Chapter 125: The Person I Wish To Report To Your Majesty Is The Crown Prince

When she said that, Pei Wenxuan couldn’t hold back anymore. He hurriedly picked her up and rolled with her to the edge of the bed.

Li Rong couldn’t help but giggle and said, “What are you afraid of?”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t respond immediately. He leaned against her shoulder for a while before speaking hoarsely, “I’ll come back and marry you.”

“Afraid I’ll get pregnant?”

Li Rong propped her face with her hand and smiled at him. Pei Wenxuan gave her a helpless glance, unwilling to discuss it further, and closed his eyes. “You’re just relying on me being cautious.”

“I know,” Li Rong raised her hand and traced his chest with her fingertips. “You’re careful.”

“Don’t tease me,” Pei Wenxuan felt her touch and couldn’t help reacting again. He grabbed her hand and said in a husky voice, “There’s not much time.”

“Alright, let’s talk business,” Li Rong agreed, knowing he was right. She continued, “Since you’ve been jealous for so long, you must know I’ve met with Cui Yulang.”

“I know,” Pei Wenxuan replied decisively. “I’m aware of everything you discussed with him.”

“So what’s your plan?” Li Rong didn’t waste time asking how he knew. She just wanted to know, “Wang Houwen suddenly stepping in to be the chief examiner for the imperial exams must be due to Su Rongqing’s instigation. This year’s Dragon-Tiger List is crucial for your future. Su Rongqing is targeting that. We need to act early and settle things before Wang Houwen officially takes over.”

“Mm.”

“Wang Houwen is a greedy old turtle,” Li Rong sat up slowly and analyzed, “Su Rongqing probably told him there’s profit to be made from the exams, which is why he came. Cui Yulang’s friend lost his spot, so now we’ll have him file a formal complaint. Then I’ll push for a strict investigation into the exams. If Wang Houwen sees there’s no money to be made, he likely won’t want to get involved. Without profit, the exams are just a tough job. He might pass it off to you, the newcomer in the Ministry of Personnel.”

Li Rong laughed and turned to look at him. “What do you think?”

“Does Your Highness really intend to investigate this matter?”

Pei Wenxuan turned over and lay flat, resting his hands behind his head and staring at the ceiling.

Li Rong thought for a moment and replied softly, “I’m still considering.”

“Hm?”

“The noble families’ tolerance for me is probably at its limit. If I investigate the exam scandal…”

Li Rong frowned. “It’s not impossible…”

“Take a step back.”

Pei Wenxuan spoke decisively. Li Rong looked up at him. Sensing her gaze, Pei Wenxuan turned to her with a calm expression. “Your Highness, you already have control of the Inspectorate. Letting this go for now isn’t a big deal.”

“But the exam issue…”

Li Rong hesitated. “Someone still has to investigate it.”

“Your Highness wants to send Cui Yulang to Consort Rou’s side.”

Pei Wenxuan made a definitive statement. Li Rong nodded, and Pei Wenxuan continued, “Why not use something unwanted as a gift to recommend him to Consort Rou?”

Li Rong didn’t respond. Pei Wenxuan sat up and kissed her gently, speaking warmly, “You don’t need to worry about me. I have my own methods. Go back and think it over carefully.”

“With Su Rongqing around, we can’t be too aggressive.”

Li Rong fell silent. After a long pause, she finally replied, “Mm.”

“Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore,” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “Get some sleep. I have to go.”

Since Pei Wenxuan had spoken, Li Rong didn’t want to ruin the mood by continuing the discussion. She leaned against his chest.

“Tonight’s not convenient,” Pei Wenxuan said apologetically. “I won’t help you clean up. Bear with it and wash yourself when you get back, alright?”

“I’m not disabled. I don’t need you to serve me in everything,” Li Rong said lazily, eyes closed, listening to his heartbeat. “Don’t worry so much.”

Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly. “Even when you care, you sound stubborn.”

Li Rong ignored him. She just listened to his heartbeat—steady and deep.

Every time she heard his heartbeat and felt his warmth, she experienced a sense of indescribable calm. That calm made her feel peaceful, and she quickly fell asleep.

Pei Wenxuan noticed she had fallen asleep and looked down at her. He couldn’t bear to sleep himself. This time they parted, and it would be hard to meet again.

He had thought that the separation was just a temporary strategy, nothing to be sentimental about—as long as their hearts were aligned, it was enough.

