Chapter 130: A Group Of Scholars Led A Large Crowd To Block The Palace Gates

Cui Yulang was caught off guard by the punch and fell to the ground on the spot. Fortunately, Zhao Chongjiu grabbed his belt just in time, allowing him to land somewhat softly.

Before Cui Yulang could get up, Pei Wenxuan had already led the secret guards over the wall. He rushed forward and grabbed Cui Yulang, ready to hit him again. Zhao Chongjiu quickly held him back and whispered, “My lord, Lord Cui is here to discuss official matters. Don’t cause a scene and alert the palace guards!”

Pei Wenxuan froze, then looked as if he suddenly understood. He turned to Cui Yulang and said, “Lord Cui, you’re here to talk business? My apologies, truly,” he quickly added, “I thought…”

“No worries, it’s all a misunderstanding,” Cui Yulang said, covering his face. “Let’s talk another day. I’ll take my leave now.”

They all knew the guards would only be away for a short time, so they quickly split up. Before leaving, Pei Wenxuan grabbed Zhao Chongjiu and asked, “Do you know where Her Highness is?”

“She was in the bedroom when I left,” Zhao Chongjiu replied quickly and quietly, “but she said she’d be bathing soon, so she might be at the Imperial Spring Bath.”

Pei Wenxuan nodded, and the two groups quickly went their separate ways.

Tong Ye followed Pei Wenxuan and whispered, “Young Master, do you really believe what Lord Cui said?”

Pei Wenxuan glanced at him but didn’t respond. He only said, “Let’s find Her Highness first.”

Believe Cui Yulang? He didn’t just believe him—he had already guessed it before making a move.

Lately, Li Rong had been very active. It would be strange if she weren’t secretly in contact with Cui Yulang. Pei had guessed that Cui was helping her with official matters, but that didn’t conflict with his desire to punch him.

These days, even speaking a word to Li Rong felt like a luxury for him, yet she had opened a secret path for Cui Yulang in the middle of the night. And Cui, from the first time he met her, had never behaved properly. So wanting to hit him was perfectly reasonable.

In any case, in a situation like this, even if he hit Cui Yulang, he’d still feel a bit guilty. So he just pretended not to know anything and apologized. Tomorrow, Cui Yulang would probably come back to explain himself.

Pei Wenxuan followed the planned route to the inner courtyard. The Imperial Spring Bath wasn’t far from the bedroom—it was a hot spring bath. When Pei and the secret guards arrived, they saw several maids stationed at the door and windows.

By the window stood Jingmei. Pei Wenxuan thought for a moment, then crept toward the window through a pile of grass and mimicked a cat’s meow.

Jingmei was drawn by the sound and looked toward the bushes, spotting Pei Wenxuan hiding there.

She instinctively wanted to call out, but saw him put a finger to his lips. She immediately understood—his presence must remain a secret.

She looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then nodded at him. Pei Wenxuan quickly approached the window. Jingmei whispered skillfully, “Her Highness is inside, alone.”

Pei Wenxuan nodded. Without needing further instruction, he climbed in through the window.

Once inside, he shut the window and hurried into the bath chamber—only to find Li Rong asleep in the hot spring.

The water just covered her chest, but not completely. As the water rippled, the curves of her body appeared and disappeared.

Her hair floated in the water along with rose petals. Resting her head on a jade pillow by the edge of the pool, her face was tilted slightly upward. Without makeup, her features looked serene and relaxed, as if she were silently calling out to him.

Pei Wenxuan was momentarily stunned, then quickly turned his head away in a panic. But after doing so, he felt a bit cowardly. She was his wife, after all—what was there to be nervous about?

He took a deep breath to steady his nerves, then stepped behind Li Rong.

Li Rong was sleeping rather soundly; she didn’t even notice his approach. As Pei Wenxuan drew closer, he could see her more clearly.

Li Rong was nineteen this year. Compared to her later slender and enchanting features, her current appearance still carried a hint of childishness. Her luminous, fair skin softly rounded over her bone structure, lending her a more adorable look than she would have in the future.

Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but smile. He moved quietly, kneeling above Li Rong’s head.

The moment he knelt down, Li Rong sensed someone’s presence. Without hesitation, she reached into the water, pulled a dagger from a hidden compartment in the wall beside her, and thrust it directly toward Pei Wenxuan!

But Pei Wenxuan was well aware of her habits. The instant she drew the dagger, he pressed down on her hand, firmly yet gently pinning it to the ground. At the same time, he leaned in, swallowing her startled gasp with a kiss, seizing the opportunity to deepen it.

“Don’t make a sound,” he murmured against her lips, reminding her, “I came here secretly.”

Recognizing his voice, Li Rong immediately relaxed, yielding to Pei Wenxuan’s movements.

She breathed softly, and after a long moment, she felt Pei Wenxuan straighten up. She opened her eyes, lashes damp with moisture, and saw Pei Wenxuan kneeling by the edge of the pool. Draped in a black robe over a moon-white long gown, he smiled as he looked at her.

