The carriage suddenly stopped as if they had arrived at their destination.
However, even with the soundproof panel, Dong Ye had already heard that something was wrong. When they arrived, he did not rush Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan.
Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong and waited for Li Rong's answer. Li Rong took a deep breath and raised her hand to put on her clothes. She said in a low voice, "Let's go down first."
Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong put on their clothes together. When they got out of the carriage, they found that Dong Ye had already sent someone to bring the sedan chair. Li Rong's foot was injured. Pei Wenxuan helped Li Rong onto the sedan chair and had someone send her all the way to the bedroom.
After a night of torment, Li Rong looked very tired. After Pei Wenxuan helped her lie down, he immediately asked the doctor to check on her.
The doctor had already been prepared and waited at the door as soon as they entered the residence. After the two entered the room, the doctor followed in.
Pei Wenxuan waited for the doctor to take her pulse. After a while, he saw Dong Ye standing at the door and whispered, "Young Master."
When Pei Wenxuan saw that Dong Ye did not come in, he knew that it was not good to talk about it in front of Li Rong. He nodded and greeted the people around him to take good care of Li Rong. Then, he turned and walked out.
When he reached the door, he saw Zhao Chongjiu standing in the courtyard. Zhao Chongjiu's expression was not very good. Pei Wenxuan knew the result.
"Where is he?"
"He ran away."
Zhao Chongjiu's face was stiff. "Young Master Su brought people here too quickly. I didn't have time."
Pei Wenxuan was not surprised. At that time, Su Ronghua was concerned about Su Yongqing. It was normal for him to find Su Yongqing.
He nodded and said softly, "Go back and rest first. This matter … "
"This subordinate must inform Your Highness."
Zhao Chongjiu interrupted him, as if he had misunderstood something. Pei Wenxuan smiled: "I'm not asking you not to tell His Highness. You're from the Inspectorate, I know very well. I mean, I'll talk to her about it. You don't have to report it to her. "
This request was not too much. Zhao Chongjiu nodded.
"Is there anything else?"
Zhao Chongjiu shook his head. Pei Wenxuan was concerned about Li Rong, so he waved his hand and said, "You may leave."
After that, Pei Wenxuan returned to his room.
The doctor had already checked Li Rong's pulse. When Pei Wenxuan came in, the doctor was packing up and preparing to go to the next room for consultation. Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong greeted each other and went to the side room together. When the doctor saw Pei Wenxuan come in, his face was a little nervous. Pei Wenxuan's heart was hanging, but he still raised his hand: "Say what you want to say. Just say it."
"Daren, the princess has some external injuries, but it's not serious. Please rest assured." One of the doctors came up to report. Pei Wenxuan nodded. "What else?"
If it was only this sentence, these doctors should not have this kind of reaction.
"Also …" The doctor hesitated for a moment and said slowly, "Her Highness is pregnant."
The moment he heard this, Pei Wenxuan was stunned. The doctor said the most difficult thing, so he continued: "This turbulence caused the fetal position to be unstable. I hope Your Highness can rest assured and take care of the fetus to avoid any accidents."
Pei Wenxuan listened and did not say anything. Everyone waited for him, their hearts in turmoil.
Princess Ping LE was now divorced, but she was diagnosed as pregnant. The first to know was the former prince consort. Whether the princess was pregnant or the former prince consort knew, any one of these reasons was enough for these doctors to feel uneasy.
Pei Wenxuan was silent for a long time. All the doctors looked at the head doctor. The head doctor braced himself: "Daren?"
"Oh." When Pei Wenxuan heard this, he finally came back to his senses. He nodded and looked calm. He immediately ordered, "Don't spread this matter. Is Her Highness' health okay?"
"Daren, don't worry." When everyone heard Pei Wenxuan's tone, they felt relieved. "Her Highness has a good rest. There is no serious problem. We will definitely keep this matter a secret. We will not let outsiders know. "
Pei Wenxuan nodded. He seemed to be absent-minded: "You can write a prescription first. If anyone has any taboos or how to do it better for pregnant women, tell me."
The doctor nodded repeatedly. The group of people talked with Pei Wenxuan for a long time. Pei Wenxuan asked carefully about how to take care of Li Rong. Finally, he went back. When he walked out of the door, he turned back and frowned: "During pregnancy, will she be paranoid, sensitive, emotional, and irritable?"
