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

Li Shimin did not react to the matter of the brothel on the spot, but that did not mean he would let it go.

That night, the lights in the imperial study stayed on very late. Li Shimin summoned Liu, the head of the Hundred Cavalry Division, and said only four words: "Investigate. Be thorough."

Master Liu accepted the order and left. The Hundred Cavalrymen seeped into every corner of Chang'an like mercury seeping through the city, investigating Li Yuanchang's movements over the past few days, who he had met, those around him, and his household's retainers, servants, and correspondence. Within three days, all the clues pointed in the same direction—the palace.

Chief Clerk Liu knelt in the Imperial Study, his forehead pressed against the floor tiles, his voice low: "Your Majesty, one of the Seventh Prince's retainers had contact with someone close to a certain concubine in the palace. When I followed the clues to investigate, that person had already disappeared. Neither alive nor dead."

Li Shimin's finger remained motionless on the memorial.

"Continue the investigation."

"I have investigated. That retainer has vanished from Chang'an, as if he had never existed. As for the Seventh Prince, I have found some other things—excessive use of carriages and clothing, as well as several letters exchanged with officials from other regions, the language of which is quite disrespectful." Chief Clerk Liu's voice was even lower. "I dare not make a judgment, please Your Majesty decide."

Li Shimin remained silent for a long time. Li Yuanchang's matter could be considered a major or minor issue. His unauthorized carriages, horses, and clothing could be considered an overstepping of authority; his letters to officials in other regions, filled with disrespectful language, could be considered an expression of discontent. Individually, these matters were insignificant, but taken together, along with his taking Li Yin to a brothel, the nature of the matter changed. As for who the person in the palace was, there was no evidence, but he had a good idea.

"Issue my decree." Li Shimin's voice turned cold. "Li Yuanchang, strip him of his princely title and demote him to county duke. He shall leave the capital immediately and go to his fiefdom to reflect on his mistakes. He shall not enter the court without an imperial edict."

"Yes."

Chief Clerk Liu kowtowed to receive the order and withdrew.

When the imperial decree was issued, undercurrents stirred within the imperial harem.

No one knew who that person in the palace was, but everyone knew the truth. Consort Yin sat in her bedchamber, twisting a handkerchief in her hands, her face as white as paper. She knew what His Majesty had discovered, and she also knew he hadn't pursued the matter further. Not that he couldn't find out, but he had preserved her dignity. Her lips trembled, her heart filled with both hatred and fear.

She hated Consort Yang, hated Li Ke, hated everyone who stood in her way. In what way was her son, Li You, inferior to Li Ke? Why could Consort Yang be promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, but she couldn't? Why was Li Ke favored everywhere, while her son was ignored? She couldn't swallow this insult. But she dared not act now; His Majesty had already set his sights on her. She could only wait, wait for the storm to pass, wait for His Majesty to lower his guard.

A palace maid brought over tea, which she took and drank. It was bitter and astringent, just like her mood at that moment.

Li Shimin did not directly punish Consort Yin, but he did one thing—he sent Zhang De to deliver an imperial edict.

Zhang De stood before Consort Yin, smiling, but the chill in his voice was palpable. "Consort Yin," he said, "His Majesty said that the Fifth Prince is young and immature, and needs to be watched over. His Majesty has asked you to take good care of him and prevent him from being led astray by disreputable people."

Consort Yin knelt on the ground, head bowed, biting her lip. "Your Majesty... I obey."

Zhang De left. Consort Yin stood up, her legs feeling weak. His Majesty had told her to keep a close eye on Li You and prevent him from being led astray by disreputable people—this was a warning. His Majesty knew everything about her. She dared not make another move, at least not now.

The news reached Yang Guifei's bedchamber, where she was sewing. Upon hearing the eunuch's report, her hand paused; the needle pricked her finger, and a bead of blood welled up. She didn't cry out in pain, but remained silent for a moment before saying, "I know."

She knew what had happened to Li Yin. She knew Consort Yin hated her. But she didn't want to pursue it any further; His Majesty's punishment was enough. She lowered her head and continued sewing, stitch by stitch, carefully and meticulously.

When Li Ke heard the news, he was in the Imperial Hospital identifying several newly arrived medicinal herbs with Wang Yongzheng.

Li An rushed in and whispered a few words in his ear. Li Ke put down the medicinal herbs and remained silent for a moment. "I understand."

Wang Yongzheng, observing Li Ke's expression, didn't ask further questions and continued explaining the medicinal properties of the herb. Li Ke listened, but his mind was elsewhere. His father had punished Li Yuanchang, demoting him to county duke and banishing him from Chang'an. Consort Yin had been reprimanded, but not demoted or confined. His father had spared her dignity, not because she was innocent, but because she was Li You's birth mother.

Li Ke picked up the herb, smelled it, and found it bitter with a hint of sweetness—it was Coptis chinensis. He put the herb down and said to Wang Yongzheng, "Physician Wang, let's end the lesson here for today. I have some matters to attend to." Wang Yongzheng nodded without asking further questions.

The day Li Yuanchang left Chang'an was a cloudy day.

The gray clouds hung low, and a cold wind blew from the north. A procession of carriages departed from the west gate of Chang'an, simple and unadorned, without any entourage or anyone to see them off. Li Yuanchang, mounted on his horse, his face grim, remained silent. His fiefdom was in a remote town, hundreds of miles from Chang'an; once there, he didn't know when he would return. He hated Li Ke, hated Li Shimin, hated everyone who stood in his way. But he was powerless; he had lost.

