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

These past two days, Chang'an City has seemed to be shrouded in a huge, suffocating bell.

Rumors circulated that when the thirty-six condemned prisoners were executed in the West Market, blood rained down from the sky to protect the Crown Prince, who was destined to die young.

The Taiji Palace was completely silent; even the palace maids walked on tiptoe, afraid of disturbing the peace of the gods and Buddhas in the heavens.

Inside Chengqian Hall, the smell of medicine was so strong it was almost impossible to dispel.

Li Shimin hadn't slept for two days and two nights.

He stayed by Li Chengqian's side, holding Li Chengqian's cold little hand tightly in his own, as if the child's soul would slip away through his fingers if he loosened his grip even slightly.

"Erlang, take a rest."

An old, hoarse sigh came from behind.

Li Yuan stood shakily beside the Boshan furnace, leaning on his cane.

Since his abdication, the father and son have rarely had such a peaceful time together. But now, for the sake of this child, Li Yuan disregarded past grievances and personally went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer incense.

"Father, I'm not tired." Li Shimin's voice was rough and unpleasant, as if it had been sanded on sandpaper. "I'm afraid... I'm afraid that if I close my eyes, Yu Nu will forget the way home."

Looking at his son's wretched state, Li Yuan sighed, his cloudy old eyes filled with sorrow: "This child is like you, with a fiery temper. He dared to exchange his life for the Empress's... He's a filial and good child, much better than the adults in our Li family."

Just then, Li Chengqian's eyelashes trembled very slightly, like the wings of a startled butterfly.

"water……"

Li Shimin froze, nearly knocking over the medicine bowl beside him.

"Water! Quickly, bring water! Yu Nu? Yu Nu, you watch over Father!"

Li Chengqian struggled to open his eyes. Before him stood Li Shimin's magnified, haggard face, his eyes bloodshot.

Even though they were mentally prepared, they were still shocked by Li Shimin's miserable state.

Li Chengqian's eyes were momentarily dazed before slowly focusing, and he managed a weak smile: "Father... why do you have a beard? It's prickly..."

Li Shimin's long-suppressed emotions finally erupted. He held his son's head and wept uncontrollably, large tears falling onto the brocade quilt.

"You scared your father to death...you little devil! If you dare leave, your father will tear down all these temples filled with gods and Buddhas!"

Li Chengqian felt the hot tears on his neck and sighed inwardly. On the surface, however, he obediently raised his weak hand and gently patted Li Shimin's back, as if coaxing a child: "Father, don't cry. Yunu won't leave... Yunu still needs to take care of Father in his old age."

Seeing this scene, Li Yuan was also moved to tears, and turned away to secretly wipe them away.

Once Li Chengqian woke up, Li Shimin was completely obsessed.

He moved the memorials directly to Chengqian Hall and even added a couch next to Li Chengqian's bed.

The number of imperial physicians on duty at the Imperial Medical Bureau has increased to eight, and they take pulses every half hour.

If Li Chengqian coughed even slightly, Li Shimin would jump up from his dragon throne. His frightened state terrified the entire court.

On the afternoon of the third day, the tranquility of Chengqian Hall was broken by the tinkling of jade pendants.

"Guanyinbi, what brings you here? The imperial physician said you mustn't be exposed to the wind!" Li Shimin saw Empress Zhangsun being helped in by palace maids and quickly put down the vermilion pen in his hand to greet her.

Empress Zhangsun had just given birth and was already weak; her face was even paler now.

She ignored Li Shimin's obstruction and stared intently at the small figure leaning against the armchair.

Li Chengqian was wearing a moon-white nightgown and was reading a book when he saw his mother come in. He instinctively wanted to get off the bed to pay his respects, but due to exhaustion, his body went limp and he almost fell over.

"Yu Nu!" Empress Zhangsun cried out in grief, breaking free from Hongyu's hand and staggering over to embrace her son.

"Mother..." Li Chengqian nestled in his mother's arms. "Your son is unfilial and has made you worry."

Empress Zhangsun's hands trembled as she stroked her son's cheek, her fingertips touching his icy face, her heart breaking.

Seeing her once lively and robust eldest son now reduced to a state where he could be blown away by the wind, she was overwhelmed by guilt and maternal love.

"Silly child...how could you be so foolish!" Empress Zhangsun wept uncontrollably. "How could you possibly trade thirty years of your life for my own? If anything were to happen to you, how would I live?"

Li Chengqian coughed lightly twice, a strange flush rising on his pale cheeks, but he still tried to comfort his mother: "Anyway, I'm lazy by nature. Living a few years less means I can handle fewer government affairs, so I'm actually winning. As long as Mother and my brother are well, even if I become a sickly old man, I'll still be happy."

Upon hearing this, not only did Empress Zhangsun weep uncontrollably, but even Zhangsun Wuji, who had been standing to the side intending to offer some words of comfort, now had red eyes and a choked voice.

Changsun Wuji used to think that the Crown Prince was intelligent and precocious, and was the hope for the Li family to maintain its power.

But now, seeing this child willing to shorten his lifespan for his mother, so pure and filial, he is simply a saint reincarnated!

"Your Highness..." Changsun Wuji stepped forward, bowed deeply, his voice trembling slightly, "On behalf of the Changsun clan, I thank Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian smiled weakly, trying to reach out to help his uncle, but he couldn't reach him. He could only look helplessly at Li Shimin: "Father, help me help my uncle, I... I don't have the strength."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately strode over and scooped Li Chengqian, blanket and all, into his arms.

"What's wrong? Are you tired?" Li Shimin didn't dare glare at Empress Zhangsun, so he glared at Zhangsun Wuji instead. "The Crown Prince is just recovering, why are you saying these things?"

Changsun Wuji repeatedly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty is right. I will take my leave now."

Li Chengqian nestled comfortably in Li Shimin's arms, his fingers unconsciously playing with the jade belt at Li Shimin's waist, his voice soft: "Father, I don't want to hear classical Chinese anymore, I want to hear Father tell stories of battles."

"Alright, let's talk about war." Li Shimin had no principles at this moment, and there was not a trace of the emperor's dignity left. "Let me tell you how I dealt with Xue Rengao at Qianshuiyuan..."