Everyone was stunned. They did not understand why Pei Wenxuan asked such a question. However, they all nodded and said: "Daren, just bear with it."
Pei Wenxuan nodded: "I understand."
After saying that, Pei Wenxuan turned around and walked down the corridor.
No one knew what he was thinking. They watched him walk all the way to Li Rong's room. The door to Li Rong's room was closed, but he did not notice. He directly bumped into the door. With a bang, he covered his face and nose in pain.
Li Rong was in the room listening to Zhao Chongjiu report about her disappearance. When she suddenly heard the bang, she raised her chin. Zhao Chongjiu immediately went to open the door. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Pei Wenxuan bending over and covering his face in pain. Zhao Chongjiu could not help but be stunned: "Lord Pei?"
Pei Wenxuan waved his hand and sucked in a cold breath. Li Rong looked up and called out softly: "Pei Wenxuan?"
"I'm fine. I bumped into the door."
Pei Wenxuan replied. After a while, he finally straightened up and looked at Zhao Chongjiu: "Are you done reporting?"
"Almost." Zhao Chongjiu nodded and turned to bow to Li Rong: "Your Highness, this subordinate will take his leave."
"Keep an eye on Li Cheng's situation." Li Rong ordered, then said softly: "Go."
Zhao Chongjiu bowed and left. Pei Wenxuan was still standing at the door. Li Rong saw that Pei Wenxuan was still in a daze and looked up: "Why are you still standing there? Come in and sit. "
Pei Wenxuan heard this and came back to his senses. He nodded, closed the door, and walked in.
He sat down. Li Rong looked at him and chuckled: "I have a terminal illness?"
"No!"
Pei Wenxuan denied and quickly replied: "You're fine. Don't think too much."
"If you don't think too much, then sit down. I'll discuss it with you."
Li Rong took three pieces of paper from the side: "Last night, Chuan'er was attacked by an assassin, but it's not serious. Li Cheng is now hanging on by a thread in the palace. Consort Rou was summoned to the palace to take care of Li Cheng. His Majesty hasn't made a move yet. Firstly, he's probably waiting for Xiao Su. Secondly, he's waiting for Li Cheng's last news. "
Pei Wenxuan nodded. Li Rong took out the third piece of paper: "So here's the worst news."
Pei Wenxuan looked up. Li Rong calmly said: "Xun Chuan brought news from the northwest. Cui Qinghe betrayed and assassinated Qin Lin. He took over Qin Lin's army in the northwest."
Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan's eyes suddenly widened. Li Rong put the paper on the table and said calmly: "The army in the northwest can't come over, so this matter has to be hidden. I've already informed Lin Feibai to transfer troops from the southwest and asked Shangguan Ya to prepare the Shangguan family's army. "
"But the Shangguan family only has 30,000 troops. Lin Feibai has 20,000, I have 10,000 in Qingzhou, and your Pei family has less than 20,000. The total number of troops is at most 80,000. Originally, Qin Lin in the northwest raised 50,000 troops, which added up to 130,000 troops. But now that Cui Qinghe has betrayed him, I'm afraid that the 50,000 troops in the northwest can't be counted on. "
"Xiao Su has 50,000 troops, His Majesty has 50,000 troops, and the Su Clan has at least 20,000 troops. That's a total of 120,000 troops."
"The remaining aristocratic families have countless troops, but just like in the previous life, no benefits can move them. If they make a move, their plan will be in vain. Moreover, this time, with Su Yongqing around, it's hard to say who the aristocratic families will betray in the end. I guess they're more likely to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. They'll listen to whoever wins. "
"This is the current situation." Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan. "What do you think?"
Pei Wenxuan listened and thought quietly for a while. "Although it seems that His Majesty has more people than us in the overall situation, as long as we can stabilize the situation in Huajing in advance, most of the people in the world will submit to us. At that time, even if Xiao Su and His Majesty's direct subordinates come back, they will be considered rebels and traitors and will be punished by the world. In this case, once the Crown Prince succeeds the throne, it's unknown whether His Majesty's direct subordinates will move or not. And Xiao Su has been in charge of the northwest for less than two years. If he leads 50,000 troops to rebel, I'm afraid that they will also be in a state of disunity. As for Su Yongqing … "
Pei Wenxuan thought for a while. "It's still unknown whether he can take charge of the Su Clan."
