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

When the first rays of sunlight fell on the streets of Kyoto, the entire city was already covered in a blinding white.

The death knell tolled deep within the palace, its somber and mournful sound echoing across Kyoto, one chime after another, as if striking the heart of every person.

The nine gates were tightly shut, and the Snow Dragon Cavalry patrolled the streets, its cold lance reflecting the morning light.

Soon, the imperial proclamation was posted all over the streets and alleys of the capital.

The contents of the notice were like a massive earthquake, instantly causing an uproar throughout Kyoto.

His Majesty has passed away!

He perished along with Ku He, the Grand Preceptor of Northern Qi, and Si Gu Jian of Dongyi City!

The second prince led his army to rescue the emperor, killed the remaining enemies, and was supported by the officials to temporarily act as regent. He is about to ascend the throne and become emperor!

When ordinary people saw the notice, they knelt on both sides of the street and wept bitterly in the direction of the palace.

In their hearts, Emperor Qing was the heavens, and now that the heavens have collapsed, they feel immense panic and grief.

At the same time, the proclamation's description of Emperor Qing's heroic act of sacrificing himself to protect the people, even at the cost of his life, moved them deeply.

For those powerful families and court officials, the amount of information behind this proclamation was chilling.

His Majesty is dead? The Grandmaster is dead too? The Second Prince suddenly appeared and an invincible army took control of the capital?

Anyone with even a modicum of political acumen can sense the intense conspiracy and bloodshed involved.

However, no one dared to stand up and question it.

Because Lin Ruofu and other important court officials had collectively endorsed it, and because that terrifying army known as the Great Snow Dragon Riders was openly stationed in the city.

Faced with absolute force, all doubts and grievances can only be swallowed down.

The overall situation is settled.

……

The Eastern Palace.

This mansion, which should have been the most prestigious and hopeful place in Kyoto besides the Imperial Palace, is now lifeless and resembles a giant tomb.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian sat in the armchair in his study, holding a cup of tea that had long since gone cold, staring blankly ahead.

He has maintained this posture for a full hour.

An hour ago, his spies in the palace risked their lives to send out the message.

When he heard the words "His Majesty has passed away," "The Second Prince led his army into the city," and "The officials supported the Second Prince as regent," he felt that the whole world was utterly absurd.

How is that possible?

How could my father possibly be dead?

My father is the smartest and most powerful man in the world. He has planned everything. How could he possibly perish together with Ku He and Si Gu Jian?

How could the second son possibly have an army?

How could those old foxes like Lin Ruofu possibly support the second-in-command?

Li Chengqian felt this was an extremely malicious joke.

However, when he heard the death knell outside, and when he saw that the Eastern Palace was surrounded by unfamiliar cavalrymen in white armor, he knew that it was all real.

His world collapsed.

"Your Highness..." A trusted eunuch knelt on the ground, trembling, his voice trembling with sobs, "Outside...outside are all the Second Prince's men, the East Palace has been sealed off, we...we can't get out..."

Li Chengqian ignored the eunuch's cries.

He slowly put down his teacup and stood up. His movements were stiff, like a puppet that had lost its soul.

"Get out." Li Chengqian's voice was very soft, but it carried a chilling stillness.

"Your Highness..."

"I told you all to get out! Get out!" Li Chengqian suddenly erupted, grabbing an inkstone from the table and smashing it hard against the eunuch.

The inkstone struck the eunuch on the forehead, causing blood to flow freely. Terrified, the eunuch scrambled out of the study.

The palace maids and eunuchs outside the study were also frightened and scattered, and the entire East Palace was in chaos.

Li Chengqian walked to the door of the study, slammed the two heavy golden nanmu wood doors shut with both hands, and then bolted them shut.

The study instantly darkened, with only a few rays of sunlight shining through the cracks in the window, forming beams of light that illuminated the dust motes dancing in the air.

Li Chengqian turned around and looked at the study that he knew so well.

Here are the classic texts he read, the memorials he reviewed, and the calligraphy and paintings he meticulously prepared to please his father, the emperor.

This place was once the starting point on his path to the pinnacle of power.

Now, this place has become his prison.

Li Chengqian walked to the bookshelf, pushed aside the precious ancient books, and took out two jars of strong liquor from the bottom shelf.

This is a type of strong liquor, a tribute from the Western Regions. It's as fiery as fire, and he usually doesn't dare to drink it, for fear of getting drunk and losing face in front of his father.

But now, he no longer needs to worry about any manners.

He broke the mud seal, didn't take a wine cup, but directly raised the wine jar, tilted his head back, and frantically poured the spicy, throat-irritating liquor into his mouth.

"Cough cough cough..."

The strong liquor choked Li Chengqian, causing him to cough violently, his face streaked with tears and snot.

But he didn't stop; after coughing, he continued to gulp down the alcohol.

But he didn't stop; after coughing, he continued to gulp down the alcohol.

The jar of wine was quickly emptied, and he casually smashed the empty jar on the ground.

"Bang!"

The sound of the wine jar shattering was particularly jarring in the empty study.

Li Chengqian staggered to the desk, plopped down on the floor, leaned against the desk, and held the second jar of wine in his hands.

His cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot, and his gaze was filled with despair, anger, resentment, and a hint of indescribable madness.

"Li Chengze...you Li Chengze...but since it was you, I can't muster any jealousy."

Li Chengqian tilted his head back and took another big gulp of liquor. The strong liquor burned like fire from his throat all the way to his stomach, but it couldn't warm his heart, which felt like it had fallen into an ice cave.

He reflected on his life over the past twenty years.

From the day he was made crown prince, he lived under endless pressure and fear.

He had to guard against his brothers' plots, fathom his father's thoughts, win over court officials, and balance the various factions. Every day he walked on thin ice, trembling with fear, lest one wrong step lead to utter ruin.

He regarded Li Chengze as his greatest rival. They had been fighting each other openly and covertly for so many years, scheming against each other in the court and plotting against each other in private.

He thought it was a closely contested game. But it was all just his assumption.

That bloody night shattered his delusions.

He and Li Chengze are simply incomparable.

Although he knew he was inferior to Li Chengze, Li Chengqian still harbored a sliver of hope. But now, that last bit of hope was gone. Li Chengqian paced back and forth in the study like a madman, smashing everything in sight as he went.

Precious porcelain was smashed to pieces, calligraphy and paintings by famous artists were torn into strips, and the jade ruyi bestowed by the emperor was smashed to pieces.

The study was in a mess, as if it had just been ransacked.

After venting his anger, Li Chengqian gradually exhausted himself. He collapsed to the ground again, panting heavily.

The effects of the alcohol kicked in completely; his vision began to blur, and his mind became hazy.

He leaned against the bookshelf, staring blankly at the ceiling, then suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with relief.