I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

"Between you two, father-in-law and son-in-law, who really has the final say?"

Qin Li asked.

Lu Heng cupped his hands in greeting to Huangfu Song, then said to Qin Li, "Of course, my father-in-law's word is law."

Qin Li nodded and extended an arm: "Please, Lord Huangfu, there is something I need to discuss with you. There are too many people around on the street."

Huangfu Song snorted coldly and followed Qin Li into the alley behind the Imperial College.

The alley was filled with guards that Qin Li had transferred from the Crown Prince's residence. Each of them looked fierce and had exceptional martial arts skills.

If Qin Li doesn't budge today, even Huangfu Song won't be able to bring Lu Shushu out.

In the alley, Qin Li got straight to the point: "Lord Huangfu, I presume Commander Sui has already informed you about my intention to make Lu Shushu the Crown Prince's concubine."

Huangfu Song glared at him and waved his sleeve, saying, "Don't even think about it!"

"Shushu is about to enter the palace to become Empress. Is the Crown Prince and His Majesty trying to steal her away? Is this some kind of rebellion?"

Qin Li wasn't afraid at all and said, "How is that stealing? The matter of Shushu entering the palace to become the empress is still far from being settled. This doesn't count as stealing; it's more like pursuing her."

"I have long heard that Lord Huangfu's granddaughter, Lu Shushu, is well-educated, intelligent, and wise. My position as a concubine is vacant, and I wish to make Lu Shushu my concubine. I humbly request Lord Huangfu to grant me this favor."

Huangfu Song snorted coldly and said, "With so many women around His Highness the Crown Prince, why choose Shushu as his concubine when there are so many others?"

"How could I not know what His Highness the Crown Prince is planning? He simply doesn't want Shushu to enter the palace and take the Empress's position."

Qin Li's smile slowly disappeared, and he said, "It's good that Lord Huangfu knows. The position of Empress can only be established after I sit in that position. If that old bastard dares to establish an Empress, I will kill him. I will kill him one by one."

"If Lord Huangfu does not believe me, feel free to send the book to the palace."

"I have already made concessions and am willing to make Lu Shushu my concubine, so that Lord Huangfu will have something to say in front of that old man."

"If Lord Huangfu insists on refusing, then we will proceed with the worst option."

"You sent Lu Shushu to the palace, and I'll find a way to kill him!"

"You dare!"

Huangfu Song trembled with rage, his fists clenched tightly.

If this had happened when he was younger, he would have already thrown a punch.

Qin Li glanced sideways, his tone unusually calm: "Lord Huangfu has been fighting against me for that old man for so many years, don't you know my temper? Whether I dare to do it or not, others may not know, but don't you, Lord Huangfu, know?"

Qin Li really dares... Huangfu Song thought to himself.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, there was nothing Qin Li wouldn't dare to do, especially in the position of Empress.

This is also one of the reasons why Huangfu Song didn't want Lu Shushu to enter the palace; Qin Li really would find a way to kill Lu Shushu.

"He keeps calling me 'old thing,' he keeps calling me 'old thing.'"

Huangfu Song couldn't help but reprimand him, "Is this how your teacher taught you? He is your father, and even more so, the emperor of our Great Zhou."

Qin Li remained unfazed and casually replied, "Teacher? Lord Huangfu, you mean those pedantic scholars who only spout grand theories? When I was young, I considered them my teachers, but now, I don't acknowledge any of them. My only teacher now is Elder Snake."

"My teacher was a man of the martial arts world. He told me that if anyone dares to bully you, you should not tolerate it. If they punch you once, you should punch them back three times. You cannot suffer a loss. This is the simplest and most straightforward principle that my teacher taught me."

"That old fool knows perfectly well that I care most about the Empress's position, yet he still insists on making her the Empress. Isn't that a slap in my face? How can I not retaliate?"

"Father? Lord Huangfu has witnessed how we, father and son, have become like this. Lord Huangfu, ask yourself honestly, have you been a responsible father?"

Huangfu Song fell silent.

