Li Sisi and Xiao Yunchen rode their horses side by side.

"Chenchen, how did you and brother know that Nian Nian and I came here?" Li Sisi was puzzled. When she and Nian Nian left the house, they only said that they were going to the Xinwang Mansion to express congratulations.

"Did you go to the Xinwang Mansion to ask?"

Xiao Yunchen said truthfully, "I received a letter saying that you were meeting the Fourth Prince privately at his villa outside Beijing."

"Ah?" Li Sisi was shocked. "Who told you that nonsense?"

"It should be Wen Luoxin who lives in Prince Xin's Mansion." Xiao Yunchen took out the letter from his hand.

Li Sisi quickly took it and looked at it carefully.

There was no signature on it, only a simple sentence, which was obviously intended to sow discord.

Li Sisi suddenly frowned: "How do you know it was Wen Luoxin who did it?"

"Look at the handwriting. It looks like hers."

"Oh~ You can recognize Wen Luoxin's handwriting?" Li Sisi said in a tone, raising her eyebrows at him, "I guess you may not even recognize my handwriting?"

Xiao Yunchen immediately explained: "Of course I recognize your handwriting."

Li Sisi tilted her head: "Besides mine and Wen Luoxin's handwriting, which other woman's handwriting do you recognize?"

Xiao Yunchen immediately understood and said, "No more."

"Oh~ It seems that Wen Luoxin is indeed different in your heart..." Li Sisi glanced at him with the corner of her eyes, then turned her face to the other side.

Seeing this, Xiao Yunchen hurriedly explained: "My dear, please don't misunderstand me. Wen Luoxin and I had correspondence before because of my mother's illness. You know about it now. I have a good memory and can remember handwriting I have seen several times."

"Really?"

Listening to Li Sisi's ambiguous answer, I looked at her slightly trembling shoulders.

The man who was calm and composed in the court now looked panicked.

"My lady, I promise you! I have absolutely no feelings for Wen Luoxin! I..."

"Pfft! Hahahaha...I was just teasing you." Li Sisi couldn't hold back her laughter anymore.

Seeing Xiao Yunchen's jade-like cheeks flushed with anxiety, his panicked eyes were filled with anger.

Li Sisi smiled and said, "My husband is so cute like this."

Xiao Yunchen: ...

I wanted to be angry, but my wife praised him with joy in her eyes.

Xiao Yunchen pursed his lips and said in a gentle voice, "My lady, why are you teasing me like this?"

"Of course it's because I like you! Otherwise, why wouldn't I tease others? Right?" Li Sisi smiled and spoke frankly.

Xiao Yunchen glanced at the other servants and looked slightly embarrassed.

"My lady is right."

————————

In the imperial study of the palace, the queen was reviewing the secret letter investigated by her confidant.

Li Sisi and Li Nian had heard of Pei Yanli as early as when they were still in the northwest.

Later, when she learned that Li Sisi and Pei Yanli had a relationship, she became even more interested in him.

Later, Xiao Yunchen returned to Beijing and brought Li Sisi back, and this person broke off his relationship with Li Sisi.

What she didn't expect was that when Xiao Yunyu transferred the troops back to the capital this time, he didn't use Qi Heng or other soldiers in the barracks, but instead used Pei Yanli?

The Queen flipped through the information in her hand, her curiosity growing.

Just by looking at this secret letter, we can guess that although this person has talent, he has a stubborn temperament.

Only one thing surprised her, Pei Yanli actually let Li Sisi work in the government office!

With this kind of behavior, he doesn't seem to be such a conservative person.

She put down the secret letter in her hand, raised her eyes and asked, "Where is Pei Yanli now?"

"It seems he is temporarily staying at the Marquis of Loyalty's Mansion."

Hearing this, the Queen raised her eyes and asked, "Who in the Marquis' Mansion knows about Sisi and Pei Yanli's past?"

"It seems that only the two young masters and their wives know about this. No one else seems to know."

"I see." The Queen seemed to be thinking about it. "Summon Pei Yanli to the palace."

"yes!"

——————

In the evening, the palace was dyed with warm colors by the orange sunset, appearing even more mysterious and majestic.

This was Pei Yanli's first time entering the palace. When he suddenly saw the magnificence of the Anyang Palace, what came to his mind was the simple yet strong city walls of the northwestern frontier.

There are also ruins that have been weathered and trampled and destroyed by the enemy time and time again.

He lowered his head and looked at the ground which was as smooth as new.

He also thought of the city in the northwest closest to Xiyuan Kingdom, and the dark brown bloodstains that could not be washed away in the cracks of the ground.

This is the difference between the capital and the northwestern frontier.

Of course, there is a big difference.

It is common for families in Northwest China to lack a male head of household, and women have to shoulder the burden of the family.

Compared to the officials in the capital who were disgusted with the princess's ascension to the throne, Pei Yanli was not so strongly opposed.

In fact, as long as one can make the country strong and prosperous enough and allow the people in the border areas to live a stable and peaceful life, he is a good emperor.

Gender comes second.

However, I wonder what the Queen’s intention is in summoning him into the palace now?

He had originally planned to return to the northwest in the next two days.

As I was daydreaming all the way, I unknowingly found myself outside the imperial study.

The eunuch leading the way raised his voice slightly and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Lord Pei has arrived."

"Come in."

When the eunuch heard the response from the imperial study, he quickly turned around and saluted Pei Yanli: "Master Pei, please go in on your own."

Pei Yanli bowed and thanked him in a neither humble nor arrogant manner.

Then he strode into the imperial study.

In the imperial study, the scent of sandalwood lingered.

The moment the empress in a bright yellow dragon robe raised her phoenix eyes and looked at him, Pei Yanli immediately knelt down to salute.

"Your humble servant pays homage to His Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

"Stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Pei Yanli stood up, his hands hanging at his sides, his attitude respectful.

"Raise your head and let me see you." The Queen's voice was devoid of emotion.

Pei Yanli, however, alertly sensed a hint of curiosity and exploration in it.

???

Pei Yanli was confused, but still looked up as he was told. His cold brows and eyes restrained their momentum a little, and he looked less cold and stern, and more submissive of a subject to the majesty of the royal family.

The Queen stared at Pei Yanli for a long time, making the usually calm Pei Yanli feel uneasy.

"Pei Aiqing is indeed a handsome man."

After being stared at for a long time, he suddenly heard the Queen's praise.

Pei Yanli was shocked.

He said humbly, "Your Majesty, I am deeply ashamed to accept your praise!"

"Lord Pei, don't be alarmed. Sisi and I are good friends. I heard that your Pei family took great care of Nian Nian and Sisi when you were in the northwest. This time, you even came all the way with your troops to rescue me. I am very grateful."

Pei Yanli hurriedly said, "I am only fulfilling my duty as a subject. It is the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery who has far-reaching strategies. I dare not take credit for it."

The Queen nodded appreciatively and said, "You are well-deserved for this contribution. Now that the position of Dali Temple Chief is vacant, I wonder if Pei Aiqing is confident that he can do the job well?"

Pei Yanli was startled.

The Queen meant to keep him in the capital and have him serve in the Dali Temple!