The Princess Royal Recap, Plot, Synopsis

The Princess Royal Synopsis

Princess Li Rong of the Da Xia Dynasty and the current Grand Chancellor Pei Wenxuan journey back to their youthful years in their dreams. They transform from enemies to close confidants, and from confidants to lovers. Trusting and supporting each other, they finally mend their broken relationship, embarking on their ventures together, uncovering the truth together, and ultimately discovering love together.

The Princess Royal Recap

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On a cold night at the end of winter, the bright moon hung high above Hanqiu Palace, illuminating the dense crowd gathered in front of the palace. Empress Shangguan Ya led the ministers in seeking an audience with the Emperor but was blocked by a regiment of vigilant Imperial Guards. These guards, clad in armor and holding long spears, stood like statues in the cold wind, forming an impenetrable barrier until the arrival of the Grand Chancellor of the Daxia Dynasty, Pei Wenxuan, caused a slight break in their ranks.

Though the situation was urgent, Empress Shangguan Ya did not dare confront Pei Wenxuan directly. Pei Wenxuan went alone to see the bedridden Emperor Li Chuan, having prepared an edict for the succession. On his deathbed, Li Chuan ordered Pei Wenxuan to depose the Crown Prince Li Xin and establish the First Prince Li Ping as the heir, further instructing him to suppress the power of the noble families, especially that of the Eldest Princess Li Rong. If Li Rong harbored rebellious intentions, Pei Wenxuan was to eliminate her on behalf of the humble scholars.

In the Eldest Princess's mansion, Li Rong was suffering from a chronic illness, with Su Rongqing often attending to her bedside. He was the steward of the mansion and the person Li Rong trusted and relied on the most. As the struggle for the throne intensified, Li Rong knew that the noble families were a significant threat to her brother Li Chuan. Therefore, she decided to establish the Empress's son, Li Xin, as the heir before Pei Wenxuan could act, to ensure the safety of the noble families.

Although Pei Wenxuan was the Eldest Princess's consort, he and Li Rong were only superficially amicable and had always been at odds, to the point of being mortal enemies. Tonight, Pei Wenxuan's sudden visit to the Princess's mansion was undoubtedly about the succession issue. Li Rong did not refuse to see him but forced herself to negotiate with him despite her illness.

In his youth, Pei Wenxuan was exceptionally handsome, and even at his current age, he exuded a maturity that young men lacked. Unfortunately, Pei Wenxuan's heart belonged to someone else. Since Li Rong discovered that his beloved was Concubine Qin Zhenzhen and learned about his subsequent actions, she no longer had any affection for him as her husband.

Pei Wenxuan harbored resentment towards Su Rongqing, so Li Rong found an excuse to send Su Rongqing away, pretending to be unaware of court affairs and casually responding to Pei Wenxuan. She emphasized that the eldest legitimate son should be established as the heir, while also noticing the sachet hanging from Pei Wenxuan's waist. Their conversation was unproductive, and before leaving, Pei Wenxuan warned Li Rong to withdraw in time and mocked her for valuing Su Rongqing, who had undergone palace punishment, making Li Rong so angry that she felt a sudden severe stomach pain after taking medicine and then spat out a mouthful of blood.

Su Rongqing was stunned for a moment and then hurriedly called for the imperial physician. The physician diagnosed that she had been poisoned by Xiang Meiren. Upon hearing this, Li Rong connected the sachet on Pei Wenxuan's waist with Qin Zhenzhen's cause of death, feeling a deep sorrow. That night, Li Rong ordered Su Rongqing to assemble elite guards to ambush Pei Wenxuan on his way back to his mansion, intending to take his life. When Pei Wenxuan heard that the assassins were sent by the Princess, he was shocked and saddened, dying with his eyes wide open.

Before her death, Li Rong regretted missing Su Rongqing, but before she could finish her words, she lost consciousness. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in her old palace, Chang Le Palace, from her youth, and surprisingly, her personal maid Jing Lan, who had "died and come back to life," was by her side. After a conversation, Li Rong confirmed that she had been reborn at the age of eighteen.

In that year, her father was choosing a husband for her, and Li Rong, following the arrangement, married the humble scholar Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan was handsome and gentle, the eldest legitimate son of the noble Pei family, and even comparable to the first noble son of Huajing, Su Rongqing. However, after his father's early death, he gradually became impoverished within the noble circle.

Originally, Li Rong had thought that if Pei Wenxuan was a good man, they might spend their lives together. But after marriage, this supposedly gentle man showed an unknown side, making her realize what a "smiling tiger" truly was. The events that followed were things Li Rong dared not think about or wanted to change, so she decided to prevent her marriage to Pei Wenxuan.

After dressing up, Li Rong went to the palace to see her father. Seeing the person she hadn't seen in ten years, she was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. As the Emperor's legitimate daughter, Li Rong naturally had a noble status, and before the age of eighteen, she and her father had a relatively good relationship. She cherished the familial bonds within the royal family and still wondered if, given another chance, they could simply be a father and daughter from an ordinary family.

Unfortunately, the next moment, the Emperor Li Ming's suspicion and distance shattered the warm atmosphere of their reunion. Li Ming had someone bring four portraits of young men for Li Rong to choose from. Three of them were handsome but of poor character, with only Pei Wenxuan having a decent reputation. Li Ming did this deliberately to suppress the power of Li Rong's maternal family. Li Rong cleverly avoided the issue of choosing a husband, using the pretext of organizing a spring banquet to invite the four young men and other noble youths.

Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan was surprised to find himself back in the twenty-fourth year of Yongning. That year, his family faced a crisis leading to poverty, and Qin Zhenzhen, greedy for wealth, broke off their engagement. Coincidentally, the Emperor arranged a marriage for him, giving him the status of a consort, allowing the Pei family to reestablish their position in the court. So, when Pei Wenxuan received the spring banquet invitation from the Princess's mansion, he was not as flattered as in his previous life but accepted with pleasure. On the surface, they seemed to care for each other, but in reality, they were each plotting and competing.

On the day of the Spring Banquet, besides the four candidates chosen by the Emperor, other sons and daughters of noble families arrived one after another in grand style. Among them, the carriage of the Su family was particularly eye-catching. Su Rongqing, representing the Su family, wore a white brocade robe and a jade hairpin, his extraordinary temperament making him the focal point of the event. In contrast, Pei Wenxuan appeared somewhat plain, even impoverished.

Reflecting on past events, Pei Wenxuan's disdain for Su Rongqing had become almost instinctual, given Su Rongqing's interference in his relationship with Li Rong. However, Li Rong's evident admiration for Su Rongqing was hard to ignore. Su Rongqing stood with a smile, slightly bowing to Li Rong, a gesture that, despite being the same person and the same words, felt completely different due to the passage of time.

Now in his prime, Su Rongqing, as the eldest son of the Su family, enjoyed the Emperor's favor and stood with unyielding confidence even before a princess. Because of this, Pei Wenxuan felt uneasy seeing Li Rong's admiring gaze towards Su Rongqing, knowing the Emperor would never allow Li Rong to marry into a powerful noble family.

Since his rebirth, Pei Wenxuan noticed many things were unfolding differently. There was no Spring Banquet in the previous life, and thus no encounter between Li Rong and Su Rongqing today. But if Li Rong showed interest in Su Rongqing and insisted on marrying into the Su family, the consequences could be dire.

After a moment of thought, Pei Wenxuan stepped forward to greet Li Rong, but she ignored him. Sensing the strange atmosphere, Su Rongqing pretended not to notice and followed Li Rong into the courtyard. Walking side by side, Su Rongqing's talents and demeanor touched Li Rong's heart, as if she were back in the princess's residence, grateful to meet him earlier in this life.

The Spring Banquet officially began. Li Rong, dressed in grand attire, played and enjoyed herself with the nobles, using the game of floating cups to test the noble sons. Lu Yu, though foolish, was pure-hearted; Yang Quan, immersed in the military, was violent; Cui Yulang was debauched, often frequenting brothels. Only Su Rongqing seemed suitable as the princess's consort, winning Li Rong's favor with his excellent archery skills, and she gifted him a fine inkstone.

Princess Hua Le was fascinated by Lu Yu's bun-eating performance, while Concubine Xiao Rou advised her not to provoke Li Rong. Concubine Ning's sister, Yang Wan, hoped to elevate their family's status by securing the consort position for her brother Yang Quan, but the Emperor refused. As the floating cup stopped before Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong suddenly claimed fatigue and left the table, giving him no chance to perform. Jing Lan was ordered to take Su Rongqing to the study, hinting that if he entered the princess's residence, he would enjoy endless prosperity.

Li Rong felt delighted seeing Pei Wenxuan's frustration, but Pei Wenxuan sent a message, warning her that choosing Su Rongqing would leave her with two choices: marrying into a foreign land or facing death. The eighteen-year-old Li Rong was still somewhat naive and kind-hearted, but the current Li Rong was more thoughtful and had to take Pei Wenxuan's warning seriously.

Pei Wenxuan, weary from suspicion and conflict in the past life, now felt more responsible than affectionate towards Li Rong, filled with regret rather than longing. To prevent Li Rong from making a wrong choice, Pei Wenxuan secretly stirred up trouble, causing Yang Quan to injure someone. When Li Rong publicly rejected Yang Quan's proposal, he took the opportunity to have Lu Yu taken away by the servants, intending to sabotage her plan to choose another consort.

However, Li Rong had already seen through Pei Wenxuan's tricks, publicly exposing him and angrily ordering him to be thrown into the water. Watching Pei Wenxuan's sorry state, Li Rong vented her frustration, but then reconsidered, thinking it was like bullying a child. She ordered her servants to pull him out of the water.

Turning around, Li Rong saw Su Rongqing and couldn't help recalling past memories. Tentatively, she asked if he was willing to become the consort, but Su Rongqing politely declined. After Su Rongqing left, Pei Wenxuan, now in clean clothes, sat opposite Li Rong. She gazed at his familiar face, her thoughts drifting to his entanglement with Qin Zhenzhen, her anger flaring up. She ordered the maid to bring citron, to which Pei Wenxuan was allergic, and demanded he eat it all.

Pei Wenxuan hesitated, claiming he had just eaten and wasn't hungry. Li Rong, unhurried, set up a chessboard to play with him. As she started the game with a star point move, Pei Wenxuan could only smile wryly. As they played, they were stunned to realize their chess styles and strategies were identical to when they were in their thirties. At that moment, they both realized the truth: they both retained memories from their past lives.

Both already had a vague answer in their hearts, so they pretended to be calm. After their emotions settled, they thought about what to do next. Pei Wenxuan remained silent for a long time, which displeased Li Rong, who questioned him about why he was obstructing her from choosing another husband. In the moment of answering, Pei Wenxuan hesitated, further solidifying Li Rong's suspicions. The two of them openly revealed their cards about their rebirth.

Looking back on the previous life, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan did not have a good ending. They spent half their lives fighting to the death. Even though Pei Wenxuan once again expressed his intention to marry her, he was strongly rejected by Li Rong, who stated that she did not want to go through the same life of misplaced affection, scheming, and ending up alone.

Although Li Rong once thought of spending her life with Pei Wenxuan, growing old together, the matter with Qin Zhenzhen made her see that she had no place in Pei Wenxuan's heart. This arranged marriage was just a mutual use for political alliance, one relying on the princess's power to gain a foothold in the court, the other needing a powerful minister to secure her brother's throne. There was no genuine affection from the beginning.

Therefore, Li Rong gave Pei Wenxuan two choices: either declare a separation publicly and have no further contact or live separately in name only, maintaining their alliance. In the end, Pei Wenxuan chose the latter, agreeing never to betray her under penalty of death, and the outcome fulfilled this promise.

That night, like tonight, thunder roared. Even after the rain cleared, Pei Wenxuan fully understood how uncompromising Li Rong was about affection, insisting on purity and loyalty, even if it meant mutual destruction. Pei Wenxuan no longer hoped for Li Rong to agree to marry him but instead analyzed the situation for her, making final plans for her.

Currently, Li Rong's difficult position lay in the emperor's suspicion, and she also needed to protect her brother, Crown Prince Li Chuan's position as heir. Compared to Pei Wenxuan, if she had to choose among the other three candidates, Pei Wenxuan suggested focusing on the Duke of Ningguo's household. First, Cui Yulang, coming from a humble background, was useless. Second, the Yang family controlled military power, making them a thorn in the emperor's side. Only the foolish heir of the Ningguo household was relatively safe. The Duke of Ningguo was the emperor's childhood friend and had once shielded him from a sword, maintaining some friendship, which could protect the princess.

On the other hand, Crown Prince Li Chuan was dissatisfied with the emperor's choice of husband for his sister and complained to the empress. Empress Shangguan Yue patiently explained that the emperor feared the Shangguan family's power and would not agree to another noble family marriage. Now that the country was stable, noble families were the greatest threat to imperial power. The choice had to be made between the crown prince's position and the princess's happiness.

Seeing that it was late, Li Rong issued a guest expulsion order, stating that their positions had been different, past grudges were now bygones. Since heaven gave them a second chance, they need not meet again, each wishing the other well. Pei Wenxuan, with a stiff face, agreed, forcing himself to eat the citron and leave.

Watching Pei Wenxuan's receding figure, Li Rong had mixed feelings, as if she was sending off a fading memory. She immediately ordered the maids to prepare some items for him as a final gesture of dignity. Although Jing Lan didn't understand Li Rong's intentions, she complied. Seeing the box and cloak Jing Lan brought, Pei Wenxuan's anger dissipated instantly.

That night, Yang Quan sent people to ambush Li Rong, planning to stage a hero-saving-the-beauty scene to vie for the position of consort. Upon hearing the news, Pei Wenxuan guessed it was Yang Quan's men, instructing Tong Ye to report to the palace and set up roadblocks, hiding in the bushes. Yang Wan, fearing her brother's actions would be exposed, personally visited the empress and reached an agreement to keep tonight's events secret.

While Pei Wenxuan was painstakingly thwarting Yang Quan's men, Li Rong had already deduced from her secret guards that it was related to the Yang family and discovered they had planted a mole in her entourage. Li Rong disguised Jing Lan as herself, leading different teams, causing Yang Quan to mistake his target and realize too late he had been fooled. However, while Li Rong was galloping through the night, she was tripped by a rope set by Pei Wenxuan and fell unconscious. Pei Wenxuan hurriedly carried her into the woods, calling her name until she awoke.

While searching for water, the two quarreled, dredging up old grievances, shouting and gasping until they finally sat by the river roasting fish. During their conversation, Li Rong unexpectedly learned that Pei Wenxuan wore a sachet at Su Rongqing's request, otherwise, he would not be allowed into the princess's residence.

Pei Wenxuan admitted that he planted spies in the princess's residence to guard against Su Rongqing, not to harm Li Rong. He also revealed that Su Rongqing had a blood feud with the Li family. After hearing Pei Wenxuan's words, Li Rong was incredulous and fell into deep thought. Back then, the Su family conspired with Empress Shangguan Ya to enthrone the third prince, committing the crime of treason, leading to the entire Su clan's imprisonment, with the men executed and the women exiled. Despite Li Rong's pleas for Su Rongqing, he still couldn't avoid the tragic fate of being castrated.

The Su family was once noble and esteemed, but due to unfounded accusations, they were implicated and unjustly executed. Only Su Rongqing survived, dragging his crippled body through life. Li Rong couldn't stand by and watch, ignoring external gossip, and insisted on keeping Su Rongqing in the Princess's residence. Twenty years of close companionship made her believe their feelings were deep, but in the end, she lost to court politics.

Now, thinking back, everything had signs. Su Rongqing poisoned Pei Wenxuan, intending to use this to eliminate him and take over the Princess's residence's power, aiming to destroy the Li family's dynasty. Li Rong couldn't accept this and cried in sorrow. Pei Wenxuan, seeing this, didn't know how to comfort her and just reminded her that further entanglement with Su Rongqing would lead to unimaginable consequences.

Yang Wan visited Concubine Rou late at night, informing her that external changes were imminent and offering a grand gift to ally in the fight for the crown prince position. However, Xiao Rou, being highly favored, completely disregarded Yang Wan and the Empress, not wanting to get involved with them. As she left, Yang Wan warned Xiao Rou that attempting to stay neutral was futile.

Pei Wenxuan removed his outer garment to cover Li Rong, shivering alone by the fire. When he heard Li Rong's voice, he immediately moved to lie beside her without any shame. During their conversation, Li Rong reconciled with Pei Wenxuan and hoped to use this opportunity of rebirth to change the fates of Li Chuan, Su Rongqing, and others.

Pei Wenxuan pretended to sleep to avoid this topic, knowing that deep down, the person he owed the most was Princess Li Rong. Even though their marriage was political, there were still happy times in the early days. However, conflicts and arguments deepened over time, especially the scene where Li Rong bore the punishment for Su Rongqing, which made Pei Wenxuan regret not protecting her well.

As they woke up in the early morning chill, they opened their eyes to find each other's faces very close, and after a moment of surprise, they quickly sat up. Pei Wenxuan was the first to explain that he did nothing to her last night. Seeing him so serious, Li Rong lost the interest to tease him, responded briefly, and went to the river to wash up.

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves came from afar. Pei Wenxuan quickly pulled Li Rong to hide in the nearby grass and saw that the newcomers were Crown Prince Li Chuan and Su Rongqing. Li Rong wanted to greet them but remembered past events and quickly crouched down. Pei Wenxuan, seeing her low spirits, comforted her, saying that since the Su family had not yet engaged in any factional disputes, they were still a noble family, and Su Rongqing was still a gentleman with no threats.

Hearing this, Li Rong felt better and took the initiative to step out of the grass. Li Chuan, seeing his sister safe, was finally relieved but still wary of Pei Wenxuan, warning him to keep his distance. On the way back, Li Chuan asked his sister if she had been wronged, stating that even after she married, she should consider him the most important man in her heart.

Seeing Li Chuan's smile, Li Rong felt a mix of emotions. Remembering the young emperor who changed drastically after Concubine Qin's death, she wished her brother would never change. Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing rode behind, discussing Li Rong's deep bond with her brother. Pei Wenxuan noticed Su Rongqing's ambiguous smile and words, suspecting that he too had been reborn.

Upon arriving outside the imperial city gate, Eunuch Shan De had been waiting for a long time and was ordered to escort Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan to Weiyang Palace to see the Empress. Li Chuan returned to the Crown Prince's palace first, while Li Rong asked Pei Wenxuan to wait outside as she went alone to see her mother. Unexpectedly, the Empress's first words were about marrying her to Yang Quan.

It turned out that Concubine Rou was highly favored, and her son, Li Chang, had been made a prince at the age of ten. The Empress knew that promoting Concubine Rou's brother to King of the Northwest meant taking military power from the Yang family and giving it to Li Chang, threatening the crown prince position. The Empress, blinded by jealousy, wanted to ally with the Yang family. However, Li Rong firmly opposed this, resulting in a slap from the Empress.

Li Rong told the Empress that the Yang family's high merits and arrogance would inevitably lead to their suppression by the Emperor. She questioned whether the Empress cared only about her son's position, ignoring her daughter's life and death, and vowed to marry Pei Wenxuan, promising to protect Li Chuan without any worries, only hoping the Empress would fulfill her duty as a mother. Pei Wenxuan, seeing Li Rong's swollen face, guessed she had a disagreement with the Empress and offered a solution, proposing to marry her for mutual benefit and ensuring Li Chuan's power was secure, after which they could divorce and regain their freedom.

Later, the Empress summoned Pei Wenxuan alone. Pei Wenxuan straightforwardly asked to marry Li Rong and offered the Empress strategies, winning her favor. After leaving Weiyang Palace, Pei Wenxuan was summoned by the Emperor and saw Yang Quan outside the hall, deliberately revealing his upcoming marriage to Li Rong. Yang Quan requested to marry the princess but was rejected by the Emperor. Watching Pei Wenxuan's smug expression, Yang Quan was furious.

The Emperor summoned Pei Wenxuan alone, leading him to the back garden, ready to confront him. However, Pei Wenxuan suddenly appeared grief-stricken and began explaining how the Empress intended to form an alliance with the Yang family. He narrated that the previous day's events were merely a heroic rescue act and that he was forced to spend the night alone with the Princess, seeking the Emperor's help.

Indeed, the Emperor remained silent for a moment, encouraging Pei Wenxuan to continue. Seizing the opportunity, Pei Wenxuan analyzed the dangers the Yang family posed to the Xia dynasty. He detailed how the Yang family had been wielding power at the border for years, extorting money and troops from the court whenever there was conflict. While they appeared to be defending against enemy nations, they never truly eradicated the threat.

A folk song in the streets reflected the sentiment: "Xia has two emperors, the North Yang and the South Li," showcasing the immense power of the Yang family in the northwest. Across the court, civil and military officials both feared and respected the Yang family for their military authority and steadfast defense of the border. However, last winter, when the enemy attacked again, the Yang family surrendered without a fight, losing two cities. With 50,000 troops, they were defeated by an enemy force of 20,000. Pei Wenxuan, aware of the Emperor's secret investigation into the Yang family, boldly stated that the Yang family had been bribing the enemy with military funds and that the so-called wars were staged.

The Emperor pretended to scold Pei Wenxuan quietly, testing whether he was worthy of a significant role. Pei Wenxuan declared his loyalty, skillfully flattering the Emperor, who then decided to assign him the task of killing Yang Quan as a betrothal gift for marrying Princess Hua Le, Li Rong. After Pei Wenxuan accepted the mission and left the palace, the Emperor instructed the head eunuch to ensure Pei Wenxuan's success; if he failed, he should be silenced to cover up the meeting.

Meanwhile, Li Rong explained to Li Chuan the pros and cons of the Yang family, hoping he would maintain his current innocence while she handled the rest. After leaving the Eastern Palace, Li Rong encountered Pei Wenxuan and presented him with the Prince's sword as a token of gratitude for saving her life and a symbol of their alliance.

Upon hearing that Pei Wenxuan was favored by both the Emperor and the Empress, Yang Wan decided to have him ambushed to prevent him from hindering the Yang family's rise. Despite receiving intelligence of impending chaos in the city, Su Rongqing arrived with the Ministry of Justice guards only to find Yang Quan's body in the street, with Pei Wenxuan and Tong Ye disappearing into the crowd.

The assassination of Yang Quan shocked the court. Yang Wan, enraged, ordered the family to evacuate Huajing and sent a message to her father at the border, assigning spies to monitor the Emperor. On the other hand, Li Rong used a flower offering as an excuse to meet her father. Hearing the Emperor discussing matters with officials, she patiently waited outside and asked the maid to add another chair.

Soon, Pei Wenxuan hurried to the palace, feigning panic. Li Rong, noticing his composed demeanor, smiled confidently. When summoned by the Emperor, they both entered the hall. Pei Wenxuan, performing masterfully, recounted how he accidentally killed Yang Quan, each word causing the officials to tremble with fear.

Uncles Pei Lixian and Pei Liming were terrified, fearing that Pei Wenxuan's actions would bring disaster to the family. However, the Emperor used the Yang family's failure to defend the city as a pretext to investigate the case of Yang Quan kidnapping the princess and assassinating officials. Since powerful families avoided involvement in such disputes, Li Rong seized the opportunity to request leading the investigation, with Su Rongqing as the overseer.

With the matter settled, the Emperor calmed down, ordering everyone to leave except Li Rong. He subtly inquired about her impression of Pei Wenxuan, praising his character and appearance, suggesting that marrying him would be advantageous. Li Rong, feigning grievance, acted obediently, implicitly agreeing to the marriage.

In the corridor, Pei Wenxuan waited for Li Rong, jealously questioning her about appointing Su Rongqing as the overseer, suspecting ulterior motives. Later, Li Rong returned to clean house, investigating a maid's affair with Yang Quan, who promised to take her as a concubine once he married the princess. Li Rong, feeling regretful and heartbroken, told the maid that a woman's biggest mistake was losing to fantasies about men. Out of consideration for her years of service, she sent her to a temple to live a life of solitude.

Su Rongqing asked his father about his stance on the Yang case. Su's father bluntly stated that protecting the family meant protecting the Yang family. The next morning, officials gathered outside the palace, chatting in small groups while waiting for the Emperor's summons. Li Rong scanned the crowd but did not see who she was looking for until Pei Wenxuan arrived, yawning, indicating a sleepless night.

The officials entered the hall, except for Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan, who stayed outside. As Pei Wenxuan grew drowsy, Li Rong stood beside him, allowing him to rest on her shoulder. The Emperor briefly mentioned the Yang family's case, intending to file charges. Most officials remained silent, with some pleading for leniency for the Yang family. Given the situation, the Emperor summoned Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan to testify, confronting the officials.

In front of the civil and military officials, Pei Wenxuan spoke harshly, without any restraint, passionately condemning the Yang family for deceiving the emperor, being overbearing and disrespectful, colluding with enemy countries, and defying the law. When several leading officials rebutted and took turns accusing Pei Wenxuan, he remained fearless, continuing to argue against them alone, plunging the entire court into silence.

Initially, the emperor wanted to intervene, but seeing Pei Wenxuan’s impressive performance, he decided to sit back and watch. When no other officials had objections, the emperor handed over the Yang family's case to Li Rong for investigation, promoted Pei Wenxuan to Supervisory Censor to assist, and specifically appointed Su Rongqing, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, for supervision.

Considering the Yang family's past merits, the emperor temporarily refrained from imprisoning them, placing them under house arrest instead. Li Rong first sought Su Rongqing's help to retrieve some account books from the Ministry of War. Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing, not being in the court, engaged in a conversation that lacked formalities but was filled with probing. Su Rongqing deliberately mentioned that Pei Wenxuan had a childhood engagement, which Pei Wenxuan avoided responding to and warned him to mention the princess less in the future to avoid overstepping bounds.

