My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

By this time, the sunset had completely faded, night had fallen, and the oppressive atmosphere of thunder in the air seemed to have intensified.

"Alright, take Sizi back to the palace first thing tomorrow morning."

Li Chen's tone gradually became serious, and he put away his previous cynicism.

"The tribulation of lightning the day after tomorrow is no small matter. I will activate all the defensive formations around the Qin Prince's mansion, turning this place into a pool of lightning. Si Zi is young, and her mortal body simply cannot withstand the aftershocks of that heavenly might. She absolutely cannot stay here."

Upon hearing this, the little Sizi, who had just been all well-behaved, immediately became unhappy.

She broke free from Empress Zhangsun's embrace, grabbed Li Chen's leg, and pressed her face against it.

"Sizi won't leave! Sizi wants to stay with Sixteenth Brother! Wherever Sixteenth Brother is, Sizi will be there!" The little girl pouted, tears already welling up in her eyes.

Empress Zhangsun and Li Chen took turns trying to persuade her.

Li Chen even took out several sweet-tasting, health-strengthening low-grade spiritual fruits from his storage bag and stuffed them into her arms. He also repeatedly assured her that he would go to the palace to pick her up as soon as she finished her tribulation. Only then did the little girl reluctantly agree.

The next morning, at the main gate of the Prince's Mansion.

The magnificent royal carriages were already parked by the roadside.

Empress Zhangsun, holding the still sleepy-eyed baby in her arms, was the first to step into the carriage.

Li Chengqian stood beside the carriage and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute to Li Chen: "Sixteenth brother, the day after tomorrow, all the elite imperial guards of the Eastern Palace will be on guard outside the imperial city to protect you."

"May you... have a smooth journey through this tribulation!"

"Thanks, Your Majesty." Li Chen smiled.

Just as Li Shimin, with a stern face, was about to step onto the carriage,

Little Sizi, who was nestled in Empress Zhangsun's arms, suddenly rubbed his eyes, turned around, and clung to the edge of the carriage window.

The little girl waved her chubby hand vigorously at Li Chen, who was standing at the gate, and called out in her delicate voice.

"Sixteenth Brother! Sizi has gone back to the palace with Old Deng! Remember to come and pick her up in a few days!"

On a quiet street in the early morning.

The little boy's exceptionally clear and crisp voice was like a resounding slap, landing precisely on Li Shimin's majestic dragon face.

"Follow Old Deng back to the palace..."

The words echoed in the air.

Li Shimin had just lifted his right foot, which was straddling the carriage footrest, when he abruptly froze in mid-air.

His brain completely shut down in that instant, and then an indescribable, overwhelming rage surged from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

He turned his head abruptly, his face flushed red as if it were about to bleed, pointed at Li Chen's nose, and let out a hysterical roar.

"You unfilial son!!! I'm not going to give up today! I'm going to fight you to the death!!!"

The veins on Li Shimin's forehead looked like they were about to burst. His rationality completely collapsed, and he turned around to rush towards Li Chen.

"Your Majesty! What are you doing! Get back in the carriage!"

Inside the carriage, Empress Zhangsun lifted the curtain with a helpless expression, sternly reprimanded her, then picked up the culprit, Little Sizi, and began to seriously educate her not to make any noise.

"Chengqian! Pull your father up!"

Empress Zhangsun gave instructions to the Crown Prince who was standing under the carriage.

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

Now, the "underworld prince" Li Chengqian, with his muscular physique and immense strength, would not hesitate for a moment when he heard his mother's order.

He grinned, revealing a simple and honest smile, and stepped forward. His calloused, thick hands, as tough as iron clamps, grabbed Li Shimin's waist tightly from behind.

"Father, please calm down! Please calm down! Your son will see you to your carriage!"

Li Chengqian shouted, his arm muscles bulged, and he lifted the Tang emperor off the ground as if he were a weightless chick, stuffing him into the carriage.

Li Shimin kicked his legs wildly in mid-air and grabbed at the air with his hands. He was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged, and he let out an extremely frustrated roar.

"You unfilial son! Let me go! I'll fight him to the death!"

"Let me go! Aaaaaah... I'm so angry! This is outrageous! They've all rebelled!"

"Both of them are unfilial children! Unfilial children, ahhhhhh—!"

No matter how much Li Shimin struggled and roared, his mortal strength was no match for Li Chengqian, who could now smash a solid wooden block with a single punch. He was ruthlessly stuffed into the luxurious carriage by the Crown Prince.

"Bang!"

Li Chengqian smoothly closed the carriage door and winked at the dumbfounded coachman of the Prince of Qin's residence.

"Let's depart! Return to the palace!"

The carriage gradually disappeared into the distance amidst a rapid clatter of hooves and the faint roars of "rebellious son" emanating from inside.

Li Chen stood at the main gate of the Qin Prince's mansion, watching the royal carriage disappear into the distance. His hands were behind his back, and the smile on his face gradually faded.

He raised his head and looked up at the clear sky above, where there were no clouds.

Although things appeared calm on the surface, his vast divine sense, which spanned twenty miles in radius, clearly sensed that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the entire city of Chang'an was becoming stagnant at an abnormal rate.

The air began to thin.

The calm before the storm is often the most oppressive.

Li Chen turned around, strode back to the palace, and slammed the heavy gate shut behind him.