The Crown Prince's Growth Story

The Crown Prince's Rise to Power

[Full Text]
Word Count: 21,000

Chapter 1: Brothers and Sisters

In a secluded square within the Forbidden City's inner palace,

a man and a woman were sparring, their swords locked in a fierce exchange, completely absorbed in their combat.

The man, Li Che, eighteen years old, was the current Crown Prince, meaning that once the Emperor passed away, the throne
would fall into his hands.

The woman, Han Yanling, eighteen years old, was the daughter of Grand Commandant Han Zheng and the Emperor's chosen consort.

"Your Highness's swordsmanship has improved rapidly, congratulations!" Han Yanling, dressed in a warrior's uniform,
smiled , sheathing her sword. A gentle breeze ruffled her long, flowing hair, adding
a touch of feminine grace to this stunningly beautiful woman who already possessed a heroic air.

Li Che sheathed his sword and said with a wry smile, "Yanling, please don't call me Crown Prince anymore, okay? The official
investiture ceremony won't be until next spring. Besides, I don't like people calling me 'Your Highness' all the time."

Han Yanling giggled, "Your Highness, don't you know? The Emperor has already issued a decree that from now on,
you are not allowed to be called the Third Prince anymore, or you will be punished."

Li Che looked around and shook his head, "There's no one else here. Yanling, please just call me Brother Che or Li
Che!"

Han Yanling smiled and came to stand in front of him, holding up her hands to compare their heights, and said happily, "Brother Che has grown taller again
!" Her tone was that of a child.

The two had known each other for five years. It was Han Yanling who had suggested moving into the palace because she was acquainted with Princess Xiuning
, and later became Li Che's swordsmanship teacher. They had initially treated each other as siblings, but later they were unexpectedly designated as
husband and wife , which made their relationship awkward.

Li Che admired her beautiful face up close, a surge of emotion welling up within him, and for a moment he didn't quite hear her words.

He reached out and gently took her soft, boneless hand, staring intently at her as he asked, "Yan Ling, can you tell me honestly, would you really
be willing to be my Crown Princess?"

Han Yan Ling met his gaze, not pulling her hand away, and softly replied, "Didn't I already say? Becoming
the Crown Princess would be Yan Ling's blessing."

Li Che shook his head, "That's not what I meant. I was asking if, without Father's decree of marriage, Yan Ling would still be
my Crown Princess?"

Han Yan Ling fell silent, not speaking.

Li Che said calmly, "I understand, Yan Ling was forced, you…"

Han Yan Ling shook her head, "It's not like that…"

She looked up at him, saying, "It's just that I've always only seen you as a brother, and never thought I'd be
with you…"

Li Che's heart trembled slightly. Did that mean she had never had any feelings for him?

Han Yanling, discerning his thoughts from his expression, said softly, "Brother Che, please don't be like this. To be honest,
even I can't quite figure out how I feel about you."

Li Che gazed at her, gently released her hand, and sighed, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have
pressured you like that."

Han Yanling looked at him intently, then suddenly smiled, "Brother Che has grown up again, starting to understand how to test someone's
feelings ."

Hearing these words, tinged with a hint of praise but also a touch of sarcasm, Li Che didn't know what to feel.

Han Yanling gently took his hand and called out, "Come on, it's time for dinner."

Li Che watched the retreating figure of this beautiful woman, who sometimes seemed like a sister and sometimes like a lover, and followed her.

**********

...

The only way he could keep his spirits up was by admiring the beautiful Princess
Xiuning muttering to herself before him.
"Eighth Prince!" Li Xiuning suddenly called out.

"Ah...? Oh...! Yes... what?" Li Tong stammered, bewildered. Li

Xiuning had intended to scold him for being lazy, but seeing his silly expression, she couldn't help but laugh.

Li Tong, seeing his sister's charming smile, exclaimed, "Sister Wang's smile is so beautiful!"

But Li Xiuning quickly wiped the smile away, coldly saying, "Stop flattering me... I'm punishing you by making you copy today
's lesson. Hand it in to me the day after tomorrow!"

Li Tong, looking miserable, pleaded, "Sister, please have mercy... I have an
archery contest with the Little Prince and Brother Li Heng tomorrow morning!"

The Little Prince referred to his cousin Li Zhi, and Li Heng was the commander of the Imperial Guards, a cousin of Li Che and Li Tong.

Li Xiuning said indifferently, "That's none of my business! Anyway, if you can't hand it in, you won't be allowed to leave for a week, and you
'll have to come to class every day!"

Li Tong's eyes narrowed, and he smiled, "So, Sister Wang enjoys seeing me that much?" Glancing at him with Li Xiuning's
gaze , he hurriedly said, "The day after tomorrow it is... Sister Wang... I'll take my leave!" He turned around, and
with a creak, the door opened; he was gone. His movements were incredibly swift and graceful.
Li Xiuning was first stunned, then gave a wry smile.

Suddenly the door opened again, and Li Tong stood by the door, laughing, "Sister Wang, please don't call me Eighth Prince. '
Eighth sound very nice. 'Tong-di' is more appropriate."

Li Xiuning gave him a disapproving look, and he chuckled and slipped away to eat.

************

As was customary, unless there were special circumstances, Li Che and Li Tong ate at Guangling Palace.

Guangling Palace was the second largest building in the palace, second only to the emperor's main palace, and it was also where the two of them lived.
The palace was divided into thirty bedrooms, a main hall, side halls, and a garden. The two brothers dined in the side hall.

Each had some maids and guards to serve them personally. However, they often
ignored them.

Firstly, both brothers were already skilled in martial arts, and secondly, the two brothers, especially the eighth prince Li Tong, often did
many shady things, so all the guards were sent elsewhere.

Seeing Li Tong eating with great relish, Li Che laughed, "So appetizing! Did your elder sister punish you today
?" In fact, he had originally gone to Xiuning Palace with Yan Ling, but Li Xiuning had stopped him.

He was unhappy, but couldn't bear to disobey his most beloved elder sister, so he returned to eat with his eighth brother.

Li Tong, still with his mouth full of food, mumbled, "Of course... I was punished by copying that essay from the Great Learning
..."

Looking at his younger brother's uncouth eating habits, Li Che felt a strange warmth; to him, this was like
family.

Even those close to him, like his sister Li Xiuning and his fiancée Han Yanling, were always overly polite, making him
feel extremely uncomfortable.

At this moment, Li Tong, as if he had finished eating, sighed and asked, "Brother, how did things go today? Did you get to kiss
Fairy 's lips?" In the palace, only he addressed Li Che that way. As for Fairy Yanling, it was a universally
acknowledged term of endearment among the royal sons of Li Tong's generation.

Li Che sighed, "Don't mention it. Just thinking about it ruins my mood." His beloved had implied that she had
never been interested in him, and had only agreed to marry him because of their parents' wishes. How could he feel good about that?

Li Tong looked at him and said, "Did you two have a fight? Or did she break off the engagement?"

