Chapter 1: Double Kill

“If I die, then Pei Wenxuan cannot live.”

Near the end of winter came the coldest time in Huajing.1 The ice and snow had quietly melted away, bringing bursts of chilliness.

In the Grand Princess’s mansion, Li Rong was lying in bed and covered with a thick brocade blanket. There were many braziers in the room keeping the temperature in the entire room high like on a scorching summer day.

There were many people standing in the room, but no one spoke a word. Li Rong was half-conscious and half in a trance. It was not a particularly pleasant feeling, but compared to the past few days when she felt hot and cold all over and coughed up blood nonstop, this was much better.

[1] Huajing — Lit. Magnificent Capital, magnificent as a flower, an old name for the Capital city.

“Change out the towel.”

A refined and elegant male voice rang out. The maid beside him gave an affirmative “yes,” and then the sound of water followed.

After that, Li Rong felt someone wipe the sweat off her forehead. The man’s movements were very gentle as if he was wiping a porcelain doll, afraid it would shatter in a moment of carelessness.

Li Rong opened her eyes in a daze. A man in white clothes immediately appeared in her line of sight.

The man looked to be in his early forties and had a noble, refined temperament as well as a handsome and gentle face. His each and every movement possessed an indescribable elegance. Just based on these things alone, he was already exceedingly pleasing to the eye.

He had noticed that she had opened her eyes and also brought his eyes up to meet her gaze. Seeing Li Rong staring intently at him, he was stunned for a moment, then he laughed and gently said: “The Princess has awakened?”

Li Rong was still in a daze for some time after hearing these words. The man reached to help her up and placed a pillow behind her back. He took a bowl of pear and snow fungus tonic soup from the hands of a maid and brought it to her lips, softly saying: “Drink this first to moisten your throat.”

He fed her spoonful by spoonful as he spoke. As she swallowed the distinctly sweet soup, she gradually came back to her senses.

She finally recognized the person in front of her. This was the steward of the Princess’s mansion who had served her for many years, Su Rongqing.

This is her most trusted advisor and also the person who was closest to her.

Li Rong was about to say something when her throat suddenly felt itchy. She lifted her hand and pushed away the hand that had been feeding her soup, covering her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed violently.

Su Rongqing patted her back to ease her discomfort. She gradually stopped coughing after a while. The moment she opened her mouth, she directly asked about the imperial court affairs: “What about choosing a successor to the throne?”

“Still a stalemate,” Su Rongqing unhurriedly said precisely what she had been worried about, “Left Prime Minister Pei2 refuses to yield and is determined to support the Eldest Prince as the successor. I have already had people arrest the Eldest Prince’s subordinates for their crimes. Tomorrow, I will submit a memorial to the throne.”

[2] Left Prime Minister — the Prime Minister is the highest official position, but there were sometimes two. The Left Prime Minister oversees civil affairs while the Right Prime Minister oversees military affairs, with the Left being senior to the Right.

“He truly refuses to give up.” When Li Rong’s breathing had returned to normal, Su Rongqing let her lean onto his body. Li Rong felt the warmth of his person, softly coughed and said: “He wants to establish Li Ping as successor, just because of Qin Zhenzhen? The dead have been dead for many years, yet he continues to nostalgically yearn, refusing to let go regardless of life or death. Xin’er is born to the Empress, the Main Palace, so when will it be Li Ping’s turn in the discussion of succession?”

“You are also just saying that out of anger.”

Su Rongqing softly chuckled and brought his hands up to rub her temples. Li Rong felt much better. She leaned against Su Rongqing and listened as he gently spoke: “Pei Wenxuan naturally has his own reasons for helping His Eldest Highness. The Eldest Prince’s maternal clan is not particularly strong, and he also has a good relationship with Pei Wenxuan since he was a child. If His Eldest Highness becomes Emperor someday, he will only be able to rely on Pei Wenxuan. As for Pei Wenxuan, he can continue to hold onto power and peacefully grow old.”

