Reincarnated as the daughter of my mortal enemy, all I want is to ascend the throne.

Li Qingyan took out a silver whistle from her sleeve. This was a hidden weapon specially designed for her by Li Yan, with needles inside coated with a deadly poison that would kill on contact with blood.

"Of course I wouldn't dare, Your Highness, there's no need to be nervous." Xi Zhao saw her movements and, to show his sincerity, explained, "When I was trying to infiltrate the palace in the capital, I saw Your Highness going in and out of Nuanchun Pavilion."

Hearing him say that, Li Qingyan's lips twitched. When she entered and exited Nuanchun Tower, there were assassins guarding her. None of those who were watching her were able to get close. Xi Zhao's abilities were truly unfathomable.

So... if he hadn't been afraid of hurting innocent people that day, probably only a few of the people in that room would have survived.

Li Qingyan quickly put away her hidden weapon.

"What are you saying? I'm not nervous at all. Please sit down and let's talk."

[Host...you really are quite adaptable.]

"Shut up. Those who can stretch and shrink are called turtles; I'm just being pragmatic. Ignorance is truly terrifying."

Xi Zhao did not sit down and remained kneeling on the ground.

"Your Highness, I will be your bodyguard. You can use the intelligence bureau to help me find my sister and Yiluofeng."

"Xi Zhao swears by the ancestors of the Yi family that he will be loyal to His Highness for the rest of his life. If he breaks this oath, may the souls of the entire Yi family be cast into the eighteenth level of hell and never be reincarnated."

Li Qingyan nodded; this deal was quite suitable. Xi Zhao was a capable man, and once he made such a statement, he would never betray her for life.

"it is good."

Li Qingyan wrote a letter, folded it, and handed it to Xi Zhao. "Go to Nuanchun Tower and find Yan Li. Tell him what you want. When I need you, I will naturally send someone to find you."

Xi Zhao didn't expect Li Qingyan to agree so quickly. He had clearly set her up, so why did something feel off?

Just after Li Qingyan left the prison, Xi Zhao coughed up a mouthful of blood, a smile playing on his lips.

"How absurd!"

These four characters echoed in the lonely night sky, only to be covered by heavy snow.

As the heavy snowflakes fell on her shoulders, Li Qingyan, who disliked using an umbrella, led Cuiping towards the Hall of Diligent Governance.

No matter how fast a person runs, it can't keep up with the speed of snowfall. Especially since Li Qingyan's short legs can't run fast enough, the two of them startled Laifu, who was coming out, when they reached the eaves.

"Why has Your Highness turned into a little snowman?"

He quickly shook the snow off Li Qingyan and took off her cloak. "Your Highness, run into the house."

The moment she took off her cloak, Li Qingyan rushed into the hall.

Inside the hall, ambergris incense and silver charcoal burned, making it both fragrant and warm. Li Qingyan walked quickly towards Li Yan's side. Even though she was wearing a cloak, some snowflakes still clung to her hair, but they melted into water as she walked over.

She pressed her head against the side of Li Yan's clothes and rubbed it against him.

Li Yan lifted her by the back of her clothes, like carrying a small dog, and brought her to his front.

"My imperial robe!!!"

Li Qingyan stretched out her little hand and wiped it on his sleeve. "Daddy~ don't be angry, I'll wash it for you."

Li Yan put her on the table, and she washed clothes? Then the Emperor of Dayu would have no dragon robe to wear the next day.

If that brat doesn't cut his dragon robe to shreds, he's not Li Qingyan.

"If you're so happy, tell me what heinous things you've done this time."

Li Yan opened his mouth and immediately took a mouthful of arsenic.

Li Qingyan's lips twitched. "Li Yan, you should kiss the Emperor Emeritus."

"Um?"

Li Yan frowned. Upon hearing this, a scene flashed through his mind, and following Li Qingyan's words, he felt utterly disgusted.