Li Che glared at him and said, "Don't make wild guesses! Anyway, it's not what you think."

Li Tong sighed, "I see... I'll take a bath first, then copy some books... Sigh... Rou'er..." He
gestured to a young palace maid standing nearby and continued, "Prepare paper, brush, ink, and inkstone. I'll
need them ."

"Yes." Rou'er approached, gave a slight bow, and turned to leave.

Li Tong rolled over and quickly went to the bathhouse.

Li Che put a pastry in his mouth, secretly praised it, stretched, and said to the people behind him, "Then I'll
go back to my room too."

A thought struck him, and he whispered, "Ting'er, come with me."

The palace maid named Ting'er blushed and only hummed in agreement. She obediently followed him.

From this reaction alone, one could tell what had happened.

Ultimately, Li Che was still a young man full of vigor. Surrounded by beauties in the Forbidden Palace, with these exceptional
women serving him closely, it would be strange if trouble didn't arise.

However, Ting'er's status was somewhat special, as she had also been a close maidservant of Princess Xiuning.

Li Che's room was designed by himself, with bookshelves on both sides, and the doors, windows, and counters were all
neatly . The bedroom was relatively simple, with a seven-foot-wide bed in the center, and a dressing table on the left. On the other side was
a large screen, obviously for changing clothes.

Seeing him enter the bedroom, Ting'er blushed even more. She was one of the palace maids who had watched Li Che grow up, but
she never expected to become his first lover.

That day, Li Che hadn't intentionally taken her; it was only because he was drunk and lost control that things went wrong.

But after experiencing it, Li Che found that his feelings towards women were completely different. He not only became
curious , but his desire also intensified.

Li Che sat on the edge of the bed, beckoning her to sit beside him and smiling, "Sister Ting, there's no need for formalities here. Just treat
me like that crybaby I used to be."

Ting'er, two years older than him, lowered her head and said, "Brother Che, you'll really become the Crown Prince in eight months. The thought of you
becoming the Emperor makes me a little afraid of you..."

Li Che reached out and untied her hair, letting her half-curled hair cascade down. These
palace maids were beauties chosen from among thousands in each prefecture, and Ting'er was the most outstanding among them, her beauty
even surpassing that of the concubines in the inner palace.

"Why are you afraid of me, Sister Ting?" He reached out and removed her outer robe, and soon the beauty was only wearing
a pink bodice. Ting'er's pretty face turned red, and she whispered, "Serving a king is like serving a tiger... Oh..." Li Che gently rubbed

her breasts from behind. 　　Li Che's hands moved continuously as he softly said, "Does what Sister Ting is saying mean I'll be a heartless person in the future?" He reached out his index finger and, through the silk fibers, teased her sensitive nipple. 　　"Whoever becomes emperor... ah... emperor... oh... it's all... the same... ah~~!" Ting'er felt waves of pleasure washing over her, making her speak haltingly. 　　Li Che enjoyed the soft feel of her breasts as he gently bit her earlobe, saying, "Don't worry, Li Che won't ." 　　"Mmm... ah..." Ting'er could only tremble and moan softly under his increasingly rough kneading, unable to even muster the strength to speak. 　　Li Che stopped, removed the only clothing she was wearing, tossed it carelessly on the ground, and then pressed her onto the bed, brazenly licking her smooth skin with his tongue. 　　"Mmm..." Ting'er felt waves of tingling and itching wherever his tongue touched, making her feel both comfortable and uncomfortable. 　　Ting'er's long neck and slender legs were covered with Li Che's kiss marks. 　　Li Che admired her intoxicated expression and smiled, "Sister Ting, you're getting more and more beautiful." Ting'er gave him a slightly resentful look, then said with a touch of self-pity, "I'm afraid I can't compare to Miss Han, can I?" 　　Li Che hadn't expected such a compliment to elicit such a resentful remark. He said softly, "In my heart, you are different, each with your own unique beauty, each with your own strengths!" 　　Looking at the prince she had watched grow up, from a child to the handsome and dashing man suddenly realized she truly loved him. 　　Before, she might have just taken it as a joke, but unknowingly, she had come to value his words, yet a sense of inferiority had arisen within her. 　　She was just a commoner, naturally beautiful, but in the Forbidden Palace, every woman . Perhaps she could hold his heart for a while, but soon he would fall for another beauty and disregard her completely.

"That's it." She wasn't a woman of Han Yanling's status or position, so why should she compete with others?

Li Che's thoughts were simpler. He was very discerning when it came to feelings. He loved Han Yanling, and he
also loved Ting'er before him—that was all.

His feelings for Han Yanling were intense and uncontrollable, while his feelings for Ting'er were calm and stable.

While he wasn't disgusted by the attitude of those in the Forbidden City who treated women like playthings, he would never be as
debauched as other imperial relatives. He would take responsibility for every woman he had possessed.

Ting'er was about to speak when Li Che kissed her, simultaneously feeling his hands caressing her body
. She moaned softly, "Mmm...woo..."

Li Che withdrew his lips from Ting'er's cherry lips and instead took her pink nipple into his mouth.

"Mmm...ah..." Each suck and lick made Ting'er tremble, moaning softly.

Li Che gently parted her jade-like legs with his right hand, moving it to the inside of her thighs, teasing her pink labia with his fingertips 　　. "Ah...!" Under his teasing, Ting'er's pleasure intensified, and her moans became increasingly wanton. Li Che felt her lower body begin to wet, and switched to using his middle
finger to　　　　thrust

