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

As Eunuch Hou relayed His Majesty's decree, the commander of the Imperial Guards surrounding the Second Prince's residence, though filled with doubt, carried out the order without hesitation.

"withdraw!"

With a command given, the clanging of armor echoed through the streets in the early morning.

The Imperial Guards, whose nerves had been on edge all night, retreated swiftly like a tide, disappearing at the end of the street.

The Second Prince's residence, which had been surrounded by crowds, returned to its usual tranquility.

The heavy vermilion gates stood wide open, and the streets outside were deserted, as if the tense, bloody scene of the previous night, with its deadly clashes, had never happened.

Everything seemed to have returned to normal.

The people of Kyoto peered out at the scene, whispering amongst themselves and speculating about what kind of drama was unfolding between the emperor and his son.

Spies from all sides relayed this shocking news back to their respective masters as quickly as possible.

Upon hearing the news, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace frowned and smashed a fine blue-and-white porcelain teacup. Chen Pingping of the Observation Bureau pushed his wheelchair to the window, looked in the direction of the Second Prince's residence, and let out a few meaningful dry laughs.

Meanwhile, inside the Second Prince's residence.

Inside the octagonal pavilion, Li Chengze was still leaning against the soft couch, holding a cup of cold tea in his hand.

"Your Highness, the Imperial Guards have all withdrawn. Most of the surrounding sentries have also been removed," Zhao Gao said in a low voice as he appeared beside him.

Li Chengze remained silent, simply watching the few tea leaves bobbing in his cup. His deep eyes showed no trace of joy or relief at the averting crisis. "Withdraw..."

Li Chengze downed the cold tea in one gulp, the bitter taste spreading in his mouth, making his mind even clearer.

He suddenly sneered and casually threw the priceless jade cup on the ground, shattering it into pieces.

"Well done, you've withdrawn. Father, you really think highly of your son."

Zhao Gao frowned slightly: "Your Highness, His Majesty's actions seem strange. We..."

"Zhao Gao, continue the operation, don't stop. The departure of the Imperial Guards doesn't mean this matter is over. On the contrary, this isn't Father's compromise, but rather a raising of the butcher's knife against me." Li Chengze's voice was low and cold, revealing a desolate understanding of everything. "The siege of the mansion is an open attack; the withdrawal of the Imperial Guards is a hidden arrow. He knows I will never hand it over easily. His order to withdraw the troops now, putting on a show of magnanimity, is nothing more than a performance for me to see."

"He wanted to lower my guard. He wanted me to believe he genuinely believed I had thrown the box away. Once I believed his lies, once I thought the storm had passed... that would be my real death!"

Li Chengze's eyes gradually darkened.

The tranquility of the entire mansion, the withdrawal of the imperial guards, was merely the most oppressive calm before the storm.

This is an invisible net that has silently enveloped him, waiting for him to struggle before tightening its grip until it strangles him.

"Your Highness, since that's the case, should we inform the Commander-in-Chief and have him come to the capital?" Zhao Gao asked.

"No need!" Li Chengze shook his head and refused. "Just let the commander continue with the plan."

"From now on, everything in the manor will remain the same."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao respectfully lowered his head: "Yes."

Then, his figure disappeared into the shadows outside the pavilion like a ghost, as if he had never been there at all.

After giving Zhao Gao his instructions, Li Chengze let out a long breath, temporarily shedding the complex calculations and repressions from his mind. He stretched lazily, his joints making a series of soft cracking sounds, before slowly getting up from the soft couch.

"Steward, prepare the carriage." He raised his voice, instantly donning that nonchalant, arrogant mask once more. "I am going to Guangxin Palace."

The carriage traveled along the smooth cobblestone streets of Kyoto, passing through numerous palace gates, and finally came to a stop outside the Kōshin-gū Palace.

The furnishings here remained as luxurious as ever, and a faint yet intensely alluring fragrance permeated the air. Unlike the solemnity and coldness of other palaces, the Princess's Guangxin Palace always exuded a decadent atmosphere that could melt one's bones.

Without informing anyone, Li Chengze skillfully passed through layers of gauze curtains and walked straight into the inner hall.

Inside the inner palace, Princess Li Yunrui lay on her side on a soft couch covered with precious sable fur. She wore a slightly loose, gorgeous palace dress, and her long, black hair cascaded down her back, outlining her breathtakingly beautiful figure.

Hearing footsteps, Li Yunrui slightly raised her eyes. Upon seeing who it was, a charming smile bloomed on her stunningly beautiful face, her eyes captivating and alluring.

"You came to see me as soon as you were released from confinement," Li Yunrui's voice was languid and charming, with a hint of teasing and intimacy. "It seems that the tea in your Second Prince's residence is ultimately not as fragrant as the tea in my Guangxin Palace. Yesterday, Wan'er was so worried about you that she came to me crying her eyes out, even asking me to help her plead with His Majesty."

Li Chengze smiled faintly, and without any hesitation, he walked to Li Yunrui's soft couch and sat down casually.

He casually stretched his arm back, as if just to find a comfortable position to lean on, but his hand landed very naturally on Li Yunrui's ankle, where he could clearly feel the smoothness and warmth of the princess's skin.

Li Chengze's gaze met Li Yunrui's beautiful eyes, which seemed to see right through him, without flinching. A half-smile played on his lips as he softly asked, "Auntie, aren't you worried about me?"

Li Yunrui's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

"Worried?" Li Yunrui giggled, her laughter shaking her body and causing her clothes to rise and fall slightly. "Why should I worry? In this capital city, everyone knows that my second nephew is exceptionally intelligent. If he could capsize even with this little storm, he wouldn't be Li Chengze."

She extended her slender fingers and gently tapped Li Chengze's shoulder, her breath sweet as orchids: "Besides, since your father only surrounded your residence and didn't directly issue an order to arrest you, it means he's still testing the waters."

Li Chengze's fingers kneaded Li Yunrui's ankle, feeling the smoothness beneath his touch, but his eyes grew increasingly deep and dark: "Auntie makes it sound so easy. Last night's commotion even involved the Imperial Guards."

"So what?" Li Yunrui's smile faded. "You're still unharmed."

"I'm a little curious, what exactly did you do behind my back this time that caused the Imperial Guards to be mobilized?"