My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

Li Shimin was a little puzzled when he saw that Xu Hui was in a hurry to move out of the palace.

So he asked, "My beloved concubine, I agree to let you move out. Now, could you tell me why you're in such a hurry to move?"

Xu Hui said softly, "Your Majesty, you're overthinking it."

There's no other reason; it's just that I feel too stifled in this palace and want a change of scenery to refresh my mind.

"I see. Alright, I'll assign you a few more maids and servants later."

"Your Majesty, not too many are needed, just one maid and one old woman will suffice."

"Now that the imperial court is facing financial difficulties, every penny saved is precious; there's no need for such extravagance."

"How can that be? We don't have enough manpower."

Now that you're a Jieyu (a high-ranking concubine), it wouldn't be appropriate for your status if there were too few maids and servants.

"Then Your Majesty, just give me two maids and two old women."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin nodded: "You are truly an understanding person."

In fact, the reason why Xu Hui was in a hurry to leave the palace was because she had a deep sense of crisis.

She sensed that the palace was becoming increasingly devoid of human warmth.

Instead, darkness, cruelty, cold-bloodedness, framing, and murder arose, because there were simply too many examples of the previous dynasty.

She wanted to get away from this place of trouble.

Of course, doing so might reduce her opportunities to have contact with Li Shimin, and might also prevent her from getting pregnant.

However, she thought that such things probably depended on God's will.

Back then, Liu Bang and Bo Ji only slept together for one night, didn't they?

Bo Ji became pregnant and gave birth to Emperor Wen of Han, Liu Heng. This is what is meant by "what is destined to be yours will be yours, and what is not destined to be yours cannot be forced."

Xu Hui has come to terms with many things and taken them lightly these days.

Before she entered the palace, she had many fantasies about it.

Now that she has witnessed Li Shimin imprisoning the crown prince and treating the empress, who had shared joys and sorrows with him, coldly, she wonders how he will treat her in the future.

Without a doubt, Xu Hui deeply loved Li Shimin.

Li Shimin was her hero, the greatest emperor of all time.

Li Shimin possessed many virtues that many emperors lacked.

That night, Li Shimin stayed overnight in the palace.

Xu Hui did her best to serve Li Shimin.

Li Shimin also treated her with great tenderness, and the two enjoyed intimate moments together.

Xu Huixiang, drenched in sweat, embraced Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, will you miss me after I'm gone?"

"Of course I miss you," Li Shimin blurted out.

Xu Hui sighed and said reproachfully, "You men often say one thing and then forget it the next."

Li Shimin laughed heartily: "What, is that the kind of person you think I am?"

"In my heart, Your Majesty is a towering hero, and no one can compare to you." Xu Hui looked at Li Shimin with an admiring gaze.

"Oh, really?"

"So, how do you think I compare to Qin Shi Huang?"

"Even Qin Shi Huang can't compare to you."

Although Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms and standardized weights and measures, his burning of books and burying of scholars alive, as well as his pursuit of immortality and Taoist alchemy, have been criticized by later generations.

He embarked on massive construction projects, building the Great Wall, the Lishan Mausoleum, and the Epang Palace, wasting lives and money and causing widespread resentment among the people.

The Qin Dynasty lasted only fifteen years, lasting just two generations.

Although the Qin Dynasty lost its throne to Hu Hai, does that mean Qin Shi Huang had nothing to do with it?

So how can you compare Ying Zheng to Your Majesty?