Chapter 41: Plucked Flower

“Are you still eighteen this year?”

Pei Wenxuan’s expression did not change when he heard these words. He coldly eyed Su Ronghua and said in a frosty tone: “What Su daren did just now, surely Su daren must understand why this slap is warranted?”

Su Ronghua heard such righteousness and conviction in the way Pei Wenxuan questioned him that he was momentarily dumbfounded and blankly asked: “What did I do?”

“Her Highness’s person is invaluable, more precious than a thousand jin of gold, and Su daren actually coaxed Highness to jump down from such a high place. What if she fell down and had an accident?!”

“About that,” When Li Rong heard the reason behind Pei Wenxuan’s anger, she slightly tugged at his sleeve, a little embarrassed as she said: “This matter had nothing to do with Su daren. I was the one who wanted to jump down and asked him to lend me a hand.”

“And he didn’t stop you?” Pei Wenxuan saw that Li Rong still wanted to help Su Ronghua by speaking on his behalf, and he grew even angrier, “You are the sovereign, and he is your subject. If you want to act willfully and make trouble, should he act willfully and make trouble as well?”

“You also said it yourself,” Su Ronghua immediately retorted, rather indignant as he said: “She is the sovereign, and I am a mere subject. She wanted to jump and ordered me to catch her, am I supposed to disobey her imperial order?”

“You…”

“Stop arguing,” Li Rong saw that the two were about to quarrel and quickly interrupted them, then she told Pei Wenxuan, “Finding that person is more important. We will be on our way now.”

After saying that, Li Rong grabbed Pei Wenxuan’s hand and dragged him towards the exit to the courtyard.

Pei Wenxuan originally wanted to argue with Su Ronghua some more, but seeing Li Rong glaring at him, his temper also slowed down to a stop. He felt that it was indecent to quarrel like this and followed Li Rong out at once. As soon as the two reached the doors, Pei Wenxuan suddenly came to a stop. He looked down, then looked back again.

Li Rong followed his line of sight and found a problem. There was a green and grassy path that led them out of the courtyard, and the only footprints on this grassy path belonged to the two of them. It was obvious no one had gone out this way.

The two simultaneously raised their heads and looked over at Su Ronghua. There was an upturned straw basket behind him, looking rather conspicuous in that haystack, and a small branch lying near the haystack had traces of being snapped off. It was obvious that someone had just been there and stepped on it.

Li Rong immediately walked back towards Su Ronghua. Su Ronghua had a smile on his face as he said: “Why has Your Highness returned?”

Li Rong ignored him and walked over to the haystack. Su Ronghua put his arm out to stop her, but Pei Wenxuan quickly blocked Su Ronghua: “Brother Su, I will compensate you if it isn’t the case.”

Just as he said this, Li Rong grabbed the edge of the straw basket and pulled it up, but the straw basket firmly remained on the ground, not moving in the slightest.

Li Rong narrowed her eyes and said: “Shangguan Ya, let go.”

A voice came from inside, but it was obvious that Shangguan Ya deliberately disguised her voice: “What is this little lady doing here? Why are you pulling on my straw basket?”

“Shangguan Ya,” Li Rong confirmed that it was definitely Shangguan Ya inside, so she straightened up and gave the straw basket a kick, “I was looking for you regarding some business. Come out and talk.”

There was a moment of silence from inside. Pei Wenxuan guessed Shangguan Ya’s concerns and quickly said: “Rest assured, Miss Shanguan. We’re not here to catch and bring you back on behalf of the Shangguan residence.”

Hearing this, Shangguan Ya decisively lifted the straw basket and stood up: “Then why did you chase me all that time? Should have said so earlier.”

After that, she turned towards Li Rong and brought her hand up to respectfully salute in somewhat of a graceful and poised manner, smiling as she said: “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Li Rong looked at the young girl in front of her with radiant youthfulness and high spirits, and some complicated emotions momentarily took form in her heart. The Shangguan Ya in front of her was quite beautiful. She was wearing the clothes of a young manservant, the hair on her head loosely scattered as she stood before Li Rong in an easygoing manner, bringing about an air to her that ordinary people would not possess.

Pei Wenxuan saw that Li Rong was in a daze, so he walked up behind Li Rong and gave a discreet cough, then he looked at Shangguan Ya and said: “Why don’t we find a place to talk first?”

Shangguan Ya nodded, lifted her hand and said: “This way please.”

Having said that, Shangguan Ya suddenly turned to look at Su Ronghua and cupped her hands in salute: “Thank you, Young Master Su. We will meet again another day. But…”

Shangguan Ya conveyed her intentions to Su Ronghua with a meaningful look in her eyes. Su Ronghua smiled and said: “Don’t worry, I will keep it a secret.”

He smiled brightly as he looked at Shangguan Ya and cupped his hands: “We will meet again another day.”

