When Pei Wenxuan heard Li Rong's words, he saw that Li Rong's expression was strange. He looked Li Rong up and down and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with you? Were you bullied in the palace? "
"What nonsense are you thinking about?" Li Rong used her fan to knock Pei Wenxuan's head. She turned and said, "Let's go."
The carriage stopped outside the palace gates. Pei Wenxuan chased after Li Rong and held an umbrella over her head. He said somewhat unhappily, "If you want to talk, then talk. Why did you knock my head?"
"I like to."
Li Rong cast a sidelong glance at him. Pei Wenxuan was somewhat helpless, "I noticed that you are fine with other people. Why do you always get physical with me? Your Highness, you have to change this habit of yours."
"If you have a problem, look at yourself more." When Li Rong heard Pei Wenxuan's complaints, she didn't know why, but she felt that her previous emotions had been diluted. She only thought about how to scold the person in front of her. So as she boarded the carriage, she educated Pei Wenxuan, "Think more about why I don't find trouble with other people and only find trouble with you."
"Ai, I'm very clear about this problem." Pei Wenxuan sighed. The two sat in the carriage. Pei Wenxuan closed the umbrella and Li Rong poured tea for herself. She heard Pei Wenxuan say helplessly, "I can only blame myself for being too lovable. Your Highness also can't keep your heart."
Hearing this, Li Rong was about to spit out a mouthful of tea. She forcibly stopped herself in time and choked on the tea, causing her to cough rapidly.
Seeing her cough rapidly, Pei Wenxuan stopped fooling around and hurriedly came forward. He lightly patted her back and said, "Next time, don't drink tea when you talk."
Li Rong looked up and glared at him. Her pair of beautiful and bright eyes were a bit watery because of her coughing. She suddenly lost her usual imposing manner and seemed to be filled with autumn water. Pei Wenxuan didn't know why, but suddenly, a shiver ran from his heart all the way to his fingertips. After touching the warm and soft skin under his hand, the shiver went back and forth, causing his bones to soften and his mind to waver.
Li Rong caught her breath. She didn't know why Pei Wenxuan was staring at her. She couldn't help but poke Pei Wenxuan with her fan and asked curiously, "What are you looking at?"
Pei Wenxuan immediately returned to his senses. He calmly stood up and sat to the side, a bit further away from Li Rong. He smiled and said, "It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered something. Oh, "Pei Wenxuan changed the topic," Why were you standing at the palace gate in a daze just now? "
When Li Rong heard Pei Wenxuan's question, she smiled and said, "Today, I asked Imperial Mother about the palace banquet. She said that Consort Rou mentioned it to His Majesty. I'm guessing that Consort Rou wanted to ask for an imperial edict to bestow a marriage at the palace banquet."
"How could such a small matter make you so worried?" Pei Wenxuan couldn't believe it. He looked her up and down, "It's not like you."
Li Rong was too lazy to pay attention to him. She took out the chess box from the side and said, "I was bored on the way here, so I played a game."
Pei Wenxuan gladly accepted Li Rong's invitation. He sat across from her, took out a chess piece, and played black and white with her. Then, they began to play.
The black and white chess pieces crisscrossed. Li Rong looked at the chessboard and gradually calmed down. Whether it was happiness or sadness, it seemed to have become much more distant. At this moment, Li Rong asked, "Speaking of which, I've always been curious."
"Hm?"
"In my previous life, why did Chuan'er become like that?"
Li Rong slowly said, "He became the Emperor, unified the north, and eradicated the noble families. He had everything he wanted." Li Rong raised her head and looked at Pei Wenxuan, "Why did he still live such a painful life?"
Pei Wenxuan didn't say anything. Li Rong frowned, "Is it because Qin Zhenzhen is dead? How can a cute person remember for so long? "
"Does Your Highness know why His Majesty must unify the north?"
