My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

"The weather is so nice today!"

Li Yuan lay on the hospital bed, tilting his head to look out the window, squinting his eyes, and a smile slowly spreading across his lips.

The sunlight fell on him, seeping into his skin, making him feel, for a moment, as if he were still the Duke of Tang sitting idly in the Jinyang Palace, waiting for a servant to report: "Master, the lady has given birth, it's a son."

It's a son.

Li Yuan's smile paused slightly.

Then he shook his head, dismissing the thought.

forget about it.

With such beautiful weather, why think about anything else?

"Grandfather! We've come to see you again!"

A childish voice came from the doorway.

Li Yuan's smile instantly spread, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out a bit.

He turned his head, opened his arms, and prepared to welcome the little darling—

Then his smile froze on his face.

Leading the way was Little Sizi, wearing that pink little jacket, clutching a paper package in her hand, her big, dark eyes crinkling into two crescent moons with laughter.

Li Lizhi followed behind her, still with that gentle and dignified demeanor, carrying a food box in her hand.

And then...

There was another person standing behind them.

Li Yuan's face tightened visibly.

The wrinkles that had just been spreading out in a smile instantly disappeared.

"Yo."

He spoke slowly.

"It's Emperor Taizong of Tang."

Li Shimin stopped in his tracks, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

The embarrassment on her face visibly intensified.

"Ah Ye..."

He opened his mouth, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"Your son...your son has come to see you."

"Your subject?"

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a half-smile.

"I am not worthy of such an honor. You are now Emperor Taizong of Tang, the emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty, and the ruler of all people."

"What am I? I'm just a dying old man."

As he spoke, he shifted his gaze from Li Shimin to the sunlight streaming through the window.

"What brings you here? To inspect the people's conditions? Or to see if you, the 'Emperor Emeritus,' are still alive?"

Li Shimin's embarrassment deepened.

"Father, your son..."

"Grandpa, grandpa!"

Xiao Sizi's clear voice suddenly rang out.

Holding the paper package in her hand, she skipped over to the bedside and tiptoed into Li Yuan's arms.

"Look! Sizi brought you something delicious! It's chestnut cake made by Manager Chen! It's so sweet! Please try some!"

Li Yuan looked down at her.

Her rosy little face was full of anticipation, and her bright, dark eyes sparkled.

"Manager Chen needs to settle accounts, so he can't come. He sent Sizi to deliver this to you!"

The tension on Li Yuan's face gradually eased.

"...Chestnut cake?"

"Mmm-hmm!" Little Sizi nodded vigorously. "I specifically asked Manager Chen to make these! Manager Chen said chestnuts are good for the stomach, and Grandpa will get better soon after eating them!"

Li Yuan reached out and took the paper package, then opened it a crack and peeked inside.

The golden pastries are sprinkled with icing sugar, and the aroma of chestnuts is irresistible.

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"Sizi is very thoughtful."

"Hehe!" Little Sizi laughed, her eyes crinkling into crescents. Then, suddenly remembering something, she turned and called towards the door, "Father! Why are you still standing there? Come in quickly! Didn't you say you were going to apologize to Grandfather?"

Li Shimin's expression changed.

Li Yuan's gaze also changed.

The corners of her mouth, which had just been slightly upturned, instantly tightened back into a taut shape.

He squinted, looking at his son, who was standing at the door, looking so embarrassed he wanted to disappear into the ground.

"Oh? An apology?"

Li Shimin stood there, his face turning red and white in turns, his fists clenching and unclenching repeatedly.

Finally, having no other choice, he glared at the little ox, but then felt that this wasn't quite right, since Chen Mo wasn't there and he couldn't wait for it.

They could only stand there, at a loss.

In the end, Li Yuan spoke first.

He leaned back against the headboard, shifting to a more comfortable position, and gestured with his chin towards his son, who was standing by the door.

"What are you standing there for? Come in."

"Don't just stand there like a door god. Do you think I'd eat you?"

Li Shimin took a deep breath and stepped in.

"Ah Ye..."

"Don't call me Aye."

Li Yuan waved his hand.

"Please address Your Majesty as the Retired Emperor!!!"

Li Shimin: ...

Oh shit!

Where did you learn that?

"You are the emperor, and I am the retired emperor. Let's follow the rules, father and son."

Li Shimin's expression became even more awkward.

