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

Seeing the look of astonishment on Consort Shu's usually aloof and indifferent face, Li Chengze did not burst into tears or panic like a typical five-year-old child.

His eyes, though slightly stained, remained bright as he calmly looked at Consort Shu through her disheveled hair.

"Shh-"

Li Chengze held up a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture. The gesture was so practiced that it didn't seem like that of a child at all; instead, it exuded a reassuring composure.

Consort Shu was stunned for a moment, swallowing back the exclamation that was about to come out. After all, she was a woman who had lived a very shrewd life in the deep palace, and she immediately realized her son's abnormality. She then waved her hand to dismiss the palace maid who was about to follow her in.

"Everyone wait outside. No one is allowed to enter without my order."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The palace maid outside the door responded and withdrew, closing the palace door behind her.

Once only the mother and son remained in the hall, Consort Shu hurried to the bedside. Ignoring the pungent, fishy stench, she looked at Li Chengze with a furrowed brow: "Ze'er, what happened? What is this...black mud on your body?"

Li Chengze blinked, feigning ignorance and lingering fear, and began to speak according to the prepared statement:

"Mother, I don't know either."

"I was sleeping when I suddenly felt like there was a furnace burning inside my stomach. It was so hot, and my whole body felt like it was going to split open. I tried to call for help, but I couldn't make a sound. When the heat passed, I woke up feeling like this—sticky and uncomfortable all over."

After saying that, he wrinkled his nose at the opportune moment, revealing an expression of self-disdain.

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu was startled.

Sudden fever? Severe body aches? Expelling black grime after waking up?

Although she did not practice martial arts, she loved books more than anything, and she had practically rummaged through the palace library. She had a wide range of interests, from official histories and unofficial accounts to rare martial arts manuals and strange tales.

She slowly extended her slender fingers, enduring the stench, and gently rubbed a little of the black mud on Li Chengze's arm. She rubbed it, then carefully observed the skin beneath the mud, which was originally somewhat pale but now faintly shone with a jade-like luster.

A word that only existed in ancient books and legends instantly jumped into her mind—

Cleanse the marrow and remove the bark!

"This...this is a sign of a complete transformation?"

Consort Shu's pupils contracted slightly, her heart filled with turmoil.

According to the book, only those with special innate constitutions, those who have consumed legendary rare and precious herbs, or those who have been infused with true essence by a grandmaster-level expert, can experience this situation of expelling acquired impurities and reshaping their physical constitution.

Ze'er had always stayed in the palace and had never been in contact with outsiders, so it was impossible for Emperor Qing to expend his true essence to cleanse his marrow.

Could it be... fate?

Consort Shu looked at her seemingly innocent son and her mind raced.

If it's a congenital anomaly, then Ze'er's martial arts talent would likely be terrifying. In the Qing Kingdom's imperial palace, a prince with unparalleled talent is both a blessing and a curse.

If His Majesty knew that this "whetstone" had suddenly turned into a peerless sword, he would probably be even more wary of Ze'er, and might even break him prematurely.

Thinking of this, the surprise and doubt in Consort Shu's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a deep sense of protectiveness.

She took a deep breath, regaining her usual composure, but her tone held a subtle hint of caution:

"Ze'er, this matter must not be mentioned to anyone except your mother, not even your father. Understand?"

Looking at his mother's serious expression, Li Chengze felt a warmth in his heart. He knew that this mother, who seemed to only love books, actually understood the rules of survival in the palace better than anyone else.

"Your subject understands." Li Chengze nodded obediently.

Consort Shu nodded, stood up, and instead of calling in a maid to serve her, she walked to the bathtub behind the screen.

"Your mother will personally boil water for your bath. Remember, if anyone asks, say that you were playing and spilled ink, getting yourself dirty, and that your mother is punishing you."

Watching Consort Shu's busy figure, Li Chengze's lips curled up slightly.

…………

Warm water enveloped his entire body as Li Chengze sat in the large wooden tub, vigorously scrubbing away the remaining grime from his skin. As the layers of black mud faded away, his exposed skin was as white as jade, yet subtly revealed a resilient texture.

The feeling of lightness after being reborn made him want to let out a long howl. But he held back and simply let out a comfortable sigh.

"Splash—"

Li Chengze stood up from the water and casually grabbed a cloth to wipe his body. Although he was still the size of a five-year-old, his spirit and energy were completely different, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes as he opened and closed them.

Just then, Consort Shu, who had been standing outside the screen with a book in her hand but hadn't read a single word, suddenly spoke.

Her voice was very low, but her tone was more solemn than ever before:

"Ze'er, from this day forward, you are not allowed to display any martial arts talent in the palace, and you are not allowed to practice martial arts on your own."

Li Chengze, who was about to get dressed, paused and froze for a moment.

Are martial arts forbidden?

In this world where strength reigns supreme, wouldn't someone who doesn't learn martial arts be at the mercy of others?

But when he turned his head and saw his mother's straight but slightly tense back through the semi-transparent screen, several thoughts flashed through his mind and he instantly understood Consort Shu's good intentions.

She was afraid of being too sharp and outspoken.

What Emperor Qing needed was a whetstone, a stone that could create trouble for the Crown Prince, force him to improve, but ultimately be easily controlled by the Crown Prince (or rather, by Emperor Qing) and discarded at any time.

If this stone is too weak to sharpen the knife, Emperor Qing will be disappointed.

But if the stone is too hard, too sharp, even stronger than a knife, then Emperor Qing will feel threatened.

A prince with unparalleled martial arts talent, once he grows up, will be a second Emperor Qing, and may even threaten the imperial power. Given Emperor Qing's suspicious and extremely controlling nature, he will absolutely not allow such an uncontrollable factor to exist.

"The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. Before you have enough strength, hiding your talents is the way to survive."

Li Chengze understood perfectly, a knowing smile playing on his lips. His mother was teaching him the survival rules of the imperial family.

He dressed, stepped out from behind the screen, his face now bearing an obedient and submissive expression, and solemnly nodded to Consort Shu:

"I have remembered my mother's teachings. I only love reading, not swords and spears."

Consort Shu turned around, looking at her son, who was exquisitely beautiful and seemed to have undergone a complete transformation. A hint of relief flashed in her eyes, but more so, worry. She stepped forward, gently straightened Li Chengze's collar, and whispered:

"Your father is a man of deep thoughts, and there are eyes everywhere in this palace. If you really want to learn... it's not too late to make plans after you have your own residence and your own world. For now, you just need to be a prince who is a little clever but also a little willful."

"Yes, Mother." Li Chengze replied.