Joy of Life: Me, the Second Prince? Summon Yuan Tiangang!

She knew that it would be no easy task for Li Chengze to save her brother.

He went to this lengths for her.

A warm feeling welled up in Si Lili's heart, but it was followed by deep guilt and worry.

She was not only Li Chengze's woman, but also a spy for Northern Qi, and even a hidden pawn in the "Net of Deception." She carefully concealed these identities, maneuvering among various forces in an attempt to protect herself and her brother.

But today, looking at the man who saved her brother, she suddenly felt that those so-called concealments and deceptions were so despicable.

"Your Highness..."

Si Lili took a deep breath, as if she had made an extremely important decision. She turned to her younger brother and said softly, "Go outside and wait for me for a moment. I'll speak with His Highness for a few minutes and then take you back immediately."

The younger brother nodded obediently. Although he didn't know what his older sister was going to say, he still obediently left the study and closed the door behind him.

Only the two of them remained in the study.

Si Lili stood up, straightened her clothes, and looked at Li Chengze again. The tears in her eyes had dried, replaced by a resolute expression.

"Your Highness, there's something I've been keeping from you." Si Lili's voice trembled slightly, but remained exceptionally clear.

Li Chengze raised an eyebrow, seemingly unsurprised: "Oh? What is it?"

Si Lili bit her lower lip, then knelt down again with a thud, head bowed, not daring to look Li Chengze in the eye: "I...I am a spy from Northern Qi infiltrated into Southern Qing. And...and I am also a spy planted by 'Luo Wang' next to you."

After saying that, Si Lili felt completely exhausted.

She closed her eyes, awaiting Li Chengze's thunderous rage.

Deceiving the prince and acting as a double agent are both capital offenses, and could even implicate the younger brother.

However, the expected roar did not come.

The study was deathly silent.

After a long silence, a soft laugh broke the silence.

Li Chengze slowly walked up to Si Lili and looked down at her.

"That's all?"

Si Lili suddenly raised her head, her face full of astonishment: "Your Highness...you..."

Li Chengze's smile deepened. He reached out and gently pinched Si Lili's astonished little face, the touch of his fingertips delicate and smooth.

"Fool." Li Chengze's voice carried a hint of doting, yet also a touch of mockery. "Do you think the woman I, Li Chengze, have set my sights on is a simple character?"

Si Lili was stunned, completely dumbfounded.

"You...you knew all along?"

"From the first day I carried you to bed, I knew you were a spy for Northern Qi," Li Chengze said casually, as if discussing a trivial matter. "As for the 'Net'... ha, is there any secret in this capital city that I don't know?"

He released his grip, stood with his hands behind his back, and his gaze deepened: "If I didn't know all this, why would I have kept you by my side for so long? Why would I have gone to such lengths to save your precious little brother?"

Si Lili looked at the man in front of her, and her heart was filled with turmoil.

She always thought she was hiding it well, that she was dancing on the edge of a knife, but she never expected that everything about her was already under this man's control.

He knew everything, yet he still doted on her, protected her, and even saved people for her sake.

"Get up." Li Chengze reached out and helped Si Lili, who was still in shock, to her feet. "Now that you know I know, there's no need to hide it anymore. You don't need to worry about Northern Qi anymore. As for 'The Net'..."

A cold glint flashed in Li Chengze's eyes: "That's my territory. Since you're a member, you're even more one of us. From now on, you don't need to be caught in the middle anymore. Just remember one thing—"

He leaned close to Si Lili's ear and whispered, "You are my woman, that's enough."

Si Lili felt a jolt of electricity run through her body from her ears, and her eyes welled up with tears again. .

"Yes, Your Highness." Si Lili lowered her head, her voice extremely gentle. "From this day forward, my life belongs to Your Highness. Whatever Your Highness does, I will follow you to the death."

Li Chengze nodded in satisfaction.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the study.

"Your Highness!" Xie Bi'an's voice rang out from outside the door, tinged with anxiety. "Someone from the palace has come, saying that His Majesty urgently summoned us."

Li Chengze's eyes narrowed.

It's so late, why has the Emperor summoned me so urgently?

Could it be... the First Prince has arrived?

"Understood," Li Chengze replied, then turned to Si Lili, "Take your brother back to rest first. Don't let him know too much about tonight's events."

"Yes," Si Lili replied quickly.

Li Chengze straightened his robes and strode out of the study.

The night breeze blew in his face, dispelling the faint scent of perfume on his body, but it could not dispel the deep gloom in his eyes.

The eldest prince returned to the capital, Chen Pingping went into seclusion, and the emperor urgently summoned him.

……

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

When Li Chengze arrived, he found that Crown Prince Li Chengqian was also there.

The Crown Prince stood to the side, his face somewhat grim, clearly having just been summoned. Seeing Li Chengze enter, he merely glanced at him coldly before turning away without a word.

Emperor Qing sat on the dragon throne, with a memorial in front of him.

"The second prince is here." Emperor Qing raised his head, his gaze sweeping over his two sons. "Just now, an urgent message arrived from the border: the eldest prince... has already entered the city."

Li Chengze felt a chill run down his spine. So fast?

"Brother, you have served the country on the frontier with great merit and hard work. Your return to the capital is a joyous occasion," Li Chengze said, bowing.

"Good news?" Emperor Qing snorted coldly. "If only it were good news. I just received news that the First Prince was attacked by a group of unidentified assassins on his way back to the capital. Although he was unharmed, many of his personal guards were killed."

What?!

Li Chengze and the Crown Prince both changed color at the same time.

Assassinate the Crown Prince? At this time? Who would dare to do such a thing?

Countless thoughts flashed through Li Chengze's mind in an instant. Was it the Crown Prince? Or... Chen Pingping? Or was it all orchestrated by his father?

"Father, this matter must be a deliberate attempt by someone to sow discord and damage the bond between the royal family!" The Crown Prince hurriedly stepped forward and said urgently, "Your Majesty, I implore you to order a thorough investigation!"

"Investigate? Of course we'll investigate." Emperor Qing's voice was icy. "I've already sent Chen Pingping to investigate. However, I summoned you here not to discuss this."

Emperor Qing paused, his gaze sharpening. "The Crown Prince has been frightened. I will host a banquet in the palace tonight to welcome him back. You two will accompany him."

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Li Chengze lowered his head, but inwardly he sneered.

A welcoming feast? More like a trap.

The eldest prince has just been assassinated; the food and wine at this banquet will probably all taste of blood.

"And another thing," Emperor Qing suddenly spoke again, his gaze fixed on Li Chengze, "Second Prince, I heard that your residence has been quite lively these past few days."

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