Pei Wenxuan stayed up most of the night and finally fell into a daze and fell asleep. It felt like he hadn't slept for long before he was woken up again and started to prepare for the morning court.

When he got up, Li Rong was sleeping soundly. Pei Wenxuan was so angry that he couldn't help but raised his hand to pinch Li Rong's face. Li Rong frowned and raised her hand to hit him, muttering, "What are you doing?"

Pei Wenxuan finally felt better when he heard that Li Rong seemed unhappy. He stood up and left.

Li Rong felt a little unhappy when Pei Wenxuan pinched her face, but she was too sleepy and didn't care about it. She fell asleep in a daze.

After waking up, Li Rong remembered what Pei Wenxuan had done. She sneered while washing her face. Jingmei saw the coldness in Li Rong's smile and couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, are you thinking of something that bothers you?"

Normally, when Li Rong showed this kind of look, someone would be unhappy. Li Rong took the handkerchief from the side and said calmly, "Nothing. When the Prince Consort comes back, replace his tea with salt water."

Jingmei was stunned for a moment, then glanced at Jinglan, and then the two of them smiled. Li Rong glanced at them and said, "Laughing at me? Are you so bold?"

"Your Highness has become much more mature recently," Jinglan quickly added, "Now he has finally regained some of his former temper. We can't help but miss him."

Li Rong felt relieved after hearing this, after all, it proved that she was getting younger and younger. She fanned herself and did not pursue the topic. She turned back into the house and asked someone to come over and said, "Ask the doctor to see Miss Qin, and then send someone to the Ministry of Justice to tell them that I want to visit the Qin family and see what they think."

Jingmei responded and went downstairs to tell someone to do the job.

Li Rong sat in the yard, lying on a recliner, feeling for a moment that she had stolen a half day's leisure from her busy life.

At first she was busy with the marriage proposal and the affairs of the Yang family, and later she was busy with the marriage and Li Chuan's selection of concubines. Now everything has been decided and the Inspection Department will be established. The previous matters have been settled, and next she has to wait for Li Ming's reply. She has little free time for a while, so she lies on the recliner and looks at the blue sky, not knowing what to do.

It was a rare time when she had free time like this, so she lay in the yard for a while, and then asked someone to bring out a storybook and some fruit and melon seeds. She ate the seeds while reading the storybook.

When Pei Wenxuan came back, he saw Li Rong lying on a rocking chair, happily reading a storybook. Pei Wenxuan walked over to her and tapped her lightly with his tablet: "What are you looking at, laughing so hard?"

"This is so interesting," Li Rong smiled, put down the book, and stood up. "A princess, a prime minister's daughter, and a famous prostitute are chasing a poor scholar. The prime minister's daughter eloped with him, and the princess committed suicide for him. I laughed so hard that tears came out. Where do you think this poor scholar came from? He has been dreaming like this for most of the day. Has he ever seen a princess?"

"Who is a decent person who writes these things?" Pei Wenxuan put a letter in Li Rong's arms and said with a smile, "The emperor has responded. The matter of the Inspection Office is up to you. But to build such a thing, you need a reason."

"His Majesty said," Pei Wenxuan put his hands into his sleeves and said in a leisurely voice, "Think of a way to give him a step. Not only will he approve you to build the Supervisory Office, he will also give you ten more counties of fiefdom."

"Really?"

Li Rong sat up straight, her eyes bright. Pei Wenxuan was amused by her: "Your Highness is so happy about just ten counties?"

"You don't know how expensive firewood and rice are until you become the head of a household." Li Rong glared at him. "You only ask me for money all day long. How do you know my difficulties?"

Pei Wenxuan leaned against the tree and said with a smile: "I am destined to be a freeloader. I have to trouble the princess to take care of me."

"Go, go, go." Li Rong stood up and walked towards the dining room. Pei Wenxuan followed her and said softly, "It's not appropriate to look for trouble now. Wait until the Qin family's case is settled, then go and overturn the verdict. It will make a bigger fuss, and then you can establish the Inspection Department properly."

"I understand. I asked someone to go to the Ministry of Justice today to ask about the situation first." As she spoke, Li Rong remembered, "Have you told Su Rongqing that I want to date him?"

