"I have met the Emperor."

Li Chuan knelt down and bowed deeply to Li Ming.

Li Ming looked at Li Chuan kneeling on the cold ground. He and his son were the only ones in the hall. Li Ming was silent. After a long while, he said, "I heard that you were injured. Are you okay?"

"Report to the Emperor, no problem."

Li Chuan spoke in a serious tone. Li Ming remained silent for a long time. After a while, he slowly said, "I asked you to come here today because I wanted to have a good talk with you. You and I, father and son, haven't had a good talk for many years."

"Yes, I am all ears."

Li Chuan knelt on the ground without looking up. Li Ming listened to him and said, "You blame me."

"I don't understand what your father is talking about."

"I know that you blame me in your heart and think that I favor Cheng'er. You are kind and virtuous by nature, and you are the legitimate daughter of the Empress. In terms of status, character, and ability, you should be my best son. But I suppress you in every way, so you have long been dissatisfied."

"I dare not think so. The thunder and lightning and rain and dew are all grace from the emperor. I know that the emperor is just afraid that I will be lax and be a little strict."

Hearing this, Li Ming laughed. He raised his hand and pointed at Li Chuan, then pointed in the air several times before finally sighing, "You look just like me when I was young."

Li Chuan said nothing. Li Ming stood up, holding up his clothes in one hand, and walked slowly down from the platform.

He walked with great difficulty, and it was obvious that he was exhausted. Li Chuan did not look up, but listened to him walking and saying, "I also talked to my father in the same way. I am different from you. I have six brothers, so I am always worried that one day when I wake up, I will no longer be the prince."

"I endured many years before becoming the emperor. After becoming the emperor, I understood the hardships my father went through. Chuan'er, I don't want you to be the crown prince. It's not that I don't like you. You are actually my favorite child. I don't want you to be the crown prince because I know that if you become the emperor one day, it will be the greatest suffering in your life."

After he finished speaking, he stopped in front of Li Chuan. Li Chuan could only see the edge of his clothes with gold embroidery. He did not dare to look up, and heard Li Ming whispering, "But now you can no longer retreat. You can only climb up. Do you know what is the most important thing for an emperor?"

Without waiting for Li Chuan to answer, Li Ming told him: "It is ruthless."

"You and I share the same bloodline of the Li family. I am the person closest to you. Today I will give you a chance," Li Ming squatted down and looked at Li Chuan, "a chance to ensure that you become the emperor."

Li Chuan said nothing. He slowly raised his head and saw Li Ming taking out an imperial edict from his hand.

"This is a will with your name written on it," Li Ming stared into Li Chuan's eyes, "as long as you promise me to thoroughly investigate the assassination of Prince Suo in Xiaochang and catch the mastermind behind it, I will give this will to you."

Li Chuan and Li Ming looked at each other quietly in the hall. The moonlight fell on the black marble floor, flowing like a cold stream.

Li Ming stretched out the edict and said, "Don't you want it? The throne is within your reach, don't you want it?"

Li Chuan set his eyes on the "last will" and looked at it quietly without saying a word.

Li Ming laughed, "Do you think I'm harming you? Silly boy, I'm paving the way for you. The Shangguan family is already too prosperous, and with them in control, you will have to take action against them sooner or later when you become emperor. If I'm still here and you take action, it will be my fault. When you become emperor, if you take action against the Shangguan family again, and kill your mother, uncle, and sister, Chuan'er, your reputation in history will be ruined."

"Father, what you mean is," Li Chuan said slowly, "If I were to become emperor, I would definitely kill my mother, uncle, and sister, right?"

Li Ming didn't say anything. After a long while, he lowered his eyes and said, "Chuan'er, if you were a little tougher, or too weak, you might not have made it this far. But you happen to be smart but not smart enough, weak but not weak enough, strong but not strong enough. You are just an ordinary person who is slightly smarter, and I know too well what it feels like to be in this position. If you sit in this position, the Shangguan family will be destroyed."

"I understand, son." Li Chuan took a deep breath. Li Ming looked relieved. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Li Chuan raising his hand.

He raised his hand and untied his own hair crown, then took off the nine-bead hair crown that represented the prince and put it aside.

Li Ming frowned: "What are you doing?"