Pei Wenxuan looked at the chessboard and only asked this question. Li Rong thought, "Because the north is uneasy all year round and the people suffer?"
"Of course that's the reason." Pei Wenxuan smiled. He glanced at Li Rong and said, "But other than that?"
Li Rong shook her head, "He didn't tell me."
"One year, when I was drinking with the Crown Prince, he mentioned to me that in the eighth year of the Xuanzhi era, the north and Da Xia were at war. In order to maintain stability, the noble families chose to negotiate peace. Therefore, Princess Yunyan and her relatives went to the north. Da Xia gave them 20 million taels of silver, 500 beautiful women, and cattle, sheep, horses, and silk. A year later, Princess Yunyan died in the north. His Majesty announced that she died of illness, but everyone in the palace knew that Princess Yunyan died in the harem of Rong Country. "
"Your Highness told me that that night, you were so scared that you didn't dare to sleep. You kept asking the Empress if one day you would also be like Princess Yunyan and go to the north with her relatives and die."
Li Rong's eyelashes trembled slightly, and his voice was flat, "I forgot."
"Your Highness remembers that from that moment on, Your Highness told himself that one day, he would definitely go to the north and beat the barbarians in the north until they bowed their heads and didn't dare to offend him again."
"I didn't know," Li Rong chuckled, "It turned out that his idea of going to the north had been so early."
"Therefore, Your Highness is different from you." Pei Wenxuan surrounded Li Rong's chess pieces on the chessboard. He raised his hand and slowly said, "Everything he wants to have and do in the imperial court, most of it stems from some feelings in his heart. He wants to go to the north in order to protect his subjects and his family. He wants to fight against the aristocratic families to ensure that what he wants to achieve can be achieved. But in the end, he seems to have achieved his goal in the imperial court, but he also lost what he originally wanted forever. Why is he happy? "
"Lost Qin Zhenzhen?" Li Rong laughed mockingly.
"He lost you, mother, wife, and himself. Even if he sits on the mountains and rivers, it means nothing to Your Highness."
"He can't find his way back. If you can't understand this, you will never understand Your Highness."
Li Rong didn't speak. He quietly looked at Pei Wenxuan, "What do you mean by lost me?"
Pei Wenxuan looked up and stared at Li Rong.
"Your Highness," he smiled helplessly, "Time has changed not only Your Highness."
Li Rong was stunned. Pei Wenxuan lowered his eyes and said indifferently, "You and I have also changed."
Li Rong didn't speak. Her expression was calm. Pei Wenxuan's words didn't seem to affect her at all. She calmly placed her chess piece and then reached out to cup the tea. But the moment she touched the teacup, she found that her hand was unconsciously trembling.
Pei Wenxuan pretended not to see. He looked at the chessboard with a calm expression.
He looked at the chessboard for a while, then gently pulled up his sleeve and placed the chess piece on the chessboard.
"Those who abandoned me can't stay. What's done is done."
"Your Highness," Pei Wenxuan looked up at her with a smile in his eyes, "It doesn't matter if you lose this game. Let's start another game?"
Li Rong didn't speak. After a long time, she smiled and placed the chess piece on the chessboard.
In the blink of an eye, Pei Wenxuan lost most of his chess pieces.
Li Rong looked at the chessboard and raised her chess piece. She smiled and looked at Pei Wenxuan, "You're the one who lost. I didn't."
Pei Wenxuan stared blankly at the chessboard, then reacted, "You deliberately teased me just now?"
Li Rong saw the shock on Pei Wenxuan's face and immediately laughed. She said happily, "All is fair in war. Today, I didn't talk to you. How did I win?"
"Sure enough, only women and villains are difficult to deal with." Pei Wenxuan folded his hands in his sleeves and shook his head, "I've learned today. In the future, I won't be able to talk to you when we play chess."
"Don't." Li Rong smiled and said, "Talk to me more. I like it."
Pei Wenxuan showed a look of disgust. He sat to the side and didn't want to talk to Li Rong.