Huangfu Song witnessed the entire process that led to the current state of Qin Li and Emperor Xuan.

In his opinion, neither side should be blamed; both sides bear responsibility, but Emperor Xuan bears even greater responsibility. As emperor, Emperor Xuan was far too wary of his eldest son, Qin Li, and didn't treat him like a son at all.

Qin Li is not weak or incompetent, which is why he has become the way he is now.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Li said, "To tell you the truth, Lord Huangfu, either you make Lu Shushu a concubine, or you send Lu Shushu into the palace and I will find a way to kill her. There are only these two paths, there is no third path."

"I know that in Lord Huangfu's heart, the Crown Prince's residence is not a good place either, but the current situation is that Lord Huangfu has no choice."

Qin Li is right. He had no choice. Otherwise, Huangfu Song would have objected when Emperor Xuan wanted to make Lu Shushu empress.

Qin Li was doing this to help him, but the Crown Prince's residence was ultimately not a good place, and Huangfu Song did not want his granddaughter to jump into a fire pit.

Qin Li was well aware of Huangfu Song's predicament, and he added:

"Considering Lord Huangfu's many years of meritorious service to the Great Zhou, I will make another concession."

"I won't force her into marriage like that old man did. I'll make Lu Shushu fall in love with me and willingly become my concubine. What do you think, Lord Huangfu?"

Huangfu Song did not answer the question directly, but said, "Let this old man go in and see Shushu."

"You may go in, but Lord Huangfu, please do not reveal my identity."

Huangfu Song nodded.

Qin Li then waved his hand, signaling the guards to make way so that Huangfu Song could go in to see Lu Shushu.

With a creak, the courtyard gate was pushed open. Lu Shushu, who was inside the house, heard the noise and went to the window to peek outside.

Upon seeing that it was Huangfu Song, she happily pushed open the door and ran out, throwing herself into Huangfu Song's arms.

"Grandpa, Grandpa, you're finally here! There are two bad guys in the house who won't let me out."

Zhou Biao, who was on guard duty in the courtyard, was immediately displeased upon hearing this: "Miss Lu, who's the bad guy? You blatantly stole my young master's jade thumb ring, and we haven't even settled accounts with you yet. You're just crying wolf."

Lu Shushu glared at Zhou Biao fiercely, wishing she could sew his mouth shut with a needle and thread.

Huangfu Song looked at Zhou Biao: "You go out first."

Zhou Biao shook his head.

Huangfu Song then said, "Your young master told you to go out."

Zhou Biao then cupped his hands in greeting and left the courtyard.

After Zhou Biao left, only Huangfu Song and Lu Shushu remained in the courtyard.

Huangfu Song looked at Lu Shushu carefully and was relieved to see that she was not hurt. He then pulled Lu Shushu to sit down in the courtyard.

Before Huangfu Song could speak, Lu Shushu said, "Grandpa, you must stand up for me and arrest those two bad guys."

A loving smile appeared on Huangfu Song's face as he said, "Shushu, let's not talk about that now. Your grandfather has a question for you."

Lu Shushu said, "What's the problem? Grandpa, please ask."

"You're not young anymore, it's time for you to get married. Do you want to be like your mother, or like your aunt?"

Lu Shushu's mother married Lu Heng, who had a younger sister who married the son of a high-ranking official in the capital. The two led completely different lives.

Lu Shushu's mother married down, but lived a happy and fulfilling life. Lu Shushu's aunt married up, but was looked down upon by her husband's family and had to have three abortions.

"Grandpa, why are you saying all this? Shushu is still young and wants to spend more time with you," Lu Shushu couldn't help but say in a spoiled tone.

Huangfu Song said very seriously, "Tell me quickly, do you want to be like your mother or like your aunt, so that your grandfather will have a better idea."

Lu Shushu then said, "Of course I want to be like my mother. Although my aunt wears gold and silver every day and looks down on our family, she is always beaten by my uncle. Over the years, she has never had fewer injuries. I don't want to be beaten every day. I would rather live a simple life with three meals a day."