The Grand Princess

TGP Chapter 34.2: Goddess of the Luo River

“Search him?” Li Rong smiled, “Su daren is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, a minister of the imperial court, and yet you actually want to publically search him over this kind of thing?!”

With this kind of reminder from Li Rong, Li Ming’s expressions changed. He spoke up and said: “Chang Le, don’t be rude.”

“But…”

Chang Le was anxious to say something, but Su Rongqing had knelt down off to the side before she could and said: “Your Majesty, Pei daren entrusted this humble official to deliver a letter to Her Highness. Pei daren is not permitted to enter the inner palace, so he had to send it through this humble official. This humble official was momentarily negligent and caused such a misunderstanding. The princess’s reputation is of utmost importance, so this humble official will Your Highness and also agree to be searched in public to prove her innocence.”

With that said, Su Rongqing looked over at Li Rong: “Your Highness, please bring out Pei daren’s letter.”

Li Rong sighed, leaning forward as she said, “Su daren has been implicated.”

“The deceitful are behind such evil deeds,” Su Rongqing said in an upright and polite manner. He had a magnanimous expression as he said, “The princess is not to blame.”

Hearing this, Chang Le looked to Li Ming and anxiously urged: “Father Emperor, see he’s even willing to be searched!”

Li Ming glanced at Chang Le with an expression that one would have when gazing upon a fool and finally said: “Dear official Su is willing to prove his innocence, so go ahead, Fu Lai.”

With that said, Fu Lai came forward and searched Su Rongqing in front of everybody, and Li Rong handed Pei Wenxuan’s letter over.

Everyone had their eyes on this letter. Even Chang Le was in utter disbelief. The most taboo thing about this matter was likely for it to be passed onto Pei Wenxuan’s ears. Even if the princess is an esteemed, noble daughter, it was still a private meeting with an unknown man before marriage. Even if others believed that it was a chance encounter, there was a chance that a knot would form in Pei Wenxuan’s heart too, but if this letter was indeed from Pei Wenxuan, then not one person under these skies would believe that Su Rongqing and Li Rong were secretly seeing one another.

After all, there is not a single man in this world who could tolerate it to such an extent.

Li Ming dubiously accepted the letter and glanced at it. Before he could finish reading, he saw an eunuch rush over and inform Li Rong in a low voice: “Your Highness, Pei daren is waiting to see you in the outer palace.”

Pei Wenxuan had been promoted to a supervisory imperial censor because of the Yang family’s case. Although this wasn’t a particularly high-ranking position, it was in fact an official post with real authority. Li Ming also bestowed him a goldfish etched token, granting him rights to come and go in certain situations, so he was now considered a favorite of the Holy One.

Li Rong’s expression slightly changed when she heard Pei Wenxuan’s name. Chang Le was a little surprised, but soon after, she heard Li Ming say: “Bring him in here.”

Not long after, Pei Wenxuan followed the eunuch in. As he walked towards the waterside pavilion, he saw Su Rongqing and Li Rong from a distance, one kneeling and the other standing. The two of them were calm and composed, and when they stood in the same place, they seemed to be a part of a painting and did not fit in with their surroundings.

Pei Wenxuan’s pace slightly slowed down. In an instant, he felt as if time had turned back, and a rather familiar scene from many years ago came rushing back to him.