in and 　　out 　　. " 　　Ohh ... 　　With each thrust, a "sizzling" sound emanated from their joined bodies, followed by the woman's moans and the man's heavy breathing. 　　"Che... ahhh! Brother Che... so good... ah... ahhh!" Ting'er clung tightly to his body, her slender waist swaying to meet his movements. 　　Amidst the pleasure, Li Che didn't forget to observe the beauty beneath him. He saw her moaning and writhing ecstatically , her dazed eyes burning with lust. 　　The excitement and pleasure within them intensified, and their movements became even more violent. 　　"I'm... I'm... coming... coming...!" Ting'er gasped softly, then her whole body tensed , her arms and legs wrapping tightly around Li Che. 　　Li Che knew she was about to climax, and he thrust faster and deeper. 　　"Ahhhhhh!" Overwhelmed by the climax, Ting'er's half-open mouth let out a wanton moan , her still-thrusting vagina spurting out fluids, her body limply continuing to be pounded. 　　Li Che was just nearing ejaculation when he reached out and tightly embraced Ting'er's languid and powerless buttocks, continuing to accelerate. 　　"Oh..." Ting'er felt her body, still climaxing, experience another wave of pleasure under his fierce assault, but could only gasp weakly. 　　Li Che felt himself come too, a fiery pleasure coursing through his glans, his "dragon seed" gushing entirely into Ting'er's vagina . 　　The prince's seed, what else could it be but a dragon seed? 　　He pressed himself against Ting'er's beautiful body, breathing heavily. 　　Ting'er gradually recovered, slowly sitting up, and softly said, "I... I'll take my leave now." 　　Li Che reached out to stop her from dressing, saying, "No, I want Sister Ting to stay with me..." 　　Ting'er glanced at him and said, "Wouldn't it be bad if people saw us? I'd be gossiped about." 　　Li Che smiled and said, "Consider it Sister Ting getting up early to help me get ready!" 　　Although Ting'er still refused, she ultimately stayed. 　　Li Che gently embraced her, gazing intently at the beautiful scene of the crabapple blossoms in spring slumber. His thoughts involuntarily drifted to Han Yanling , and even his elder sister Li Xiuning and younger sister Li Jingning. 　　Lost in thought, he drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile 　　　　　　　　　　　, 　　Li Tong was engrossed in writing. Copying over ten thousand characters, while not extremely strenuous, was by no means easy. 　　Despite being only eighteen, he knew how to enjoy life, keeping Rou'er by his side, occasionally adding ink to his inkstone or massaging his head and shoulders. 　　Rou'er was also eighteen, but unlike Ting'er, she hadn't been chosen; instead, she had been sent to the palace "tribute," and due to her young age, she had been assigned as Li Tong's personal maid. 　　Li Tong stopped writing and impatiently shouted, "I'm not writing anymore! I'll write again tomorrow!" 　　He reached out and gently embraced Rou'er's slender waist, saying, "Rou'er, come and see my writing." 　　Rou'er shook her head and said, "Rou'er can't read." 　　Li Tong stuck out his tongue and said, "I forgot, but it doesn't matter. Rou'er, come with me to take a bath, okay? We couldn't bathe earlier, so let's go now!" He gently took her hand, and they walked to the bathhouse. 　　In the middle of the bathhouse was a pool that was half a zhang long and wide, with buckets of hot water on both sides. But the design was ingenious ; by simply pulling a mechanism, hot water would slowly be added to the pool. 　　Rou'er dipped her hand into the pool to test the water temperature, then came to Li Tong and whispered, "The water temperature is just right. Shall I help the Eighth Prince undress?" 　　Li Tong smiled and said, "No need, Rou'er can undress herself." 　　Rou'er asked curiously, "Me?" 　　Li Tong, in fact, was filled with lust and wanted to touch her, so he said, "How about this, I'll undress myself ..." As he spoke, he hurriedly took off his own clothes. 　　Rou'er blushed as she watched him, and when he came to her naked, she said in a panic, "This...this servant doesn't need ..." 　　Li Tong ignored her and simply removed her outer garment and bodice, revealing her snow-white body. 　　Although her body was not yet fully mature, it already possessed a delicate and curvaceous beauty, which, combined with her pretty face that was both delicate and childlike, would make anyone who saw her unable to resist pulling her into their arms. 　　The lustful Li Tong almost drooled at the sight, and quickly reached out and picked her up, jumping into the pool. 　　Rou'er, who had just landed, said in her uniquely gentle voice, "May I wash the prince's body?"

Li Tong, feeling the astonishing allure of her wet hair and body, swallowed hard and said,
"No need. I haven't moved around much today, so I'm not too dirty. Rou'er, on the other hand, worked hard all day tidying up my room. Shall I wash her body
for ?"

Rou'er hurriedly replied, "No...no need...this...this is my duty..."

Li Tong, of course, ignored her objections and began to wash her himself. At first, he simply wiped
and rubbed , but later it turned into caressing and kneading. He especially loved her pair of tender breasts, touching them
incessantly.

Rou'er was ignorant of matters between men and women, but her body gradually reacted to his stimulation. She felt strange yet
comfortable , but couldn't understand what was happening.

Li Tong, looking eager, praised, "Rou'er is truly beautiful, even more beautiful than Father Emperor's concubines!"
He then took her pink, tender nipple into his mouth, sucking and licking it.

"Mmm... Rou'er... dares not compare to the Imperial Concubine... Oh..." A tingling
sensation , causing her to involuntarily let out a soft moan.

Li Tong reached between her jade-like legs, exploring that untouched, mysterious area.

Rou'er dared not resist, and could only weakly submit to his manipulation. She felt a strong sensation between her legs
as Li Tong's hand caressed her sensitive labia.

"Mmm... Oh~~" Rou'er was weak all over, and could only lightly press her hands on Li Tong's shoulders for support.

Li Tong teased her while observing her expression, and seeing her react to his stimulation, he was
greatly excited.

"Does Rou'er usually wash here?" Li Tong
asked .

"Oh~~! Rou... Rou'er no... no... Ah...!" The pleasure in her lower body traveled through Li Tong's
fingers to Rou'er's body, and her small mouth kept letting out soft moans.

Li Tong could no longer contain himself. Just as he was about to strike with his sword, a shout came from outside: "Who's in
there?"

Li Tong cursed inwardly. Who was ruining his good time?

Chapter Two: The Assassin

"Who? Who's in there?"

The shouts outside grew louder, as if the bathhouse was already crowded with people.

Li Tong whispered, "Rou'er, quickly put your clothes back on, then go open the door."

Rou'er nodded shyly. She glanced at Li Tong shyly, and just as Li Tong was itching to get his hands on her, she moved to the edge of the pool,
picked up her clothes, and put them on.

Li Tong closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and picked up a towel to cover his face.

Rou'er straightened her clothes and went to the door, gently opening it.

There stood Zhang Zizhong, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, and a group of Imperial Guards. Zhang Zizhong was stunned when he saw Rou'er. He looked inside and saw Li Tong lying comfortably in the pool. He immediately
realized what was happening and hurriedly said, "Greetings, Eighth Prince. I apologize for disturbing you." He then turned to leave.

Li Tong said, "Vice Commander Zhang, please wait. What happened outside?"

Zhang Zizhong stopped and respectfully replied, "An assassin appeared outside His Majesty's palace just now, and two guards were
killed. Therefore, I am currently searching for the assassin."

Li Tong asked in surprise, "How is Father?"