“How is His Majesty now?”

Li Rong had more or less calmed down after listening to Su Rongqing’s words. Su Rongqing continued: “His Majesty is still the same as before, still unconscious. I’m afraid he may not be able to hold out much longer. The Empress sent a letter from the Palace yesterday, asking you to make preparations ahead of time. The matter of choosing a successor cannot be delayed any longer.”

Li Rong did not speak. She leaned against this person. After a while, she slowly said: “Rongqing.”

“Hm?” Su Rongqing answered. Li Rong was silent. After some time, she said: “I don’t think I can hold out much longer either.”

Su Rongqing’s hand that had been pressing acupuncture points paused, but Li Rong was still silent.

When she opened her eyes this morning, she genuinely felt that she was already on the brink of death.

“Actually, in my lifetime, living like this is more than enough.”

Li Rong spoke slowly: “I’m just worried about the Empress and Xin’er. If I’m gone, Pei Wenxuan will cover the sky with one hand,3 and they may not be able to beat him.”

“You can rest assured,” Su Rongqing said in a low voice, “If you die, then he cannot continue to live either. I will kill him and bury him alongside you.”

Li Rong heard these words from Su Rongqing and faintly smiled. She lifted her head and looked at the face of the person in front of her.

In fact, he was almost 51 years old, but he could not be considered old at all. If not for the few strands of white hair flitting between his forehead, you wouldn’t be able to figure out his true age. When he walked out onto the streets, he still had the looks that many young ladies admired.

Thirty years ago, Su Rongqing, the eldest legitimate son of the first wife of the Su family who had passed his coming of age ceremony,4 was the beloved youth of their dreams for many women in Huajing.

[3] Cover the sky with one hand — To hide the truth from the masses.

[4] The male coming of age ceremony is held between the ages of 18-20. They begin to wear their hair up in a coronet from then on.

Even if he was old now, he was still a dream of the past in many people’s hearts.

“I didn’t even know,” Li Rong smiled and looked at him. “That there would be times when our Su daren5 will get angry…”

[5] daren — a respectful way to address superiors like “My Lord” or an official or minister, which in that case, it is not necessarily with deference. For Li Rong, this is more of a formality like “Official Su” rather than directly calling his name.

“There are many things that would make me angry.” Su Rongqing laughed aloud, and just as he was about to say something, he heard the maid outside report: “Your Highness, Left Prime Minister Pei requests an audience.”

Having heard that, Li Rong glanced at Su Rongqing and felt it was rather strange: “Why is he coming here now?”

“If Your Highness does not wish to see him,” Su Rongqing looked quite calm, “You can choose not to see him.”

Li Rong thought for a moment, then she smiled and said: “Forget it. After all, we are still husband and wife. We should at least meet. Who knows if this will be the last time we see each other?”

Su Rongqing did not speak. He quietly sat there. Li Rong turned to look at him, somewhat puzzled: “Rongqing?”

Su Rongqing seemed to have recovered. He stood up and respectfully said: “This subordinate will go and invite Left Prime Minister Pei.”

Having said that, Su Rongqing eased Li Rong down to rest against the pillow, straightened his clothes, then he got up and left.

Li Rong had people bring a bronze mirror over and touched up her makeup a bit. Not long after, Su Rongqing led Pei Wenxuan in.

Pei Wenxuan was still wearing his black imperial court robes with a wide waistband and red flying cloud patterns embroidered on his sleeves. Paired with a red inner robe, it made him look even more gaunt. When he was young, he was quite handsome. Now, at the age of 50, his appearance is not what it used to be, but there is still a certain degree of tranquility that is rare for a young man to possess.

He walked into the room, lowered his head and saluted Li Rong. A cool, distinct fragrance carried over with each gesture, wafting up with his movements. Li Rong could not help but look at him for a few more moments. Pei Wenxuan has always been a reserved person. Since when did he carry a fragrant sachet with such a distinct aroma?