Though puzzled by his unexpected visit, Li Rong didn’t feel displeased. Instead, an indescribable sense of delight blossomed within her. She kept her expression neutral, simply sitting up in the water and beckoning him closer.

Pei Wenxuan raised an eyebrow and gestured toward the hot spring pool. Li Rong nodded, moving closer to the edge. Like a siren emerging from the depths, she rose halfway out of the water, resting her hands on the jade-paved floor. Leaning close to Pei Wenxuan’s ear, she whispered hoarsely, “You’re too far away. It’s hard to talk like this.”

Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly but said nothing more. Instead, he stood up and began undressing slowly and deliberately in front of her.

His movements were unhurried, exuding an elegance tinged with flirtation. As Li Rong watched his garments fall one by one, her heartbeat quickened.

Suddenly, she recalled a time in the past when Pei Wenxuan had been injured in the Pei family estate. Inside a carriage, he had undressed just like this, piece by piece. Back then, she hadn’t understood what he was doing, but now it all made sense.

She remained silent, waiting for him to enter the water. Once he did, he immediately pulled her into his embrace and whispered with a low laugh, “Is this better for talking?”

As he spoke, he began to move. Li Rong kept her expression composed but wrapped her arms around his neck to keep from slipping.

“What brought you here tonight?”

“I missed you.”

Pei Wenxuan’s voice was husky, and he was exceptionally patient. Li Rong let out a soft laugh. “You’re not here to catch someone, are you?”

Given the timing of his arrival, Pei Wenxuan likely knew she had arranged a private passage for Cui Yulang. In their previous life, even when they were adversaries, he had managed to plant spies in her princess residence. This time, it wouldn’t surprise her if he had arranged even more.

Pei Wenxuan didn’t deny it when she called him out. Instead, he informed her casually, “I ran into Cui Yulang at the entrance earlier. I punched him.”

Li Rong’s arms tightened around his neck. She restrained her voice, her nails digging into his skin.

Sensing the change in her, Pei Wenxuan chuckled softly. “You don’t mind not seeing me for so long, but you can’t bear to be without Cui Yulang? You even cleared a special path for him. Your Highness,” he teased deliberately, “are you perhaps favoring the new and neglecting the old?”

Li Rong looked up at him. Seeing the smile on his face, she knew he had already vented his anger. She leaned in to kiss him appeasingly and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll always be the principal consort.”

Pei Wenxuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Watching Li Rong rest her head on his shoulder, breathing softly, he felt a pang of tenderness. His anger toward Cui Yulang had already dissipated, and he hadn’t come here for that reason anyway. He sighed, wrapped his arms around her, and spoke slowly, “You had Chen Houzhao file a complaint at the Supervision Bureau, then sent him away from the capital. After that, you had someone impeach you, forcing you to resign from the Bureau… With all these recent moves, are you trying to hand the Supervision Bureau over to Consort Rou?”

Li Rong didn’t answer. She clung to him, her teeth clenched. Pei Wenxuan leaned down to kiss her, his voice filled with concern as he asked, “Are you tired?”

“Not too bad,” Li Rong replied hoarsely. Pei Wenxuan held her close, the water gently lapping against their skin with their movements. After a moment of hesitation, he finally asked the question that worried him most: “Has His Majesty asked you to recommend Prince Su?”

“Yes,” Li Rong said briefly. Pei Wenxuan fell silent at her response.

He wanted to offer comfort but felt it might seem abrupt since she hadn’t brought it up herself. Instead, he simply tightened his embrace and whispered, “Should we go a little faster?”

In matters of desire, if there is no love between two people, it is merely animalistic procreation. But for most couples, it is a form of silent communication—a way to seek solace, reconcile, share sorrow and joy. The act of physical union is, at its core, a transmission of the heart.

Though Pei Wenxuan said nothing, Li Rong intuitively understood why he had come.

They were both well aware of the court affairs, each with their own calculations. Cui Yulang was merely a diversion, and Pei Wenxuan surely understood the nature of their relationship.

What had truly driven him to risk coming here was Li Ming’s order for her to hand the Supervision Bureau over to Prince Su. Even if it was only a slight possibility, he didn’t want to be absent when she was hurting.

He turned her to face away from him, adopting the most intense and pleasurable method she favored. As the water gently rippled around them, Pei Wenxuan covered her mouth, afraid she might cry out.

Outside, the maids faintly heard noises from the room and couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness?”

Pei Wenxuan removed his hand, and Li Rong restrained her voice, replying calmly, “It’s nothing.”

No sooner had she spoken than the intensity peaked. Pei Wenxuan quickly covered her mouth again, then abruptly withdrew. He leaned against her back, breathing heavily. After a moment, he pressed his cheek to hers, gently nuzzling her, and asked in a husky voice, “Rong Rong, did it feel good?”