Zhang Zizhong replied, "His Majesty is safe and sound, and is being personally guarded by Commander Li." Li Tong's heart 　　skipped

a beat, and he said, "Then Vice Commander Zhang, please continue with your duties!" 　　Zhang Zizhong secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then I will take my leave." He led his men away in a flash. Li 　　Tong, seeing Rou'er's stunned expression, was already being pulled away quickly by his slender hand. 　　Li Tong rushed back to his room, changed into civilian clothes, picked up his sword, and whispered, "Rou'er, stay in bed and wait for me." 　　Rou'er blushed, glanced at him shyly, and softly hummed in agreement. 　　Seeing her endearing appearance, Li Tong couldn't resist kissing her on the cheek. 　　Just as he was about to slip away to join the fun, Rou'er called out softly, "Prince, be careful." 　　Li Tong smiled and responded, then used his movement technique to quickly disappear. 　　　　　　　　　　　************ 　　Li Che stood on the eaves of Guangling Palace, gazing into the distance. In the distance, he could vaguely see several dark figures moving swiftly across the rooftops like ghosts. 　　He had just heard shouts of "Assassins!" and quietly moved away from Ting'er, who was holding him as he slept, grabbed his sword, opened the window, and went outside. 　　Like Li Tong, he was young and eager for challenges and new experiences. How could he miss such an opportunity to test his skills ? 　　These assassins were bold and clever, systematically using their swift movements to confuse the guards and keep them constantly on their toes . 　　Commander Li Heng of the Imperial Guards had seen this, so on one hand, he closely protected the emperor and sealed the palace gates; on the other hand, he sent his men to search for the assassins. 　　Li Che closely pursued one of the assassins. In the moonlight, he could vaguely see that the assassin's figure was imposing, and his lightness skill was quite remarkable , though not as good as his own. 　　The assassin suddenly stopped and turned around. Li Che saw two flashes of light; they were two flying needles. He was prepared, ducked to avoid them, and rushed forward 　　, drawing his longsword and swiftly sweeping it across the assassin's face. The assassin held the scabbard in his left hand and drew his sword in his right. He first used the scabbard to deflect the sword, then thrust the sword out with his right hand, aiming straight for his chest. Li Che dodged to the side and slashed at 　　the assassin's waist with his sword. The assassin still used the scabbard to block, and his right sword slashed down at Li Che. Li Che blocked with his sword, and with a clang , the heavy force of the attack made his right hand numb. 　　This was partly because he had just been intimate with Ting'er, so his strength was naturally relatively weakened. After these few exchanges , Li Che knew that his opponent's swordsmanship and strength were superior to his own, but it would still take some effort for the opponent to defeat him. 　　The assassin seemed unaware of his identity and had no intention of taking his life, merely coldly saying, " Aiding the wicked ," before leaping onto the roof of the opposite palace. 　　What could Li Che do but watch him go? Indeed, there's always someone more powerful! 　　Just who is this person with such extraordinary abilities? 　　Suddenly, a woman's scream came from afar. The sound came from Xiuning Palace.

Li Che thought this was probably a feint, but his heart was with Han Yanling, Li Xiuning
, and Li Jingning, who were inside the palace. Without further hesitation, he turned and walked away.

************

Li Tong followed the shouts of the imperial guards.

The entire palace was in unprecedented chaos, with a palpable sense of unease and paranoia.

"Hmph, these assassins are quite skilled."

Li Tong arrived at the Imperial Garden, where the sound of clashing weapons came from the main palace where Li En (the emperor) resided. His
heart swelled with excitement, and he was about to rush to their aid when he suddenly heard the sharp whistling of a blade cutting through the air behind him. He bent low to avoid the flying blade
, then rolled forward, drew his sword, and stood up.

Before him was an assassin wielding two short blades.

The opponent was also covered by a black cloth, and from her figure, it was clear she was a woman.

Li Tong flicked his longsword in his right hand, creating a silver flourish, and thrust the tip forward. With a clang,
the female assassin's twin blades deflected Li Tong's longsword. She then darted forward, her left-hand short blade slashing towards Li Tong's throat.

Li Tong's right hand surged forward, gripping the hilt of his sword and striking the blade against the incoming dagger.

Under his immense force, the female assassin lost her grip on the blade in her left hand, and it clattered to the ground.

Li Tong used his ultimate technique, moving with ghostly speed behind her, his longsword pressed against her neck.

His lightness skill was the strongest aspect of his martial arts; even Li Heng, the top guard, could only
match him in this area.

"Put down your weapon," Li Tong said calmly. In truth, he was incredibly excited by his victory, but his face
maintained a composed demeanor.

He pulled back the black cloth covering the female assassin's head and face with his left hand, and was immediately stunned.

Good heavens, she was so beautiful!

In the moonlight, her already fair skin appeared even more pure and beautiful. Her large, dark eyes were bright and
clear , her small nose and pale red lips were tightly pressed together.

"Kill me! I don't want to live anymore anyway!" With a mournful cry, the female assassin closed her eyes, a single
tear falling like a pearl, a truly pitiful sight.

Li Tong thought that if this woman fell into the hands of the Imperial Guards, her fate would be extremely tragic. Not only would she be crippled in martial arts, but she would also
be forced into prostitution, unable to live or die.

He smiled and said, "Do you want to die? I won't let you die." In truth, he
couldn't

strength to strike various vital points on her body, first paralyzing her fighting ability, then sheathed his sword, and then
quickly away.

****************

Li Che leaped back and forth on the rooftops, arriving at the top of Xiuning Palace.

Because Xiuning Palace was the residence of Li Xiuning and Li Jingning, guards were not allowed to enter the palace grounds
. For this reason, some palace maids had received martial arts training and were responsible for protecting them; Ting'er, for example, had a certain
foundation in martial arts.

Just then, a palace maid wielding a sword was slashed in the arm by an assassin and staggered backward.

Li Che let out a long roar and leaped down from the rooftop, using his superior height to unleash the
full all his might.

The assassin raised his longsword, trying to use the force to deflect this thunderous blow. Li Che stretched out his right foot,
kicking the sword away from the assassin's hand, and then severed the assassin's left hand with his right sword.

This assassin seemed quite tough; even with his arm severed, he merely let out a cold snort and quickly retreated using his agility.

Li Che could have thrown his longsword to kill his opponent, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Oh well, with an arm gone, the assassin wouldn't be able to escape the imperial guards' blockade.

Li Che looked down and saw the bloodied severed arm on the ground, a horrifying sight.

Turning back, he gently helped the wounded palace maid up; he knew her name was Le'er, and she was Li Jingning's close attendant.

"Is Le'er alright?" Li Che asked softly.

Le'er's pale face flushed slightly as she shook her head, saying, "Your Highness... I'm
alright..."

Li Che lifted her sleeve, examined the wound on her forearm, and then bandaged it properly with a belt.

He smiled and said, "Fortunately, it's just a superficial wound; it will heal in a few days."

Le'er stared blankly at the future emperor, somewhat flattered, seemingly forgetting even her pain for a moment. Hearing
his words, she lowered her head and said, "Le'er understands."

Li Che looked at her intently. Le'er was younger than Li Tong, only 17 years old,
the same .

Le'er lowered her pretty face, not daring to look at him; how could one not feel tenderness at her shy appearance?

Li Che longed to kiss her cheek, but dared not act too recklessly in front of everyone. He simply patted her
seemingly frail shoulder and said, "Go back and rest to apply the medicine. I'll go find Jingning."

Le'er hesitated, "This..."

Li Che urged, "Go. Do you intend to disobey the imperial decree?"

Le'er hummed in agreement, bowed, and said, "Then... this servant will take her leave." She turned and left.

Li Che first ordered his men to clean up the scene, then entered Jingning's palace. As soon as he entered the inner hall, Li Jingning, wearing only
an undergarment and a thin outer robe, rushed into his arms.