Li Chuan said nothing. He stood up, took a step back, and then knelt on the ground.

"Father, I don't know what I will be like in the future, but now, I am indecisive and loyal, and I don't have the ruthlessness that an emperor should have. I have failed your high regard, and I hope you will forgive me. If you think that what I have done is not in line with the way of a prince, please depose me if you can. It's getting late, I will take my leave."

After saying this, Li Chuan bent down, put his hands in front of him, bowed his head, and then retreated.

He performed this set of movements smoothly, and when he walked out of the door, Li Ming finally reacted and shouted, "Stop!"

"Li Chuan, you are too soft-hearted! I gave you such a great opportunity but you didn't want it. What do you want?!"

"I want to," Li Chuan said, with his back to Li Ming, looking at the dark clouds gathering in the distance, "to become someone different from my father."

Hearing this, Li Ming stood there in a daze. Li Chuan walked out of the hall and walked away quickly under the moonlight.

When Li Chuan left the palace, Su Ronghua looked at the tea bowl in front of him. His own shadow was reflected in the tea bowl. He took a long time to calm down.

"Is this dream real or fake?"

"I've tested it," Su Rongqing lowered his eyes, "It's true."

"So this is why you and Concubine Rou joined forces to prevent the crown prince from ascending the throne?"

Su Ronghua raised his eyes and looked at Su Rongqing, who responded, "Yes."

"Because you killed His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, you were destined to be an enemy of His Royal Highness Pingle, so you gave up His Royal Highness Pingle."

Su Ronghua definitely spoke up, and Su Rongqing clenched his fists. After a long while, he finally answered, "Yes."

"Isn't it a pity? You know the future, why don't you try to change it?"

"How to change it?" Su Rongqing couldn't help laughing when he heard this. "Brother, how can I change it? Is it because my Su family is sorry for Li Chuan? Or is it because my Su family is too powerful? Is it because Li Chuan, as a monarch, has ambitions but is reckless and ignorant, and acts recklessly!"

"He was ambitious and wanted to launch a northern expedition right after he came to power. The other ministers advocated peace, but he was greedy and afraid of death. He didn't know that we knew the corruption within the court and didn't know that if we rashly went to war, there would be no chance of winning. But he insisted on fighting, and eventually the treasury was emptied. Halfway through the battle, there was no money for the army. After that, the south was flooded as usual, and there was no money for disaster relief. The fields were full of corpses and people were cannibalizing their children."

"He did not repent, and only regarded it as the accumulated malpractices of the aristocratic family. He blindly promoted reforms, which led to years of war. He favored the humble and treacherous ministers and acted recklessly. When he ascended the throne, the registered population of Daxia was 130 million. Eight years later, the registered population was less than 80 or 40 million," Su Rongqing looked at Su Ronghua, "Where should we start to change?"

"He had the same temper back then, seemingly virtuous and kind. Brother, I am His Highness Ai Pingle." After saying this, Su Rongqing looked at Su Ronghua steadily, "But I also have my bottom line."

Su Ronghua didn't say anything. He picked up the tea and took a sip.

"Rong Qing, have you ever been to the North?"

Su Rongqing didn't know why Su Ronghua suddenly asked this question. He was stunned for a moment. Su Ronghua put down the tea bowl and said softly, "You have lived in Huajing since you were a child. You have never been to other places. To you, human lives are just numbers, one million, ten million. I have been to the north. When I went there, I saw the battlefield with my own eyes and saw the people being slaughtered like pigs and dogs. In fact, I have the same idea as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Daxia must stand up and must march north."

"Don't be so hasty."

"When is it not urgent?" Su Ronghua looked at Su Rongqing with a calm expression, "You said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is not realistic, then tell me, what is the reality?"

Su Rongqing remained silent, and Su Ronghua smiled knowingly: "The truth is, there are many aristocratic families, and in order to protect their own interests, everyone is unwilling to send troops, and in order to protect their own interests, they are unwilling to spend money. Family relationships are entangled, leading to nepotism and corruption. I guess the biggest reason for the failure of the Northern Expedition is that the money did not reach the hands of the soldiers after it arrived in the north, but whose fault is this? Is it His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

"Rongqing, there's no need to make our reasons so high-sounding," Su Ronghua looked at Su Rongqing with a bit of sadness in his eyes, "Admit it, the aristocratic family is the cancer of Daxia. Sooner or later, we will be drowned in the long river of history. Our so-called noble bloodline is born with original sin."

