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

On this day, sunlight streamed through the window and fell on the desk. Li Chengze was dipping his brush in ink, preparing to copy the tenth chapter of "Dream of the Red Chamber".

Suddenly, a series of light and hurried footsteps came from outside the door, followed by Eunuch Hou's distinctive high-pitched voice: "Second Prince, His Majesty summons you."

Li Chengze paused slightly with his brush, and a drop of ink fell onto the rice paper, spreading out into a black flower.

"Has it finally arrived?"

More than a year has passed since he transmigrated, and he has been playing the role of an invisible person or a child prodigy in this deep palace, but he has never truly faced the unfathomable Emperor Qing.

Li Chengze took a deep breath, calming his slightly racing heart. He knew this was both an interview and a test for him.

After tidying his clothes, Li Chengze followed Eunuch Hou through the many palaces and arrived at Emperor Qing's bedroom.

The palace was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the light was dim.

Li Chengze walked into the hall with his head bowed and eyes downcast, but his peripheral vision was quickly scanning his surroundings.

On the soft couch, a middle-aged man dressed in a loose white robe leaned casually, his long hair unbound and draped over his shoulders, holding a scroll in his hand—his "written" version of *Dream of the Red Chamber*. This was the ruler of the Qing Kingdom, the Grand Master—Emperor Qing.

Beside Emperor Qing sat a woman.

She was dressed in magnificent palace attire, her face was exquisitely beautiful, her skin was as white as snow, and her eyes and brows exuded a breathtaking blend of allure and aloofness. She simply sat there quietly, as if stealing the light from the entire room.

Li Chengze felt a chill run down his spine. He knew without guessing that this was none other than Princess Li Yunrui, who controlled the inner treasury and was known as the "madwoman."

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Li Chengze stepped forward and respectfully performed a grand salute.

Emperor Qing did not immediately urge him to rise. Instead, he turned a page of his book and said calmly, "Get up."

Li Chengze stood up, his hands hanging down, behaving extremely obediently.

At this moment, the beautiful woman spoke slowly, her voice clear and melodious, like pearls falling on a jade plate: "Brother, this must be Chengze? He is quite handsome, and his features bear a resemblance to yours."

Li Chengze immediately turned around, bowed to the Princess, and showed a perfectly measured expression of filial piety on his face, calling out in a clear voice, "Chengze greets Aunt."

The eldest princess covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling: "Oh? How did you know I'm your aunt?"

Li Chengze blinked his big eyes, his face full of innocent charm: "In the palace, the only people who can sit so casually next to Father Emperor, besides Mother and a few concubines, are the legendary, stunningly beautiful Princess. And Princess is so beautiful, like a fairy in a painting, it must be her."

Although these words were somewhat childish, they also revealed a cleverness, praising the princess while also making himself appear intelligent.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qing's lips curled up slightly. He put down the book in his hand and looked at Li Chengze with a mixture of scrutiny and amusement.

"You little rascal, you sure know how to sweet-talk." Emperor Qing pointed to "Dream of the Red Chamber" on the table. "This book is quite well written. I've heard that it's so popular in the capital that everyone is talking about it. Even my harem is in turmoil, with my concubines crying their eyes out over Lin Daiyu."

Li Chengze scratched his head sheepishly: "Your subject just wrote this haphazardly when he had nothing else to do. I didn't expect everyone to like it so much."

"Written haphazardly?" Emperor Qing smiled enigmatically. "The human relationships, the rise and fall of families involved—it's not something a six-year-old child could write haphazardly. However, I am very pleased that you possess this talent."

Emperor Qing paused, leaning forward slightly, an invisible imperial pressure descending upon him: "Since you've written such a fine book, I naturally must reward you. Tell me, what reward do you desire? Gold and silver jewels, antiques and calligraphy? Or perhaps... something else?"

Alarm bells rang in Li Chengze's mind.

This is a question that could cost you your life.

If he wants gold and silver, he appears greedy; if he wants power, he's courting death; if he says he doesn't want anything, he appears hypocritical, pretentious, and scheming.

Li Chengze's mind raced, his gaze shifting back and forth between Emperor Qing and the Eldest Princess.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

He did not answer Emperor Qing's question, but instead stared intently at the eldest princess, his eyes revealing a childlike longing and attachment.

"Father, your son...your son wishes to visit my aunt's residence for a few days."

Upon hearing this, the bedchamber fell into a slight silence.

Emperor Qing was taken aback, clearly not expecting Li Chengze to make such a request. He glanced at the Eldest Princess, then chuckled, "Oh? Why do you want to go to your aunt's residence? Isn't the palace fun enough?"

Li Chengze looked at the Princess and said without hesitation, "Because Aunt is beautiful! Although the ladies in the palace are also beautiful, none of them are as beautiful as Aunt. Ze'er likes to look at beautiful people and wants to see Aunt more. I also want Aunt to teach Ze'er to write."

This reason is both absurd and reasonable.

The absurdity lies in the fact that this is a prince's evaluation of his elders, while the rationality lies in the fact that this is the intuitive feeling of a six-year-old child.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Emperor Qing burst into hearty laughter, pointed at Li Chengze, and said to the Princess, "Yunrui, listen to this! This boy is captivated by your beauty. At such a young age, he already knows how to admire beautiful women; he's just like me in that respect."

Princess Li Yunrui was also slightly taken aback, and then a strange light flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Looking at the exquisitely beautiful child with clear eyes, the initial wariness and scheming in her heart inexplicably faded a bit.

In this palace full of scheming, some people coveted her power, some coveted her wealth, but this was the first time someone had so bluntly said they wanted her "beauty".

Moreover, he is only six years old.

The eldest princess raised an eyebrow, her gaze towards Li Chengze carrying a mixture of inquiry and amusement.

After Emperor Qing finished laughing, he looked at the Eldest Princess and asked, "Yunrui, what do you think? This boy wants to stay at your Guangxin Palace for a few days. Are you willing?"

The eldest princess knew that since Emperor Qing had asked the question directly and seemed to be in a good mood, it meant that he had already tacitly approved of the matter.

This was both a form of indulgence towards Li Chengze and perhaps an attempt to see what kind of person this precocious second prince would be once he was outside the palace and in her territory.

The eldest princess nodded gracefully, a gentle smile playing on her lips: "Since Chengze likes me, his aunt, so much so that I'd be delighted. Guangxin Palace is rather quiet; having a child there will liven things up. Since my elder brother agrees, let Chengze stay at my residence for a while."

"Very well!" Emperor Qing waved his hand. "Then it's approved. Chengze, when you go to your aunt's, you mustn't be naughty. If you anger your aunt, I will hold you responsible."

"Thank you, Father! Thank you, Aunt!"

Li Chengze bowed happily, his face beaming with a genuine smile.

However, in the instant he lowered his head, a barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes.