenty-one now. It’s time to have a child. Don’t always be consumed by work and neglect the princess. Bring a baby back soon—I’d love to have a great-grandchild.”

“It’s not something we can rush,” Pei Wenxuan said with a smile. “With Her Highness so busy, now’s not the time for a child.”

Sensing Pei Wenxuan’s reluctance to discuss children, Pei Xuanzhao didn’t press further. They finished a game peacefully, and Pei Wenxuan glanced at the sky. “It’s getting late, Grandfather. I’ll take my leave.”

Pei Xuanzhao nodded. As Pei Wenxuan stood, bowed, and prepared to leave, Pei Xuanzhao frowned. “You really have no business here?”

“Grandfather,” Pei Wenxuan sighed, “I came because I’m a Pei. We’re family, after all.”

With that, he bowed again and left. Pei Xuanzhao watched him go silently.

A servant poured tea for Pei Xuanzhao, saying respectfully, “The young master brought your favorite tea. Among all the young masters, he’s the only one who remembers. He’s filial to you, my lord.”

Pei Xuanzhao remained silent, glancing at the tea. After a long pause, he murmured, “Hm.”

Pei Wenxuan, after visiting Pei Xuanzhao, decided to return to the Inspectorate.

When he arrived, Li Rong was still busy. She and Shangguan Ya were reviewing the assassins’ confessions and the Chen family’s financial records, then moved on to discuss Shangguan Ya’s internal audit of the Shangguan family.

Li Rong’s plan was to clean up the Shangguan household before Li Ming could act, preventing Li Chuan from being dragged down by their scandals, as he had been in her past life.

Li Chuan was an impeccable crown prince, with no apparent flaws. Deposing a crown prince was a major affair, and as long as Li Chuan made no mistakes, it would be difficult for Li Ming to move against him.

Cleaning up the Shangguan family was a preemptive measure to secure Li Chuan’s position.

When Pei Wenxuan arrived and heard Li Rong was still working, he didn’t interrupt. He had tea brought to the front hall, picked up a book, and began reading.

Not long after, a guard rushed in. Pei Wenxuan looked up as the guard cried, “Your Highness, bad news!”

Li Rong, hearing this from the inner room, exchanged a glance with Shangguan Ya, then stood and walked out. The guard knelt before her, urgently reporting, “Your Highness, Xie Lanqing has gone to the palace to file an imperial complaint. His Majesty has summoned you immediately!”

“He’s in such a hurry to court death?” Li Rong laughed.

The guard didn’t dare respond. Pei Wenxuan stood and moved behind Li Rong, saying softly, “I’ll accompany Your Highness to the palace.”

“Your Highness,” Shangguan Ya frowned, “Xie Lanqing’s intentions don’t seem friendly.”

“Don’t worry,” Li Rong said with a smile. “I’m off to send him to his grave.”

With that, she turned, her wide sleeves swinging behind her as she strode forward cheerfully. “Let’s go.”

Li Rong led her entourage out of the Inspectorate and headed straight to the palace. Upon arriving at the imperial study, she saw Xie Lanqing clutching his stomach, looking frail as he reclined in a chair.

Li Rong entered with a smile, bowing respectfully. “Your child greets Father.”

Pe egyetlen Wenxuan followed, also bowing. “This humble servant greets Your Majesty.”

The room was filled with people—Su Minzhi, Shangguan Xu, Su Rongqing, and others were present. Xie Lanqing’s chair was to one side, and at his feet knelt Lin Feibai, covered in wounds.

Li Ming looked at Li Rong, appearing weary. He waved her to rise and said directly, “Pingle, Lord Xie claims you ordered this assassin to kill him. Do you confess?”

Li Rong gave Lin Feibai a half-smile. “I ordered this young man to kill Lord Xie?”

She walked to Lin Feibai, crouching on one knee and resting her hands on the other. Smiling, she asked, “May I ask, young sir, how did I come to know you and order you to do this?”

“I am a martial artist,” Lin Feibai began. “Half a month ago, Your Highness sent someone to find me, asking me to kill a person. Your Highness wore a veil, so I couldn’t see your face, but I remembered your voice.”

