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

As night falls, the Taiji Palace becomes exceptionally tranquil.

The hall was brightly lit with candles, dispelling the chill of the night.

Li Shimin strode into the palace, his bright yellow robes still carrying the lingering chill of the previous dynasty. But the moment he saw the gentle figure on the soft couch, his imperial sharpness melted into tenderness.

"Guanyinbi".

Li Shimin did not allow Empress Zhangsun to rise and pay her respects, but instead sat down beside her, his brows slightly furrowed: "Were you frightened by what happened in court today? I heard from Hongyu that Yunu came by this afternoon?"

When Li Shimin mentioned his son, his tone became more complicated.

Today, he stood up against the majority in court and severely punished several officials who tried to undermine the Crown Prince's position by claiming auspicious omens, but he still harbored a burning anger in his heart.

He was afraid that his son Chengqian would be wronged, and even more afraid that the child would harbor resentment.

"Erlang, take a look at this."

Empress Zhangsun did not answer directly, but instead smiled and took the crudely made sachet from beside her pillow, presenting it to her husband like a precious treasure: "This is a gift from our good son."

Li Shimin was taken aback, and then took the bulging object.

The fabric is indeed fine Shu brocade, but the stitching...

"This is... a centipede?" Li Shimin's lips twitched as he pointed at the crooked lines on it, unable to contain himself any longer: "When did the embroiderers in this palace deteriorate to this level?"

"Get lost!" Empress Zhangsun slapped his hand in annoyance and scolded, "This was sewn by Yu Nu herself. That child went to the Imperial Medical Bureau for several days to get this calming medicine for me, and her fingers were pricked by needles several times."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's hand holding the sachet suddenly froze.

"Yu Nu...sewed it herself?"

This eldest son, whom he had cherished and pampered since childhood, the one who always held his chin high and was as proud as a little phoenix, actually knew how to do such delicate needlework.

"When he arrived, he was trembling with fear."

Empress Zhangsun sighed softly and recounted Li Chengqian's words in the palace that afternoon in their entirety.

As Empress Zhangsun spoke gently, Li Shimin's expression changed repeatedly.

When Li Chengqian cried and asked, "Is Yu Nu very vicious?", this decisive and ruthless general on the battlefield felt as if his heart was being squeezed tightly, and the pain made it almost impossible for him to breathe.

"Foolish! Utterly foolish!"

Li Shimin abruptly stood up and paced anxiously in the hall: "My son Chengqian is of noble birth, the future master of this Tang Dynasty! What can't he have? How could he be driven to feel wicked by those gossipy ministers? He's only eight years old!"

"Jiro..."

"Guanyinbi, you have no idea how angry I was in court today." Li Shimin turned around, his eyes slightly red. "I paved the way for him, I wanted to tell the whole world that he was my proudest son. But I never expected that this would become a burden for him. He was actually afraid... afraid that if he had a younger brother, I would stop loving him."

That little follower who always followed him around, wanting this and that, and couldn't stand the slightest grievance, actually had so many little schemes hidden behind his back.

This kind of understanding pained Li Shimin deeply.

He would rather Chengqian be as lawless as before than see him so cautiously trying to please him.

Li Shimin sat back down on the couch, hanging the ugly sachet on his waist as if it were a precious treasure, his fingertips stroking the clumsy stitches over and over again.

"He said he was afraid his younger brother would lose favor, but this child still loves his brother in his heart," Empress Zhangsun said softly. "He said he would share half of his snacks with his brother from now on, and he would even discipline his brother on our behalf."

"Hmph, that's for sure. The eldest brother is like a father. If he wants to discipline someone, I'll hand him the whip."

Li Shimin snorted coldly, then seemed to have thought of something: "No, I can't let this go. Just scolding him in court isn't enough. I have to make Chengqian understand that regardless of whether he has this younger brother or not, regardless of how many princes he has in the future, he, Li Chengqian, is unique!"

"What does Erlang want to do?" Empress Zhangsun asked, somewhat surprised.

