A few days after Pei Wenxuan's arrest, Consort Rou received a secret letter from Su Yongqing. She skimmed through Su Yongqing's letter and frowned.
Cui Yulang was teaching Prince Su how to draw. When he saw that Consort Rou seemed troubled, he couldn't help but ask, "Niang niang, is there something troubling you?"
"Tell me," Consort Rou hesitated and asked Cui Yulang, "Can you be at ease with Pei Wenxuan handling things?"
Cui Yulang quickly glanced at the letter in Consort Rou's hand and guessed that someone must've told Consort Rou that Pei Wenxuan's actions were inappropriate. He smiled and said, "Whether you're at ease or not, won't you just have to wait for the results? As long as Pei Wenxuan is used well, what is niang niang worried about? "
Consort Rou didn't say anything. Cui Yulang took some boiling water from the side and poured it into the teapot. He said slowly, "In any case, Pei Wenxuan is in niang niang's hands. If he does well, niang niang can use him. If he doesn't, then send him away. After all, he's not part of the Inspectorate. In any case, everyone in the Imperial Court has their own standpoint. Niang niang is now using an aristocratic family's people. "Cui Yulang poured the tea into a small teacup and looked up at Consort Rou. He smiled lightly," In the end, there will be people who can't hold back. "
Consort Rou listened to Cui Yulang's words and thought for a while.
Pei Wenxuan and Ping L were inextricably linked. She couldn't trust them, but Su Yongqing came from an aristocratic family. Now that the imperial examination system was changed, it was obvious that they were trying to weaken the aristocratic families. How could Su Yongqing trust them?
"Go back and reply to Daren," Consort Rou looked up at the messenger and said indifferently, "This consort has her own thoughts. Thank you for the reminder, Daren."
The messenger received the order and immediately sent the news back to the Su residence.
Su Yongqing was drinking tea in the courtyard when he heard the news from Consort Rou. His expression didn't change as he stared at the tea in his bowl.
His attendant, Su Zhizhu, couldn't help but frown, "Young master, Consort Rou doesn't listen to our advice, then …"
"It's alright."
Su Yongqing raised his hand to stop Su Zhizhu's words. He picked up the teacup and asked, "Have you arranged everything in the northwest?"
"It's been arranged."
Su Zhizhu said in a calm voice, "Everything will be done according to your instructions."
"Mm." Su Yongqing nodded with a calm expression. "Then there's no need to worry about it."
"But Consort Rou …"
"She wants to die," Su Yongqing turned to look at Su Zhizhu, "Isn't it better?"
Su Zhizhu was stunned. Su Yongqing changed the question, "Who's the assistant beside her today?"
Su Zhizhu reacted and said, "It's Cui Yulang."
"Have someone keep an eye on him." Su Yongqing took a sip of tea, "You don't have to do anything else."
Su Yongqing didn't disturb them. Pei Wenxuan was happy to be idle. After he helped Consort Rou send the Shangguan family's people to the Inspection Department, Consort Rou's reputation in Huajing soared.
This Consort Rou, who was born a commoner, was not afraid of the rich and powerful. For a time, Consort Rou and Prince Su became famous, and Prince Su's supporters began to faintly appear in the countryside.
With the reputation, Consort Rou also began to stop. After all, she just wanted to eradicate dissidents, not really to plead for the people.
During that time, people from various aristocratic families came to Prince Su's mansion in an endless stream. The children of aristocratic families who usually looked down on her bowed to her and spoke kindly to her. Gold, silver, and treasures flowed in like water. Although Consort Rou and Hua Le didn't show it on their faces, it was somewhat difficult for them to control themselves.
When they were in a good mood, they couldn't help but think of Pei Wenxuan and think that he was indeed a good person.
Consort Rou was thinking about how to stabilize Pei Wenxuan on her side. Hua Le thought about it and couldn't help but say, "It's better to marry Sister Wei to him."
When Consort Rou heard this, she turned her head and showed some surprise on her face.
Hua Le suddenly felt that she seemed to have said something wrong and hurriedly said, "I was joking. Mother Empress, don't punish me."
"Punish you for what?" Consort Rou thought about it and couldn't help but laugh. "I think that's a good idea."
Consort Rou said, then thought about it and said, "Even if she can't marry the Crown Prince, she should at least be of some use."
Consort Rou and her daughter's arrogance more or less fell into Li Rong's ears. Li Rong was grounded at home, so he took these things as entertainment.
Consort Rou was favored and told Li Ming that she was tired, so she didn't pay her respects. It was fine if she didn't invite the Empress, but she didn't even invite the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager didn't say anything, but she gave a ruler to Consort Rou and specifically asked the maid who passed on the message to ask her, "Consort Rou, do you know what you're doing?"
It was fine if she was rude to the people of the Shangguan Clan, but she also liked to show off. At the most recent palace banquet, she said in front of everyone that the quality of the grapes prepared by the Empress wasn't good and took the freshest grapes from the Western Regions to share with everyone.
She talked about national affairs and criticized current affairs, which made everyone in the Imperial Harem feel annoyed.
Li Rong felt happy when he heard this every day. Jing Lan followed Li Rong and listened to Consort Rou's affairs every day. In just one or two months, she felt that Consort Rou seemed to have changed into a different person.
