If I traveled back to the Tang Dynasty, all I really wanted to be was a carefree prince.

The next morning, Li Ke was summoned to the Lizheng Hall.

When he entered, he saw Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun both present. Li Shimin sat at the head of the table, and Empress Zhangsun sat beside him; both were looking at him. The atmosphere was somewhat different—not serious, but solemn.

"Your subject pays respects to Father Emperor and Mother Empress." Li Ke knelt down and kowtowed.

"Get up," Li Shimin's voice was much gentler.

Li Ke stood up and stood respectfully to the side.

Li Shimin looked at him for a while, and then spoke.

"Ke'er, I have read the prescription you wrote for your mother."

Li Ke's heart skipped a beat: "Father, is there something wrong with the prescription?"

"There's nothing wrong with it," Li Shimin said. "I've consulted the imperial physician, and he said the prescription is excellent, even more comprehensive than his own."

Li Ke breathed a sigh of relief.

"However," Li Shimin changed the subject, "you cured the Empress Dowager's illness, and I cannot remain silent. Tell me, what reward do you desire?"

Li Ke was taken aback for a moment, then quickly shook his head: "Father, I do not accept any reward. Treating Mother's illness is my duty—"

"Duty?" Li Shimin interrupted him. "You've only been studying medicine for a few months, yet you've already prescribed medicine for the Empress Dowager. This isn't duty, it's filial piety. What I'm rewarding is filial piety."

Li Ke opened his mouth, unsure how to respond.

Empress Zhangsun smiled and said, "Ke'er, if your father wants to reward you, just accept it. Don't refuse."

Li Ke looked at Li Shimin, then at Empress Zhangsun, thought for a moment, and said, "Father, I really don't want anything. I'm doing quite well now—I have books to read, medicine to learn, a teacher, and friends. I lack nothing."

Li Shimin looked at him, his eyes filled with both relief and a hint of helplessness.

This child is truly not greedy.

"If you don't tell me, I'll decide for myself," Li Shimin said.

Li Ke glanced at Li Shimin, then at Empress Zhangsun, and suddenly mustered his courage.

"Father," he said, "your son...your son has a request."

"explain."

Li Ke took a deep breath.

"Father, could I... perhaps study fewer classics and histories?"

Li Shimin frowned slightly.

Why?

"Father, it's not that I don't want to learn," Li Ke said earnestly. "It's just that I feel my ambitions lie elsewhere. My elder brother is the Crown Prince, and I have no objection to him learning the ways of governing the country. But what I want to learn is medicine, martial arts, and military strategy. Each of these things requires time to learn. There are only twelve hours in a day. If I study the classics and history, I won't have time to learn anything else."

Li Shimin remained silent for a while.

"How much less do you want to learn?"

"One less hour each day," Li Ke said. "The history and classics lessons will be reduced from two hours to one hour. I will use the saved time to study medicine and practice martial arts."

Li Shimin looked at him with sharp eyes.

"Do you think that classics and history are useless?"

"Your Majesty, it's not that I think the classics and history are useless." Li Ke raised his head to meet Li Shimin's gaze. "Your Majesty, it's just that everyone's path is different. My elder brother's path is in the court, while mine is on the battlefield and in the clinic. Father, when you were conquering the world, you relied not on the classics and history, but on military strategy, horsemanship and archery, and the ability to recognize and appoint capable people. These things cannot be learned from the classics and history."

Li Shimin remained silent for a long time.

Empress Zhangsun watched from the side without saying a word, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

"I grant your permission," Li Shimin finally said. "From today onward, you will spend one hour each day studying classics and history at the Hongwen Academy. You can arrange the rest of your time as you see fit."

Li Ke was overjoyed and kowtowed deeply, saying, "Thank you, Father Emperor!"

"Don't rush to thank me." Li Shimin's voice turned stern again. "You can study less of the classics and history, but you can't skip them. You still need to attend Kong Yingda's classes. You still need to do the homework he assigns. If you don't, I can rescind my order at any time."

"Yes! Your subject will certainly do it!"

Seeing his happy expression, Li Shimin couldn't help but smile.

"You silly child," he shook his head, "I don't care about anything I give you, yet you insist on reading less. Everyone in the world wants to read more, but you, you want to read less."

Li Ke chuckled twice: "Father, it's not that I don't want to study. I just want to read the books I want to read."

Li Shimin glanced at him but said nothing more.

"Furthermore," Li Shimin's voice became solemn, "your mother said that Consort Yang has been in the palace for many years and has always been well-behaved and dutiful in raising the princes. After some consideration, I intend to promote Consort Yang to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort."

Li Ke was stunned.

Consort Yang—his birth mother, a princess of the previous dynasty. She had been in the palace for over a decade, remaining a lowly concubine with a mediocre status, living cautiously in the harem. The Noble Consort—the head of the four consorts, second only to the Empress.

