Little Sizi came to my house and became the family's darling, and Li Shimin got anxious.

Li Yinxun paced back and forth in the living room, glancing at the clock on the wall every now and then.

Her heart was beating so fast that she could hear the sound coming from her own chest.

The last time I saw Empress Zhangsun was in an emergency; I was busy calling an ambulance and didn't have time to be nervous.

This time it's different. This time it's Li Shimin, alive, the greatest emperor of all time.

Her mind was a jumbled mess. One moment she was wondering if the living room was too messy, and the next she was thinking about what to say as the first thing when they met.

"How is Your Majesty?"

"Welcome to the 21st century?"

Nothing feels right.

Just as she was straightening the sofa cushions for the third time, a figure appeared in the open space in the center of the living room, holding a small child.

Li Yinxun's eyes widened suddenly, and she stopped breathing.

My first reaction wasn't to look at her face, but to feel something.

That feeling is hard to describe.

It's like you're walking alone on a dark road, and suddenly a beam of light shines behind you. You turn around and find that it's not a lamp, but a fierce tiger quietly watching you.

It didn't move, it didn't open its mouth, but your legs were already going weak.

Then she could see the face clearly.

A very stern face.

It's not the refined kind of handsome, but rather a sharp, sculpted look.

High cheekbones, a sharp jawline, prominent brow bones, and deep-set eyes. His skin is slightly dark, with a rough texture left by years of fighting.

The most striking feature was his eyes.

Like two swords hidden in their sheaths, usually concealed, you only perceive their profound depth. But when he looks at you, their sharpness shines through.

It's not fierce, it's imposing.

That kind of awe is only possessed by those who have walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, stood before armies of thousands, and single-handedly shouldered the weight of the entire world.

He was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe.

It wasn't the flamboyant dragon robes of theatrical performances, but the actual court attire of the emperor.

The fabric was thick and the pattern intricate, with a dragon motif winding down from the collar, its claws outstretched. A jade belt cinched his waist, and he wore black boots.

Even in her dilapidated 60-square-meter living room, with a three-year-old girl in his arms, he stood there as if he were standing on a throne.

The aura remained undiminished by the change in environment.

Li Shimin also saw Li Yinxun.

His face didn't have any particular expression; it was just a natural, slightly scrutinizing calm.

His gaze swept across the living room, past the sofa, the TV, and the air conditioner, before finally settling on Li Yinxun's face.

Li Yinxun felt that she should at least perform a bow.

But her mind was blank, and her hands and feet wouldn't obey her commands. She just stood there, opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

"Hahaha." Li Shimin suddenly laughed, his hearty laughter instantly easing the tense atmosphere in the living room. "This must be Lady Li, right? Si Zi often talks about you, and Li Zhi has also mentioned you to me. There's no need to be nervous; I am a guest here."

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty... Um, welcome, welcome to my home." He stammered.

The little princess squirmed in Li Shimin's arms, pointing her tiny finger at Li Yinxun: "Ayani scared my sister! Put me down quickly!"

Li Shimin smiled and put the little princess down.

"You naughty dad, you scared your sister!"

Li Shimin: ...

He looked down at his daughter, and a visible crack appeared on his hardened face.

Bad guy?

he?

What was scary about him? Wasn't he friendly enough?

Li Shimin felt as if his heart had been gripped tightly by a small hand.

Broken.

The old father's heart was broken.

As soon as the little princess's feet touched the ground, she ran to Li Yinxun's side with her short legs, and Li Yinxun picked her up.

"Don't be afraid, sister, my dad isn't fierce."

Li Yinxun looked down at the ox, then looked up and saw that Li Shimin didn't seem angry, which made her feel a little relieved.

Li Shimin glanced around again, his gaze lingering particularly on the air conditioners for a moment, before turning to Li Yinxun: "Lady Li, I've come here for two reasons. First, I wanted to see how Sizi is doing in this realm. Second, I also wanted to visit Guanyinbi. Is she alright in the hospital?"

"Auntie's condition is much more stable. The doctor has given her medication, and the infection is under control. She had a few tests done today, and we'll have to wait for the results."

Li Shimin nodded, his expression softening noticeably: "Thank you for your care, Madam Li."

"Of course."

Holding the little princess, Li Yinxun couldn't help but glance at Li Shimin's dragon robe.

This outfit is too eye-catching.

"Uncle," Li Yinxun hesitated for a moment before speaking, "your clothes... are a bit too conspicuous around here. How about I go and buy you some modern clothes to change into? Otherwise, going out might attract... stares."

Li Shimin looked down at his own twelve-symbol crown robe, then looked up at Li Yinxun's simple T-shirt and jeans, lost in thought.

"That's fine, when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Li Yinxun breathed a slight sigh of relief.

She had initially worried that the emperor might be too proud to change his mind, but now it seemed that Li Shimin was easier to deal with than she had imagined.

Of course, it's also possible that this isn't actually his territory.

Li Yin took out her phone and checked the time: 9:11 PM.

The nearby shopping mall closes at 10 pm, so there's still time.

"Uncle, please wait here for a moment. I'll go buy you some clean clothes."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the little princess eagerly raised her hand, "I want to go too!"

"No," Li Yinxun shook her head. "You stay here and keep Father company."

The rhinoceros pouted, unwilling.

Li Shimin also spoke up: "Sizi, stay and keep Father company."

The little princess turned her head and pouted.

Li Shimin: "This is my first time here, and I'm unfamiliar with the place. Without you here, I'm... scared."

The word "fear" coming from the mouth of a founding emperor who had destroyed countless countries feels so incongruous that it almost overflows the screen.

The little princess believed her and immediately sat up obediently: "Then I'll stay with Father a little longer, Sister, come back quickly."

Li Shimin nodded slightly, "Then I will wait for Lady Li."

Suddenly, Li Yinxun felt that the person in front of her was not so far away.

What emperor of all time, what heavenly Khan?

Strip away the imperial robes, and he's nothing more than a husband whose wife is seriously ill, willing to cross any unknown to find hope.

Li Yinxun gave a few instructions not to touch the water and electricity switches, and then went out.

Li Shimin stood still, sensing the unfamiliar space.

The overhead lights were very bright, illuminating every corner clearly, leaving no flickering candlelight shadows.

I slowly walked to the balcony that connects to the living room.

The glass door to the balcony was ajar, letting in the night breeze.

Li Shimin pushed open the door and went out.

Then, he froze in place.

Before me lay a night view so dazzling it defied description.

Countless skyscrapers, like black giants, stand tall in the night, but the giants are covered with light.

It is hundreds or thousands of times brighter than the most bustling Lantern Festival.

And then there are those unidentified objects moving swiftly along the road below, trailing red taillights that merge into rivers of light.

There is no Milky Way in the sky.

The Milky Way hangs upside down on Earth.