Li Rong remained calm, but Pei Wenxuan was unusually emotional. Sharing the same carriage with her, he was still jealous of Su Rongqing's interest in the princess. Even so, Li Rong showed no desire for a deep conversation and abruptly changed the topic to a moneylender named "Tuoba Yan" they had previously encountered.

This man frequently traveled between the northwest and Huajing, with businesses spanning several countries. While he appeared to be a merchant, he actually made a living through money laundering, making many connections among the Huajing nobility. Li Rong stated bluntly that Tuoba Yan’s ability to thrive in multiple countries was not just due to his business acumen but because he possessed account books as his life-saving charm. Only by finding these account books could they justify continuing to detain the Yang family.

The Crown Prince sent a secret guard, Feng Ming, to deliver an invitation and trade letters to Li Rong, revealing that Tuoba Yan held a private gathering of wealthy merchants each month. They planned for Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan to pose as a merchant couple to approach Tuoba Yan and steal the account books. To ensure Li Rong’s safety, Feng Ming decided to disguise herself as a maid, to which Li Rong agreed.

Given the comfort of Li Rong's carriage and Pei Wenxuan's sleepless night, he soon fell into a deep sleep, unresponsive to Li Rong’s attempts to wake him. Knowing Pei Wenxuan's habit of oversleeping, Li Rong recalled trying to wake him with a kiss in a previous life, and she mentioned it again deliberately. Sure enough, Pei Wenxuan immediately woke up and sat upright.

Meanwhile, Yang Wan, hearing that Li Rong was already investigating the Yang family, immediately sent a message to the frontier and went personally to Hanqiu Palace to seek an audience with the emperor. The emperor refused to see her, so Yang Wan knelt outside, loudly declaring that she would continue kneeling until the emperor met with her, using this method to force him to appear.

By nightfall, the carriage arrived at Tuoba Yan's villa. Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan, holding the invitation and accompanied by Feng Ming disguised as a servant, passed through the gate after having their invitation checked. Inside the villa, people from various countries mingled, with different accents and attires, and Persian dancers performing on stage. Amid such an environment, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan’s upright demeanor stood out, so Li Rong leaned into Pei Wenxuan, playfully flirting to blend in better.

Because Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan looked quite young, Tuoba Yan grew suspicious of their identities. However, the two worked well together and quickly dispelled his doubts. During the gathering, Pei Wenxuan, under the pretense of flower appreciation, lured Tuoba Yan to the back garden, while Li Rong feigned a stomach ache to sneak into another courtyard to steal the account books.

On her way back, Li Rong's identity was exposed, and she had to flee from pursuers, eventually being pulled into a room by Su Rongqing at a corner. With the situation urgent, Su Rongqing arranged for Li Rong to change into a dancer's costume. Despite her stunning appearance, they had to endure close physical contact to avoid detection.

Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan, drunk after a heavy drinking session with Tuoba Yan, saw Su Rongqing and Li Rong walking together and, filled with rage, rushed over to claim Li Rong, declaring his status as the future imperial son-in-law. He took Li Rong away from Tuoba Yan's villa.

Li Rong’s mind was preoccupied with Su Rongqing’s words, questioning whether she would marry him if not bound by power. However, Pei Wenxuan, feeling unwell, especially seeing Li Rong in the revealing dancer’s attire, became even more displeased. Li Rong took Pei Wenxuan to watch fireworks on the street, their relationship quickly warming up. In a moment of passion, Pei Wenxuan kissed Li Rong. Faced with his direct confession, Li Rong wavered, and they agreed that if genuine feelings developed, Pei Wenxuan would offer his life in return.

Pei Wenxuan, after his rebirth, would still be willing to let Qin Zhenzhen enter the palace. Pei Wenxuan did not answer directly, but he hoped that Qin Lin would come out of seclusion soon to avoid a repeat of the tragedy. The two of them visited Qin Lin with their letters of introduction. As expected, Qin Lin refused to see guests, leaving them empty-handed.

Pei Wenxuan, understanding Qin Lin well, comforted Li Rong, saying that Qin Lin was inherently a great warrior who disliked war. Back then, he had broken the enemy with just eight hundred light cavalry and had been a fierce general of the northern border. However, after his father died on the battlefield, he returned to the capital in anger and secluded himself in Mount Jiulu. If not for Qin Zhenzhen's recommendation, he might never return to the battlefield.

Pei Wenxuan talked to himself, not noticing Li Rong’s exhaustion. By dusk, the mountain road was rugged, and Li Rong's steps grew slower. Noticing her struggling, Pei Wenxuan carried her on his back and rode a carriage back to the residence at the foot of the mountain, only to find dozens of people waiting outside.

The leader was Li Kui, a Senior Censor from the Department of Justice, ordered to take Pei Wenxuan back to assist in investigating a murder case involving the death of the Western Region's wealthy merchant, Tuoba Yan. After Pei Wenxuan left with Li Kui, Li Rong immediately wrote to her brother, Li Chuan, instructing him to go to Mount Jiulu to seek Qin Lin. She then went to the prison to visit Pei Wenxuan, ready to solve the current troubles.

The next morning, Li Chuan’s attempt to see Qin Lin failed again, so he sat outside and waited patiently with enough dry food in his bag. On the other hand, Su Rongqing arranged for Li Rong to access the Ministry of War's room where the accounts were kept, pulling out all accounts related to the northwest border. With so many accounts, Li Rong had to go through them one by one, taking almost half a day.

Su Rongqing, thoughtfully, brought her tea and snacks, reminding her of many past events. Li Rong took the opportunity to ask Su Rongqing why he suddenly appeared at Tuoba Yan’s residence. Su Rongqing candidly admitted that he was concerned about her. This statement left Li Rong with mixed feelings, expressing that she, being of royal blood, couldn’t avoid deception and did not want to see Su Rongqing get involved.

Su Rongqing did not respond but silently retreated behind a screen, not disturbing her while she reviewed the accounts, occasionally observing her by candlelight and sketching her profile with a smile on his lips. During this time, Li Rong had people closely monitor any movements at Tuoba Yan’s residence and regularly inquire about Li Chuan's progress at Mount Jiulu.

Soon, Li Rong cleared up the procedures and amounts of military payments allocated to the Yang family by the Ministry of War. One night, she caught Tuoba Yan and proposed a cooperation deal. As long as Tuoba Yan was willing to testify, the Princess’ residence would ensure the safety of his family. Combining the accounts from the Ministry of War, Tuoba Yan’s testimony, and the stolen private accounts, the evidence of the Yang family's embezzlement of military funds was basically complete.

After finishing these tasks, Li Rong personally went to the Ministry of Justice and chose a cell next to Pei Wenxuan’s, arranging it to be somewhat comfortable. In the eyes of outsiders, it seemed like they were a loving couple supporting each other through difficult times. Meanwhile, Li Chuan had been waiting for several days without seeing Qin Lin, feeling increasingly frustrated. However, he unexpectedly met Qin Zhenzhen, the youngest daughter of the Qin family, by a waterfall.

Although they initially fought, Li Chuan fell in love with Qin Zhenzhen at first sight, and their interactions soon blossomed into affection. Qin Zhenzhen guessed Li Chuan’s identity and truthfully revealed her own, willing to speak well of him to her brother. However, Qin Lin had other thoughts, feeling his sister was too naive.

In the cell, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan quarreled, mocking him for being rejected by the Qin family, while he insisted that the rejection was not Qin Zhenzhen’s intention. Just then, Li Chuan arrived at the prison with Qin Zhenzhen, surprising Li Rong and stirring mixed feelings within her. She decided to eavesdrop on their conversation under the guise of watching a play.

It turned out that Qin Zhenzhen had always regarded Pei Wenxuan as an older brother, without any romantic feelings, and the rejection was arranged by her through someone else. Hearing this, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh. Qin Zhenzhen turned to look at Li Rong, suddenly remembering the purpose of her visit, and directly stated that her brother made things difficult for the crown prince to test his character, not to refuse him.

As Li Chuan and Qin Zhenzhen prepared to leave, Li Rong specifically instructed Li Chuan that tomorrow’s morning court might have their father arrange for him to supervise the northwest battle, and he must find an excuse to decline, not agreeing immediately, and to keep Qin Lin’s deployment to the front line a secret.

Once the cell was left with just Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong felt a twinge of concern, fearing that the early meeting between Qin Zhenzhen and Li Chuan might change everything.

Back then, when the Empress selected consorts for the Crown Prince, Shangguan Ya and Qin Zhenzhen became the main consort and secondary consort, respectively, while the other three came from different families. Upon entering the Eastern Palace, Qin Zhenzhen and Li Chuan had a distant relationship. Li Chuan was forced to accept the marriage, and his character gradually became taciturn and calm, making him more prudent and dignified in his actions. This seemed beneficial but left Li Rong uneasy.

In fact, Qin Zhenzhen came from a humble background, making it difficult to enter the royal family. If not for Qin Lin holding military power, she would never have been able to enter the Eastern Palace. As a result, Qin Zhenzhen was not well received from the beginning, often bullied, and even caught a cold because the servants withheld her winter coal allowance. Later, Pei Wenxuan learned about this through the maid Ling Er and helped her several times, eventually making Qin Zhenzhen gain Li Chuan's favor.

From then on, Li Chuan became madly in love with Qin Zhenzhen. Whether as the Crown Prince or the Emperor, he never cared for anyone else. However, the Emperor's favor can be both beneficial and harmful, often becoming a double-edged sword that hurts the one he loves. A year after Li Chuan ascended the throne, Qin Zhenzhen gave birth to Li Ping but soon died from a poison known as "beauty fragrance." Li Chuan insisted on burying her with the honors of an Empress and placed her in the imperial tomb ahead of time.

Everyone thought time would heal everything and that Li Chuan would gradually recover. Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince, known for his benevolence in his youth, became increasingly tyrannical, gradually following in his father's footsteps. Over the next twenty years, Li Chuan waged wars, exploited the common people, and became increasingly self-destructive, ruling with an iron fist and drifting apart from Li Rong.

So, Li Rong often wondered if Li Chuan would have remained hopeful like in his youth if he hadn't experienced all this. Fortunately, having been reborn, there was still a chance to make different choices. Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan and asked the previous question again. This time, Pei Wenxuan did not evade but believed it mainly depended on Li Rong because he was now going to become the imperial son-in-law and should fulfill his duties and responsibilities as a husband, not repeating past mistakes.

Reflecting on the past life, it seemed that apart from added sorrow and regret, there was nothing worth remembering. Li Rong felt that Pei Wenxuan had not lived his forty years in vain. If he had this awareness earlier, perhaps they could have grown old together. Moreover, Pei Wenxuan's character and abilities were unquestionable. Li Rong believed his biggest problem was his stubborn heart, mistakenly thinking he loved Qin Zhenzhen, and suddenly falling for the Princess. This led him into a contradictory reflection of being a "scumbag," difficult to accept, indirectly harming two women.

Unfortunately, Pei Wenxuan woke up too late, thinking that their relationship involved too many interests, making it hard for him to face his true feelings. Pei Wenxuan felt Li Rong should wait for him a little longer, but Li Rong laughed at this, saying she was never one to be blinded by love, nor would she fight desperately in a relationship. Being of royal blood, born in the imperial family, naturally demanded near-absolute fidelity in feelings.

The Emperor was furious because of Yang's family memorial and demanded Li Chuan's stance. Li Chuan remembered his elder sister's teachings, declined initially, then agreed to lead the expedition. To ensure everything was foolproof, Li Chuan met with Qin Lin, asking him to take his friend Cui Qinghe to the front line. With their wisdom, the hidden dangers posed by the Yang family would be resolved. Upon parting, Qin Zhenzhen gifted Li Chuan a Zhilan sword, hoping for his safe return. After bidding farewell to Li Rong, Li Chuan led the army to prepare for departure, giving Qin Zhenzhen a firefly lamp, signifying their mutual understanding.

Su Ronghua's father discovered that his eldest son, Su Ronghua, was not at home, which made him very angry. Fortunately, his younger son, Su Rongqing, was steady and obedient, always helping out. Yang Wan searched for Tuoba Yan in vain, guessing that the Emperor was determined to go against the Yang family, indicating a dangerous situation for the Yang family. Mei Xiang suggested striking first, sending a message to the family head, Yang Ye, to use the enemy's hand to eliminate the Crown Prince.

Li Chuan's victories at the front line greatly pleased the Emperor. Tuoba Yan, missing for many days, suddenly appeared outside the Ministry of Justice, publicly accusing the Yang family of corruption, treason, and collusion with the enemy. With conclusive evidence, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan were released. Meanwhile, Li Chuan had someone impersonate enemy forces to deal with Yang Ye, capturing them at the right moment and bringing them back to the capital for trial.

Today's morning court session saw the Emperor personally preside over Yang Ye's trial, with civil and military officials attending. Pei Wenxuan, noticing the interaction between Li Rong and Su Rongqing, felt a pang of jealousy again. Li Rong told Pei Wenxuan that the biggest difference between him and Su Rongqing was that Su Rongqing had to bear the family's honor and legacy from birth, which taught him restraint, calmness, and patience.

In the grand hall, with all the evidence and witnesses present, the Yang family's crimes were irrefutably proven, leaving Yang Ye no chance to argue. Yang Wan, aware of her impending death, angrily accused Li Rong of being brainless and revealed the Emperor's long-standing intention to depose her and Li Chuan. The Emperor, enraged and humiliated, ordered Yang Wan's execution. Yang Wan pulled out a hairpin and lunged at Li Rong, only to be killed by a guard's sword.

Watching Yang Wan's body being dragged away, Li Rong couldn't bear it. She took off her cloak and covered Yang Wan's body, giving her one last bit of dignity. Seeing his daughter's tragic death, Yang Ye, overwhelmed with grief, confessed to all the crimes. Pei Wenxuan felt heavy-hearted. He had admired Yang Ye's poems in his youth, never imagining that such a patriotic person would meet such an end. Yang Ye, however, used his own experience to reveal the court's corruption to Pei Wenxuan.

Li Rong was born in a high position and had never, like Pei Wenxuan, walked through fields, seen mountains and rivers, or experienced the hardships of the common people. So, in Pei Wenxuan's view, Yang Ye was the pride of the humble scholars, as well as their sorrow. Watching Yang Ye gradually walk away, Pei Wenxuan slowly restrained his expression and asked Li Rong for money under the pretext of establishing a secret network.

In the previous life, Pei Wenxuan's secret network was very powerful, and he had even set up his own system within it to ensure its efficiency. Because Li Rong was worry-free for the rest of her life, much of it came from the money she invested in Pei Wenxuan early on. Even though she despised Pei Wenxuan, now she would not hold back any money and handed him the token directly.

During this process, the two inevitably bickered a bit, but Pei Wenxuan suddenly looked seriously at Li Rong and said that even if there was a next time, he would still unhesitatingly protect her from danger. He said it was always good to have someone guarding her. After saying this, Pei Wenxuan left without looking back. Li Rong quietly watched his departing figure and, for a moment, felt that although she had known him for over thirty years, she had never really understood this man.

Afterwards, Li Rong went to see her father, deliberately showing a harmonious relationship with Pei Wenxuan, which made the emperor very pleased and immediately set their wedding date. On the other hand, as soon as Pei Wenxuan returned home, he was confronted by Tong Daniu, who had come to collect the rent for the carriage. Tong Daniu demanded twenty taels and started loudly criticizing and cursing when Pei Wenxuan couldn't produce the money.

Just as Tong Ye and Tong Daniu were arguing, a servant came running to inform that someone from the palace had come to deliver an imperial decree. Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan hurriedly went to the front yard with Tong Ye and found that the Pei family had already gathered. They listened as the decree first praised Pei Wenxuan extensively and then announced that the emperor had arranged a marriage between him and the long princess. The people were suddenly enlightened, each with different thoughts.

Pei's mother, with a worried face, called Pei Wenxuan back to the room alone, fearing that he had agreed to become the prince consort out of resignation. But Pei Wenxuan firmly stated that it was a marriage he had personally sought and praised the princess for being virtuous and kind, a perfect match. This reassured Pei's mother somewhat. Thinking back on Pei Wenxuan's reaction after being rejected by the Qin family, she believed he had no feelings for Qin Zhenzhen and fully trusted his words.

After talking to his mother, Pei Wenxuan left the room and saw that Tong Daniu was still standing outside. Now that Tong Daniu knew Pei Wenxuan was the prince consort, his attitude suddenly changed, and he began flattering Pei Wenxuan with trepidation. Pei Wenxuan promised to pay the carriage rent in full within a couple of days.

With the emperor successfully removing the Yang family, he ordered Concubine Rou's brother to take over Li Chuan's command in the northwest. Concubine Rou took the opportunity to propose that Su Rongqing teach her son, intending to win over the Su family. However, the Su family had always remained neutral in the court. Su's father was not optimistic about this news, but Su Rongqing accepted it gladly, believing that as long as he kept himself clean, he did not have to worry about Concubine Rou's intentions.

The numerous pre-wedding tasks left Li Rong overwhelmed, so she asked Pei Wenxuan to choose the wedding dress for her. Pei Wenxuan carefully examined two designs and selected one. However, Li Rong chose the other, opposite to Pei Wenxuan's choice, stating that she completely distrusted men's taste. The Empress summoned Li Rong to the palace, revealing her desire to make Shangguan Ya the Crown Princess for Li Chuan. Li Rong was surprised and secretly pondered over this information.

Back in her palace, Li Rong picked out jewelry and thought about Pei Wenxuan. He must have been exhausted in recent days. Pei Wenxuan distributed wedding money to his colleagues, including Su Rongqing, who hid his displeasure behind a forced smile. Suddenly, Pei Wenxuan asked Su Rongqing a question: what he would do if his wife and family were in conflict. Su Rongqing replied that he would side with reason, not family, as his wife was also family.

Li Chuan rushed back to the capital, traveling day and night, to personally see his elder sister off for her wedding. He arrived just before the big day. Although Li Chuan hoped his sister would find a good match, he felt that Pei Wenxuan was not worthy of her. Li Rong told her brother that after everything that had happened, Pei Wenxuan was a trustworthy person.

The next day, the grand wedding took place with unprecedented splendor. Li Rong, dressed in magnificent attire, walked towards the high platform guided by attendants. After the official read the blessings, she bid farewell to her father and mother. According to the customs of the Grand Xia, on the way from the palace to the princess's residence, the whole city's people would block the carriage, and someone had to clear the way by distributing money to the people.

Crown Prince Li Chuan personally cleared the way, claiming it was to enjoy with the people. To Li Rong's surprise, Su Rongqing, acting as the best man, helped Pei Wenxuan greet the bride. With just a curtain separating them, Su Rongqing stood beside the sedan chair reciting praises, and the last two lines stunned Li Rong because they were the lyrics of a song Su Rongqing composed in the previous life.

Soon, the procession arrived at the princess's residence. In front of everyone, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan each held a red silk ribbon and entered the hall to perform the ceremonial bows. As they bowed, Pei Wenxuan recalled being hit on the forehead by the princess's headdress last time. Unexpectedly, this time, Li Rong deliberately bumped forward, causing the phoenix crown to strike him again. Given that his mother and others were present, he could not express his frustration openly.

After the ceremony, Li Rong was escorted back to the bridal chamber. Seeing this, Su Rongqing felt distressed. Li Chuan warned Pei Wenxuan to treat his sister well or face severe consequences. As Li Chuan was about to leave, Su Rongqing stopped him, expressing that the princess had unwavering affection for him and hoped he would not disappoint her. He noted that within the imperial walls and noble families, power struggles, open and covert fights, sibling rivalry, and father-son conflicts were common, and he envied the pure relationship between Li Chuan and his sister.

Meanwhile, after dismissing everyone, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan felt deflated. Li Rong, exhausted, sat on the bed and asked Pei Wenxuan to help her remove the phoenix crown. Under her threats, Pei Wenxuan had to comply. Su Rongqing drank alone in the wine cellar, feeling immense pain over seeing his beloved marry someone else. His elder brother, Su Ronghua, came looking for him and was puzzled to see him drinking so heavily. He soon guessed Su Rongqing had feelings for the princess. However, becoming Su Wang's teacher would mean opposing the princess.

Li Rong, after freshening up, collapsed directly onto the bed, feeling her exhaustion gradually ease. Pei Wenxuan, with nowhere to rest and unable to sleep on the floor, sat gloomily nearby. Seeing this, Li Rong reminded him that he could sleep on the bed. Initially, Pei Wenxuan wanted to be courteous, but Li Rong ignored him, knowing that it would be inappropriate for him to go out given the numerous eyes on them during their wedding night.

At this moment, Li Rong suddenly asked Pei Wenxuan why he had Su Rongqing come to fetch her. Pei Wenxuan truthfully replied that he had met Su Rongqing before the wedding, and from their conversation, he believed that Su Rongqing had feelings for Li Rong. In fact, Pei Wenxuan knew that Li Rong also had feelings for Su Rongqing, but she was apprehensive, fearing that Su Rongqing, like before, would prioritize power and family over her.

Pei Wenxuan told Li Rong that he planned to find an opportunity to bring Su Rongqing over to Li Chuan's side and help rekindle their past romance. Li Rong, in turn, promised to find a way to prevent Qin Zhenzhen from entering the palace, thus allowing Pei Wenxuan and Qin Zhenzhen to renew their relationship. However, Pei Wenxuan tactfully declined her offer.

That night, the two of them lay on the bed in their clothes. Having weathered over twenty years of ups and downs together, they were more like allies than a married couple. Li Rong felt they were close friends, which she jokingly referred to as "sisters," leaving Pei Wenxuan speechless. Meanwhile, Li Chuan, upon leaving the Princess's residence, met with Qin Zhenzhen and shared stories from the front lines. They chatted animatedly until dawn and reluctantly parted ways.

The Emperor used Su Wang as a puppet, secretly supporting ordinary aristocrats. Any noble family that allied with Su Wang was promoted to counterbalance Li Chuan. Although Li Chuan, following Li Rong's advice, stayed away from trouble, he lacked military power and relied heavily on noble families. Consequently, the Shangguan family, with three queens in a row, became both the Empress's trump card and the Emperor's biggest concern.

Li Rong decided to stop Shangguan Ya from becoming the Crown Princess. Confident in her knowledge from her past life, she immediately sent a servant to the Wen Shi Society to look for her, only to be told that Shangguan Ya was likely at the gambling hall, Jucai Guan. Shocked, Li Rong remembered Shangguan Ya as a dignified and proper person from her previous life in the palace and couldn't believe she would be in such a disreputable place.

Pei Wenxuan, however, was not surprised and accompanied Li Rong to Jucai Guan with a look of amusement. Given the mixed crowd at the gambling hall, Pei Wenxuan protected Li Rong by keeping her close and clearing a path for her, telling everyone she was his wife.

After circling the crowd, they finally spotted Shangguan Ya disguised as a man. Shangguan Ya noticed Li Rong and immediately threw money into the air before running upstairs. Ignoring her dignity, Li Rong chased after her. Shangguan Ya jumped out of a window, landing perfectly in Su Ronghua's arms.

As her headscarf fell, revealing her long hair, Shangguan Ya's female identity was exposed. She hurriedly gave Su Ronghua a silver ingot, asking him to cover for her, and hid in a nearby basket. When Li Rong saw Su Ronghua, she inquired about Shangguan Ya's whereabouts. Just as she was about to jump down from the second floor, Pei Wenxuan caught her.

Finally, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan uncovered the basket and found Shangguan Ya, explaining their intentions and asking her to lower her guard. Li Rong felt a sense of unfamiliarity as she looked at the lively Shangguan Ya, recalling the empress's solemn and pessimistic demeanor in her past life.

The three of them then sat down in a teahouse. Li Rong directly brought up the Crown Prince's marriage, wanting to know Shangguan Ya's thoughts. She hoped Shangguan Ya, considering the Yang family's downfall, wouldn't desire to enter the palace. However, Shangguan Ya indifferently stated that she was prepared to sacrifice for her family from a young age and was confident that losing wouldn't necessarily mean losing to the Crown Prince.

Li Rong's opinion of Shangguan Ya completely changed. The woman before her was carefree and bold, unlike the elegant and dignified empress she remembered. Pei Wenxuan thought of how, in the previous life, Shangguan Ya had rebelled against her family for her lover, Su Ronghua, only to end in tragedy. He hesitated, unsure whether to share this with Li Rong.

In the days that followed, rumors spread that the Shangguan family was about to produce a fourth Crown Princess, angering the Emperor. He knew that a marriage between the Crown Prince and the Shangguan family would greatly increase their power. The Empress privately asked Li Chuan to marry Shangguan Ya, promising that if Shangguan Ya became the Crown Princess, he could take his beloved as a concubine.

Li Rong visited the Empress, advising her to abandon this hope, but the Empress refused to listen. After leaving the Weiyang Palace, Li Rong saw her brother looking dejected, recalling his changed personality, and felt a chill in her heart. Pei Wenxuan quietly cared for Li Rong, learning of her daily activities through Jing Lan and instructing her not to let Li Rong know.

Pei Wenxuan then came to play chess with Li Rong, listening to her concerns. He mentioned Princess Yun Yan, who had gone north to marry for peace but still died in the palace. Pei Wenxuan explained that Li Chuan, influenced by this event, had developed the idea of unifying the north to prevent Li Rong from becoming another Yun Yan. Unfortunately, even after conquering the kingdom, he still lost her.

