My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

"Well then, Chengqian, we'll head back now."

Chen Mo looked at Li Chengqian lying in the hospital room and gave him some instructions.

"I'll come back in a bit."

Li Chengqian nodded.

So Chen Mo led Li Shimin and Zhu Di back to the inn.

The car drove into the hotel's backyard.

"You all go back first, let me see what's going on with this thing."

After getting out of the car, Zhu Di did not follow Chen Mo and the others, but instead sat in the driver's seat, looking at the steering wheel with amazement.

"So that's how you steer!"

"It's much simpler than riding a horse."

Chen Mo watched as Zhu Di began studying the car again, but didn't pay him any attention. He and Li Shimin returned to the front yard.

Upon entering the front yard, their gazes suddenly stopped, fixing on the center of the hotel courtyard.

They saw a figure standing in the courtyard with his back to them.

This person was tall and upright. Although he appeared to be wearing ordinary clothes, the texture of the fabric, the subtle embroidery, and his upright posture all exuded an air of composure and majesty that came from long-standing authority.

He didn't look around, but instead tilted his head slightly, watching the television in Chen Mo's room.

On television, it was precisely the most exciting scene from the TV series "Emperor Wu of Han".

Emperor Wu of Han addressed his ministers with a voice as loud as a bell.

"For seventy years, our Han Dynasty has suffered repeated defeats against the Xiongnu, leading to a decline in morale and national prestige! From this day forward, we must reverse this situation completely!"

"My purpose in this battle is to clearly and explicitly tell everyone!"

"From now on, offense and defense will be different!"

"If the enemy can go, so can I!"

The voice that came through the screen was filled with unwavering determination and an indomitable spirit.

"good!!!"

The man standing in the courtyard suddenly shuddered.

"Good! Well said!!!"

The man's face was full of admiration.

"The enemy can go! So can I! How magnificent these words are! They resonate deeply with me! They truly resonate with me! Hahaha!"

At this point, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"This is the spirit we need! Only then can we display the might of our great Han Dynasty! How can we cower in fear and allow the Xiongnu to run rampant?!"

Just then, the man seemed to hear the noise behind him and slowly turned around.

Chen Mo looked at the person and was slightly taken aback.

This man had a heroic face, a high nose, and firm lips. His eyes, in particular, were piercing and sharp, carrying a light that seemed to see through people's hearts and contained boundless ambition.

His aura was different from Li Shimin's calm and dignified demeanor and Zhu Di's domineering and boldness. It was more like the aura of an emperor who looked down on the world and was the only one who was supreme, with a bit of curiosity and a bit of innate arrogance.

The man's gaze swept over Chen Mo, finally landing on Li Shimin, and he raised an eyebrow.

Before Chen Mo could ask anything, the man spoke first.

"Are you the masters of this place?"

His gaze was mainly fixed on Chen Mo, but his peripheral vision kept glancing at the extraordinary-looking Li Shimin.

"This inn is quite peculiar, its structure completely different from that of the Central Plains. I... have truly never seen anything like it before. What are you all dressed like, and what is that box?"

As he spoke, the man pointed to the television in the room, and then his gaze fell on Li Shimin.

"And who are you?"

Li Shimin's expression remained calm and unchanged.

"I am the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty—Li Shimin."

"The Tang Dynasty?"

The man's brows were furrowed.

"A country I've never heard of before, but judging from your appearance, you shouldn't be some insignificant little nation."

"And who are you, sir?"

Li Shimin cupped his hands and asked.

The man's lips curled into a smile, tinged with pride.

"I am Liu Che, the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty."

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"...Emperor Wu of Han, who defeated the Xiongnu in the north, expanded into the Western Regions, and whose achievements are unparalleled throughout history?!"

Upon hearing this, the man's gaze, which had been filled with scrutiny and curiosity, suddenly changed, and his sharp eyes focused on Li Shimin as if they were a physical object.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, but a faint, ambiguous smile appeared on his lips as he asked in return.

"Oh? Judging from your words, you seem to recognize me?"

