I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

"father!"

"Where are we going today? Why are we dressing Huayang up like a fairy?"

Early that morning, Qin Li's daughter, Princess Huayang, uttered her sweet, childlike voice from her room.

Hua Yang stood on a bench, letting Qin Li dress her up. He not only put her in a new dress, but also put several flowers in her hair and drew a flower between her eyebrows.

In Huayang's mind, she was only dressed up like this by her mothers during festivals like Chinese New Year.

But today, she asked, and it wasn't a holiday.

Qin Li finished writing the final stroke on Hua Yang's brow, handed the vermilion brush to the maid beside him, reached out and patted Hua Yang's head affectionately, saying, "We're going to the palace today because it's your grandfather's birthday banquet. We need to wish him a happy birthday!"

"Grandpa's birthday banquet?"

Hua Yang frowned slightly and said bluntly, "Then I won't go. He's not nice to me. He's always two-faced. He's the person I dislike the most."

Upon hearing this, Qin Li couldn't help but smile.

See? Even a child knows that old man isn't a good person.

"You must go. You don't need to go with him. After you enter the palace, you can stay with your second uncle. Do you like your second uncle?"

Hua Yang's eyes immediately crinkled into a smile as he opened his mouth and said, "I like her, but I like my second aunt even more. But Father, why is my second uncle a monk?"

Qin Li didn't explain much, and reached out to lift Hua Yang off the stool.

Seeing that it was getting late, he took her to the palace for a banquet.

At the palace gate, Qin Li carried Huayang down from the carriage.

Just as he was about to take his daughter into the palace, he happened to run into an old acquaintance coming out.

Qin Li, who was holding Hua Yang's small hand, couldn't help but stop and ask, "Commander Han, what's going on here?"

The familiar face was none other than Han Zhen, the commander of the Imperial Guards.

However, Han Zhen now had a new scar on his face, which seemed to have been left in the last few days.

Upon seeing Qin Li, Han Zhen clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Greetings, Your Highness. I am no longer the commander of the Imperial Guards. I apologize for any disrespect I may have shown Your Highness in the past."

Upon hearing this, Qin Li was visibly taken aback.

He was perfectly capable of being the commander of the Imperial Guards, but he just quit without a second thought.

Han Zhen was actually willing to give that up?

At this moment, Sui Ge, the commander of the Imperial Guards, also came over.

He whispered the truth to Qin Li in his ear.

It turned out that two days ago, Emperor Xuan punished Han Zhen in front of everyone, making Han Zhen lose face.

Han Zhen hasn't come to work for the past two days, but he did come this morning, only to submit his resignation.

He said he was going south to follow Huangfu Song.

After understanding, Qin Li looked at Han Zhen again: "You really left at the worst time. It seems you won't be able to see today's good show."

Han Zhen gave a wry smile and said, "My life is worthless, so I'd better not stay and watch the show. I wish Your Highness the best of luck!"

After saying that, Han Zhen left the palace he had guarded for half his life, carrying only a small bundle on his back, looking very lonely.

Watching Han Zhen's departing figure, Qin Li couldn't help but ask:

"Does he know something?"

Sui Ge, holding the sword, shook his head: "Your Highness, I can assure you that he knows absolutely nothing. However, having worked in the palace for so many years, he probably guessed it. But please rest assured, Your Highness, he won't cause any trouble."

Qin Li nodded and patted Sui Ge on the shoulder:

"Then let's stick to the original plan and not mess things up."

Sui Ge immediately clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, without your order, not a single person will be allowed to leave this palace today."

Qin Li gave a soft "hmm" and led Hua Yang's little hand into the palace.

Then, the palace gates creaked shut.

……

Inside the palace, a magnificent song and dance performance is underway.

Emperor Xuan, the old man of longevity, sat on the dragon throne.

He was flushed from drinking and extremely happy.

When people get old, the happiest things throughout the year are just a few things.

Of all the things, birthdays are the happiest.

"Rewards, rewards, everyone gets a reward!"

In his joy, Emperor Xuan was very generous and waved his hand, bestowing many fine things upon his subjects.

The ministers who received the rewards knelt down to express their gratitude, showering them with compliments.

"Imperial Advisor, why don't you drink it?"

Emperor Xuan raised his golden wine cup and, seeing that his newly appointed Imperial Preceptor Huikong had not drunk any wine, asked him a question.

Huikong clasped his hands together and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, but drinking alcohol is forbidden in Buddhism."

With a "smack," Emperor Xuan reached out and slapped his forehead:

"How foolish of me! I've forgotten this Buddhist precept. Alright, alright, I won't drink it."

Emperor Xuan poured himself a cup of fruit tea and gestured for Huikong to have a cup with him.

When Huikong made the gesture, Emperor Xuan was overjoyed.

"Envoy, why aren't you drinking? I've never heard of such a rule in Northern Mang."

Seeing that Temuhun had not drunk any wine, Emperor Xuan's expression showed slight displeasure.

Refusing to drink would be disrespectful to the emperor.

Temuhun realized what was happening, quickly stood up, and raised his wine cup with both hands, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. It is truly my fault that I have been delayed in your country for so long, yet the peace talks have still not been concluded. I am extremely anxious, extremely anxious indeed."

"Oh? It hasn't been finalized yet?"

Emperor Xuan asked knowingly, "It's just a minor friction and conflict, why hasn't it been resolved yet? Which link in the chain has gone wrong?"

Seeing this, the Zhao brothers quickly stood up and said:

"Your Majesty, it is the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince has been unwilling to admit it."

"How dare you!"

Emperor Xuan slammed his fist on the table and roared, "What on earth is the Crown Prince up to? I haven't even settled accounts with him for his southern expedition against the Buddhist Kingdom, and now what kind of trouble is he causing now!"

Upon seeing this, the Zhao brothers quickly made a few sarcastic remarks to the Crown Prince.

Surprisingly, this time, the Crown Prince's faction, led by Xiao Yuanlu, remained completely silent.

The Zhao brothers scratched their heads, thinking to themselves that this was truly bizarre.

However, they didn't think much of it, assuming that it was Emperor Xuan's birthday banquet and Xiao Yuanlu and the others shouldn't offend him.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"

As the palace eunuch loudly announced the order, the singing and dancing in the hall immediately stopped, and the Zhao brothers quickly sat down.

Qin Li took Hua Yang's small hand and slowly stepped into the main hall.

After scanning the room, all the officials bowed their heads, while the Zhao brothers seemed somewhat guilty.

After all, they had spoken ill of Qin Li while he was away.

"Why is the Crown Prince only arriving now? He's too late. He must punish himself with three cups of wine!" Emperor Xuan said with a rather displeased expression.

Just as Qin Li was about to speak, Hua Yang released Qin Li's large hand.

He jogged towards Huikong, stretching out his arms:

"Second Uncle, where have you been these past few days? Huayang misses you so much."

Second uncle?

Hua Yang actually called Hui Kong "Second Uncle"?

Wasn't Huikong a high-ranking monk from the Buddhist Kingdom, and the Buddha's last disciple? When did he become Huayang's second uncle?

Isn't Huayang's second uncle Qin Han, the King of Southern Xinjiang?

The ministers looked at each other, completely baffled...