After Li Rong finished talking with Pei Wenxuan, she returned to the Princess Residence by herself. When she lay on the bed in the Princess Residence, she seemed to be at a loss.
Without Pei Wenxuan by her side and without attending court tomorrow, her heart felt empty.
She opened her hand in the air and looked at her slender palm. She suddenly felt that Shangguan Xu was right.
The daughter of the Shangguan Family seemed to be born to hold power. Without power in her hands, she felt lost and empty, as if she had lost her way forward.
She was completely different from Li Chuan. As the Crown Prince, Li Chuan seemed to be responsible for the people around him. Because he was the Crown Prince, from birth, the lives of many people were tied to him. He had no choice but to fight and move forward.
However, every step she took stemmed from her desire for power, which was deep in her heart.
She loved the feeling of control and choice. Deep in her bones, she also loved the passion of taking risks for these.
Therefore, on such a peaceful night, she was at a loss for what to do.
She tossed and turned in bed in the night. After a long time, she got up and went to the cabinet. She took out a set of Pei Wenxuan's clothes. After hugging the clothes in her arms, she found some peace and fell asleep with them in her arms.
She slept until morning court and woke up on time. Just as she was about to ask someone to help her get up, she remembered that she didn't need to attend court.
She had handed over the Inspectorate of Investigation, so the court had nothing to do with her. She only needed to stay in the dark.
Li Rong was stunned for a moment. Then she buried her head in the quilt and fell asleep again.
She slept all the way until noon before she got up to eat. Jing Lan helped her up and said with a smile, "Your Highness, you don't seem to be in good spirits when you don't attend court."
"My man is gone, my career is gone," Li Rong sighed, "How can I be in good spirits?"
Jing Mei was amused by Li Rong. She pulled on Li Rong's clothes and said with a smile, "Your Highness misses your sweetheart so much. Why don't you go to the new residence tonight?"
Li Rong leisurely glanced at her. Jing Mei's heart jumped. She thought Li Rong was going to scold her, but she heard Li Rong say, "That's exactly what I want."
Li Rong ate breakfast and rested in the courtyard for a while. Zhao Chongjijiu came back with the news from court.
"Today, His Majesty appointed the Lord Pei as the Chief Examiner of the Imperial Examination. Lord Pei is fully in charge of the imperial examinations. He also had Su Wang officially take over the Inspectorate, with Her Highness Consort Rou assisting him to thoroughly investigate the case of this imperial examination. "
She thought. She couldn't help, she couldn't help but ask, "Assistant minister Minister Su?"
"Assistant minister Su asked to supervise the imperial examinations."
"Supervise?" Li Rong laughed, "He doesn't restrain himself at all now. What about Cui Yulang? "
"He asked this humble servant to pass on a message. He said that Consort Rou rewarded him today. He also asked him to help him and do his job well."
When Li Rong heard this, she knew that Consort Rou had begun to completely trust Cui Yulang.
This wasn't strange.
She had worked with Su Yongqing for so long. Not only did she not receive anything, but she was also demoted from the position of Noble Consort to that of a concubine. She had worked with Cui Yulang for such a short time. Not only did she regain her position as concubine, but she also helped Li Cheng obtain the Inspectorate. On top of that, Cui Yulang was from the Han Clan. How could she not trust Cui Yulang?
Li Rong nodded and said, "Let Cui Yulang stay here. Have someone keep an eye on him. Remember to find me at a fixed time to get medicine."
Zhao Chongjiu complied. Li Rong then asked about the harvest of his fief this year and the situation in the northwest.
"Xun daren would like to ask the princess for a favor this time."
Li Rong looked up. Zhao Chongjiu said in a low voice, "Xun daren wants the princess to secretly ask for a temporary conscription order for Qin Lin."
"How so?"
Li Rong tapped her fan against her palm. Zhao Chongjiu raised his hand and handed over the letter of faith that Xun Chuan had sent over. Li Rong quickly skimmed through it and understood Xun Chuan's meaning.
During the war in the northwest last year, there was almost no farming in the cities at the frontlines. This year, there was no food in the cities, so they could only rely on the imperial court to provide relief. However, when the imperial court's money arrived in the northwest, it was divided up layer by layer. By the time it reached Qin Lin's hands, there was not much left. The military's salary was barely enough, and disaster relief was even more difficult.
On one hand, Qin Lin could not bear it. On the other hand, Qin Lin did indeed lack soldiers and horses. Therefore, Cui Qinghe suggested that Qin Lin take in the common people in the cities into the barracks and use them to support the war.
The able-bodied men would be sent to the army, and the old, weak, women, and children would be distributed to farm. By the fall of this year, the war in the north would probably start again. Only then would they have the strength to fight.
Naturally, this was against the rules. However, Qin Lin believed that by doing this, the major aristocratic families in the north would not have to give him too much of the military's salary, and he would not have to go to the battlefield to feed himself. Therefore, regardless of whether it was the officials in the northwest or not, they would be happy to see this happen and would not expose Qin Lin. Therefore, Qin Lin had already done this in private.
However, this was, after all, a violation of the law. In the worst case, it was privately raising soldiers and horses. Therefore, Xun Chuan specially wrote a letter to Li Rong, asking Li Rong to ask for a conscription order on Qin Lin's behalf. Normally, it would be fine. However, if there was really a problem, the conscription order would be used. It would be considered that Qin Lin was conscripting soldiers.
When Li Rong saw this letter, he could not help but gasp.