"Stabilize the situation in Huajing …"
Li Rong murmured. She raised her head and looked at Pei Wenxuan. "Why don't you think that there's actually another way?"
"What does Your Highness mean?"
"What I mean is," Li Rong's gaze was steady, but there was a bit of unspeakable sadness in the depths of her eyes. "Once Li Cheng dies, the Crown Prince will be the only successor. The Crown Prince and His Majesty are not absolute enemies, nor are they absolute allies with me and Mother Empress. As long as he hands over me and the Shangguan Clan, His Majesty will let him go. "
Pei Wenxuan didn't speak. Li Rong closed her eyes. "In fact, this is the best plan. If he hands over me and Mother Empress, the Shangguan Clan will be exterminated in the name of assassinating the Prince. He will smoothly take over the throne, take over the army from His Majesty, and become a pure ruler of the Li family."
As Li Rong spoke, she couldn't help but laugh. "This way, the world will be stable and there will be no need to make a big fuss. The people will also live well."
"Your Highness is also right." Pei Wenxuan answered calmly. Hearing this, Li Rong opened his eyes and looked at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan met Li Rong's gaze. "But, will His Highness the Crown Prince agree?"
Li Rong didn't speak. Pei Wenxuan raised her hand and held Li Rong's hand. "Your Highness, have you forgotten? Not long after you were reborn, I told you. After power, it's the human heart. It's not a simple choice of interests. For the same thing, some people will choose to gain, while others will choose to lose. "
"But I don't trust Li Chuan."
Li Rong spoke directly. Pei Wenxuan fell silent.
"Make arrangements," Li Rong ordered calmly. "As soon as Li Cheng dies, His Majesty will arrest him. Before that, I have to leave Huajing and go to Qingzhou. Don't let anyone know about this. I'll leave by myself."
"What about Shangguan Ya?" Pei Wenxuan looked at her.
"After I leave, inform the Shangguan Family."
If she informed the Shangguan Family after she left, it would be equivalent to putting the Shangguan Family in Huajing as a cover. This would allow her to leave the capital more safely.
However, this would also directly put the Shangguan Family in danger. If she left and missed the opportunity, no one in the Shangguan Family would be able to leave.
Pei Wenxuan looked at her. Li Rong's expression was cold. She turned to Pei Wenxuan. "What do you think is wrong?"
"Your Highness," Pei Wenxuan asked seriously, "if something happens, won't you regret it?"
Li Rong didn't speak. She met Pei Wenxuan's gaze. "Do you know what I heard last night?"
"I know."
Pei Wenxuan's gaze didn't change. "Li Chuan killed you. Shangguan Ya watched you die. Su Yongqing brought you poison."
"You're not surprised?" Li Rong laughed. Pei Wenxuan shook his head. "I'm not surprised by anything in my previous life."
"In that case," Li Rong felt a little strange. "Why are you still persuading me? That's what happened in my previous life. I can let it go, but that doesn't mean I don't care. "
"People have to have power to make choices. When it comes to power, they shouldn't be mixed with emotions. I used to say that I liked power, but when I made decisions, I always trusted them and was willing to risk my life for them. That's why I always wanted to help Chuan'er solve his current and future problems. "
"Mother scolded me and said that what I thought was what the emperor thought. I'm a princess. In the eyes of the future emperor, I'm no different from an aristocratic family. At that time, I thought she was stupid. Now, I understand that I'm the stupid one. "
Li Rong turned her head and looked at Pei Wenxuan. She reached out and held Pei Wenxuan's hand. "In my previous life, I chose them. I didn't choose myself. This time, I want to choose myself. "
"Whether you regret it or not," Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan. "Let me go."
Let the filth and fighting in Huajing stay in Huajing. Let her leave this place. The sky is high and the sea is wide. There will be a way back.
Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong with a pleading expression. After a long time, he lowered his head and smiled. "Your Highness, do you remember? Your Highness and I have made two bets. One was at the Gathering Wealth Hall. We bet on whether Shangguan Ya was there or not. The other time, we bet on where the imperial edict would come first."
"I remember," Li Rong knew what Pei Wenxuan meant. "Are you here to ask me for a bet?"
"Your Highness has already worn the Persian dancer's clothes for me. There's one more thing left. Your Highness, please do it for me."
Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan and said with certainty, "You don't want me to leave?"
