My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

Upon hearing that voice, Li Tai felt like a rooster being choked.

All the cursing stopped abruptly.

He shuddered violently, and the frenzied red on his face instantly faded, leaving only a deathly pale complexion.

Li Tai turned around.

Not far away, Li Shimin was already standing there, his hands behind his back.

At this moment, Li Shimin's face was expressionless, but his brows were shrouded in an unyielding frost.

Those eyes that were usually gentle towards him were now unfathomable, revealing only a chilling coldness and... a devastating disappointment and fury.

Empress Zhangsun stood slightly behind him, one hand gently pressed against her chest, her face equally pale.

His eyes were filled with disbelief, heartache, and deep sorrow; his lips trembled slightly, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Dead silence.

A chilling silence.

Only Li Tai's heavy, terrified, and incoherent breathing sounded particularly jarring in the empty hall.

Only then did Li Chengqian finally turn his gaze very slowly to meet his father's.

His face remained expressionless; he simply called out softly to Li Shimin.

"Father."

This sound broke the suffocating silence.

Li Shimin finally shifted his gaze from the trembling Li Tai to Li Chengqian.

He did not respond to Li Chengqian, but instead turned his gaze back to Li Tai and slowly took a step forward.

With just one step, Li Tai was struck as if by a heavy blow, staggering backward and nearly collapsing.

"Li Tai".

Li Shimin spoke.

"You just said that my crown prince is..."

Li Tai was deathly pale, his mouth agape, making a "hoarse" sound in his throat. How could he possibly utter a single word in response?

His legs buckled, and with a "thud," he knelt directly on the cold, hard stone floor.

His forehead was pressed firmly against the ground, and his whole body trembled like a leaf in the wind.

"I never knew that my son could utter such...filthy words."

Li Shimin's voice was still not loud, but to Li Tai it was like a bolt from the blue.

"Furthermore, I don't know when it became your place to presume to speculate on my succession to the throne and spout such arrogant words!"

"Father...Father...Your son...Your son knows his crime! Your son was confused for a moment! He was blinded by anger! He spoke nonsense! Father, spare me! Spare me!"

Li Tai finally regained his voice and begged for mercy incoherently.

He kowtowed repeatedly, and his forehead quickly became bruised and purple.

"Confused? Blinded by anger?"

Li Shimin repeated the two words and gave a cold laugh.

"I see you are perfectly lucid! After only a few days as regent, you've already forgotten who you are, forgotten the roles of ruler and subject, father and son, and brothers!"

He stopped looking at Li Tai, who was trembling on the ground, and turned to look at Li Chengqian, who had been silent all along, his tone softening slightly.

"Chengqian".

"Your subject is here."

Li Chengqian responded, his voice steady.

"Your leg injury has just healed. Go back and rest. I will handle this matter myself."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your command."

Li Chengqian said nothing more and walked out of the main hall.

Throughout the entire ordeal, he never once glanced at the disheveled Li Tai on the ground.

Only after Li Chengqian's figure disappeared into the palace gates did Li Shimin's cold gaze return to Li Tai, who was still kneeling on the ground.

There was no longer any warmth or expectation in that gaze, only the ruthlessness of an emperor and a chilling coldness.

"Li Tai".

He spoke again, his voice even calmer than before.

Li Tai trembled all over, and scrambled around, almost crawling to Li Shimin's feet.

Tears streamed down his face as his forehead slammed heavily against the cold stone slab with a dull thud.

"Father! Father, spare me! Father, have mercy! I know I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong! I was blinded by greed and jealousy! I will never dare to do it again! I beg you, Father, for... for the sake of our past relationship, forgive me this time! Father!!!"

He cried and begged.

Li Shimin lowered his eyelids, looking at the son at his feet whom he used to love so much, and felt an inexplicable loathing for him.

That's enough.

Li Tai's crying stopped abruptly.

"You say you know you were wrong? Then I ask you, where did you go wrong?"

"I shouldn't have spoken to my brother like that..."

Li Shimin sneered.

"You think that's all? You were wrong not only for attacking and destroying your brother, but also for presumptuously assuming the Emperor's will and spouting nonsense. You were also wrong for... using the favor and power I bestowed upon you as capital and leverage to attack the Crown Prince and covet the throne?"

"Grand Commander of Yangzhou, Left Martial General, Governor of Yongzhou..."

Li Shimin slowly and deliberately read out the titles he had just boasted about.

With each word read, Li Tai's face grew paler.

"That's truly amazing!!!"

Li Shimin's gaze grew increasingly sharp.

"These are gifts from me. They are for you to share the burdens of the court and serve the nation, for you to cultivate your character and assist your elder brother. They are not for you to flaunt your power, not for you to use as a weapon to attack the Crown Prince, and certainly not for you to harbor any improper thoughts!"

