My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the guest rooms of the Time Inn through the not-so-clean glass windows.

Fang Xuanling woke up very early.

He lay on the overly soft bed, staring blankly for a long while.

Last night I tossed and turned, partly because I was not used to this unfamiliar environment, and partly because I was worried about His Majesty.

Although he didn't hear the conversation downstairs, he definitely heard the phrase "Please address Your Majesty as Crown Prince".

Of course, another aspect is that the body inexplicably feels hot, as if there is a fire that cannot be released.

The bed was indeed soft, but after waking up, I felt a strange soreness in my lower back, far less refreshed than when I woke up on a hard bed.

Fang Xuanling changed his clothes and listened carefully to the sounds coming from next door; all was silent.

His Majesty does not appear to have gotten up yet.

So Fang Xuanling quietly tidied up the room and opened the door.

But just then, Li Shimin also came out from next door.

Li Shimin appeared calm, but a lingering melancholy hung between his brows.

He saw Fang Xuanling, nodded slightly, and said nothing more.

"His Majesty……"

Fang Xuanling bowed respectfully, wanting to ask something, but not knowing where to begin.

"It's alright."

Li Shimin waved his hand, his voice somewhat low.

"Let's have some breakfast first."

The two went downstairs, where Chen Mo was already up, playing on his phone behind the counter with a bag of soy milk in his mouth. He greeted them vaguely when he saw them come down.

"Good morning, you two. How did you sleep? What's for breakfast? Instant noodles again? Or should I go next door and buy some steamed buns and fried dough sticks?"

"Thank you for your help, shopkeeper. A simple solution will suffice."

Li Shimin spoke, his tone calm, yet tinged with weariness.

Chen Mo blinked, didn't ask any more questions, and quickly ran to a nearby breakfast stall to buy steamed buns and soy milk.

The dining table was unusually quiet.

Li Shimin ate absentmindedly, his gaze occasionally drifting off into space, clearly his thoughts had already wandered far away.

Fang Xuanling accompanied him cautiously, not daring to say much, but silently observing His Majesty.

The deliciousness of the steamed buns and the rich aroma of the soy milk seemed to have failed to attract much of their attention.

After quickly finishing his simple breakfast, Li Shimin put down his chopsticks and wiped his hands with the silk handkerchief handed to him by Fang Xuanling.

He stood up and walked towards Chen Mo behind the counter.

"Manager Chen," he began, his voice regaining its composure, "we have important business to attend to and need to leave for a while. Please reserve those two rooms for us."

He took out a small brocade pouch from his pocket and handed it directly to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo opened the brocade pouch, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

It's golden and substantial.

"Is this enough as payment for the rent and a deposit?"

Li Shimin looked at Chen Mo with deep eyes.

Chen Mo was currently engrossed in looking at the brocade pouch, his eyes wide open, and he nodded hurriedly.

"That's enough! That's more than enough! Don't worry, Lao Li, the room will definitely be reserved for you, and no one else will be allowed to stay! You two can come back anytime!"

He was overjoyed; this was truly a windfall!

Not to mention reserving two rooms, you could book the entire hotel more than enough!

Then, he handed the two room cards to Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling.

Li Shimin nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to walk out the door.

Fang Xuanling immediately followed, and as he passed Chen Mo, he cast a complex and indescribable look at him, a look of gratitude mixed with an indescribable worry.

What exactly did the shopkeeper say to His Majesty last night?

I've never seen His Majesty like this before!

Stepping out of the hotel felt like passing through an invisible film of water.

Li Shimin suddenly opened his eyes, and the familiar scent of sandalwood filled his nostrils.

Before me was the exquisitely carved dome of the Imperial Study, and beneath me was a sturdy and familiar rosewood imperial couch.

The noise of Hengdian streets was no longer in my ears, but the clear and regular ticking of the water clock in the palace.

He returned, in just one night, yet it felt like a lifetime had passed.

Li Shimin sat up, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

He lowered his head, holding the room key Chen Mo had given him in his hand.

"His Majesty?"