Pei Wenxuan's smile faded a little when he heard this, and he said calmly, "I said it when I left the court."

"Appointment?"

Pei Wenxuan turned around and smiled as if he was watching a good show: "They don't agree."

"Don't agree?!"

Li Rong paused, somewhat shocked: "He actually refused to see me?"

"You're not some celestial being," Pei Wenxuan rolled his eyes when he saw her shocked, "Why should I agree to your request?"

Li Rong didn't say anything. She really didn't think that Su Rongqing would not agree. Maybe it was the inertia from the previous life, or maybe it was because Su Rongqing had always been friendly to Li Rong in this life. Suddenly he rejected Li Rong, which surprised Li Rong. She chased Pei Wenxuan and said in a puzzled tone: "Why didn't he agree? Did he give a reason?"

"If you don't agree, then don't agree. Why are you so anxious?" Pei Wenxuan saw that Li Rong's tone was not good, and his tone became bad too. He just said, "He said he knew what you wanted to do with him. The Qin case is too complicated, so he asked you not to get involved."

Li Rong got the answer and after thinking for a while, she understood what Su Rongqing meant.

Su Rongqing had helped with the Yang family case before, because the Yang family was an aristocratic family that lived outside of Huajing and had been entrenched in the northwest for many years. They had little contact with the aristocratic families in Huajing. It could even be said that the Yang family had its own army and was in a hostile yet cooperative relationship with the aristocratic families in Huajing. Su Rongqing helped her without any resistance.

But the situation this time is different. This time, the noble families involved are numerous and complicated, and many of the noble families in Huajing have in-laws. This time, even the Su family may be involved. Even if they are not helpers, they will definitely not be a tiger that stands in the way.

Li Rong tapped her fan, trying to understand Su Rongqing's thoughts, and for a moment she found herself a little funny.

She lowered her head and laughed. Pei Wenxuan turned to look at her: "What are you laughing at?"

"I just confirmed it again," Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan, "You still know me better than I do."

Pei Wenxuan didn't understand and looked at her questioningly. Li Rong sighed, "Before you said that I had feelings for him, I was a little skeptical, but now I believe it. If I didn't still have some feelings for him, how could I not have thought that he wouldn't be able to help me this time."

Pei Wenxuan said nothing. Li Rong shook her head and chuckled, "I was confused. Never mind. Let's take another path."

"You..." Pei Wenxuan paused and said slowly, "Don't be sad. He is not familiar with you now, and it is normal for him to act out of personal gain."

"Why are you trying to comfort me?" Li Rong raised her eyebrows. "How could I be upset over such a small matter? Forget it. Do you have anything to do this afternoon?"

"I'm going to look for Shangguan Ya," Li Rong said, fanning herself. "If you have nothing to do, why don't you accompany me?"

When Pei Wenxuan heard this, he knew what Li Rong meant. Shangguan Ya might go to the casino, and if she did, she would really need him to accompany her.

So he nodded and said, "Okay."

The two of them went to look for Shangguan Ya, and as usual, they went to Shangguan Mansion first. After hearing the news that Shangguan Ya went to the teahouse, the two of them did not take a detour this time and went straight to the casino.

Pei Wenxuan received another token from his friend and walked in familiarly. Li Rong couldn't help but say, "Next time, let's just get a token ourselves."

"That's fine."

Otherwise, he would feel embarrassed to borrow tokens all the time.

He searched for Li Rong in the crowd and met Shangguan Ya at the mahjong table.

Shangguan Ya was wearing men's clothes and was in the middle of a fight. When Li Rong walked behind her, she heard her yell, "Bang!"

Li Rong patted her shoulder, and Shangguan Ya said impatiently: "Young Master is playing cards..."

Before she finished speaking, Shangguan Ya froze. Li Rong looked at her with a smile: "I have something to talk to you about."

Shangguan Ya forced a smile: "Can you wait until I finish this round? I'm almost winning."

Li Rong smiled softly and turned around and said, "Then I'll wait for you in the private room."

Casinos usually have VIP rooms, and as long as the amount of money you gamble reaches a certain limit, you can enter.

