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

The rain in Chang'an seems gentler than that along the Wei River, yet it is also more lingering and penetrating.

From the day Li Shimin donned his armor and set off on his campaign, the magnificent Qin Prince's Mansion seemed to have lost its backbone, shrouded in a oppressive and solemn atmosphere.

Although no bad news has yet come from the front lines, everyone in the manor walks on tiptoe, afraid of disturbing the masters who are suffering.

At this moment, in a side hall of Hongyi Palace.

The round table, carved from rosewood, was laden with a dazzling array of delicacies. The roasted mutton sizzled and steamed, the crystal dragon and phoenix cakes were translucent and glistening, and the thick, snow-white crucian carp soup had an irresistible aroma that wafted into one's nostrils.

However, Li Chengqian, who was sitting at the table, was only holding a bowl of plain white porridge that was so bland that it didn't have a trace of oil.

He wore a plain white brocade robe with dark patterns, without any extra accessories, and his hair was loosely tied up with only a wooden hairpin.

At five years old, her figure was still quite small, and her already fair, almost translucent skin appeared even more delicate and fragile, like the beauty of glass, under the candlelight.

"Young master, please have a bite."

The maidservant serving the meal, her eyes red and her voice almost choked with sobs, pleaded, "The Princess specially ordered the kitchen to prepare roasted mutton, saying it's your favorite. You've been eating only vegetarian food for three days straight; you're still growing, how can you endure it?"

Li Chengqian looked at the plate of tempting mutton, and his Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.

But he stubbornly held back.

Not only did he hold back, but he also slightly furrowed his handsome brows, as if the Guanyin boy who stepped out of a painting had been tainted with worldly sorrows.

He gently pushed aside the jade plate in front of him, his voice soft and sweet, yet revealing an undeniable firmness.

"Take it down."

"I'm not hungry."

"My father is enduring wind and rain on the front lines of the Wei River, facing the fierce Turks. If my father is getting rained on and starving, while I, as his eldest son, am feasting on meat and fish in the mansion, am I still a son?"

"Young Master..." The maids' hearts melted at the words, and they wiped away their tears, wishing they could give their hearts to this sensible and pitiful young master.

Just then, a series of thumping footsteps came from outside the hall.

Immediately afterwards, a round little ball of flesh rushed in like a cannonball.

"Brother! Have you finished eating? Let's go catch dragonflies!"

Li Tai held a half-eaten braised pork knuckle in his hand, his mouth dripping with oil, his round face filled with innocence and joy.

He rushed to the table, stood on tiptoe to look at the dishes, and his eyes lit up immediately.

"Brother, aren't you going to eat? Then Qingque will eat for you!"

As he spoke, the chubby boy reached out to grab the plate of roasted mutton without any hesitation.

This scene happened to be witnessed by Empress Zhangsun, who had just stepped across the threshold.

Lady Changsun was dressed in plain clothes, and although she did not wear any makeup, her dignified demeanor was still undeniable.

These past few days, however, she has been worried about her husband's safety, and a hint of sorrow has always been etched on her brow.

She had come to check on her eldest son because she was worried about his health, but she never expected to witness such a scene.

On one side was Chengqian, the eldest son, kneeling on a brocade cushion, thin and pale, fasting and dressed in plain clothes to pray for his father's well-being.

On one side is Qingque, the second son, whose mouth is greasy from eating and who is only focused on the food on the table, completely unaware of his father's safety.

Without comparison, there is no harm.

In that instant, Empress Zhangsun felt as if she had been struck hard by something, and then she couldn't help but lean towards her eldest son, whom she loved to the core.

"Bluebird!"

Empress Zhangsun's voice carried a rare hint of sternness.

Just as Li Tai was about to put the mutton into his mouth, he was startled and dropped the meat on the table with a thud. He turned around and saw his mother's stern face, and immediately burst into tears.

"My mother scolded me... Waaah..."

Normally, Empress Zhangsun would have softened and gone to coax her.

But today, looking at Li Tai's bewildered and ignorant appearance, and then at Li Chengqian who hurriedly got up to protect his younger brother, she felt only annoyed and confused.