"Whether you leave or not, it's Your Highness's decision. In fact, I think it's fine. However, I'm afraid that Your Highness will have regrets. I want to give Your Highness more choices."
Pei Wenxuan said and leaned forward. "Your Highness, please come with me to see His Highness the Crown Prince."
Li Rong's hands trembled slightly when she heard this. Pei Wenxuan smiled. "Your Highness, you don't dare?"
"Why wouldn't I dare to see him? However, I still have to arrange for leaving the city … "
"I'll arrange it."
Pei Wenxuan interrupted her. "Your Highness, you don't have to say anything when you see His Highness the Crown Prince. Just chat with His Highness as usual. After the chat, I'll support Your Highness whether you leave or stay. "
Li Rong had nothing else to say. She raised her hand and patted Pei Wenxuan's hand. "Then I'll listen to you."
Li Rong was about to get up, but Pei Wenxuan raised his hand and stopped her. "I'll go get the clothes. Don't catch a cold."
Pei Wenxuan said and went to the closet to get the clothes. He ordered a sedan chair to be prepared outside. Then, he turned back to help Li Rong put on the clothes and helped her comb her hair. When he was about to do her makeup, he paused. Li Rong looked up. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just feel that Your Highness is like a lotus flower in clear water. There's no need to decorate too much."
Pei Wenxuan said and put down the eyebrow pencil. "That's it."
Li Rong only thought that he was in a hurry to see Li Chuan. She didn't think much about it. She let him carry her out of the room and put her on the sedan chair.
The two went to the East Palace together. After reporting, Pei Wenxuan sent Li Rong to the door. Li Rong stood in front of the door and heard Li Chuan coughing softly. "Sister, you're here? Quick, let Sister in. "
Li Rong didn't know why, but she suddenly didn't dare to enter.
She grabbed Pei Wenxuan's hand. Pei Wenxuan patted her hand and ordered the servants, "His Highness, the Crown Prince, isn't receiving guests right now. There's a difference between men and women. Prepare a screen."
The servants obeyed and placed the screen in the room. Pei Wenxuan helped Li Rong into the room. As soon as she entered the room, she saw the screen and sensed the person behind it. Li Rong couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Pei Wenxuan helped Li Rong sit down in a chair. Li Rong and Li Chuan sat down across the screen. Li Rong felt as if she had returned to her previous life, the night before Li Chuan announced that she would be the regent of the country.
She placed her hands on the armrest and lowered her head.
Pei Wenxuan covered her with a blanket and squatted in front of her. He looked up at her and said, "Your Highness, there are some roads that you have to walk alone. This humble subject will wait for you outside."
Li Rong gripped the armrest tightly. She looked at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan placed his hand on hers and said softly, "Don't be afraid."
After speaking, Pei Wenxuan stood up and left, closing the door behind him.
Li Rong and Li Chuan were suddenly left in the room. Both of them were very quiet. Li Rong slowly raised her head and looked at the silhouette on the screen. Li Chuan seemed to have sat up. He was separated by the screen, like a ghost that had crossed over two lifetimes.
Li Rong didn't know why, but the rims of her eyes suddenly turned red.
The two of them were silent. After a long time, Li Chuan coughed softly and said, "Sister, are you okay? Are you hurt? "
"I'm fine." Li Rong controlled her tone so that it sounded as if nothing had happened. Li Chuan coughed and caught his breath. He said softly, "Sister, don't worry. I'm fine. It's just a small injury. I'll be fine soon."
"It's good that you're fine."
Li Rong didn't know what to say. After a long silence, Li Chuan hesitated and asked, "Sister, why are you looking for me?"
"It's nothing," Li Rong said softly, "I just had a nightmare. I wanted to see you and say a few words to you. It'll be good to know that you're okay."
"Sister, what did you dream of?"
"It's …" Li Rong hesitated and said slowly, "I dreamed that you killed me."
"How is that possible?" Li Chuan laughed and said decisively, "Sister, don't worry. No matter what, I won't hurt you. If anyone wants to harm you, they'll have to walk over my dead body. "
Li Rong listened and couldn't help but laugh. "I know."
Her eyes were sour and teary. "Since we were young, you said that you wanted to protect me. I remember that year when they said that the princess was going to be sent to the north for a political marriage, I was very afraid. I was afraid that when I grew up, I would be sent to the north for a political marriage. You told me that in the future, you would … "Li Rong's voice was choked with sobs. She paused for a long time before continuing," You would pacify the north and drive those barbarians all the way to the desert. You would not let such a political marriage fall on the heads of any princess of the Xia Kingdom, especially me. "
"Sister, why are you talking about your childhood?"