As the Qixi Festival approached, the Empress planned to host a banquet in the harem, inviting suitable young ladies from officials' families to celebrate and select a consort for the Crown Prince. Li Rong had been preparing for this day for a long time. Various incense burners and many types of incense were added to the banquet, and according to Concubine Rou’s recommendation, the girl adept at mixing fragrances would likely receive an imperial marriage decree on the spot.

Li Chuan first approached Qin Zhenzhen, mentioning the selection of the Crown Prince's consort and took the opportunity to express his feelings. To Li Chuan, although life in the palace was fraught with difficulties, he believed that despite the challenges, someone would be there to support Qin Zhenzhen, overcoming all obstacles together, just like a couple in the mundane world, living in mutual support and harmony.

However, Qin Zhenzhen remained clear-headed, not losing herself in Li Chuan’s words. She only wanted a pure relationship between the two of them, but Li Chuan’s status as Crown Prince made that impossible. Thus, Qin Zhenzhen gently rejected Li Chuan and suggested a martial arts match by the river, cherishing these beautiful days that were about to end, but Li Chuan didn’t understand her intentions.

On the seventh day of the seventh month, Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong entered the palace together. The male guests were seated in the main hall, while the female guests were in the imperial garden, so they separated. Shangguan Ya, coming from a prominent family, was chatting with the eldest Miss of the Su family and others. When she saw Li Rong, she ended the conversation gracefully and saluted with elegance, completely unlike the reckless behavior she had displayed before.

Li Rong almost laughed but held it back. When no one else was around, she confirmed Shangguan Ya’s intentions again. Shangguan Ya straightforwardly said she didn’t want to enter the palace or compete with other women for a man’s favor. Hearing this, Li Rong felt somewhat relieved, knowing that their ending in the previous life had been unsatisfactory. This time, her goal was to disrupt the selection and ensure it failed.

The Empress then announced the start of the competition according to the schedule. Since Li Rong was already married, she had to find an excuse to participate and found that Qin Zhenzhen also had no intention of entering the palace. During the Qixi banquet, the Empress and Concubine Rou had their own plans—one wanted to support Shangguan Ya, the other recommended her niece Xiao Wei. Regardless of who won, it wouldn’t be the best outcome for Li Rong.

At this moment, Shangguan Ya intentionally dropped a jade pendant beside Qin Zhenzhen and tried to switch sachets while Qin Zhenzhen was distracted. Qin Zhenzhen stopped her in a hurry but, hearing her sincere explanation, agreed to the switch half-heartedly. Li Rong watched silently, knowing that her father didn’t care if the Crown Prince’s consort came from a second-tier family, as long as it wasn’t someone from the powerful Shangguan or Su families. To help her brother, Li Rong wrote a note and asked Jing Lan to give it to Pei Wenxuan, but Concubine Rou noticed and immediately sent a maid to intercept Jing Lan.

Meanwhile, Li Chuan sat next to the Emperor, his expression unreadable. Before taking his seat, he had already received instructions from the Empress, confirming the person to be chosen that day. The thought of Shangguan Ya becoming the Crown Princess weighed heavily on Li Chuan's heart. Seeing the sachets brought by the noble ladies, he felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

Each sachet was numbered but nameless, and the evaluations varied. Pei Wenxuan, worried about Li Rong’s delay in sending a note, suddenly saw the white sandalwood scent that Li Rong excelled at in her past life and instantly understood, subtly hinting for Li Chuan to choose number three.

Thanks to the tacit cooperation between Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong, Qin Zhenzhen, and Shangguan Ya won the top three spots, a result everyone was pleased with. The Emperor praised Li Rong's skill in making sachets and noticed the humble origins of Qin Zhenzhen, but Qin Zhenzhen avoided drawing royal attention and even deliberately avoided Li Chuan's gaze while receiving her reward.

After this cooperation, Qin Zhenzhen was glad she had trusted the right people, and Li Rong admired Shangguan Ya. Li Rong noticed the exchanged glances between Qin Zhenzhen and Pei Wenxuan, mistakenly thinking they had feelings for each other. Before leaving, she hinted to Qin Zhenzhen that her marriage to Pei Wenxuan was for cooperation and they would eventually divorce, leaving Qin Zhenzhen confused.

Later, Li Chuan personally sought out Qin Zhenzhen, only for her to abruptly tell him that she didn’t like fragrances or the palace and quickly distanced herself, hoping Li Chuan wouldn’t misunderstand. Qin Zhenzhen's harsh words left Li Chuan disheartened, and he walked away sadly.

Li Rong deliberately ignored Pei Wenxuan and engaged in conversation with Su Rongqing, which displeased Pei Wenxuan. On the way back, Li Rong suddenly reminded Pei Wenxuan to pursue Qin Zhenzhen if he liked her, offering to help propose to the Qin family if he was interested.

Before Li Rong could finish, Pei Wenxuan stopped the carriage in anger and stormed out. Li Rong was baffled until Pei Wenxuan returned, coldly stating that he never liked Qin Zhenzhen and that previous misunderstandings were due to his family instilling the idea that she was his betrothed.

Taking advantage of this moment, Pei Wenxuan confessed his hidden feelings for Li Rong, leaving her at a loss. Watching Pei Wenxuan walk away, Li Rong made up her mind, chased after him in the rain, and apologized, clearing up their misunderstandings completely.

Although Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan often rode in the carriage together, this time the atmosphere was different. Pei Wenxuan expressed that his words tonight were not to demand a response from Li Rong but to hope to resolve the knots in their hearts, facilitating future cooperation. Therefore, Pei Wenxuan suggested changing their way of interacting and being honest about their emotions. Similarly, Li Rong reminded Pei Wenxuan not to frequently mention separation in the future.

In the grand hall, the emperor reviewed the list submitted by General Xiao Su through the Ministry of War and was about to confer rewards when Shangguan Xu suddenly raised an objection. He believed that the Crown Prince, who led the aristocratic children in bloody battles, deserved recognition and should not be left off the list. However, the officials from humble backgrounds did not agree, and both sides argued endlessly. Li Chuan was named by the emperor to speak and humbly requested merits for the soldiers.

After the morning court session, Li Rong received a summons from the palace, guessing it was related to the selection banquet. As she made her way to Weiyang Palace, she found her brother Li Chuan kneeling on the ground. Hearing Li Chuan take the blame upon himself, Li Rong did not hide the truth and straightforwardly said that when water overflows, it must recede; the Shangguan family cannot be queens in every generation. If Shangguan Ya became the Crown Princess, Li Chuan would surely face obstacles in ascending the throne. Li Rong’s words left the Empress stunned. Without waiting for the Empress's reaction, she led Li Chuan out.

Reflecting on the earlier scene, Li Chuan felt great respect for his elder sister and was grateful for her protection until now. But Li Rong knew that in her previous life, she had not seen through the true intentions of various factions in the court, leading to her downfall and pushing her brother into the abyss. Therefore, Li Rong told Li Chuan that only by being strong enough could one have the power to choose, and she would fully support him.

The Empress felt heartbroken by her usually obedient son's sudden change in personality and suspected he had fallen in love, so she sent someone to investigate secretly. Pei Wenxuan analyzed the emperor's intention to suppress the Crown Prince and predicted a struggle between the aristocratic families and Concubine Rou's Xiao family. He sent Tong Ye to inform Li Rong, assuring her that regardless of who won between the emperor and the aristocrats, they were confident in controlling the situation.

On Qin Zhenzhen's birthday, Li Chuan used the excuse of selecting a sword to take her to a blacksmith shop and personally gifted her a treasured sword as a present. That night, Li Chuan and Qin Zhenzhen watched fireworks on a bridge, where he took the opportunity to confess his feelings. Qin Zhenzhen, unable to respond immediately, had to leave first.

The emperor approved the military merit list, but the aristocrats avoided meeting the chief eunuch Fu Lai for various reasons, angering the emperor. Shangguan Xu actively sought cooperation with Lord Su, planning to use a family from humble origins as a warning. Thus, the Qin family was falsely accused of involvement in the Yang case, becoming the target of the aristocrats.

The Ministry of Justice acted overnight, sealing off the Qin family with the Censorate and the Dali Temple. Old Master Qin hurriedly handed important items to Qin Zhenzhen and protected her escape. Li Rong, upon hearing the news, immediately led her people to the Qin residence, encountering the maids from the Qin family along the way, and found the injured Qin Zhenzhen hiding in a corner.

The emperor knew that the aristocrats intended to eliminate dissidents, but with conclusive evidence, he could not intervene. Pei Wenxuan suggested the emperor send a representative to oversee the Ministry of Justice's investigation before verifying the evidence to ensure fairness. Just as Pei Wenxuan was about to volunteer, the emperor entrusted the task to Su Rongqing. Fortunately, Su Rongqing arrived at the Qin residence in time, saving the Qin father and son. Feng Ming and others, hiding in the shadows, decided to report back. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince went to question the Empress, confirming the Qin family's involvement and feeling deeply grieved.

Li Rong took Qin Zhenzhen back to her residence to recuperate. Li Chuan suddenly appeared, stating his intentions bluntly. He explained that the recent rash actions of Concubine Rou's clan had alarmed his uncle, who, knowing about his close relationship with Qin Zhenzhen, used heavy-handed tactics to frame the Qin family with treasonous charges.

Now, Li Chuan finally understood that one must be strong to have the power of choice. Therefore, he hoped Li Rong could find a way to pledge allegiance to the emperor, taking this opportunity to establish a personal guard under the guise of thoroughly investigating the case. This guard would be directly managed by the emperor, independent of the three departments, and could be named the Inspection Department, wielding the power of life and death.

However, Li Rong believed that the matter was of great importance and required careful consideration. She did not immediately agree to Li Chuan's request. Before leaving, Li Chuan confessed that he had always tried to be the Crown Prince his mother and sister envisioned but realized he was inadequate. Yet, thinking of Qin Lin and Qin Zhenzhen's help, he felt increasingly guilty toward the entire Qin family and vowed to clear their names.

After Li Chuan left, Pei Wenxuan returned from outside. Hearing the conversation between Li Rong and her brother, Qin Zhenzhen decided to follow Li Rong, willing to be her sharp weapon and no longer the second Miss Qin. Li Rong asked Qin Zhenzhen to rest first, feeling some concern about the uncertain situation after establishing the Inspection Department.

Pei Wenxuan understood that Li Rong needed time to consider and assured her that no matter which path she chose in the future, he would be by her side to shield her from risks. As husband and ally, they had long been in life and death together. Pei Wenxuan's words left Li Rong conflicted, unable to confirm her feelings for him. But considering her past experiences, she decided to maintain a cooperative relationship with him, fighting side by side, while she must establish her footing in the court to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Li Rong knew that to break free from the constraints of the noble families, she must follow Pei Wenxuan's advice and build a power center with herself at the core. Early in the morning, Li Rong waited outside the hall with Pei Wenxuan for the emperor's summons and asked Pei Wenxuan to arrange a meeting with Su Rongqing at the teahouse. Pei Wenxuan, hearing this, again responded jealously, complaining that she chose such a romantic place on purpose.

Meanwhile, Feng Ming discovered Qin Zhenzhen's whereabouts and prevented Li Chuan from acting rashly. If the noble families knew he still cared about Qin Zhenzhen, they might intensify their efforts against the Qin family. At the same time, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan requested power from the emperor, but the emperor did not immediately agree, saying he needed to consider it.

After the two left, the emperor took out something he had once given to his daughter, recalling warm memories of their past. Li Rong was uncertain if her father would agree, and Pei Wenxuan planned to take all the blame, making the emperor think he had instigated Li Rong, thus avoiding trouble for her.

Soon, Fu Lai came to the Princess's residence to deliver a message. The emperor had approved the memorial that Li Rong had prepared, but to establish the Inspection Bureau, she needed a pretext, and the emperor would grant her three additional counties. Hearing Fu Lai's words, Li Rong felt she should think carefully. If the noble families were the sword and she was the scabbard, then the Qin family was the miracle that could seamlessly connect the two.

Li Rong then found Qin Zhenzhen alone, recalling how Li Chuan had been devastated by Qin Zhenzhen's death in their past life and insisted on placing his beloved sword in her coffin to accompany her in the royal tomb. Now, Li Rong told Qin Zhenzhen that she needed someone highly skilled in martial arts for a special task. She would send Qin Zhenzhen to the northwest to establish a branch of the Inspection Bureau and assist Qin Lin in obtaining military power there. To avoid the noble families' spies, Li Rong would arrange a reasonable death for Qin Zhenzhen, and from then on, there would be no Second Miss of the Qin family, only a masked female guard named Xun Chuan, tasked with protecting Li Rong.

Su Rongqing was currently tasked by the emperor with investigating the Qin family. Su Rongqing's father believed his son would not disappoint him, and Su Rongqing represented the entire noble families; they could not act independently but had to use power against power. Knowing that Qin Zhenzhen was injured, Li Chuan brought medicine himself, hoping to see her. Li Rong reminded him not to put Qin Zhenzhen in danger. Qin Zhenzhen understood Li Chuan's feelings but could not meet him, and they could only miss each other through objects.

That night, Pei Wenxuan returned to his room to find Li Rong lying on the table and gently carried her to bed. When Li Rong woke up, she immediately asked Pei Wenxuan about court affairs and insisted on meeting Su Rongqing, believing that to unblock internal pathways, she had to smooth relationships. Seeing Li Rong worrying about so many things, Pei Wenxuan felt pity, thinking she was the one who should be protected. Pei Wenxuan then revealed that Su Rongqing refused to meet, leaving Li Rong puzzled and reluctantly admitting that she still had feelings for Su Rongqing.

To safeguard both the noble families and the commoners, Li Rong personally went to Jucai Pavilion to find Shangguan Ya, intending to support a new family head. Shangguan Ya accepted Li Rong's suggestion and agreed to support her in gaining power. Back at the Princess's residence, Li Rong ordered Jing Lan to find the best opera troupe in the capital to perform in the bustling streets, portraying the injustice of the Qin family.

As expected, just as the noble families petitioned the emperor to convict the Qin family, an opera implicating the noble families in framing the commoners was staged, immediately angering many citizens. Under Li Rong's arrangement, Qin Zhenzhen knelt in front of the Princess's residence, holding a blood-written letter and pleading for Li Rong to seek justice for her. In the end, in despair, she committed suicide by hitting a pillar.

Li Rong carried the blood-written letter into the palace to see the emperor, who seized the opportunity to express his anger and suppress the noble families. He agreed to let Li Rong investigate the case and establish the Inspection Bureau. Because of this, Shangguan Xu, Li Rong's uncle, was displeased with her and privately warned her not to meddle in too many affairs, but Li Rong insisted on uncovering the truth for the Qin family.

After Fu Lai handed Li Rong the emperor's handwritten order and token, Li Rong invited Shangguan Ya again and introduced the renamed Xun Chuan to her. Although Shangguan Ya found Xun Chuan familiar and wanted to ask more questions, Li Rong quickly interrupted and instructed Xun Chuan to prepare her people immediately.

Soon after, Li Rong, Pei Wenxuan, and Xun Chuan went to the Ministry of Justice to retrieve the Qin family's files, only to be blocked by the officials there. Li Rong signaled Xun Chuan to threaten the officials, and Pei Wenxuan took the opportunity to search the archives while she deliberately injured her hand, falsely claiming in front of Su Rongqing that an official had hurt her.

Seeing this, Su Rongqing took out a handkerchief to bandage Li Rong's hand, which Pei Wenxuan saw, causing a surge of jealousy. He grabbed Li Rong's hand and walked out, only stopping when they reached the carriage. Pei Wenxuan angrily threw away Su Rongqing's handkerchief, wrapped Li Rong's hand with his own cloth, and forbade Xun Chuan from picking up the discarded handkerchief, leaving Li Rong helpless.

Li Rong met with Shangguan Ya in the private room, while Pei Wenxuan was bandaging Li Rong's wound nearby. However, when Shangguan Ya suggested that Li Rong consider Su Rongqing, the atmosphere instantly became subtle. Pei Wenxuan, filled with jealousy, strongly refuted Shangguan Ya, but he became angry due to Li Rong's ambiguous attitude.

After Shangguan Ya left, Li Rong noticed Pei Wenxuan's unusual mood and felt a bit confused. Pei Wenxuan admitted that their marriage had complex reasons, but he did not want Li Rong to develop any relationship with Su Rongqing, believing she should live as she wished. To provoke Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong deliberately stated that she could develop feelings for Su Rongqing, leaving Pei Wenxuan speechless.

That evening, the two discussed the contents of the dossier. Although Li Rong did not directly express concern for Pei Wenxuan, she intentionally tried to ease his work pressure. All the testimonies needed to be copied, but the confessions and evidence were stored elsewhere. The only breakthrough came from the Censorate's supervising censor, "Wen Ping," who had received a letter accusing the Qin family of faking a defeat under Yang Ye's command.

Wen Ping, realizing the gravity of the matter, immediately transferred relevant official records from the Ministry of War and found suspicious points. Luo Juan was coerced into confessing by the Ministry of Justice, accusing the Qin family of treason, seemingly to cover up the truth. Li Rong thought it was absurd that they went to such lengths to buy the entire Qin family with a thousand taels of gold.

Thus, the primary task was to find the letter writer and the veterans who participated in the war, verify the authenticity of Yang Ye's letter, and trace the source of the thousand taels of gold. Li Rong instructed Xun Chuan to visit Luo Juan the next day for more clues. Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan solemnly reminded Li Rong to avoid contact with Su Rongqing temporarily to prevent unnecessary entanglements.

Pei Wenxuan then personally visited Wen Ping, only to be given a hard time by the latter, forcing him to burn the midnight oil to handle the documents. His colleagues, seeing Pei Wenxuan working so hard, felt guilty and decided to stay and work with him. Pei Wenxuan frankly expressed that his greatest wish was for everyone to have a fair chance.

Su Rongqing often thought of Li Rong, which his brother Su Ronghua noticed and encouraged him to speak out bravely. That evening, when Pei Wenxuan returned home, he saw Li Rong sleeping on the couch, and a warm feeling surged in his heart. He suddenly realized that the sense of home he had sought for two lifetimes was like this, having someone waiting after a tiring day. Li Rong, half-awake, reminded Pei Wenxuan not to be angry because of Su Rongqing, but Pei Wenxuan knew he cared deeply for Li Rong and felt that his advantages compared to Su Rongqing were diminishing.

The next day, Su Ronghua arranged a competition with Shangguan Ya. Li Rong, wanting to meet Su Rongqing, dragged Pei Wenxuan to bet on leaves with Su Ronghua. Su Ronghua agreed to arrange a meeting between Li Rong and Su Rongqing at Mingyue Tower if he lost. Li Rong appreciated Pei Wenxuan's help, but Pei Wenxuan secretly hoped she would not go to the meeting.

At that moment, Tong Ye urgently reported to Pei Wenxuan that his wife was seriously ill, but it was actually the Pei family deliberately causing trouble. Pei Wenxuan quickly ordered Tong Ye to inform Li Rong to take people to the Pei residence. As Li Rong was preparing to meet Su Rongqing, Shangguan Ya reminded her to stay gentle to be more pleasing. Meanwhile, Su Ronghua accompanied Su Rongqing to buy a gift for Li Rong, ultimately choosing peonies.

On the other hand, Pei Wenxuan returned to the Pei residence to find his uncles gathered in the hall, and his mother looking troubled. The uncles accused Pei Wenxuan of inciting Li Rong to establish the Supervision Office. Pei Wenxuan firmly responded that if they had any complaints, they should address them directly to the Princess. Under family pressure, Pei's mother had to step forward and persuade Pei Wenxuan to advise the Princess not to interfere too much.

Due to Pei Wenxuan's insistence, the family subjected him to a baseless family law punishment. Originally planning to meet Su Rongqing, Li Rong, upon learning of Pei Wenxuan's plight, immediately led people to break into the Pei residence, giving Pei's uncles a slap in public. She sternly declared that the Pei family's current status was entirely due to Pei Wenxuan's father, and as her husband, no one should disrespect Pei Wenxuan.

Everyone present was intimidated by the Princess's aura and dared not retort. Li Rong sternly warned Pei's mother that if she could not protect her child and fulfill her maternal duties, she should not trouble Pei Wenxuan in the future. After saying this, Li Rong personally helped Pei Wenxuan out while ordering Xun Chuan to punish the servant who whipped Pei Wenxuan by cutting off his hand.

Witnessing Pei Wenxuan being bullied, Li Rong felt both pain and anger in her heart. However, seeing Li Rong defend him so resolutely today, Pei Wenxuan secretly vowed to become stronger so that he could protect Li Rong. Back at the Princess's residence, Li Rong personally tended to Pei Wenxuan's wounds and reminded him to inform her in advance if such incidents occurred in the future.

She also advised Pei Wenxuan to have his mother face reality as soon as possible to prevent further harm to their loved ones. Su Rongqing waited for Li Rong for a long time, feeling disappointed, but still forced himself to drink with his brother. As night fell, Su Rongqing and Su Ronghua headed home, sighing that today's experience was more than enough for a lifetime.

Late at night, Pei Wenxuan, unable to sleep due to his back injury, lay on his stomach and started a conversation with Li Rong, asking her what she thought of him. Recalling the past, Li Rong candidly said that Pei Wenxuan was indeed an outstanding person, impeccable as a husband, friend, or family member. Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan feigned pain from his wound and tightly embraced Li Rong, using the opportunity to express his feelings for her.

Li Rong did not push him away, instead feeling his grip tighten. Overnight, news spread throughout Huajing City about the Princess's domineering protection of her husband. The Pei family, along with other noble families, submitted petitions to the Emperor, accusing Li Rong of being arrogant and disrespectful to her in-laws, directly criticizing the actions of the Inspection Department.

Li Rong personally went to the palace for the morning court session and happened to meet Su Rongqing, to whom she apologized for missing their appointment the previous night. Su Rongqing falsely claimed he did not know about the appointment at Mingyue Tower and would not have attended had he known it was with the Princess. Hearing this, Li Rong felt less guilty, unaware that these were not Su Rongqing's true feelings.

In the court, Li Rong preemptively complained to the Emperor, accusing the Pei family of unjustly beating her husband, which was an affront to the royal dignity. The uncles of the Pei family were quick to retort, trying to label the Princess as disrespectful.

The Emperor, seeing both sides firmly holding their ground, decided that the previous day's incident was a family matter between the Pei family and the Princess, not suitable for debate in court, thus silencing the noble families and preventing them from using the Inspection Department as a pretext. Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan had his mother brought to his side and revealed the malicious intentions of his uncles and the truth about how he almost got harmed by the clan members.

His mother was shocked, having never imagined such things could happen. Pei Wenxuan told his mother that since his father's death, his uncles had deceitfully taken his father's inheritance, and he had not informed her before out of concern for her safety. His mother, feeling deeply guilty and responsible for her son's suffering, vowed to make wise decisions moving forward. After the morning court, Pei Wenxuan's second uncle incited the ministers to trouble Li Rong.

When Li Rong responded without holding back, they became indignant and planned to jointly request the Emperor to punish the Princess or they would commit suicide at the Longzhu pillar. Li Rong was equally determined to seek justice from the Emperor. Thus, two groups of people knelt outside the hall, the Pei family's uncles and a group of ministers on one side, and Li Rong alone on the other.

The Emperor avoided seeing them, so they continued to kneel in the pouring rain. When Pei Wenxuan heard of this, he immediately took his mother to the palace and noticed Su Rongqing nearby. The sight of Su Rongqing in his attire reminded Pei Wenxuan of a past life memory where he sheltered Li Rong with an umbrella. This time, Pei Wenxuan appeared before Li Rong ahead of Su Rongqing.

Li Rong was momentarily disoriented, but once she recognized Pei Wenxuan, she felt a complex mix of emotions. Unwilling to see Li Rong suffer any longer, Pei Wenxuan carried her away, passing by Su Rongqing, who could only silently watch them leave. Back at the Princess's residence, Pei Wenxuan tenderly took care of Li Rong, holding her to keep warm. Though Li Rong appeared helpless, she couldn't hide her smile.

The noble families continued to submit petitions demanding the abolition of the Inspection Department. The Emperor sent a message through Fu Lai to Li Rong, stating that if she could not find solid evidence, the Inspection Department would be difficult to maintain. At this moment, Li Rong personally met with Pei Wenxuan's mother to reveal the truth that had been kept from her.

Enlightened, Pei Wenxuan's mother pledged to fully support them in the future and to fulfill her responsibilities as a mother. The Crown Prince's advisors were worried that once Li Rong held power, she would be difficult to control, but Li Chuan was confident that Li Rong had no ulterior motives. His greatest wish now was to rebuild a road for the people to live peacefully and achieve a balance between the noble families and the commoners.

The next day, Pei Wenxuan returned to the Pei family with his mother, intending to reclaim his father's inheritance, but the family elders were reluctant to let go. Pei Wenxuan reminded his clan members that as the consort of the Princess, he had wealth and power within his grasp. If they chose to side with the Princess and the Emperor, they could avoid conflicts with the noble families and ensure the long-term prosperity of the clan.

His mother seized the opportunity to question the second uncle about the inheritance, becoming so agitated that she struck him in public. Li Rong stepped in to stop her, signaling that she would handle the matter herself.

Madam Pei caused a commotion at the Pei residence over the inheritance dispute. The Pei family, knowing they were in the wrong, was at a loss for what to do, resulting in chaos. Taking advantage of the situation, Li Rong stepped forward as Pei Wenxuan's wife to uphold justice. She took charge of the inheritance and decided to send people to audit the accounts the next day and move the assets to the princess's residence.

