"You said," Li Rong looked at Shangguan Yue, couldn't help laughing, and said in disbelief, "He's dead?"

"Yes," Shangguan Yue said coldly, "This is what I want to tell you. You should reflect on it."

Shangguan Yue turned around and tried to leave, but Li Rong stopped her and asked calmly, "Did you guys do that?"

Shangguan Yue paused for a long time before she said slowly, "If we don't take action, someone else will."

"Is that you?"

Li Rong insisted on asking, Shangguan Yue was silent for a moment, and finally said: "No."

"Rong'er," Shangguan Yue seemed to be unable to hold on any longer, she said tiredly, "Mother is not as... as... as you think..."

"Mother," Li Rong took the cup, poured tea, and said slowly, "Actually, I understand your position. For you, from the moment you married into the palace, you represented the Shangguan family. If something happened to the Shangguan family, it would also mean something happened to you. Your relationship with the Shangguan family is much closer than that between me and Chuan'er."

"This is your position. You can never stand against the Shangguan family."

"Aren't you?"

Shangguan Yue turned her head suddenly, staring at Li Rong. She stood in front of the high gate, the wind blew the golden boutonniere on her head gently along with her wide sleeves, and the copper bells around her rang. She looked at Li Rong and lowered her voice: "You think I don't know what you and Chuan'er are thinking, but are you worthy?! Suppressing the noble families and dividing the court officials, that's what the monarch wants to think about! What are you and Chuan'er now? You are not the emperor, you are the noble families! You can only reach the position of emperor by relying on the noble families, and that position can only be sat by Chuan'er. What are you doing?"

Shangguan Yue walked in, and she looked at Li Rong oppressively: "You are a princess. Today, you are a member of a noble family to Li Ming. In the future, you will also be a member of a noble family to Li Chuan. Can you stand opposite Shangguan?"

"You are the same as me. You can't do that. The Shangguan family is finished. You will have nothing."

Li Rong didn't say anything, she was drinking tea.

After a long time, she suddenly said, "This Beiyan Tower was built for you by your father."

Shangguan Yue was slightly stunned. Li Rong poured tea for her and said slowly, "You two were good friends once, but later, you only thought about the Shangguan family, and your father only thought about his own power. You drifted further and further away, and even forgot the origin of this tower."

"I used to think the same as my mother," Li Rong raised her hand to pour tea for Shangguan Yue and asked Shangguan Yue to sit down. Her demeanor was too calm, which made Shangguan Yue look more like a young person. Shangguan Yue looked at her daughter in front of her and listened to Li Rong's slow voice: "Tie together with the aristocratic family to stabilize the situation and steadily assist Sagawa'er to become the emperor. Then I will work with the aristocratic family to assist Sagawa'er."

"With me here, if Aya also marries Chuan'er, Chuan'er's sister and Chuan'er's wife are all from the Shangguan family. Chuan'er will never attack his mother's family no matter what. In the future, we will work together and Chuan'er will be a very good emperor."

"Isn't this bad?" Shangguan Yue frowned and said angrily, "The Shangguan family is your mother's family. Do you even doubt your mother's family?"

Li Rong said calmly: "But this is what we want."

"We imagine that everyone in a family would be like us, sensible and know when to advance and retreat. But in reality, if a family is too big, there will be many unexpected branches and details. The more prosperous the Shangguan family is and the more stable its foundation is, the more those branches will grow wildly in places you don't know about."

"They won't tell you, and if you don't help after something happens, that won't work. Just like this time, do you know what happened behind the Qin family case? Does your uncle know? And now that it has come to this, can you deal with the people involved? If you deal with anyone who supports you at this time, no matter what the reason, both you and your uncle will be devoured by these people."

Shangguan Yue didn't say anything. For a moment, she was a little afraid to respond.

Li Rong did not force her. She looked away and said slowly, "Today's emperor is my father, and tomorrow's emperor will be Chuan'er. If we continue along the path that my mother said, in the future, Aya and I will be my mother's position, and Chuan'er will be my father today. Such a future," Li Rong smiled bitterly, "isn't it tragic?"

"The great principles are often discussed in the court. Everyone knows what it means to serve the country and the people. After all, the first thing a person wants to do in life is to live well for himself and his family. After that, some morals and principles are almost the same."