"Natural understanding".

Li Shimin continued.

"Emperor Wu of Han drove the Xiongnu north, opened up the Western Regions, expanded the territory, and established unparalleled achievements."

"By suppressing all other schools of thought and exclusively honoring Confucianism, the foundation for China's millennia-long cultural heritage was laid."

"Such great talent and ambition, with a spirit that can conquer mountains and rivers, I admire him greatly and always strive to emulate Your Majesty's achievements."

His words were sincere and truly reflected his genuine assessment of Emperor Wu of Han.

Liu Che remained silent for a moment, then a smile appeared on his lips.

"Although I have not yet accomplished those things, I will make what you say a reality sooner or later."

"The enemy can go! So can I!"

However, Li Shimin changed his tone and his gaze sharpened.

"However, I have also seen in the historical records of later generations that Your Majesty's continuous conquests, although expanding the territory by thousands of miles, have also led to the depletion of the country, the reduction of the population by half, and the exhaustion of the people."

"Furthermore, although Your Majesty is wise in employing people without being bound by convention, there have also been times when cruel officials were rampant and the laws were harsh, which may have harmed the foundation of the country."

"For a ruler, military prowess is certainly important, but civil administration and the well-being of the people should not be neglected either. Does Your Majesty agree?"

The arrogant look on Liu Che's face froze instantly, then turned gloomy and displeased.

He narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint in them, and an aura of dominance mixed with anger emanated from him.

"snort!"

Liu Che snorted coldly, his voice icy.

"What arrogance! I wish to sweep away the Xiongnu, wipe away our past humiliations, and display the might of the Han Dynasty beyond the borders. How can I be so easily humiliated by the mere words 'wasteful expenditure'?"

"Extraordinary achievements require extraordinary people and extraordinary methods!"

"Although cruel officials are harsh, they can intimidate disloyal subjects and rectify the court. How dare you, a ruler who will live in peace in later generations, presume to criticize them?"

He took a step forward, his imposing aura extremely oppressive, his gaze sweeping over Li Shimin like a knife.

"You, the emperor of the Great Tang, are dressed like this, wandering in such a strange place, pointing fingers at me? Has your empire become nothing more than a tool of words? My merits and demerits are not for you to judge!"

Faced with Liu Che's aggressive counterattack, Li Shimin did not get angry and responded calmly.

"I am not making this a reckless statement, but rather a historical lesson for future generations."

"Your Majesty's campaign against the Xiongnu is a righteous act, which is universally acknowledged."

"However, weapons are ultimately instruments of death, and sages use them only as a last resort."

"National strength has its limits, and the people's strength has its end. If we do not exercise restraint, it may not be a long-term solution."

"As for the law, it should be strict but not cruel, authoritative but not tyrannical. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. This is not just my opinion, but the consensus of future historians."

Li Shimin paused, his tone becoming more somber.

"I too have been ambitious and enterprising, and I am well aware of the desire to expand."

"However, a ruler must have a long-term vision."

"My words are not intended to deny Your Majesty's achievements, but rather because I see Your Majesty's heroic spirit and cannot bear to see hidden worries beneath this prosperous age. Therefore, I offer this advice. I hope Your Majesty will listen to all sides and gain a clear understanding."

Li Shimin's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves and intense displeasure in Liu Che's heart.

The two emperors' gazes clashed in the air, neither willing to yield, and the air was thick with the silent tension of battle.

However, Liu Che was, after all, a ruler of great talent and ambition. Even though he was furious at the moment, he understood that Li Shimin was indeed right.

He stared intently at Li Shimin for a long time, the anger and sharpness in his eyes gradually replaced by a deeper contemplation.

After a while, he suddenly snorted coldly and was the first to withdraw his aggressive gaze.

He did not directly respond to Li Shimin's criticism, but his slightly pursed lips and flickering eyes revealed it.

He took these words to heart, but given his pride, he would never easily admit defeat or discuss it at this moment or in this place.

Then, Liu Che's attention returned to Chen Mo.

"You are the owner of this shop?"