Episode 18 recap: Pei Wen Xuan safely returned to the capital to exonerate the Qin family.
At a critical moment, the maid Jing Lan came to report that Pei Wen Xuan had safely returned to the capital. Upon hearing this news, Su Rong Qing's heart sank. Pei Wen Xuan presented evidence to the Emperor proving the Qin family's innocence and requested a stay of execution. The Emperor immediately ordered the eunuch to rush to the execution site.
However, the executioner had previously received an order from Shang Guan Xu and proceeded to execute the Qin family members despite the improper timing. Xun Chuan and his men had to take the risk of rescuing the Qin family from the execution site. Ultimately, the Qin family was saved, enraging the Emperor with the powerful family's actions. He immediately announced that Li Rong would officially take over the Supervision Office. As a result, Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan finally confirmed their love for each other, while Su Rong Qing's true identity remained in question.
As Li Rong and Su Rong Qing were playing chess in the tower, Pei Wen Xuan had already presented the evidence of the Qin family's innocence to the court and pleaded with the Emperor to spare their lives. The eunuch received the order and left the palace, but someone immediately informed the executioner, who still proceeded to order the execution of the Qin family members. Xun Chuan had no choice but to risk a rescue attempt.
Ultimately, the eunuch arrived in time, and the Qin family was saved. Pei Wen Xuan reported to the Emperor that the Qin family had managed to evacuate the civilians safely despite the overwhelming odds, and should be rewarded rather than punished. He also requested the Emperor to investigate the embezzlement of military funds in the various counties, but this proposal was strongly opposed by the officials.
Li Rong was overjoyed to hear of Pei Wen Xuan's safe return, but Su Rong Qing's heart sank again, having lost the desired outcome. Su Rong Qing left, and Li Rong, sensing that he might also be a reincarnated person, hesitated to question him further.
Pei Wen Xuan rushed to the North Yan Tower, where he encountered Su Rong Qing, who openly declared that he was Li Rong's true love interest, and that Pei Wen Xuan only became the Princess's consort due to the Emperor's caution towards outsiders. Su Rong Qing then left, and Pei Wen Xuan was left stunned until Li Rong appeared before him, and they embraced.
Xun Chuan personally interrogated Tian Zhong, but he refused to confess. Shang Guan Xu, aware of Tian Zhong's arrest, decided to use the Princess's hand to eliminate some loose-tongued and cowardly members of the powerful families.
The Qin family, both young and old, expressed their profound gratitude to Li Rong for saving their lives. Qin Lin and Qin Yun were willing to devote themselves entirely to her service, assuring Li Rong of their unwavering loyalty. Qin Lin personally saw Li Rong off, demonstrating his sincerity and promising to serve her and the Crown Prince wholeheartedly in the future, as the military power in the northwest was within their grasp.
After taking care of the Qin family, Li Rong went directly to see Shang Guan Ya and reviewed the testimonies collected by Xun Chuan. She instructed Shang Guan Ya to proactively request an internal investigation of the Shangguan family, which further enhanced Li Rong's standing within the Shangguan household.
Seeing Li Rong's early return to the Princess's residence, Shang Guan Ya's curiosity was piqued once again, wondering whether Li Rong favored Su Rong Qing or Pei Wen Xuan more. As Pei Wen Xuan had taken sick leave, he was buried in the study, processing the accumulated official documents.
Li Rong was in her room reviewing memorials, and the two did not interact. Late at night, Jing Lan and Jing Mei became anxious and urged the Consort to persuade the Princess to rest early. Pei Wen Xuan, concerned about Li Rong's well-being, promptly entered her room and led her to the bed, causing Li Rong to momentarily think he was angry.
Meanwhile, Su Rong Qing practiced swordplay to relieve his inner turmoil and even challenged his elder brother to a duel, his moves becoming increasingly fierce. After calming down, he felt somewhat remorseful. Su Rong Hua, aware of his brother's unrequited love, advised him to live for himself, but Su Rong Qing had already secretly decided that since Li Rong was unwilling to give up the Censorate, he would have to rely on Rou Fei's help to balance Li Rong's power, preventing her from becoming the target of all criticism.
At this moment, Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan were lying on the same bed, and without any sleepiness, they engaged in a heartfelt conversation, the atmosphere gradually becoming intimate. Pei Wen Xuan, unable to restrain his emotions, leaned in and kissed Li Rong, claiming it was his "desire to offer her the joys of the mortal world as a way to repay her grace."
After a brief moment of disorientation, Li Rong hastily pushed Pei Wen Xuan away, stating that she was not yet prepared. Pei Wen Xuan did not persist and told her not to keep her gaze fixed on Su Rong Qing, assuring her that he was no less worthy than Su Rong Qing and that he would be at her service whenever she desired.
Sleepless throughout the night, Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan attended the court audience the next morning. The Emperor, upon hearing about the early execution at the execution grounds, angrily denounced the arrogance of the great families and openly praised Li Rong's decisive actions in front of the civil and military officials. Shang Guan Xu, in an unusual move, publicly supported Li Rong, prompting the Emperor to officially appoint Li Rong as the head of the Censorate, granting her the authority to report directly to the throne without going through the Six Ministries.
The Emperor allowed Li Rong to personally select and organize the internal personnel of the Censorate, allocating the Mingsheng Parade Ground in the north of the city as the Censorate's headquarters, and instructing the Ministry of Revenue to provide Li Rong with a budget of no less than 30,000 taels per year. Additionally, the Emperor entrusted the Qin family case and the military supplies case to the Censorate, and appointed Su Rong Hua as Li Rong's deputy, which led Li Rong to suspect that the Emperor might have some grudge against her.
After the court audience, Shang Guan Ya, accompanied by his father Shang Guan Xu, came to see Li Rong. Shang Guan Xu hoped that Li Rong, out of consideration for their kinship, would halt the investigation into the Qin family's case. Shang Guan Ya spoke on behalf of his father, but Li Rong did not agree, instead questioning Shang Guan Xu, who was unwilling to provide further explanations, hoping that she would simply withdraw from the case and avoid further confrontation.
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