Li Jingning held him tightly, half-crying, and said, "Just now, when Jingning was playing the zither in the back garden, a
dark shadow pounced out. I... I was so scared..."

At 17, she was already a graceful beauty, and now she was even more stunning.
Her delicate and charming face, her figure brimming with feminine allure, and her unique and elegant demeanor made countless noble
young men vie to fawn over this heavenly beauty.

This stunningly beautiful woman had an unhappy childhood.

Li Jingning and Li Xiuning were both born to Consort Ning, Li En's most beloved concubine. Li Jingning contracted tuberculosis as a child, and Consort Ning
tirelessly cared for her day and night. Eventually, Li Jingning recovered, but Consort Ning died from contracting her daughter's illness.
Therefore, Li En disliked this daughter, believing she had stolen his beloved concubine, and treated her coldly.

Seeing this, her brother Li Che doted on his sister from a young age, and Li Jingning also felt an unusual attachment to her
half-brother .

Li Che felt the warmth of her soft body in his arms; although she was his own sister, he felt an indescribable excitement
.

Summoning his will, he gently pushed her away a foot, softly asking, "Are you alright?"

Li Jingning shook her head and said, "Fortunately, Le'er blocked the assassin, otherwise, Jingning might not have seen her brother
again."

Li Che smiled slightly and said, "No, the assassins' goal was to assassinate Father Emperor. Their attack on you was just to
distract the Imperial Guards."

Li Jingning asked in surprise, "Then how is Father Emperor?" In her heart, no matter how badly her father treated her,
he was still her most beloved father.

Li Che thought of Li Heng, believing that with him around, no one could touch a hair on her father's head, and said, "Don't worry,
Father Emperor is being protected by Brother Li Heng." He added, "It's late, Jingning should rest early!"

Li Jingning nodded obediently. For some reason, Li Che's words always made her feel unwilling to resist.
She came to the bedside and slowly took off her outer robe, allowing Li Che to feast his eyes on her beautiful figure, which was now only covered by her undergarments.

Li Che was startled and quickly turned around, his back to her, saying, "Then... Jingning, sleep well, I'm leaving
."

Li Jingning, of course, understood what was going on. Lying on the bed, she covered herself with the quilt and said softly, "
Is Brother leaving?"

Li Che turned his head, smiled slightly at her, nodded slightly, and walked out of the room. 　　　　　　　　　　　************ 　　Li Tong carried the female assassin back to Guangling Palace unnoticed and entered an empty room. Of the thirty-

assassin 　　on the bed, made a shushing gesture to her, and then released her speech-impairing pressure points. 　　The female assassin spoke, "What do you want...?" 　　Li Tong smiled and said, "Well... let me think about it... By the way, what's your name?" 　　The female assassin turned her head away and stubbornly said, "That's none of your business!" 　　Li Tong chuckled, "You won't tell me? Then... please forgive my rudeness." He reached out to unbutton her clothes . 　　The female assassin was startled and said, "My name is Qianru..." 　　Li Tong stopped and said calmly, "Then, if you obediently answer a few questions for me, I will let you go, okay?" 　　Qianru glanced at him and said, "Your Imperial Guards have sealed off all the main roads of the capital. Even if you let me go now, I can't escape, can I?" 　　Li Tong was unaware that the Imperial Guards had sealed off the palace. He scratched his head and said, "Then... I'll cover your escape!" 　　Qianru asked disbelievingly, "Why would you do that?" 　　Li Tong thought to himself, "If I let you go, why are you asking so many questions?" He said, "Anyway, I mean what ." Suddenly, a sly smile appeared on his face. "Besides, it's just me and you here, and you're so beautiful... no one will know what I do." 　　Qianru's pretty face flushed red, and she said angrily, "You..." 　　Li Tong stopped smiling and said seriously, "So, you have no choice but to believe me and answer my questions." 　　Qianru didn't know how to respond, so she closed her eyes and remained silent. 　　Li Tong asked, "Why do you want to assassinate the Emperor?" He deliberately concealed his identity. 　　Qianru said indignantly, "Li En has been conquering the south and the north, and he is tyrannical and oppressive. As long as he is in power, the people will not have a good life." 　　Li Tong was slightly shocked. He had always thought that his father's defeat of the Hu tribes and expansion of territory were remarkable achievements, but he had never thought about the drawbacks of exhausting the people and wasting resources. 　　Qianru resolutely said, "Even if I die, I will not betray them. " Li Tong stared at 　　her pretty face and suddenly laughed, "How old are you this year, young lady?" Qianru was stunned 　　, completely unable to figure out his intention, and answered, "17 years old." 　　Li Tong laughed, "So bold at 17 years old, I wonder who taught you martial arts?" He even found his own words funny, wasn't he only eighteen years old? It was just that because of his imposing figure, the other party couldn't . 　　Qianru knew he was trying to subtly probe her background, so she gave a soft snort and replied, "I taught myself this ." 　　Knowing he wouldn't get any more information, Li Tong stood up and said, "Your acupoints will release themselves in half an hour. Then you can walk from here to the south gate of Guangling Palace, where the defenses are weak, and you should be able to easily break through." 　　Qianru couldn't help but ask, "Why are you letting me go?" 　　Li Tong chuckled, sat down by the bed, and sighed, "Because I like you!" 　　Qianru glanced at him, meeting his burning gaze, and felt a wave of confusion wash over her. 　　She had risked her life to assassinate Li En, and after being defeated by Li Tong, she thought she was doomed, even to be humiliated. She never expected Li Tong to let her go so easily. 　　Li Tong chuckled and said, "If you'd like to stay and keep me company, I'd be more than happy to oblige." 　　Qianru glared at him and snapped, "Don't let me see you again! Otherwise, I'll definitely slap !" 　　Li Tong shook his head and stood up, saying, "You surely wouldn't want to hit my savior. Well then... farewell ." 　　Qianru asked in surprise, "Where are you going?" 　　Li Tong replied apologetically, "To capture the other assassins, of course!" 　　Qianru fell silent. 　　Li Tong opened the door and left, then gently closed it again. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter Three: Night 　　Li Che arrived at Li Xiuning's palace. It seemed there had been no attack. 　　Han Yanling and Li Xiuning occasionally slept together, chatting about this and that. What , only the two of them knew. 　　Li Che saw Han Yanling whispering instructions to a palace maid. This beautiful woman wore a pale yellow silk robe , which gave her a unique beauty in the night. 　　Han Yanling saw him at this moment, dismissed the palace maid, and waved to him with a smile. 　　"Did you see any assassins?" Li Che asked as he approached her.

Han Yanling shook her head slightly and said, "Just now, there was a scream coming from Princess Jingning's side, it should be..."

Li Che said, "The assassin's target is the Emperor, the others are just
bluffing ."

Suddenly remembering something, he laughed and said, "Luckily, they weren't foolish enough to come here and act recklessly, otherwise Yanling would have wiped
them out and routed them."

Han Yanling chuckled and said, "It's not as exaggerated as you say." A
captivating smile appeared on her beautiful face, making Li Che stare at her intently, completely losing his self-control.