Li Rong went straight to the private room on the second floor and sat down inside. After playing with the sieve for a while, she heard Shangguan Ya standing at the door and said nervously, "Well, am I allowed in?"

Li Rong put down the sieve and stood up: "Come in."

Shangguan Ya pushed open the door and walked into the room. She closed the door and walked to the table with a smile: "I'm not used to meeting you in this place."

As she spoke, she sat down, Pei Wenxuan stood aside and poured tea for Shangguan Ya. Shangguan Ya looked Pei Wenxuan up and down, picked up the tea and smiled at Li Rong: "Your son-in-law is not bad, I like him."

Pei Wenxuan smiled without saying a word, standing behind Li Rong, looking at Shangguan Ya without saying a word.

Li Rong turned around to look at Pei Wenxuan, then looked at Shangguan Ya who was speaking without restraint, and chuckled, "How audacious."

"I know the princess won't mind." Shangguan Ya raised the teacup as if it were a wine glass. After taking a sip, she put the cup down, leaned on the armrest of the chair, and said with a smile, "Your Highness, tell me, did you ask me to come here to discuss Qin's case?"

"How come everyone in the world knows that I want to take charge of this case?"

Although Li Rong was not surprised that Shangguan Ya knew about this, she was also a little curious. Shangguan Ya propped up her chin and looked at Li Rong: "Your Highness took charge of Yang Quan's case last time and intervened in the selection of concubines in the palace. If Your Highness did not intervene in Qin's case, I would find it strange."

"oh?"

Li Rong raised her eyebrows: "Then why do you think I intervened?"

"Your Highness," Shangguan Ya looked at her with understanding in her eyes, "don't you think that the aristocratic family is interfering too much?"

Li Rong didn't say anything. She looked at Shangguan Ya. Shangguan Ya stood up straight, with a bit of dignity that she only had in the palace: "Your Majesty forced Princess Pingle to marry Lord Pei for the sake of the family. Now the family is forcing the Crown Prince to marry a concubine. Tell me, your fate is in the hands of others. Can your Highness tolerate it? Can the Crown Prince tolerate it? Can your Majesty tolerate it?"

"Is this why you changed the incense burner in the palace?"

"Your Highness is smart." Shangguan Ya complimented, "Aya did listen to what Your Highness said to her last time. But after all, the Shangguan family is not in Aya's hands, so Aya can't make the decision."

Shangguan Ya's last words were meaningful. Li Rong looked at Shangguan Ya. She knew clearly the control Shangguan Ya had over the Shangguan family.

Shangguan Ya is still too weak now, but in the previous life, although Shangguan Ya was in the harem, she was the actual person in charge of the Shangguan family.

The relationship between Shangguan Ya and the Shangguan family is completely opposite to that between Shangguan Yue and the Shangguan family. Shangguan Yue lives for the Shangguan family, and the Shangguan family exists for Shangguan Ya.

Li Rong opened and closed the folding fan in her hand and said slowly, "So, what do you plan to do with the Shangguan family?"

"Your Highness and I share the same idea," Shangguan Ya put away the smile on her face and said seriously, "The Shangguan family should gradually withdraw from the court. So I hope to establish a better relationship with Your Highness."

"What's the relationship?"

"Your Highness, have you ever thought about supporting someone who is more controllable to control the Shangguan family?" Shangguan Ya said calmly, "In this way, the Shangguan family can be completely loyal to Your Highness, help Your Highness assist the crown prince to ascend the throne, and then slowly withdraw from the court, leaving only a few people in the court to maintain face, and everyone else can return to Youzhou."

"Why don't you withdraw now?" Li Rong smiled, Shangguan Ya stroked the teacup, "Why do you ask when you already know the answer? Your Majesty has been suppressed by the Shangguan family for more than ten years, and you are full of hatred. Can the Shangguan family withdraw? If the Shangguan family withdraws now, I'm afraid there will be only one way out. The only way is to establish a better relationship with the Crown Prince and you, so that you can rest assured about the Shangguan family, and wait until the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, and let the Shangguan family withdraw on their own."

Li Rong listened to Shangguan Ya's words and laughed out loud: "You want to be the head of the Shangguan family?"

"Not now," Shangguan Ya raised an eyebrow, "What about in the future?"