"But mother," Li Rong looked up at Shangguan Yue, "are you doing well?"

Shangguan Yue didn't say anything. She tried hard to calm down and be as arrogant and cold as usual. But when she saw Li Rong's gentle and peaceful eyes, Shangguan Yue was stunned. Li Rong sighed and said slowly, "Mother, the Shangguan family needs a scabbard. Otherwise, sooner or later, it will hurt Chuan'er, or he will be killed by Chuan'er."

"What I did today was not to oppose the aristocratic family, nor was it to stand on the side of the emperor and want to hurt you and uncle." Li Rong said in a gentle voice, "On the contrary, I just hope that my family can live a good life."

"I hope Chuan'er can choose the person he likes and the life he wants. As long as he fulfills his responsibilities as a prince and monarch, he can live like a human being."

"I hope that my uncle and Aya and other tribesmen can live out their lives in peace and without suffering any hardships."

"I hope that the people of Daxia can live a stable life, and I hope that my country can be stable and prosperous."

"I even hope that one day you and my father can come back to this Beiyan Tower to look at the stars and talk about your heart."

Li Rong couldn't help laughing as she spoke: "I know my hopes are extravagant, but this is actually what I want to do for the rest of my life. And the first step for me to do these things," Li Rong looked at Shangguan Yue seriously, "is that the power of the Shangguan family cannot become a knife that will hurt me and Chuan'er. You said that it is the maternal family that we rely on. The Shangguan family needs the power brought by Chuan'er. This power is given by us, so it must be controlled by us."

"Is this the reason why Chuan'er refuses to marry Aya?" Shangguan Yue frowned, as if she understood. Li Rong said calmly, "This is a touchstone. Marriage may not be a big deal in the court, but if Chuan'er can't even control this matter, then this is a big deal."

"Moreover, if Chuan'er and Aya get married, then Chuan'er will definitely not be able to inherit the throne as long as Your Majesty is here."

"Mother," Li Rong felt a little tired when she said this. She looked up at Shangguan Yue, "You don't have to worry about what happens between me and my uncle. You just need to understand that in my heart," Li Rong stretched out her hand and grasped Shangguan Yue's hand a little awkwardly.

Since she became an adult, she rarely behaved like a spoiled child. Shangguan Yue shuddered slightly, and then she heard Li Rong say, "My mother and my family have always been important."

Shangguan Yue didn't say anything. She lowered her head. After a long time, she raised her head and smiled bitterly, "You and your father are really alike."

Li Rong looked up in confusion, and Shangguan Yue said in a low voice: "You always mix feelings and power together. Many times, I don't understand whether you are telling the truth or a lie."

"You said in the court that you did it for the Great Xia Empire, and now you tell me that you did it for your family. I don't dare to believe what you said, whether it's true or false."

Li Rong did not say anything. Shangguan Yue stood up and said in a low voice, "I won't say anything else. I'm going back first. You don't have to be too sad about Pei Wenxuan's death. I will choose another son-in-law for you in the future."

Li Rong lowered her eyes and said nothing more. Shangguan Yue seemed to want to say something, but in the end she didn't open her mouth. She turned around and walked straight out the door.

Li Rong sat alone. Jinglan came forward and said hesitantly, "Your Highness, the prince consort is in trouble. Should we..."

"Go find some plain clothes," Li Rong said calmly, "and put them on."

"Now that we haven't found the body," Jinglan said anxiously, "we should go find the person first. Your Highness, please don't be too sad..."

"He won't die."

Li Rong spoke up. Jinglan was stunned for a moment, and then she saw that Li Rong's expression was full of conviction: "You don't know who he is, how could he be dead?"

Jingmei was a little panicked when she heard this. She didn't dare to speak, so she turned to look at Jinglan. Jinglan hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Your Highness, the person hasn't come back yet. Go look for him."

Li Rong responded without saying much. After a moment, she said, "You guys go down, I'll take care of it myself."

Others thought she was just too sad and walked away.

After everyone went down, Li Rong sat quietly for a long time, finally got up and sat down at the desk.

She took out a piece of paper and wanted to write something. She didn't know what to write, so she just wrote casually. After a long time, when she came to her senses, she saw that the paper was densely covered with Pei Wenxuan's name.

Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan's name quietly for a long time.

She suddenly found that she had a lot to say to him.

She wanted to tell him about her mother and she also wanted to tell him about her father.

She had a lot of things to say, all in her heart, and the only person in the world who could let her say them out loud was Pei Wenxuan.

Because other people didn't understand, she couldn't say it.

Only Pei Wenxuan, she felt that as long as she opened her mouth and told him, he would understand.

He must know that every word she said was true.

It's a pity he's not here.

Li Rong thought about it, raised her head and looked at the copper bell on the eaves outside the window.

It makes a crisp sound in the wind, as if calling people's souls back.

"Pei Wenxuan..."

She whispered softly.

It rained again in Huajing that night.

There was a continuous drizzle, and at this time, there was a man wearing a green robe and a straw hat, running fast on the muddy road in the rain, and then before dawn, he knocked on the gate of the first city between Huajing and Huangping County.

The soldiers poked their heads out one after another, and heard the man take out the token and speak loudly at the gate: "I am Pei Wenxuan, the inspector general, and I have come to check the grain on the orders of the crown prince!"

Hearing this, the city guards quickly opened the city gate, checked Pei Wenxuan's identity documents, and led him into the county government office.

When the prefect heard about the messenger, he stood up in a hurry. After Pei Wenxuan explained the purpose of his visit, the prefect hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Sir Pei, it's not that I don't trust you, but since you said it was the prince who came to check the accounts, may I ask if you have a token?"

The prefect was originally a son of an aristocratic family who supported the prince. If Li Chuan really wanted to investigate, he would not refuse. Pei Wenxuan whispered, "This matter was originally done by the prince in private. As someone who protects the historian, I need to do something."

Pei Wenxuan hinted to the other party that he was working for the crown prince in the Yushitai, and if he wanted to bring down other people, he would naturally need some evidence.

"This matter should not be made public. I cannot take the prince's order, but the princess's order," Pei Wenxuan said, taking out Li Rong's token and showing it to the prefect. "Your Excellency will not deny it, right?"

The prefect hesitated for a moment, and Pei Wenxuan smiled: "Her Highness Pingle is the eldest sister of the Crown Prince. Your Excellency would never think that Her Highness Pingle would harm the Crown Prince, right?"

"I dare not." The prefect said. He thought for a moment. Pei Wenxuan was Li Rong's consort, and the prince's brother-in-law. He made the connection smooth and bowed his head, saying, "Please follow me, consort."

Pei Wenxuan spent less than half an hour reading and copied down the records of grain and fodder transported in Huangping County that year, then quickly left and went to the next place.

By this time, the sky had already brightened. Shangguan Ya sat in a carriage, fanning herself with a round fan, and walked into the Juxian Teahouse with a smile on her face. As soon as she pushed the door and entered the private room, she saw a masked young man sitting in the room. He was sitting behind a small table and looked up at Shangguan Ya.

Shangguan Ya held a round fan and chuckled. She raised her hand to close the door and said softly, "I knew His Highness would ask you to come find me."

As she spoke, she walked to the table, sat down gracefully, raised her eyes and said, "Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

"This list was written by Qin Lang. The reason why Huangping County was defeated was because of the lack of rations on the front line. These are the officials involved. Your Highness wants their confessions."

Shangguan Ya spun her fan, scanning the names on the list one by one, and said slowly: "We can't touch the high-ranking officials on the list, we can only pick a few."

As she spoke, Shangguan Ya raised her finger and pointed at a few names: "These are the ones."

"Your Highness, let me follow your instructions."

Xun Chuan spoke calmly, and Shangguan Ya chuckled, "She is really good at being lazy."

Shangguan Ya thought for a moment, then said, "Let's start with Tanaka. He is just a seventh-rank official who is in charge of the accounts in the Ministry of War. He is born timid."

Shangguan Ya laughed as she spoke: "Find a time, catch him, knock him unconscious, tie him up, then find a random girl, pretend she's been murdered and put her on the bed."

"You want to frame him?"

Xun Chuan frowned, Shangguan Ya chuckled: "You're kidding, just scare him. I'll go with you and record his confession on the spot, and promise to help him cover up the murder. It will be much easier to use this as evidence in the future."