Li Rong and he ridiculed each other and spoke intermittently until they arrived at the Princess fu. After they got off the carriage, Li Rong returned to her room first. She went to sleep first. Pei Wenxuan went to work for a while before returning to his room. When he arrived at the door, he saw Jing Mei and Jing Lan standing at the door. He waved at Jing Mei. Jing Mei came forward with some doubts. Pei Wenxuan lowered his voice and said, "Did Her Highness have a conflict with the Crown Prince in the palace today?"
"No." Jing Mei shook her head and said honestly, "We just talked for a while. It seems that His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't want to take a secondary fei. After we talked, Her Highness became unhappy. You should comfort her."
As she said this, Jing Mei winked and said, "Her Highness became much happier when she talked to Prince Consort."
Pei Wenxuan smiled and didn't say much. He only said, "Don't tell Her Highness that I asked you this."
"This servant understands. Prince Consort is secretly concerned."
Pei Wenxuan was a little embarrassed by Jing Mei's words. He coughed lightly and waved his hand, saying, "Don't make trouble. You can leave."
Jing Mei pursed her lips and smiled. She returned to her original position. Pei Wenxuan pushed the door open and entered. Li Rong had already fallen asleep. He secretly washed up and returned to his bed.
He lay on the bed for a while. Li Rong said in a muffled voice, "You're only sleeping now?"
Pei Wenxuan responded in a low voice in the night. Li Rong had her back to him and was sleeping on the other bed. Her back was very thin and she looked very small.
In fact, when Jing Mei said this, Pei Wenxuan could roughly guess what Li Rong and Li Chuan had talked about. He knew how important Li Chuan was in Li Rong's heart. He also knew Li Rong's temper. After today's conversation, Li Rong thought about Li Chuan's past life and was probably not very happy.
He instinctively felt that he should persuade Li Rong, but he didn't know what to say. Li Rong was a person. If she was sad, she liked to hide it and not let others know. If he said it too obviously, she would be angry and embarrassed. He was afraid that it would have the opposite effect.
But if he didn't say a word …
He also felt that Li Rong in this life wasn't much different from her past life. Whether he was here or not, Li Rong had to go through all the pain alone.
When he thought about it, he felt that he was being unkind.
Although Li Rong was arrogant and willful, she was actually very kind and treated him well. He owed Li Rong a favor, so he should take care of her a little more.
Thus, he thought for a moment and finally said somewhat clumsily, "Your Highness."
"Yes?"
"I came to pick you up today. Are you happy?"
When Li Rong heard this, she slowly opened her eyes in the night.
She wanted to tease him a little, but then she suddenly remembered the moment when he stood behind her and gave her warmth. She couldn't open her mouth for a moment, so she softly replied, "It's alright."
Pei Wenxuan laughed. He supported himself up and said happily, "Then every time you go out, I'll pick you up. That way, when you come back, you'll have someone to accompany you. It won't be boring. "
When Li Rong heard Pei Wenxuan's words, she turned over and looked at Pei Wenxuan seriously.
"Pei Wenxuan," she stared at him, "tell me the truth."
"Yes?"
"Are you asking for money again?"
Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong's serious eyes and was momentarily speechless. He felt that his good intentions were being treated as ill intent, so he simply turned over and pulled the quilt. He said in a muffled voice, "The dog bites Lu Dongbin."
Li Rong was happy to hear this. She lay flat on the bed. After a while, she kicked Pei Wenxuan and said, "In the future, before you and I go our separate ways, come and pick me up every day. Do you hear me?"
"I'm not going."
Pei Wenxuan closed his eyes and said, "Go to sleep. You can have everything in your dreams."
Li Rong knew that he was being sarcastic, so she ignored him and fell asleep with a smile.
When she was lying on the bed, she didn't know why, but her heart was much happier. She felt that no matter how bad her previous life was, it seemed that it could be changed.
