Chapter 97: Does This Count As Me Coaxing You?

Pei Wenxuan’s erhu seemed to be harmonizing with Li Rong, yet it was completely different from the nearby drumbeat. When Li Rong played fast, he played slow; when she slowed down, he sped up. And yet, strangely, it all blended together—abrupt, yet somehow… pleasant?

Everyone listened in astonishment. Li Ming turned to the Minister of Rites, Gu Zidao, who was most skilled in music theory, and asked, “Minister Gu, is this how the ‘Pingchuan Battle March’ is supposed to be performed?”

Gu Zidao stroked his pale beard, eyes closed as he listened intently. After Li Ming’s question, he slowly opened his eyes, turned to Li Ming, and respectfully replied, “Your Majesty, the original ‘Pingchuan Battle March’ was certainly not performed this way. Initially, it was a collaboration between Princess Pingle, Princess Hua Le, and Minister Su on zither, flute, and drum—very traditional and proper. The later addition of the erhu by Prince Consort Pei is an innovation.”

Li Ming turned the prayer beads in his hand and nodded. “It’s not unpleasant.”

“Prince Consort Pei’s erhu addition makes it quite different from the original ‘Pingchuan Battle March’, but it adds new layers of meaning. The original piece depicted the heroic scene of Emperor  Pingchuan leading troops into battle, full of blood and valor. But with the erhu, there’s now a sense of desolation. The erhu comes in during the final section, which describes the later stages of war—corpses strewn across the battlefield, the suffering of the people. It adds a great deal of emotional depth and enhances the musical layers. Unfortunately, Prince Consort Pei is clearly not skilled with the erhu, and Minister Su rarely plays the drum,” Gu Zidao chuckled. “If a master performed it, it would surely be even more brilliant. Still, the two have captured the essence. To hear such music from two young people in the grand hall is a delight.”

As Gu Zidao gave his commentary, the music gradually faded, and applause rose from the audience. Most were discussing the changes brought by the erhu, while Li Cheng and Princess Hua Le had already been forgotten.

Princess Hua Le could still endure it, but Li Cheng, seeing this, angrily threw down his sword and, with tears in his eyes, ran back to Consort Rou’s side.

Princess Hua Le’s expression wasn’t great either, but being older, she couldn’t act as willfully as Li Cheng. Li Rong stood up, walked over to her, and smiled. “Sister, your flute playing was lovely.”

“You flatter me,” Hua Le forced a smile and said no more, returning to her seat.

Just as Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan sat down, Pei Wenxuan whispered, “You played the zither beautifully. You really couldn’t hide your desire to show off.”

“Lord Pei, you could’ve held back a little,” Li Rong replied with a smile, her lips barely moving, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear. “If the musician hadn’t grabbed the suona in time, I’m afraid you would’ve started playing battle march right there in the hall.”

“You underestimate me,” Pei Wenxuan replied in the same low voice, leaning slightly toward her. “I have a generous heart. Today, I could play you a joyful tune—‘A Happy Union’.”

“You…”

Li Rong was about to respond, but before she could speak, a loud voice of praise interrupted her.

“Today, the zither was played well, the flute was played well, the drum was beaten well, and the erhu… was also not bad,” Li Ming’s voice rang out, cheerful. “Most importantly, Prince Su’s sword dance—magnificent! Full of vigor! This is what a man of Great Xia should be like. What do you all think, my dear ministers?”

The hall fell into an awkward silence. After a moment, it was the seasoned and cunning Gu Zidao who first spoke up, smiling. “Your Majesty is absolutely right. Prince Su, at such a young age, already shows such spirit—it is truly rare. In the future, the Crown Prince can bring prosperity through civil governance, and Prince Su can secure the nation through military strength. One in civil, one in martial affairs—brothers united. It is a blessing for Your Majesty, and a blessing for the Great Xia dynasty.”

“Minister Gu speaks well,” Su Minzhi added with a smile, following Gu Zidao’s lead by praising both Li Chuan and Li Cheng, carefully avoiding offense to either side. Only then did others begin to speak up.

One voice after another, the atmosphere finally warmed up. Li Ming, seeing that the ministers hadn’t immediately responded to his earlier comment, chose not to press further. Still, he seemed a bit dissatisfied. He turned to Li Chuan and asked, “Crown Prince, your elder sister and younger siblings have all contributed something to celebrate the New Year. As Crown Prince, do you have any thoughts?”

“I am not as skilled in music or dance as they are,” Li Chuan replied calmly. “I can only strive to serve the court diligently in the future, to ease Father’s burdens and bring blessings to the people.”

