My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

Li Chengqian's roar silenced the entire private room.

Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian in disbelief.

It took him a long time to react before he gritted his teeth and said.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

"What are you doing?"

Li Chengqian scoffed, his words directly targeting Li Shimin.

"What do I look like I'm doing?"

"Big brother!"

Li Lizhi hurriedly grabbed Li Chengqian's sleeve, turned to look at Li Shimin, and her voice was trembling with anxiety.

"Father, please don't take it to heart by my brother's fault. He's just drunk and confused!"

"I'm not drunk!"

Li Chengqian suddenly swung his arm with such force that he almost knocked the wine glass off the corner of the table.

His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Li Shimin.

"I'm more clear-headed than ever! I just... I just can't hold it in anymore!"

"I'm going to get to the bottom of this with him today!"

"Does he even still see me as the crown prince?"

Li Shimin frowned.

"How could I not have a crown prince like you?"

"You have?"

Li Chengqian laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. His laughter was sharp and piercing.

"If you truly regard me as the Crown Prince, why have you appointed Qingque as regent?!"

"I remember clearly that you had already issued an edict ordering him to his fiefdom! The edict is still ringing in my ears, yet he remains in Chang'an, even acting as regent in your stead! What does this signify?"

He suddenly leaned closer and roared at Li Shimin.

"This proves that your decree was nothing but empty words! It proves that Li Tai never left!!!"

Faced with his son's probing question, Li Shimin's face turned pale and then ashen.

He remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.

"Qingque submitted a memorial, stating that he wished to accomplish the task in one battle and would take up his fiefdom after the completion of the 'Kuodi Zhi' (Records of the Land). I... granted his request."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian laughed even harder.

"So! You're still just as good to Qingque! But what about me?"

Li Chengqian roared and slammed his fist on the table.

"And what about me?!"

"To me, you only ever impose cold, hard rules for the crown prince, endless criticism and admonitions! Why?!"

"In your eyes, I am nothing more than a vessel called the Crown Prince!"

"Doing well is expected, doing poorly is unforgivable!"

Li Chengqian became more and more excited as he spoke.

"Why! Tell me why!"

"Just because I'm the Crown Prince? Does that mean I deserve not to receive even a fraction of the tenderness you show Li Tai?"

Li Shimin remained silent for a long time before finally speaking to explain.

"How can you handle state affairs while you are recuperating in the hospital? I appointed Qingque to oversee the country only so that you can focus on your recovery."

"Can you focus on your recovery?"

Li Chengqian smiled.

His laughter was particularly pathetic.

"In the end, aren't you still worried that my leg injury will tarnish the image of you, the Crown Prince of the Great Tang and the future Emperor?!"

Li Chengqian pointed to his leg, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

"In your eyes, I, the lame crown prince, am ultimately inferior to the healthy and respectable Qingque, aren't I?!"

"You're afraid that all the officials will see me like this, afraid that the world will gossip about you, Li Shimin, for choosing a crown prince who is physically incapacitated, and that you'll lose face!"

"You're not worried about my health at all! You're worried about the reputation of your Tang Dynasty! It's my legs...it's my legs that have disappointed you, aren't they?!"

Li Shimin remained silent.

"I didn't!"

"You didn't!!!"

"Hahaha! How ridiculous!"

Li Chengqian roared in anger.

"Big brother... please stop talking..."

"Speak! Let him speak!"

Li Lizhi pulled Li Chengqian back, about to speak, but was interrupted by Li Shimin.

She looked at Li Shimin, only to see that his gaze was equally sharp, like that of a hawk, fixed firmly on Li Chengqian.

"That's exactly what I want to know! Just how much resentment my crown prince harbors towards me!"

"Okay! Okay! Okay! You want to hear it? Then I'll tell you!"

As if he were about to go all out, Li Chengqian braced himself on the table with both hands and leaned forward.

"Leg ailment! Yes! I have a leg ailment, but is this something I wanted?"

Li Chengqian appeared to be insane.

"Do you think I don't want to walk with ease in front of you, like Qingque?"

"Do you think I don't want to be a good crown prince?"

"But what about you?"

Li Chengqian cried out in sorrow.

"How did you do that? On one hand, you sought out the world's most famous doctors to treat me, and on the other hand, you looked at me with that...that look that was a mixture of pity and disappointment."

"I am your son! And the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty! I don't want your pity! I hate your disappointment even more!"

Li Chengqian suddenly raised his head, tears and sweat mingling on his face.

"You constantly compare me to a bluebird!"

"Yes! He is intelligent, skilled in writing, and physically robust! He can bring you joy and happiness, and he can win the praise of all officials!"

"And what about me?"

"I studied diligently, I learned about government affairs, I tried my best to do everything a crown prince should do, but as soon as I dragged myself to stand before you, it was as if I were a head shorter than him!"

Li Chengqian's voice became hoarse and cracked from extreme excitement.

He pointed into the air, as if Li Tai were standing there.

"Regent! Haha, regent! What a grand and noble reason!"

"You simply think that Qingque is more like a perfect crown prince than I am, more like a son who can bring you honor!"

"In your heart, you've long felt that I, this lame crown prince, am unworthy of the vast empire you've built, haven't you?!"

"..."

Li Shimin remained silent, then spoke without expression.

"I don't."

"You didn't? But that's exactly what you did!"

Li Chengqian propped himself up.

"If you really think that the position of Crown Prince is some kind of extraordinary blessing..."

"Then please, Your Majesty, withdraw it!"

"I...don't care!"

Li Chengqian spoke each word carefully.

Li Shimin's brows furrowed into a deep frown.

"Do you think... I wouldn't dare?"

"I didn't say you wouldn't dare!"

Li Chengqian sneered.

"After all, who are you? You are the mighty Heavenly Khan! The Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty, who commands respect from all corners of the world! Isn't it just a matter of time before you depose a prince who doesn't suit your taste?"

Li Chengqian's lips curled into an increasingly sarcastic smile.

"But do you know what?"

"After you, how many emperors of my Great Tang Dynasty ascended to the throne through legitimate means, and how many rose to power through coups?"

"After all... with you as a precedent, how could future generations not follow suit?"

"Li Chengqian!!!"

Li Shimin finally lost his temper, like a tiger awakened from its slumber, his eyes fixed on Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian, however, seemed unconcerned, merely confronting him with a cold smile, showing no intention of backing down.

"Big brother..."

Li Lizhi pursed her lips and tugged at Li Chengqian's sleeve, her face full of worry.

Li Chengqian turned his head and shook his head at her.

"It's okay, I've wanted to tell you for a while, but I didn't because I was worried about putting my mother in a difficult position at the hospital."

"How dare you mention your mother!"

Li Shimin sneered.

Upon hearing Li Shimin's roar, Li Chengqian's anger surged once more.

"Why don't I have the right to ask?"

"The person who truly has no right to mention this is you!!!"

"You're the one who made her so physically weak!"

"You're the one who caused her to leave us at such a young age!"