"Long time no see."
Pei Wenxuan smiled. "It's been more than three years, right?"
As the two of them spoke, Li Rong gave Li Chuan a look. Then, she led Li Chuan to the edge of the cell, which was the furthest away from Pei Wenxuan. She whispered, "Why is she here?"
"Sister, do you know her?"
Li Chuan glanced at the two people who were talking. Then, she whispered to Li Rong, "I met her at the entrance of Jiu Lu Mountain. She beat me up the moment she saw me."
Li Rong was speechless.
This was the first time she heard someone describe Qin Zhenzhen in such a way.
"And then?"
Li Rong ignored Li Chuan's description and went straight to the point. "She said that she's Qin Lin's sister. I don't know if it's true or not. In any case, after the people from the palace came, when she heard who I was, she immediately said that she would help me invite Qin Lin. But the condition was, "Li Chuan raised his chin," to come and see Pei Wenxuan. "
As he spoke, Li Chuan frowned. "Sis, is there something wrong with them?"
Li Rong was speechless.
Li Chuan was smart for once.
Li Chuan was considered stable in political affairs. However, when it came to relationships, Li Rong felt that he was no different from a six-year-old.
Qin Zhenzhen was talking to Pei Wenxuan. She asked Pei Wenxuan about his condition and Pei Wenxuan answered her questions. After Qin Zhenzhen confirmed that Pei Wenxuan was fine, he heaved a sigh of relief and said, "I'm relieved to know that my brother is fine." Qin Zhenzhen suddenly remembered something. "Did you receive the jade pendant from before?"
"They even gave him a jade pendant," Li Chuan whispered into Li Rong's ear, "Sure enough, there's something wrong with them."
Li Rong tapped his fan on his shoulder and curled his lips into a smile. He looked like he was waiting to watch a good show. He opened his folding fan and used it to cover his face. He approached Li Chuan and muttered, "It's time to watch the show."
"Got it." Pei Wenxuan said slowly, "I know this is not your intention. I don't blame you. You don't have to worry."
"Big Brother Pei, you've misunderstood. This is what I meant." Qin Zhenzhen replied generously and sincerely, "I've always wanted to return this jade pendant to Brother Pei, but I didn't have the time to do so when Brother Pei was in mourning. Now that you're back, I should've personally returned it to you. However, Brother Pei said that now that I've grown up, it's inconvenient for me to see you, so he'll be the one to deliver it to you."
Li Chuan was confused, but Li Rong covered himself with his folding fan. His shoulders were trembling as he laughed silently.
She looked at Qin Zhenzhen, who had a righteous expression on his face. She recalled how Pei Wenxuan had told her that Qin Zhenzhen was forced to do this. She felt as if she had been slapped in the face.
Pei Wenxuan remained silent. After a while, he said stiffly, "Big Brother Qin, you're too kind."
"Yes," Qin Zhenzhen laughed, "Although you don't see Brother Pei often, he's very considerate of you. Brother Pei told me that when the two families were engaged, he didn't expect the Pei family to be so powerful. Now that Brother Pei is the legitimate son of the Pei family, your future is limitless. Brother Pei told me not to hold you back. He didn't want to delay your marriage because of the jokes between the two families. "
Pei Wenxuan was speechless.
Li Rong leaned against the wall and laughed so hard that he rolled over. Li Chuan was at a loss.
After a long time, Li Rong heard Pei Wenxuan's emotionless voice, "Did Qin Lin tell you all this?"
This emotionless voice showed that Pei Wenxuan was trying to control his emotions. Li Rong could feel Pei Wenxuan's urge to tear Qin Lin apart just by listening to his voice.
What did he mean by the legitimate son of the Pei family having a limitless future? That was a lie. If he had a limitless future, why would he only be an eighth-ranked official?
It was obvious that Qin Lin looked down on him and was trying to fool Qin Zhenzhen.