Hearing the commotion, the eunuchs guarding outside the palace cautiously peeked out.

"Summon Fang Xuanling." Li Shimin's voice was devoid of emotion, yet carried an undeniable urgency. "Immediately. Also... summon the Crown Prince."

The eunuch was startled and dared not ask any more questions. He quickly bowed and withdrew.

Soon, Fang Xuanling arrived in a hurry. His official robe was slightly wrinkled, and his eyes still held a trace of lingering bewilderment and surprise, clearly indicating that he had just returned from that bizarre "Hengdian trip".

He was about to bow when Li Shimin waved his hand and looked at him sharply.

"Xuanling, what happened last night..."

"Your Majesty, I... am also like a dream."

Fang Xuanling's voice was somewhat hoarse. The two exchanged a glance, and everything was understood without words.

The emperor and his minister remained silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the imperial study was heavy.

Footsteps came from outside the hall, and a palace attendant announced it.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

Li Chengqian appeared at the doorway.

He limped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

In the past, if Li Shimin had seen his expression like this, he might have felt displeasure first.

But at this moment, looking at his son, Li Shimin seemed to see the image of the rebellious son kneeling and roaring on the television screen again.

Chen Mo's complaints, such as "the pressure is too great," "I'm mentally collapsing," and "you also have to take some responsibility," kept echoing in my ears.

Do you feel that I have been too harsh on you, and too lenient on Qingque?

Li Shimin regained his composure and looked at Li Chengqian with piercing eyes, displaying his full imperial majesty.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian abruptly raised his head, his face instantly draining of all color.

Father... How could Father have known?!

Despite his inner turmoil, Li Chengqian would never admit it.

"Your Majesty would not dare! Your Majesty's strict discipline is for my own good, for the sake of the nation!"

"The Prince of Wei is wise, and Father's affection for him is a natural bond... Your son has absolutely no such intention! Absolutely no such thought, Father!"

However, his reaction revealed his true feelings.

Li Shimin already knew the answer without Li Shimin needing to admit it himself.

Seeing Li Chengqian's appearance, Li Shimin felt as if something had stabbed his heart.

A sharp pain and a huge soreness surged up, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

Chen Mo's words rang out again.

"You have such high expectations for Chengqian, and you're so strict with him. The child is under immense pressure, and he's still not very mobile. He must be feeling really frustrated!"

"What do you expect Chengqian to think? He's already under a lot of pressure, and his leg injury makes him feel inferior. Looking back, he sees that his father treats his younger brother much better than he treats himself..."

……

"The parents are showing favoritism without even realizing it!"

"Behavior itself is an attitude!"

So it turns out... it was all true.

Li Shimin's expression remained unchanged, but a sense of desolation welled up in his heart.

Was he really such a derelict father?

Didn't they even notice that Lian Chengqian was having mental health issues?

It's ridiculous that I thought it was Chengqian's fault before, but I never expected that the source of everything was my own father.

Li Shimin suddenly felt an unprecedented fatigue and powerlessness.

He slowly leaned back on the soft cushions of the imperial chair, as if all the strength to support his body had been drained away.

He waved his hand, his voice hoarse and weary.

"You... step back."

Li Chengqian felt as if he had been granted a pardon and left without the slightest hesitation.

Li Shimin watched Li Chengqian's retreating figure.

A huge chasm seemed to have formed between the father and son.

Li Shimin closed his eyes, pressed his fingers firmly against his brow, and remained silent for a long time.

Fang Xuanling stood aside, his heart filled with turmoil.

He didn't hear the conversation between Li Shimin and Chen Mo, but he did see the scene of Li Chengqian and Li Shimin confronting each other.

What a sin!

How did I end up seeing that scene?

After a long while, Li Shimin suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

Chengqian has not yet rebelled, so it is not too late.

So what if there's a rift?

If Li Shimin could be called the strongest carbon-based life form of the 7th century, couldn't he even resolve such a small hurdle?

Li Shimin looked at the eunuch beside him.

"Summon the King of Wei!"

"yes!"