Su Rongqing looked at Su Ronghua. The two brothers stared at each other for a long time. Su Rongqing finally spoke: "So, big brother, you still want to help Li Chuan get promoted, right?"

"I don't assist anyone," Su Ronghua put down the teacup, "I just don't want you to get involved too much in these things. If you have time, go out of Huajing and take a walk. Go to the north to see the battlefield, and go to the south to see the flood. Rongqing, seeing it with your own eyes and hearing about it from others are two different things. Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles."

"You take a rest first," Su Ronghua stood up and turned to go out, "I'll go find my father."

Su Ronghua pushed the door and walked out. At this time, in the princess's mansion, Li Rong listened to Pei Wenxuan's questions and laughed softly.

"Hasn't it already been decided to go to Qingzhou?"

Pei Wenxuan sighed after hearing this: "It seems that I am not charming enough to keep His Highness. All right," Pei Wenxuan raised his hand and scratched Li Rong's chin, "Your Highness is very charming and has secured His Highness the Crown Prince. I will resign and go to Qingzhou to eat free food."

"Okay, I have three thousand lovers," Li Rong laughed, "and I'll let you be the boss."

"Your Highness," Pei Wenxuan listened to Li Rong's decision, still a little worried, "Are you really leaving?"

"You are not the type who likes to be idle and idle. I am afraid you will get bored if you stay in Qingzhou."

Li Rong is different from Li Chuan. Li Chuan doesn't like power and was forced into that position. But Li Rong is greedy for the sense of control that power brings from the bottom of her heart. So she gave up her good life as a princess and wanted to build an inspection department. In her previous life, she wanted to marry a good man and take care of herself in her old age, but she wanted to hug the princess who was the regent.

Li Rong leaned against Pei Wenxuan. She hugged the heat pack that Pei Wenxuan gave her and sighed, "What can I do? I can't continue to fight with Chuan'er. I love power, but I can't fight to the death with outsiders. I'll just fight with Li Chuan..."

Li Rong paused and said, "Forget it. It makes me upset to see you."

"So are you going to leave, or are you going to leave on your own as we agreed before?"

Li Rong said nothing.

Before, she thought that Shangguan Ya and Su Ronghua were actively seeking pleasure out of lust. Although she understood, she still hated it.

Now that she had heard the whole story, she didn't know for a moment whether Shangguan Ya and Su Ronghua were the ones to be pitied, or she and Li Chuan were the ones to be pitied.

She couldn't hate him, and she had no one to curse at. It was like a destined feeling of powerlessness that made her punch cotton, and in the end, she was left with only pity and sadness.

"I don't know either."

Li Rong shook her head: "It's up to you."

Pei Wenxuan smiled and said, "Then I will inform the Shangguan family when you leave the city so that they can make preparations in advance."

Li Rong responded weakly.

Pei Wenxuan was about to say something else when he heard a message from outside: "Your Highness, sir, the Crown Prince is here."

Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan looked at each other, and Pei Wenxuan immediately said, "You go to sleep, I'll go pick him up."

"Let's call him in," Li Rong thought for a moment, "It shouldn't be a small matter for him to come here now."

After all, Li Chuan was still injured and they had just met. If there was nothing wrong, he wouldn't have rushed over in such a hurry.

Pei Wenxuan responded, but he was worried that Li Rong would be embarrassed, so he asked someone to bring in a screen and received Li Chuan outside the screen.

As soon as Li Chuan entered the room, he saw the standing screen. Pei Wenxuan smiled calmly and said, "Your Highness fell asleep and didn't want to get up, so he put up the screen."

Li Chuan pretended not to know Li Rong's estrangement. He responded expressionlessly. Pei Wenxuan asked him to sit down and said with a smile, "Your Highness, why are you here now?"

"I'm afraid Li Cheng is not going to make it," Li Chuan said bluntly, "My father summoned me to the palace tonight and asked me to use my sister and Shangguan as an exchange, and he let me ascend the throne."