Her beauty and Li Jingning's beauty were equally stunning, equally mesmerizing.

The difference between the two was: one joyful, one sorrowful. Han Yanling's beauty was full of joy and vitality, making people feel full of
life ; Li Jingning's beauty carried a faint sadness, making people feel pity.

Every time Li Che saw her, he would always tell jokes, trying to make her happy and see her smile.

Li Che moved closer, his clear eyes fixed on the beautiful woman before him. Han Yanling
felt a surge of nervousness at his increasingly aggressive distance, and was somewhat at a loss. Her gaze shifted away from him, looking at
the lingering shadows of the moonlit palace on the ground.

Seeing that she didn't move back or avoid him, Li Che boldly approached, softly saying, "I wonder if Li Che
may me a kiss?"

Han Yanling didn't speak; in fact, she didn't know what to say.

Did she like him? She didn't know. But one thing was certain: he would be her husband.

She closed her eyes, waiting quietly, wondering what the kiss would feel like.

Just as Li Che was about to touch her moist, pink lips, footsteps sounded. Li Che sighed inwardly, but still
moved aside, standing properly.

Li Xiuning stepped out of the room and, seeing their expressions, immediately knew what had happened. She smiled and said, "
Have I bothered you?"

Li Che said somewhat awkwardly, "Sister Wang... are you alright?"

Li Xiuning glanced at Han Yanling and said, "With Yanling here, how could anything happen?"

Li Che smiled and said, "Hmm... that's true."

Han Yanling rolled her eyes at Li Che and Li Xiuning and said reproachfully, "I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm going to sleep." Without even exchanging formalities
, she quickly slipped into her bedchamber.

The two looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh, as if the chaos outside had absolutely nothing
to do .

Li Xiuning suddenly asked, "How is Jingning?"

Li Che sighed, "She was a little frightened, and Le'er was injured again tonight. I think..."

Li Xiuning interrupted him, "No need to say anything, I'll go and keep her company now!"

Li Che nodded and said, "Then, I'll go check on her at the main palace first. Goodnight, Sister Wang."

Li Xiuning watched him disappear into the Xiuning Palace in a few quick steps.

**********

...

After hearing Li Heng's report, Li En frowned and said, "So that means most of the assassins have escaped?" 　　Li Heng knelt down and said in a deep voice, "This subordinate is incompetent." 　　Li En waved his hand and said, "Get up, this isn't entirely your fault. You may all leave for now, Tong'er stays ." 　　Li Heng hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, the assassins may return at any time, so..." 　　Li En said impatiently, "I told you to leave, so leave, understand?" 　　Upon hearing this, Li Heng was immediately frightened and fled in panic. 　　Li Tong found it amusing; even his usually imposing elder brother Li Heng could be so pathetic. 　　In the blink of an eye, the square returned to calm. 　　Li En pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Where is Crown Prince Che?" 　　Li Tong called out, "I saw His Highness the Crown Prince run towards Xiuning Palace." 　　Li En chuckled and said, "Good son!" He naturally assumed that Li Che was eager to see his Crown Princess. 　　Li Tong was anxiously waiting for Rou'er in bed and Qianru, who might not have left yet. He wished he could return to Guangling Palace immediately, but his father hadn't finished speaking, so as a son, he could only stand there obediently! 　　Li En glanced at the anxious Li Tong and smiled, "Tong'er, tell me, what do you and those children think about my betrothal of Yan Ling to the Crown Prince?" 　　"Those children" naturally referred to the group of young noblemen of the Li clan who often played with Li Tong. 　　Li Tong was puzzled; why was this being brought up all of a sudden? He smiled bitterly, "Of course, we're incredibly jealous." 　　Li En laughed and said, "Yan Ling is indeed naturally beautiful, but she's definitely not suitable for you." 　　Li Tong was greatly surprised and asked, "Why do you say that, Father?" He thought to himself: As long as she's beautiful, she's probably suitable for me, right? 　　Li En smiled slightly but didn't speak. 　　Li Che arrived at the square at this time. Only his father, his eighth brother, and several palace maids remained in the spacious square. 　　"Greetings, Father. Please forgive my lateness." Li Che knelt down. 　　"Get up. How are Yanling and Xiuning?" Li En asked. 　　Li Che, seeing that he deliberately omitted Li Jingning, sighed inwardly and replied, "They're fine. It seems the assassins are quite familiar with the palace ; none of the residences of skilled fighters were attacked." 　　A thought struck him, and he deliberately asked, "But what about Jingning..." 　　Li En interrupted him, saying, "Li Heng mentioned it earlier; there's no need to repeat it." 　　Li Tong didn't understand his brother's intention, but he clearly felt that Li En was deliberately neglecting his poor ninth sister. 　　Li En turned to Li Tong: "Tong'er, you may leave now!" 　　Li Tong gave Li Che a wink and left the square. Li En said 　　calmly, 　　"Che'er, come with me." 　　Li Che knew his father must have something on his mind, but he didn't know what it was about. He followed him into the vast main palace. 　　　　　　　　　　　********** ...

As he entered the room where the female assassin Qianru had been, a short blade suddenly pressed against his neck.

"Go in!" He recognized Qianru's voice and inwardly groaned; half an hour had already passed, and he had been
so careless.

Inside the room, Qianru suddenly said, "So you're the Eighth Prince Li Tong. No wonder you're so powerful."

Li Tong cried out inwardly for help. This female assassin had killed his father; would she kill him as compensation? But according to
Li Heng , these assassins didn't intend to kill indiscriminately; he should be considered innocent, right?

While he was still pondering these questions, the short blade was already away from his neck.

Qianru moved in front of him, glanced at him, and said calmly, "I'm leaving." For some reason, after
learning Li Tong's true identity, she felt a sense of disappointment.

Li Tong was stunned. "Where are you going?"

Qianru coldly replied, "That's none of your business, Your Highness."

Li Tong suddenly reached out and grabbed her, kissing her lips.

He did what he wanted; that was his nature.

Qianru was caught off guard by his kiss. Embarrassed and flustered, she pushed him away forcefully, causing him to take two steps back. She
wanted to rebuke him, but the words stuck in her throat.

Li Tong remained staring at her, speechless for a moment.

A touch of vermilion tinged Qianru's face, making her even more radiant.

The two gazed at each other, and a strange atmosphere filled the room.

Li Tong spoke, "Will we have a chance to meet again?"

Qianru was silent for a moment, then resolutely said, "If you ever get in our way again, I will kill you." She
turned and left.

Li Tong watched her leap away, her figure disappearing into the night.

He couldn't help but wonder, is this what it's like to like someone?

Wait…? Rou'er is waiting for me! What am I thinking about in this daze?

Li

En led Li Che into the inner hall, dismissed two palace maids, and sat down, saying, "Che'er dotes on Jingning very much,
doesn't he?"

Li Che, sitting below him, paused for a moment upon hearing this, but slowly nodded. "Father rarely
mentions Jingning, so why..."