But now, with her truly asleep in his arms, he realized that when two people love each other, separation is torment.

Pei Wenxuan stayed with her for a long time. When the time was nearly up, he finally got up.

Seeing that Li Rong was sleeping soundly, he didn’t wake her. Just like he used to do at the Princess’s residence, he leaned down and kissed her forehead before quietly leaving. Once outside, he instructed someone to stand guard at the door and wake him before dawn.

Not long after Pei Wenxuan left, Li Rong’s people entered through the window. As soon as she heard the sound, Li Rong opened her eyes and saw the female guard who had brought her there standing nearby, whispering, “Your Highness, it’s time to return.”

Li Rong lay on the bed, still catching traces of Pei Wenxuan’s scent. If not for the lingering discomfort in her body, she might have thought it was all just a dream.

She rested on the bed for a while before finally getting up. Enduring the stickiness on her skin, she took the clothes from the guard and changed, then hurried back.

Once back at the Princess’s residence, Li Rong went to the bathhouse for a quick wash before lying down again.

Alone in bed, she began to reflect on Pei Wenxuan’s words.

In truth, Pei Wenxuan wasn’t wrong. The Inspectorate was already firmly in her hands. The sharpest blade that had once belonged to Consort Rou in her previous life had now changed owners. If she kept pushing forward, it would become dangerous.

Li Ming’s plan was to force her into a complete break with the noble families, leading to mutual destruction. When neither side could gain the upper hand, he would reclaim the Inspectorate for himself.

But Li Rong couldn’t give him that chance. She had to control the pace. If the Inspectorate advanced any further, it would mean total rupture with the noble families. And in this Great Xia, which still belonged to the noble families, if things truly turned hostile, even Li Chuan wouldn’t be able to protect her.

The Shangguan family could tolerate her aggressive stance—because they couldn’t replace Li Chuan.

But others might not be so forgiving.

The military funds case had already led to Xie Lanqing’s exile, which made the court officials wary. If she pursued the imperial examination case next, it would inevitably implicate some high-ranking officials. At that point, everyone might unite against her. And now, even Li Ming likely harbored doubts about her. If those two forces combined, it was entirely possible they would gradually erode her control over the Inspectorate.

Right now, the best move for her was indeed to take a step back.

Not only that—she needed to make the court see the consequences of her retreat.

As long as the entire court realized that the Inspectorate was indispensable, and that Li Rong was the best person to lead it, her goal would be achieved.

This step back couldn’t be in vain. Since she planned to send Cui Yulang to Consort Rou, the Inspectorate would likely be the best gift for Consort Rou.

After much thought, Li Rong finally settled on a plan.

She closed her eyes and said no more, sleeping soundly until dawn. Then, as usual, she attended morning court.

On the way there, she heard faint voices outside. It was still dark, and hearing so many people made her curious. She lifted the curtain and asked, “Why are there so many people today?”

“It’s not just today,” the coachman replied with a smile. “The imperial exams are approaching, so many people have come to the capital. The inns are full—some scholars are even sleeping on the ground.”

“Really?” Li Rong frowned, a bit skeptical.

Those who could afford to come for the exams usually had some money. Sleeping on the ground seemed unlikely.

But what she knew wasn’t absolute—unexpected things could happen.

While pondering this, she entered the palace. After morning court, she ordered her people to investigate where these scholars were coming from, and also instructed someone to tell Cui Yulang to write a memorial criticizing Li Chuan.

Cui Yulang received the message, confused as to why Li Rong wanted him to do such a thing. Criticizing the Crown Prince—wasn’t that suicidal?

But since Li Rong had given the order, he had to carry it out, even if it cost him dearly.

So he spent the night desperately digging for dirt on Li Chuan.

But Li Chuan was too clean—so clean that even those around him had no major faults.

Cui Yulang struggled and finally dug up a few old incidents that could be twisted.

For example, being slightly improper during rituals, or still not having taken a wife at his age.

In the end, out of desperation, he even linked natural disasters to Li Chuan’s supposed lack of virtue. The memorial read like a dramatic story—mostly fabricated.

The next day, after Li Ming finished hearing court matters and was about to dismiss the assembly—

At that moment, Cui Yulang suddenly stepped forward and loudly declared, “Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present!”

Everyone turned to look. Li Ming frowned. “What do you wish to present?”

Facing all those eyes, Cui Yulang showed no fear. He knelt down calmly and respectfully said, “The person I wish to speak about is His Highness the Crown Prince!”

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