A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

"Do you think I restrict you because of my old age? Do you think I'm afraid of you, the Crown Prince? Li Chengqian, what kind of person do you take me for?"

Li Shimin said disappointedly.

"I am the Supreme General of Heavenly Strategy, the First Emperor of All Time, the one to whom foreign powers pay tribute, the one who brought down empires, and the great ruler who expanded our territory. Why would I be afraid of a mere child like you who has barely grown up?"

"No matter how powerful or strong you are, what can you do?"

"Can they compare to the civil and military officials who helped me conquer this land?"

"Ridiculous! Utter nonsense!"

Li Chengqian shook his head. Li Shimin was no longer willing to listen to any advice. He was so self-righteous that he only believed what he thought.

Why would he rebel over this matter?

"Enough, there's no point in saying more."

"Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, you should return as soon as possible."

Li Chengqian started to drive people away.

He missed his other teacher, Wei Zheng. If he were still alive, he would probably have given Li Shimin a thorough dressing-down in court.

Unfortunately, he passed away at a young age.

Li Shimin gave Li Chengqian one last deep look, flicked his sleeves, and turned to leave.

His voice came from afar just as his figure was about to disappear.

"Release the Prince of Qian. The Imperial Guards will personally escort him back to his fiefdom. They shall depart immediately without delay."

"promise!"

Inside the prison, everyone was kneeling, except for Li Chengqian, who continued to quietly read his book.

The imperial guards sent to take him away looked at each other in bewilderment, not daring to lay a hand on Li Chengqian.

After all, although Li Chengqian is no longer the crown prince, he is still a prince of the first rank, and his status remains highly respected.

They were far superior to those few ordinary soldiers.

Li Chengqian did not make things difficult for these people. After reading the passage in his hand, he got up and left.

"May I return to the Eastern Palace first to pack my belongings, and then travel south with my family?"

Li Chengqian said gently.

"Of course, Your Highness, please!"

Several imperial guards quickly made way and respectfully followed behind Li Chengqian.

When Li Chengqian returned to the Eastern Palace, it was already in chaos.

The Crown Prince was deposed and imprisoned, a large number of officials in the Crown Prince's residence were killed, the Eastern Palace was sealed off, and the entire Eastern Palace was filled with panic.

"His Highness is back! His Highness is back!"

As soon as Li Chengqian returned to the East Palace, the news spread, and all of Crown Princess Li Chengqian's children rushed to the gate of the East Palace to welcome him.

"Your Highness, what exactly happened?"

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

A group of people surrounded Li Chengqian, chattering away, but Li Chengqian showed no impatience whatsoever.

He stepped forward, picked up his son, and pinched his rosy cheeks.

"Pack your things, we're getting ready to leave the capital."

"OK."

Crown Princess Su didn't say anything, but silently arranged for Li Chengqian to pack his things, following him wherever he went.

If Li Chengqian wanted to tell her all of this, then she would listen.

If Li Chengqian was unwilling, she wouldn't ask.

Li Chengqian did not pack up everything; he only packed his clothes and important items. Even so, with the help of a large number of people from the Crown Prince's residence, it still took him a whole day to pack.

"Let's go."

Li Chengqian stopped at the gate of Luoyang City, turned around and looked at the city, which was bathed in the crimson glow of the setting sun.

"Farewell forever, Luoyang City."

After saying this, Li Chengqian got up, mounted his horse, and prepared to leave.

"They just left like that, without even saying goodbye?"

A familiar voice came from behind Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian turned his head and looked over, then quickly dismounted and staggered towards the spot.

"Teacher, what brings you here?"

The visitor was none other than Wei Zu.

"You are leaving. This is a farewell, and the day we meet again may be far off. As your teacher, I naturally must see you off."

Wei Zu smiled and said, "Take it."

Wei Zu handed over several doses of medicine, which Li Chengqian took and gave to the Crown Princess.

"Teacher, what's this?"

Li Chengqian asked curiously.

"The medicine I asked Prince An to prepare can treat the side effects of that other medicine."

Wei Zu's calm words deeply moved Li Chengqian.

He naturally knew which medicine Wei Zu was referring to; it was the one he had taken when he fought Li Shimin one-on-one.

Although it can restore him to normal in a short time, the side effects are severe.

Although he didn't show it on the surface, he was actually enduring excruciating pain all day.

Even Li Shimin failed to notice, but unexpectedly Wei Zu discovered it.

"Thank you, teacher."

Li Chengqian said sincerely.

"It's alright, I'm your teacher, it's only natural that I should do this."

"Take these with you too. Remember, you must learn as long as you live. Learning has no end, so never slack off, understand?"

Wei Zu pointed to a cart full of books behind him and spoke earnestly to Li Chengqian.

"Thank you, teacher. I understand."

Li Chengqian felt a lump in his throat. For so many years, he had lived as the Crown Prince.

Only in front of these two people could he remove the mask that called him the Crown Prince and open his heart.

One person is his mother, Empress Zhangsun. In front of his mother, he will always be a son and does not need to wear the mask of the crown prince.

Empress Zhangsun always treated him as a mother and son, rather than as an empress and crown prince.

But this person is gone forever; he can no longer appear before Empress Zhangsun as her son.

The other person was his teacher, King Wei Zu of Yan.

In front of his teacher, he will always be a student.

Wei Zu always treated him as a teacher. In Wei Zu's eyes, Li Chengqian was his disciple, nothing more.

Now he must part ways with this teacher, just as the teacher said, from this parting, there is no hope of seeing each other again for a long time.

Li Shimin knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Emperor Wei. "Teacher, I am leaving now. Please take good care of yourself. I will no longer be able to accompany you in the days to come. I am an unfilial student. Please take care, Teacher!"

Wei Zu bent down and helped Li Chengqian up. "All good things must come to an end. As the old master once said, 'Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.' Now you are going to find your own path. Your teacher is naturally pleased. Why should we care about whether we can meet again?"

"Congratulations, teacher! Congratulations on finding your true self."

"Child, stay true to yourself, and remember, do things without regrets."

Wei Zu stroked Li Chengqian's head and slowly explained that this was the last lesson he would give Li Chengqian.

"Students are being educated."

Li Chengqian bowed and said, "I have another request."

"Speak."

"Zhi Nu is still young and needs guidance. Please examine him, teacher. If Zhi Nu is capable of great things, please accept him as your apprentice and give him some guidance."

Empress Zhangsun had only three sons. Li Tai was killed by her, and now he was to be demoted back to his fiefdom. Li Chengqian would never allow the throne to fall into the hands of someone who was not Empress Zhangsun.

Becoming a disciple of Wei Zu is a good way to maintain one's status.