Although the second and third uncles were unwilling, the Pei family patriarch and others had no objections and had to acquiesce. Seeing their plan proceeding smoothly, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan helped Madam Pei leave the Pei residence. Now that Tuoba Yan had become a member of the princess's residence, Li Rong intended to entrust him with managing the inheritance matters. Pei Wenxuan not only had no objections but also expressed his confidence in Li Rong's arrangement.

He believed that he and Li Rong were now one, inseparable in the future. These words made Li Rong feel a bit shy. Just as the two were deep in affection, Xun Chuan sent news that all the witnesses involved in the case had been silenced, their bodies abandoned in the wilderness, without exception. The emperor was furious upon hearing this, believing that these families had become lawless.

Knowing that Li Rong was personally investigating, they dared to commit crimes openly, clearly disregarding the Inspectorate. Pei Wenxuan was not surprised by this, knowing that once the Inspectorate was established, it would pose a significant threat to the families, who would go to any lengths to obstruct it. This battle would determine whether the Inspectorate could solidify its position if Li Rong succeeded.

If she failed, it would be extremely difficult for the Crown Prince, the emperor, and the princess to establish another force to counter the families, and Pei Wenxuan's future would also be ruined. Thus, the success or failure of the Inspectorate not only concerned whether the Qin family could overturn their case but also profoundly affected the fate of the Li dynasty and the Han people.

The emperor understood this well and, to be safe, privately asked Concubine Rou if she could take over the Inspectorate if Li Rong failed. Overjoyed at the news, Concubine Rou promised that she and the Xiao family soldiers would not fail, willing to be the emperor's sharp sword. That night, Li Rong sent a message to the Crown Prince Li Chuan, deciding to go to the Ministry of Justice to see General Qin Lang in person.

The Crown Prince made all the arrangements for Li Rong, who then appeared with Pei Wenxuan and Xun Chuan. They went directly to the prison, finally seeing the elderly man in prison clothes stained with blood but still proud and unyielding. Li Rong felt a surge of compassion but tried to maintain a calm facade, proactively asking Qin Lang about the truth behind the defeat.

Qin Lang revealed that before the battle, three thousand people's rations had been maliciously mixed with sand. Even when the battle started, many soldiers were still suffering from injuries and hunger, with less than two thousand able to fight, making it nearly impossible to contend with the enemy. During this time, Li Chuan noticed Xun Chuan's unusual expression and began to have doubts about her.

After leaving the Ministry of Justice, Li Rong instructed Xun Chuan to immediately dispatch people to transfer the Qin family from the Ministry of Justice as soon as possible. Xun Chuan respectfully acknowledged and rode off into the night. When Li Chuan wanted to ask about Xun Chuan's identity, Li Rong interrupted, urging him to return to the palace quickly. Later, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan strolled side by side, reminiscing about the past life, with mixed feelings.

After some hesitation, Li Rong decided to have Pei Wenxuan carry the Inspectorate and princess's tokens, follow the route the military rations took to Huangping Town, and transcribe all the grain and fodder records from the county offices. Pei Wenxuan accepted the task without hesitation, despite knowing the dangers ahead, his expression calm as he disappeared into the night intertwined with the lights of countless homes and stars.

The next day, Li Rong found Xun Chuan alone and gave her a list, instructing, "I may be trapped in the palace, and there are two things you need to handle. First, make sure to protect the Qin family and don't allow anyone to take them away from the princess's residence. Second, go to Shangguan Ya personally and select suitable candidates from this list to obtain the testimonies regarding the embezzlement of military funds in Huangping County.

"Su Rongqing, aware of the wide-reaching implications of the Qin family's case and the involvement of many families, was concerned about the dangers Li Rong would face if she continued to investigate. He led the Ministry of Justice to surround the princess's residence, hoping Li Rong would hand over the Qin family. At this moment, time seemed to blur, blending past and present, causing Li Rong to recall their sweet moments from the past and feel a bit dazed.

Li Rong misunderstood Su Rongqing's good intentions, thinking he was threatening her. She had once thought she and Su Rongqing were on the same side, but now it seemed they were from completely different worlds. One day, Su Rongqing would become another Yang Ye, abandoning conscience, morality, and his life for the prosperity of his family. Li Rong firmly stated that she would never stand by and let the Qin family fall due to factional strife.

If the Su family faced injustice in the future, she would also help without hesitation. Because Li Rong had entered the Ministry of Justice without permission and taken the Qin family, the families used this as an excuse to petition the emperor for severe punishment of the princess. In the court, Li Rong pleaded with the emperor for more time to uncover the truth, arguing fiercely with Minister of Justice Xie Lanqing.

Ultimately, she volunteered to receive thirty lashes and recite scriptures for a month at the North Yan Tower in exchange for the emperor granting her twenty more days to investigate the Qin family's case. If there was no progress in twenty days, she would be willing to be exiled from Huajing, returning to her fief, never to enter the capital again. Seeing Li Rong's determination, the emperor agreed to her request.

Meanwhile, after Pei Wenxuan led his men out of the city, they were pursued by assassins sent by Shangguan Xu to the edge of a cliff. In a fierce struggle, Pei Wenxuan gradually fell behind and was finally knocked off the cliff by the assassins, his fate unknown.

Unaware of this, Li Rong prepared to go to the North Yan Tower, instructing Jing Lan to guard the princess's residence and report to her immediately if there was any news of Pei Wenxuan.

Beiyan Tower is the tallest structure within the imperial palace, originally built by the Emperor as a stargazing spot for the Empress. Over time, as the Emperor and Empress visited it less frequently, it fell into disuse and eventually became a common place for confinement within the palace. Li Rong instructed Jing Mei to carry their things as they climbed the stairs to the top, only to unexpectedly find the Emperor sitting inside, drinking tea with his head lowered.

Li Rong felt slightly surprised but soon knelt respectfully before the Emperor. In this rare moment, the Emperor set aside his usual dominance and authority, reminiscing about the past with Li Rong. When mentioning the construction of the tower, a hint of nostalgia was evident in his words. The Emperor expressed his hope that Li Rong could understand his difficulties and candidly admitted that among his many children, Li Rong was the most outstanding. He lamented that if she were a man, she would undoubtedly become a great monarch.

That evening, Xun Chuan went to see Shangguan Ya, handing her the list given by Li Rong. Shangguan Ya, being highly intelligent, decided to start investigating Tian Zhong, who was in charge of managing the Ministry of War's accounts, considering the high status of the others on the list would be difficult to challenge. Tian Zhong, being lecherous by nature and frequenting brothels, was set up by Xun Chuan to be framed for murder. Using this opportunity, they obtained his testimony to facilitate future actions.

In recent days, Li Rong had been feeling restless, constantly worrying about Pei Wenxuan's safety. Unexpectedly, the Empress visited her, informing her of the tragic news of Pei Wenxuan falling off a cliff. Despite this, Li Rong remained convinced that as long as Pei Wenxuan's body had not been found, there was still hope for his survival. After everyone left, Li Rong sat alone at her desk, repeatedly writing Pei Wenxuan's name on paper, the densely packed characters revealing her endless longing.

Since the news of Pei Wenxuan's death spread in Huajing, Li Rong began wearing mourning clothes and stayed indoors all day. People believed that she had suffered a great shock, and Li Chuan came to comfort her, only to be politely turned away at the door. During this period, aside from receiving messages from Shangguan Ya and Xun Chuan, Li Rong ignored all other affairs, quietly copying scriptures, which gradually turned into letters addressed to Pei Wenxuan.

Upon learning of this, Su Rongqing sent people to inquire about Pei Wenxuan's whereabouts. Su Ronghua considered it an opportune moment for his brother to pretend to align with Concubine Rou and serve the Emperor, ensuring success in marrying Princess Hua Le. Su Rongqing, enlightened by his brother's words, immediately sent a flower basket to Beiyan Tower, demonstrating his sincerity and determination.

Amid the turbulent situation in Huajing, with each noble family harboring ulterior motives, even the Pei family contemplated dividing the inheritance. However, Su Rongqing persistently sent flowers to Li Rong, despite each attempt being rejected, never giving up. Concubine Rou praised Su Rongqing before the Emperor, intending for him to become the next prince consort.

As the execution date for the Qin family approached, with no news of Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong felt both despair and a glimmer of hope. She ordered Xun Chuan to bring Qin Lin and his people to the Princess's residence under the guise of guarding them. The Empress, deeply worried about her daughter's future, hurried to consult her brother, Shangguan Xu, who advised them to wait and see.

The next morning, Su Rongqing unexpectedly visited Beiyan Tower, requesting to see Li Rong. They sat opposite each other, playing a game of chess, each move determining the outcome. Su Rongqing told Li Rong that the evidence she currently held must not be made public, or she would not leave the capital alive. Li Rong responded with disdain, her eyebrows full of mockery.

Seeing this, Su Rongqing felt a pang in his heart, emotions flickering in his eyes. He finally mustered the courage to express his wish to marry Li Rong, not wanting to miss the chance again. Hearing this, Li Rong first froze, then gave a bitter smile, recalling her dying words from the previous life and Pei Wenxuan's words in this life, her heart torn.

At the same time, all involved in the Qin family case were being escorted to the execution ground. Xun Chuan, hidden among the crowd, was ready to act. The noble officials urged the Emperor to make a quick decision. Just as the Emperor was about to issue the decree, Pei Wenxuan's loud voice echoed from outside the hall. Everyone turned to see him, dressed in black, seemingly injured, striding into the hall. Pei Wenxuan explained to the Emperor that he had been followed, faked his death, and secretly investigated the truth of the Qin family's injustice.

While Li Rong and Su Rongqing were playing chess in the high tower, Pei Wenxuan had already presented evidence of the Qin family’s unjust treatment in the court, pleading with the emperor to spare their lives. The eunuch with the order left the palace quickly, but someone immediately informed Shangguan Xu. Knowing the timing was wrong, the executioner still ordered the beheading of the Qin family. Seeing this, Xun Chuan had no choice but to risk his life to save them. Finally, the eunuch arrived in time, and the Qin family was saved.

Pei Wenxuan reported to the emperor about his findings and the information he had gathered. He argued that the Qin family, despite being outnumbered, managed to evacuate the city's citizens with minimal casualties, and therefore, they should be rewarded, not punished. Moreover, Pei Wenxuan requested the emperor to investigate the corruption in Huangping County regarding military provisions.

Before he could finish, the Deputy Minister of War hurriedly opposed, and others also criticized Pei Wenxuan. A large group of noble officials knelt, pleading for the emperor's wisdom. The emperor, unable to make an immediate decision due to the widespread implications of the case, wanted to maintain the balance among the nobility rather than cause an upheaval. He then reminded Pei Wenxuan to bring Li Rong back to the princess's residence.

Upon hearing that Pei Wenxuan had returned safely, Li Rong wept with joy, while Su Rongqing felt his heart sink as he lost the outcome he desired once again. Su Rongqing rose to leave, no longer wanting to intrude. As Li Rong looked at the black and white chess pieces, she suddenly called out to Su Rongqing, feeling for a moment that he might also be reborn. However, she held back her questions, thinking there were countless others behind them, and did not pursue the matter further.

Pei Wenxuan, hearing that Li Rong was at the Beiyan Tower, rushed over without even changing his clothes. Just as he entered the courtyard, he saw Su Rongqing coming out. Now, as rivals in love, Su Rongqing's face turned cold, unabashedly claiming that he was Li Rong's true love and that if it weren't for the emperor's fear of powerful in-laws, Pei Wenxuan would never have been qualified to be the princess's consort.

Before Pei Wenxuan could respond, Su Rongqing stated directly that he had come today to propose marriage. If Pei Wenxuan continued to oppose the noble families with the princess, putting her in danger, he would certainly take back his beloved. After saying this, Su Rongqing left calmly, leaving Pei Wenxuan stunned until Li Rong appeared, and they embraced tightly.

Xun Chuan personally interrogated Tian Zhong, but Tian Zhong refused to confess. Shangguan Xu, knowing that Tian Zhong had been captured, decided to use the princess to clear out some of the loose-tongued and timid people within the noble families. Li Rong brought Pei Wenxuan back to the residence, relieved to find that he was not seriously injured.

The Qin family thanked Li Rong for saving their lives, with Qin Lin and Qin Yun pledging their loyalty to her. Qin Lin personally escorted Li Rong out, promising to serve her and the crown prince with unwavering loyalty, securing the military power in the northwest. This reassured Li Rong significantly.

After ensuring the safety of the Qin family, Li Rong went to see Shangguan Ya and reviewed the confessions collected by Xun Chuan. She instructed Shangguan Ya to take the initiative in conducting an internal investigation within the Shangguan family, thereby increasing her prestige within the family, which Shangguan Ya was more than willing to do. Seeing Li Rong return to the princess's residence early, Shangguan Ya's curiosity was piqued, wondering whether Li Rong favored Su Rongqing or Pei Wenxuan more.

Due to Pei Wenxuan’s previous leave of absence, official duties had piled up, forcing him to stay in the study to catch up. Li Rong, meanwhile, reviewed documents in her room, and the two did not interact. As it got late, Jing Lan and Jing Mei grew anxious and urged the consort to advise the princess to rest early.

Concerned for Li Rong's health, Pei Wenxuan entered her room without hesitation, pulling her towards the bed, making Li Rong almost think he was angry. Meanwhile, Su Rongqing practiced swordsmanship to ease his frustration and proposed a match with his elder brother, becoming increasingly aggressive in his moves. After calming down, he felt guilty, and Su Ronghua, knowing his brother's unrequited love, advised him to live for himself. However, Su Rongqing resolved to use Concubine Rou’s influence to balance Li Rong’s power, preventing her from becoming a target.

At this moment, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan lay on the same bed, unable to sleep. They had a heartfelt conversation, the atmosphere gradually becoming intimate, leading Pei Wenxuan to kiss Li Rong, claiming it was to "bring joy to the world in return for her kindness." Momentarily stunned, Li Rong pushed him away, stating she wasn't ready. Pei Wenxuan did not insist and told her not to dwell on Su Rongqing, assuring her that he was not inferior to Su Rongqing and would always be at her service whenever she wished.

After a sleepless night, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan went to court. The emperor, upon hearing about the premature execution at the execution ground, was furious at the nobility's audacity and praised Li Rong in front of all the officials for her effective work. Contrary to his usual demeanor, Shangguan Xu openly supported Li Rong, prompting the emperor to officially place her in charge of the Inspectorate, allowing her to report directly to him without going through other departments.

The emperor granted Li Rong the authority to select and assemble the Inspectorate’s personnel, allocated the northern Ming Sheng drill ground as its office, and had the Ministry of Revenue budget at least thirty thousand taels annually for its expenses. Additionally, the emperor assigned the Qin case and the military provisions corruption case to the Inspectorate, appointing Su Ronghua as Li Rong’s deputy. Li Rong suspected that the emperor harbored some resentment towards her with this arrangement.

After the court session, Shangguan Ya and her father Shangguan Xu came to see Li Rong. Shangguan Xu hoped Li Rong would stop investigating the Qin family case due to their familial ties. Shangguan Ya also spoke on behalf of her father, but Li Rong did not agree, instead questioning Shangguan Xu, who was unwilling to argue further, urging her to cease and avoid further conflict.

Xun Chuan was about to personally thank the princess when she heard Shangguan Xu's voice inside. Shangguan Xu reminded Li Rong that her current position as the head of the Inspectorate was solely due to the emperor's favor. He emphasized that under the crushing weight of powerful families, both aristocrats and commoners were mere ants. However, Li Rong believed that both she and the Shangguan family had the ability to change the rules. She criticized Shangguan Xu for wanting to maintain the current situation, unwilling to disrupt the balance, which ultimately led to a standoff between the emperor and the aristocracy, causing the Shangguan family to gradually decay and become ineffective.

Therefore, Li Rong wanted Shangguan Xu to understand that the Daxia dynasty had gone through four emperors and had been founded nearly a hundred years ago. With turmoil in the northwest and frequent natural disasters internally, it was no longer a newly established dynasty and couldn't afford such chaos. Li Rong stated that she never intended to engage in mutual destruction with the Shangguan family but hoped to preserve their integrity and pride. She proposed Shangguan Ya take over as the head of the Shangguan family. Shangguan Ya openly expressed her willingness to cooperate with the princess to protect the Daxia dynasty. Hearing this, Shangguan Xu no longer opposed and lamented that it was time to hand over power to the younger generation.

Soon, the Inspectorate was fully equipped, from its name, banner, to uniforms. Li Rong selected trusted subordinates to form a team, officially establishing the Inspectorate. Pei Wenxuan stood by, smiling indulgently. Shangguan Ya curiously asked if he felt pressured by his wife's strong character, but Pei Wenxuan believed that only those who were incapable needed a weak wife to highlight their abilities. He hoped that his wife could achieve her wishes.

Because of this, Pei Wenxuan willingly became Li Rong's most solid support, helping her conquer the world or maintain stability in one region. In his view, a husband's love for his wife was not about giving her a golden cage but having the ability to let her do what she wanted freely.

After the establishment ceremony, Li Rong invited the main officials of the Inspectorate to the princess's residence for a meal. Xun Chuan, now appointed as the Inspectorate's local supervisor, was supposed to head to the northwest soon. However, Li Rong insisted on holding a farewell banquet for her, inviting Shangguan Ya, determined to get thoroughly drunk.

This parting was uncertain when they would meet again. Li Rong reminded Xun Chuan to be cautious and not too straightforward while alone. Xun Chuan toasted three times to Li Rong: the first toast was for Li Rong's efforts in overturning the Qin family's wrongful conviction; the second was for Li Rong's favor and letting her realize that women could live differently; the third was for the fortune of meeting Li Rong and Shangguan Ya, having regarded them as confidants, hoping they would remain friends for life.

After the banquet, everyone dispersed. Li Rong returned to the corridor alone, swept the steps with her sleeve, and sat down. Pei Wenxuan sat beside her, gazing at the night sky. Li Rong was happy to have family, friends, and Pei Wenxuan by her side. Their eyes met, and the tenderness enveloped them like a light web.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Ya, drunken and stumbling, was supported by Su Ronghua onto a carriage. After seeing the carriage off, Su Ronghua turned around to find his carriage waiting and Su Rongqing standing nearby with a meaningful smile. The brothers went home together.

That night, Xun Chuan packed her bags and saw Qin Lin waiting for her in the courtyard. Qin Lin knew Xun Chuan was Qin Zhenzhen and felt deeply pained for her sacrifices for the family, but Qin Zhenzhen had no regrets. After bidding farewell to Qin Lin, Xun Chuan saw the crown prince Li Chuan waiting outside.

After this incident, Li Chuan realized he hadn't protected Qin Zhenzhen and still hoped she would stay, giving him a chance. Xun Chuan tearfully refused, unwilling to make any compromises, parting ways with no possibility of reconciliation.

After the establishment ceremony, the Inspectorate started to operate. Li Rong, with Shangguan Ya's help, began with the Qin family case and the military funds case, investigating over seventy officials, which surprised the emperor. Li Rong seized the opportunity to persuade the emperor to uproot corruption, but he warned her there would be more officials to impeach.

As expected, the next day, numerous petitions against Li Rong flooded the court. The aristocrats targeted her directly. Li Rong and the crown prince staged a show, appearing as if they were at odds, though it was just a façade. The emperor, remembering the Qin family's contributions, promoted Qin Lin to General of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Feng as vice general, and Xiao Su as the Grand Marshal of the northwest, guarding Chen Zhou and commanding the northwest army.

Once these matters settled, Pei Wenxuan planned to enhance their relationship. He prepared Li Rong's favorite dishes, personally blended a calming incense, and dressed meticulously. It was the coldest time of winter, but he insisted on wearing a thin white robe. Li Rong pretended not to notice until he couldn't bear it and hurriedly put on his fur coat to keep warm.

Soon after, a kite with the word "stop" appeared in the Inspectorate, but the person who flew it was nowhere to be found. Li Rong ignored it and, after finishing her work, went out with Shangguan Ya. Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan was shopping in the street when he was attacked by a child assassin. Fortunately, he reacted in time and only suffered minor injuries.

Hearing this, Li Rong hurried back to the residence. Despite Pei Wenxuan's injuries, she personally served him soup. Originally, Li Rong wanted to let the matter rest, but Pei Wenxuan's injury made her determined to be merciless, ordering a thorough investigation. Li Rong then told Pei Wenxuan that she would be leaving the capital for a few days, and Pei Wenxuan insisted on accompanying her. He asked Tong Ye to find an elegant place for them to meet.

Pei Wenxuan was inconvenienced by his injury, so Li Rong habitually brought him soup and fed him. On the surface, it seemed affectionate, but if one listened closely, one would notice their constant bickering. Pei Wenxuan cleverly probed to see if Li Rong enjoyed the carefully crafted romance. Although he knew that Su Rongqing had planted peonies for Li Rong in a past life, he understood that Li Rong preferred Golden Bird Flowers.

That night, the two had their own plans and began preparing. Li Rong's case was nearing its end, and she deliberately displayed a chest of gold in the court, claiming that someone had tried to bribe her. She publicly convicted seventy-eight officials involved in the case: over forty were demoted, more than twenty were exiled, seven were executed, and a few committed suicide in fear, who were temporarily ignored.

Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan, wanting to surprise Li Rong, selected a Butterfly Gorge surrounded by mountains and lush with vegetation. He exhausted all resources to cover the entire valley with Golden Bird Flowers, turning it into a golden sea of flowers. Similarly, Li Rong also had her people set up an ambush in Butterfly Gorge. As a result, on that day, Shangguan Ya saw Pei Wenxuan's flower-transporting team and immediately reported it to Li Rong.

Li Rong mistakenly believed that Pei Wenxuan had discovered her plan against the noble families and secretly prepared to assist. She personally went to Pei Wenxuan, revealing that she knew about Butterfly Gorge. Pei Wenxuan, not expecting her to know in advance, seized the opportunity to invite her, and Li Rong gladly accepted.

As evening approached, Li Rong was in high spirits while dining, but Pei Wenxuan was anxious, worried that his performance the next day would disappoint her. Consequently, Pei Wenxuan stayed up all night and only changed into new clothes at dawn. He then went to Butterfly Gorge with his beloved guqin, waiting in the sea of flowers for Li Rong to arrive.

Learning that Pei Wenxuan had taken his elite troops away, Li Rong became even more certain of her plan for the day, knowing everything was ready. She then led Jinglan to the carriage, surrounded by numerous guards, and set out of the city grandly. However, assassins were already lying in wait along the way. Soon, Li Rong heard the chaos outside with people and horses in disarray, followed by the sound of killing. Taking advantage of the confusion, she, dressed in red, rode off alone, luring the assassins into the pre-arranged ambush.

At this moment, Pei Wenxuan was gently plucking the guqin strings when Tong Ye suddenly reported that assassins were nearby. He immediately rushed in Li Rong's direction. As Li Rong dismounted to dodge a hidden weapon, Pei Wenxuan shielded her in his arms. Coming to her senses, she saw assassins and guards fiercely battling, turning the flower sea he had carefully planted into a sea of blood.

Seeing the flower sea and the guqin destroyed, Pei Wenxuan felt heartbroken but continued to shield Li Rong, enduring the assassins' attacks and sustaining multiple knife wounds. Li Rong decisively ordered the explosives to be detonated and helped Pei Wenxuan into a pre-arranged cave. Pei Wenxuan, trying to control his emotions, refused to let Li Rong tend to his wounds, his face growing paler.

During their conversation, Li Rong was surprised to discover that the flower sea was a surprise prepared by Pei Wenxuan for her, not a ploy to lure the assassins. When she saw the broken guqin strings, she froze momentarily. Then, spurred by Shangguan Ya, she chased after Pei Wenxuan with the guqin in hand. However, Pei Wenxuan, looking sorrowful, admitted that he never understood why Li Rong resisted love until now. He realized that if Li Rong loved, she would lose her composure, while he felt he had become a ridiculous fool in her eyes.

Pei Wenxuan bluntly pointed out Li Rong's thoughts, accusing her of understanding his feelings but never responding, even pretending not to know. She maintained their so-called friendship, accepted his goodwill, and then regarded him as a scheming person. This made Pei Wenxuan feel humiliated and exhausted, utterly defeated and without dignity.

After speaking, Pei Wenxuan left without looking back. Li Rong, holding the guqin, returned to the flower sea and instructed the guards to take the surviving assassins away for interrogation. At that moment, Su Ronghua and Su Rongqing hurriedly arrived. Su Rongqing reminded Li Rong to be careful and assured her that the Su family and the Ministry of Justice would protect her.

After the assassin leader was captured and brought to the Inspectorate, Li Rong discovered that he was from the famous Seven Stars Hall and was the deputy hall master, Lin Feibai. Li Rong personally negotiated with Lin Feibai, proposing a cooperation and asking them to betray their employer. In return, Li Rong promised to allocate a piece of land from her fief to the Seven Stars Hall, requiring no investment from them, just a nominal transaction. This would allow the Seven Stars Hall to establish a base in Li Rong's fief, with Li Rong ensuring their safety.

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Feibai revealed that the employer was the Minister of Justice, Xie Lanqing. Li Rong unhesitatingly gave the kill order. After Li Rong left, Shangguan Ya interrogated Lin Feibai again, but his attitude was completely different from before. Su Ronghua, seeing Shangguan Ya's frustration, offered to help vent her anger and accompanied her to see Li Rong. Shangguan Ya, noticing that Li Rong had not yet returned to the Princess Mansion, speculated that there were problems between her and Pei Wenxuan. Su Ronghua believed that Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong were not a good match.