"What about the others?"

"Everyone has weaknesses," Shangguan Ya said as she scrolled through the names of those people, her eyes cold, "There are still nineteen days left, so just make arrangements one by one."

When the situation in Huajing was turbulent, Li Rong found a rare peace and quiet in Beiyan Tower.

There were rumors that something had happened to Pei Wenxuan, but she did not respond. She just inquired about Pei Wenxuan's whereabouts, and then asked someone to lie for Pei Wenxuan and search for him everywhere where he fell off the cliff. Then she put on a plain dress.

Everyone thought she was upset because of Pei Wenxuan's death. Li Chuan came to comfort her, but she had someone stop him outside. She locked herself in the room, and except for the news from Shangguan Ya and Xun Chuan, she ignored them and just quietly copied scriptures.

She rarely had such free time in her life. She didn't need to do anything but copy the scriptures over and over again. As she was copying, she heard Jingmei say in surprise: "Your Highness, why does your handwriting look so much like that of a prince consort?"

Li Rong paused, Jingmei knelt down hurriedly, and said: "It is my fault, Your Highness, please punish me."

"What did you say wrong?"

Li Rong smiled and said gently, "Back off."

Jingmei knelt on the ground for a long time, then she said hesitantly: "Your Highness, the consort is gone, you don't have to..."

"He's not dead."

Li Rong interrupted her, and Jingmei said boldly: "Your Highness, it has been ten days."

"I said," Li Rong said affirmatively, "He is not dead."

"If you dare to say he's dead again," Li Rong raised her head and looked at the person kneeling on the ground with a calm expression, "you will be punished."

Jingmei bit her lip and finally kowtowed, "Yes."

After finishing speaking, Jingmei retreated.

Li Rong sat at the table by herself. After a long time, she took out another piece of paper and wrote Pei Wenxuan's name on it.

Then she began to write letters.

This is a habit she has recently developed.

She was used to talking and nagging with Pei Wenxuan every day. Now that Pei Wenxuan was not around, she had no one to talk to, so she started writing letters to Pei Wenxuan.

Today is the ninth letter, and she still has a lot to say.

"Pei Wenxuan, see you Xin'an is well.

Today they told me again that you were dead.

I know this is absolutely impossible. With your intelligence, you must have started making preparations after leaving the city. This must have been planned by you. After all, dead people are the safest.

But it’s strange, every time they say these words to me, I feel nervous.

I couldn't help but think, it's a good thing we walked together before.

If I walk behind you, it must not be a good day.

You are never so lonely when you are alive. "

The Buddhist scriptures were copied 107 times.

The nineteenth letter was written, and it finally arrived the night before the execution of the Qin family. On this night, Qin Lin and Qin Feng from the border were finally escorted to the capital. As soon as they arrived in Huajing, Xun Chuan went to pick them up and sent them to the princess's mansion.

Before Qin Lin was locked in the room, he suddenly asked Xun Chuan: "Excuse me, sir, do you know how my little sister Qin Zhenzhen is doing now?"

Xun Chuan paused for a moment, then said slowly, "She's fine, you don't have to worry."

After hearing this, Qin Lin finally felt relieved.

No one could sleep that night. The lights in the noble families in Huajing were on in the middle of the night. On the Beiyan Tower, Li Rong was alone guarding the dawn.

Everyone is waiting for a result.

Waiting for the outcome of the Qin family, and also waiting for Li Rong's ending.

At dawn the next day, the Ministry of Justice led people to the princess's residence, and Su Rongqing also came to Beiyan Tower.

Everyone was a little surprised by his arrival. He spread his sleeves and saluted, then said respectfully: "I am Su Rongqing, your humble servant, and I would like to see Your Highness."

No one answered. After a long time, the door slowly opened. Jinglan stood behind the door and bowed, "Please come in, sir."

Su Rongqing followed Jinglan up the stairs and when they reached the top of the tower, they saw Li Rong copying scriptures inside.

She was wearing a white gown with a blue border and a white plum blossom pattern on it. Her long hair was scattered behind her. She looked unusually simple and a little lonely, yet she also had a fairy-like air about her.

Su Rongqing stood at the door and stared for a moment, then raised his hand and saluted, "Your Highness."

