Transmigrated into Li Chengqian, he effortlessly ascended the throne and became emperor.

As a seasoned scheming woman, Li Chengqian knew that even now, the act wasn't over yet.

Simply being moved isn't enough; don't underestimate the bond between them!

Li Chengqian slowly raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears on Li Tai's cheek with the hand that, though not seriously injured, had several red marks deliberately made on the fingertips.

He leaned slightly closer to Li Tai's ear, his voice carrying a hint of mystery: "Qingque, you have to promise your elder brother something."

Li Tai sniffed, clutching the straw bird tightly to his chest, and nodded vigorously as if making a vow: "Big brother, you said! Do you want me to go and pluck that wicked old man's beard?"

Li Chengqian's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. This little fat boy has a rather serious tendency towards violence.

"It's not that." Li Chengqian held up his injured little finger and waved it in front of Li Tai. "This bluebird is a secret between the two of us."

"A secret?" Li Tai's eyes widened.

"Yes, we can't tell Father, and we can't tell Mother." Li Chengqian lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyes. He was so sensible that it was heartbreaking. "Father is already working so hard every day dealing with those old men in the court. Mother also has to take care of my younger sister and can't stand being frightened."

"Qingque is a man now, he certainly doesn't want his parents to worry, right?"

Li Chengqian knew exactly what was going on.

Li Tai is only four years old, an age when he can't keep secrets and wants to show off even the most perfect poop he makes to his parents.

The more you emphasize that something shouldn't be said, the more likely it is to be said.

Moreover, if he were to express this thoughtfulness towards his parents himself, it would be seen as him seeking credit.

If it were accidentally leaked through Li Tai's loose tongue, that would be considered filial piety.

Sure enough, Li Tai's little face instantly scrunched up like a bun.

"Okay! I won't tell!" Li Tai stretched out his chubby little finger and solemnly hooked it with Li Chengqian's finger. "Pinky promise, for a hundred years! Whoever says otherwise is a dog!"

Li Chengqian's eyes crinkled into crescents, making Li Tai momentarily stunned.

"Bluebird is so good."

After seeing off Li Tai, who was reluctant to part and kept turning back to look at him, Li Chengqian's smile vanished instantly.

He leaned back lazily on the soft pillow and looked at his hand.

The red marks on my fingertips were just superficial wounds; they only bled a little when I pressed them slightly, and they're almost healed now.

Rather than worrying about Li Tai seizing the throne in the future, it's better to cultivate him into the number one fanboy now.

"Green Bamboo," Li Chengqian called out lazily.

"Your Highness?"

"Clean up the rest of the grass, don't leave any trace." Li Chengqian yawned. "I need to take a nap. If Father comes... just say I'm asleep, don't wake me."

As long as Li Tai doesn't cause any problems, Li Shimin will soon come over with mixed feelings.

……

As the sun rose higher, the glazed tiles of the Qin Prince's Mansion reflected a dazzling light.

Li Shimin did not appear relaxed after the court session ended.

In the imperial court, the attacks by the Crown Prince's faction became increasingly blatant.

The exile of Wang Gui and others was just the beginning, and Li Yuan's attitude was even more ambiguous.

Yesterday's off-field hunting incident ultimately ended with a reprimand.

That feeling of powerlessness gnawed at the heart of this General Tian Ce like a venomous snake.

As soon as Li Shimin stepped into the side hall where Li Tai lived, he slowed his pace.

Lately, he has been spending a lot of time with Li Chengqian and has somewhat neglected his youngest son.

However, the scene that came into view made Li Shimin pause slightly.

Under the old locust tree in the courtyard, on the soft couch that Li Tai loved to roll around on, a round little figure sat cross-legged with his back to him, motionless.

The maids and eunuchs around were all pushed back several feet away, and no one dared to approach.

"Qingque?" Li Shimin called out.

The little ball of flesh trembled violently, as if it had done something wrong and been caught red-handed. It quickly hid the thing in its arms behind its back and then awkwardly turned around.

"Ah...Ah-ye!"

Li Tai blinked nervously, his chubby hands behind his back, looking just like a little mouse that had stolen lamp oil.

