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

"Thank you for your great kindness, Father Emperor."

After bowing and expressing his gratitude, Li Chengze seemed to remember something, looked up at Emperor Qing, and said softly, "Father, I would like to go and tell Mother so that she won't worry."

Emperor Qing waved his hand casually, his gaze returning to the book in his hands. His tone was calm yet undeniable: "No need. I will have someone inform Consort Shu. You just go and have fun. It's a rare opportunity to leave the palace, so don't spoil your enjoyment."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your command."

Li Chengze obediently agreed, then stepped aside and waited quietly.

After the eldest princess and Emperor Qing chatted for a few more minutes, and the princess rose to take her leave, Li Chengze followed closely behind her with his short legs, leaving the oppressive imperial study and the unfathomable palace.

Outside the palace gates, the ceremonial guard from the Princess's residence had been waiting for some time. It was an extremely luxurious phoenix palanquin, with silk gauze hanging around it, faintly exuding a fragrance.

"Get in the sedan chair, Chengze." The princess was about to get into the carriage when she saw Li Chengze standing still.

Li Chengze shook his head, pointed to the bustling street in the distance, and his eyes sparkled with curiosity: "Auntie, I don't want to ride in a sedan chair. This is Ze'er's first time leaving the palace, and I want to walk. I want to see what the world outside the palace looks like with my own eyes."

The princess paused slightly, looking into Li Chengze's longing eyes, and a thought of not being able to refuse him arose in her heart. After a moment's hesitation, she waved away the servants who wanted to step forward to dissuade her.

"Okay, then your aunt will accompany you for a walk."

The eldest princess even abandoned the comfortable sedan chair, and with light, graceful steps, walked to Li Chengze's side. She extended her well-maintained, fair and jade-like hand and gently took Li Chengze's small hand in hers.

"Hold on tight, there are a lot of people and eyes outside, don't get lost."

"Yes!" Li Chengze nodded vigorously and grasped the princess's fingers with his other hand.

These two figures, one large and one small, strolled along the bustling streets of Kyoto.

Although the princess was dressed in a palace gown and tried to keep a low profile, the flowing brocade fabric, the exquisite and intricate embroidery, and her innate air of nobility still seemed out of place in this bustling, everyday street.

Passersby turned their heads in amazement at the woman's stunning beauty and the child's exquisite features, but were also intimidated by the menacing aura of the accompanying guards and dared not get too close.

As Li Chengze walked, he looked around, seemingly interested in the candied hawthorns and dough figurines by the roadside, but in reality, his peripheral vision was subtly scanning every corner of the crowd.

The two walked through the bustling city and finally arrived at the Princess's residence.

Once inside the mansion, Li Chengze completely let loose. Like a clingy little shadow, he followed the princess wherever she went. When she went to the garden to admire the flowers, he followed behind; when she went to the study to look at account books, he ground ink beside her; when she ate, he watched longingly from the side.

This seemingly naive and overly dependent demeanor lowered the guard of everyone in the Princess's household to a minimum. Even the Princess herself thought he was just a playful child who lacked love.

As night falls, the lights are on.

Li Chengze was seated in an exquisite guest room. Outside the door, two ninth-rank guards stood watch like door gods, and several maids waited in the corridor, making the security extremely tight.

"Your Highness, it's late, you should rest." The maid extinguished the light in the outer room and left.

Li Chengze lay on the soft bed, his breathing gradually becoming steady and long, as if he were already fast asleep.

However, he was perfectly conscious.

In the dead of night, all was quiet.

Suddenly, the curtains on the bed trembled slightly, as if a gentle breeze had blown by.

The next moment, a dark figure appeared out of thin air in front of Li Chengze's bed. The person wore a bamboo hat and mask, and his aura was completely concealed. If it were not visible to the naked eye, his presence would be completely imperceptible.

It was none other than the Bad Commander, Yuan Tiangang.

Li Chengze suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze now clear and calm, devoid of any sleepiness.

"General," Li Chengze sat up and called out in a low voice.

"Your Highness," Yuan Tiangang bowed slightly, his voice hoarse and low, "Your Highness suddenly left the palace today and walked through the streets. Has something happened? There are many experts in the Princess's residence. Your Highness is in danger, so I had no choice but to come."

Li Chengze waved his hand, a smile playing on his lips: "It's alright. If I didn't parade through the streets, allowing your spies planted in the city to see me, how would you know I left the palace? And how could I possibly see you at this time?"

As he spoke, he took out a neatly folded piece of paper from the pocket of his coat and handed it over.

"What is this?" Yuan Tiangang reached out and took it.

"The recipe for soap." Li Chengze's eyes gleamed. "This stuff is called soap. It has extremely strong cleaning power and is very cheap. I want you to take this recipe and immediately arrange for people to go to Northern Qi to produce and sell it."

"Northern Qi?" Yuan Tiangang glanced at the formula and immediately understood its value, but he was somewhat puzzled. "Why would Your Highness choose something from so far away?"

"Most of the business in Qing Kingdom is monopolized by the Imperial Treasury. Doing this under the Princess's nose will easily attract her attention," Li Chengze said coldly. "Although the Northern Qi royal family is in chaos, its commerce is thriving. The money you make there can be used as operating funds for the Bad People."

"Your Highness, I obey." Yuan Tiangang solemnly put away the formula. "Does Your Highness have any further instructions?"

"That's all. Go on. Be careful not to get caught by that crazy woman."

"Take care, Your Highness."

Before he finished speaking, Yuan Tiangang's figure vanished into thin air like a wisp of smoke, as if he had never existed.

Li Chengze lay back down on the bed and pulled the quilt over himself.

The reason he insisted on walking from the palace to the princess's residence was to set up a scheme.

He didn't know where Yuan Tiangang was at that moment, but he knew that Yuan Tiangang must have planted spies in the capital. As soon as his face appeared on the street, the news would immediately reach Yuan Tiangang's ears.

Given Yuan Tiangang's loyalty and caution, upon learning that he was trapped in the Princess's mansion, a "dragon's den and tiger's lair," he would surely come to investigate and confirm his safety.

In this way, he could send out the formula without anyone noticing.

"The sooner you sell, the sooner you make money. Time is money..."

Li Chengze silently recited a phrase in his mind, then turned over and truly fell into a deep sleep this time.