Li Chuan sat cross-legged and seemed to be happy. "Is it because I'm not good to you now and you're starting to remember the good things and the bad things?"
"No, it's just that when I heard that you were injured because of me, I thought of the good things you did to me when we were young."
"Sister, are you not good to me?" Li Chuan's shadow on the screen had the arrogance of a young man. As he spoke, he gestured. "I remember that when I was young, I was sharing peaches with Yuan Bao. Mother caught us and put me in confinement. She said that I was the Crown Prince. You have to know that I am superior and others are inferior. How could I share peaches with a servant? You also know that the confinement room was dark without any light. You were the only one who kept talking to me at the door. I was confined for three days, and you talked at the door for three days. "
Li Chuan didn't know why, but his voice became hoarse. "Also, didn't I raise a big tabby cat in the palace? That cat was very intelligent. It didn't kiss others, but it would kiss me. I always hid from others to feed it. Later, I was discovered. They wanted me to bury the cat alive. Mother said that this was to teach me a lesson. How could a Crown Prince be partial to something, especially a tabby cat that no one raised? "
"When I didn't bury it, Mother had people snatch the cat and beat it to death. I protected the cat in my arms. I thought that it would be better if they beat me to death. What's the point of being the Crown Prince? Didn't Sister block the beating with her body?"
"But in the end, didn't you still bury the cat alive?"
Li Rong asked. Li Chuan didn't speak. He was silent for a long time. On the screen, he sat cross-legged. He seemed to be looking up at something.
"Because I don't want Sister to be beaten because of me again."
Li Chuan finally spoke. "Isn't it just a cat? If it's buried, then so be it. You can't let Sister and I be buried together with this cat, right?"
Li Rong couldn't speak. She felt tears flowing down her face.
She suddenly realized that all these years, she didn't really understand Li Chuan. She also didn't really understand how her younger brother grew up.
When he was young, she was also young. She didn't understand the various things about the young Li Chuan. When she grew up, she forgot about it.
Just like this cat. She thought that Li Chuan couldn't take the beating. But in fact, at that time, Li Chuan couldn't take the beating, not the punishment in the palace. It was his sister's suffering.
He didn't bury the cat with his own hands. He buried himself.
He didn't want to be the Crown Prince. But for Li Rong, for Shangguan Yue, and for the people he cherished, he became the Crown Prince.
He was soft-hearted, naive, and pure. But for Li Rong, for Shangguan Yue, he learned to be tough and cold.
He restrained his gentleness and naivety. He suppressed all of his love and desire. He buried himself deep in the palace. He hoped that he could raise Li Rong and Shangguan Yue like dirt. He wanted to watch them grow, bloom, and live a stable life.
This was her younger brother.
No matter how cruel and terrifying her younger brother's future was, at the age of 17, he was still the young man behind the screen who was willing to transform his body into mountains and rivers. He was willing to give the people he loved a beautiful scenery.
"Older Sister," Li Chuan lowered his head. He seemed to know that Li Rong was crying. He said in a hoarse voice, "What did you come here to ask?"
"Chuan'er," Li Rong took a deep breath, "If it's destined, one day, you will become a monarch like Father Emperor. No, you will be more outstanding than him. But you will be as cold and suspicious as him. "
"You will kill many people and cause chaos in the world. But you will also succeed in the Northern Expedition and break the shackles of the aristocratic families. You will imprison your mother, kill your uncle, kill half of your clan, and finally poison your older sister. You will lose the people you love, but you will also become the Emperor. Tell me, what should I do? "
"You mean," Li Chuan seemed to understand everything, "I will kill you?"
"Yes." Li Rong smiled, "But this is just a dream. You don't have to …"
Before she finished speaking, she heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed. Li Rong looked up in surprise. She saw Li Chuan step out of the screen with a sword in hand.
He was holding the sword. There were traces of tears on his face.
"Actually, I have long realized that Older Sister is different from before."
Li Chuan looked at Li Rong. He handed the scabbard to Li Rong and pointed the tip of the sword at himself. He knelt in front of Li Rong. His eyes were filled with tears, but they were firm and bright, "If this is the future, please kill me now."
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