“Your hearing is impressive,” Li Rong nodded. “And then?”

“Why is Your Highness asking so many questions?” Xie Lanqing interrupted. “Are you guilty, trying to see if the witness’s words leave any room for you to wriggle out?”

“Watch your words, Minister Xie,” Pei Wenxuan shot him a cold glance. “The matter hasn’t been clarified, yet you accuse Her Highness of wriggling out. What, do you think this is your Ministry of Justice, where you’ve already decided the case?”

“Lord Pei has a silver tongue,” Xie Lanqing sneered. “Everyone here understands my meaning. No need to nitpick.”

“And then?” Li Rong pressed, staring at Lin Feibai, who remained silent. Li Ming said coldly, “Young Master Lin, speak.”

“Then I followed the employer’s instructions to assassinate the person in Butterfly Gorge, but I was ambushed and captured, then sent to the Inspectorate. There, I met the princess. When she spoke, I knew she was the one who had hired me to kill her. Knowing my skills, the princess ordered me to kill Lord Xie, threatening to execute me for attempting to assassinate her if I refused!”

Lin Feibai’s tone was cold, but his calm indignation lent him a degree of credibility.

Li Rong listened with a smile, then asked, “So you went to assassinate Minister Xie?”

Lin Feibai ignored her, kneeling upright.

Seeing he was done, Li Rong stood. Li Ming, noting her confidence, asked, “Is what he said true?”

“Father,” Li Rong said with a smile, “his story is full of holes, like poor peasants debating whether the emperor uses a gold or silver pole to carry dirt. Could such a tale—of an emperor carrying dirt—possibly be true?”

Xie Lanqing’s face darkened. “Explain yourself, Your Highness, instead of spouting nonsense.”

“Very well. Since Minister Xie’s mind is clouded after surviving an assassination, I’ll indulge him and point out the flaws in this story. First, he claims I’m his employer. Tell me, am I so short of people or so enamored with Young Master Lin’s reputation that a princess would personally hire an assassin instead of sending a trusted agent?”

“Well said, Your Highness,” Pei Wenxuan added. “This humble servant would also prefer Your Highness not meet strange men in private.”

Li Rong shot Pei Wenxuan a covert glare, which he ignored, maintaining a neutral expression.

“What if Your Highness was cautious and didn’t want such a scandal known by others?” Xie Lanqing countered coldly.

Li Rong gave a soft laugh, circling Lin Feibai. “Fine, I’ll let you have that. Suppose I’m cautious and incompetent, hiring an assassin myself. According to this young man, I hired him to kill myself, staging my own assassination. If I knew I’d meet him again, would I show up with a veil but not alter my voice?”

“I’ve trained in martial arts since childhood and am highly sensitive to voices,” Lin Feibai said coldly.

Pei Wenxuan murmured, “What a keen dog’s ear.”

“Alright,” Li Rong laughed softly. “Let’s say Young Master Lin’s skills are exceptional, and I miscalculated. But if I orchestrated my own assassination, why would I force you to kill Minister Xie instead of simply having you falsely testify that Xie hired you to kill me?”

Lin Feibai froze, his expression unreadable, masking his true emotions.

Seeing his silence, Xie Lanqing said slowly, “That’s a question for Your Highness. Perhaps, after Lady Chen’s death, you felt raising your assassination again wouldn’t achieve your desired effect, so you sent him to kill me directly.”

“That brings us to a critical point,” Li Rong said, tapping her fan against her palm. She bent down, looking at Xie Lanqing in his chair. “Would I send a son to kill his own father?”

At those words, the room gasped. Xie Lanqing’s face changed dramatically, and Lin Feibai’s head snapped up.

Li Rong straightened, tapping her fan against her palm with a smile. “Let’s look at this story from another angle.”

“Everyone, which seems more likely: a princess, repeatedly making foolish decisions, sending a son to kill his own father, or a father and son conspiring to falsely accuse a princess?”

“Young Master Lin,” Li Rong said, studying the shocked Lin Feibai with a smile, “what do you think?”

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