He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, finally squeezing out a sentence through his teeth.

"Father..."

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow but did not reply.

The room was quiet for a moment.

Little Sizi looked up at this and then at that, and suddenly tugged at Li Shimin's sleeve.

"Grandpa, didn't you say you were going to massage Grandpa's shoulders? You said Grandpa's shoulders must be sore from lying down for so long!"

Li Shimin: ...

Li Yuan's gaze changed again.

He looked at Li Shimin with a complex, indescribable expression in his eyes.

"You're quite thoughtful."

Li Shimin lowered his eyes and did not dare to reply.

Li Yuan remained silent for a while, then suddenly sighed.

That breath was very long, as if it was blowing out all the grudges of more than ten years.

"Please sit down."

He pointed to the chair next to the bed.

"Don't stand there, you're in the way."

Li Shimin felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly sat down in the chair.

He sat very upright, his back straight, his hands on his knees, like a primary school student waiting for his teacher to scold him.

Li Yuan glanced at him, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

"Alright, stop pretending. I know you too well."

Li Shimin lowered his head and remained silent.

Li Yuan glanced out the window again.

The sunlight was still so bright, golden and shining, falling on the bed, on the son's lowered head, and on his once resolute face, now tinged with a hint of embarrassment.

He suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

Emperor Taizong of Tang, a renowned emperor in history, was like a child who had done something wrong in front of him.

It's been more than ten years.

The son who knelt before him to beg for forgiveness and forced him to abdicate is now old.

Li Yuan's gaze fell on the few faint white hairs at Li Shimin's temples, and a strange feeling welled up in his heart.

"Alright."

He looked away and gazed out the window again.

"If you're coming to see me, then come see me. Don't give me that sour look. I'm not dead yet."

Li Shimin raised his head, looked at his father's profile, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was somewhat hoarse.

"Ah Ye..."

"Um?"

Li Yuan did not turn back.

"Son... I'm sorry, son."

The room fell silent.

Little Si blinked, not understanding why his father was apologizing.

Li Lizhi lowered her eyes and took a step back.

Li Yuan remained silent for a long time.

Li Shimin waited so long that he thought he wouldn't answer.

Then, he heard his father chuckle softly.

The laughter was soft and faint, its meaning unreadable.

"Alright."

Li Yuan said.

"You've been saying this for over a decade. I'm sick of it."

He turned his head and looked at Li Shimin.

Sunlight fell into his eyes, making his aged eyes shine slightly.

"I am still alive. You are still alive. Si Zi is still young, and Li Zhi is not yet married. I still want to see Li Zhi get married, and I want to see Si Zi get married!"

He paused.

That's enough.

Li Shimin was stunned.

He looked at his father, at the faint smile on that aged face, and at something he had never seen before in the depths of those eyes.

What is that?

Forgiveness? Relief? Or...?

He couldn't explain it.

All he knew was that something was stuck in his throat and his eyes were slightly burning.

"Ah Ye..."

"Alright, alright."

Li Yuan waved his hand, interrupting him.

"Stop getting sentimental. I want to eat chestnut cake."

He lowered his head, opened the paper package, picked up a golden pastry, and took a bite.

"Hmm, not bad."

He squinted and mumbled something.

"It tastes better than what's made in the palace. That Manager Chen is quite something."

Seeing this, Little Sizi immediately climbed onto the bed, squeezed into Li Yuan's arms, and looked up at him with her little face, asking.

"Grandpa, Grandpa, is it delicious? Can Sizi have a bite too?"

"You little glutton," Li Yuan said with a smile, tapping her nose. "Here you go."

Li Shimin sat by the bed, watching the old man and the young boy eating chestnut cake together, seeing the long-lost smile on his father's face, and hearing the little boy's giggles dancing in the sunlight.

He suddenly felt his eyes getting even hotter.

He lowered his head and clenched his fists.

Li Lizhi quietly walked to his side and gently touched his arm.

Li Shimin raised his head and saw his daughter's gentle gaze.

There was no blame or complaint in that gaze, only a quiet, comforting warmth.

"Grandpa," she whispered, "is very happy today."

Li Shimin nodded.

Li Lizhi smiled, but her gaze inadvertently fell on the phone on the bedside table. As if she had thought of something, her expression turned serious.

"Father, I have something I want to tell you!"

"What's wrong?"

"About my eldest brother!"

"oh!"