My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

Winter mornings in Chang'an are often accompanied by biting frost.

A thick layer of white frost covered the glazed tiles of the outer wall of Taiji Palace, and even the breath of the patrolling imperial guards turned into puffs of white mist in mid-air.

However, the scene in the backyard of the Prince of Qin's mansion was completely different.

The invisible spirit-gathering array, like an inverted glass bowl, kept out all the cold and snow.

Several wintersweet bushes in the yard were in full bloom, with a few drops of glistening dew on their petals, and the air was filled with a warm, spring-like fragrance of grass and trees.

Li Chen was covered with a thin silk blanket and was lying sprawled out on the white tiger-skin rattan chair, fast asleep.

He put on quite a show at the Taiji Hall last night, and now he's too lazy to even get up for breakfast.

"Bang!"

The poor moon gate in the backyard was once again violently kicked open.

Li Shimin didn't even change out of his dragon robe. He wore a black casual outfit and deerskin boots, and strode in across the bluestone slabs.

Empress Zhangsun followed behind him, carrying a food box in her hand. Looking at her husband's imposing figure, she could only shake her head helplessly.

"You unfilial son! The sun's already high in the sky, and you're still sleeping!"

Li Shimin walked a few steps to the rattan chair, ripped off the thin blanket covering Li Chen, and started cursing at him.

"Look what you've done last night! You've ruined the entire welcome-home banquet!"

A gust of cold wind, carrying the chill brought in by Li Shimin, blew onto his body.

Li Chen jolted awake, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and sat up straight with a disgruntled expression.

"Old Deng, did you set off firecrackers this morning? What did I do to cause trouble last night?"

Li Chen scratched his hair, his face full of morning grumpiness.

"Didn't you send Eunuch Wang to tell me to dress formally and make a grand entrance? My armor is gleaming gold, exuding an aura of power—how is it not formal?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin was so angry that his beard stood on end.

He stood with his hands on his hips, pacing back and forth in front of the rattan chair, his shoes making a clattering sound on the bluestone slabs.

"I have bestowed upon you this grand occasion so that you may wear the four-clawed python robe of a prince! So that you may display the majesty of the Tang Dynasty imperial family!"

Li Shimin suddenly stopped, and the veins on his forehead bulged out.

"And you! You came in wearing a shiny golden iron shell! And it even glowed! And then you turned into specks of light and scattered in front of the entire court!"

"Do you even know that you stole all the limelight last night? Those Tibetan barbarians were staring at you so intently their eyes almost popped out. I, sitting on the dragon throne, looked like a mere decoration!"

Li Shimin grew increasingly angry as he spoke, and slammed his hand on the stone table next to him.

"More than a dozen wine cups belonging to the entire court were smashed! That old fox Changsun Wuji was still complaining of chest pain this morning, saying it was because you scared him! Did you go to the banquet or to cause trouble?!"

Looking at Old Li's exasperated appearance.

Li Chen twitched the corner of his mouth, reached out and took the food box that Empress Zhangsun had placed on the table, and took out a steaming white steamed bun from it.

"You should have said so earlier that I stole your thunder! How was I supposed to know if you hadn't told me? So you should have said it! I only found out if you had told me! Why didn't you say so sooner? If you had, I would have gotten a black one."

Li Chen took a bite of the steamed bun and mumbled indistinctly.

As Li Shimin listened to these chanting-like words, his fists began to harden.

"Besides, the Tibetans have always been unruly. My mere appearance has intimidated them into submission, saving you a lot of breath at the negotiating table, hasn't it?"

Li Shimin was speechless for a moment after hearing this.

That's definitely the case. Last night, Lu Dongzan's performance in the second half was incredibly cautious and hesitant, barely daring to breathe loudly.

The Tang emperor's expression changed several times, and the overwhelming anger he had felt just moments before gradually dissipated.

He turned around and walked around the yard twice with his hands behind his back.

Then.

"Cough cough."

Li Shimin stopped in front of Li Chen, clenched his right fist, and coughed twice tactically near his mouth.

His majestic dragon eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze flickering towards the blacksmith's workshop in the east wing, and his tone suddenly became earnest.

"Chen'er, your armor looks flashy and a bit inappropriate."

Li Shimin rubbed his fingers together and lowered his voice.

"But if placed on the battlefield, it could at least boost the morale of the troops."

Li Chen stopped chewing his steamed bun and glanced at him.

Li Shimin continued speaking without batting an eye.

"I will be inspecting the three armies at the southern suburban camp next month. If you could make some minor improvements to that armor... for example, by carving a five-clawed golden dragon on the chest, and have another set made to my specifications."

Li Shimin looked down at Li Chen and snorted coldly.

"I can be magnanimous and not hold it against you for disrupting the palace banquet last night."

Quiet.

Only the faint sound of the wind blowing through the branches of the winter plum blossoms remained in the courtyard.

Li Chen stared blankly at the Great Khan of the Tang Dynasty for a full three breaths.

"Pfft—cough cough cough!"

Li Chen spat out a mouthful of bread crumbs, choking and coughing repeatedly.

He patted his chest and looked at Li Shimin as if he were a monster.

"Old Deng, so after all this time, you dragged me out of bed this early in the morning just because you're jealous and want a skin for the armor?!"

Li Shimin blushed when his thoughts were exposed, and stubbornly retorted.

"What do you mean by being envious! I am the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty, the Supreme General of the Heavenly Strategy! Only when that majestic armor is worn by me can it truly demonstrate its value!"

Empress Zhangsun stood to the side, covering her mouth with a silk handkerchief, but couldn't help but chuckle softly.

This father and son are always up to no good, and they never stop causing trouble when they're together.

Just as the two were staring at each other, preparing to start the second round of their verbal sparring.

"Your Highness."

Qin Huaidao's imposing figure strode through the moon gate and walked to the stone table, where he clasped his hands in a respectful greeting.

He glanced at the Emperor and Empress beside him, then bowed and reported, "There are guests requesting an audience outside. It is Gar Tongtsen Yulsung, the Tibetan Grand Minister from last night, accompanied by several attendants and a five-year-old Tibetan child. They say they have come to visit Your Highness."

Li Shimin's arrogance vanished instantly, replaced by his unfathomable imperial majesty.

"That old fox, his information network is quite impressive. He was frightened last night, and he sneaked into the Prince of Qin's residence first thing this morning."

Li Chen picked up his teacup to moisten his throat and casually tossed the remaining half of the steamed bun back into the food box.

"Since you're here, please come in. I want to see what these clever people from the plateau are up to by coming to my cultivation grounds."

Qin Huaidao accepted the order and withdrew.

Not long after, a series of chaotic footsteps gradually approached along the corridors of the Prince's Mansion.

Lu Dongzan wore a dark blue Tibetan robe with thick sable fur sewn onto the collar. Beside him was a child named Sangza.

Led by the steward of the Prince's mansion, the two crossed the threshold of the backyard.