The gloom in Li Shimin's heart dissipated slightly. He strode forward, scooped the chubby little boy into his arms, and rubbed the newly sprouted stubble on his chin against Li Tai's tender face.

"What are you hiding? Why are you being so mysterious?" Li Shimin asked with a smile, but his eyes held a hint of inquiry.

"No...I didn't hide anything!" Li Tai retorted loudly, but his eyes darted nervously to the side. "It's just...it's just a rock!"

Li Shimin raised an eyebrow.

No one knows a son better than his father; he can tell what kind of poop his son is going to take just by the way he sticks out his butt.

"Oh? A stone? Let Father see what kind of strange stone could make our Qingque refuse even her favorite cheese?" Li Shimin said, reaching out to touch Li Tai's back.

"No! You can't look!" Li Tai panicked, desperately protecting the object with his two little paws, shaking his head like a rattle drum. "It's a secret! I made a pinky promise with Big Brother! Anyone who says otherwise is a dog!"

Upon hearing the words "elder brother," Li Shimin paused, his expression slightly changing: "Chengqian? This was given to you by Chengqian?"

Li Tai realized he had let something slip and quickly covered his mouth, looking at Li Shimin with terrified eyes, shaking his head and sobbing.

Oh no, he's a puppy now!

Li Shimin felt a slight unease as he looked at his son's simple-minded demeanor.

Could it be that someone is using Chengqian's name to win people's hearts, or is it to spread something bad?

With everything in complete chaos outside, Li Shimin couldn't help but become suspicious.

He suppressed his smile, placed Li Tai on the couch, squatted down to be at eye level with him, and his tone became more serious: "Qingque, let your father take a look. If it's something good, your father won't take it from you."

Under Li Shimin's watchful gaze, how could four-year-old Li Tai be a match for him?

Anyway... anyway, I've already said it was given to me by my older brother.

Besides, Aye must also want to know how good his older brother is, right?

Li Tai sniffed and slowly, very reluctantly, took out the thing he had been covering in his arms.

"Here... is this one."

Li Shimin took a closer look and was stunned.

What lay in Li Tai's plump white palm was neither gold, silver, nor jade, nor any contraband.

It was a... extremely ugly bird.

It was woven from the most common dry grass, and the technique was clumsy and amateurish. In some places, the grass stalks were not properly gathered and were sticking out in a jagged and unruly manner.

The bird's belly was ridiculously large, making it look both comical and laughable.

"This is... a bluebird?" Li Shimin was somewhat amused and exasperated, reaching out to poke at the tilted bird's head. "Who made this? It's so... unique."

He originally wanted to say ugly, but considering his son's feelings, he used a different word.

Little did anyone know, these words were like igniting a powder keg.

Just moments ago, Li Tai had been timid and hesitant, but now he was like a puffed-up tiger, abruptly pulling his hand back and shouting, "Don't say it's ugly! This is the most beautiful bird! This is my brother... that is..."

"What is that?" Li Shimin sensed something was amiss, and his voice deepened.

Li Tai finally couldn't hold back anymore, and all the vows, pinkies, and puppy promises were thrown to the winds at this moment.

"My older brother knitted this for me himself!"

"Father, look! Here... and here! It's all Big Brother's blood! Big Brother's hands were cut by the grass and bled a lot, but he still finished weaving..."

Indeed, among the withered grass blades, a few streaks of dark red, long since dried, could be faintly seen.

Li Shimin closed his eyes, and a scene involuntarily appeared in his mind.

The person who usually loves to be clean and would cry and whine for ages over the slightest bump or bruise, endured the pain and pain to slowly weave this ugly thing together.

"Big brother also told me... told me to keep it a secret..." Li Tai sobbed, grabbing Li Shimin's sleeve to wipe his nose. "He said he was afraid Father would be heartbroken if he found out, afraid Father would blame himself... Waaah... Is big brother stupid?!"

Li Shimin's voice was a little hoarse as he solemnly placed the grass bird back into Li Tai's hand.

"Bluebird, you must keep this bird safe."

"I know! I'll keep it safe!" Li Tai nodded emphatically.

Seeing Li Shimin's half-crying expression, Li Tai blinked and chuckled, "Besides, Father, you didn't, did you?"

Li Shimin: "..."