However, Qin Zhenzhen was a lady and didn't care much about the complicated relationships in the outside world. The Pei family was good at keeping up appearances, so it was normal for the sons of aristocratic families to start from the bottom. As for which positions at the bottom had real power and which didn't, this wasn't something that Qin Zhenzhen could understand.
Thus, after Qin Lin's big bluff, Qin Zhenzhen didn't suspect anything at all. He gave her the jade pendant and asked her brother to break off the engagement. Now that she saw that Pei Wenxuan didn't look happy at all, she felt that something was wrong. She hesitated and asked, "What my brother said … Is there something wrong?"
Pei Wenxuan was speechless.
No, nothing was wrong.
However, Pei Wenxuan didn't want to explain to Qin Zhenzhen. After all, the decision had been made, so there was no need to explain. Thus, he replied expressionlessly, "Nothing, I'm just grateful for Big Brother's concern."
Hearing this, Li Rong couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Qin Zhenzhen could not bear it any longer. She turned her head and looked over. She could not understand why this Princess Ping Le was so happy from the beginning.
She couldn't help but ask curiously, "Your Highness, why are you laughing?"
"Nothing," Li Rong calmed down and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. He hurriedly said, "I just thought of something funny."
Pei Wenxuan felt helpless when he heard Li Rong laughing at him. He knew that Li Rong was laughing at him because of the quarrel just now. He felt a little embarrassed and coughed softly, "I'm fine, you don't have to worry. Go back and persuade your brother, the Crown Prince … "
"My brother knows what to do." When Qin Zhenzhen heard Pei Wenxuan mention this, he said, "Big Brother Pei, don't worry. My brother will go, but you'll have to wait for another day."
"Oh, your brother will go, and you're telling me that you'll help me persuade him?" Li Chuan raised his eyebrows as he listened. "Are you lying to me?"
When Qin Zhenzhen heard Li Chuan's words, he immediately lost his composure. He said indifferently, "This commoner only went because I persuaded him. How am I lying?"
"You …"
"Chuan'er," Li Rong reminded Li Chuan, "Don't be rude."
Li Chuan heard this and turned to Li Rong. He was shocked. "Elder Sister, I didn't even say anything, and you're saying that I'm rude?"
"I already know what you're trying to say."
Li Rong raised his eyebrows and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this nonsense. Go back now and find out what's going on in the imperial court. Make preparations tomorrow morning. Since Imperial Father sent me here, it means that the Yang Family is pressuring him. If I'm not wrong, Imperial Father will send you to the northwest tomorrow morning to supervise the battle. You can't agree to it directly. You must keep rejecting it. "
"I understand." Li Chuan pursed his lips. "I've already prepared for this. Don't worry."
"Second Miss Qin," Li Rong raised her eyes and looked at Qin Zhenzhen. "If the Crown Prince is forced to go to the frontlines tomorrow, are you sure your brother will go?"
She stared at Qin Zhenzhen. When Qin Zhenzhen heard this, he bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness, don't worry. My brother is only making things difficult for His Highness because he wants to test His Highness' character. He doesn't mean to refuse."
Li Rong nodded. After thinking for a while, she looked at Li Chuan and said, "If Qin Lin goes to the frontlines with you, don't let anyone know. Quietly put him in the barracks. Don't let anyone know that he's one of your men. "
Li Chuan was stunned. After a while, he reacted and replied, "Understood."
They didn't spend so much effort to bring down the Yang Family for the sake of Li Ming.
Their ultimate goal was to let Li Chuan plant his own men in the northwest. Li Ming would definitely replace the main general in the later stages of the battle and take all the credit. If Qin Lin directly followed Li Chuan, he would probably be pinched by Li Ming as soon as he showed his face.
The safest plan now was for Qin Lin to take his good friend Cui Qinghe to the frontlines and start from scratch with an identity that had nothing to do with Li Chuan. Then, with their wisdom, they would help Li Chuan to solve the hidden danger of the Yang Family at the northwest border. After that, they would attack the Rong Country.
