The Emperor's Beloved: My Ancestor is the Crown Prince?

Three days later, the morning court session was held in the Wude Hall.

When Li Chengqian presented the preliminary results of salt production in Quanzhou, the entire hall was astonished.

"A 40% increase in yield per mu? A 70% decrease in firewood consumption?" Minister of Revenue Tang Jian asked incredulously, "Your Highness, are these figures accurate?"

"The inscription was written in the handwriting of the Prefect of Quanzhou, and was signed and sealed by the salt merchants." Li Chengqian presented the report, "The first batch of sun-dried salt has been stored in the official granary. It is of excellent quality and the bitterness has been greatly reduced."

Li Shimin carefully perused the report, and after a long while, he looked up at his eldest son: "This method... is it truly derived from ancient texts?"

"Yes." Li Chengqian bowed. "However, I ordered the craftsmen to improve the structure of the salt pond, add measures to prevent wind and rain, and adjust the concentration of the brine—these improvements were the result of repeated experiments."

He spoke frankly. Indeed, what was sent from the modern era was only the basic principles and diagrams; the detailed adjustments made during implementation were all figured out by the officials and craftsmen of the Eastern Palace through trial and error.

"Excellent!" Li Shimin clapped his hands. "If this method is feasible, it can be promoted throughout the country, saving a million dan of firewood every year and increasing salt production by more than 30%. Chengqian, you have handled this matter well."

The Emperor himself praised it; this is the highest praise.

Li Tai stood to the side, his hands clenched slightly in his sleeves. He had secretly contacted several salt and iron commissioners just the day before, preparing to question the feasibility of the salt-making method in court, but he hadn't expected... his elder brother to act so quickly.

After the court session, Li Tai chased after him to the outside of the Imperial Study.

"Brother, please wait."

Li Chengqian turned around: "Fourth brother, is something the matter?"

"Regarding the salt production in Quanzhou," Li Tai took a few steps closer, lowering his voice, "is it really just something you learned from ancient books, brother?"

"Otherwise what?" Li Chengqian asked calmly.

"Your Majesty, I just feel..." Li Tai stared into his elder brother's eyes, "that it's too much of a coincidence. You just proposed the salt-making method, and in less than a month, Quanzhou has already achieved such results. This method of improving salt ponds and adjusting brine has never been recorded in ancient books."

"That's why I said it was the result of repeated experiments," Li Chengqian said calmly. "If Fourth Brother doesn't believe me, you can go to Quanzhou to check for yourself."

"Your subject will naturally go." Li Tai's tone turned cold. "I just want to remind you, elder brother, that some shortcuts, if taken too quickly, can easily lead to a fall."

"Thank you for your concern, Fourth Brother." Li Chengqian turned to leave.

"And that child," Li Tai suddenly said, "was the key point Yiyi pointed out that night truly just a coincidence?"

Li Chengqian paused in his steps.

"A mere child, able to see through the Zheng family's chess layout at a glance?" Li Tai laughed. "Brother, your 'descendant of an old friend from overseas' is probably no ordinary person, is he?"

The door to the imperial study opened at that moment. Li Shimin stood in the doorway, looking at his two sons expressionlessly.

"What's all the noise about?"

Li Tai was startled and quickly bowed, "Father, I just..."

"I heard you." Li Shimin stepped down, his gaze sweeping between the two men. "Qingque, have you been overly concerned with the affairs of the Eastern Palace lately?"

"Your subject wouldn't dare," Li Tai said, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "I'm merely concerned about state affairs..."

"It's good that you care about national affairs," Li Shimin interrupted him, "but harmony should be the priority between brothers. Your elder brother has accomplished a great task in salt administration, and instead of congratulating him, you question him—what kind of logic is that?"

That's a very strong statement.

Li Tai knelt on the ground: "Your subject knows his mistake."

"Go back and reflect on your actions for three days," Li Shimin said coldly. "Think carefully about what true brotherly love and respect are."

"……yes."

Li Tai stood up, his face pale. He gave Li Chengqian a deep look, then turned and left.

When they returned to the Prince of Wei's residence, the autumn rain was falling in a light drizzle.

In the study, an advisor whispered, "Your Highness, we've found out. Two of the craftsmen from the Quanzhou saltworks who were working on improving the salt ponds secretly entered the Eastern Palace half a month ago and only returned three days later."

"As expected..." Li Tai closed his eyes.

He waved for his staff to leave and sat alone by the window. The sound of rain pattering on the banana leaves reached his ears.

He was confined to his room for three days to reflect on his actions. His father had never punished him so severely.

Was it because he really did something wrong, or... in the Emperor's heart, had the scales begun to tip?

Suddenly, a small figure appeared in the rain outside the window—holding an oversized oil-paper umbrella, swaying unsteadily along the cobblestone path. The hem of her light pink skirt was wet, but she walked very carefully, step by step.