Li Qingyan sat cross-legged and picked up a memorial to read. "It can directly poison him to death."

Li Yan pinched her cheek.

"That little brat has a sharp tongue."

Li Qingyan was waiting for him.

"That foul mouth of an old man."

The father and daughter argued for a while before calming down, and Li Qingyan was carried to the bath by Su Xue.

Several palace maids surrounded her to serve her, and to prevent her from causing a disturbance, a small wooden duck was placed on the water to float on the surface.

"Su Xue...face..."

Su Xue wiped the foam off Li Qingyan's face and wiped it clean in an instant, giving her no chance to express her opinion.

Li Qingyan sat in the bathtub with a blank look in her eyes. Was she really her master?

After changing into clean pajamas, Li Qingyan climbed onto the bed using both hands and feet, looking at Su Xue with a resentful expression. Every time they served her a bath, it was a battle.

Li Yan, with her hair down, held a handkerchief in her hand to dry her hair.

"Tell me, who did you scheme against today?"

Li Qingyan pouted, "Li Yan, you have too much prejudice against me. What I did wasn't scheming; it was his own choice."

Li Yan didn't believe it.

Li Qingyan looked up at him, "Li Yan, didn't you want me to choose a bodyguard?"

She chuckled.

"I have already chosen the leader of the secret guards."

Seeing the peach wood sword hanging around her neck, Li Yan glanced at it, picked it up, and put it inside her clothes.

"Once we return from the imperial mausoleum, I will take you to the secret guard camp to select people."

Visiting the imperial mausoleum to pay respects on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year is also a very important event.

Li Qingyan stretched and snuggled into the blankets, patting the spot next to her.

Li Yan lay down on his side and patted her.

She snuggled closer to Li Yan, grabbing a strand of his hair, "When will Yan Xu be back?"

No one except Li Yan was allowed to know what Yan Xu was going to do. But Li Qingyan wanted to know when he would return.

"What? You're not here, so no one's protecting you?"

I don't know where the anger came from.

Li Qingyan tugged at his hair forcefully. "Fine, don't talk then. Yan Xu, he..." Li Qingyan yawned loudly. "Is he safe?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. When children are energetic, they seem to never get tired, but when they are sleepy, they can fall asleep in the blink of an eye.

Li Yan shook his head, looking at the hair that was being held by her. The rabbit doll had been washed, but this little brat insisted on finding something to hold onto.

"I'll sew her another one to change into."

Li Yan turned to the side and a peach wood sword pendant fell from her neck. It was crudely made and very small, like something a child would use.

He always wore this around his neck, and even Li Qingyan hadn't noticed. He clutched the peach wood sword pendant, wanting to take it off and throw it away, but then sighed and put it back inside his clothes.

He then took out the pendant from Li Qingyan's neck and examined it. "The craftsmanship is really terrible."

Yan Xu stood atop the mountain on horseback, his cloak billowing in the wind. A whistle blew, and countless footsteps echoed through the mountains.

"Your Highness's secret guards must be the best; we would rather have none than use the worst."

As soon as Yan Xu spoke, the person behind him immediately knelt down, "Yes, General."

This is one of the training grounds for the bodyguards.

Those who make it this far are already one in a hundred, but to be by Li Qingyan's side, one has to be one in ten thousand.

The token hanging from his waist was exactly the same one he had held in his hand that day. A small, fluffy ball dangled from the token, identical to the pom-pom that decorated Li Qingyan's head.

He reached out and touched it, a flicker of tenderness in his eyes. He wondered how they were doing…

Li Qingyan dreamed that he had turned into a rabbit, and was stomping his feet on Li Yan's head, but Li Yan couldn't catch him.

"hey-hey……"

Li Yan was startled by the sudden laughter. Looking at Li Qingyan, who was laughing foolishly in her sleep, he shook his head helplessly, reached out and hugged her, patting her gently.

"What a stupid child you gave birth to!"