When the northwest border was stabilized, Li Ming would replace the main general. However, it was impossible for him to replace all the generals under him. Qin Lin would stay in the northwest, and they would cooperate with Qin Lin in Huajing. Sooner or later, the military power in the northwest would fall into Qin Lin's hands.
Other than Qin Zhenzhen, everyone present knew about these plans. Li Chuan said respectfully, "Sister, don't worry. I will arrange it."
Li Rong nodded and looked at the sky. "It's getting late. You should go back first."
Li Chuan nodded and turned to Qin Zhenzhen. "Can you leave now?"
Qin Zhenzhen looked at Pei Wenxuan and hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'm relieved to see that Brother Pei is fine. It's inconvenient for us to meet now. I hope Brother Pei can take care of himself. If you need my help in the future, please send someone to Jiu Lu Mountain to pass on your message to my brother. I won't refuse. "
Hearing Qin Zhenzhen's words, Pei Wenxuan's expression was calm. He nodded and replied, "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
Qin Zhenzhen nodded and put on his hat again before returning to Li Chuan's side. Li Chuan looked at Li Rong and said, "Sister, I'm leaving."
Li Rong nodded and Li Chuan led Qin Zhenzhen out. Li Chuan mocked Qin Zhenzhen for being short, but Qin Zhenzhen ignored him coldly. Li Rong looked at the two of them walking away and suddenly called out to Li Chuan, "Chuan 'er."
Li Chuan looked back in confusion and saw Li Rong standing in the cell at the end of the corridor, looking at him quietly. Li Chuan didn't understand. After a long time, he heard Li Rong say, "You can ask someone to send Second Miss Qin back. There are things waiting for you in the palace. You should go back early."
Li Chuan laughed when he heard this, "I know. Do you think I'm a child? Why do you have to order me around?"
Li Chuan waved his hand and left with Qin Zhenzhen.
Li Rong looked at Li Chuan's back and stood there in a daze. Although Pei Wenxuan didn't see Li Rong's expression, he could guess what she was thinking. "You don't want the Crown Prince and Second Miss Qin to meet again?"
This time, he paid attention to his words and didn't call her 'Zhenzhen'.
Li Rong heard his words and said calmly, "You want to do it again?"
"We met a little too early this time." Pei Wenxuan was a little worried. "I don't know what will happen."
Li Rong didn't say anything. She understood Pei Wenxuan's worry. It was just like how she had changed everything during the Spring Banquet. Now that Li Chuan and Qin Zhenzhen had met so early, no one knew what would happen.
In her previous life, Li Chuan and Qin Zhenzhen met a year later.
Qin Zhenzhen entered the palace as a concubine and became Li Chuan's concubine. When she first entered the East Palace, Qin Zhenzhen and Li Chuan didn't get along. Li Chuan almost didn't see her and she was often bullied in the East Palace. Later, Pei Wenxuan helped to matchmake Qin Zhenzhen with Li Chuan.
Li Chuan didn't know what was wrong with him. In the past, he didn't understand love. After he got together with Qin Zhenzhen, he suddenly went crazy and only thought of this person.
However, under the influence of love, there was not only love but also a sharp blade.
Therefore, one year after Li Chuan ascended the throne, Qin Zhenzhen gave birth to Li Ping and died in the harem.
On the day of her death, Li Chuan hugged her body and refused to let go. Li Rong went over and dragged her out of Li Chuan's arms.
After Qin Zhenzhen died, Li Chuan insisted on burying her as an empress and placed her in his imperial mausoleum in advance. At that time, everyone thought that Li Chuan had passed away and thought that Li Chuan would get better in a few years.
However, he didn't. His temper became worse and worse, and he became more and more violent. The Crown Prince, who had been known for his benevolence in his youth, eventually walked the same path as Li Ming.
He used military force to suppress the aristocratic families and suppressed the imperial court. Only Li Rong could slightly control him.
However, after the Su Family case, the siblings became estranged.
After the Su Family case, she was bedridden due to her injuries. Li Chuan came to visit her.
