"This...this..."

Just as Fang Xuanling was about to add some dirt on Changsun Wuji, he suddenly heard a young eunuch's hoarse voice coming from outside.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience!"

Just as Li Shimin was about to ask the Crown Prince to wait a moment, he heard Fang Xuanling take his leave.

"Your Majesty, I take my leave..."

"Xuanling, what you said today..."

"Your Majesty, even if you hadn't said it, I was already thinking of saying it..."

"Your Majesty, I certainly wouldn't dare reveal this to anyone. I also beg Your Majesty not to tell a third party, lest it reach Changsun Wuji's ears and bring about my untimely demise..."

"Xuanling, isn't that an exaggeration? I'm not dead yet, why are you so afraid?"

In fact, Fang Xuanling was not very afraid of Changsun Wuji; he simply wanted to put a bad word to say about him in front of the Emperor.

However, this is a long story, and it all started with the matter of the deposed crown prince.

After Li Chengqian was deposed for treason, Fang Xuanling originally supported Prince Wei, Li Tai. However, unexpectedly, Changsun Wuji appeared out of nowhere, not only cutting off Li Tai's path to becoming crown prince, but also introducing the fourteen-year-old Li Zhi!

This disgusted Fang Xuanling; he couldn't decide whether to support it or oppose it.

After all, he couldn't very well say to His Majesty and Li Zhi that Li Zhi was unworthy to be the Crown Prince, could he?

Amidst the silence of the crowd, Changsun Wuji forcibly pushed Li Zhi in front of Li Shimin. In Li Shimin's dazed state, he incoherently uttered the words to establish Li Zhi as the crown prince.

After Fang Xuanling withdrew, Li Zhi respectfully entered.

"Father, this is a memorial that I have copied. Please take a look!"

Li Shimin glanced down and saw that Li Zhi's handwriting was neat and resembled his own, so he couldn't help but praise him.

"Your handwriting is quite good; it seems you've put in a lot of effort!"

"Your Majesty flatters me. In truth, I have been practicing your calligraphy, but your style is comparable to that of a master. I am too dull to grasp the essence of your art, and have only learned the basics..."

Upon hearing this praise, Li Shimin immediately burst into laughter.

"You flatter me!"

"What merit do I possess to be compared with masters of calligraphy?"

"I simply put in a little more effort and exerted a bit more power than others."

"Your Majesty's diligence is truly a model for your son!"

Li Shimin smiled with satisfaction upon hearing this. Although his son was a bit slow-witted, his flattery was quite effective.

Have you visited your uncle recently?

"ah?"

"There was one time, when Father Emperor didn't return home late at night. I was worried about Father Emperor's safety, so I went to my uncle's house to inquire..."

"Why seek your uncle's help for such an important matter, instead of other ministers in the court?"

"this……"

When Li Shimin saw Li Zhi's troubled expression, he immediately felt a pang of sympathy.

No matter what, he's still my own son, so why should I make things difficult for him?

"Never mind, you can go now!"

"I will be going to Xianyang in a few days to inspect the construction progress of the imperial mausoleum. If you don't want to go, you can stay in the capital and oversee the country!"

"ah?"

Li Zhi was both surprised and delighted when he heard this. His father had finally let him oversee the country!

The problem arose with how to respond to her father. If she said she wanted to go to Xianyang with him, she would miss the opportunity to oversee the country. If she kowtowed in gratitude, wouldn't that prove she only wanted to oversee the country and didn't want to accompany her father on the tour of the imperial tombs?

When Li Shimin saw the hesitation on Li Zhi's face, he felt a strange sadness in his heart.

"Go down and prepare to assume the regency in a couple of days!"

"Thank you, Father Emperor..."

After sending Li Zhi away, Li Shimin slumped back on the dragon throne, looking like an old dog whose spine had been removed.

Is this my most benevolent and filial son?

Upon hearing that he could oversee the country, he even refused to accompany me on important matters such as inspecting the imperial tombs...

Just as Li Shimin was feeling disheartened, he suddenly saw the memorials copied by Li Zhi. A thought suddenly popped into his mind: if he showed these two memorials to his grandson, how would his grandson react?