Even Pei Wenxuan, this dog thief, could talk to her so nicely. What else could not be changed?
Li Rong closed her eyes and fell asleep with a smile.
The two stayed at home for a few days. Pei Wenxuan drank tea and played chess with her. They strolled around and their wedding leave ended.
Pei Wenxuan began to attend court. During the time that he was attending court, Li Rong went to various tea houses to listen to the conversations of the scholars. She wanted to see if she could meet a few people that she could use. She also wanted to visit other aunts who were living outside to get in touch with them.
In the blink of an eye, it was the seventh day of the seventh month. The Empress held a banquet in the palace and invited all the young men and women of suitable age to enter the palace to celebrate Qixi. Li Rong had been waiting for this day for a long time. She had prepared early and led Pei Wenxuan into the palace in advance. After entering the palace, Li Rong sorted out the people in the palace in her mind. Then she looked up at Pei Wenxuan and said, "I gave you so much money. You should have some use for it, right?"
Pei Wenxuan helplessly pointed out two names for her and said, "These two are the people who will be serving today. If you need anything, you can look for them."
Li Rong nodded and said, "Did you find out anything special about today's banquet?"
"Everything else is normal, but I heard one thing." Pei Wenxuan leaned against the table and looked at the booklet in his hand. He said slowly, "This time, the palace prepared many identical incense burners and added a lot of spices."
"En?"
Li Rong heard this and thought for a while before saying, "They plan to add incense to the banquet?"
"If they want to ask for an edict to grant a marriage, they naturally need a reason."
Pei Wenxuan said directly, "I heard that the Consort Rou is recommending a girl who is very good at mixing incense."
Li Rong understood and smiled, "It seems that tonight will be very interesting."
Pei Wenxuan didn't say anything else. Li Rong leaned over and looked at the booklet he was reading. She found that it was all about people.
In her previous life, Pei Wenxuan was a censor. This was his old profession. Li Rong propped up her chin and said, "You are very busy."
"A new broom sweeps clean." Pei Wenxuan smiled, "His Majesty wants to use me as a knife. Naturally, I have to help him see some blood. If I don't work hard, can I be promoted? Move over a little. "Pei Wenxuan raised his hand and pulled the curtain open a little. He looked at Li Rong with disdain," You are blocking my light. "
Li Rong shrugged. She moved to the side and picked up a book. After reading for a while, she felt bored again. When she thought of the banquet in the palace, she couldn't calm down. She turned to Pei Wenxuan and said, "Don't you have any other feelings?"
"What feelings?" Pei Wenxuan looked at the document, unperturbed. Li Rong poked him with her fan, "You are going to see your Little Sister Zhenzhen today."
Pei Wenxuan's movements stiffened. He raised his head and frowned, "Aren't you bored?"
Li Rong saw that he was really angry. She quickly straightened up and coughed softly, "It's just a casual chat. Today is the Chinese Valentine's Day. Don't look at the documents. "Li Rong took the booklet from his hand and looked at him," Let's talk about something private. Qin Zhenzhen is going to see the Chuan'er today. Aren't you worried? "
"What do I have to worry about?"
"What if they like each other?"
"Isn't that what you are worried about?" Pei Wenxuan looked at her coldly and went to get his booklet. Li Rong saw that he didn't want to talk to her at all. She held her chin and said, "I am thinking for you. If you don't make the first move and cultivate a relationship with Qin Zhenzhen, what if she gets married after we divorce?"
"What does it have to do with me?"
Pei Wenxuan said directly. He didn't wait for Li Rong to speak and immediately said, "Instead of worrying about this, you should worry more about how you can talk to Su Yongqing tonight."
Li Rong choked. Pei Wenxuan saw that she was speechless and raised his eyebrows with a smile, "But it's not good for you to say too much now. Don't worry, I will help you hint to him tonight."