At that time, he was already very thin. They were separated by a curtain. Li Rong looked at his figure and felt that he was like a silhouette.
He spoke a little absentmindedly, and for some reason, he talked about Qin Zhenzhen.
That day, he spoke a lot, just like when he was young. At the end of his sentence, he suddenly opened his mouth.
He said, "Sis, there's a beast in my heart. I can't contain it. I'm afraid of it, and I'm also afraid of myself. I'm sorry for hurting you. "
"Fortunately," Li Chuan chuckled, "I've already done what I should do. In the future, I'll leave everything to you. "
After he finished speaking, he stood up and left her room like an alchemist who had left the world.
Not long after the Su Family was buried, Li Chuan announced that he would become a monk. Pei Wenxuan brought a group of officials to the Grand Imperial Residence and knelt for an entire day. Finally, they reached a compromise. Li Chuan wouldn't become a monk, but he also wouldn't manage the affairs of the residence.
For the next twenty-five years, Li Chuan didn't attend morning court. Every day, he was immersed in the illusions described by alchemists, trying to find a way to revive the dead.
For the rest of her life, she thought about it countless times. If she hadn't let Li Chuan experience the Crown Prince being deposed, and if she hadn't let him meet Qin Zhenzhen, would her younger brother's life have been the same as when he was young? Forever filled with hope, like the fire of the cold sun, illuminating the world?
However, at that time, there was no turning back. She didn't want to think about things that couldn't be changed, so she continued to muddle along.
But now, it was different. She really did have a choice.
The two of them leaned against the same wall, standing on opposite sides. Li Rong didn't say anything. Pei Wenxuan looked up at the afternoon sky. After a long time, Li Rong slowly said, "This time, you won't let her enter the palace, right?"
Pei Wenxuan didn't say anything. Li Rong was a bit puzzled. "Why aren't you responding?"
"I'm looking at you."
Pei Wenxuan said flatly. Li Rong was a bit surprised. "Why are you looking at me?"
"If you agree, I'll talk to Qin Lin. If they still want her to enter the palace, then that's her business. As for whether or not you want to interfere and prevent her from entering the palace, that's your business. "
Li Rong was confused. She didn't understand.
She paused for a moment, thinking left and right. Then, she carefully said, "I'm sorry. Can you … explain it a bit more clearly? I don't really understand. "
When Pei Wenxuan heard this, he lowered his eyes. "I shouldn't have interfered back then."
Li Rong was even more confused. She vaguely understood the literal meaning of this sentence. Pei Wenxuan seemed to be saying that he didn't intend to interfere with Qin Zhenzhen anymore.
But how was this possible?
Li Rong was at a loss.
Not to mention the importance of Qin Zhenzhen in Pei Wenxuan's heart. Even if Qin Zhenzhen didn't mean much to Pei Wenxuan and was just a friend, according to Pei Wenxuan's personality, it was impossible for him to know that Qin Zhenzhen would die in the palace and watch Qin Zhenzhen die.
And what did he mean by 'if she agrees'?
What did she need to agree to?
Since when did Pei Wenxuan need her approval for his matters? Was it her business?
Li Rong was completely confused. She didn't even know how many questions to ask and from which angle to ask.
Pei Wenxuan leaned against the wall and lowered his head without saying a word. He knew that Li Rong wanted to ask him. His heart was beating a little fast and he was a little nervous. He somewhat hoped that Li Rong would ask him the question. After all, this was something that he hadn't found the right time to ask after so many years.
But he didn't know whether he should answer her or not. After all, so many years had passed. Saying these things would only make people sad and regretful. There was no other use.
The two of them were silent for a while. Li Rong finally said, "Well, do you mean that you will only interfere if I let you, and if I don't let you, you won't interfere?"
Pei Wenxuan lowered his head. After a moment, he softly replied, "Yes."
"Wh … Why?"