Shangguan Ya, seeing that Li Rong was still busy at the Inspectorate, decided to stay and advised her to make an early decision if she intended to divorce, and if she liked the prince consort, to return home and resolve her issues soon. In Shangguan Ya's view, Li Rong had always been decisive in her actions, but she tended to avoid matters of the heart. Pushing away the one she loved would only lead to regret when it was too late.

However, instead of facing her feelings, Li Rong got angry when Shangguan Ya pointed out her thoughts. She claimed that she never cared about others and did not need anyone's concern, believing that as long as she held power, she would have companions. This shocked Shangguan Ya, while Li Rong put down her pen, annoyed at herself for saying such things to Shangguan Ya.

On her way back, Li Rong recalled her previous life. She had seen her mother sit all night in the Beiyan Tower, looking lonely. She had also seen countless women in the palace who received promises but were separated due to various reasons. She vaguely remembered her mother's warning: all love and joy are fleeting in the face of power.

Because of these deep memories, Li Rong was cautious about emotions. In everyone's eyes, even in her arrogance, she would not lower her head. At this moment, Pei Wenxuan was waiting for Li Rong at the Princess Mansion. Seeing her return, he greeted her politely and formally, making Li Rong feel a mix of emotions. She suddenly realized that her sensitivity, suspicion, and selfishness were wearing down this man who had beautiful expectations for love.

As Pei Wenxuan was about to leave, Li Rong hurriedly called out to him, apologizing for her past behavior and hoping he could give her more time. Originally, Li Rong thought Pei Wenxuan would refuse, but to her surprise, he turned and approached her, responding gently and kindly. His demeanor, like a soft breeze, wrapped around her heart, soothing past pains and dissolving the barriers between them. That night, Pei Wenxuan stayed in the study, using a retreating approach to advance, aiming to win the princess's heart completely.

In private, Consort Rou met with Su Rongqing, seeking cooperation and representing her son, Prince Su, to appoint him as the Senior Minister. Su Rongqing told Consort Rou that there was one matter that needed her personal assistance. The next day, Xie Lanqing's carriage was stopped by Su Rongqing, who offered him a plan to turn a dead end into a living opportunity.

Li Rong ordered Shangguan Ya to release Lin Feibai. Shangguan Ya reported that the steward of the Xie Residence had visited Consort Rou at Ming Le Palace the previous night, expressing concerns that the two sides might join forces against the Inspectorate. She feared that if pressured too much, many noble families would turn to support Prince Su. Li Rong calmly analyzed the situation, stating that the emperor's favor towards Consort Rou was a means to balance the empress. No matter what major mistakes Consort Rou or Prince Su made, the emperor would not easily abandon them unless they lost their value as pawns.

Later, Pei Wenxuan entered the palace to see the emperor, offering a white jade hairpin and revealing that the recent surge in white jade hairpin prices in Huajing was related to Consort Rou. The emperor, furious upon hearing this, severely punished Princess Huale that night and sternly warned Consort Rou not to play such tricks in his presence. He declared that if she were like others, he would never step into Ming Le Palace again.

Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan returned home and rested directly in the study. Li Rong, feeling uneasy without him by her side, planned to secretly visit him at night but was caught by Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan was more than happy to have Li Rong seek his embrace, so he followed her back to the room to rest. They talked about the white jade hairpin and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Jinglan came to assist Li Rong in getting up. Seeing her and Pei Wenxuan sleeping in each other's arms, Jinglan's face lit up with joy. Tong Ye, unable to find Pei Wenxuan in the study, anxiously barged into the room and was surprised to see Pei Wenxuan in bed, leaving everyone with varied expressions.

Pei Wenxuan, on the emperor's orders, took over the case of the embezzled military funds. Li Rong immediately informed the Inspectorate staff that they would assist the prince consort in completing the case. Pei Wenxuan was curious why Li Rong had such confidence in the Su family. Li Rong recalled the first time she met Su Rongqing, who, despite being young, was already thinking ahead with great ambition.

Soon, Li Rong received news that Lin Feibai had been captured. She immediately asked Shangguan Ya to prepare evidence of the Seven Stars Hall's attempt to assassinate her to counter Xie Lanqing's retaliation. Indeed, Xie Lanqing accused Li Rong of hiring assassins to kill in front of the emperor. However, Li Rong was prepared and personally confronted Lin Feibai in the grand hall, guiding everyone to closely observe the resemblance between Lin Feibai and Xie Lanqing.

In the grand hall, Li Rong publicly revealed Lin Feibai's pendant, which caused Xie Lanqing to look surprised and ask about its origin. Before Lin Feibai could respond, Li Rong mentioned Xie Lanqing's past with the Jianghu woman Lin Xia. Back then, they fell in love, but due to family obstacles, they couldn't be together. Lin Xia left while pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy, naming him Lin Feibai.

Later, under family arrangements, Xie Lanqing married a daughter from a prestigious family and found Lin Xia. However, Lin Xia did not accept Xie Lanqing and did not want to become a concubine, which would make her child live under the Xie family's shadow. So, Xie Lanqing didn't force her and instead provided protection by establishing the Qixing Hall.

At Li Rong's strong insistence, the emperor ordered someone to fetch a water bowl for Xie Lanqing and Lin Feibai to perform a blood test to confirm their father-son relationship. As expected, their blood mixed, confirming the relationship. Lin Feibai was a bit dazed, but Xie Lanqing panicked and accused Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan of conspiring with assassins and bribing the eunuch to frame him, hoping the emperor would see the truth.

However, the evidence was conclusive, and the emperor did not believe Xie Lanqing. He ordered Pei Wenxuan to handle the case. Unexpectedly, Pei Wenxuan recommended Pei Liming, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, to be the chief examiner of the case. Logically, Su Rongqing, the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, was a more suitable candidate. The emperor glanced at Su Rongqing, who immediately stood up and agreed.

After the examiner was decided, Xie Lanqing looked extremely distressed, tried to argue for himself, but was forcibly dragged out by the guards amid his wails. Once Lin Feibai left, the emperor looked tired and ordered everyone to leave, except Pei Wenxuan, to give him some instructions. Su Rongqing walked out of the hall with Li Rong, asking her about her insistence on establishing the Supervisory Office.

Li Rong replied that it was for justice, but Su Rongqing stated that although there were pests among the noble families, they were still the foundation of Daxia. If the foundation was shaken due to a few pests, it could reignite the flames of war, making it difficult to preserve national stability and justice. Li Rong was silent upon hearing this. Su Rongqing then expressed his concern for her relationship with Pei Wenxuan, hoping her marriage would be pure and without regrets. Just then, Pei Wenxuan came out of the hall. Su Rongqing respectfully bid farewell to Li Rong, which once again aroused Pei Wenxuan's jealousy, prompting him to say some affectionate words to Li Rong.

Later, Li Rong visited Lin Feibai in prison, seeking some information from him. Lin Feibai stated that his mother never mentioned Xie Lanqing, but she held onto the jade pendant until her death, regretting not seeing its owner. Because his mother mentioned owing Xie Lanqing three things, Lin Feibai chose to help him despite knowing it would bring disaster to Qixing Hall. Li Rong felt a heavy heart upon hearing this and revealed her intention to cooperate with Lin Feibai again to protect his life. Before leaving, Shangguan Ya left a box of leaf cards to slightly alleviate Lin Feibai's boredom.

Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan dealt with his uncle Pei Liming outside. Both understood that Xie Lanqing would soon step down from his position as the Minister of Justice. Whoever handled the case would likely succeed him. Pei Liming had been waiting in the Right Assistant Minister position for nearly ten years, finally seeing the opportunity, but it wasn't given by the Pei family’s favored Pei Lixian, but by Pei Wenxuan, who had often been undermined by the family. Although Pei Liming remained outwardly calm, he had already made plans in his mind.

The three of them left the Ministry of Justice and walked to the bridge. Shangguan Ya returned home first, leaving Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan alone. Li Rong curiously asked Pei Wenxuan what he saw before he died. Pei Wenxuan recalled seeing himself and Li Rong on this street in the previous life, planning to watch fireworks together, a wish that was never fulfilled. Now, Li Rong solemnly stated that if they promised to watch fireworks again, either they shouldn’t make the promise or they must keep it for life. After speaking, they made a pinky swear to seal the promise.

As the New Year approached, Li Rong handled the Qin case, the military fund case, and Xie Lanqing’s case together, inviting the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Supervisory Office to hold a joint trial in the court. Pei Liming listed Xie Lanqing’s various crimes. Given Xie Lanqing's service over two reigns, his merits and demerits were balanced, and he was ultimately sentenced to exile. The other two cases were closed at Li Rong’s request, and the emperor approved on the spot.

Just as Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan were about to leave, Su Rongqing suddenly called out to Li Rong, stating that Xie Lanqing wanted to see her. On the way to the Ministry of Justice, the three of them shared a carriage. Pei Wenxuan deliberately claimed a teacup was chipped and insisted on sharing a cup with Li Rong, showing off their affection in front of Su Rongqing. Li Rong saw through Pei Wenxuan’s little scheme but did not expose him, letting him have his way.

The once powerful Xie Lanqing was now in a wretched state, but he didn't care and urgently sought confirmation from Li Rong about Lin Feibai’s identity. As Xie Lanqing said, he came from a prestigious family and, in his youth, mistakenly believed that he could protect both of them with his own strength. However, the family’s rules did not allow him to marry a woman from Jianghu freely, as it would bring disgrace to the family.

Li Rong revealed to Xie Lanqing the clues Su Rongqing had found in the previous life, which caught Su Rongqing's attention, finally realizing that Li Rong had also been reborn. To test this, Su Rongqing deliberately mentioned things he had said to Li Rong before, shocking her and causing Pei Wenxuan to sense something amiss. That night, Su Rongqing watched Li Rong leave with Pei Wenxuan, puzzled why she would choose Pei Wenxuan despite having memories of their previous life. But since both were reborn, Su Rongqing vowed to win Li Rong back no matter what.

With Li Rong's mediation, Lin Feibai's sentence was changed from exile to military service. Shangguan Ya explained to him that the benefit of military service was that if he made military achievements, he would have a chance to offset his crimes and even hold important positions in the army. She suggested that Lin Feibai cooperate with Li Rong. Once he made achievements, Li Rong would petition the emperor to include him in the Xie family genealogy, thus clearing his name and allowing him to make a name for himself on the battlefield.

When seeing Lin Feibai off, Shangguan Ya subtly requested the return of the leaf cards, but Lin Feibai misunderstood and thought she was giving them to him. Even after Shangguan Ya clarified that it was only a temporary loan, Lin Feibai still stated that life on the southwestern border was boring and he planned to use the leaf cards for entertainment, promising to take good care of them.

Princess Hua Le invited Su Rongqing to her palace under the pretense of practicing music. Su Rongqing’s suggestions on the musical scores were greatly appreciated by Princess Hua Le. She looked forward to more interactions with him in the future and eagerly started playing music with Su Rongqing, not wanting to waste such a good time.

During the Spring Festival, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan took their customary leave, and the princess’s mansion was bustling with activity. Lanterns were hung high, spring couplets were pasted on doors, and the courtyard was meticulously cleaned by the servants. Li Rong was in a particularly joyful mood, personally making dumplings in the kitchen, while Pei Wenxuan gently wiped the flour off her cheeks, jokingly calling her a "little cat."

The Su family was also filled with joy, the four members enjoying a harmonious time together. The mother hoped that the brothers would get married soon, but Su Rongqing cleverly shifted the topic to Su Ronghua. Watching his elder brother laughing and chatting with their parents, Su Rongqing recalled the previous life where the whole family was exterminated, and he himself suffered castration. He silently vowed to protect his family and prevent Li Chuan's ascension, which had led to the family's tragic downfall.

As night fell, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan hosted a banquet for their household servants, hiding silver coins in the dumplings, adding an element of surprise. Li Rong teased that Pei Wenxuan had hidden too few coins, so Pei Wenxuan took out red envelopes as compensation, asking Li Rong to say something nice about him. At that moment, heavy snow began to fall outside, and everyone went out to admire the snow and fireworks. Pei Wenxuan silently promised to give Li Rong a warm home, healing all her wounds. From then on, the princess had her prince consort, and Li Rong had Pei Wenxuan.

Su Rongqing strolled the streets alone, feeling a bit lonely as he watched the couples passing by. A street vendor gave Su Rongqing a flower lantern, telling him that while results were important, what mattered more was the process of striving for them without leaving regrets. Meanwhile, Su Ronghua and Shangguan Ya met by chance at the Gathering Wealth Hall and had a great time together.

According to tradition, the palace hosted a banquet on the first day of the New Year for the married princesses and important ministers. The grand palace banquet was held as scheduled the next day, attended by the imperial family and nobles. Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan were invited and naturally met with the Crown Prince Li Chuan and Su Rongqing. Before the banquet began, the emperor raised a toast, sincerely wishing for the eternal stability of the Da Xia dynasty and the well-being of its people.

Princess Hua Le and Su Wang offered to perform "The Battle of Pingchuan" to entertain the emperor and showcase their talents at the banquet. Seeing Su Wang's ambition and vigor, the emperor turned the conversation to whether Su Wang could surpass Li Chuan. Su Wang confidently stated that his martial skills were superior to Li Chuan's.

Then, Princess Hua Le invited Su Rongqing to assist, and Li Rong offered to accompany him to relieve Su Rongqing from the situation. As Li Rong played the opening tense melody on the zither, Princess Hua Le's flute performance paled in comparison, as her control over the instrument was far inferior to Li Rong's.

"The Battle of Pingchuan" started tensely and became increasingly intense, like a sharp sword entering the enemy's formation, fighting fiercely. Su Rongqing had personally taught this piece to Li Rong, and it was used to boost morale during Li Chuan's northern expedition. Li Rong had also gone to the front lines and understood the meaning of the piece deeply.

Seeing that Li Rong had not forgotten the past, Su Rongqing felt comforted and then stood up to beat the drum. The fusion of zither and drum made Li Rong feel as if she was back on the battlefield. At this moment, Pei Wenxuan awkwardly started playing the erhu. Although its rhythm did not match the zither and drum, the discordance made the melody even more distinct, adding a unique flavor to the piece.

Seeing everyone praising Li Rong, Princess Hua Le felt displeased. Pei Wenxuan, jealous again because of the attention Su Rongqing received, made Li Rong smirk. The emperor, in high spirits, asked Li Chuan for his thoughts. Li Chuan expressed his commitment to alleviating the emperor's worries and bringing prosperity to the people, but these words seemed to fall short of the emperor's expectations.

Before the banquet ended, Li Chuan left in frustration. Li Rong comforted her brother, promising to fully support him no matter what. After the Qin family incident, Li Chuan understood the importance of power, realizing that only by holding power could he protect his loved ones. Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan took the opportunity to mock Su Rongqing for coveting the princess in public, suggesting that if Su Rongqing genuinely wanted to marry, he could help find a suitable match. Before he finished speaking, Li Rong entered the hall, and Pei Wenxuan immediately took her hand, like declaring his sovereignty, and led her out of the hall. Su Rongqing watched their departing figures, worried that Li Rong might repeat the hardships of her past life.

During a casual conversation, Su Ronghua and Shangguan Ya agreed that if they didn't find someone they liked in the future, they would stay together. Soon, scholars from all over the country came to the capital for exams. Su Rongqing invited them to his home for discussions, aiming to select talents. Father Su was deeply gratified and promised on the spot to ensure the fairness of the imperial examination, earning enthusiastic applause from the scholars.

Early in the morning, Pei Wenxuan set up a sign outside his residence to recruit talent, but by noon, no one had come. In contrast, the Su family residence was bustling with activity. Su Rongqing went to great lengths to attract talent, even inviting Prime Minister Su to oversee the process. Pei Wenxuan noticed Su Rongqing’s changed attitude towards selecting talent through the imperial examination, seeing it as a deliberate opposition to him. Thus, he had Tong Ye use monetary rewards to attract scholars. As expected, many scholars eagerly signed up.

While Su Rongqing was teaching Su Wang, Concubine Rou suddenly arrived, informing him that Pei Wenxuan had changed his strategy, causing them significant impact. Su Rongqing reminded Concubine Rou that as long as their people were safe, the rest could be left to him. That night, Su’s father approached Shangguan Xu to discuss the selection of the chief examiner. Shangguan Xu pointed out that due to the emperor's severe crackdown on noble families, the chief examiner could not come from such a family. Therefore, they needed someone of humble origin but under their control.

Hearing this, Shangguan Ya immediately informed Li Rong. Li Rong was surprised, as Su Rongqing hadn’t cared about this in their previous life. Normally, this year's imperial examination would produce many talented individuals, filling Pei Wenxuan’s ranks. But Su Rongqing's sudden intervention made Li Rong realize that Pei Wenxuan’s position needed to be rapidly elevated.

Li Rong then summoned Liu Hangchun from the Ministry of Personnel, first employing both threats and inducements before recommending Pei Wenxuan. Although Liu Hangchun was known for his lustful nature, he was shrewd and quickly understood, expressing that whether the consort could join the Ministry of Personnel as an official depended entirely on his own abilities and that he would handle it impartially. Knowing Liu Hangchun would remain unbiased, Li Rong felt reassured, confident that Pei Wenxuan’s talents were more than sufficient for the role.

Meanwhile, Su Rongqing had people monitoring the Princess's mansion and, upon learning that Li Rong had privately summoned Liu Hangchun, decided to make use of the situation, instructing someone to deliver a note to Concubine Rou. Su Ronghua brought Shangguan Ya some items, making her very excited. Initially, she thought they were autographs of the handsome men in the capital, but found they were all self-praises and names of Su Ronghua, causing Li Rong to burst into laughter.

With the Su family's recommendation, Wang Houwen of the Ministry of Personnel included Pei Wenxuan’s name on the supplementary list and specially marked it. Liu Hangchun quickly informed Li Rong, who breathed a sigh of relief. Though she was helping Pei Wenxuan, she felt very fulfilled. Jing Lan noted that Li Rong must have fallen for Pei Wenxuan, given how much she cared without expecting anything in return.

The next morning at court, Wang Houwen announced Su Rongqing’s appointment as the new Minister of Justice and Pei Wenxuan’s promotion to Assistant Minister of Personnel. Initially expecting a sixth-rank position, Pei Wenxuan was stunned to hear he was now a fourth-rank official, fainting on the spot amidst the chaos.

Li Rong quickly calmed down, walked briskly to Pei Wenxuan’s side, and requested the emperor to allow Pei Wenxuan to rest in a side hall while summoning the imperial physician. The physician informed Li Rong that Pei Wenxuan needed to avoid overexertion and refrain from sexual activities for the time being. Blushing, Li Rong stayed silently by his side.

News of Pei Wenxuan’s fainting soon spread. When he awoke, he was worried about the list, but Li Rong reassured him, saying she didn’t have the power to make him an Assistant Minister. Su Rongqing had deliberately pushed for Pei Wenxuan’s appointment to incite opposition among the court officials and cause the emperor to distrust and distance himself from the princess. Regardless of the Inspectorate’s power, once the emperor had doubts, Li Rong’s political path would end.

After the morning court session, Liu Hangchun approached Li Rong to apologize. She didn’t blame him much, knowing that Concubine Rou had orchestrated the matter behind the scenes. The emperor was very unhappy about Pei Wenxuan’s appointment as Assistant Minister, so Li Rong personally went to see him, requesting to revoke Pei Wenxuan’s position and explaining that someone was trying to sow discord between them.

Though Concubine Rou admired Su Rongqing’s abilities, she was wary due to his representation of noble family interests. To gain her trust, Su Rongqing promised to give the Inspectorate as a gift. Far in the northwest, Xun Chuan wrote to Li Chuan, sharing her current situation and naming the sword she was given “Hongyu,” symbolizing her fluctuating fate like a feather in the chaotic world, yet she was able to seize her destiny and achieve her aspirations thanks to the prince and princess.

Soon, the emperor discovered Concubine Rou’s involvement in the matter and overheard Princess Hua Le speaking ill of Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong, which infuriated him. He dismissed everyone and slapped Concubine Rou, warning her that she was just a tool and any betrayal would not be tolerated. After the emperor left, Concubine Rou, filled with resentment, ordered someone to procure a slow-acting, colorless, and tasteless poison sent by her family.

Li Rong originally planned to use Taoist Hongde to postpone the Crown Prince's marriage, but before she could act, Su Rongqing had already taken the initiative. It seemed as if every step he took was foreseen, making meticulous moves. When Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan thought it over, they suspected that Su Rongqing was also reborn. Therefore, in this life, he would certainly try to change the fate of the Su family.

In the next moment, Pei Wenxuan suddenly hugged Li Rong tightly, feeling anxious and uneasy. Although he could surpass the current Su Rongqing, he had no chance against the Su Rongqing who had been with Li Rong for seventeen years. Sensing this, Li Rong comforted Pei Wenxuan, telling him not to overthink. To her, Su Rongqing was just an old acquaintance; her heart had long belonged to Pei Wenxuan.

The next morning, when Su Rongqing learned that Li Rong had entered the palace, he sent a message to Concubine Rou, instructing her to act according to plan. Concubine Rou praised the intelligence of the second son of the Su family. Li Rong, aware of Hongde's true identity, quickly gathered evidence and entered the palace to reveal to the Emperor that Hongde had committed many heinous acts under the guise of a Taoist.

The Emperor questioned Li Rong about why she allowed Hongde to spread rumors of natural disasters to delay the Crown Prince's marriage and had Concubine Rou bring Hongde for confrontation. To gain the Emperor's trust, Hongde presented a piece of paper with the horoscope of the Princess and the Prince Consort. Although Li Rong was unaware, she recognized Pei Wenxuan's handwriting and claimed that the Prince Consort had casually obtained it during a trip.

Li Rong revealed that Hongde's real name was Wang Caishan, a swindler from Qing Shui Town, who, after committing a murder, abandoned his wife and children and wandered around as a fake Taoist, eventually infiltrating Qingfeng Temple. Wang's wife was brought to the court and recognized Hongde as her long-lost husband. However, Hongde refused to acknowledge her, causing her to curse him in anger.

Seeing this, the Emperor ordered Hongde to be imprisoned. Concubine Rou hurriedly distanced herself from Hongde, claiming she knew nothing about him. Li Rong proposed taking Hongde back to the Inspectorate for further interrogation. After everyone left the hall, Concubine Rou used the horoscope paper to suggest to the Emperor that it was a symbol of deep affection between the Prince Consort and the Princess.

Pei Wenxuan, born into a humble family, was initially a tool for the Emperor to balance the noble families. But if manipulated by Li Rong, this tool could turn against them. Concubine Rou suggested that the Emperor strip Pei Wenxuan of his official duties and make him focus solely on being the Prince Consort, to avoid future trouble.

Li Rong brought the horoscope paper back to the Princess' residence. Seeing it, Pei Wenxuan's face changed, asserting that someone had imitated his handwriting. He explained the real meaning of the paper to the Emperor, leading to suspicion towards both the Princess and the Prince Consort. Thus, Pei Wenxuan's career would end, becoming a thorn in the Emperor's side.

Su Rongqing's move was like cutting the ground from under Pei Wenxuan's feet. Li Rong knew that Pei Wenxuan was a pawn of the Emperor. If they gave up on him now, it would be a pity. If Pei Wenxuan showed enough loyalty, he might have a chance to survive. Therefore, she suggested that they immediately annul their marriage if necessary.

Although Li Rong emphasized that it was a temporary measure and they would remarry after the situation settled, Pei Wenxuan firmly opposed it. He would rather give up his official position and return to his hometown than separate from Li Rong, accusing her of never giving him the respect he deserved, always choosing power before decisions. Li Rong, angered by Pei Wenxuan's words, left in a fit of rage.

That night, upon learning that Li Rong had chartered a boat for a night cruise and invited several performers from Nanfeng Pavilion, Pei Wenxuan lost control of his emotions. He took a sword hanging by a pillar and started swinging it around wildly in the house, accidentally discovering the letters Li Rong had written to him, full of longing. Realizing Li Rong's feelings for him, Pei Wenxuan ran to the dock with the sword. Meanwhile, Concubine Rou prepared a calming soup for the Emperor, which the chief eunuch inspected and found no issues.

Li Rong arranged for the performers to showcase their talents, playing instruments and dancing. Even those without any skills could sit quietly by the side. After tonight, the news of Li Rong chartering a flower boat would surely reach the palace. Li Rong hoped Pei Wenxuan would calm down and use this opportunity to explain to the Emperor their fading relationship, thus facilitating their divorce.

A performer claimed to have been entrusted to perform a magic trick for Li Rong. Just then, Cui Yulang emerged from a box. Cui Yulang had seen the Princess charter the boat and mingled with the crowd, intending to seek justice for his friend, Chen Houzhao. Previously, Chen Houzhao had topped the provincial exams and was supposed to enter the capital for the spring exams, but Xiao Pingzhang conspired with the authorities to strip him of his qualification, replacing him with his son, Xiao Shunwen.

Chen Houzhao had come to the capital to seek justice, facing several assassination attempts, but no officials dared to take his case. To persuade Li Rong to investigate, Cui Yulang offered to be a guest at the Princess' residence, even volunteering to share her bed. Before he finished speaking, Pei Wenxuan rushed out, kicked Cui Yulang to the ground, and drew his sword, scaring Cui Yulang into hiding behind the Inspectorate guards.