"Why should I help you?"

"Your Highness," Shangguan Ya leaned forward and said with a smile, "You and I are both women, and we have similar ideas. If I want to be the head of the Shangguan family, I must rely on Your Highness. Wouldn't the Shangguan family be much easier to control than it is now?"

"Only in this way," Shangguan Ya said meaningfully, "the Shangguan family is the Shangguan family in the hands of His Highness."

Li Rong completely understood what Shangguan Ya meant.

The current relationship between the Shangguan family and Li Rong and Li Chuan is that the Shangguan family controls them, rather than them controlling the Shangguan family.

In the long run, Li Chuan or Li Rong will sooner or later become the current Li Ming.

Shangguan Ya saw it clearly, but she couldn't change her father's arrogance, so she could only find another way.

Shangguan Ya is now handing over the future of the Shangguan family to Li Rong, on the one hand to show weakness, and on the other hand to seek a protective umbrella.

If the Shangguan family was completely handed over to Li Chuan or any other monarch, the other party would infinitely weaken the family for the sake of his own power and the court.

When handed over to Li Rong, the Shangguan family and Li Rong share weal and woe. Li Rong cannot completely weaken the Shangguan family, but can only control them. Facing the Shangguan family controlled by Li Rong, as long as the monarch trusts Li Rong enough, he will relax his vigilance against the Shangguan family. If the monarch does not trust Li Rong, he must first deal with Li Rong before overthrowing the Shangguan family.

Now Li Ming and the Shangguan family are in a life-and-death situation, and the goal of Li Rong and Shangguan Ya is to support Li Chuan so that Li Chuan and the Shangguan family will not fall into the current situation. Then Shangguan Ya will find a safer position for the Shangguan family so that they will not be in such a precarious situation as today.

Shangguan Yue and Shangguan Xu were born in the heyday of the Shangguan family, and they didn't believe that Li Ming, the emperor, could do anything to them. They always believed that the Shangguan family still had the upper hand in the battle with Li Ming.

Therefore, the Queen's method of protecting the throne is to rely on the aristocratic family infinitely, making the aristocratic family an inseparable part of Li Chuan. In her mind, this is the best way to protect her son. This method not only ensures Li Chuan's ascension to the throne, but also ensures that the glory of the Shangguan family will continue.

But she ignored the fact that people born into the royal family valued dignity and autonomy over their own destiny far more than they imagined.

And Shangguan Ya saw this clearly.

Because she herself is a person like Li Rong, she clearly knows what Li Rong and Li Chuan are thinking, and she also understands the precarious fate of the Shangguan family.

Li Rong looked at her friend from her previous life and was not surprised by her sensitivity. After a moment, she smiled and said, "Great. If you need anything, you can tell me."

"Most of the time, your Highness doesn't need help," Shangguan Ya seemed to have known that Li Rong would agree, so she wasn't surprised. She leaned back in her chair, one hand unconsciously fiddling with the dice, and said, "Occasionally, I need help, and it might be a big favor."

"I need your help in many areas." Li Rong was not polite. "Have you thought it through?"

"Don't worry, I will follow your orders." Shangguan Ya raised her eyes, "So this time, what does your Highness want me to do?"

"Do you know who is involved this time?"

"Recently, three uncles have come to my house, the Wen family of Xingyang, the Cui family of Qinghe, and the Wang family of Longxi. You can check who has served in the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial History Bureau in their court, and you will probably know who is involved in the Qin case."

Shangguan Ya was obviously well prepared, and Li Rong felt relieved to see how sensible she was.

"Any other news?"

"Things have just begun. I'll keep an eye on it for you. If there is any news, I'll notify you immediately."

"Okay." Li Rong nodded and exchanged, "If you need anything else, you can tell me."

"Twenty people," Shangguan Ya said bluntly, "I will arrange for them to stay in Shangguan Mansion."

"Okay." Li Rong agreed immediately. After the two sides reached a deal, Shangguan Ya stood up and said, "If there is nothing else, I will go play one more round. Time is short. I have to go back home after playing. You opened this private room, so I won't pay for it."