Li Rong stuttered a little. Pei Wenxuan lowered his eyes and slowly said, "There are boundaries between people. Everyone's body is like a spider's web, and a web involves other people. Everyone has to move within these boundaries. If you go beyond it, you will cause pain to the other side."
Pei Wenxuan's words were implicit, but Li Rong understood. She gently leaned against the wall and listened to Pei Wenxuan's rare serious and calm words.
"She has her brother, her husband, and herself. She should have taken responsibility for her life. Every choice she makes will bring about the results. It won't be good for anyone to interfere."
"I have my responsibilities, no matter where they come from. Now that I've agreed to marry you, I will restrict myself as a husband. "
"Until our contract ends?" Li Rong chuckled.
Pei Wenxuan was silent. After a moment, he lightly said, "Perhaps."
Li Rong listened to Pei Wenxuan's words. She pulled a praying mat to a corner and sat cross-legged. She tidied her clothes and sighed with emotion. "Pei Wenxuan, you didn't live the past 50 years in vain. If you had this awareness early on, we might have been able to grow old together in our previous lives. "
Pei Wenxuan's eyelashes fluttered when he heard this.
He didn't know why, but he felt that Li Rong's words were like a sharp blade that instantly pierced through him. For a moment, he couldn't tell where this feeling came from. Perhaps it was regret, perhaps it was dissatisfaction with his previous life, or perhaps it was the unspoken feelings from when he was young in his previous life that had been dormant for many years. Then, at some point, they would retaliate and bite him viciously, leaving him dripping with blood.
The pain made Pei Wenxuan subconsciously calm down. He was used to extreme emotions and would enter a state of extreme calmness.
Li Rong tidied his clothes, completely unaware of Pei Wenxuan's feelings. He continued to smile. "I knew that you were smart back then and that you would figure things out sooner or later. Sure enough, with your current appearance and thoughts, many girls will fall for you."
"You knew that I would figure it out?" Pei Wenxuan coldly asked. Li Rong waved his fan and replied, "I'm quite good at judging people."
"Then what do you think of me?"
"Now or in the past?"
"In the past."
Upon hearing this, Li Rong seriously thought about it. He tried hard to recall the Pei Wenxuan from 30 years ago and slowly said, "You were quite a good person back then. You were just stubborn and couldn't think things through."
"What do you mean?"
"Back then, you promised to take care of Qin Zhenzhen. You thought that a gentleman couldn't go back on his word. You didn't care about your own situation and just wanted to help him." As Li Rong spoke, he poured himself a cup of tea and analyzed, "And you always thought that the person you liked was Qin Zhenzhen. When you saw me, you suddenly fell in love with me. Your heart collapsed and you were conflicted. You couldn't accept it. How could you be such a fickle man? So, there's nothing wrong with your motives. You just couldn't think things through. "
Pei Wenxuan listened to Li Rong casually describe everything in the past. He lowered his eyes and listened to Li Rong's evaluation of him. It was extremely jarring. However, he clearly knew that the reason for this jarring feeling came from the fact that everything Li Rong said was true.
"At that time," he said calmly without any emotion, "you knew that I liked you."
"I'm not stupid."
Li Rong blew at the green leaves on the tea. "If you didn't like me, would you be so good to me? It's just that I was shy back then and thought that you liked me. I wasn't sure. "
"Then you …" Pei Wenxuan's voice was dry. "Why didn't you wait for me?"
If she had been willing to wait, he might have been able to see his heart clearly and learn to grow up. They wouldn't have ended up like this in their previous life.
Li Rong couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. "You're funny. I'm not a junk collector. Why should I wait for you?"
"Pei Wenxuan." Li Rong looked at himself in the cup and said calmly, "Actually, there's something that you can't see clearly."
"In our previous life, it wasn't because you let me down. I left in disappointment, gave up on myself, and spent the rest of my life with a eunuch. It was because I could have had you, but I chose not to. I found a new love and spent the rest of my life with the one I loved. "
"A woman hates her rival in love because she feels that she has no chance of winning against a very good woman in her current state."