“Empty words, spoken nicely,” Li Ming snorted coldly. Li Chuan kept a straight face, pretending not to hear the sarcasm. After a moment of silence, Li Ming said directly, “You’re already seventeen. The matter of selecting a Crown Princess should be put on the agenda. How much longer do you intend to delay?”

Li Rong’s heart tightened when she heard this. She feared Li Chuan would reject the idea outright and was about to speak up to help him out when she heard Li Chuan respond steadily, “Your son has never intended to refuse. I await the instructions of Father and Mother.”

Li Rong was momentarily surprised. She hadn’t expected Li Chuan to respond so smoothly. Since he had accepted it so calmly, Li Ming had nothing more to say. He simply said, “Then after the spring begins, prepare to choose your consort.”

“Yes.”

Li Chuan answered respectfully. Seeing that Li Chuan was neither swayed by pressure nor flattery, Li Ming gave up and turned to reward the four performers. After a short while, the palace banquet was hastily concluded.

Once Li Ming left, everyone dispersed—some went to the imperial garden to sober up, others simply left.

Li Chuan had drunk a bit more than the others and seemed slightly tipsy. He waved off the ministers and left on his own. Li Rong saw him heading toward the waterside pavilion. She patted Pei Wenxuan’s hand and whispered, “I’ll be right back. Cover for me.”

Without waiting for Pei Wenxuan’s reply, Li Rong quickly got up and followed after Li Chuan.

Li Chuan was accompanied by a eunuch as he walked toward the waterside pavilion. Li Rong quietly followed behind, noticing how tall and slender he had grown—perhaps even taller than before. For a fleeting moment, he overlapped with the image in her memory of that once-emaciated, lifeless emperor, and the sight made her heart uneasy.

When Li Chuan reached the pavilion in the center of the lake, he had the curtains lowered. Li Rong stepped inside and saw him seated at a long table. When he saw her enter, he smiled. “Sister, what brings you here?”

“It was stuffy in the hall,” Li Rong hesitated, “so I came out for some air.”

As she spoke, she walked over and sat down across from him. “Did they force too much wine on you?”

Li Chuan laughed. “How could they? None of them would dare. I just didn’t want to stay, so I came out.”

“About your marriage…” Li Rong hesitated, but before she could finish, Li Chuan interrupted her directly. “Sister, let me ask you something.”

Li Rong looked up at him. She knew Li Chuan wouldn’t ask something lightly.

After a moment’s pause, she said, “Go ahead.”

“If,” Li Chuan gave a bitter smile, “I mean if—I had refused Father today, would you have helped me?”

“I would.” Li Rong answered without hesitation.

Li Chuan nodded slightly. “I know. I’ve always known,” his voice was a little hoarse, “you’ve always been the best to me.”

“Chuan’er,” Li Rong looked at him, feeling a pang in her heart, “you could’ve refused today.”

“And what about next time?” Li Chuan asked directly. “I can’t keep refusing people forever. Being willful comes with a price.”

“Sister,” he paused, and after a long hesitation, he finally spoke slowly, “I’ve wronged the Qin family. And I’ve… wronged Qin Zhenzhen.”

“If I had agreed to marry Sister Ya back then,” he said, a bit lost, “would the Qin family have avoided being framed?”

“No.”

Li Rong answered firmly. Li Chuan looked up at her, puzzled. “No?”

Li Rong hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke slowly. “Chuan’er, no matter what you do, I’ll always support you. You don’t have to force yourself.”

Li Chuan said nothing. He lowered his gaze, staring at the tea in his hand. After a long while, he smiled. “Sister, I’ve always found it strange. I don’t know when it started, but your attitude toward me became especially indulgent. It’s like no matter what I do, you’re always willing to support me. Why is that?”

“I’m your sister,” Li Rong replied seriously. “I want you to live well—always, just like now.”

“Then tell me the truth,” Li Chuan looked straight at her. “Did I do the right thing?”

Li Rong couldn’t answer immediately. Li Chuan quietly watched her. “In this palace, I hope to marry someone I love. And I hope the one who marries me does so because she truly wants to. Sister, do you think that’s right?”

Before Li Rong could respond, Li Chuan took a deep breath. “No, it’s not. The first time you stood by me, I was so happy. But from the day the Qin family fell, I started to regret it.”

“When Qin Zhenzhen left, I went to see her off,” Li Chuan closed his eyes. One hand rested on his knee, the other propped him up. “At that moment, I thought—if I had followed Mother’s wishes and married Shangguan Ya, then followed Father’s and the ministers’ wishes and taken a few more concubines, then this would’ve just been beasts tearing at each other in a cage. I’d be a beast, and so would they. At least no innocent bystanders would get hurt.”

