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

"My lord, you've suffered on the frontier." Emperor Qing raised his wine cup and toasted Li Chengru from afar. "This time you're back, stay a while longer and spend some quality time with your mother. As for the assassination attempt, I've already entrusted Chen Pingping to investigate, and he will certainly give you an explanation."

Li Chengru quickly stood up and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp: "Your Majesty, I thank you. They were just a few petty thieves; they couldn't have harmed me. It's just that I feel a little guilty for losing a few old brothers who have followed me for many years."

"Brother, you are blessed with good fortune. Those petty villains naturally couldn't harm you in the slightest," the Crown Prince interjected at the opportune moment. "However, it seems the security in the capital needs to be strengthened. To allow such a heinous assassination attempt to occur right under the emperor's nose is utterly lawless!"

Li Chengru turned to look at the Crown Prince and said meaningfully, "Your Highness is right. The waters of this capital seem to be even deeper than the sandstorms at the border. I almost drowned the moment I stepped in."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's expression stiffened slightly, unsure of how to respond.

Li Chengze chuckled softly from the side, "Brother, you're mistaken. Although the waters of Kyoto are deep, as long as you're a good swimmer, you won't just avoid drowning, you might even catch a few big fish."

Li Chengru's gaze shifted, landing squarely on Li Chengze, and he said calmly, "Oh? It seems the second brother is quite knowledgeable in this area. I wonder what big fish you've caught in these waters?"

Li Chengze met Li Chengru's gaze and smiled faintly: "Me? I'm just a leisurely prince who usually enjoys watching the scenery from the shore and observing how others fish. If you want to learn, I can teach you."

"Then I look forward to it, brother."

"Alright, we're brothers, what kind of decorum is this, starting with barbs the moment we meet?" Emperor Qing spoke up at the opportune moment, breaking the deadlock. "Today is a family banquet, let's talk about romance and not state affairs. Second brother, I heard you've recently gained a confidante, and you're quite fond of her, even seeming somewhat distracted at court?"

Li Chengze was secretly pleased, knowing that Emperor Qing had something to say. He was also somewhat bored, so he immediately put on a fearful expression, stood up, and said, "Father, please forgive me. I was merely... merely indulging in a little pleasure; I would never dare to neglect state affairs."

"Young people are all the same; it's normal for them to be a little flirtatious," Emperor Qing waved his hand magnanimously. "However, you must be careful. Some women are okay to touch; some women, touching them will cost you your head. Do you understand?"

Li Chengze bowed deeply: "Your subject...does not understand."

These words instantly froze the previously peaceful atmosphere of the banquet.

The eldest prince, Li Chengru, froze in mid-air as he was about to pick up his cup, his brows furrowed and his eyes filled with disbelief.

He had been stationed on the frontier for many years and had seen countless deaths, but he had never seen anyone so "courting death" in front of his father.

His second brother's words were more than just nonsensical; they were practically flirting with the edge of a minefield.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian was so startled that he almost lost his composure. The chopsticks in his hand gently tapped against the porcelain plate, making a crisp sound.

He turned his head and looked at Li Chengze as if he were a madman.

In the Crown Prince's mind, every word his father spoke was an imperial edict, and every hint he gave was divine authority. How dare the second prince openly say "I don't understand"?

Li Chengze, however, seemed oblivious to the suffocating pressure. He straightened up, a kind smile even on his face, and added, "Lili... she's a good girl. Although she's from Northern Qi, her life has been full of hardships, and she's pure of heart. I think it's my blessing to have such a beautiful woman by my side. How could it be a matter of losing my head? Father, perhaps you've heard some rumors and misunderstood her."

The words "good girl" were spoken very softly by Li Chengze, yet they landed heavily on everyone's eardrums.

The feelings of the eldest prince and the crown prince at this moment can no longer be described as shock.

They looked at each other, a thought simultaneously rising in their minds: Has the second son gone mad? Or is he using this extreme method to demonstrate against his father?

Emperor Qing sat on his high throne, his eyes, which seemed to see through everything in the world, slightly narrowed.

Instead of flying into a rage as everyone expected, he let out a meaningful chuckle.

"Very well, what a 'good girl' indeed." Emperor Qing slowly set down his wine cup, his fingertips lightly tapping on the armrest of the dragon throne. "Second Prince, your infatuation truly impresses me. Since you consider her a good girl, then keep her by your side. However, you must remember my warning. Sometimes, the beauties of this world are faster than an assassin's blade."

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your consideration." Li Chengze bowed again, then calmly sat back down in his seat, casually picked up a purple grape and popped it into his mouth, chewing it with relish.

The atmosphere at the ensuing banquet became even more eerie.

Emperor Qing seemed to have asked casually, and never mentioned Si Lili or the assassination again. He simply chatted with the eldest prince about the customs and culture of the border region.

The Crown Prince stood by, smiling cautiously, while Li Chengze ate and drank as if the dramatic confrontation had never happened.

However, everyone present knew that beneath this calm lay a flood about to burst its banks.

The banquet ended, and night had fallen.

The stone lanterns lining the palace path emitted a faint glow. Li Chengru and Li Chengze walked side by side ahead, while the Crown Prince, who was escorting the Empress back to the palace, took a different path.

Li Chengru stopped and turned to look at his younger brother, whom he couldn't quite understand.

"Second Prince," Li Chengru's voice was deep, carrying the chilling edge honed on the battlefield, "You know Father's temper best. Is it worth it for a woman?"

Li Chengze stopped, looked up at the dark sky, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Brother, do you think that was just a woman?"

Li Chengru was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

"Father won't touch me. Even if I killed Fan Xian right now, as long as it wasn't in person, Father would just pretend he didn't know."

Li Chengru gave him a deep look and said in a deep voice, "Since you know what's going on, I won't say anything more. But I still have to remind you that you're playing with fire. I saw the coldness in Father's eyes just now very clearly."

"Brother, the capital is currently in the midst of a whirlpool, and it could explode at any moment. We should return to the frontier as soon as possible." Li Chengze reached out and patted Li Chengru on the shoulder.

"Okay, thank you for reminding me, Second Brother. I understand." Li Chengru nodded.