All Heavens: From Joy of Life to The Great Feng Night Watchman

Li Cheng was visibly weak and sweaty after eating just a little. After the meal, His Majesty the Emperor sat up straight and began to speak.

Li Chang'an, still in his cradle, observed the situation at the dinner table, a place where the patriarchs displayed their status.

Sure enough, Li Cheng coughed twice, and all three of his children sat up respectfully.

"Today is Chang'an's birthday, and the Crown Prince has also recovered well. It's truly a double celebration."

"Regarding Yunrui's marriage, I think..."

When the topic of Li Yunrui's marriage came up, Li Yunrui suddenly frowned.

Li Chang'an noticed that the Crown Prince's expression was also somewhat strange.

Then, the Crown Prince interrupted the Emperor's speech!

"Your Majesty! Wait a moment!"

A crown prince who dares to interrupt the emperor is definitely a source of pride among crown princes!

Not all crown princes are cowardly and incompetent; at least the crown prince in front of us is terrifyingly powerful.

He controlled the Imperial Treasury and the Supervisory Council, and held considerable prestige within the military. Li Cheng was indeed unable to control him.

Emperor Li Cheng's gaze darkened, and he managed to suppress his dissatisfaction and anger.

It turns out that the rumors about His Highness Prince Cheng being weak and indecisive were true.

The Crown Prince continued, "Your Majesty, today is my third brother's first birthday."

"A first birthday celebration should be about things related to one's first birthday, and the traditional 'grasping ceremony' is an essential part of it!"

Then, the crown prince clapped his hands toward the door.

A middle-aged eunuch shuffled in with practiced, small steps. He carried a tray with various trinkets on a red cloth.

From afar, Li Chang'an saw a plate filled with writing implements, scriptures, abacuses, jewelry, rouge, toy weapons, and more.

Your Highness, it turns out you were prepared all along.

Name: Eunuch Hou

Age: 28 years old

Realm: Lower Fifth Rank

Talents: Palace Intrigue (Rank 8), Social Skills (Rank 8), Martial Arts (Rank 4)

Abilities: Palace intrigue (sixth rank), social skills (seventh rank)

Emotion: 20

The shrewd and cunning Eunuch Hou is also a martial arts master, currently at the fifth rank, and will likely reach the seventh or eighth rank in a dozen years.

Eunuch Hou skillfully spread everything evenly on the bed.

Liu Shuyan also placed Li Chang'an on the bed, in the middle of a circle of objects.

Upon hearing the Crown Prince interrupt the Emperor, Li Yunrui cast an admiring glance at the Crown Prince.

"The baby's first birthday celebration is so important! My eldest brother grabbed a spear and a crossbow back then!"

"Later, my elder brother indeed became the crown prince, and his military might shook the world!"

"I wonder what my little brother will catch?"

Upon hearing this, both Li Cheng and Liu Shuyan frowned.

Upon hearing this, Li Chang'an immediately sensed that Li Yunrui's words had a hidden meaning.

What does that mean? Once they seize the weapons, they'll become the crown prince and threaten the throne.

Li Yunrui has never been a good person since he was a child!

Li Chang'an stood up and looked down at the bow and arrows at his feet.

With just one glance, Liu Shuyan immediately said, "Chang'an..."

The words had already been spoken when the Crown Prince stopped him.

"Lady Liu! A child's first birthday celebration is a time to see their true nature; please do not disturb them."

At this moment, Li Chang'an noticed that the Crown Prince's favorability rating had instantly dropped from 30 to -50!

The crown prince's face also turned extremely cold. That suspicious old bastard!

Li Yunlong, are you a dog?! You turn on me in an instant!

Chapter 4: Emperor Qing Climbs Over the Wall at Night, Ye Qingmei Borrows His Seed!

The custom of a baby's first birthday celebration involving a baby's first birthday is very mystical, but those with a suspicious nature will definitely believe it.

Judging from the Crown Prince's emotional changes, if he were to seize the weapon, Li Chang'an's life would truly be in danger.

With an older brother like that, even a one-year-old child would be cunning.

Li Chang'an already had an idea about how to perform the "first birthday celebration" (抓周).

A prince's childhood is inevitably spent in the palace, and even if he later leaves the palace to establish his own residence, his every move will be watched.

The secret agents of the Surveillance Bureau are not to be trifled with, so Li Chang'an must have a disguised image.

In the words of my past life, it's called creating a persona that Li Yunlong can trust.

The goal is to make him believe that this young man truly has no interest in imperial power and politics.

Li Chang'an had already come up with this character design: the image of Jia Baoyu from "Dream of the Red Chamber".

He spends all his time surrounded by women, detests politics and mundane affairs, and can even compose a few poems when he's in the mood.

Then cultivate a few artistic talents, spending all day playing musical instruments, singing, playing chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Be a romantic scholar and a dissolute prince, and the emperor will be most at ease.

The advantage of doing this is that it not only allows for disguise but also helps to elevate one's ranking in terms of romance and artistic talent early on.

Compared to power, wealth, and military force, romance and art were not something the imperial power feared.

If your ranking in romance and literature improves, the system will reward you with worldly points.

With enough points, one can secretly develop influence or make money through business.

With that thought in mind, Li Chang'an stepped over the various weapons beneath his feet.

Taking this step finally put Liu Shuyan's mind at ease.

Li Yunrui chuckled and said, "Oh, little brother, you're not so cunning after all."

Emperor Li Cheng glared at her and said, "He's just a one-year-old child. What kind of thoughts could he possibly have?"

Then, the Crown Prince let out a hearty laugh, "Haha, Third Brother is indeed amusing!"

It turned out that Li Chang'an had grabbed a box of rouge in his left hand and a gold hairpin in his right.

The powder, hairpins, and rouge were applied exactly according to Bao Erye's strategy.

The fact that Li Chang'an is grabbing women's things shows that he will be a lecherous man in the future!

In that instant, the Crown Prince's emotional value returned to 30!

As long as we don't touch the throne, we're still good brothers!

This is the art of imperial rule; a single thought can determine life and death. Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; one's life hangs by a thread.

Subsequently, Li Chang'an also seized the poetry collection, flowers, and Taoist scriptures.

In short, it has nothing to do with military or political affairs.

The Crown Prince said with a smile, "So, Third Brother is fond of beautiful women and poetry!"

"When you grow up, I will definitely find you a talented woman!"

Li Chang'an still isn't very good at speaking.

But at this moment, he spoke up, "Beauty..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shuyan immediately objected, "The first words other children say are 'Mother'!"

"And you, you actually dare to ask the Crown Prince for a beauty!"

The crown prince didn't take it to heart; on the contrary, he was very excited. "Third brother, I agree to your request!"

"I'll definitely find you a woman who is both beautiful and talented in the future!"

At this moment, Li Chang'an's eyes shone with excitement!

He almost blurted out, "A ruler's word is law."

Li Yunrui chuckled as he read, "Little brother, you're sure to be a charming rogue in the future."

"I wonder how many girls will fall for him."

Thanks to Li Chang'an's performance, the family dinner went surprisingly smoothly.

……

Less than six months later, the emperor died, and Li Yunlong ascended the throne.