"Oh," Pei Wenxuan nodded. He glanced at Li Chuan's empty head and said, "Then His Highness must have refused."

"Yes." Li Chuan didn't say much, "But once Li Cheng dies, I am the only heir. I am afraid that my father will not let my sister and Shangguan go. While there is still time, my sister should quickly discuss with my mother and uncle to find a way to leave the city. Then my sister can ride as fast as she can and reach Qingzhou in three days."

Pei Wenxuan's hands trembled when he heard this. Before he could answer, Li Rong asked from behind the screen: "Leaving tonight?"

"The sooner the better."

"Okay," Li Rong responded decisively, "Then have someone prepare the horses immediately. I will set out immediately and gallop as fast as I can to Qingzhou."

"It's settled," Li Chuan nodded. After the two siblings had a conversation, they settled the matter. At this time, Pei Wenxuan finally reacted and shouted, "No, absolutely not!"

Li Chuan and Li Rong both looked over, Li Chuan frowned and said, "Why not?"

"Your Highness cannot rush around like this," Pei Wenxuan said seriously, "and you must not rush. She needs comfort now. Even if she goes out, she can only take a carriage to Qingzhou slowly."

Hearing this, Li Chuan couldn't help but lecture Pei Wenxuan: "It's such a long time now, why are you still so annoying? Pei Wenxuan, this is about escaping, not going on a picnic. Sister has agreed, why are you still complaining?"

"That's right." Li Rong agreed with Li Chuan from behind the screen, "Let's keep it simple. I'm fine with that."

"It's fine for you," Pei Wenxuan said anxiously as he watched the two men singing the same tune, "but it's not okay for Pei Xiaobao."

"Who is Pei Xiaobao?" Li Chuan was a little confused. When Li Rong heard this name, her heartbeat suddenly quickened. She couldn't believe it and even stuttered a little when she spoke: "What is Pei... Pei?"

"That's the one in your stomach."

Pei Wenxuan stood up and turned to walk behind the screen. He half-knelt in front of Li Rong, put his hand on her belly, and looked up at her: "Right here."

Li Rong stared at Pei Wenxuan in a daze. When Li Chuan saw Pei Wenxuan go in, he suddenly learned that he had a nephew. He felt itchy in his heart and could not help but turn to the screen and secretly look at Li Rong.

Li Rong was in a daze, and seemed to be shocked for a moment. Pei Wenxuan couldn't help laughing when he saw Li Rong like this: "The doctor diagnosed you this morning. You fell off a cliff, and your fetus is unstable. You need to take good care of yourself. I was afraid that telling you this this morning would affect your judgment, and you wouldn't be able to see your heart clearly, so I didn't tell you."

"So," Li Rong came to her senses and looked at Pei Wenxuan, "I can't go to Qingzhou?"

"We can't go to Qingzhou, so let's go to a place closer and pretend to be Qingzhou."

Pei Wenxuan's eyes fell on Li Rong's belly: "I will solve it as soon as possible."

"You've solved all the problems, what should I do?"

Li Rong raised her hand and placed it on Pei Wenxuan's hand, feeling a little embarrassed. Pei Wenxuan smiled and said, "Take good care of my daughter."

"How did you know it was a daughter?"

Li Rong couldn't help but laugh when she saw Pei Wenxuan's firm decision. Pei Wenxuan sighed, "It's okay if it's a son. A daughter would be even better."

"That..."

Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan were talking. Li Chuan held it in for a long time, but finally he hid behind the screen and spoke nervously.

He knew that Li Rong didn't like him, but he couldn't help it. Seeing the two of them looking at him, he looked at Pei Wenxuan enviously: "Um... can you let me hear about my sister's belly?"

"Your Highness, what do you want to do?" Pei Wenxuan was a little confused and didn't understand why Li Chuan made this request.

Li Chuan was a little shy: "Just... I want to hear how he kicks people."

Li Rong: “…”

Pei Wenxuan was stunned for a moment, then looked at the seventeen-year-old Li Chuan, feeling somewhat speechless.

"Your Highness," Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but remind him, "He's not even three months old yet."

"Hmm? What's the connection?" Li Chuan didn't quite understand. Li Rong glanced at him coldly, "When you were three months pregnant, you were like a dead fetus. What did you kick with? Your brain?"