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

Inside the carriage, Lin Wan'er was perhaps feeling sleepy because she was full, or perhaps because her emotions had been too volatile today. She was leaning on Li Yunrui's shoulder, her eyelids drooping like a lazy cat.

Li Yunrui gently patted her daughter's back, but her gaze, through the swaying carriage curtain, fell on Li Chengze, who was resting with his eyes closed across the way.

"You went too far today," Li Yunrui said softly, but there was no hint of blame in his tone. "Guo Youzhi is, after all, the Minister of Rites. You publicly deposed his nephew. Tomorrow, there will likely be many memorials impeaching you in court."

Li Chengze slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and bright, showing no sign of sleepiness.

He raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a nonchalant smile, and leaned back to find a more comfortable position.

"Impeachment? Let them impeach us then."

He casually picked up a candied fruit from the small table and popped it into his mouth, mumbling, "Anyway, in their eyes, I'm just an uneducated and eccentric prince. If I stop causing trouble one day, they'll suspect I'm plotting something bad."

At this point, he gently swept his gaze over the sleeping Lin Wan'er, his voice softening slightly: "Besides, that nephew Guo Youzhi has a foul mouth. It's one thing for him to curse me, but he dared to curse Wan'er. Wan'er is already weak, and she doesn't even dare to speak loudly normally. How could she have suffered such an injustice? Let alone just breaking a few of his teeth, even if we really cut off his tongue, it would be his own fault."

Li Chengze paused, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Aunt, as you know, I have no interest in that position, nor do I want to get involved in the power struggles of the court. But since I've acknowledged Wan'er as my sister, as long as I'm alive, I will never allow anyone to bully her. Not even the Emperor himself."

He spoke these words with absolute certainty, without the slightest hesitation.

Li Yunrui looked at the young man in front of him, and his heart stirred slightly.

In this cold, impersonal palace, everyone wears a mask, and everyone is scheming.

Even biological fathers and sons, or brothers, can turn against each other for that supreme position.

But Li Chengze was different.

His eyes were clear; at least when he looked at Wan'er, they were filled with pure, unadulterated love.

"You silly child..."

Li Yunrui sighed softly, her eyes so gentle they seemed to melt. "Auntie knows you love Wan'er, but you're a bit too straightforward. Fine, since you call me auntie, I'll naturally take responsibility for this. As for Guo Youzhi, I'll have someone put in a good word for him. I doubt he'd dare to really break ties with you for the sake of a good-for-nothing nephew."

"Thank you so much, Auntie!" Li Chengze chuckled, seizing the opportunity, "I knew Auntie loved me the most."

Li Yunrui rolled her eyes at him, but couldn't help but smile slightly.

……

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, in the Imperial Study.

Emperor Qing, dressed in a loose white robe, was sitting at his desk reviewing memorials.

Eunuch Hou hurried in with small, quick steps, head bowed, and cautiously reported, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince beat up the nephew of Minister Guo of the Ministry of Rites at Zuixianju today."

"Oh?"

Emperor Qing paused slightly in his vermilion brush, without looking up, his tone so calm it betrayed no emotion, "Why?"

"According to the scouts, it was because Lord Guo's nephew, after drinking, made a slip of the tongue and insulted... Princess Chen." Eunuch Hou lowered his head even further.

"Wan'er?"

Emperor Qing finally raised his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, which then turned into a playful smile. "This kid is quite protective of his own."

He put down his vermilion pen, stood up, walked to the window and looked at the scenery outside, his fingers gently tapping on the windowpane.

"So what if you hit him? Young people are bound to be hot-tempered, it's normal for them to be."

Emperor Qing said calmly, as if he were talking about a trivial matter, "However, since someone has been assaulted, there must be an explanation. If anyone impeaches someone at tomorrow's morning court, keep the memorial pending and do not issue it."

Eunuch Hou was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant and quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Emperor Qing turned around, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Chengze's knife can now be placed on the table."

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Guo Youzhi sided with the Crown Prince. Although Chengze's slap was directed at Guo's nephew, it actually hit the Crown Prince in the face. Very well, very well indeed."

"By imperial decree, the Second Prince shall also attend the morning court session tomorrow."

Eunuch Hou felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that His Majesty was about to formally push the Second Prince to the forefront, putting him in a contest with the Crown Prince.

"This old servant obeys the decree."

……

The next day, the morning court session.

The atmosphere in the Golden Palace was unusually solemn.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian stood at the head of all the officials, his face so gloomy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

Opposite him, Li Chengze stood lazily in a purple court robe, a nonchalant smile on his face, as if the angry or inquisitive gazes around him did not exist.

"If you have something to report, please do so; otherwise, the court may adjourn."

As the eunuch's shrill voice faded, an imperial censor immediately jumped out, holding his ceremonial tablet, and shouted indignantly:

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present! I impeach Your Highness the Second Prince for his utter disregard for the law, committing acts of violence in the street, assaulting relatives of court officials, and causing serious injury! Such behavior is utterly disgraceful and damages the dignity of the royal family! I beg Your Majesty to punish him severely!"

These words caused an uproar in the imperial court.

All eyes were on Li Chengze, waiting for his reaction.

However, Li Chengze merely picked at his ear, looked innocently at the censor, and slowly said, "My lord, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. Was that a beating? I was teaching him a lesson."

"You...you're just making excuses!" The censor was so angry that his beard was trembling.

That's enough.

Just then, Emperor Qing on the dragon throne slowly spoke.

The hall fell silent instantly.

Emperor Qing's gaze swept across the entire room, finally settling on Li Chengze, and he asked calmly, "Chengze, what do you have to say?"

Li Chengze stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I have nothing to say. That person insulted a member of the royal family. As a prince, it would be a disgrace to the royal family if I did not teach him a lesson. As for serious injury... I knew my limits; no one will die."

"What a convenient excuse that no one will die."

Emperor Qing chuckled lightly, his expression unreadable. "Since that's the case, then go to the Ministry of Justice to receive your punishment. You will be fined three months' salary and confined to your quarters for three days to reflect on your actions."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Li Chengze readily agreed, without the slightest hint of regret on his face.

The ministers looked at each other, their hearts filled with turmoil.

A three-month salary deduction? Three days of confinement for reflection?

This is not punishment; it's clearly a case of lifting someone up high and then letting them go lightly!

Your Majesty is blatantly favoring the Second Prince!

The prince's face darkened further, his hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his flesh.