As the carriage drove out of the city gate, a young man stood by the roadside. Li Yuanchang squinted at him for a moment and recognized him—Li Ke.

Li Ke, mounted on his horse and dressed in a moon-white robe, stood quietly by the roadside, watching the caravan pass by. Li Yuanchang reined in his horse and looked at him coldly.

"Did the King of Shu come here to see a joke?"

Li Ke shook his head: "Seventh Uncle, I didn't come to see you make a fool of yourself. I came to see you off."

Li Yuanchang sneered: "Give it to me? You'd be that kind?"

Li Ke looked at him calmly: "Seventh Uncle, I'll only say one thing. Yin'er is my younger brother. If anyone dares to touch him again, I won't be as polite as I am this time."

Li Yuanchang's expression changed.

"Are you threatening me?"

"It's not a threat, it's a reminder." Li Ke turned his horse around, took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, turned back, and said, "Seventh Uncle, take care on your journey."

After saying this, he spurred his horse and rode away, the sound of hooves gradually fading into the distance across the empty plains. Li Yuanchang stood there, watching his figure disappear into the gray sky, and gripped the reins tightly.

After being reprimanded, Consort Yin became much more obedient. She stayed in her bedchamber every day, not going out or seeing anyone, but the fire in her heart did not go out; instead, it burned even brighter.

That day, Li You came to pay his respects to her. Standing outside the curtain, he bowed respectfully. "Mother Consort."

"You'er, come in." Consort Yin's voice came from behind the curtain, her tone unreadable.

Li You walked in and stood before Consort Yin with his head bowed. Consort Yin looked at her son, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Li You was nine years old this year, a robust and lively boy, with features somewhat resembling the Emperor. The child wasn't stupid, but he was playful, easily influenced, and readily led astray. He used to get into trouble a lot when he followed his seventh uncle. Now that his seventh uncle was gone, he actually went and hung out with Li Ke and his gang.

"You'er, who have you been playing with lately?" Consort Yin asked.

Li You thought for a moment and said, "With Third Brother and the others. Third Brother is a really nice guy; he even taught me riding and archery—"

"Enough." Consort Yin interrupted him, her voice turning cold. "Your third brother is your third brother, and you are you. Stay away from him from now on."

Li You was stunned: "Why? Third Brother has been very good to me—"

"Good?" Consort Yin's nails dug into her palms. "He always suppresses you, always steals the spotlight. Your father only has eyes for him. When has he ever looked at you? Is this what you call being good to you?"

Li You opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Consort Yin took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and her voice softened: "You'er, I'm not trying to harm you. Your seventh uncle is gone, and you have no one to look after you in the palace. Don't get too close to your third brother. The people around him, Cheng Chumo and Yuchi Baolin, are all children of military families. It won't do you any good to associate with them. Go to the Hongwen Academy less often and avoid contact with them. Come back after you finish your homework, and don't cause trouble outside."

Li You lowered his head and mumbled a reply, "I know."

"Also," Consort Yin looked at him, a complex emotion in her eyes, "don't follow what your third brother does; that's his business. You're a prince, you don't need to learn from him. Just don't make any mistakes."

Li You nodded as if he understood but not quite.

"Go on. Go back and study hard."

Li You bowed and turned to leave. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and seemed about to say something, but seeing Consort Yin's gloomy face, he swallowed his words.

Consort Yin sat behind the curtain, watching her son's figure disappear through the door, a complex mix of emotions churning within her. She knew Li You was still young and wouldn't understand these things. But she couldn't wait any longer. She couldn't let Li Ke continue to oppress her son.

When Li Ke returned to the side hall, it was almost dark.

Li Yin was copying the Classic of Filial Piety at the table when he saw Li Ke come in. He put down his pen, his eyes lighting up: "Third Brother, where have you been? I've been waiting for you all afternoon."

Li Ke walked over, sat down next to him, and reached out to pat his head. "Yin'er, your seventh uncle is gone."

Li Yin was taken aback: "Where did you go?"

"He's gone to his fiefdom. It's a very far place, and he probably won't be back for a long time."

Li Yin lowered his head and remained silent for a while. "Third Brother, is Seventh Uncle a bad person?"

Li Ke thought for a moment and said, "He's not a bad person, but what he did was wrong. Yin'er, you must remember—stay away from anyone who takes you to places you shouldn't go or makes you do things you shouldn't do. No matter who they are."

Li Yin nodded vigorously. "Third Brother, I will only listen to you from now on."

Li Ke smiled and said, "Alright, stop copying. You're tired today, get some rest."

"But you said you can't leave the house until you finish copying it..."

"I said you're not allowed to go out, not that you're not allowed to sleep." Li Ke stood up. "You can copy it again tomorrow."

Li Yin was so happy he almost jumped for joy, but he held back, obediently tidied up his paper and pen, and climbed onto the couch. Li Ke covered him with a blanket, sat beside him, and watched him close his eyes.

"Third Brother." Li Yin suddenly opened his eyes.

"Um?"

Will you always protect me?

Li Ke was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes. You're my brother. If I don't protect you, who will?"

Li Yin smiled, closed his eyes, and quickly fell asleep.

Li Ke sat by the couch, looking at his younger brother's peaceful sleeping face, a mix of emotions welling up inside him. The matter of Consort Yin wasn't over yet, and things wouldn't calm down on Li You's side either. He knew those people wouldn't let it go easily. But it didn't matter; he would protect his brother.