Despite Li Rong's refusal, Pei Wenxuan dragged her onto another small boat, quickly heading to the center of the lake. Realizing their isolation, Li Rong felt a bit uneasy but pretended to stay calm, attempting to talk to Pei Wenxuan. However, Pei Wenxuan, driven by jealousy, forcefully kissed Li Rong in a fit of anger, pinning her down on the boat. Li Rong fought back, scratching two bloody marks on Pei Wenxuan's neck.

Amid Li Rong's scolding, Pei Wenxuan hugged her tightly, apologizing and expressing his feelings, admitting his jealousy due to his care for her. His tone carried a hint of grievance, softening Li Rong's heart. She responded with a gentler tone, expressing her feelings for Pei Wenxuan, and the two embraced each other.

Tonight is the Lantern Festival, with the sky full of sparkling stars and thousands of lanterns reflecting on the water. Pei Wenxuan took out a flower lantern and made a wish with Li Rong. Originally, Pei Wenxuan didn't believe in such superstitions, but since meeting Li Rong, the myriad gods and Buddhas made him develop a bit of faith. Through this conversation, the two opened their hearts to each other. Their previously drifting hearts, like a boat returning to the harbor, found unprecedented peace and tranquility.

Pei Wenxuan understood that Li Rong was born into the royal family and had witnessed many people abandoning their feelings for power. But he also saw Li Rong's dedication and purity in her feelings, so he secretly vowed to give her this sincere love. Li Rong felt her heart sweeten like honey upon hearing this, and suddenly she felt that all her past experiences were worth it. She immediately made a wish to stay with Pei Wenxuan for all their lives and to have children with him.

The next morning during the court session, Li Rong remained silent throughout, but the scratches on Pei Wenxuan's neck were too conspicuous, attracting the emperor's attention. After the court session, Pei Wenxuan was summoned to the emperor by the eunuch Fu Lai. Li Rong averted her gaze, turned, and stepped out of the hall, only to see Su Rongqing standing ahead, conversing with several officials. Their eyes met, freezing time and evoking memories of the past, but sadly, things had changed. Despite Su Rongqing's belief that he was protecting Li Rong in this way, his love for her had never changed.

As soon as Pei Wenxuan arrived at the imperial study, he cried out his grievances, loudly asking for a divorce from Li Rong. He explained that someone had forged his handwriting to request a charm, and Li Rong had taken a night boat trip, drinking and enjoying herself with actors. The emperor pondered the events of last night, considering Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan's intentions, but seeing Pei Wenxuan continue to profess loyalty and firmly insisting on divorce, he saw no hint of affection for Li Rong.

Although Taoist Hongde's identity had been exposed and he was detained at the Investigation Department, he had already become a discarded pawn, so Su Rongqing was not worried. Su Rongqing understood Pei Wenxuan's character and weaknesses. In his view, Pei Wenxuan, who had always been pure and good at winning people's hearts with both talent and means, only had Li Rong as his sole weakness. Pei Wenxuan's care for Li Rong made it impossible for him to easily agree to a divorce. If he did agree, it would be a betrayal, and Su Rongqing would never allow someone who betrayed Li Rong to exist.

Through Fu Lai's investigation, it was confirmed that the handwriting on the charm was forged by someone else. However, the emperor was not completely reassured because he knew that if he let down his guard, his kingdom would be in jeopardy. On the other hand, Pei Wenxuan returned to the Princess Mansion and deliberately announced loudly that he would sleep alone in the study, creating the impression that they were having a quarrel.

In the middle of the night, Pei Wenxuan sneaked back into the room, holding Li Rong tightly, expressing that his current plan was to make the emperor aware that someone was manipulating Concubine Rou behind the scenes. The next day, Pei Wenxuan personally visited Teacher Du, asking her to imitate Taoist Hongde's handwriting to write a letter, placing all the blame on Su Rongqing, to use his own strategy against him, and formally declare war.

Later, Li Rong visited the Investigation Department to meet Taoist Hongde, questioning him about the mastermind. Taoist Hongde admitted that he had no choice but to follow the arrangements because his son's safety was threatened. Li Rong detailed Taoist Hongde's many years of deceit and swindling but then promised to find a way to protect his family if he would come forward to identify Su Rongqing.

While Taoist Hongde was hesitant, Li Rong decisively went to the palace to see the emperor, insisting that he deal with her family affairs. Additionally, Li Rong subtly hinted that Taoist Hongde had already confessed, and the emperor would find out about Su Rongqing's involvement as soon as he read the memorial. The emperor took this very seriously and ordered someone to bring the memorial.

However, someone had stolen the memorial in advance and handed it to Su Rongqing. After reading its contents, Su Rongqing's face grew solemn, knowing that Li Rong had outmaneuvered him, leading to his complete defeat. As a last resort, Su Rongqing ordered the burning of the Memorial Hall. The emperor rushed over upon hearing the news, but it was too late. He decided to let Li Rong and Su Rongqing confront each other directly, considering that although the evidence was destroyed, the witness was still there, so he planned to summon Taoist Hongde to testify.

However, just as Taoist Hongde was about to enter the palace, news came that he had died suddenly. Now, without a witness, the coroner confirmed that Taoist Hongde had committed suicide and that Su Rongqing was not involved. But immediately after, the emperor sternly ordered Su Rongqing to hand over Taoist Hongde's child. Su Rongqing, hearing this, repeatedly protested his innocence and expressed his willingness to face the accuser in court.

Just as the Emperor ordered Su Rongqing to be imprisoned, suddenly a eunuch reported that Su Ronghua was rushing into the hall. Li Rong instantly guessed Su Rongqing's intention. If he took all the blame, the confession against Su Rongqing would become highly suspicious. In this way, even if it didn't completely turn the tide in Su Rongqing's favor, it would at least balance the situation.

Thinking of this, Li Rong was about to speak when Su Ronghua requested the Emperor to dismiss everyone. Li Rong and Su Rongqing walked out one after the other, standing in the nearby pavilion, watching the heavy rain form a curtain between the palace gate and the world. From the study, the sound of the Emperor's angry rebuke could be heard.

Li Rong sighed, remembering hearing that Su Rongqing and his brother had a good relationship, which seemed true today. She was curious whether Su Rongqing, becoming the sacrificial victim in this struggle, would feel any guilt. However, Su Rongqing expressed that he was a man on a desperate path, a misstep would lead to his destruction, something Li Rong might not fully understand.

Hearing Su Rongqing say this, Li Rong didn't push further. She recalled being harmed by him in a past life and spoke out instinctively. Su Rongqing showed guilt, admitting he had no choice, but he would never harm Li Rong. Before he finished speaking, Pei Wenxuan came with an umbrella to fetch Li Rong, glanced at Su Rongqing, and said, "Nice to meet you." Su Rongqing responded, "Long time no see." Their gazes met through the rain, conveying decades of entanglement, love, and hatred. This long-overdue confrontation finally began.

In the study, Su Ronghua took all the blame, stating he used his position as the former tutor of Prince Su to incite Concubine Rou to frame the Crown Prince and Princess Ping Le, to establish himself in the court and secure the position of the legitimate son of the Su family. The Emperor discerned the truth and falsehood in Su Ronghua's words and, considering his loyal service, did not imprison him but removed him from office, barring him from the court forever.

Su Ronghua rose and left, seeing Su Rongqing standing outside the study. Though he couldn't discern Su Rongqing's true thoughts, as a brother, he felt responsible to protect him, unwilling to let him face the future alone. Su Rongqing, feeling a mix of emotions, maintained a calm expression, declaring he had no way back. Today's event must not happen again. From now on, he would walk his path and bear his sins alone, troubling no one else.

Though Su Ronghua didn't fully grasp Su Rongqing's words, he sensed they had taken completely different paths, never to intersect again. Watching his brother's departing figure, Su Rongqing stood alone on the high platform, gazing over Huajing City, feeling like a pot of water on a flame, slowly boiling him until unrecognizable.

At this moment, Shangguan Ya personally sought out Su Ronghua, relieved to see he hadn't been punished. She brought wine and a carriage, inviting Su Ronghua to watch the sunrise on the mountain with her. Su Ronghua readily agreed, willing to be her protector. Meanwhile, Su Rongqing knelt before the Emperor, proposing that if the Emperor harbored suspicions he couldn't confirm, he might as well set a trap to test his theory.

Returning to the Princess's residence, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan, lost in thought, marveled at how times had changed. Pei Wenxuan, once a nobleman like a clear breeze and bright moon, had turned into a hellish asura wielding a sharp blade. Pei Wenxuan believed most people were ordinary, and those who remained pure amidst corruption were few. He wished to be the light in Li Rong's eyes, not a shadow. Li Rong smiled warmly, saying she wasn't purely good, and could see both light and dark. However, she was already satisfied that Pei Wenxuan could fulfill her dream-like expectations.

The next morning, Su Rongqing sent word to Concubine Rou, instructing her to push all the blame onto Su Ronghua. In the court, the Emperor confirmed the list of official transfers. Su Rongqing suddenly resigned as Minister of Justice, which the Emperor accepted, deciding to leave the position vacant temporarily, with routine matters handled by the vice ministers, and unresolved issues reported directly.

Before the reconstruction of the reporting hall, to avoid delaying state affairs, the Emperor planned to establish a small cabinet to handle the hall's duties. The main candidates were Su Rongqing's father, Pei Liming, and Shangguan Xu. Although these three covered different factions in the court, the Emperor intended to add more officials later, crucial ones who could pave the way for Prince Su, rather than just a hall controlled by Pei Wenxuan.

That night, Concubine Rou confessed to the Emperor according to the plan, risking her life to claim there was affection between Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong. The Emperor found some truth in her words and decreed the divorce of Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong. They exchanged glances, hesitating for a long time, finally accepting the decree. Pei Wenxuan then packed up and left, and Li Rong, feigning sadness, chased after him, putting on a public display of a princess failing to keep her husband, who heartlessly left the residence.

After a night of darkness, the dawn arrived. Shangguan Ya and Su Ronghua stood on the mountain top, watching the sunrise, expressing their feelings. Meanwhile, after the morning court session, Su Ronghua submitted his resignation at the Inspectorate. Li Rong felt this was for the best, as staying in the court might not bode well for his future. Su Ronghua pondered this and asked Li Rong not to hold a grudge against Su Rongqing, to which Li Rong responded.

Soon after, Li Chuan visited the Princess's residence, revealing that the capital was abuzz with rumors of the princess's unrequited love for her indifferent husband. In truth, these were all part of Li Rong's strategy. Only by making Pei Wenxuan appear heartless and ungrateful could they truly gain the Emperor's trust. Now it was up to Pei Wenxuan to move forward.

On the other side, Concubine Rou once again brought calming soup to the Emperor to show her loyalty. The Emperor, without having Fu Lai inspect it, directly tasted the soup. As soon as Concubine Rou left, the Empress came to the Emperor, stating the Shangguan family wouldn't become Crown Princess, but she allowed Li Chuan to choose his desired partner, strictly prohibiting marriage to anyone from Concubine Rou's side. The Emperor agreed on the spot.

Due to Su Rongqing's influence, the Emperor cut the Inspectorate's funding and ordered half of the taxes from Qingzhou to be handed over to the court to support the northern army. Li Rong, worried about money, arranged to meet Cui Yulang at Qingyue Teahouse, only to be followed by Pei Wenxuan. Sensing this, Li Rong chose the meeting place in the reeds on the mountainside. Pei Wenxuan, having figured out Li Rong's plan, followed her up the mountain, and upon seeing Cui Yulang's flamboyant demeanor, he was furious.

Despite Cui Yulang's previous indulgence in brothels and his unruly behavior, Li Rong had read his poetry and believed that he was not completely uninterested in state affairs. Li Rong speculated that Cui Yulang's plea for his hometown friend was genuine, but his real intention was to use this opportunity to attach himself to the Princess's power to realize his ambitions.

Sure enough, Cui Yulang tacitly acknowledged this and revealed that the case was indeed intended for Li Rong, as the person who took the position was none other than Xiao Pingzhang, a relative of Concubine Rou. From Cui Yulang's perspective, those in power naturally had corrupt relatives, and with Concubine Rou being highly favored, no one would dare to defend a poor scholar. If the situation escalated, the person investigating the case might be secretly punished by the Emperor. Only Li Rong had the means to handle such matters.

However, Li Rong felt that Cui Yulang had not finished speaking, so she pretended to turn and leave. Seeing this, Cui Yulang hastily spoke, stating that the main reason he sought Li Rong's support was because her investigation into the Qin family case made him realize that the Princess must be a good person. Thus, Li Rong arranged for Cui Yulang to infiltrate Concubine Rou's side to provide her with information and made him take a monthly antidote to ensure he wouldn't betray her. Once Concubine Rou was completely overthrown, Cui Yulang would regain his freedom.

After meeting with Cui Yulang, Pei Wenxuan's gums were almost ground to pieces. He patted his sore legs and instructed Tong Ye to find a way to remove the wheels from Cui Yulang's carriage. Cui Yulang, already penniless, had bargained with the carriage owner for a long time to reduce the fare. Now, not only did he lose money, but he might also have to walk back. The thought of this made Pei Wenxuan feel satisfied.

While Cui Yulang was waiting alone on the official road, hoping for a carriage to give him a lift, Tong Ye's carriage happened to come by. Cui Yulang waved to greet them, but Pei Wenxuan instructed Tong Ye to speed up. As they passed, Pei Wenxuan splashed a cup of tea onto Cui Yulang's face through the window, feeling triumphant.

Now that Su Rongqing had fallen from power, Wang Houwen no longer wanted to take orders from him, making various excuses to leave. This angered Su Rongqing, who mocked Wang Houwen, saying it was no wonder he was quickly eliminated in the previous life because he couldn't see the bigger picture of the nation. Soon, a maid reported that Xiao's relatives had committed a crime, which concerned Concubine Rou since her brother's troops needed their support—they were still in this together.

The next morning, Li Rong went to the palace at her usual time, only to see Pei Wenxuan ignoring her, looking extremely displeased. Before the court session, Li Rong instructed Cui Yulang to impeach the Crown Prince. Cui Yulang, feeling cornered, reluctantly agreed. His reasons for impeachment were so bizarre that even Li Rong found them hard to listen to. However, the Emperor deliberately targeted Li Chuan, publicly punishing him to kneel at the ancestral temple overnight to demonstrate his filial piety.

As a result, Cui Yulang lost two months' salary, which was a great hardship for him. Although Li Chuan tried to hide his anger, it was evident. After the court session, he warned Cui Yulang, scaring him into a cold sweat. Fortunately, Li Rong felt Cui Yulang did well, and today's impeachment would undoubtedly attract attention from all sides.

A maid, on behalf of Concubine Rou, invited Cui Yulang, but he remembered Li Rong's words and politely declined. The Empress was furious, wanting to teach Cui Yulang a lesson, knowing that his actions would prompt others to trouble the Crown Prince.

However, Li Chuan did not agree to this. Li Rong then revealed that Cui Yulang was one of her people, aiming to eliminate Concubine Rou before she became too powerful. Li Rong knew her mother’s harsh words hurt Li Chuan, so she explained that she supported him unconditionally because she pitied his lonely and constrained life as the Crown Prince and future ruler, hoping he could live more comfortably.

Despite Cui Yulang's refusal to meet with Concubine Rou, she still had people monitor his every move, trying to predict the Empress's next steps. Following the plan, Li Rong arranged for the Crown Prince to meet with Cui Yulang, making Concubine Rou think the Empress wanted to win Cui Yulang over. She then sent another invitation, promising that Su Wang's benefits would be twice as much as the Crown Prince's.

The next day, Li Rong saw Su Rongqing distributing grain to the common people and taking in penniless scholars. Su Rongqing invited Li Rong to visit Su family's businesses, following her quietly, reminiscent of his former self. This complicated Li Rong's feelings. Su Rongqing wondered if Li Rong had anything to ask him. Li Rong replied that if such a day ever came, it would mean one of them would die. After parting from Su Rongqing, Pei Wenxuan, filled with jealousy, approached. To this day, Li Rong still didn't understand Su Rongqing's actions and was full of doubts about him.

Soon, Li Rong summoned Chen Houzhao, discovering that the Su family had bribed him to keep secrets. She arranged for him to leave by boat, creating the illusion of a river accident. Meanwhile, Cui Yulang pledged allegiance to Concubine Rou, offering to help her take over the Inspectorate and revealing the reason for Chen Houzhao's "murder" by Li Rong, making a big deal out of it.

Cui Yulang specifically reminded Concubine Rou that she relied on the emperor and did not need to depend on aristocratic families, but her ultimate destination was still a humble household. Concubine Rou believed Cui Yulang's advice and immediately sent for Princess Hua Le. Despite her extreme aversion to Li Rong, she still put on a friendly facade to interact with her.

Concubine Rou first exchanged pleasantries, then quickly got to the point, falsely claiming that a relative had come to the capital to file a complaint and had been introduced to the Inspectorate by her. Li Rong pretended to be flustered but tried to maintain her composure, which made Concubine Rou firmly believe Cui Yulang's words, feeling quite smug. She then advised Li Rong to have less frequent contact with her former consort.

Back at the princess's residence, Li Rong instructed her confidant to send a message to Pei Wenxuan, asking him to pause their meetings for a few days and rearrange the household guards to facilitate Cui Yulang's visits. The next day in court, Wang Houwen accused Li Rong of deliberately concealing a cheating scandal in the imperial examinations and coercing and killing the complainants. With solid evidence against her, Li Rong was speechless.

After the court session, the emperor angrily scolded Li Rong in the imperial study, disappointed in her. Li Rong confessed that she did not dare to investigate the case thoroughly. The emperor ordered her to write her resignation and assigned the Inspectorate to someone else. Crown Prince Li Chuan wrote a letter to the northwest, making Qin Zhenzhen think of him and discuss life after the war with her brothers.

Seeing the Inspectorate about to fall into their hands, Su Wang felt uneasy, believing it to be a double-edged sword. However, Concubine Rou thought that the value of this sword depended on how it was used. For the Xiao family, the Inspectorate was a crucial step in consolidating power. At this moment, Cui Yulang reported the progress to Li Rong. After this incident, Concubine Rou must have gained trust in him.

Pei Wenxuan, hearing that the Inspectorate had changed hands, sneaked into the princess's residence at night and unexpectedly encountered Cui Yulang on the wall, angrily punching him. At that moment, Li Rong was bathing, and even though she heard sounds behind her, she knew who it was. Confirming that Li Rong had not encountered any other troubles, Pei Wenxuan breathed a sigh of relief, and the two spent an intimate night in the bathroom.

The next day, Li Rong proactively submitted her resignation in court and recommended Su Wang to take over the Inspectorate. Shangguan Xu tried to intervene but failed, and the emperor decided to let Concubine Rou assist Su Wang. Just then, a palace servant reported that a group of scholars was blocking the palace gates, demanding a thorough investigation into the stolen examination slots.

All the civil and military officials remained silent, knowing that the stolen slots represented a complete chain of corruption, whether in local or the capital city. Investigating thoroughly would offend many people, and a poor investigation would result in the emperor's punishment. Seeing no one dared to take the complaint, Su Rongqing suggested letting Crown Prince Li Chuan handle it. Li Rong was shocked and was about to speak when Pei Wenxuan volunteered to seek justice for the scholars.

However, in the next moment, Concubine Rou entered from outside the hall, suggesting that Su Wang handle the case. The emperor readily agreed, and Su Rongqing inwardly cursed Concubine Rou for her foolishness. Then, Concubine Rou and Su Wang went to the palace gate, putting on a righteous stance, claiming they would seek justice for the scholars.

Leading the scholars, Wen Ping risked his life to advise, stating that the court was now controlled by aristocratic families, filled with corruption, and in a precarious situation. If Concubine Rou and Su Wang truly wanted to seek justice for the scholars, they had to agree to three demands: First, thoroughly investigate the case of the stolen slots; second, add a palace examination this year, with the emperor personally supervising to prevent abuse of power and cheating; third, make the imperial examination the only selection method for officials, abolishing the aristocratic recommendation system for fairness.

This statement caused an uproar, and Concubine Rou's face turned pale, realizing she had taken on a hot potato and it was too late to regret it. Concubine Rou used her humble origins to calm everyone, promising to handle each matter properly. However, in reality, Su Wang went back and angrily scolded Cui Yulang. Cui Yulang, undeterred, reminded Concubine Rou that today's situation was what the emperor had longed for over the years, aligning with his desire to eliminate aristocratic corruption. As long as Concubine Rou and Su Wang handled it well, they would gain the emperor's support to overthrow the crown prince.

In the following days, Concubine Rou and Su Wang took charge of the Inspectorate, listening to the complaints of many humble scholars. Their expressions were conflicted, no longer as composed as before. As the vice director of the Inspectorate, Shangguan Ya observed Concubine Rou closely, finding it amusing and thinking that Pei Wenxuan indeed had the upper hand.

Now, Lin Feibai was serving in the military at the border, having achieved numerous military merits and was soon to return to the capital. Shangguan Ya shared this with Su Ronghua, thinking that if Lin Feibai joined the Xie family, it would be a miraculous change of fate. However, Su Ronghua was not optimistic, pointing out that Xie Chunhe, the legitimate son of the Xie family, appeared harmless but was actually ruthless and often plotted behind Xie Lanqing's back. He believed that Xie Chunhe would surely seek revenge on Li Rong in the future.

That night, Li Rong climbed over the wall to Pei Wenxuan's house. Knowing it was about the morning court matter, Pei Wenxuan immediately knelt and apologized. Although Li Rong understood that Pei Wenxuan was shielding the crown prince from disaster, she warned him not to repeat it because he was not only the consort but also the future father of her children. They reconciled, and Pei Wenxuan helped Li Rong back over the wall, learning that she had already bought the neighboring house to facilitate their frequent meetings.

Su Rongqing suddenly visited Ming Le Palace. First, he wanted to know who was advising Concubine Rou. Second, he came to inform her that she had been set up and it was too late to escape. Originally, Concubine Rou intended to unite with the poor clans to support Su Wang, but she didn't realize that the matter involved the imperial examination fraud case. A slight mistake could ruin Su Wang's reputation. Seeing Concubine Rou's worried expression, the maid suggested continuing to conspire with Su Rongqing.

A few days later, Pei Wenxuan, under the emperor's command, personally went to the Inspectorate to assist Concubine Rou. He analyzed the imperial examination fraud case for her and was ordered to thoroughly investigate everyone involved, starting with the Shangguan family and other noble families. Since all the offending tasks were handed over to Pei Wenxuan, Concubine Rou had no more worries. She ordered him to mobilize troops daily, marching them from one end of Hua Jing city to the other, working hard on the examination case.

For a while, this commoner-born concubine, fearless of the powerful, was applauded by the entire city's people. Pei Wenxuan, in the meantime, established a reputation for integrity among the commoners, while his name among the noble families became increasingly notorious. Although Jing Lan was a maid in the princess's residence, she clearly saw the changes in Concubine Rou. Li Rong told her that the terrifying thing about power is its ability to corrupt people, and those who are corrupted are often unaware, with their ambitions and desires growing until they destroy themselves.

Now, with power and prestige in her grasp, Concubine Rou considered it time to stop, as she only wanted to eliminate her enemies, not genuinely serve the people. Concubine Rou sought out Pei Wenxuan to discuss, hoping he would persuade the scholars to give up pursuing the exam replacement issue. If they were willing, they could not only take the exam normally but also receive a large sum of money.

Additionally, Concubine Rou asked Pei Wenxuan to capture one more person for her, that person being Wang Houwen, the Minister of Personnel. Soon, Pei Wenxuan led people to surround Wang Houwen's residence, blocking it tightly. The servants, seeing the situation, quickly reported to their master. Knowing they were there to arrest him, Wang Houwen calmly sent for Su Rongqing.

In the end, Su Rongqing, using the pretext of insubordination, forced entry into private property, and assaulting a court official, personally detained Pei Wenxuan in the Ministry of Justice. Li Rong, knowing that Su Rongqing, despite his gentle exterior, would become a deadly serpent when someone blocked his path, urgently needed to find a way to rescue Pei Wenxuan. Otherwise, it was uncertain what he might do.

On the other side, Pei Wenxuan and his old friend, Su Rongqing, who hadn't met in years, sat properly in the Ministry of Justice, drinking tea and chatting. Pei Wenxuan didn't hold back, directly asking Su Rongqing when he returned. Su Rongqing, understanding, calmly said he had awakened as if from a dream a month before the Spring Festival.

Although Su Rongqing had no different feelings for Li Rong, he had watched her marry Pei Wenxuan, hoping she would be happy, but felt Pei Wenxuan was unworthy of her. At that moment, Li Rong hurriedly arrived at the Ministry of Justice to demand Pei Wenxuan's release. She warned Su Rongqing that she never hated him for killing her in the previous life, but if he killed Pei Wenxuan, she would hate him forever. Li Rong then supported Pei Wenxuan, leaving the Ministry of Justice without looking back. Su Rongqing watched their departing figures, feeling heartbroken by Li Rong's words.

Sitting in the returning carriage, Pei Wenxuan told Li Rong about Concubine Rou's actions. To care for the injured Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong publicly claimed she had persistently harassed Pei Wenxuan and forcibly brought him back to the princess's residence, solidifying her image as a lovesick princess. Meanwhile, Concubine Rou, knowing Li Rong's actions, did not interfere. She had Pei Wenxuan arrest Wang Houwen to serve as a warning to the noble families.

Originally, Concubine Rou's plan was to arrest Wang Houwen and then find an opportunity to release him, merely following a procedure. However, before she could send compensation to Wang Houwen, she suddenly received a note with a mocking poem, ridiculing her humble origins, saying that even a pheasant becoming a phoenix couldn't change its lowly nature. The handwriting seemed to be Wang Houwen's. Enraged, Concubine Rou immediately led people to arrest Wang Houwen, allowing no explanation.

