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"Throughout history, emperors have no private affairs. Those who seek ease and comfort will inevitably meet a bad end. Now that you have ascended the throne, I urge Your Majesty not to underestimate yourself. Remember your initial lofty ambitions, so that your father and I will not have been wrong in choosing a ruler."

His words, spoken softly yet carrying immense weight, caused his Phoenix Eyes to narrow even further. He chuckled deeply, withdrawing his unruly hand and placing it behind his back. He stood tall, resuming his noble royal bearing. "What Xiaojing says is absolutely right. Now that I have passed Prime Minister Li's numerous trials and tribulations to inherit the throne from among many heirs, I should live up to Prime Minister Li's trust and support, and govern the country well. Let him choose my consorts and children. After all, from the day I sat on the Dragon Throne, I was no longer a Little Prince residing in Prime Minister's Residence, but a key figure concerning the honor and disgrace of the Li family, right?"

"... You know perfectly well that's not what I meant."

"What Xiaojing means is useless to either of us. What matters is that your father, Prime Minister Li, means this, and that's enough. Whether I'm a wise ruler or a mediocre one doesn't matter. What matters is that you don't cause trouble and just obey..."

"So Your Highness's relationship with me is merely a ploy to please my father and make him obedient?"

"Maybe."

The playful reply caused the beauty's face to turn cold. Suddenly, she abandoned her gentle demeanor, raised her hand with great bravado, grabbed the nobleman's collar, and delivered a solid punch to his right cheek.

Seeing this turn of events, the guards on either side drew their weapons and subdued the man who had injured their master. The man staggered and swayed from the blow, covering his face and biting his lower lip. Turning around, he saw a handsome young man in white being forced to kneel on the ground by his attendants, his arms tied behind his back and raised. Several gleaming white blades were placed under his pointed chin, forcing his handsome face, which had been hidden beneath his long, flowing black hair, to reveal its true colors. His eyes were now fierce, a far cry from the weak and useless scholar he had been just moments before.

Between you and me, there is neither trust, only

Trickery

Your Highness spot.

"..."

"My father only has me as his son. If I die, my line will end. No matter how great my power and responsibility, I will have no ambition. Your Highness can then rest easy. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Heh... Xiaojing's eyes don't say that." He muttered to himself, waving away the servants on either side, taking the arm to support the handsome young man, and looking deeply into his eyes. "He's cursing me for being useless, for misjudging me, and for wasting all those years of friendship we shared..."

He lifted his fingertips, gathering a strand of sandalwood-scented black hair, and bent his elbow, pulling the person opposite him tightly into his embrace. Their hearts pressed together, like brothers. His tone was heavy as he whispered, "Even if everyone else is my enemy, I only trust Xiaojing."

"As long as Your Majesty trusts me wholeheartedly, I will certainly not fail you."

In the spring of the Tianjuan Year 2 reign, the new emperor ascended the throne. The Inner Palace was empty and vacant. In order to ensure the continuation of the Imperial Court specially selected virtuous and talented daughters of officials to serve in the palace.

Upon receiving the imperial edict, all officials of the Imperial Court, regardless of rank, who have daughters are eligible to participate in the selection process. They can go to the Ministry of Rites to have their portraits prepared by painters for the new emperor to choose from.

Imperial Decree flew from the palace to the officials, and the young ladies of these families, who had been raised in seclusion, gracefully emerged from their chambers to kneel and receive the Imperial Decree, beginning their meticulous planning for the general election.

Scrolls of beautiful portraits of ladies emerged from the hands of the Ministry of Rites painters of the Ministry of Rites, and were then presented to the Dragon Desk, piling up like mountains.

Li Chenjing stood in the Dragon Study, looking down at the scattered picture books on the floor. Away from all the picture books on the Dragon Desk, a figure in a golden Dragon Robe sat alone by the window with his legs crossed, holding a picture book and staring at it in a daze.

He did not approach, but respectfully performed the courtesies of a subject. Standing with his back to the light, he could not see clearly which woman's portrait the emperor was looking at with a faint, amused smile.

"So... this is what Liu Rongrong, whom Xiaojing so favors, looks like. Now I understand."

Upon hearing this, his expression changed slightly, and he glanced at the scroll held high in his hand.

At this moment, the woman in the golden dragon embroidered robe waved her hand, put the scroll away, and sat cross-legged like a child, smiling at him. She waved the scroll in her hand and said, "Xiaojing, what should I do? I really like her."

"..."

"Look at you, you're all pale. Haha." He slapped his knee and stood up, handing the scroll in his hand to Li Chenjing. Seeing that Li Chenjing refused to take it, he simply unfolded the scroll himself.

The woman in the painting that caught Li Chenjing's eye was dressed in a plain blue robe, her face neither beautiful nor elegant, utterly unfamiliar, as if she had never met him before. Even more peculiar was that... unlike the other women in the paintings on Dragon Desk, whose faces were fair, with peach-blossom cheeks and pink lips, some standing with umbrellas, others surrounded by flowers, this woman in the painting had dark circles under her eyes and was sprawled on a table... fast asleep?

With furrowed brows, Li Chenjing looked at the signature in the lower right corner with a puzzled expression—daughter of Zhu Cong, a fourth-rank scholar in the Cabinet.

It's not Liu Rongrong at all, so why...?

"... Who is this?" It took Li Chenjing a long while to find his voice.

"Didn't I say this is the girl I've chosen?"

"Don't try to fool me. This isn't fun."

"When have I ever toyed with you?" The man in golden dragon boots walked to the Dragon Desk, picked up a painting of a lady from it with one hand, and casually tossed it to Li Chenjing. "Here you go. Returning to you your most cherished Liu Rongrong."

Li Chenjing caught the sketchbook that was tossed to him with both hands, glancing down at it. The woman in the painting wore a flowing white feather dress, as pure and beautiful as a fairy, with clear, bright eyes. He wished he could draw two phoenix wings behind her to help her fly into the sky. The painting was so beautiful it was almost unreal. Every frown and smile was so carefully crafted by the artist. The overly scheming painting skills made him frown.

"This woman's appearance and figure are so exquisitely sculpted that it frightens me. Only under your protection can such a woman remain safe. A man like me, who doesn't know how to cherish women, prefers a more natural girl." He waved the sleeping girl in his arms like a treasure, "I just want to know, did she become a female thief the night before being painted? She's so sleepy. Shouldn't I reward this painter? Speaking the truth without fear of power, look at her drooling, haha..."