My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

"What?! We're going back?"

"I don't want to—!!!"

The usually well-behaved little Sizi clung tightly to Li Shimin's leg, shaking its head like a rattle drum.

"Sizi, don't go back! Don't go back to the palace! Sizi wants to stay here! Want to be with Little Sangjun! Want to see the big box and sleep on a soft bed! Waaaaahh ...

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, and she cried uncontrollably.

"My dear child, there's delicious food and fun things to do in the palace. Your father, mother, elder brother, and elder sister are all here..."

Li Shimin tried to reason with her, bending down to pick her up.

"No, no, no!"

The little ox twisted and turned desperately, its cries growing louder.

"There are no small cysts in the palace! No things that light up when you press them! And no... no of those strange but... but very interesting dishes that my elder sister makes!"

"That last sentence is redundant!!!!"

"I'm not going back!!!"

"Sizi, listen to me. We have to go back eventually."

Li Shimin looked at the crying little Sizi with a pained expression and said gently,

"Don't you miss your little white cat? And the little rabbit you used to have? They're all waiting for you in the palace."

"Waaah... Little White, you can come and hug me..."

The little ox was sobbing.

"You can hug the little bunny too!!!"

"There are also delicious pastries in the palace."

"No! I love the food made with succulents!!!"

"In the palace...in the palace, Father plays with you every day..."

"Father will be busy when he gets back, Sizi knows!"

Little Sizi pouted and cried even harder, her big eyes filled with the grievance and accusation that said, "I saw through you a long time ago."

"That's not all. The time before last, we agreed to teach Sizi how to ride a horse, but I was only halfway through when Lord Wei called me away!"

Li Shimin was embarrassed when his daughter exposed his shortcomings to his face.

"And there are small cystic fungi here!"

Little Sizi counted on his fingers.

"The little fungus will play with the rhinoceros! It will tell the rhinoceros stories! And it will conjure up delicious food!"

"There are also big boxes with little figures that move, beautiful pictures, and songs inside!"

"And that light that turns on with a single press! It's never dark at night!"

"There's even a pipe that dispenses water by itself! And a soft, bouncy bed that bounces when you jump on it!"

"After I went back, there was nothing left!!! Only high walls, lots of rules, and those stern-faced old women! Waaaaah~!"

In the end, she started crying sadly again, large tears falling down her face, her little shoulders trembling, looking so pitiful.

Li Lizhi felt uncomfortable watching from the side. She took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Father, Sizi is still young. It's understandable that she feels sad to suddenly leave this new and exciting place. Perhaps..."

She paused, glancing at her younger sister who was still sobbing beside her father's legs.

"Why don't we let Sizi stay here for the time being? Manager Chen is looking after us, so he's safe."

Li Shimin gave her a deep look and said deliberately.

"Isn't it inappropriate for Jiko to be here alone?"

Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi quickly glanced at Chen Mo, a blush spreading from her cheeks to her ears.

"Then...daughter can stay here and help take care of Sizi."

She lowered her head, somewhat embarrassed.

"With your daughter here, you should be fine, right, Sizi...?"

As she spoke, she gave Xiao Sizi a look.

Little Sizi is so clever!

Although she was still shedding tears, she immediately understood what her older sister was saying!

Without almost any hesitation, Xiao Sizi wiped away her tears haphazardly with her sleeve, raised her little face, and tried her best to make the most obedient and sensible expression, as she promised.

"Mmm! Father! Sizi will be a good girl and listen to her older sister! Listen to Manager Chen! I won't cause trouble! I won't cry! I'll eat well! I'll sleep well! If older sister tells Sizi to write, Sizi will write; if older sister tells Sizi to read, Sizi will read!"

She rattled off all the criteria she could think of for a "good child," then nodded vigorously, looked at Li Shimin with pleading eyes, and said in a childish, coquettish voice.

"Father, please let Sizi and Sister stay! Sizi promises she'll be the most obedient!"

Looking at the little Sizi who was completely different from before, Li Shimin's lips twitched.

He turned his head and looked at Li Lizhi, who was blushing, with mixed feelings in his eyes.

Eh!

My daughter has finally grown up!

But why does my heart feel so heavy?!

Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Lizhi, then at Chen Mo, and shook her head with a smile.

She walked to Li Shimin's side, gently squeezed her husband's hand, and said softly.

"Lizhi has always been sensible, and since she has this intention, her thoughts are not entirely unreasonable. Sizi is still young, and it is indeed hard to part with her suddenly. Why don't we... just go along with her? With Manager Chen here, we can both feel a little more at ease. Lizhi is also growing up, and it's time for her to have some of her own insights and experiences."

Li Shimin remained silent for a moment.

"That's enough."

He sighed deeply.

"Lizhi, Sizi, it's up to you. For now... stay here."

As soon as she finished speaking, a bright light flashed in Li Lizhi's eyes.

She suppressed her excitement and gave a dignified bow.

"Thank you, Father! Your daughter will take good care of Sizi and live up to your expectations."

Little Sizi cheered and almost rushed over to hug Li Shimin again, but remembering her promise to be "good," she stopped herself and just grinned, revealing a bright smile with tear stains.

"Ah Ye is the best!!!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin was not pleased; instead, he felt even more heartbroken.

If you agree, then Aye is the best!

If they disagree, will they just start crying, making a scene, or threatening suicide?

Chen Mo also stepped forward at the opportune moment and bowed to Li Shimin.

"Don't worry, Lao Li, I'll take good care of them."

Chen Mo's words only made things worse, like adding fuel to the fire.

"Do you even need to tell me?"

Li Shimin glared at him and snorted in a low voice.

"You little brat, watch yourself!!!"

Chen Mo pondered for a moment, then lowered his voice as well.

"Don't worry, I'm definitely not the kind of blond guy who accidentally gets pregnant and then throws the pregnancy test results in your face, nor am I the kind of person who would say, 'Hey Deng, can I stop my ghost fire downstairs?'..."

"Your daughter is with me, so you can rest assured."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin remained silent for a moment, then looked at Chen Mo with a suspicious expression.

That kid's smile is fucking sly!

I really want to slap him!

"Tsk tsk~! Father, you still don't trust Manager Chen? Even if you don't believe him, I can't distrust Manager Chen, can I?"

Suddenly, Li Chengqian's cheerful voice rang out.

Li Shimin raised his head and glared at him fiercely.

"Shut up!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Shimin kicked him, though he didn't use much force.

"Instead of wasting time talking here, you'd be better off going back and preparing!"

"You still have a lot to learn!!!"

Li Chengqian staggered, shrank back, and said seriously.

"Your subject wouldn't dare!!!"

After saying that, he glanced at Chen Mo with a smile, walked over to him, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Good bro!!! I believe in you!!! Don't let me down!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin was about to lift his foot again, but Li Chengqian seemed to have anticipated it and darted away in a flash.

"That kid!!!"

At this moment, Empress Zhangsun also came over, smiling gently.

"Manager Chen, I'll have to trouble you to take care of Lizhi and Sizi."

Chen Mo quickly returned the greeting with a serious expression.

"Your Majesty is too kind. It is my duty."

Li Lizhi also came over and said softly.

"Father, Mother, don't worry. Your daughter will take good care of herself and Sizi."

Little Sizi also came over, tugged at Li Shimin's sleeve, and looked up at him with her little face, making a promise.

"Father, Sizi will really be good! Father and Mother must also be well! When Sizi goes back, she'll bring Father... bring you the best candy from here!"

"Okay, Father understands. You all... take good care of yourselves too."

Looking at his two daughters, Li Shimin felt a deep sense of reluctance and worry, but all he could do was let out a long sigh.

He reached out and gently ruffled the hair of Li Lizhi and Xiao Sizi, one in each hand, in a way that was so gentle that he himself was unaware of it.

"Remember to take good care of yourself, don't skimp on food, Dad has money! If you run out of money, just tell Dad..."

Li Lizhi was deeply moved upon hearing this, and even felt a little reluctant to part with Li Shimin, so she spoke up.

"Father... how about you stay until after dinner tonight? I'll leave myself..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Shimin's expression changed, and he hurriedly withdrew his hand and pulled Empress Zhangsun up.

"No need, I'm leaving with your mother. Take care of yourselves."

He left without looking back after saying that.

Li Lizhi: ……