The next morning in court, Shangguan Xu and others reported to the emperor, accusing Concubine Rou of arbitrarily detaining a court official. Concubine Rou and Su Wang presented evidence of Wang Houwen's bribery, silencing the noble families. Despite enduring severe torture, Wang Houwen refused to confess, telling Concubine Rou that the noble families of the Great Xia Dynasty were united, sharing glory and suffering. Betraying the noble families would only lead to death. Concubine Rou had no choice but to truthfully report to the emperor, promising to take good care of Wang Houwen's birds.

Soon, the investigation of the examination fraud case was completed. Su Wang requested the emperor to restart the imperial examination, giving justice to the scholars. Originally, Su Wang wanted to volunteer as the chief examiner, but the emperor had other plans. Pei Wenxuan suggested to the emperor to appropriately increase the military examination. Because the emperor experienced brief blindness upon waking for two consecutive days, the eunuch Fu Lai, worried, informed Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan was shocked, realizing that a significant change was imminent.

For the emperor, the internal power struggle with the aristocratic families and external threats from enemy nations were pressing concerns. If he could establish a truly loyal royal army, he could secure Da Xia by conquering the Rong Di in the north and addressing the flood issues in the south. Although the emperor's grand vision was indeed tempting, Pei Wenxuan knew well that his health was deteriorating.

The emperor's sudden elaboration was to make him understand that he had the backing of the Han clan and that supporting Su Wang was his ultimate destination. Now, it was well known that Cui Yulang was assisting Concubine Rou. Pei Wenxuan was akin to a second Cui Yulang, being someone Concubine Rou both tested and intended to employ.

Concubine Rou summoned Pei Wenxuan to the Inspection Department, subtly hinting that he had caused trouble by dealing with Wang Houwen, thereby creating a significant problem for her. However, Pei Wenxuan straightforwardly remarked that Concubine Rou's actions were precisely about establishing prestige and seizing the opportunity to gather talents for Su Wang. These words resonated with Concubine Rou, who then handed Pei Wenxuan a list, asking him to arrange for several aristocratic children to pass the imperial examinations.

She emphasized that these individuals were not included in the family records and were only somewhat connected. Pei Wenxuan understood that this was primarily about monetary transactions. Therefore, he reminded Concubine Rou to carefully consider whether she wanted to secure a sum of money for her retirement in the harem or help Su Wang ascend to the emperor's throne.

Despite the unprecedented importance of this year's imperial examinations, Pei Wenxuan, as the chief examiner, ensured that any attempts at manipulation were cautiously measured. From registering candidates to grading exams, to the final examination before the emperor, and the announcement of results, Concubine Rou accumulated a significant number of "Su Wang's supporters" in the court, forming a considerable force when combined with previous supporters from the Han clan.

As the time for the autumn executions approached, the various aristocratic families began to act. The seven prominent families held significant influence in Huajing City. They suddenly visited the Princess's residence, intending to support the Grand Princess in reclaiming power and regaining control of the Inspection Department. Li Rong knew that the seven families did not want a direct confrontation with the emperor and considered her a puppet to manipulate.

Given Concubine Rou's ambitions and resentment towards the aristocratic families, if left unchecked, she would become a major threat in the long run. Li Rong's words pierced through their intentions, making the leading members of the Wang and Gu families take her seriously. They willingly showed their sincerity and pledged their allegiance to her.

After the seven families left, Li Rong instructed Jing Lan to quickly notify the prince consort that Chen Houzhao would enter the city to file a complaint with the Ministry of Justice tonight. Pei Liming needed to intercept Su Rongqing to prevent any changes, and Shangguan Ya should organize the evidence of Concubine Rou threatening students to abandon their complaints. Li Rong herself prepared for a major battle the next day.

The next day, after meticulously dressing up, Li Rong entered the palace without a summons. In the court, she and the aristocratic families jointly accused Concubine Rou. These individuals had been stirring up trouble and engaging in verbal battles in the court for decades, and even the least among them was no pushover. Concubine Rou was clearly at a disadvantage. However, the emperor was determined to protect Concubine Rou.

So, Li Rong directly had Shangguan Ya bring Chen Houzhao to the court. Chen Houzhao publicly accused Concubine Rou of corruption, allowing her cousin to seize others' examination quotas and sending people to silence them. Faced with Chen Houzhao's accusations, Concubine Rou panicked and pleaded her innocence. Then, the second batch of victims presented evidence of Concubine Rou's crimes in the court. These were the people she had forced to abandon their complaints.

The seven families also provided evidence of her extorting money, solidifying her charges of corruption, favoritism, intentional homicide, and framing loyal officials. Thus, Li Rong demanded that the emperor detain Concubine Rou for a thorough investigation and hold her accountable according to the law. Others knelt down in support. Seeing the influential families and even common scholars, all kneeling, the emperor had no choice but to look at the only two standing individuals—Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing.

Given the situation, even if Su Rongqing had immense abilities, he couldn't help. He and Pei Wenxuan knelt down at the last moment, leaving the emperor with no excuse to protect Concubine Rou. Li Rong sternly reminded the emperor that, as the sovereign, he should set an example, uphold justice, and not act selfishly. Despite his favoritism towards Concubine Rou, he shouldn't destroy the fairness owed to hundreds of loyal scholars and ruin the court's order.

Ultimately, the emperor had no choice but to order Concubine Rou to be imprisoned and handed over to the Inspection Department for punishment. Before the court adjourned, the emperor had Concubine Rou taken to the imperial study and, supported by the eunuch Fu Lai, slowly left the hall, trying to maintain his dignity despite showing his age and weakness. Li Rong felt a mix of emotions. This victory brought her no joy.

Instead, she felt a profound disappointment and sadness seeing the endless struggle between the aristocratic families and the Han clan. Pei Wenxuan gently held her hand, promising to stay with her, feeling gratified that in this lifetime, Li Rong finally stood by his side. In the imperial study, the emperor furiously scolded Concubine Rou for her short-sightedness, ruining his lifelong efforts for a few taels of silver.

Concubine Rou begged the emperor to save her, but with so many people united against her and no allies in the court, she had offended the aristocratic families and no Han clan dared to defend her. The emperor told Concubine Rou that her only option was to leave a written confession accusing the crown prince of framing her and prove her innocence by dying, which might preserve Su Wang's reputation.

Concubine Rou was shocked and despaired, cursing the emperor as weak and admitting that she had been taking tranquilizing decoctions to prevent having children for years. The emperor, enraged, almost strangled her but relented, remembering their past relationship. Concubine Rou mocked the emperor for being neither kind nor ruthless enough, failing as a ruler, son, husband, and father. Despite his selfishness, he had some conscience.

Ultimately, his high aspirations but fragile fate led him to end up abandoned and powerless, fitting the image of a lonely sovereign. Later, Princess Hua Le visited her mother in the prison. Concubine Rou told her she had two choices: sever ties with her and request the emperor to let her and Su Wang go to the northwest, living a quiet life away from the royal court, or kill the crown prince and Li Rong.

Only if Su Wang became emperor would she be the sole grand princess of the Li family.

Concubine Rou knew she couldn't escape her fate, so she pretended to be a great mother to ensure Princess Hua Le would follow her arrangements. Similarly, Princess Hua Le, with her lofty ambitions, dreamed of replacing Li Rong as the eldest princess of the Da Xia Dynasty. She didn't care about how tragic Concubine Rou's fate might be and headed straight to her uncle's residence with the token given by her mother.

The Xiao family, of humble origins, had two uncles serving in the court. One was Xiao Su, guarding the northwest, and the other was Xiao Ming, commanding the Imperial Guards. At this moment, Princess Hua Le conveyed her mother's intentions to Xiao Ming. He believed that the situation was sudden and needed time to devise a perfect plan. The upcoming winter hunt seemed like a good opportunity. Hearing this, Princess Hua Le's eyes lit up.

After she left the Xiao residence, Xiao Ming sneered, mocking Concubine Rou and her daughter for their ulterior motives—one wanted to exchange her daughter's life for her son's throne, while the other wanted to use her mother's life to gain wealth and power. Despite his disdain, Xiao Ming considered the Xiao family's survival and decided to send a message to the Emperor. Subsequently, Li Chuan was summoned to the palace by the Emperor.

Seeing the Emperor standing alone in the pavilion, he felt a vague unease. Eunuch Fu Lai knew the Emperor still cared about family ties. If Li Chuan could clarify his stance, he could secure his position as the crown prince. Unfortunately, Li Chuan didn't catch Fu Lai's subtle hints. Noticing Li Chuan's detachment, the Emperor felt complicated.

Li Chuan expressed that he never intended to fight for the throne, only wishing to protect his mother and sister, hoping for mutual understanding between his parents. The Emperor told Li Chuan that as a ruler, he must consider the people's welfare. The powerful families, driven by power, disregarded the people's lives. The Empress always prioritized the Shangguan family's interests, but the Shangguan family was rooted in the powerful families, destined to clash with the Emperor.

Thus, the Emperor demanded Li Chuan choose between him and the Empress. If he chose correctly, the Da Xia Dynasty and the throne would be within his grasp. Without hesitation, Li Chuan declared his foremost concern was his sister and mother, and that would never change. Hearing this, the Emperor turned his back, and Li Chuan knelt and left. The next morning, the Emperor hastily set the date for the winter hunt, arousing suspicion among the court officials.

The winter hunt was usually a military exercise within Huajing. Currently, Huajing had six armies: the Emperor's Imperial Guards, the Crown Prince's Yulin Guard, and the East, West, South, and North armies guarding the city gates, led by the powerful families with the Shangguan family at the forefront. Returning from the palace, Li Rong felt disoriented and cold-hearted.

Recalling the previous life, none of Shangguan Ya, Li Chuan, Qin Zhenzhen, or Su Ronghua met a good end, including herself, Pei Wenxuan, and Su Rongqing, who died in despair. Even in this rebirth, the events determining their fate were replaying in another form. Li Rong worried her mother and brother might fail her, and she didn't love them as much as she should.

Seeing Li Rong's fear, Pei Wenxuan lovingly held her hand, vowing to protect her this time, unlike their past sufferings. That night, Li Rong met her mother, the Empress, in the palace and explained the situation, seeking her response. The Empress was prepared to stay in the palace but had arranged an escape route for Li Rong.

If things went wrong, Li Rong could flee to Qingzhou through a secret passage and return to Huajing once Li Chuan ascended the throne. Unlike her past self, the current Empress was ready to die for her children and protect her daughter at all costs. Soon, Lin Feibai returned to Huajing from the frontier and went straight to the Inspection Bureau to see Li Rong.

Knowing the strict rules of the Xie family, Lin Feibai realized he needed support beyond military power. He proposed a marriage alliance with Shangguan Ya, mutually beneficial yet unrestrictive. Once he gained the Xie family's control, he would become Shangguan Ya's support and could divorce anytime. Shangguan Ya informed Li Rong of this proposal, considering it a viable option. Li Rong believed there was no need for a political marriage, especially since Shangguan Ya and Su Ronghua had mutual feelings.

But Shangguan Ya stated the Su family was on a rebellious path, and she couldn't forsake her family for personal reasons. She was willing to sacrifice her love for the family. Seeing Shangguan Ya's rationality, Li Rong had no words, only hoping she would carefully consider. Shangguan Ya made up her mind and bluntly told Su Ronghua not to see her again, returning to her residence, leaving Su Ronghua outside the gate.

For days, Su Ronghua lingered around the Shangguan residence and the Inspection Bureau, hoping to see Shangguan Ya, but she always refused. As an observer, Li Rong had no right to interfere much in their matters. Now, the entire court was undercurrents, and the powerful families were undergoing significant changes. Li Rong knew Lin Feibai would certainly kill Xie Chunhe and take his place.

On the other hand, Shangguan Ya took a few days off to stay with Lin Feibai, trying to make Su Ronghua give up, but she couldn't stop thinking of him. Qin Lin prepared to return to the capital to support Li Rong but was ambushed by his friend Cui Qinghe, escaping wounded in a hurry. Unable to find Qin Lin, Cui Qinghe surrounded the camp to capture Xun Chuan.

In the following days, Su Ronghua could not see Shangguan Ya again. Instead, Shangguan Ya began appearing in various noble circles with Lin Feibai. Over time, their relationship spread, and Lin Feibai's status in the Xie family was no longer the same. Su Rongqing knew his brother was troubled and believed he should have proposed earlier. However, Su Ronghua wanted to wait until the Crown Prince ascended the throne and reminded his brother to withdraw and avoid further complications.

The day of the winter festivity arrived as scheduled, with the emperor and officials gathered, surrounded by danger. Su Ronghua finally saw Shangguan Ya, but Lin Feibai by her side was particularly annoying. Lin Feibai suddenly stepped out of the crowd, challenging Su Rongqing to a lion dance duel under the pretext of teaching him.

Su Rongqing was already annoyed with Lin Feibai, and seeing him deliberately causing trouble for the Su family, he immediately offered to fight on behalf of his brother. The next moment, Pei Wenxuan requested to participate in the lion dance and invited Su Rongqing. The emperor gladly agreed and personally painted the eyes of the lion. As the drums began, Su Ronghua and Lin Feibai lifted their lions, sometimes jumping, sometimes chasing, engaging in a hidden yet evenly matched competition.

Meanwhile, Su Rongqing, through his conversation with Pei Wenxuan, insinuated that even though Pei Wenxuan wanted to take Xie Chunhe’s life, Xie Chunhe might escape death. Before Su Rongqing and Pei Wenxuan could step up, Xie Chunhe suddenly vomited blood and fainted after drinking poisoned tea, causing chaos. Li Rong noticed the sachet at Xie Chunhe's waist and followed the crowd to the side hall to investigate.

At that moment, Xie Chunhe's face turned blue, not resembling the symptoms caused by Xiang Mei Ren. As Li Rong wondered, a servant suddenly took down the sachet, intending to mix the spices inside with the tea, claiming that a wandering healer had given it to him to detoxify and save lives. The imperial physician checked the ingredients and, as a last resort, had Xie Chunhe drink the tea. He stabilized after vomiting more blood.

This scene shocked Li Rong, reminding her of the past and urgently needing verification. Shangguan Ya found Su Ronghua resting in a tent, relieved to see he was only slightly injured. She then scolded him for intentionally ruining her engagement. Su Ronghua took the opportunity to confess his feelings, promising that if Shangguan Ya wanted to become the family’s head, he would assist her and even request to be expelled from the Su family to join the Shangguan family.

As the winter festivities neared the end, a maid summoned Li Rong to meet Shangguan Ya on the back mountain. Realizing something was wrong, she followed but soon faced assassins. Fortunately, Li Chuan arrived with reinforcements, leading to a fierce battle, allowing Li Rong to escape. Meanwhile, Su Wang fell into a coma from poisoning, and the emperor, furious, ordered the imperial physician to detoxify him with Xiang Mei Ren. The empress silently stood by.

Pei Wenxuan searched for Li Rong and eventually found her by a cliff. To fend off assassins, he sent Su Rongqing to rescue her. Ultimately, Li Rong fell off the cliff while evading, and Su Rongqing jumped without hesitation, willing to die with her. Despite Pei Wenxuan’s grief, he needed to stay calm and manage the winter festivities, ensuring the Crown Prince’s safety before lowering a rope with Tong Ye to search below.

Su Rongqing woke up by the riverbank with Li Rong, carrying her to a nearby cave despite his injuries. When Li Rong woke, she found Su Rongqing had lit a fire. In the empty cave, their conversation echoed, and even Li Rong’s anxious breathing was clearly heard. Desperate to uncover the truth of her past murder, she pressed Su Rongqing.

Despite his hesitation, she realized her brother, Li Chuan, had poisoned her, the very person she had protected with her life. Su Rongqing no longer concealed the truth, revealing that Li Chuan’s motive for poisoning Li Rong stemmed from the alchemist she had introduced to him. This alchemist, selected by noble families and orchestrated by Shangguan Ya, had deliberately manipulated a chance encounter with Li Rong to infiltrate the palace and target Li Chuan.

When Li Chuan discovered the alchemist's scheme, he mistakenly believed Li Rong was involved, leading to a tragic misunderstanding and his decision to poison the powerful Regent Princess.

As Su Rongqing said, during the heyday of the noble families, Li Chuan executed more than half of the Shangguan clan members, including his own uncle, and exterminated the entire Su clan, thereby intimidating all the noble families. For Li Chuan, the court and the palace were just a chessboard, and his life's mission was to maintain the balance of this game.

However, since then, the noble families secretly allied and plotted rebellion, until Li Chuan suddenly announced his retirement to the palace to cultivate immortality, and Li Rong took control of the power. This pacified the noble families, but Li Rong remained a potential threat to them. If they ever clashed with Li Chuan, Li Rong would undoubtedly turn against them. Likewise, Li Chuan no longer trusted her and harbored murderous intent.

As a result, Li Rong was poisoned by Li Chuan, her health deteriorating daily with the toxin seeping into her bones and organs. Despite Su Rongqing and Shangguan Ya knowing about this, they didn't directly detoxify her, but used sachets to delay the poison, observing the situation. If she truly stood with Li Chuan against the noble families, killing her would be easy.

Later, as Li Chuan's illness worsened, he summoned Pei Wenxuan to the palace at the last moment, drafted a will, and issued an order for Li Rong's death. After Li Chuan's death, Pei Wenxuan and Qin Lin were ordered to support Li Ping and oppose the noble families led by Li Xin. Only through a bloody struggle could balance be achieved, ensuring that the next monarch would not face obstruction upon ascending the throne.

Su Rongqing told Li Rong that as the Grand Princess, her high status and power made it impossible for the new monarch to tolerate her existence, and she also wouldn't tolerate a new monarch who restrained her. Even without that alchemist, both she and Li Chuan were destined to die.

Even if they were reborn, Su Rongqing believed Li Chuan would repeat his mistakes, as his recklessness and stubbornness once led to his dethronement as the crown prince, eventually relying on the military power of the noble families to ascend the throne. Yet, even then, Li Chuan's grand ambitions led to a northern expedition, leaving the national treasury empty.

When floods hit the south and there was no silver for disaster relief, the people were destitute, and the dead were everywhere. He blamed the noble families, blindly instigating uprisings and making reforms everywhere, causing widespread chaos. During his decade-long reign, Li Chuan favored Concubine Qin in the harem, suppressed noble ministers in the court, killed his uncle, imprisoned his mother, and framed the Su clan.

In fact, Su Rongqing had planned to depose Li Chuan from the beginning, just as he waited for the emperor to depose the crown prince in the previous life, obstructing the noble families from accepting Pei Wenxuan's persuasion, and trying to convince his father to accept Li Cheng's ascension. Now, at fifteen years old, Li Cheng was weak and incapable, Concubine Rou was greedy and shortsighted.

Therefore, they planned to install Li Cheng as a puppet after his ascension, and once he had heirs, he would lose his value. At that time, Su Rongqing would support a young emperor to regain control and welcome Li Rong back to the capital. Su Rongqing didn't tell Li Rong the truth about the poisoning because he didn't want to see her sad.

He also revealed a shocking secret: Li Xin was actually the child of Shangguan Ya and Su Ronghua's illicit affair. Li Rong was shocked and finally understood why Su Ronghua wanted to kill Qin Zhenzhen, and why Li Chuan framed the Su clan and imposed palace punishment on Su Rongqing. The past events flashed before her eyes, intertwining into a web reeking of stench, tightly wrapping around her.

Recalling the relationships of the previous life—father and son, siblings, couples, and friends—it felt like a rotten swamp, with disgusting pus flowing above and more hideous human hearts and flesh below. At this moment, Pei Wenxuan's voice came from outside the cave, and Su Rongqing left first. Pei Wenxuan took Li Rong back to the princess mansion.

Li Rong, still unsettled, remembered how he had poisoned the chess pieces they played with, suddenly unsure how to face him, and could only wrap herself in blankets to restrain her emotions. On the other hand, Su Wang's poisoning was too deep, and the doctors were helpless. The emperor urgently summoned Concubine Rou.

The imperial physician reported that the poison in the incense was colorless and tasteless, only triggered when mixed with other medicine leads, and such a potent poison was strictly forbidden in the palace. The emperor, furious, immediately ordered an investigation into the poisoner. Soon, the princess mansion received news of Su Wang's critical condition. Li Rong recalled Su Rongqing's warning, worried that the demon deep within Li Chuan would eventually break out and consume his loved ones, repeating the tragedy.

Thus, Li Rong summoned Shangguan Ya and clearly stated that she would not completely rely on Li Chuan, but instead decided to ally with the Shangguan family to support a puppet emperor together. Shangguan Ya was greatly shocked, finding it absurd and argued with Li Rong. Since learning Shangguan Ya's true nature, Li Rong no longer treated her kindly.

Pei Wenxuan unexpectedly learned that Li Rong was pregnant, overjoyed yet worried that Shangguan Ya would affect Li Rong's mood, so he asked Shangguan Ya to leave and personally cooked for her. Shortly after Pei Wenxuan left, Li Rong secretly sent Jing Lan to bring Su Rongqing without alerting others. Meanwhile, the Su brothers were besieged by assassins, and Su Ronghua fought desperately to carve a path for his younger brother.

Su Wang couldn't survive until dawn, and Concubine Rou was heartbroken. To avenge Li Cheng, she deliberately incited Hua Le to deeply resent the emperor. At this moment, Xiao Ming suddenly came to the harem and brought a mysterious young man in a black cloak.

Nowadays, every move of Su Wangfu is closely watched by everyone. The fate of both the aristocratic families and the common clans depends on the life or death of Li Cheng. If he dies from poisoning, the throne will inevitably fall into Li Chuan's hands, and the Shangguan family will not be spared. To keep the news contained, Concubine Rou ordered the secret execution of the imperial physician until Xiao Ming brought a boy who closely resembled Li Cheng.

It turns out that Xiao Ming, having been advised by Su Rongqing, feared that if Li Cheng ever met an untimely end, the Xiao family would never rise again. Thus, he found a look-alike as a contingency plan. After years of training, the boy was indistinguishable from Li Cheng, even to those close to him.

Xiao Ming reminded Concubine Rou that once they used the substitute, the fate of the Xiao family would be tied to that of Su Rongqing, their lives and honors intertwined. To prevent discovery, he planned to move Li Cheng's body to the outskirts and burn it. Concubine Rou, blinded by her desire for power, ignored her daughter's advice and accepted Xiao Ming's plan.

On the other hand, Su Rongqing was being hunted by Pei Wenxuan's men and was saved at a critical moment by people sent by Li Rong. Jing Lan wanted to report the progress to Li Rong, but seeing Pei Wenxuan present, she hesitated. Pei Wenxuan noticed something was wrong and left the Princess Mansion on the pretext.

Li Rong decided to go see Su Rongqing herself but was stopped at the door by Pei Wenxuan, who informed her that she could not see Su Rongqing before the Crown Prince ascended the throne. Li Rong then confessed to Pei Wenxuan the truth about her poisoning, mocking herself for inviting a wolf into her house, being betrayed by everyone she loved, and turning her back on those she protected.

She lamented that her life was a joke, with neither Li Chuan, Su Rongqing, nor Shangguan Ya believing in her sincerity or compassion. Originally, Li Rong thought Pei Wenxuan was the only one she could trust, but reality showed her that Pei Wenxuan was always loyal to Li Chuan. Now, Li Rong no longer hoped for anyone. She told Pei Wenxuan that even if he became her enemy, she would not care.

Pei Wenxuan, feeling heartbroken, apologized and stayed, knowing that despite her strong appearance, Li Rong was incredibly fragile and needed his company, as did he. However, Li Rong told Pei Wenxuan that just as she had always considered the bigger picture, now she was desperate to change her fate and live for herself. Pei Wenxuan understood and said that before that, he wanted to share some little-known secrets with her. Su Rongqing safely returned to his mansion.

Su Ronghua, seeing that his brother was unharmed, raised a long-buried question, asking if Su Rongqing had orchestrated the assassination of the Crown Prince. Hearing Su Rongqing's response, Su Ronghua angrily brought up the Su family's ancestral teachings, reminding him that as a Su family member, he must not participate in the struggle for the throne. But then, Su Rongqing shared a dream he had, which concerned the future of both him and the Su family.

That night, Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing, each in different places and with different people, reminisced about the same event. Back then, Su Ronghua, who was supposed to inherit the position of family head, had traveled to study under a master and returned to the capital to serve as Su Wang's tutor. His carefree nature and frequent visits to the Jucai Hall led him to an unexpected acquaintance with Shangguan Ya, the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family.

Over time, Su Ronghua and Shangguan Ya fell in love. Although Su Ronghua wanted to marry Shangguan Ya, he was concerned that the Su family's high status would make a direct marriage proposal seem too aggressive. He planned to ask for Shangguan Ya's consent first. On the day he wore clothes chosen by his brother and carried a jade hairpin he personally crafted, he returned home at dusk, looking lost and disoriented, leaving Su Rongqing puzzled.

After that day, Su Ronghua rarely went out, until he was forced to attend a palace banquet as Su Wang's tutor. At this banquet, Su Rongqing learned that Shangguan Ya was to marry Li Chuan, ultimately unable to escape becoming the Crown Princess and later the Empress. However, Li Chuan, unwilling to let Shangguan Ya be confined to the palace, decisively refused the marriage, which led to Li Rong's reprimand.