His voice suddenly turned stern.

"Since you don't know how to cherish, don't understand boundaries, don't value brotherhood, and don't follow the proper etiquette between ruler and subject..."

Li Shimin paused for a moment, his gaze like a sharp sword piercing the limp Li Tai.

"Then you don't need these anymore."

Li Tai suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief, terror, and despair.

"Father...Father Emperor?!"

"deliver an imperial order."

Li Shimin stopped looking at him.

"King Li Tai of Yue has acted improperly, arrogantly and disrespectfully, attacking the Crown Prince and presumptuously speculating about the Emperor's intentions. Effective immediately—"

With each word he spoke, Li Tai's body trembled violently.

"Remove him from all his official positions and concurrent duties, including Grand General of Yangzhou, Left General of the Martial Guard, and Governor of Yongzhou."

"His power to establish his own office and hold the same rank as the Three Excellencies has been revoked."

"His original title of Prince of Yue and corresponding fiefdom are retained, but he is not allowed to leave the capital without an imperial edict, nor is he allowed to associate with court officials without an order. He must reflect on his mistakes in seclusion in the Wude Hall, and is not allowed to leave without my explicit decree!"

"No—!!! Father! No, Father!!!"

Li Tai let out an extremely mournful wail.

He no longer cared about decorum and rushed forward to hug Li Shimin's leg.

"Father! Your son knows he was wrong! He truly knows he was wrong! Please give your son another chance! Your son will never dare to do it again! These official positions... these... are all thanks to your kindness towards your son! Your father, you cannot... you cannot take them back!!!"

He cried his heart out; he was truly terrified and genuinely regretful.

Li Shimin let him cling to his legs and wail, remaining motionless and expressionless.

Only a fleeting, complex and indescribable sorrow and disappointment deep in his eyes was quickly covered by an even deeper chill.

"Extravagant favor?"

He repeated the sentence in a low voice, his voice filled with endless exhaustion.

"What I gave you was my deepest affection. But what did you do with it?"

He leaned down slightly and whispered.

"Li Tai, today's consequences are the result of your past actions. Go back to your Martial Virtue Hall and think carefully about the roles of a subject, a son, an elder brother, and a younger brother. If you continue to be obstinate..."

After saying that, he tugged at his sleeve, waved his hand, and didn't look at Li Tai again.

"Take him away."

Two eunuchs stepped forward tremblingly and half-helped, half-dragged Li Tai, who was almost limp as a limp rag, to his feet.

The mournful cry of "Father, have mercy!" gradually faded into the distance.

Ultimately, it vanished among the layers of palace walls, leaving behind only a scene of devastation and a chilling stillness.

Li Shimin stood still, closed his eyes, and remained motionless for a long time.

Empress Zhangsun walked to his side, gently took his arm, and called out softly.

"His Majesty……"

Li Shimin opened his eyes and looked at Empress Zhangsun beside him, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes.

"Guanyinbi, thankfully... I still have you."

Empress Zhangsun remained silent for a moment before speaking softly.

"Your Majesty, both thunder and rain are acts of imperial grace. Qingque... is ultimately young and impetuous. If she can calmly reflect on her mistakes after this setback, it may not be a bad thing."

Empress Zhangsun paused, looked into the distance, and her face showed worry.

"Chengqian... his leg injury is healing, which should be a happy occasion. However, after this incident, his mood is probably even more depressed. He has a strong personality and is used to enduring things... I'm afraid..."

Li Shimin tightened his grip on her hand slightly.

"I know."

He spoke in a deep voice, his brow furrowing even more deeply.

"This child... is too thoughtful, I don't know what will become of him in the future."

Empress Zhangsun gently patted the back of his hand and said softly.

"Your Majesty, please do not worry too much. Chengqian is the Crown Prince, and his trials and tribulations may well be a testament to his character. However..."

She looked up and met Li Shimin's eyes, her tone earnest.

"Your Majesty, you are the ruler, the father. Perhaps... there should be a different way to make him understand."

Li Shimin remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"I... know what I'm doing."

He turned his hand and completely enveloped Empress Zhangsun's hand in his palm.

"Go back to the Hall of State Affairs; you must be tired."

"I am not tired."

Empress Zhangsun responded obediently, standing beside him, preparing to move.

After taking two steps, Li Shimin suddenly stopped, glanced in the direction of Li Chengqian's palace, and whispered to Empress Zhangsun.

"Later, have the Imperial Kitchen prepare some of Chengqian's favorite snacks and some tonics... and send them over discreetly."

"Furthermore... don't say... it was my will."

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun's eyes lit up with a genuine smile, and she nodded gently.

"I understand."