It's Yiyi.

Li Tai frowned. Why was she wandering around the palace alone in such heavy rain?

He pushed open the door and went out, and the servants quickly followed with umbrellas.

Xiao Qingyi was struggling to hold the umbrella while also protecting a small cloth bag in her arms. Upon seeing Li Tai, her eyes lit up: "Brother Prince Wei!"

"What are you doing here?" Li Tai walked over and tilted the umbrella toward her.

"Yiyi went to find her Crown Prince brother, but he was busy..." Little Qingyi tilted her head up, "Then it rained, and Yiyi's umbrella was so heavy..."

Only then did Li Tai realize that she was holding a food box.

"What is this?"

"It's a new snack that my brother asked me to bring!" Little Qingyi proudly opened the food box—inside were several uniquely shaped cups, their mouths sealed with oil paper. "My brother said this is called 'hot cocoa,' it's nice and warm on a rainy day!"

Hot cocoa? Li Tai had never heard of it.

Xiao Qingyi took out a cup and skillfully tore open the seal. A rich aroma instantly wafted out—sweet with a hint of bitterness, and also with a milky fragrance.

"Brother King Wei, please try it!" She stood on tiptoe and handed the cup over.

Li Tai hesitated for a moment, then took it. The warm liquid went down his throat, and a peculiar taste spread across his tongue. It was sweet, but not cloying; slightly bitter, but with a lingering aftertaste. The chill of the autumn rain seemed to be dispelled somewhat.

"Is it good?" Xiao Qingyi asked expectantly.

"...It tastes good."

Xiao Qingyi smiled, picked up a cup herself, and sipped it slowly. The two of them stood under the eaves, watching the rain and quietly drinking.

After a long while, Xiao Qingyi whispered, "Brother King Wei, are you unhappy?"

Li Tai was taken aback: "How do you know?"

"Your brows," Xiao Qingyi stretched out her little hand and pointed in the air, "are furrowed. The Crown Prince said that a furrowed brow means you're unhappy."

Li Tai subconsciously touched his brow and realized that he had been frowning the whole time.

"Brother Prince Wei," Xiao Qingyi took out a small item from her bosom—a miniature version of the jade rabbit paperweight that Li Chengqian had given her, only the size of a thumb, tied with a red string, "This is for you."

Li Tai accepted it. The white jade was warm and smooth, the carving was exquisite, and the little rabbit looked adorable.

"Brother Crown Prince said that the Jade Rabbit brings good luck," Xiao Qingyi said earnestly. "Yiyi is sharing half of her good luck with Brother Wei. Brother Wei, please don't be unhappy."

Li Tai looked at the little jade rabbit in his palm, then at the clear-eyed child in front of him, and a soft spot suddenly appeared in his heart.

"Yiyi," he asked softly, "aren't you afraid of Brother Wei Wang?"

"Why are you afraid?" Xiao Qingyi tilted her head. "Brother Prince Wei is very good to me. He gave me pretty stationery and even almonds. Although..." She hesitated for a moment, "Although Brother Crown Prince said that we should show the things Brother Prince Wei gives us to Grandpa first... but I know that Brother Prince Wei is a good person."

These words, though seemingly naive, sent a jolt through Li Tai's heart.

He gave her almonds as a test. The imperial physician confirmed they were not poisonous, but if Yiyi's family were suspicious, they would become wary of him—this was a hidden move.

But the child said, "Brother King Wei is a good person."

"Yiyi," he crouched down to meet her gaze, "if...if your brother, the Prince of Wei, and your brother, the Crown Prince, had a conflict, whose side would you take?"

Xiao Qingyi thought for a moment and shook her head: "Yiyi won't help."

Why?

"Because the Crown Prince is Yiyi's brother, and so is the Prince of Wei," she said earnestly. "If brothers have conflicts, they should resolve them themselves. Yiyi is just a child and doesn't understand. But Yiyi hopes that both of her brothers will get along well with her."

The words of a child, the heart of a child.

Li Tai remained silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed. It wasn't his usual gentle laugh, but a laugh tinged with relief and self-deprecation.

He patted Xiao Qingyi's head: "Okay, Brother Wei Wang promises Yiyi that he will get along well with Brother Crown Prince."

"Really?" Xiao Qingyi's eyes lit up.

"real."

The rain gradually subsided. Little Qingyi, clutching the food box, waved to Li Tai, "Brother Prince Wei, Yiyi's going to find Brother Crown Prince! Drink this hot cocoa while it's hot!"

The small figure disappeared into the rain.

Li Tai stood under the eaves, holding the small jade rabbit in his palm. The warm touch seemed to still carry the warmth of a child's body.

"Your Highness," an advisor appeared unnoticed, "shall we continue the investigation?"

Li Tai looked at the jade rabbit in his palm for a long time, then slowly shook his head: "No need."

Knowing too much about some things is not necessarily a blessing.