Li Rong felt a little depressed when she heard the word money, but fortunately, the gambling money was a drop in the bucket for her. She waved her hands and sighed, "Go ahead."

Shangguan Ya bowed and left. Li Rong turned to look at Pei Wenxuan and said helplessly, "Why are all of you always asking for money? When can you give me a God of Wealth to relieve the pressure on me as the head of the family?"

Pei Wenxuan found it funny and walked out with her: "If you work hard, ask His Majesty to give you those ten counties, then the money will come."

When Li Rong heard this, she looked back at Pei Wenxuan from head to toe. Pei Wenxuan was frightened by her stare and couldn't help but ask, "Why are you looking at me?"

"I just suddenly remembered..." Li Rong raised her arm and took Pei Wenxuan's arm, smiling and said, "Wenxuan, don't you still have a family business to inherit?"

Pei Wenxuan became stiff after being held by Li Rong like this. His brain seemed to be filled with paste and stuck together. He could not speak.

Li Rong thought of Pei Wenxuan's family business and became excited for a moment: "Didn't your father earn most of your Pei family's business? You are already an adult, so it is not appropriate for your uncle to keep it for you. Let's find a chance to talk to your family. What do you think?"

Pei Wenxuan didn't say anything. His entire senses were focused on the place where Li Rong and he were touching.

Li Rong really didn't treat him as an outsider. She held his hand like two grown-up girls talking. Pei Wenxuan could see that Li Rong was driven crazy by money. Thinking of the money in his family, Li Rong's tone became much softer: "Father-in-law is a capable man. He single-handedly pushed the Pei family from a second-rate family to a first-rate one. I believe he left behind a lot of wealth. You should learn from him. You can't always think about asking me for money. You should learn to have some dignity as a man. What do you think?"

Pei Wenxuan finally came back to his senses when she mentioned men. He glanced at Li Rong, turned his head, and said directly, "I have no dignity."

Li Rong got angry when she heard this. She knew Pei Wenxuan was rejecting her proposal, so she stretched out her hand and pinched Pei Wenxuan's soft flesh, and said angrily: "Why are you so useless?!"

"Oh my aunt," Pei Wenxuan sighed, "Can you be more realistic? My second uncle is the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and he is only slightly inferior to Shangguan Xu and others. If we go to ask for money now, it would be like snatching food from a tiger's mouth. You can ask for money, but can you think of some other easier ways?"

Li Rong also knew this truth. She sighed and said worriedly, "It's so hard to make money."

After hearing what Li Rong said, Pei Wenxuan turned around and looked at Li Rong. Seeing that Li Rong seemed to be really worried about this matter, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Li Rong looked up at him, somewhat unhappy: "What are you laughing at?"

Pei Wenxuan was holding Li Rong's hand. After the conversation was interrupted, he didn't feel nervous anymore. He walked towards the carriage with Li Rong's hand in hand and laughed softly, "I didn't expect that Your Highness would also have a day to worry about money."

"Are you kidding me?"

Li Rong raised her eyebrows, and Pei Wenxuan quickly said, "I dare not. I just think Your Highness looks so rare and cute."

"Tsk," Li Rong showed a look of disgust, "Pei Wenxuan, you can say anything to flatter me."

Pei Wenxuan smiled and turned his head, looking at the carriage in front, and said slowly: "Your Highness, don't worry. Some of the industries I invested in before have already started to make a profit, and there should be a surplus next year. The soil in Qingzhou, your fiefdom, is fertile. After taking over your industry, I asked someone to invite Gu Chenzi. Now he should be in Qingzhou teaching the people how to farm."

Gu Chenzi was a famous "rice saint" in his previous life. He studied agriculture all his life, especially in growing rice straw. In his previous life, it took him several years to write "Agriculture" and become famous in Daxia, but now Pei Wenxuan has invited him to Qingzhou in advance.

"Everything is difficult at the beginning," Pei Wenxuan advised Li Rong, "It will be better next year."

"Okay, I know," Li Rong sighed, "I was just saying it casually. You're very good at making money. It's not like I haven't seen it before."

As Li Rong spoke, she walked to the side of the carriage. Pei Wenxuan helped her into the carriage, then rolled up the curtain and got into the carriage.