“But I was unwilling. I had compassion—compassion for the woman who would marry me, and compassion for myself. And that’s what doomed the Qin family.”

“Mother was right,” Li Chuan placed the cup on the table and stood up. “I can’t keep acting recklessly just because you and Mother love me. Don’t worry, Sister. I’ve figured it out. Any woman who marries into the palace, knowing what it’s like, won’t be heartbroken over love.”

“I won’t trouble you anymore. I’m the Crown Prince—this is a small matter. Don’t worry,” Li Chuan smiled, “I’ll handle it. I’m a man. I’ll be fine.”

After speaking, he looked around. “We can’t let others see us talking for so long. I’ll go first.”

With that, Li Chuan turned and left.

Li Rong remained seated in the lakeside pavilion. After a long while, she turned her head to look at him. In his departing figure, she could faintly see the shadow of a grown man.

Li Rong sat in the lakeside pavilion for a while before standing up and heading back to the main hall. By then, only a few people remained. Pei Wenxuan was still seated, waiting for her. When she sat down, he glanced at her face, as if wanting to say something, but held back.

After a moment, he finally said, “It’s getting late. Let’s go home.”

Li Rong nodded. Pei Wenxuan instructed someone to prepare the carriage, then asked another to fetch a cloak. He draped it over Li Rong’s shoulders and tied the sash for her.

Seeing how attentive he was, Li Rong couldn’t help but smile and whispered, “I thought you were still mad at me.”

“I am,” Pei Wenxuan replied as he finished tying the knot, smoothed the cloak, and tucked his hands into his sleeves, turning to walk out of the hall. His tone was calm. “But since Your Highness never bothers to coax me, I always end up giving in. What’s the point of holding a grudge?”

Li Rong found his words amusing. She walked beside him and softly explained, “The reason I stood up today was mainly to stop Consort Rou from getting her way. Hua Le has always been a pawn in her marriage schemes, and Hua Le herself knows it. She wouldn’t have chosen that piece or asked Su Rongqing to accompany her without a reason. What she did today was to show the world that Consort Rou and the Su family are close. That way, the cold-clan nobles who support Consort Rou would gain more confidence. And if Su Rongqing had truly shown support today, with Father’s temperament, he might have issued a marriage decree.”

“His Majesty wouldn’t actually do that,” Pei Wenxuan calmly analyzed. “Right now, Hua Le marrying Su Rongqing would be reaching above her station. If Su Rongqing rejected the match in public, His Majesty would be in a tough spot. He wouldn’t take that risk.”

“And the other reason,” Pei Wenxuan stopped walking and turned to look at her, “I’ll accept it for now. But I still feel uncomfortable. It’s irritating. What do you suggest I do?”

Li Rong tapped her palm lightly with her fan and sighed. “Honestly, I don’t think you’re really angry.”

Pei Wenxuan raised an eyebrow. Li Rong looked up at him, her gaze full of understanding and a touch of helplessness. “You just want to take advantage of the situation.”

“Your Highness jests,” Pei Wenxuan immediately retorted, straight-faced. “I would never…”

Before he could finish speaking, Li Rong suddenly threw herself into Pei Wenxuan’s arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

Pei Wenxuan’s voice cut off abruptly. His body stiffened slightly. People were coming and going around them, and many turned to look. Li Rong looked up at him, her eyes wide and innocent. “Are you still mad?”

Pei Wenxuan looked into her eyes. He knew full well she was setting a trap for him, but in the end, he could only answer honestly, “I’m not mad anymore.”

“Then do you want to take advantage of me?” Li Rong pressed on, determined to prove that Pei Wenxuan had just been looking for an excuse to get close.

Pei Wenxuan sighed, clearly exasperated. “How could I not?”

After saying that, he gently pulled her arms down and took her hand, leading her forward. “Alright, you win. Let’s go home.”

Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh at his words. She reached out and linked her arm through his, leaning in close. “Pei Wenxuan.”

“Does Your Highness have any further commands?” Pei Wenxuan, with her on his arm, looked as if he were ready to charge into battle for her.

Li Rong smiled and whispered, “Does this count as me coaxing you?”

Pei Wenxuan paused, momentarily stunned. He suddenly realized—just now, Li Rong had really… tried to coax him?

He was briefly speechless, a flicker of joy rising in his heart, though he tried to remain composed. As they walked through the palace gates under the night sky, shadows enveloped them. In that brief moment of darkness, Pei Wenxuan finally responded softly, “Mm.”

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