My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

"Your mother knows that you are now an immortal with heavenly powers, so naturally you wouldn't care about worldly gold and silver jewelry."

Empress Zhangsun's eyes were gentle, and her tone was sincere.

"These are some pastries that Mother made herself, as well as a few sets of undergarments made of Tianshan snow silkworm silk, which are warm in winter and cool in summer. This is just a small token of Mother's affection, please don't find them offensive."

Looking at the exquisite food boxes and clothes, Li Chen's nonchalant expression softened somewhat.

The cause and effect have been resolved, but this sentiment is impeccable.

"Your Majesty is very kind. I will accept the gifts." Li Chen nodded, his tone much gentler.

Beside him, Li Shimin watched this scene of maternal love and filial piety, and felt that as the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he also had to make a gesture.

He put his hands behind his back, straightened his chest, and cleared his throat.

"Ahem. Chen'er."

Li Shimin adopted the airs of an emperor, his face radiating both majesty and a hint of approval.

"You cured the Crown Prince's leg ailment, thus stabilizing the foundation of our Great Tang Dynasty. This is a great achievement."

Li Shimin nodded and waved his hand.

"I am very pleased! I will remember your contributions. If you ever need anything in the future, just ask me!"

After speaking, Li Shimin slightly raised his chin, waiting for Li Chen to come and express his gratitude.

However, the courtyard was quiet.

Li Chen looked Li Shimin up and down with an expression as if he were looking at an idiot, staring at him for several breaths.

"That's it?" Li Chen raised an eyebrow.

"What's gone?" Li Shimin was taken aback.

Li Chen rolled his eyes dramatically, making no attempt to hide the disdain on his face.

"So, all you're going to do is give me a verbal compliment?"

Li Chen pointed to Empress Zhangsun, who was standing next to him surrounded by piles of mahogany boxes.

"Even the Empress knows to take the time to prepare a few outfits and some delicious pastries. You, the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty, possess the wealth of the entire world!"

"And what was the result? Just empty promises and grandiose talk? Aren't you being stingy?"

These words were spoken.

The eunuchs and palace maids in the courtyard were so frightened that they all knelt down and kowtowed their heads hard on the blue bricks, fearing that they would be silenced if they heard any treasonous words.

Li Shimin's face instantly turned a deep liver color.

"You! How dare you!"

Li Shimin was so angry that his beard trembled, and he pointed at Li Chen's nose and cursed loudly.

"I am the Emperor of the Great Tang! All land under heaven belongs to the Emperor! My promise is a hundred times more valuable than mountains of gold and silver! You unfilial son, how dare you accuse me of being stingy?!"

"cut."

Li Chen curled his lip in disdain, turned around and walked to the stone table to sit down, grabbing a piece of pastry that the Empress had sent and stuffing it into his mouth.

"Anyone can make empty promises. I could say I'll guarantee you immortality, would you believe me? Being stingy is being stingy, don't try to find some high-sounding excuses for yourself."

"You! You've infuriated me! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"

Li Shimin was furious and rolled up his sleeves, ready to rush up and argue with Li Chen.

While chewing on pastries, Li Chen casually picked up the jade token that had controlled the puppet earlier, tossed it in his hand, and gave it a provocative look.

It looked like the Tang emperor and the living god of the court were about to fight like shrewish women at the village entrance.

Empress Zhangsun sighed helplessly.

She was used to this kind of scene. Whenever the father and son got together, they would inevitably start arguing within three sentences.

"Alright, alright, let's all keep quiet."

Empress Zhangsun stepped forward, pulled Li Shimin back, and pressed him down into a chair next to the stone table.

"Why is the ruler of a country arguing with a child? Doesn't he care if his servants laugh at him?"

Li Shimin, panting heavily, glared fiercely at Li Chen, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a big gulp.

Beside him, Li Chengqian, whose head had been beaten into a pig's head, had somehow gotten up.

He felt no shame at all; on the contrary, he skillfully approached the stone table.

He pulled over a small stool and sat down, then casually took a walnut pastry from Empress Zhangsun's food box and began to eat it in large bites.

Xiao Sizi also ran over and sat next to Li Chengqian.

The brother and sister each held a piece of pastry, their cheeks bulging out like two little squirrels.

As they ate, they watched with great interest as their father and sixteenth brother rolled their eyes at each other.

This kind of heartwarming family drama, in the cold and ruthless royal court, is more entertaining than any theatrical performance.

After the argument had died down, Li Chen patted the pastry crumbs off his hands.

He picked up his teacup to moisten his throat, and his expression gradually became serious.

"Alright, enough chit-chat."

Li Chen's gaze swept over Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun.

"I called you here today not just to check if he passed the test for this beating."

Li Chen paused for a moment, then dropped a bombshell.

"I want to get married."

(Note: According to the Tang Dynasty system, princes had to leave the palace and establish their own princely residences after reaching adulthood; this was called "leaving the palace.")

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere around the stone table instantly fell silent.

Li Shimin frowned slightly and gave Li Chen a deep look.

According to the rules, a prince should be granted the title of king and leave the palace when he turns fifteen.

Li Chen had always been a nobody, so everyone subconsciously ignored him.

Now that he has displayed his supernatural abilities, the rules of the palace can no longer restrain him.

"Very well." Li Shimin nodded without hesitation. "I will issue an edict tomorrow. You may choose the best and largest house in Chang'an. The national treasury will pay for its renovation into a princely residence."

Upon hearing that Li Chen was leaving the palace.

Little Sizi, who was eating pastries, suddenly became anxious.

She dropped the half-eaten walnut pastry in her hand and grabbed Li Chen's arm.

"Is Sixteenth Brother leaving? Sizi wants to go too! Sizi wants to go with Sixteenth Brother to live in the big house!"

Li Shimin's face hardened.

"Nonsense! You are a princess born of the principal wife, not even of marriageable age yet. How can you follow a prince out of the palace to establish your own residence? What kind of behavior is this? You stay in the palace and keep your mother company."

Empress Zhangsun smiled and patted Xiao Sizi's head, gently comforting him.

"Yes, Sizi, your sixteenth brother has important business to attend to when he leaves the palace. You mustn't go and cause trouble. Your mother will take you to see him often from now on, okay?"

Little Sizi pouted, looking like she was about to cry again.

"no."

Li Chen suddenly spoke, interrupting the Emperor and Empress's persuasion.

His voice wasn't loud, but his tone was filled with an undeniable firmness.

"Sizi must come with me."

Li Chen looked at Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun, whose faces were full of astonishment, and his gaze became unusually serious.

"Her treatment cannot be interrupted for even a day."

"What?"

The silk handkerchief in Empress Zhangsun's hand suddenly fell to the ground.

Her face turned deathly pale instantly, her voice trembled, and she grabbed Li Chen's sleeve.

"Chen'er...you...what kind of treatment are you talking about? What's wrong with Sizi? Is she sick? The imperial physician clearly said she's perfectly healthy!"

Li Shimin also stood up abruptly, clenching his fists and staring intently at Li Chen.

Looking at the emperor and empress who were in a state of panic.

Li Chen sighed. He took Xiao Sizi's warm little hand in his own and slowly revealed the cruel truth that was enough to break Empress Zhangsun.

"The imperial physicians couldn't see it. She had a congenital ailment from birth; her meridians were naturally atrophied."

Li Chen looked at Empress Zhangsun.

"If I hadn't secretly used my true energy to nourish her heart meridian every day, prolonging her life, this girl definitely wouldn't have lived past twelve."