Su Ronghua, learning that Shangguan Ya had no interest in the Crown Prince, decided to fight for her. He willingly left the family and personally proposed to the Shangguan family. According to the Su family rules, Su Ronghua had to endure a whipping and kneel in the ancestral hall for three days before leaving. During these three days, Shangguan Ya also tried to resist but ultimately received the imperial decree for the marriage.

If she eloped with Su Rongqing at this time, abandoning the Shangguan family, it would make the Shangguan family a laughingstock in the court. Shangguan Ya, bound by family obligations, could not choose her own future. She went to see Su Ronghua one last time, urging him to let go of their relationship and travel the world with someone he loved.

This story shocked Su Rongqing because what Su Rongqing said was exactly what he was planning to do, making him question the reality of the dream.

Since then, Su Minzhi retracted the order to expel Su Ronghua from the family, and both Su and Shangguan families kept the secret of their children. Su Ronghua left the capital to travel, while Shangguan Ya entered the palace to become the Crown Princess. The Emperor supported Su Wang, deposing the Crown Prince, while Pei Wenxuan persuaded the aristocratic families to send troops. When Su Minzhi hesitated, Su Ronghua suddenly returned, expressing support for Su family to send troops.

Though it seemed Su Ronghua was gambling with Su family for personal feelings, it was actually the right decision for the Su family. Li Chuan was known for his wisdom and being the legitimate royal heir; his succession would be rightful, preventing future rebellions. In the first year of Deyu, soon after Li Chuan ascended the throne, war broke out in the north. While most officials advocated for peace, only Pei Wenxuan, Qin Lin, and Li Chuan supported the war.

Later, Li Chuan and Pei Wenxuan negotiated and collected funds for Qin Lin to forcibly start the war. Due to their theoretical knowledge without practical experience, the treasury was depleted, and coupled with southern floods, the war had to be halted. According to Pei Wenxuan, during their southern tour for disaster relief, they discovered the aristocratic families hoarding grain and inflating prices, making it difficult for relief funds to reach the people.

Outside the capital, the battlefield and famine created a stark contrast. To alleviate the southern disaster, they implemented the imperial examination system, taxed the aristocratic families, restricted land and slave ownership, and introduced a points system. When the Ministry of Personnel promoted officials, the aristocratic families were deducted points while the common families were awarded points. This caused dissatisfaction among local gentry, who either refused to implement or distorted the policies, further burdening the people.

In the late winter of the Deyu year, Li Chuan, ignoring Pei Wenxuan’s advice, ordered Qin Lin to kill a local clan leader, resulting in three years of continuous rebellion and desolate cities. Despite Li Rong’s multiple attempts to persuade Li Chuan, her harsh words hurt him, leading him to feel incompetent and ultimately driving him mad with shame.

In Li Chuan's view, his intentions were right, and the policies were correct, but the aristocratic officials’ laziness and negligence were to blame. This intensified the conflict between Li Chuan and the aristocracy, implicating Shangguan Ya, who lost favor with Li Chuan. Despite her efforts to dress up and be gentle, Li Chuan only felt disgust towards her, especially after the appearance of Qin Zhenzhen, making him refuse to share a room with Shangguan Ya.

Because Shangguan Ya was out of favor and under family pressure, she had to seek help from Li Rong, hoping to give birth to the legitimate firstborn to secure her position. Under Li Rong’s intervention, Li Chuan and Shangguan Ya were forced to share a room, often using aphrodisiacs. Though they didn’t love each other and nearly despised each other, they had to try to conceive a child.

Soon, Concubine Qin was found to be pregnant, and Li Chuan, overjoyed, announced he would not favor any other concubines besides her. Disheartened, Shangguan Ya sought her father's help to quickly find a man to conceive a child; otherwise, she would watch as Concubine Qin’s child succeeded the throne, leading the Qin family to permanently suppress the aristocracy.

Shangguan Xu found Su Ronghua, hoping he would combine with Shangguan Ya, forming an alliance between the two families to support the child in the future. Su Ronghua entered the palace that night, intertwining their fates forever. Two months later, Shangguan Ya became pregnant. Li Chuan was kept in the dark about the affair between Shangguan Ya and Su Ronghua.

Because Qin Zhenzhen was deeply loved, the commoners spread rumors and forged miracles, hoping to establish her child as the Crown Prince upon birth. Su Ronghua, to secure Shangguan Ya’s position as Empress, decided to poison Qin Zhenzhen. However, Qin Zhenzhen’s death deeply shocked Li Chuan, who became indifferent to war, the people, and justice, blindly favoring the commoners and killing the aristocracy. This led to corrupt officials and suffering people.

Those years, the Grand Xia dynasty was in turmoil, with fires everywhere. The Su family advised the monarch, helped the people, distributed wealth for disaster relief, and suppressed rebellions to maintain stability. Looking back, Li Chuan’s actions seemed aimed at weakening the aristocracy. As Pei Wenxuan investigated Qin Zhenzhen’s death, Li Chuan angrily killed his uncle and imprisoned his mother, exterminating half of the Shangguan family.

If not for Shangguan Ya’s insistence that her son was Li Chuan’s blood and the immediate blood recognition test, the child would have been killed. The Empress Dowager committed suicide in the palace to protect Shangguan Ya and her son, stopping Li Chuan from further killing. In the eighth year of Deyu, Li Chuan planned to launch a northern expedition, which the Su family firmly opposed, seeing it as a ploy to seize military power.

Li Chuan then framed Su Wang for rebellion and accused the Su family of treason, exterminating the entire Su family, castrating Su Rongqing, and subjecting Su Ronghua’s body to the same brutal punishment, using a white jade hairpin to humiliate Shangguan Ya, leading to her collapse. Pei Wenxuan witnessed this with deep sorrow and absurdity.

With the rise of the commoners and the fall of the aristocracy, Li Chuan knew he couldn’t continue pressuring the aristocracy, as it would lead to mutual destruction. He chose to seek immortality, declaring a truce. Li Rong represented the imperial will, managing the country, acting as a representative of the aristocracy, while Pei Wenxuan became the leader of the commoners. They balanced and allied with each other, leading to ten years of peace and prosperity in Grand Xia.

However, the ten years were long and painful for Su Rongqing, enough to change people beyond recognition, forget their original intentions, and lose their way. Facing another turning point in fate, Li Rong believed Li Chuan was unfit to rule, and Su Rongqing also felt the struggle for the throne was wrong.

On the other hand, Qin Zhenzhen traced her brother, and the siblings launched a night raid on the camp, killing the traitor Cui Qinghe, seizing the tiger tally, and commanding the army. Li Rong, learning of Su Wang’s escape, sought to collaborate with Su Rongqing, supported by Pei Wenxuan, who suggested she meet the Crown Prince first.

Shangguan Ya confirmed that Su Ronghua had no intention of contending for the family head position, decisively ending their relationship, wishing each other well.

Accompanied by Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong personally arrived at the Eastern Palace. After Feng Ming reported their arrival, the sound of coughing came from inside. Pei Wenxuan, aware of Li Chuan's sword injury and to avoid worrying Li Rong, ordered Feng Ming to place a screen between the two. Li Rong entered the study alone, gazing at Li Chuan's silhouette through the screen, as memories from the past flooded her mind.

Compared to the gloomy and violent Li Chuan of the past, he now seemed like an unpolished jade, pure in thought and gentle in character. Li Rong's voice softened unconsciously. She revealed that she had a nightmare, but when Li Chuan heard the details, he couldn't help but laugh, reassuring his sister that he would never hurt her no matter what. During their conversation, the siblings reminisced about their childhood, reflecting on their deep bond.

Whether it was Li Chuan being punished by their mother or getting scolded for raising a cat, Li Rong always stood up for him. Similarly, Li Chuan often made concessions and compromises for his sister's safety. For a moment, Li Rong felt lost, as if she had never truly understood Li Chuan. The real Li Chuan was innocent and kind-hearted, willing to bury himself in the palace to protect his loved ones.

No matter how ruthless he might become in the future, at this moment, he was still the boy who wished to transform himself into the mountains and rivers, bringing beauty to the world.

With these thoughts, Li Rong suddenly asked how Li Chuan would face the future if he became as cold and suspicious as their father, breaking the constraints of the noble families and achieving victory in the north, but at the cost of imprisoning their mother, killing their uncle, and poisoning their eldest sister, causing chaos in the world. Li Chuan's expression changed upon hearing this.

Sensing Li Rong's unease, he immediately stepped out from behind the screen and handed a sword to Li Rong, firmly and openly declaring that if this was his future, he hoped Li Rong would kill him now to end it all, considering it a merciful end. With these words, Li Chuan looked at Li Rong with the fearless gaze of a young man, resolute and unwavering, as if truly prepared to face death.

Li Rong, shocked and unwilling to harm him, turned and swung the sword to break a wooden box, then turned her back to him, trying to calm herself. Later, Li Rong detailed the situation in the northwest to Li Chuan, pointing out that the Xiao family had arranged for a fake Su Wang to deceive the emperor and install him on the throne.

She speculated that Su Rongqing might be secretly collaborating with other noble families and that outside Huajing, the Su family had an army of ten thousand that could arrive in one night. Thus, the emperor might allow him to remain the crown prince, provided Li Rong and the Shangguan family were not involved, leaving the decision to Li Chuan.

Li Rong decided to hand over the Inspection Department to Li Chuan and immediately return to Qingzhou, vowing never to return to Huajing. She also hoped Li Chuan would let her go, not letting the nightmare become a reality. Before leaving, Li Rong told Li Chuan that she did not distrust him, but rather, she did not trust the hearts of people in this world.

The emperor personally visited Li Cheng, seeing his fear-stricken face and feeling guilty, he promised to pass the throne to him. After the emperor left, Concubine Rou tightly embraced the disguised Li Cheng, repeatedly instructing him to remember his identity as Su Wang and that he would enjoy endless wealth and honor from now on.

Li Rong arranged for Pei Wenxuan to stay in Huajing to assist Li Chuan, but Pei Wenxuan insisted on accompanying Li Rong, determined to break free from past obsessions together and spend their lives with each other. At this moment in the northwest, Xun Chuan gathered all the soldiers, ready to set off for the capital, swearing allegiance to the princess and to protect the country.

Concubine Rou took a step back to advance, requesting the emperor to let her leave Huajing City. The emperor instructed Concubine Rou to return to the palace to take care of Su Wang and then ordered Fu Lai to summon the crown prince, giving him one last chance.

Because Li Rong was pregnant, Pei Wenxuan was worried about the bumps on the road and expressed his concern, saying that he would go to her after helping the crown prince handle affairs and ensuring safety. Li Rong teased him for becoming talkative and decided to leave the city today after learning that their father had suddenly summoned Li Chuan. Shangguan Ya heard that Li Rong was about to leave the capital and personally came to see her off.

The two resolved their differences and reconciled. Pei Wenxuan received news from an informant, shocked to discover his second uncle's conspiracy. He immediately ordered Tong Ye to count the people, preparing to seize the position of family head at the ancestral hall meeting. As they parted, Pei Wenxuan felt a foreboding, while Li Rong swore that if anything happened to him, she would gather forces to avenge him.

Concubine Rou quickly passed a message to Su Rongqing, informing him that the emperor would act in the palace tonight at the hour of Xu, and that if the Su family supported them, the Su and Li families would rule the world together. Su Minzhi called Su Rongqing alone, questioning why he harbored rebellious intentions. Though he thought he knew his son best, he found it hard to understand his thoughts at that moment.

Su Rongqing analyzed the situation if the crown prince ascended to the throne, insisting that if the crown prince took the throne, the Su family would be doomed, and only Li Cheng was the suitable candidate for the emperor.

Su Minzhi, in a fit of rage, knocked over the tea bowl. Su Rongqing turned and poured another cup, subtly applying medicine to the rim. Bowing low, Su Rongqing put Su Minzhi at ease. Suddenly, Su Minzhi felt his entire body stiffen, his vision blurred, and he lost the ability to speak. Su Rongqing laid him on the bed. Before leaving, Su Rongqing told his father that if they wanted to preserve the Su family's nobility, they needed a compliant ruler; otherwise, they faced the risk of extermination.

With the family head token in hand, Su Rongqing ordered the inner courtyard to be guarded, prohibiting anyone from approaching. Once Su Ronghua was found, he was to be placed under house arrest. Irrelevant family members were to be sent out of the city in batches, while the Su family soldiers were to gather and the city guard would hold the south gate. Su Ping was informed that there were changes in Huajing, and he needed to bring 8,000 elite soldiers for support as soon as possible.

At the Pei family ancestral hall, a purge was unfolding. In front of the clan members, Pei Wenxuan personally demanded the family head token from his uncle, Pei Lixian. Pei Lixian refused, citing Pei Wenxuan's youth, leading to a deadlock. With the support of his third uncle, Pei Liming, their grandfather agreed to let Pei Wenxuan act as the family head. Enraged, Pei Lixian ordered Pei Wenxuan to be bound and sent to the emperor for punishment.

Pei Wenxuan remained silent and calm, awaiting the report from his guards that the Pei family residence was surrounded. Pei Lixian's men had a choice: surrender or face death. Pale and speechless, Pei Lixian took out the family head token and handed it to Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan no longer pressed, drank the wine in his hand, and left to deploy troops with the family head token.

The turmoil between the Su and Pei families caused little stir in Huajing. Li Rong, traveling in a carriage to the outskirts, felt a heavy heart upon seeing the people's suffering. Suddenly, Shangguan Ya rode out from the city, reporting that Su Rongqing had gained control of the Su family and allied with Concubine Rou, dispatching 10,000 soldiers from the border.

This meant Su Rongqing, allied with other noble families, would amass 20,000 soldiers tonight. He planned to kill Li Chuan under the pretense of quelling a rebellion and support the puppet Su Wang's ascension. After some thought, Li Rong decided to return to the palace and sent Yuan Feiyu with a princess token to find Pei Wenxuan.

That night, Pei Wenxuan and his men guarded outside the palace. Yuan Feiyu reported, and Pei Wenxuan, worried about Li Rong, hurried to the inn outside the city. Unknowingly, this was Li Rong's plan to protect him. Meanwhile, the empress took control of the imperial guards and the emperor's palace, initiating a coup that would decide the future of the Xia Dynasty.

Crown Prince Li Chuan was summoned to the palace, finding his once-mighty father lying alone on a sickbed. The emperor, seeing the sword in Li Chuan's hand, was disappointed, mocking the Shangguan family's unchanging ambition and accusing Li Chuan of being their pawn.

Li Chuan's silence and hesitation worried the empress. She approached the emperor, declaring their defeat. The emperor, weak and no longer the fierce leader he once was, looked at the empress, whose feelings had turned to despair due to his cruelty. As she drew her sword, intending to strike, Li Chuan intervened.

As the sword neared the emperor, Li Rong entered, revealing Su Rongqing's plot and urging them to leave the palace immediately. Despite everything, the emperor still tried to bribe Li Chuan with the throne to eliminate the Shangguan family. Li Rong knew the emperor's ruthlessness; it was his own poisoning of Su Wang that caused his death.

Facing the throne, Li Chuan firmly declared he wouldn't commit the atrocities of killing his mother, uncle, and sister for it. Li Chuan wanted Li Rong to leave with him, but she insisted on staying, knowing that without her, they stood no chance against the Su and Wang families' alliance.

Pei Wenxuan arrived at the inn to find Li Rong's farewell letter, realizing her perilous decision. Meanwhile, Li Rong offered the emperor a cup of tea, but he feared poisoning. Despite both being his children, the emperor trusted Li Chuan more than Li Rong, believing her to be more ambitious.

Li Rong felt helpless and revealed she was pregnant, her first child at forty. The emperor, confused, listened as she explained the circumstances. His attitude softened, reflecting on how the palace could turn people into ghosts. As dawn broke, he gave Li Rong his seal and asked her to preside over the court, lamenting how the palace had turned his once-beloved daughter into his greatest threat.

As the day broke, the grand hall became vast and chilly, illuminated by the bronze palace lanterns with vermilion birds holding pearls standing on both sides. Without Fu Lai's guidance, Li Rong could easily spot the golden throne at the end. Fu Lai respectfully presented an imperial edict, the prominent words "Regent Princess" suddenly made Li Rong feel disoriented. Fu Lai explained that the emperor always cared for the princess, even if it wasn't apparent, his intentions remained.

Only then did Li Rong truly understand the loneliness of being in a high position. Soon, a group of people hurried into the palace, led by Su Rongqing, followed by Xiao Ming, Concubine Rou and her daughter, as well as many heads of families including Wang and Gu, using the excuse of purging the court to remove Crown Prince Li Chuan.

Li Rong ordered the edict to be read, stating that the Crown Prince did not enter the palace last night and the emperor was in good health. Their forceful attack on the city was an act of treason. This statement caused a significant change in their expressions. If Li Rong was acting as regent, with power comparable to the emperor, they would not dare to offend her rashly.

If Li Chuan was not in the palace and the emperor was still alive, their attack today would appear ridiculous. The crime of murdering the emperor would be questioned when in power, but once they lost their power, it would lead to the extermination of their families. Seeing their hesitation, Su Rongqing proposed to negotiate with Li Rong personally and dismissed the idle people.

Pei Lixian worried about unexpected changes, even Princess Hua Le was uncertain whether the emperor was still alive. Concubine Rou arranged for her brother Xiao Qian to guard the city gate to prevent Pei Wenxuan and his people from entering the city for rescue. If the emperor was indeed alive, she would find a way to kill him and frame Crown Prince Li Chuan.

Pei Wenxuan ordered the control of the families of Su and Gu, hearing that Li Rong had gathered all forces within the palace, indicating that the emperor was alive. She needed to preserve the remaining forces to buy time for Li Chuan to find an opportunity to counterattack the city. Soon, Xun Chuan led troops back to the capital for support.

Pei Wenxuan instructed Yuan Feiyu to immediately lead a thousand soldiers to the city tower to coordinate with Xun Chuan in opening the city gates. He also ordered Pei Xiao to take the Wang family members into the Princess's residence and guard it. Li Chuan, seeing the signal lantern released by Pei Wenxuan, returned to the palace with Xun Chuan.

Meanwhile, Li Rong and Su Rongqing sat on the ground, boiling water and making tea, seemingly chatting like old friends, yet with an air of confrontation. Su Rongqing stated that he did not come for revenge. Li Chuan could have lived; in this coup, he could have been executed for treason and then lived under a different identity. However, due to Li Rong's actions today, Li Chuan had no chance of survival.

Su Rongqing lamented that they were ultimately on opposing sides. Similarly, Li Rong reminisced about the Su Rongqing who was not tainted by power, who held the lofty ambition of the Su family to live for the people and die for the country. But now, the aristocratic families were harmful to the people and the country, yet Su Rongqing wanted to protect them.

In Li Rong's view, the northern expedition years ago was indeed a bit hasty, but if it weren't for the aristocratic families' exploitation and corruption, the military funds would have fully supported the northern expedition. Even though the southern floods depleted the national treasury due to the northern expedition, if the flourishing aristocratic families had paid taxes, the national treasury would not have been so empty.

Previously, Su Rongqing believed that as an emperor, Li Chuan should not favor only one woman. If Su Rongqing truly loved someone, how could he tolerate sharing a bed with others? Thus, Li Rong told Su Rongqing that he blamed everything on Li Chuan, but the current situation was not the fault of one person. Su Rongqing retorted that although there were corrupt aristocrats, there were also corrupt commoners. Even among the factional struggles, aristocrats were involved.

It was human nature, not related to the aristocracy. Everyone thought the aristocrats were at fault. For so many years, during famines, the Su family provided relief; during wars, Su family members went to the battlefield. The Su family cared for the people, yet they were falsely accused and exterminated. On the other hand, if Li Chuan was not at fault, how could Shangguan Ya and Su Ronghua be at fault?

Just because of the imperial identity, the royal family could act recklessly. The royal family was equally guilty. Ultimately, Li Rong and Su Rongqing held different views and could not be allies, unable to return to the past. At this moment, Pei Wenxuan led a large number of troops to attack the city. Lord Wang intended to take Li Rong hostage but was stopped by Su Rongqing. Knowing the disparity in military strength, Li Rong decided to leave with them.

Below the high platform, Pei Wenxuan approached step by step, unafraid even when pointed at by arrows. On the other side, the army was at the city gate. With Li Chuan's order, the sound of cannon fire and battle cries filled the air, and the emperor's laughter in the bedchamber was mournful. Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong, stating that he came either to die with her or to take her home.

Then he took out the family emblems of many ministers, persuading them to surrender for a slim chance of survival. He declared that Su Rongqing could not represent the Su family. Su Minzhi had long been controlled by him, and the true eldest son of the Su family, Su Ronghua, had already defected to the Crown Prince.

If they wanted to survive, the only way was to support the Crown Prince and promote the imperial examination system while abolishing the recommendation system completely. However, Su Rongqing and others refuted Pei Wenxuan, promising to give everyone a satisfactory explanation, and ordered him to be taken down. Seeing this, Pei Wenxuan pushed Li Rong into the hall. Before Li Rong could react, the door slammed shut. Outside, Pei Wenxuan fought with a small number of soldiers.

Li Rong pleaded with Su Rongqing to spare him, but Su Rongqing ignored her and left, making her fearfully cry, praying for Pei Wenxuan's survival.

The two forces stood separated by only a door. Li Rong waited for a long time and finally saw Pei Wenxuan enter unharmed. She threw herself into his arms, and they embraced tightly. Xun Chuan and Li Chuan arrived soon after, reporting that Qin Lin had successfully killed Xiao Su and had taken command of his troops, who would arrive in Huajing immediately.

At this moment, Su Rongqing was rummaging through the imperial bedchamber, searching for the imperial seal. Concubine Rou, clutching a dagger, threatened the emperor to reveal the seal's location. The emperor found her madness both laughable and pitiful. Ultimately, she lost control and stabbed the emperor in the chest, feeling a strange sense of relief.

Unable to bear the pain, the emperor revealed that the seal was hidden in a mechanical box. Hearing this, Su Rongqing quickly retrieved the seal and stamped it on the edict. Just then, the door to the bedchamber burst open, and Li Rong led her men in. Su Rongqing grabbed the edict and escaped through the window, with Pei Wenxuan in hot pursuit.

In the bedchamber, Li Rong and her siblings confronted Concubine Rou and her son. Concubine Rou threatened the emperor with a blade, demanding that Li Rong let them go. Princess Hua Le, crying uncontrollably, begged her mother to stop and pleaded with Li Rong for mercy. However, Concubine Rou, in a fit of rage, tried to kill Li Rong. At the critical moment, an arrow pierced through the window, striking Concubine Rou.

Li Rong, unable to attend to Hua Le and the others, ordered the imperial physicians to care for the emperor and then hurriedly left. Hua Le, having lost her loved ones, wandered out of the palace like a madwoman, laughing and crying, which deeply pained the fake Li Cheng.

Pei Wenxuan pursued Su Rongqing into the dark recesses of Weiyang Palace's bedchamber, which was separated by embroidered screens. Unable to see each other, they relied on sounds to gauge each other's positions and attacked blindly, both sustaining injuries.

Although neither Pei Wenxuan nor Su Rongqing were top swordsmanship experts, their equal skills led to a fierce and relentless battle, with each move aiming to kill the other without any mercy. Both admitted they had wanted to kill each other for a long time, and this was their first direct confrontation after decades of covert and overt conflict.

Pei Wenxuan angrily accused Su Rongqing of having a choice from the beginning. He could have proposed marriage to Li Rong and supported Li Chuan together. But Su Rongqing, as the young master of the Su family, chose a path opposite to Li Rong's. Thus, Pei Wenxuan warned Su Rongqing that since he made a mistake, he must accept it; Li Rong loved him, and he should leave.

The sound of swords clashing echoed through the bedchamber as Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing fought fiercely, destroying the screens and furniture. In the end, Pei Wenxuan's sword pierced through Su Rongqing, just as Li Rong witnessed the scene. Despite his miserable state, Su Rongqing used his remaining time to confess his love to Li Rong, saying that his love for her was as deep as his current despair.

Seeing Li Rong find happiness brought Su Rongqing peace. He struggled to reach an ancient zither and played a single note. The sound of the zither intertwined with the crackling of the flames, and Pei Wenxuan understood that Su Rongqing intended to end his life this way. He forcibly took Li Rong away. By the time Su Ronghua and Shangguan Ya arrived, it was too late; the fire had consumed the entire Weiyang Palace.

That day, the emperor, gravely ill, was on the verge of death. In his final moments, he advised Li Chuan not to end up like him, a free man in this world but not a free person. The emperor apologized to Li Chuan and closed his eyes. Eunuch Fu Lai loudly announced the emperor's death, and Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan led the ministers in bowing outside the hall.

Three years later, on the day Li Chuan was to ascend the throne, he suddenly announced that he would seclude himself in the Shangqing Temple and no longer concern himself with state affairs. He conferred the title of Regent Princess to Li Rong, made Pei Wenxuan the Right Chancellor, Shangguan Ya the Minister of the Secretariat, and Cui Yulang the Minister of Rites, to assist Li Rong in governing the country.

Li Rong understood that her brother Li Chuan had always longed to escape the palace's constraints. Now he could finally live for himself and spend his life with his beloved. Li Chuan left a letter for Li Rong, entrusting the kingdom to her, wishing her to be the sword bearer, govern the land, and fulfill the expectations of the people.

From then on, Li Rong became the first princess in the Daxia dynasty to hold the throne. She governed diligently, bringing prosperity and happiness to the Daxia nation, fulfilling Li Chuan's hopes. In the first year of De Xu, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan remarried, their love spanning two lifetimes and three lifetimes, walking hand in hand into their future together.

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