Although her heart was full of doubt, there was no visible expression on her face. Her eyebrows were slightly raised. She was about to tell him to sit down, but she started to involuntarily cough a few times.

Su Rongqing rushed forward to pat her on the back. Pei Wenxuan watched in indifference. A while later, Li Rong managed to stop coughing. She looked up at Pei Wenxuan and smiled: “One would not come to the Three Treasures Hall6 if nothing had happened. Left Prime Minister Pei has not returned to the Princess’s mansion for many years. It must be something important for you to come here today.”

[6] Three Treasures Hall — someone who would never come unless it is for something.

Pei Wenxuan remained silent, his eyes silently trained on Su Rongqing. Su Rongqing pretended not to notice Pei Wenxuan’s gaze and motionlessly stood off to the side.

After a while, Pei Wenxuan finally spoke and coldy said: “Have him go out.”

Li Rong was not surprised to hear this. Pei Wenxuan didn’t like Su Rongqing. He already gave her face by not directly scolding the latter and chasing him out. After all, she and Pei Wenxuan were still husband and wife in name. Even if they had gone their separate ways for many years, they were still considered allies, so she did not make things difficult for him. She looked up at Su Rongqing and gently coaxed: “Rongqing, you go out and wait.”

When Li Rong spoke up, Su Rongqing saluted the two of them, then straightened up and retreated.

As soon as he left, the other people in the room followed, leaving only Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong. Li Rong lightly coughed, but Pei Wenxuan was silent. After a while, Li Rong said, “If you have something to say, then say it.”

“It’s about establishing a successor to the throne,” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes to look at her and opened his mouth to discuss political affairs, “I am here to negotiate with you.”

“Negotiate what?” Li Rong pretended to not understand court affairs and nonchalantly said, “Xin’er is born from the Main Palace, the first wife. He is warm and kind, respectful and modest. What else is there to consider?”

“We have worked together for many years, so I don’t want to beat around the bush with you.” Pei Wenxuan’s eyes were a little cold, and his tone was also harsher, “His Third Highness is arrogant and unsuitable to be the successor to the throne. Moreover, his maternal clan is too strong. If something happens to us, the court might not be able to suppress his maternal clan in the future.”

“Is there a difference if it’s between his maternal clan or between you and me?” Li Rong mockingly laughed. “You speak in such a solemn and upright manner, but in your heart, you know the reason why! Rather than claiming to negotiate with me, it would be better to just say it directly. Even if I don’t agree, what are you going to do?”

“You are determined to let Li Xin ascend the throne?”

“You don’t say!” Li Rong raised her voice, “Xin’er is born from the Main Palace, should he give up the throne for a concubine’s son?!”

Pei Wenxuan was silent. After some time, he then said, “Do you still hold a grudge against Zhenzhen?”

“Can’t you call her Noble Consort Qin?”

Li Rong had to remind him, “Do you think you can call Zhenzhen by name?”

Pei Wenxuan fell silent again. Shortly after, he stood up and said, “You can still shout and quarrel loudly, so there’s definitely nothing wrong with your health. If you don’t agree, then forget it. Each to their own schemes in the future. Don’t blame me for not reminding you in advance.”

Having said that, Pei Wenxuan turned around to leave. Li Rong looked at his retreating back, her blood suddenly boiling as she coldly said: “I really want to know what kind of scheme you’re talking about.”

“What do you think?” Pei Wenxuan still had his back to her and in a low, cold voice, “It is what you think it is.”

Li Rong did not speak, she only sneered: “You would even kill me?”

“You think I won’t?”

Pei Wenxuan turned his head back to look at her with a bit of murderous intent in his eyes. The sight of it made Li Rong suddenly feel a little panicked.

That cold stare was cold enough to bring her back to her senses in an instant. Pei Wenxuan was someone who would do anything to accomplish his goals.

There had never been any affection between them, only the constraints of being husband and wife in name and their cooperation with one another.