"Take Erlang away and wash off that greasy face!" Changsun Wugou waved her hand, her voice weary.

The wet nurses rushed forward and, with a mixture of coaxing and cuddling, led the still struggling and crying Li Tai away.

The hall fell silent again.

Empress Zhangsun walked up to Li Chengqian, slowly squatted down, and lowered her gaze to her son's level.

She reached out and trembled as she stroked her son's thin face, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.

"Yu Nu..." she called Cheng Qian's childhood name, her voice choked with sobs, "Why are you doing this to yourself? If your father knew you were torturing yourself like this, he would definitely blame your mother for not taking good care of you when he came back."

Li Chengqian did not rush into his mother's arms to act spoiled. Instead, he gently held Empress Zhangsun's hand and rubbed his face against his mother's cool palm.

His movements were extremely affectionate, yet they also showed a maturity beyond his years.

"Mother, Yu Nu is not suffering."

Li Chengqian raised his head, his eyes shining with an astonishing light. "Master Sun said that sincerity can move even Heaven. As long as Gaoming sincerely prays for blessings and shares his good fortune with Father, Father will surely return safely and defeat the Turks!"

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun hugged the small body tightly. "Good child... my good child... your father is blessed to have such a filial son as you, and it is also a blessing for the Tang Dynasty."

……

After finishing the bowl of congee, Li Chengqian went to the backyard once again.

There is a century-old locust tree there, and a white jade Guanyin statue is enshrined under the tree.

The courtyard was extremely damp after the rain.

The bluestone slabs were still glistening with water, and a chill crept up my knees and into my bones.

Li Chengqian refused the thick cushion offered by the maid, insisting on using only a thin prayer mat and kneeling properly before the Guanyin statue.

He clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and softly recited the Diamond Sutra.

In reality, he doesn't know any scriptures by heart. He just memorized a few passages in his previous life to prepare for the postgraduate entrance exam, and now he's using them to make a show of himself.

The wind blew through the locust tree, and the remaining raindrops slid off the tips of the leaves, dripping onto his shoulders and soaking his plain white brocade robe.

He remained motionless, like a fine jade sculpture.

This kneeling lasted for an hour.

As dusk fell, a gap suddenly appeared in the clouds to the west, and a beam of golden sunset stubbornly pierced through the thick clouds, shining down on the ancient city.

In that fleeting moment when light and shadow intertwined.

The two heavy vermilion gates of the Prince of Qin's mansion creaked open with a dull thud.

Immediately following was a rapid and orderly sound of horses' hooves, mixed with the chilling sound of armor clashing, approaching from afar and rushing straight towards the courtyard.

Li Chengqian's heart skipped a beat.

He didn't turn around, but instead straightened his back and raised his voice slightly, making the childish chanting clearer in the quiet courtyard.

"...May this merit adorn the Buddha's Pure Land. May it repay the fourfold kindness above and relieve the suffering of the three lower realms below..."

"...May Father return safely, and may the Tang Dynasty last ten thousand years..."

Li Shimin looked rather disheveled at this moment.

The armor was still covered in mud from the banks of the Wei River, and the dark red cloak, soaked with rain and sweat, dried and hung stiffly behind him.

He couldn't wait to get back, even canceling the celebration banquet, just wanting to see the little one he missed at home.

However, when he stepped into the backyard under the rays of the setting sun breaking through the clouds, he saw a scene that he would never forget.

The setting sun was like blood, and the ancient locust trees stood tall and imposing.

His eldest son, whom he cherished dearly and who was usually so vain and would throw a tantrum over a single ink stain on his clothes, was now kneeling alone on the cold, damp flagstones.

Dressed in plain clothes, I prayed for him.

Li Shimin suddenly stopped in his tracks.

As if sensing something, Li Chengqian, who was kneeling under the tree, slowly stopped chanting.

He seemed somewhat incredulous, slowly and hesitantly turning his head.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone directly behind Li Shimin, gilding his silhouette with a golden hue, making him appear like a god descending to earth.

One big and one small.

Separated by a dozen steps, by the battlefield of life and death, by the torrent of history, they gaze at each other at this moment.