Qin Lin was a talented general, but his biggest problem was that he was too arbitrary and tyrannical.
This kind of general was an ambitious and ruthless person in troubled times, but he was also the most troublesome existence for the ruler in peaceful times. Now, if Xun Chuan did not expose this matter, Li Rong immediately thought of what would have happened in the future.
Those aristocratic families did not say anything now because they needed Qin Lin. However, when they needed him, this would be Qin Lin's death warrant. What was more frightening was not Qin Lin himself, but that a portion of Qin Lin's military's salary was sent by her.
Qin Lin privately raised soldiers and she provided the salary. She was also the eldest sister of the Crown Prince. If this crime was brought down, it would not be enough even if she died ten thousand times.
Li Rong steadied his mind. He knew that he must obtain this conscription order for Qin Lin.
After obtaining the conscription order, the more soldiers Qin Lin had, the more stable Li Chuan would be when he ascended the throne.
However, how could he obtain such a thing for Qin Lin?
The conscription order was a special kind of military order in Da Xia. During special times, the general could use this order to conscript soldiers in a garrison city.
The ruler was very cautious when giving this kind of thing. How could she make Li Ming secretly give a secret conscription order to Qin Lin?
Li Rong was thinking when she heard a commotion outside. Not long after, a maidservant rushed in from outside the courtyard and said, "Your Highness, His Highness Hua Le rushed over with people from the Inspection Department and sealed off the princess's residence."
Hearing this, Li Rong was stunned. After a moment, she laughed in disbelief, "Hua Le brought the Inspection Department and sealed off my residence?"
She could understand each and every one of these words, but when they were put together, she actually found it a little funny.
Without waiting for her to leave, she heard Hua Le's familiar voice from outside. That voice carried a bit of arrogance that wasn't usually there, "Ping L e jiejie."
Li Rong looked in the direction of the voice and saw Hua Le walk out from around the corner. Behind her was a group of old members of the Inspection Department. There were some new faces among them. They should be the new members that Consort Rou had brought into the Inspection Department.
Li Rong raised her eyebrows as she watched Hua Le walk in front of her. She curtsied to her, "Meimei has been ordered by Prince Su to come to your residence to investigate a case."
"Investigate a case?" Li Rong pondered, "What case do you want to investigate?"
"Does sister still remember Chen Houzhao?"
"I remember," Li Rong knew what Hua Le was here for. She couldn't help but laugh, "A few days ago, did you come to the Inspection Department to complain?"
"He's missing."
Hua Le observed Li Rong. Li Rong looked surprised, "Missing?"
"Yes, on the day he complained to sister, he left Huajing. Afterwards, his ship sank and he himself disappeared."
"So it's like that."
Li Rong nodded. Then she remembered, "Then you should be looking for him. Why are you looking for me?"
"His Royal Highness Prince Su suspects that sister killed this person. Therefore, I ask sister to cooperate and make a trip to the Inspection Department. "
Li Rong didn't say anything. She looked at Hua Le with a smile.
Hua Le saw that Li Rong's expression didn't change after hearing these words. She didn't know why, but she felt that she was a bit short of breath. She forced herself to meet Li Rong's gaze and said, "Sister, do you still want to resist arrest?"
"I'm not resisting arrest. I just want to ask sister a few questions."
Li Rong tapped her small fan against her palm, "I am a princess of the current dynasty, a relative of the Emperor. If you want to arrest me, do you have evidence?"
"If I don't interrogate you, where would I get evidence?" Hua Le frowned, "Don't you know how you handled cases in the Inspection Department?"
"When I handle cases, I always rely on evidence. If your rank is lower than mine, you can invite them to the Inspection Department. But if your rank is higher than mine, you'll have to ask if they're willing. Sister, this is your first time working in the imperial court. I'm afraid you're not familiar with the rules of the imperial court. Jing Lan. "
Li Rong turned her head and ordered Jing Lan, "Go to the room and bring the Inspection Department's code of conduct. Bring it back for Her Highness Hua Le to read."
Jing Lan pursed her lips and smiled, then went to fetch the Inspection Department's code of conduct.
Hua Le was immediately angered by Li Rong's rebuke. She couldn't help but raise her voice and say loudly, "Stop talking nonsense! You're a suspect in the Inspection Department's case. Not only are you not coming with me for interrogation, but you're also making all sorts of excuses. Do you have a guilty conscience?! "
When Li Rong heard Hua Le raise her voice, her gaze turned slightly cold. However, she still had a smile on her face as she said, "Sister, I'm afraid you've forgotten the hierarchy in the palace after entering the imperial court. I'm your eldest sister. Are you also this rude when speaking to me? "
"I'm currently helping Prince Su with a case …"
"I know more about the Inspection Department's matters than you do!" Li Rong suddenly raised her voice, "If you don't have evidence, then get out!"
"Li Rong, you …"
"Get out!"
Li Rong waved her small fan and turned to leave. Hua Le was anxious. She hurriedly led people to go forward and arrest Li Rong. However, the imperial bodyguards of the princess's residence immediately rushed forward. The two sides were blocked. Hua Le shouted, "Ping L, don't go!"
Li Rong went up the steps. When she heard Hua Le's scolding, she turned her head back.
She slightly raised her phoenix eyes and leisurely glanced at Hua Le, who was cursing the Inspection Department's soldiers to arrest her. She laughed. Just as she was about to ridicule her, she suddenly realized something —
There was a conscription order.
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