When there were common interests, Pei Wenxuan could tolerate her in every way. Now that the two of them had turned against each other, it wouldn’t be strange for he would resort to such schemes.

Li Rong watched him roughly push the door open on his way out and suddenly found herself urgently gasping to breathe.

Su Rongqing came in and saw that she was having difficulty breathing. He quickly helped her, patted her back and sent someone to get medicine. He gently patted her on the back while saying, “Surely it’s not a good thing that he came here today. You are ill, why did you still see him?”

Li Rong did not say anything. She only leaned against Su Rongqing, coughing. A maid came over with medicine. Su Rongqing had someone test the medicine first, and after confirming that there was nothing wrong, he gave it to her.

Li Rong had taken a sip of medicine and was about to say something. As soon as the medicine went into her stomach, she felt severe pain erupt in her abdomen. Then, the smell of blood rushed up. She grabbed Su Rongqing’s sleeve, her entire body thrown forward as a mouthful of blood came out.

Su Rongqing was taken aback for a moment, then he cried out in shock, “Li Rong!”

Li Rong was lying in bed, hunched over and panting. Her stomach was constantly turning inside out. Su Rongqing embraced her and shouted for a doctor, pressing on Li Rong’s wrist pulse in the meantime.

A while later, Su Rongqing’s hands trembled.

“It’s Fragrant Beauty.”

He subconsciously blurted out. The moment Li Rong heard the name of the poison, the scent lingering on Pei Wenxuan earlier instantly flashed across her mind.

Fragrant Beauty. Qin Zhenzhen died from this poison when she was in the harem that year.

Fragrant Beauty is usually placed in incense burners, and the scent that accumulates over the course of time causes poisoning. However, there is another way to use it, which is to take medicine after inhaling Fragrant Beauty.

Li Rong endured the abdominal pain and continued to vomit blood.

It was Pei Wenxuan.

She gritted her teeth and thought. In the end, this wolf cub brought her down.

He wanted to help Li Ping ascend the throne. Currently in the imperial court, His Majesty was in a coma and about to depart, the Empress’s schemes were inferior to his, and she was the only significant obstacle he had left.

Perhaps in the past, he feared her status as the Grand Princess and tolerated her for many years. Now that the Emperor was about to pass away, he didn’t need his position as Prince Consort to receive the Emperor’s favor. She has become his political enemy again, and he naturally wanted to get rid of her.

To be able to poison her so casually in her own residence, it was indeed something that the Pei Wenxuan she had known for the past 30 years could do. So the strange scent on him was Fragrant Beauty. Perhaps he had someone prepare this bowl of medicine as well. If she had agreed earlier, this bowl of medicine would not have been delivered to her.

But she didn’t, so he killed her.

He actually dared to kill her!

When Li Rong realized this, she couldn’t help but vomit another mouthful of blood. She vaguely heard the footsteps of the Imperial Physician, but her mind had somewhat cleared up.

She could not let him be.

The pain made her particularly calm—even if she died, she wanted him to be buried with her!

“Take my Imperial token,” The Imperial Physician rushed forward and began the acupuncture process. Li Rong struggled to grasp Su Rongqing’s hand and urgently said, “Summon the elite of the Princess’s mansion and set off immediately. Set up an ambush in Baiyi Alley and behead Pei Wenxuan for assassinating the princess.”

Blood continued to pour out of her mouth. Li Rong covered her mouth with a towel and distractedly ordered: “His people will frantically retaliate, so once you are done, notify the advisors and go into hiding at once. With Pei Wenxuan dead, the Empress will handle the rest. You cannot become their shields.”

“Don’t say anything!” Su Rongqing tightly embraced her and shakily said: “I know, I will deal with it, let the Imperial Physician examine you first, you will be okay, you will be okay…”

“If I die,” Everything in front of Li Rong gradually turned dark, “Then Pei Wenxuan cannot live.”