Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 745 - 465 The Way

Chapter 745: Chapter 465 The Way

As the chen hour bell rang, the warm sun punctually pierced the frosty mist enveloping the sky, casting its rays over the solemn flying eaves and upturned corners outside the Taihe Hall.

Ministers from the early morning court session trickled out of the Taihe Hall, some in groups of two or three engaged in quiet discussion, while others hurriedly strode toward the exit of the Palace City.

Only after the last minister disappeared from view did Li Yucheng slowly rise to his feet from the low desk in front of the golden throne.

His movements were slow, light, carrying an air of powerless exhaustion.

After standing still for a long while, Li Yucheng slowly bent down to pick up a document from the low desk.

The document was filled with words written in bold, dragon-like strokes.

This had become a habit of his over the ten-plus years of his regency.

To record every discussed matter of state, and after adding his annotations, present it for his father the Emperor’s review.

Over those ten-plus years, in well over a thousand morning sessions, never once had there been an omission, and today was naturally no exception.

After perusing the day’s document, and having confirmed everything was correct, Li Yucheng’s gentle voice filled the silent hall:

"Eunuch Nie, would you trouble yourself to present this to Father Emperor?"

"..."

The voice echoed, and a few breaths later:

A middle-aged eunuch, wearing the luxurious attire of a First Grade court official with a soft and effeminate manner, suddenly appeared from behind the golden throne and in an instant, arrived beside the Crown Prince.

The Emperor’s closest companion, Eunuch Nie.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Eunuch Nie bowed his head in acquiescence, while habitually scanning the document.

Though the document would be presented each time, the Emperor might not necessarily read it, and to prevent any omissions, he, as the great companion, must first scrutinize it before conveying it.

However, this kind of record was somewhat superfluous; it was merely an expression of the Crown Prince’s attitude.

After all, both sides knew that although the Emperor did not attend court, he had other, more precise ways to monitor the government.

His gaze briefly paused, and Eunuch Nie’s normally drooping eyes showed a flicker of surprise as he raised his gaze inadvertently toward the Crown Prince, but then he suppressed the confusion in his heart.

Being close to the Emperor was like keeping company with a tiger, and a eunuch must keep to his place.

Even though he was the Emperor’s closest confidant, he could not interfere in the Emperor’s family affairs, not even when the Crown Prince, amidst such troublesome times, proposed transferring the Third Prince to Dongying.

In the silence,

Eunuch Nie spoke in his slightly effeminate tone:

"Then I will present this to the Emperor now."

After seeing the Crown Prince nod in agreement, Eunuch Nie’s figure disappeared from the Taihe Hall in the blink of an eye.

Not long after Eunuch Nie left, a eunuch wearing the attire of a Third Grade court official slowly emerged from the shadows of the hall, approaching Li Yucheng with a respectful bow:

"Your Highness, shall we set out for your residence now?"

Because of some earlier licentious examples, Dayan had established rules that adult Princes, without imperial order, could no longer stay overnight in the Palace City, not even the regent Crown Prince.

Hearing his grand companion’s query, Li Yucheng stood in place, silent for a moment, then turned to glance at the golden throne illuminated in the brilliance atop the dais, a trace of melancholy flashing in his eyes, just as he was about to respond, he suddenly heard a voice by his ear:

"Yucheng, come to Qingxin Pavilion."

...

...

...

Qingxin Pavilion was located at the center of a vast heavenly pond in the northwest of the Palace City,

Due to the wetland climate, the morning frost mist had not yet dissipated, and the cool breeze blowing across the lake surface created ripples while disturbing a flock of wild geese that resided there, giving it the appearance of a heavenly realm on earth.

Under the guidance of Eunuch Nie, Li Yucheng arrived at the top floor of Qingxin Pavilion, where he once again saw his father, the Emperor.

The old man with white hair and a hunched body still wore the same attire.

A plain white robe beneath an imperial dragon robe.

He was seated cross-legged on the bed, softly tapping a low table with one hand, and clutching the morning record that Li Yucheng had just written with the other.

Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, falling on him, with the wrinkles on his face deeply etched, making him look all the more aged.

After leading Li Yucheng into the room, Eunuch Nie turned and left.

Li Yaoxuan did not speak immediately, instead looking over the paper in his hands with interested eyes, while Li Yucheng quietly stood by with his head bowed.

After a long while,

"Tap."

Li Yaoxuan laid the paper on the low table and slowly shifted his gaze, asking softly:

"Do you know why I called you here?"

Li Yucheng bowed and answered without pretending to be confused:

"Your son knows."

Hearing this, Li Yaoxuan’s lips curled into a smile with a profound meaning:

"Since you know, then I will directly ask you, is what you’ve written in this morning’s record truthful?"

Li Yucheng bowed his head and asserted:

"Since it has been presented to Father Emperor, every word written therein is true."

"Heh heh....."

Li Yaoxuan’s turbid eyes momentarily cleared, scrutinizing his eldest legitimate son up and down for several breaths; the sharpness of his gaze was chilling.

Li Yucheng remained silent, still bowing his head.

After several breaths,

Li Yaoxuan let out a long sigh, unfolded his crossed legs, and slowly stood up from the bed:

"You, as the regent Crown Prince, may not be aware that Dongying has actually sent an ambassador to Di’an."

Speaking, Li Yaoxuan moved towards Li Yucheng, his steps light, but seeming as if they were stepping on Li Yucheng’s heart.

After a moment of silence, Li Yucheng spoke with his head still bowed:

"Your son is aware of the Dongying ambassador. Does Father Emperor refer to those blond-haired barbarians?"