Li Rong couldn’t speak, her body trembling slightly, tears silently streaming onto the hand covering her mouth. Pei Wenxuan found his answer in her silence. He smiled softly and held her tighter.

Pei Wenxuan’s visit was remarkably pure, almost entirely devoid of political discussions.

After helping Li Rong clean up and dress, he carried her to a recliner and laid her down. Li Rong watched him from the recliner as he half-knelt before her, chatting with her in a soft voice.

After a while, Pei Wenxuan glanced at the sky and said quietly, “I should go now.”

“You came all this way just for that?” Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh when she realized he hadn’t mentioned any serious matters. She reached out and poked his forehead. “You lecher.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled without responding. After a moment of silence, he took her hand gently and said, “Rong Rong, no matter what happens, I will always be by your side.”

Li Rong didn’t reply. She watched him as he knelt before her. She understood his meaning perfectly—he had come in the dead of night primarily because he was worried about her. Losing the Supervision Bureau and being forced by Li Ming to personally recommend Prince Su must have been deeply painful for her.

“Really, it’s nothing major,” she said, lowering her head with a faint smile. “You don’t need to come for such trivial matters in the future.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled without answering, and Li Rong knew it was pointless to try to dissuade him. She sighed softly. “Wait a moment. I’ll summon the guards to check the situation. You should leave the same way you came.”

Pei Wenxuan acknowledged her words but didn’t move. Neither of them wanted to part, though neither dared to say it aloud. After studying him for a long while, Li Rong remarked, “You dressed quite handsomely today.”

“Since I was coming to see you.”

Li Rong pressed her lips together, smiling. She sat up and leaned forward to kiss his forehead. “Go now.”

Pei Wenxuan could delay no longer—dawn was approaching. He rose and slipped out through the window. Once he was safely hidden outside, Li Rong called for the guards on duty.

Seizing the opportunity while Li Rong distracted them, Pei Wenxuan quietly made his escape.

They had met under the cover of night, and by the next morning, when Li Rong stepped out, she found Zhao Chongjiu waiting at her gate. He approached her and said in a low voice, “Your Highness, the scholars that the Su family has been sheltering have been stirring very early these past few days. Their residences are already lit up—it seems something is about to happen.”

Li Rong had ordered constant surveillance on the group taken in by Su Rongqing. Now that such obvious unusual activity had been detected, Zhao Chongjiu came to report immediately.

A cold glint flashed in Li Rong’s eyes. “Notify Cui Yulang that he doesn’t need to attend court today. Have him prepare a way into the palace—it seems he may need to meet with Consort Rou today.”

Zhao Chongjiu nodded and left to carry out her orders. Li Rong returned to her carriage and closed her eyes.

Jinglan poured tea for her and hesitantly asked, “Your Highness, do you know what might happen today?”

“Let’s wait and see,” Li Rong replied, her eyes still closed. “Whatever they’re planning, we’ll find out soon enough.”

The carriage carried Li Rong slowly to the palace. Pei Wenxuan had arranged for his carriage to wait at the palace gates. When he saw Li Rong arrive, he quickly caught up to her, creating the illusion that they had arrived at nearly the same time by coincidence.

Li Rong saw through his little act and gave him a knowing, amused glance before proceeding ahead.

Once court was in session, Li Rong proactively submitted her resignation, transferring control of the Supervision Bureau to Prince Su.

“Although Prince Cheng is young, he is already a prince and should participate in court affairs. Entrusting the Supervision Bureau to him will serve as valuable experience,” Li Rong stated respectfully. “I have been feeling unwell and am unable to continue serving Your Majesty. I hope for your understanding.”

Li Ming acknowledged her words with a slow nod. “After all, you are a woman. It is good for you to return and focus on self-cultivation.”

“Your Majesty,” Li Ming had just accepted her resignation when Shangguan Xu could no longer remain silent. He stepped forward from the ranks of officials, frowning deeply. “Prince Su is still too young. Entrusting such an important matter to him seems highly inappropriate.”

“You have a point,” Li Ming nodded. Shangguan Xu breathed a sigh of relief, but then the emperor continued, “In that case, let Consort Rou assist Prince Su and support him from behind the scenes.”

“Your Majesty!” Shangguan Xu looked up in shock, urgency in his voice. “Consort Rou is a member of the inner palace! How can she interfere in matters of state?”

“Wasn’t Pingle merely a princess?” Li Ming glanced at Li Rong. “She had almost no involvement in court affairs before, yet she handled the role quite competently, didn’t she?”

The officials were momentarily speechless, caught off guard by his response.

It was at this moment that a palace eunuch rushed into the hall in a panic, kneeling before the throne. “Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!”

Li Ming frowned as the eunuch urgently reported, “A group of scholars has gathered a large crowd and blockaded the palace gates! They claim their spots in the Spring Examination were stolen and are demanding justice from Your Majesty!”

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