Li En picked up the freshly brewed hot tea, took a sip, and a bitter expression appeared on his face. He sighed, "
I have never blamed her, never!"

Li Che couldn't help but ask, "If that's the case, then why did Father..."

Li En's eyes flashed with sadness as he sighed, "It's just that she looks so much like her mother.
Every time I see her, I think of Consort Ning..."

"Ning's mother is Consort Ning, whom I love most. "

Li Che knew his father was also a man of deep feeling, but for a moment he couldn't think of what to say.

Li En looked at Li Che and said, "When you reach my age, you will understand this feeling
."

Li Che blurted out, "But isn't that unfair to Jingning too? She lost her mother at a young age,
and Father ignores her. She..."

Li En interrupted him, "So I want you, Xiuning, and Tong'er to take good care of her for me, understand?"

"...I understand." Li En suddenly addressed himself as "Father,"
a request that Li Che found even more irresistible than "I, the King.

" Li En sighed and stood up, then suddenly remembered something and said, "I heard that Che'er's swordsmanship has improved again, and even Yan Ling
is no match for you, is that right?"

Seeing him stand up, Li Che also stood up, shaking his head and saying, "I guess Yan Ling is exaggerating a bit."

Li En reached out and gently patted his shoulder, smiling slightly, "A swordsman's strength can
be seen . You have indeed made great progress. This year's martial arts tournament will be Che'er's chance to show off his skills!"

The martial arts tournament was established by the ancestors of the Li Dynasty and is held annually. If the imperial examination is used to select scholars,
then this martial arts tournament is used to select warriors.

Li Che chuckled, "Tongdi even told me not to participate, lest I dampen his spirits."

Li En immediately regained his youthful composure, chuckled, and said, "Back in the day, Father was an invincible
swordsman in the palace."

Li Che, the only one in the palace who had ever sparred with Li En, naturally understood that even now, the battle-hardened Li En
was probably still the most skilled swordsman in the palace. Therefore, he wasn't too shocked when he heard that Li En had been assassinated.

Of course! Unless they had truly fought, how could anyone know who was superior?

Li En suddenly said, "By the way, Che'er, I heard that you once..." He stopped there.

Li Che was startled. Had his father found out about this?

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Li En laughed loudly, "Father was just testing you... You're just like
your father in the past."

Li Che felt extremely awkward and could only stammer in response.

Li En stopped laughing and said seriously, "Che'er has grown up, this is inevitable. But remember,
use beauty to please, but never be promiscuous, understand?"

Li Che said sincerely, "Che'er understands."

Li En suddenly yawned and said, "It's late, Che'er, you may leave now. What we just talked about must not be told to
others , understand?"

"Understood." Li Che replied, bowed and took his leave.

**********

"Rou'er...?" Li Tong returned to the room and found Rou'er practicing calligraphy at her desk.

When Rou'er saw him return, she was startled and quickly put down her brush and bowed to him.

"You don't need to bow in my room anymore," Li Tong instructed, then asked, "Rou'er, do you want to learn to write?"

Rou'er looked at him somewhat fearfully and nodded slightly.

Li Tong sat down beside her. His desk was on the floor, which was covered with a carpet.

Seeing that he hadn't even finished copying the entire book, Li Tong felt a headache coming on. He reached out and put his arm around Rou'er's waist, saying, "
How about I teach you tomorrow?" Rou'er nodded obediently.

Then Li Tong picked her up and carried her to the bedside, putting her down.

Rou'er's still-childish face flushed, but she lay there obediently.

Li Tong took off his outer clothes, slipped into the bed, and pulled the blanket over them both.

"Rou'er, don't we look like we're on our wedding night?" Li Tong propped himself up on his hands, smiling as he looked at her.

Rou'er gave a shy "Mmm," but turned her head away to avoid his gaze.

Li Tong didn't really know much about matters between men and women, only a rough understanding; Rou'er, of course, knew even less.