Li Shimin did not speak, but strode to the imperial desk, ground the ink, picked up the brush, and wrote with great skill and precision.

A moment later, he slammed the brush down and shouted, "Wang De!"

The chief eunuch, Wang De, who had been waiting outside the palace, hurriedly bowed and trotted in: "Your Majesty, this old servant is here."

Li Shimin pointed to the calligraphy on the table and said in a deep voice, "Issue my decree: effective immediately, the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace shall be renamed the Chengqian Hall!"

Wang De was startled and abruptly raised his head, his face filled with astonishment: "Your Majesty? This...this Xiande Hall is the main hall of the Eastern Palace, and the characters Chengqian are from one of the main halls of the Taiji Palace. This...this is probably against the rules!"

There was already a Chengqian Hall in the Taiji Palace. Now, to bestow this name upon the Eastern Palace is an unprecedented honor, and it can even be said to be overstepping the bounds of propriety.

"Rules? I am the rule!"

Li Shimin flicked his sleeves, exuding domineering aura: "Chengqian, meaning to inherit the universe. This name was given to him by his father, and it belongs only to him! Wherever he lives, that will be the Chengqian Palace! That old, lifeless palace is unworthy of this name."

He paused, his tone carrying an undeniable air of stubbornness: "That old hall of Taiji Palace can be renamed... anything goes! But in this world, there can only be one Chengqian Hall, and that is where my son resides!"

"Let those censors gossip! I just want to tell the world that my son doesn't need to compete with anyone, because what I give him is something others wouldn't even dare to dream of!"

Looking at the emperor before him, who was so protective of his own that he had lost his mind, Wang De dared not say another word. He quickly kowtowed and agreed, then hurriedly retreated with the still-wet ink on the imperial brush.

Empress Zhangsun watched this scene without intervening, but the smile in her eyes deepened.

Once this decree is issued tomorrow morning, the entire court and the public will be in an uproar.

But this is exactly what she wanted to see, and what that anxious child in the Eastern Palace wanted to see.

……

At this time, inside the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace.

Li Chengqian had just finished bathing and was lying on the soft couch in a loose nightgown, completely unladylike, while a palace maid massaged his legs.

"Host's move today, a strategic retreat, was truly brilliant."

In his mind, the system couldn't help but review the situation, saying, "However, are you sure Li Shimin would make such a fuss over such a trivial matter?"

"You don't understand Li Shimin."

Li Chengqian casually grabbed a handful of melon seeds, cracking them open while slowly replying in his mind, "His affection for his children is different, especially for Empress Zhangsun's children. The more humble I appear, the heavier his guilt becomes. Guilt is the rarest and most valuable thing in the imperial family."

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps and a high-pitched announcement came from outside the hall.

"Imperial edict has arrived!"

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow, sat up abruptly, and instantly put on a bewildered and fearful expression. He ran barefoot to the palace gate.

Wang De was all smiles, followed by several eunuchs who carried a brand-new golden nanmu wood plaque with three large, elegant characters written on it: "Chengqian Hall".

"Your Highness, this is a great joy!"

Wang De grinned broadly, bowing deeply, and said, "His Majesty, moved by Your Highness's filial piety, specially decreed that this Xiande Hall be renamed Chengqian Hall. His Majesty said that the two characters Chengqian have profound meaning, and only Your Highness is worthy of this name. As for the original hall in the palace, His Majesty has already had the sign removed and renamed Anren Hall."

Li Chengqian stood there, stunned.

Even though he had anticipated that Li Shimin would bestow a reward, he never expected that his cheap father would be so crazy.

Did they simply seize the name of the emperor's sleeping quarters and give it to their son?

This move is practically blatant favoritism. It's not just about supporting the Crown Prince; it's like giving a resounding slap in the face to those powerful families who want to cause trouble, right in front of the whole world.

Looking at the plaque that gleamed under the lights, Li Chengqian's eyes reddened. This time, he didn't need much acting; a warm feeling truly welled up inside him.

He sniffed, then knelt down with a thud and kowtowed heavily in the direction of Taiji Palace.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"