"Father..." Li Ke's voice trembled slightly.

"I have already had an imperial edict drafted," Li Shimin said. "From this day forward, your mother will be a Noble Consort."

Li Ke's eyes immediately reddened.

He knelt down and kowtowed three times.

"Your subject... thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

"Get up." Li Shimin walked over and personally helped him up. "Don't kneel."

Li Ke stood up, his eyes still red. He looked at Li Shimin, then at Empress Zhangsun, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

Empress Zhangsun walked over and reached out to pat his head.

"Ke'er," she said softly, "your mother has had a hard time these past years. Promoting her to the rank of Imperial Concubine is her duty, and it is also a reward for your filial piety."

Li Ke nodded vigorously, holding back his tears.

When Li Ke came out of the Lizheng Hall, his legs were weak.

He walked quickly back to the side hall and pushed open the door.

Consort Yang was sitting by the window sewing clothes when she saw him come in. She put down her needle and thread and smiled.

"What's wrong? You're all sweaty from running."

Li Ke walked up to her, squatted down, and took her hand.

"Mother," he said, his voice trembling slightly, "Father has issued a decree. You are being promoted to Imperial Concubine."

Consort Yang's hand trembled violently.

The needle and thread slipped from her hand and fell to the ground with a soft thud.

"What...what did you say?" Her voice trembled.

"Father Emperor said that you have been in the palace for many years, behaved yourself well, and made meritorious contributions to raising the princes. You are hereby promoted to Imperial Noble Consort. The imperial decree has already been drafted."

Consort Yang opened her mouth, unable to speak for a long time.

Her eyes reddened, tears welling up but not falling. She reached out, her hand trembling, and gently touched Li Ke's face.

"Ke'er..." Her voice choked with emotion, "It was you...it was you who pleaded for your mother?"

"No," Li Ke shook his head. "Your subject did not make a request. It was Father Emperor and Mother Empress themselves who decided."

Consort Yang's tears finally fell.

She wasn't greedy for wealth and status. She had simply lived cautiously in the palace for over a decade, never daring to compete, fight, or stand out. She thought her life would always be like this—a princess of a former dynasty, an unfavored concubine, a woman who could only survive by relying on her son.

But today, her son, in his own way, has earned all of this for her.

"Mother," Li Ke gripped her hand tightly, "Don't cry. From today onwards, you are a Noble Consort. You no longer need to walk with your head down."

Consort Yang laughed through her tears.

"You silly child..." She reached out and pulled him into her arms, "You silly child..."

Li Ke leaned against his mother's chest and closed his eyes.

He remembered his past life—he had no mother. He grew up in an orphanage and didn't know what it felt like to be held by a mother. But here, he had one. A mother who was willing to cry for him, laugh for him, and fight for him.

He vowed that he would protect her for the rest of his life.

The news quickly spread throughout the palace.

Consort Yang was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort—the head of the four consorts. This imperial decree surprised many. Consort Yang was a princess from the previous dynasty. She had been low-key for many years after entering the palace, never vying for power or influence, and many had forgotten her existence.

But today, Li Shimin personally issued an edict, promoting her to the rank of Imperial Concubine.

The women in the harem were abuzz with gossip. Some said it was because the Prince of Shu had gained favor, others said it was because Consort Yang had finally risen in rank, and still others said—this was His Majesty making amends.

Regardless, the imperial decree has been issued. Consort Yang has become a Noble Consort, and from this day forward, her status is second only to Empress Zhangsun.

That afternoon, Consort Yang went to the Lizheng Hall to express her gratitude.

Empress Zhangsun took her hand and said with a smile, "Sister, you've suffered so much these past years. From now on, we sisters will be of one mind, serving His Majesty well and raising the children properly."

Consort Yang's eyes reddened: "Your Majesty, I..."

"Still call me Your Majesty?" Empress Zhangsun patted her hand. "Call me Sister."

Consort Yang's tears fell, but she smiled.

"Sister," she said softly.

The two women looked at each other and smiled.

That night, Li Ke lay in bed, holding the jade pendant in his hand.

He recalled the events of the day—Empress Zhangsun said, "He's well-fed and no different from an ordinary person," and Li Shimin said, "I reward him for his filial piety." He mustered his courage and asked his father to reduce his studies in classics and history, and his father granted his request. He also remembered the moment when Consort Yang held him and cried.

He turned over and closed his eyes.

Starting tomorrow, he will only need to spend one hour each day studying classics and history at the Hongwen Academy. The rest of the time, he can study medicine, practice martial arts, or seek out a master to learn military strategy.

He finally has time to do what he wants to do.

Outside the window, the moon peeked out from behind the clouds, its cool light spilling into the side hall.

He slowly fell asleep, a slight smile still lingering on his lips.