Shangguan Ya nodded and walked over to the side to pick up the headscarf that had fallen on the ground. She tied up her hair and led Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan to a tea room that she seemed to be rather familiar with.

The Fortune Gathering Hall was favored by many high-ranking officials and nobles, not only for its strict management and controlled access but because it was also a gambling house and had just about everything here, which was greatly convenient.

The three of them sat down in the tea room with Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan sitting beside one another on one side while Shangguan Ya sat on the other side by herself.

Li Rong thoughtfully tapped the palm of her hand with her fan as Shangguan Ya brought a hand up to her head to fix her hair. Pei Wenxuan saw that the two girls weren’t talking, so he poured some tea as he began with some small talk: “How long has it been since Miss Shangguan came to the capital?”

“Two days before you both got married.”

Shangguan Ya smiled as she looked at Li Rong: “If you think about it, Her Highness and I should be considered cousins. This time I came to the capital to specifically attend the wedding ceremony, and I regret not being able to come give my congratulations in person, but I never expected to see Your Highness here today.”

Shangguan Ya was still as strong-worded as Li Rong remembered, going straight to the point when speaking: “I wonder why Your Highness was so anxious to find me. What was it that you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Ya meimei should be seventeen this year, right?” Pei Wenxuan passed a cup of tea to Li Rong, then gave Shangguan Ya a cup of tea.

Shangguan Ya nodded and said: “It has just been over a month.”

“After I was married, the Empress began to worry about Chuan’er marriage. What does Miss Shangguan think of this matter?”

Shangguan Ya’s movements came to a pause when she heard this. She thought about it for a moment, then she laughed: “So it turns out this is what Your Highness came for. Your Highness wants to talk about His Highness the Crown Prince’s marriage?”

“Yes.” Li Rong also didn’t beat around the bush and directly said: “I heard that the Shangguan family intends to choose you as the candidate for Crown Princess.”

“So Your Highness came here today,” Shangguan Ya lifted her leg and sat with her ankle on her knee as she lifted the cup of tea and glanced over at Li Rong: “Could it be that you are feeling dissatisfied?”

“I…”

“But it doesn’t matter,” Shangguan set her cup down and softly laughed, “The Shangguan family has plenty of young ladies. If Your Highness is not satisfied with A-ya, then you can go ahead and tell my dad.[1] There is also an A-wen meimei who came to Huajing this time. As long as they come from the Shangguan clan,” Shangguan Ya turned her head, suppressing the traces of ridicule in her eyes, “It is up to the sovereign to choose.”

[1] Diē (爹) is more akin to “dad” than the more formal “father” (Fùqīn – 父亲), kind of like “dear old dad”

Li Rong frowned. She heard the dissatisfaction in Shangguan Ya’s tone of voice. After a while, she slowly began to say: “It’s not that I genuinely think that you’re unsuitable. The thing is, the Shangguan clan has already installed an Empress for three generations.”

Li Rong looked up at Shangguan Ya and earnestly asked: “Aren’t you afraid, meimei?”

Shangguan Ya turned back to look at Li Rong, putting a smile on her face: “What do you mean?”

“Chuan’er and I are both from the Shangguan clan and will naturally support the Shangguan clan unconditionally. But if you were to marry Chuan’er, what do you think His Majesty will make of it?”

“Your Highness, these words of yours seem to be implying something,” Shangguan Ya had a cold look in her eyes, “His Highness the Crown Prince is from the Shangguan clan, but is it not the same for the reigning Holy One?”

“But Chuan’er will govern with benevolence and principles, only seeking to achieve stability, but is it the same for the reigning Holy One?”

Li Rong knew that Shangguan Ya was not completely unaware of political affairs and wanted to say it as a reminder to Shangguan Ya: “If you think about it, why is it that the Yang family no longer exists?”

Shangguan Ya did not answer. She took a sip from her cup of tea and slightly pursed her lips. Li Rong continued to say: “The Shangguan clan and Chuan’er are already very close. In fact, there is no need for you to enter the palace in order to consolidate this relationship. If they were to be tied by marriage now, this marriage would be too much of an eyesore for His Majesty.”

“So what you want to say is…” Shangguan Ya solemnly looked at Li Rong, “His Majesty wants to take action against His Majesty now?”

Li Rong remained silent. Shangguan Ya proceeded to say: “There is no use in saying these words to me because this is not something I can decide. All I want is to enjoy each happy day that I can before everything is arranged and decided. Your Highness,” Shangguan Ya lifted her hand and raised her cup of tea to toast in place of wine, “If that is all to be said, this commoner girl would like to take her leave.”

After that, Shangguan Ya finished her cup of tea and set it down on the table, then she got up and left.

When she reached the doors, she suddenly stopped and partly turned back, somewhat nervous as she said: “Your Highness, you must not tell others about how you saw me here today.”

Li Rong felt a headache coming the moment she heard it and dismissively waved her hand, signaling for her to quickly get out of here.

