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

As dawn broke and the sky turned a pale white, the glazed tiles of Hongyi Palace reflected a sense of peace and brilliance, a testament to the aftermath of the calamity.

Early in the morning, Li Tai strode with his sturdy little legs and stormed into Li Chengqian's bedroom.

"Where's my older brother?"

Li Tai wore a scarlet round-necked robe embroidered with gold cloud patterns, his round body resembling a festive red lantern.

He stood with his hands on his hips, his chubby little face clearly showing his displeasure. His dark, grape-like eyes scanned the empty bedroom before finally settling on the trembling maid.

"Reporting to...Reporting to Your Highness, our Prince did not rest in the palace last night...last night." The maid lowered her head, her voice barely audible.

Li Tai frowned, his already somewhat crowded features scrunching into a tight knot: "Not in the palace? Hongyi Palace is heavily guarded now, where could my elder brother have gone? Could it be that you didn't serve him well enough, making him angry and causing him to run away?"

"This servant dares not!" All the palace servants in the room knelt down in a clatter.

Li Tai snorted coldly, laboriously climbed onto Li Chengqian's large bed covered with Shu brocade, crossed his short legs, crossed his arms, and adopted a "I won't act until I see the rabbit" stance: "I'll wait here. We agreed to have breakfast together today, not a moment less."

He looks exactly like a little devil collecting debts.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, some noise finally came from outside the hall.

"The eldest son is back."

Upon hearing the eunuch's announcement, Li Tai's eyes lit up. He abandoned all pretense, slid off the bed, and rushed towards the door like a cannonball.

The curtain was lifted, and the morning light streamed in. Li Chengqian walked in against the light.

Li Chengqian was in a good mood today, but his good mood was slightly dampened when he saw the bulging red lantern at the door.

"Qingque?" Li Chengqian stopped and raised an eyebrow slightly. "So early, why didn't you sleep a little longer?"

Li Tai originally wanted to rush up and hug Li Chengqian, but when he thought of what the palace servant had said earlier, he stopped the carriage abruptly.

He puffed out his cheeks and stared at Li Chengqian with a resentful look in his eyes: "Where did you go last night, brother? I came to look for you first thing this morning, but you weren't here."

Li Chengqian stepped forward, stretched out his slender, fair hand, and gently pinched Li Tai's plump cheeks, which felt wonderful to the touch: "Father was in a bad mood last night, so I went to keep him company and talk to Mother."

"Speak?" Li Tai looked at him suspiciously. "Speaking about spending the night in Aye's room?"

This kid is usually so quick-witted when memorizing texts, but he always manages to pinpoint the key points perfectly.

Li Chengqian sighed softly, "Father has worried himself sick over our family. He was so heartbroken last night, and I couldn't bear to leave him alone, so I stayed with him all night. Qingque is very understanding; she shouldn't blame her older brother for not staying with you, right?"

Li Chengqian used this tactic of retreating to advance with unparalleled skill.

Sure enough, Li Tai's momentum instantly halved after being praised for being sensible.

He hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "I... of course I'm sensible. But brother, you're being too biased."

"Alright, alright, it was my fault." Li Chengqian took Li Tai's chubby little hand very naturally and walked into the hall. "To apologize to Qingque, I'll have someone prepare some of your favorite cheese and mutton biscuits for breakfast today, how about that?"

Upon hearing the word "food," Li Tai's throat involuntarily bobbed.

At the dining table, Li Chengqian slowly sipped his millet porridge, his every gesture exuding royal elegance.

In contrast, Li Tai was engrossed in his work, his mouth covered with crumbs of cheese.

Li Chengqian took a silk handkerchief and gently wiped the stains from the corner of Li Tai's mouth. "Eat slowly, no one will take it from you."

Li Tai was enjoying Li Chengqian's service, and his displeasure had long since vanished.

But he was a very shrewd little fat boy, and after eating and drinking his fill, his little schemes started to come alive again.

Last night, my eldest brother slept with my father and mother, which means that my eldest brother is allowed to sleep with them!

If Aye can do it, why can't Li Tai?

Li Tai put down his chopsticks, his bright eyes, which resembled Li Shimin's but were much rounder, staring intently at Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian felt a little uneasy under his gaze and subtly shifted back, asking, "Qingque, why are you looking at me like that? Are you still hungry?"

"Big brother." Li Tai suddenly chuckled.

"...Speak frankly." Warning bells rang in Li Chengqian's mind.

"Since you were able to sleep with Father and Mother last night, then tonight..." Li Tai jumped off the chair, snuggled up to Li Chengqian, grabbed his arm, and started swaying back and forth like a roly-poly toy, "Let's sleep together tonight!"

Li Chengqian: "..."

The mouthful of millet porridge that I hadn't swallowed almost choked me.

Sleep together?

And Li Tai?

The painful memories of his previous life in the Qing Dynasty instantly flashed through Li Chengqian's mind.

Back then, I was also taking care of my younger brother. The way children sleep is simply an unsolved mystery.

Especially for chubby little guys like Li Tai who are strong and muscular.

Li Chengqian seemed to have already foreseen a horrific scene.

In the dead of night, a fleshy, invisible foot suddenly appears and kicks him directly in the face, or a heavy, iron-like arm tightly strangles his neck like an octopus, giving him a taste of the thrill of suffocation.

No, absolutely not.

"Qingque," Li Chengqian put down his bowl of porridge, "you've grown up and are a little man now. Father often says that a man should be self-reliant, and sleeping alone is a kind of training. Besides, I'm a restless sleeper and I'm afraid I'll kick you at night."

To everyone's surprise, Li Tai wasn't having any of it. He shook his head vigorously, "I'm not afraid! I've heard from Mother that Big Brother is the best sleeper. He doesn't snore or grind his teeth, and he smells wonderful! I want to sleep with Big Brother!"

Li Chengqian's lips twitched slightly.

"Besides," Li Tai pouted pitifully, pulling out his trump card, "last night those guards were running around with knives, it was so scary. The side hall was dark, I was scared all alone… Does Big Brother think Qing Que is too fat? Does he not like Qing Que anymore?"

As she spoke, tears welled up in her large eyes, threatening to spill over, making her look incredibly pitiful.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, feeling a throbbing sensation in his temples.

This is moral blackmail! This is blatant moral blackmail!

Li Chengqian closed his eyes and silently repeated three times in his mind, "This is his own younger brother, this is a future regional lord, this is for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty."

"How could that be?" Li Chengqian reopened his eyes, smiling warmly, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I love Qingque the most."

"Really?" Li Tai instantly wiped away his tears, his change of expression so swift it was astonishing.

"Really," Li Chengqian said through gritted teeth, "but not tonight."

"Why?" Li Tai persisted.

Li Chengqian's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plausible excuse: "Because...because I need to study tonight. Yes, I haven't finished reviewing the lessons Father tested me on yesterday. If I sleep with you, I'm afraid I'll disturb your rest."

However, Li Chengqian underestimated Li Tai's brilliant mind.

Li Tai's eyes lit up even more, as if he had discovered a new continent: "Studying? That's even better! I want to study too! I can read with my older brother, and when we get tired, we can just lie down and sleep. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Li Chengqian: "..."