"So she always hopes that her rival is disgusting and that her lover is blind. She hopes that one day, her lover will wake up and realize how beautiful she is. But I don't need such comfort."
Li Rong smiled gently.
"I know that it's easy for me to beat Qin Zhenzhen. If I want you, I don't even have to do anything. I just have to wait. But I don't want to."
Li Rong looked up and saw the rosy clouds filling the sky. He said, "I, Li Rong, am a member of the royal family. I'm not the most beautiful in the world, but I'm famous in Huajing. Money and power are just decorations. I'm educated and smart. If you ask me why I don't wait for you, you should be asking …"
Li Rong drank the tea in the cup in one gulp. "Why should I wait for you? Even if Lord Pei is handsome, "Li Rong drawled with a hint of playfulness," I won't lose my mind because of lust. "
Pei Wenxuan listened to Li Rong's words. Her words were calm and open-minded. Even if she was mocking him and talking about the unpleasant past, it still made him feel relaxed and happy.
Pei Wenxuan crossed his arms and listened to Li Rong. He looked down at his feet and thought for a long time. He couldn't help but chuckle.
He suddenly felt as if he had met Li Rong for the first time.
Li Rong was different from when she was young. She had the persistence and principles of the twenty-year-old Li Rong, but she had the open-mindedness and calmness of the twenty-year-old Li Rong.
In the past, they were always arguing and quarreling. Whenever he saw Su Yongqing by her side, he couldn't control himself.
Now that he put aside his prejudice and looked at her, he actually felt an indescribable admiration and affection.
This kind of affection had nothing to do with love. It was just that he felt that it was hard to look away from a woman like Li Rong.
When Li Rong saw that Pei Wenxuan didn't answer for a long time, she couldn't help but think that she might have poked Pei Wenxuan's heart. He was used to being petty. Now that his heart had been poked, he probably wouldn't speak for a long time.
She felt a little helpless and secretly scolded this person for being so petty. She stood up and said, "Do you still want to talk? If not, I'm leaving. "
Pei Wenxuan didn't say anything. Li Rong stood up and flipped through a book. She sat by the table and began to read a novel while eating melon seeds.
After a while, she looked up and found a roll of paper in the corner of the cell.
The paper was rolled up with a red ribbon. It looked neat and tidy, as if it was a gift for someone. It was very beautiful.
Li Rong was a little confused. She walked forward and bent down to pick up the rolled up words. She saw that it was Pei Wenxuan's handwriting. It said:
To Her Royal Highness the Princess.
Pei Wenxuan's handwriting was used to turning something rotten into something magical. No matter how ordinary something was, with his handwriting, it would appear somewhat elegant.
Li Rong pursed her lips and felt that it was a little funny. She pulled open the ribbon and opened the paper.
The paper slowly unfolded. An 18-year-old Li Rong wearing a palace dress with a peony hairpin turned her head sideways and smiled.
She looked like an 18-year-old, but that smile wasn't the 18-year-old Li Rong.
Bright and beautiful with a myriad of charm. Li Rong couldn't tell when she looked like this.
Pei Wenxuan's handwriting was mentioned below the painting.
Only the peony is truly beautiful. When it blooms, it moves the capital.
Li Rong couldn't help but laugh when she saw this sentence.
Pei Wenxuan stood in front of the desk and carefully outlined Li Rong's lines on the painting.
In fact, there was one thing that he didn't dare to face in his previous life. In his life, he never felt that there was any woman more beautiful than Li Rong.
Only the peony was truly beautiful. In his heart, there was only one woman who was as beautiful as the peony, and only Li Rong.
Qin Zhenzhen might be beautiful, but that kind of beauty never made his heart pound, nor did it amaze him.
Li Rong was the only one.
But she bloomed early and withered quickly. In the end, she became a withered branch that remained in his memory. He almost forgot those beautiful appearances until he suddenly looked back and suddenly saw them.
The peony had always been in full bloom. It was just that she didn't want him to see them anymore.
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