He reached out and unbuttoned her clothes, revealing an ivory-colored bodice. Li Tong placed one hand on her smooth shoulders and gently pulled down the two silk straps. In the dim light, he could still vaguely see the curves
of Rou'er's body . 　　Driven by lust and curiosity, his hands once again began a full-scale invasion . 　　Rou'er's body entered a state of tension she had never experienced before, her delicate skin trembling slightly . But how could Li Tong not be nervous? Only lust overwhelmed everything else. 　　"Mmm..." Rou'er's breathing went from light to heavy, and whenever Li Tong's ubiquitous hands brushed against her sensitive areas, a soft, sweet moan would sound. 　　Li Tong's mouth joined the invasion, starting with her forehead, kissing her. To suppress her unease and shyness, Rou'er closed her eyes, letting him do as he pleased. 　　At this moment, Li Tong's large mouth came to her still slightly erect breasts. Although she couldn't see anything under the covers, Li Tong could still imagine the pair of jade-like breasts he had been so fond of in the bathhouse. He quickly took them into his mouth, gently licking the cherry-like center with his tongue. 　　"Mmm... Oh!" Each strange sensation from her nipples made Rou'er's body tremble, emitting a delicate sound. 　　Li Tong's hands slid over her slender abdomen and short, delicate flower bush, heading straight for that mysterious fortress. His right hand rubbed and pressed, stimulating the girl's sensitive labia. 　　"Ah... Ya!~~" Rou'er's slender waist twisted slightly, trying to avoid Li Tong's army of fingers. 　　Both nipples were being teased simultaneously by his hands and mouth, while her lower body was invaded by his index finger. Rou'er was gradually overwhelmed by pleasure. 　　Li Tong watched with great interest as the beautiful girl moaned and writhed under his teasing, not in a hurry to possess her. 　　"Rou'er, tell me how you feel." Li Tong kneaded the girl's breasts with his left hand, while his right hand moved within her increasingly moist vulva. 　　Rou'er's pretty face flushed red, and she gasped, "Ah...so hot...oh...so itchy...ah...!" Her nipples and vaginal walls were being intensely rubbed by his fingers, producing a double pleasure. 　　Li Tong suddenly stopped, and Rou'er felt a void in her body. She opened her eyes and looked at him with some confusion. 　　Li Tong took off his clothes, threw them aside, and flipped her over, pinning her down. His already erect penis was aimed at the vulva that was leaking a little love fluid. Li Tong thrust hard, and with a "whoosh," his entire penis disappeared into the narrow vulva. 　　"So comfortable...! So this is what sexual intercourse is like...!" Li Tong thought to himself. 　　"Ouch!~~" Rou'er felt a sharp pain in her lower body, her whole body tensed, and tears flowed uncontrollably . 　　"Rou'er... what's wrong? Weren't you feeling very comfortable just now?" Li Tong didn't know this was the pain of losing her virginity and didn't understand why she was crying. 　　"This servant... is fine..." Rou'er gently wiped away the tears in her eyes and said softly. 　　Li Tong kissed her lightly and continued his conquest of the girl. 　　"Hmm... ah...!" Rou'er frowned and moaned softly, enduring the alternating impact of pain and pleasure. 　　"Hoo... so comfortable..." Li Tong panted as he thrust. 　　"Hmm!~~ As long as... Young Master is comfortable... that's enough... oh...!" Rou'er hugged Li Tong's neck with her hands, panting, her eyes gazing weakly at him. 　　Li Tong moved faster and faster, and the pleasure in their bodies rose accordingly. 　　"Ah... ah...!" Rou'er's arms around him tightened even more. 　　Li Tong thrust with all his might, then a tingling sensation ran through his lower body, and with a soft "whoosh," he ejaculated inside Rou'er . Rou'er's hands were still wrapped around his neck, and she gasped softly, "This servant feels so good... Thank you, young master ..." 　　Seeing her tenderness, Li Tong was moved and pressed her down, kissing her passionately. Rou'er responded , offering Li Tong her girlish passion without reservation. 　　Li Tong, however, had never considered how he should treat Rou'er, always treating her with the care and affection of a younger sister one moment, the tender love of a lover the next, and the bossy manner of a maid the following moment. But at this moment, Rou'er was undoubtedly his lover. 　　"Rou'er, you don't need to serve me tomorrow. Get some rest, understand?" Li Tong said softly, like a husband instructing his young wife. 　　Rou'er asked in surprise, "But young master has an archery competition tomorrow, and you also have to copy books..." 　　Li Tong's headache flared up again, and he said, "Then... let's talk about it when I get back tomorrow." Rou'er nodded. 　　Lying in bed, he held her in his arms and smiled, "It's time to sleep." 　　"Mmm..." Rou'er nestled in his arms and quickly fell asleep. 　　Li Tong looked at the sleeping beauty in his arms with satisfaction, thinking that in a few years, Rou'er would definitely grow even more beautiful. 　　Alas! ~~How is Qianru now? 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter Four: Martial Arts Showcase 　　Palace Square. 　　The next day, the palace quickly returned to calm, and the assassination incident did not have a great impact. 　　Li Che stood on the mountain near the palace, with Li Heng and Zhang Zizhong beside him. Although he was not as and exuded a captivating leadership charisma. 　　He had just returned to Guangling Palace last night and had only been lying in bed with Ting'er for a short while when he received an order from his father to investigate the cause of the assassination incident and the origin of the assassins. Therefore, before dawn this morning, he brought the two men to this mountain to study the assassins' entire assassination plan. 　　The two men understood that the Emperor wasn't doing this to force the Crown Prince to achieve anything significant. He simply wanted to involve him in various operations, allowing him to better understand the situation within the capital and strengthen the relationship between him, the future emperor, and their future "backbone." 　　Zhang Zizhong, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, pointed to a group of mountains surrounding the palace and said, "As I predicted, the assassins first approached the palace walls from here, then used arrows to kill the sentry guards, and finally infiltrated on a large scale." 　　Li Che exclaimed in surprise, "Is the Imperial Guard's vigilance really that poor?" The Imperial Guards and the Imperial Bodyguards protecting the capital were elite troops, selected from among the best, far superior in strength to local city guards and border garrisons.

Li Heng took out a short, thin iron arrow from his robes and said calmly, "This is a finely crafted iron arrow
found . It can pierce through ordinary armor. There must be a master of this kind of arrow among these assassins, capable of hitting
a fatal spot without a sound."

Li Che frowned and asked, "So even the death of a guard wouldn't raise any alarm?"

Li Heng explained, "This group of assassins planned meticulously, exploiting a weakness in the structure of our guards to
carry out this assassination."

Li Che was taken aback and asked, "Weakness? What weakness?"

Zhang Zizhong interjected, "Because our guards are divided into several..." "Ten groups, each with clear
mission instructions. They must not interfere with the actions of other groups while carrying out their missions; otherwise, it would be a violation of military orders,"

Li Che said. "So, as long as the assassins are fast enough, their methods are clean and efficient, and their timing is accurate, they can
create a period of time for them to infiltrate at will?"

Li Heng nodded, "That's right."

Li Che glanced at Li Heng and asked, "These assassins are so incredibly skilled; who exactly are they?"

Li Heng raised his eyebrows and said, "Their martial arts and weapon techniques are incredibly diverse; in the chaos,
I couldn't identify them, but some of them should be from local sword associations."

"Sword associations" refers to swordsmanship schools; officially established ones are called "sword associations," while private ones are called "martial arts schools." From
wealthy families to ordinary people, everyone sent their children to these sword associations to learn martial arts.

Due to the constant warfare, outstanding swordsmen often rose to prominence and achieved great success, hence the popularity of martial arts at that time
.

Upon hearing the words "Sword Society," Li Che frowned and said, "Shouldn't the people selected by the Sword Society all be loyal to our dynasty
? Why are there rebels?"

Theoretically, all swordsmen trained by the Sword Society would join the army to serve the country.

Zhang Zizhong sighed, "These people must have been incited or are connected with the rebels."

Li Che's gaze turned to a distant mountain range, and he said, "The rebels are becoming increasingly rampant. Does this mean the court
is failing ?"

Li Heng couldn't help but say in a deep voice, "Your Highness, may I say something?"

He rarely spoke to him in this manner. Li Che turned around and looked at him in surprise, "Brother Li, what do
you want to say ? Please speak freely."

Li Heng said, "In recent years, His Majesty has been waging war against the northern barbarians. Although he has won many battles, the casualties
are still quite high. In addition, the increased poll tax and land tax have been used to supplement the military expenditure. The people have suffered greatly from the war. This should be the cause of
the assassination ."

Li Che smiled and said, "Brother Li, do you want me to..." "Should these words be relayed to Father Emperor?"

Li Heng was secretly startled and hurriedly said, "These are just some of my humble opinions, Your Highness..."

Li Che waved his hand and said calmly, "The northern barbarians have always been a major threat to our dynasty's north. The north is mostly grassland,
suitable for the swift and unpredictable nomadic cavalry. They are ruthless; they massacre the inhabitants of any town they conquer, and force the women into
prostitutes . I still remember the tragic scene when Xu Dingmin, the Northern Garrison Commander, submitted his memorial, his voice choked with tears. Father Emperor was moved by
the suffering of the border people, which is why he launched a military campaign against the northern barbarians."

Xu Dingmin's entire family was slaughtered in the barbarian attack, and he hated the barbarians to the bone. However, due to
insufficient strength, he was powerless to resist, so he petitioned Li En, hoping the court would send troops to punish them.

Li Heng and Zhang Zizhong knew that he had not yet finished speaking and listened silently.

Li Che paused, then continued, "The Jiangnan and Jingxiang regions are prosperous and abundant, but the aristocratic families
are known for their extravagance. Therefore, my father ordered the taxes to be doubled and mandated that all noble sons must join the army. However, no sooner had these decrees been issued than locust plagues and floods
struck , immediately causing widespread resentment. I think the assassin should..."

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