She couldn't help but feel puzzled, "Your Highness, Consort Rou isn't a fool. She has a good reputation in the Imperial Harem for so many years, how could she …"
Jing Lan didn't know how to continue, so Li Rong laughed. She took the freshly washed grapes from the plate next to her and slowly said, "Do you know what's the scariest thing about power?"
As she spoke, Li Rong raised her head and looked at her with a smile, "It's that when it corrodes a person's heart, the person who has been corroded to the point of being rotten doesn't feel anything at all."
"Many people will suddenly have a bit of power in their lifetime, become a small official, earn a sum of money, pass the imperial examinations, and even win first place in a private school. All of this will make them suddenly fall into a kind of illusion. In this illusion, they will indulge in their own actions and words, and feel that everything is acceptable. "
"So, the easiest way to destroy a person is to let them suddenly have something far beyond what they can get."
Li Rong pushed the grape into her mouth with her finger. She looked at the butterflies flying not far away and smiled, "You don't have to do anything. She will bring about her own destruction."
Jing Lan listened to Li Rong's words and didn't say anything. Li Rong swallowed the grape in her mouth and was about to lie down when she heard someone report from the door, "Your Highness, Lord Pei's mother, Wen Shi, wants to see you."
Li Rong heard this and couldn't help but frown.
Why did Wen Shi want to see her now? Could it be that she chased after her from the Pei residence?
Although Li Rong was now grounded, the guards knew that it was just for show. Therefore, although Li Rong couldn't go out, others could come in at will.
Li Rong was silent for a while, then Jing Lan asked carefully, "Your Highness, should we announce it?"
This was Pei Wenxuan's mother. Naturally, she couldn't be ignored outside. Li Rong nodded and said, "Then let's announce it."
With that, Li Rong stood up and went to the main hall.
When she reached the main hall, she saw that Wen Shi was already sitting there.
When she saw Li Rong, she was like a mouse seeing a cat. She sat aside cautiously. She wanted to show the calm attitude of an elder, but she felt a little short of breath.
When Li Rong came in, she carefully adjusted three sitting positions. Finally, she found a position that she was satisfied with and sat up straight. After both sides greeted each other, Li Rong sat down and smiled, "Old Madam, why are you here today?"
"Your Highness," Wen Shi showed a distressed expression, "I shouldn't disturb you, but there are some things that I have to explain."
Wen Shi raised her head and showed a very serious expression. Li Rong nodded and said carelessly, "Please say."
"Wen Xuan actually doesn't want to separate from you."
Wen Shi spoke first and said this. Li Rong smiled bitterly and didn't say much. He lowered his head and poured tea.
Wen Shi thought that Li Rong had given up and immediately said, "Wen Xuan, this child, didn't particularly like anyone since he was young. Only Your Highness, did I see what it's like to truly like someone. Your Highness, he actually can't bear to part with you. "
"En," Li Rong raised his head and said perfunctorily, "I know all this. Old Madam, do you have any other matters?"
"I still have to apologize for my son."
Wen Shi said with difficulty, "My son has been bewitched by a vixen and hid a woman in his room."
Li Rong's hand trembled. Wen Shi continued to grit her teeth and said, "Fortunately, I found out early and had a fierce argument with that woman. I advised Wen Xuan to repent and sent that woman out early. But that woman is really too shameless. After being chased out, she still doesn't want to leave my son. When she has nothing to do, she strolls outside the Pei Residence. Now, she's even worse! "
Wen Shi was filled with righteous indignation. She took out a piece of paper from her sleeve and said, "She actually dared to write a letter to the Pei Residence and invite my son to the center of the lake! Tell me, how shameless is she! "
When Li Rong heard this, he felt that it was strange.
The woman living in the Pei Residence was her. Who was this woman who kept loitering outside and wrote a letter to the Pei Residence?
"Old Madam, can I take a look at the letter?"
Li Rong stretched out his hand and wanted to understand. When Wen Shi saw that Li Rong wanted to interfere, she quickly passed the letter to him and said, "Look, it's this vixen."
Li Rong took the letter from Wen Shi and quickly glanced at it.
The letter was written in a proper manner, but the font was beautiful. Li Rong casually looked through the letter and saw the word "Hua" at the end of the letter.
Li Rong paused.
At this moment, Pei Wenxuan, who was secretly discussing the next step with Li Chuan, couldn't help but sneeze.
When Li Chuan saw Pei Wenxuan suddenly sneeze, he couldn't help but ask, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Pei Wenxuan waved his hand and said, "It's fine. Continue."
As he spoke, Pei Wenxuan continued with Li Chuan's words and said, "Consort Rou's next step is probably to give up on the other students. She has already taken their money, so she can't possibly capture them. In order to appease these students, she will probably make some promises. "
"When the time comes, she won't ask you to negotiate with the students, right?" Li Chuan frowned and felt a little uneasy.
Pei Wenxuan smiled and said, "Of course she wants me to negotiate. But I've already done so much. It's time for me to rest."
"Then how do you plan to rest?"
Li Chuan felt a little strange. Pei Wenxuan smiled and looked outside the Pei Residence and said, "Naturally, I'll rest in a place where she can't order me around."
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