"Hint … hint to what?" Li Rong was a little scared. Pei Wenxuan saw that she was scared. He pursed his lips and smiled. He looked down at the booklet and didn't say anything.
Li Rong was quiet for a while. She couldn't help but poke Pei Wenxuan with her fan, "What do you want to hint to him?"
"I want to hint to him that we are fake husband and wife and that we will divorce in the future. This way, when you come into contact with him in the future, he won't care about me."
Pei Wenxuan looked down at the booklet. He didn't know why, but when he said this, he felt a little depressed.
However, he controlled his emotions. He thought that he didn't like Su Yongqing for a long time. It had become a habit. If he wanted to help Li Rong, he had to adjust his mentality.
Li Rong heard that Pei Wenxuan was so good at planning and executing. She coughed softly and said, "Actually, I think that Su Yongqing and I aren't …"
Pei Wenxuan looked over. Li Rong suddenly remembered what Pei Wenxuan said that night.
She was afraid that Pei Wenxuan would nag at her again. Also, she vaguely felt that maybe if she followed Pei Wenxuan's words and tried again, it might not be … a bad thing?
She didn't know the true face of Mount Lu, but she was in it. Pei Wenxuan was an outsider. Perhaps he saw things more clearly than she did.
Just like how she saw Pei Wenxuan more clearly than Pei Wenxuan saw himself.
Although she felt a little strange, she reluctantly accepted it and said, "Then I will have a good talk with Qin Zhenzhen."
"No need." Pei Wenxuan immediately said, "It's not time yet."
"Indeed." Li Rong nodded and said, "I also think it's a little early. So you don't have to say too much to Su Yongqing. "
"Just mention it casually."
The two of them spoke in unison and reached an inexplicable tacit understanding.
The two of them chatted all the way to the palace. When they arrived, there were already many people. Pei Wenxuan saw his colleagues and smiled and chatted with them. Li Rong greeted him and went to the female guest area.
The male guest area of the banquet was in the main hall, while the female guest area was in the imperial garden. When Li Rong arrived, many noble ladies had already arrived.
Shangguan Ya was of noble birth and was talking with the eldest daughter of the Su Family and several princesses. Her voice was not loud and she spoke calmly, but because her voice was clear, Li Rong recognized Shangguan Ya's voice as soon as she entered the garden. She looked up and saw that Shangguan Ya had heard the sound of her arrival. When she looked over, she only glanced at her briefly and then looked away as if she had never seen her before.
Then she stood up with everyone else and bowed to Li Rong.
Her posture was elegant and dignified, and she was no different from the person in Li Rong's memory. However, she was completely different from the girl from the gambling house.
Li Rong wanted to laugh for a moment, but she suppressed her laughter and walked over to Shangguan Ya. She held her hand and said, "Younger Sister Ah Ya is also here today."
Shangguan Ya's body stiffened. She forced a smile and said, "Your Highness is so early."
"Younger Sister Ah Ya is not late either. Is this your first time entering the palace? "
"I came here once when I was young." Shangguan Ya slowly calmed down and relaxed a lot. She started chatting with Li Rong.
After the two of them chatted for a while, most of the guests arrived. Li Rong saw Qin Zhenzhen not far away. He was talking and laughing with a few ladies as he walked in. He was then led to a seat behind Shangguan Ya.
There were too many female guests, so there were several rows of seats. With Qin Zhenzhen's status, she naturally could not sit in the first row. She retreated to the first seat in the second row, which happened to be behind Shangguan Ya.
Li Rong looked at Qin Zhenzhen speculatively. She saw that Qin Zhenzhen acted as if he had never seen her before. He looked straight ahead and bowed respectfully, "Greetings to Your Highness."
Then she looked at Shangguan Ya and bowed politely, "Greetings to Miss Shangguan."
Li Rong and Shangguan Ya returned the bow as a greeting. Qin Zhenzhen sat down in his seat, looked down, and did not say anything else.
