Emperor Xingchang nodded slightly, noticing the woman's somewhat stiff expression, and suddenly changed the subject: "I know it's not as comfortable here as it is in the military camp, but then again, my son has been in the capital for so long, surely he can manage things in the military camp?"
Li Chang'an lowered his eyes slightly, and then understood. However, he still honestly told Emperor Xingchang that he had handed over the affairs of the military camp to Ye Lingxiao for temporary management before he came.
"That's excellent. Then I won't have to worry about you being unable to manage both sides. Speaking of which, it's been quite a while since I've visited the military camp. I wonder if it would be convenient for you to take me there later to see the results of my son's training?"
After playing coy for so long, Emperor Xingchang finally revealed his true intentions.
"Father, it is certainly fine if you want to see it. However, I am worried about whether your health can withstand the travel. In my opinion, we should consult the imperial physician before making any plans."
Li Chang'an lowered her eyes, concealing most of her expression, and a sudden sense of loss welled up in her heart.
As expected, he never trusted himself.
Although he had long known that there was a rift between him and his daughter, Emperor Xingchang's sudden request to visit the military camp still caught Li Chang'an off guard. He couldn't understand what the man was really up to.
However, she believed that she had a clear conscience and that what she had just said was indeed for the emperor's health.
However, the other party felt that she was making excuses.
Emperor Xingchang's suspicions about Li Biao'an deepened. He paused, then continued, "What you say makes sense, but I've never liked listening to those imperial physicians nagging me about what I can and can't do. How about this? You brought a troop of soldiers to the capital, so why don't I just stay here and observe from within the capital? That way, I'll avoid the hassle of traveling back and forth..."
Li Chang'an frowned slightly, puzzled as to why Emperor Xingchang suddenly insisted on inspecting the army. However, since the emperor wanted to see them, he had no reason to refuse. After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about this, Your Majesty? I will bring the soldiers out for your inspection."
Xingchang had originally intended to test the waters first, but he hadn't expected Li Chang'an to agree so readily. So he pressed his advantage and said, "That's good. The army that you personally brought to the capital must be composed of elites. I remember you specially trained a group of men, right? This time, you've brought that group of elites to the capital. I can't wait to see their prowess!"
Li Chang'an felt a chill run down her spine. She never expected that Emperor Xingchang would actually set his sights on this.
The group of men he just mentioned was the Light Cloud Cavalry, led by Deputy General Sun, which Li Chang'an had painstakingly trained.
And the soldiers in the Light Cloud Cavalry were indeed all elites, just as Emperor Xingchang had said.
They not only made outstanding contributions on the battlefield, but were also Li Chang'an's right-hand men in the army.
Because of the strategic importance of the army, Li Chang'an did not reveal any specific information about the Light Cloud Cavalry. Even Emperor Xingchang should not have known that such an army existed.
This team was formed temporarily to complete a mission back then, but because they were indeed very strong, they have been retained until now.
Li Chang'an had no idea how Emperor Xingchang learned about the Light Cloud Cavalry, nor did he know if Emperor Xingchang had any other ideas about this team.
Originally, Li Chang'an had considered reporting to the court to seek an imperial honor for the brothers of the Light Cloud Cavalry, but after asking the soldiers for their opinions, she ultimately chose to respect everyone's wishes and keep the existence of this team a secret for the time being.
Everyone expressed that they only wanted to be with their general through thick and thin and did not want to get involved in the power struggles within the royal family. They knew that if the Light Cloud Cavalry were used by the court, it would inevitably be tainted by self-interest, which was an outcome they did not want to see.
Emperor Xingchang only recently learned that Li Chang'an actually had his own army.
He was able to obtain this information thanks to the diligent spies around him who went to great lengths to get it.
Although Li Chang'an's reason for not revealing this matter was simple, in Emperor Xingchang's eyes it was evidence of her treacherous intentions.
Li Chang'an was perfectly aware of this painstaking test. She knew very well that Emperor Xingchang was always suspicious, and she also knew that even if she explained it to him now, he would never believe her.
Li Chang'an couldn't help but sigh inwardly. At this point, trust between him and his daughter was even more precarious than kinship.
"Since Father Emperor wishes to see it, then I will inform them to prepare well and present themselves to His Majesty in the best possible condition."
In the end, Li Chang'an chose to compromise.
However, her compromise only went so far. If Emperor Xingchang were to set his sights on Qingyun Ridge, she would certainly not stand idly by.
Emperor Xingchang had not expected her to agree so readily, and he couldn't help but begin to doubt whether it was really as the spies had said, that Li Chang'an had secretly trained a very strong army.
However, something even more unexpected happened next.
"Father, after much thought, I believe that half of this tiger tally should be given to you for safekeeping, in case of unforeseen circumstances."
As he spoke, Li Chang'an took out a small brocade pouch from his inner pocket, and then took out half of the tiger tally and handed it over.
Looking at the woman's sincere appearance, Emperor Xingchang's heart wavered for a moment, and he felt that there might really be some misunderstanding between him and his daughter.
But regardless of the overall situation, his own power and status were still the most important things in his eyes.
Moreover, besides Li Chang'an, there is also Feng Beichuan. If I show mercy for a moment, I will not be able to suppress them.
Although Li Chang'an's actions did not dispel Emperor Xingchang's resentment, her pragmatic approach pleased him.
"Chang'an, you've thought things through so thoroughly. Seeing how far you've come, I'm very pleased with you! In the future, you can share any ideas you have with me, whether it's official or personal matters. I'm always willing to listen."
At this moment, Emperor Xingchang had transformed into a kind and amiable father. He held the other half of the tiger tally in his hand, and his heart seemed to be at peace.
Li Chang'an forced a faint smile. Although he loathed the hypocrisy, he had no choice but to continue pretending.
Although they each had their own thoughts, at this moment they tacitly understood each other and vividly portrayed the deep affection between father and daughter.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Li Chang'an had no patience to continue pretending, so after exchanging a few more pleasantries, he prepared to leave the Imperial Study.
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