Pei Wenxuan was quite happy to hear Li Rong praising him. After sitting down, he looked up at Li Rong who had found a comfortable position and was lazily lying in the carriage. He couldn't help but laugh: "Now that you know, Your Highness should be relieved. I have helped Your Highness manage the industry in the past few years. Later," Pei Wenxuan opened the teacup and said in a gentle voice, "the extra money will be used as a dowry for Your Highness."

Hearing this, Li Rong burst out laughing: "Pei Wenxuan, you are so kind that you even prepared my dowry for me."

"We finally met," Pei Wenxuan smiled and looked at Li Rong who was laughing happily beside him, "I'll give you a dowry, so that you won't be unable to get married and rely on me for the rest of your life."

"Shame on you," Li Rong poked him with her fan, "Who wants to rely on you for life?"

Pei Wenxuan smiled without saying anything and lowered his head to pour tea.

Li Rong was twirling a fan beside him. When he glanced up, he could see her slender, beautiful fingers twirling the small golden fan, as if she were performing some strange dance, with an unspeakable beauty.

His gaze paused on the slender fingers. He didn't know why, but he thought of his previous life, when they dared to get married. Sometimes when Li Rong had her period, this beautiful hand came in handy.

Pei Wenxuan's eyes dimmed, and he quickly lowered his eyes and whispered, "Your Highness, let me discuss something with you."

"Um?"

"I think we should sleep in separate beds."

"Oh?" Li Rong turned to look at him, a little surprised, "Don't you think it's a bother?"

There was no division before, why is it divided now?

Li Rong was a little puzzled. After a moment, she teased him a little: "Pei Wenxuan, do you have any plans for me?"

"Your Highness thinks too highly of yourself."

Pei Wenxuan quickly replied: "I have been watching you for decades, what else can I hope for?"

Pei Wenxuan's heart was beating fast when he answered this. Li Rong nodded and said slowly, "That's true. You and I are too familiar with each other. If you can have such an attempt, it shows that you men are really unscrupulous and worse than beasts."

Pei Wenxuan: “…”

Listening to Li Rong scolding him, Pei Wenxuan didn't know why, but he actually felt a little guilty.

He felt that what Li Rong said was right. He and Li Rong now had a purely friendly relationship, so how could he see these thoughts just by looking at her hand?

He is really too vulgar.

So he nodded heavily and agreed: "Your Highness is right!"

"Then why do you want to sleep in separate beds?"

Li Rong looked up at him and blinked. Pei Wenxuan was stumped by the question for a moment. After holding it in for a long time, he finally said, "I get up too early every morning to attend court, and I'm afraid of disturbing His Highness."

"That's it." Li Rong smiled and waved her hand. "It's okay. You usually don't disturb me when you get up. Don't worry too much. Sleeping separately is too troublesome. If someone finds out, and the news of our discord spreads, His Majesty will doubt the credibility of my Supervisory Office. After all, he trusts me now, and a large part of it is because of your face. He thinks that if I marry you, you will follow me wherever I want."

Pei Wenxuan listened to Li Rong's words and didn't dare to say more. He nodded, took out the letter from the drawer, and said calmly: "As long as you don't mind, then forget it."

He just needs to take more cold showers.

The author has something to say: [Small Theater 1]

Pei Wenxuan: "I have prepared your wedding dowry for you."

Li Rong: "You are so nice?! Thank you! You are really my best friend."

Pei Wenxuan: "You're welcome. You'll bring it back anyway."

Li Rong: “???”

【Small Theater 2】

Li Rong: "You and I are so familiar with each other, if you can have such an intention, it shows that you men are really unscrupulous and worse than animals."

Pei Wenxuan: "Your Highness is right! I am that beast! I actually have feelings for you, I am vulgar! I am shameless! I am not a good friend!"

【Small Theater 3】

Pei Wenxuan's vlog: "Hello everyone, I'm Pei Wenxuan. This is the second time we've tried to sleep in separate beds today, and I failed again. The princess always finds reasons to keep us from sleeping in separate beds, and I think they make sense, so I can't refuse. I'll see if I can think of another way. After all, if we keep sleeping like this, I'll soon fall in love with her. I don't want to complain, I really only treat her as a brother..."