The sound of the Empress entering the banquet came from outside. Li Rong did not stay any longer. She stood up and smiled at Shangguan Ya, "Bengong will return to the banquet. Ah Ya meimei, please help yourself."
Shangguan Ya bowed and sent off Li Rong. Li Rong sat opposite Shangguan Ya. Then she saw the Empress lead the other four Gui fei to their seats. Everyone stood up and bowed. After the Empress sat down, she had everyone stand up and sit down.
"Today is the Qixi Festival. You should be celebrating at home. But bengong thought that it would be better for everyone to have fun together. That's why bengong specially invited everyone here," the Empress said with a smile, "Don't be angry."
"Muhou is joking," Li Rong finished the Empress's words, "Young ladies all like to have fun. You invited everyone here. Everyone is very happy."
After Li Rong said this, there were voices of agreement from below. The banquet became lively for a while. Everyone started to talk.
The Empress relaxed and announced the start of the banquet according to procedure. In the main hall, Li Ming was the host. He led Li Chuan to the banquet and the young officials.
After the banquet, the group of young ladies started to play. They took a needle and thread to thread for a while and then started to make wishes.
Li Rong was already married, and she had indeed lost interest in these things. She sat where she was and watched the group of girls bustling about.
Consort Rou drank some wine and seemed to be a bit drunk. She looked at the Empress and said, "Niangniang, it's about time. Why don't you have someone bring the incense burner and let everyone compete?"
When Li Rong heard this, she looked at Consort Rou. The others were also confused. Only the Empress seemed to have known this and nodded, "Then have someone bring it up."
When Consort Rou heard this, she immediately called everyone back to their seats and then said, "In the past, at the Qixi banquet, everyone wanted to have some fun. Now that it's a palace banquet, there are too many people. The usual drumming and poetry won't work. So today, Niangniang, the poetry will be changed to incense. Today, the unmarried ladies will make incense and send it to the main hall. His Highness the Crown Prince will choose one, two, three, and there will be a great reward. How about it? "
When everyone heard this, they paused. Then, different expressions appeared on their faces.
As long as one wasn't an idiot, they would understand Consort Rou's meaning. The Empress summoned all the unmarried ladies into the palace and had them make incense for the Crown Prince to choose. Now that the Crown Prince wasn't married and Li Rong was just married, it was obvious what she meant.
Thus, some people were happy and restless, while others were confused and didn't know what to do.
Shangguan Ya's Su Rongwen and other noble ladies mostly had calm expressions. They probably already knew about this, or Qin Zhenzhen. It was as if they were completely uninvolved and had a calm expression that said, "This has nothing to do with me."
Li Rong looked at everyone's expressions and smiled playfully. She suddenly said, "Imperial Mother, I don't think it's appropriate."
When she spoke, everyone looked over. Li Rong smiled and said, "Everyone is here to participate in the banquet. Why can they make incense and receive rewards, but I can't? I also want to participate. "
"Rong 'er, why are you blindly interfering?" The Empress frowned, indicating for her to stop fooling around.
When Li Rong saw the Empress's expression, she knew that this matter was probably decided by the Empress and Consort Rou.
Consort Rou's goal was very simple. She wanted to ask for her niece's hand in marriage, so she needed a reason. Letting Li Chuan choose her niece's incense was the best excuse.
The Empress naturally agreed because she could control the situation and let Li Chuan choose Shangguan Ya's incense. Then, the Shangguan family would beat them at their own game and ask for a marriage between Shangguan Ya and the Crown Prince.
They each had their own plans and thought of the position of Crown Princess as a reward. Then, they made the same decision.
Li Rong didn't know if Li Chuan knew about this, but she was sure that no matter who was present today, Shangguan Ya, Consort Rou, and Qin Zhenzhen could be chosen.
Thus, Li Rong didn't back down. She smiled and looked at the Empress, "Including me isn't much. Imperial Mother, why don't you agree?"
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