"The Qin family is holding an execution today. Why are you here if you are not here to watch?"

"I heard that His Highness was going to leave the capital today," Su Rongqing said calmly, "I came here specially to see him."

Li Rong paused, she looked up at Su Rongqing, who was standing at the door, his expression was as calm as ever. Li Rong looked at him for a moment, put down her pen, and told someone, "Since you're here, bring the chess table over, and have a cup of tea."

Jinglan responded, Li Rong stood up and led Su Rongqing to sit in front of the chess table.

After they sat down together, Li Rong said slowly, "I didn't expect that Lord Su would come to see me off so early. I don't know where Lord Su got the news from." Li Rong looked up at Su Rongqing and smiled, "Are you sure that I will lose?"

"That man is dead."

Su Rongqing said calmly: "Your Highness cannot produce the evidence collected by your subordinates."

"Why not?"

Li Rong chuckled. Su Rongqing took the chess piece first and placed it on the chessboard. He said slowly, "Because Your Highness doesn't dare. There are too many people on the list. If Your Highness really took it out, I'm afraid that Hua Jingdu would not be able to leave."

Li Rong remained calm. After a long pause, she said slowly, "Do you know who they are?"

"Know."

"I thought," Li Rong thought for a moment and laughed, "Lord Su would not tolerate this."

"Embezzlement of military funds is something that neither I, my father, nor Lord Shangguan can tolerate."

Su Rongqing spoke slowly. Li Rong lowered her eyes to watch him move the chess pieces. She heard him say in an emotionless voice, "But this matter should not be handled by Your Highness. We should handle it internally. If Your Highness handles this matter, it would be like putting another knife in our hands. So we cannot hand over this power to Your Highness."

"You told me this so clearly," Li Rong said, placing the chess piece, rather puzzled, "Aren't you worried that I'll get angry?"

"If I don't tell you, Your Highness, won't you know?"

Su Rongqing replied quickly. Li Rong thought about it and smiled: "That's right."

"So," Li Rong looked at him with a half-smile, "Master Su, are you here today to show off to me? I lost to you, and the Inspection Office cannot be built. In the future, Your Majesty will have no reason to build a second Inspection Office. Are you satisfied, Master Su?"

Su Rongqing paused, and after a long time, he slowly raised his eyes and looked at the woman opposite him with her black hair draped in front of her and her brows full of mockery.

He stared at her, his eyes filled with countless emotions, and then finally turned calm.

"I have a question that I would like to ask Your Highness to answer."

"You say."

"Your Highness is at war with the noble families," Su Rongqing said in a lower voice, "Is it because of Lord Pei?"

Li Rong was slightly stunned when she heard this.

At this time, members of the Qin family were pushed onto the execution ground one by one and forced to kneel down.

Outside the execution ground, Xun Chuan mixed in the crowd, holding a long sword, quietly watching the scene on the execution ground.

A young man dressed in blue rode in from the city gate, galloped through the long street, and rushed into the palace.

"Why does Lord Su ask this question?"

Li Rong took a moment to react, feeling a little strange. Su Rongqing looked at her and said, "Because I want to discuss something with His Highness."

"Lord Su speaks frankly."

"Now the noble families in the court are angry with Your Highness and want to drive Your Highness out of the capital. I have a good plan to save Your Highness from suffering."

"oh?"

Li Rong was a little surprised. Su Rongqing lowered his eyes and said calmly, "I am willing to marry your Highness."

Li Rong was stunned in place, Su Rongqing raised his eyes: "I wonder if Your Highness can agree?"

Su Rongqing's expression was calm, but the moment he spoke, Li Rong clearly sensed an indescribable, restrained, and extremely surging emotion from him.

Li Rong couldn't tell what it was, she just stared at him blankly, Su Rongqing stared into her eyes, neither of them said anything, and then there were hurried footsteps outside.

"Your Highness," Jinglan rarely lost her composure and rushed in panting, "The Prince Consort, the Prince Consort has returned to the capital!"

The author has something to say: Su Rongqing: "I wish to marry Your Highness."

Li Rong: "I'm married."

Su Rongqing: "He's dead."

Pei Wenxuan: "I won't die even if you die, crawl! Crawl for me!"