After Shangguan Ya left, Pei Wenxuan, who had been sitting next to Li Rong, took a sip of his tea and said with a smile: “It seems there was no use in starting with Shangguan Ya.”

“Not necessarily.”

Li Rong stood up and walked out with an unperturbed expression: “She will reconsider it.”

If it really was the Shangguan Ya that she knew, this old friend of hers that she was familiar with, Shangguan Ya will most certainly look for a way when she hears those words.

As long as Shangguan Ya can think of a way, she will be able to help them out a little.

Li Rong thought to herself as she walked out the room with Pei Wenxuan. Seeing Li Rong’s expression, Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but ask: “You don’t seem too happy about it?”

“Not really,” Li Rong laughed, feeling rather helpless as she said, “It’s just that I suddenly found out that there are many things from the previous life that I don’t fully understand.”

“Like Shangguan Ya, for example?” Pei Wenxuan tucked both hands into his sleeves, his expression becoming that of a look of understanding.

Li Rong said nothing as she thought about Shangguan Ya in the previous life.

When she met Shangguan Ya of the previous life, this person was already the Crown Princess.

At that time, she wore thick, heavy makeup and palace garments, hiding her true appearance. She was principled and courteous, aware of the general situation, had sophisticated taste as well as a graceful and poised demeanor. There were only a few occasions in private when there were such willful moments when she did as she pleased, joking around and laughing with Li Rong. But even in those moments, Li Rong never discovered the fact that Shangguan Ya had not the slightest fondness for the palace.

She had always thought that Shangguan Ya was a flower simply born to be in the Emperor’s court, but when she saw Shangguan Ya’s bright eyes and how radiant she looked today, she suddenly understood that in those days, Shangguan Ya was a person that had already stepped foot into the coffin. The moment she stepped through the palace gates, she used the lid of the coffin to seal herself inside.

She recalled Shangguan Ya’s brightly shining eyes just now and couldn’t help but turn to look to Pei Wenxuan and call out to him: “Come to think of it, it seems you already knew she would be like this?”

“I didn’t know if she would be someone like this,” Pei Wenxuan walked shoulder to shoulder alongside Li Rong and turned to face her with a smile that was not quite a smile, “But I know that she is mostly certainly not just another well-bred young lady of a prestigious family, so no matter what it is that she does, I would not find it surprising.

“Oh?” Li Rong was a little curious, “What kind of interactions did you have with her in the previous life?”

“I didn’t have any interactions with her, but based on the ones I had with you,” Pei Wenxuan immediately responded with laughter, “Among your friends, which ones can be considered well-bred young ladies of prestigious families?”

Li Rong stared blankly for a moment. Shortly after, she reacted to Pei Wenxuan mocking her and raised the fan in her hand to smack him: “What are you trying to say? Growing braver and braver by day, aren’t you?”

Pei Wenxuan saw her fan coming and quickly avoided it. When Li Rong saw him turning away to hide, for some reason, she couldn’t help but have the urge to chase after him.

Pei Wenxuan simultaneously evaded her fan as he retreated, loudly shouting at the top of his lungs: “A gentleman uses his words, not his fists! You have to think of your image! Ah ah, don’t pinch me…aiyaya, I’m dying, I’m dying!”

Li Rong saw Pei Wenxuan pretending to wail in anguish as he miserably leaned against a pillar and couldn’t stop laughing. She stopped and asked him: “How can you be so childish?”

“Are you not ashamed to ask me such a question?”

Pei Wenxuan leaned against the pillar and looked at Li Rong with a smile: “Are you still eighteen this year? Or have you been reincarnated as a monkey spirit?”

Li Rong froze. When Pei Wenxuan mentioned this, she remembered the way she and Shangguan Ya had chased each other today. She was a little embarrassed for a while. Li Rong didn’t know why either. She had been back for a while now, but when she saw an old friend again, her mentality seemed to be more and more like that of a young girl.

Pei Wenxuan saw Li Rong’s embarrassment. He softly laughed and brought his hand up to pluck a gardenia flower that had just bloomed and gently tucked some of her hair behind her ear.

“I don’t know if you have reincarnated as a monkey spirit or not,” He inserted the gardenia into Li Rong’s hair with some tenderness in his smile, “But in my heart, you really are just like a young lady.”

“Are you saying that I’m childish?”

“No,” Pei Wenxuan withdrew his hand, his hands slipped back into his sleeves as he slightly tilted his head and said, “I feel like you are in the spring of your youth, and you look beautiful.”

The author has something to say:

【Mini Theater】

Li Rong: “Why are you always jumping back and forth between my bottom line?”

Pei Wenxuan: “Because I’ve stirred up a fire in your heart.”

Li Rong: “Very well, I feel like I’m burning up.”

Pei Wenxuan: “It’s supposed to be the kind for love, not the kind to be hitting me like this!”