Too high to reach

Chapter 34 Missing You When You're Not Seen
A large crowd stood at the palace gate.

Upon seeing his arrival, several young men stepped forward, calling him "Seventh Brother!" and "Seventh Brother!"

He was dressed in fine clothes and wore a polite smile, unlike his usual intimate demeanor towards Li Chang.

The chief eunuch Liu Su bowed with a smile on his face: "Your Highness Prince Qi, you have worked hard. His Majesty has been waiting for a long time and sent this old servant to welcome you!"

The emperor's chief eunuch came to greet him, but Prince Qi remained seated on his horse, acting nonchalantly.

The twin guards, named Zhao Zuo and Zhao You, leaped off their horses and quickly stood before the black horse. Zhao Zuo pulled the reins, and Li Jing slowly dismounted, taking the sword from his waist, which Zhao You then accepted.

Li Jing glanced at the group, including Liu Su, and nodded slightly in greeting, "Everyone, are you all well?" This condescending attitude aroused dissatisfaction among the group.

But none of them dared to show it, simply saying, "Okay! Okay!"

"Seventh Brother, Father is waiting for you in the palace!"

Li Chang enthusiastically ushered them in: "Seventh Brother, Seventh Brother, let's go!"

The fourth prince, Li Yun, silently watched Li Jing's arrogant demeanor. Even though he was Li Jing's brother, he still had to come and greet him!

He sighed inwardly: He had been with Li Zhen when he was young. Consort Dong was favored, and even the Empress had to avoid her. Being with Li Zhen would have brought him some benefits. To benefit from that, he had to speak ill of the former Crown Prince, which resulted in him being scolded by Ming An and beaten by Li Jing.

Afterwards, it turned out they had suffered for nothing!
His mother pleaded with him so hard that he eventually gave in.

Some didn't submit, and the result was...

...In the end, they all died! You all deserved your bad luck.

Nowadays, he just follows the crowd and doesn't rely on anyone.

I just hope that this bastard in front of me can stir up another bloodbath, fight to the death, and I can be the ultimate beneficiary...

Li Jing's arrogant attitude did not affect Eunuch Liu's smiling face. He bowed slightly and led the way, reporting to him on the Emperor's various expressions of missing his son.

Standing at the entrance of the main hall was Crown Prince Li Huan, flanked by his close confidant, Ninth Prince Li Pu.

The prince wore a golden crown and a dark purple sable cloak.

Upon seeing Li Jing, he took two steps forward to greet him: "Seventh Brother! You're finally back!" His voice was joyful.

Li Jing's expression remained unchanged as he gave a slight bow: "Fifth Brother!"

"Seventh brother has been away for more than two years again. You've worked so hard for Father and the court!"

Of the emperor's fifteen sons, excluding the deceased Li Zhen, Li Huan was the most handsome. He had a straight nose, a square mouth, eyes like stars, and teeth like snow. He was tall and elegant, with a refined demeanor.

Not to mention that sincere and cheerful smile, which always inspires trust and goodwill in people for no reason.

When Ninth Prince Li Pu saw Li Jing, he felt uneasy and his whole body began to ache.

His arm was broken by the bastard in front of him. It was quite serious, leaving him with lasting effects.

Even now, whenever my arm hurts, the weather immediately changes! It's more accurate than the Imperial Astronomical Bureau!

This hatred will never be forgotten!

He tried his best to hide the malice in his heart and looked Li Jing up and down.

He endured hardship and fought several major battles, yet he survived! He even returned victorious! It's truly a miracle that Heaven is blind!
He was the only legitimate son of the original empress, and thus held a high status.

He has so many achievements; he is very capable.

Is that amazing?!
Ha! It's a pity that no matter what achievements you make, they're all just a stepping stone for the crown prince. The greater your merits, the more tragic your death will be!
In recent years, the Crown Prince has been favored by his father and supported by the court officials, so his position is secure.

The Emperor's body... swayed like a candle in the wind. As long as the Crown Prince doesn't make any major mistakes, the throne is his!
All I ask is that I help the Crown Prince ascend the throne, and then my only request is to have you skinned alive to vent my hatred.

His mind was filled with fantasies of Li Jing being subjected to the torture of slow slicing: how he would beg, kneeling at his feet like a dog, whimpering, finally howling in despair… the image was vivid and clear.

Therefore, his gaze towards Li Jing turned fierce and malicious. Suddenly, Li Jing's narrow eyes swept coldly over him...

Instantly, Li Pu broke out in a cold sweat from head to toe, his whole body aching. He quickly offered an innocent, ingratiating smile.

Li Jing gave Li Pu an undisguised look of contempt, then turned and entered the palace accompanied by the Crown Prince.

The emperor sat there, watching his first wife and legitimate son enter.

His face was dark reddish-brown, his body robust, and he exuded an aura of dominance. Completely different from the gentle and refined Crown Prince beside him!
This is the only son left to him by his first wife, Zhao Nianci.

Longing and grief intertwined, bringing tears to his old eyes...

Li Jing had already taken off his hat and cloak, revealing a full military uniform underneath. With long strides, he strode over as if no one else was there...

"Your subject greets Your Majesty." He knelt very close to the Emperor.

The emperor was still in a daze...

This son is the only person he needs to consider before deciding how to treat him.

When he was seriously ill last year, he was also thinking about these things the most. In his early years, his struggle for the throne had its ups and downs, but that's how it is in every dynasty, so what's there to think about?

After ascending the throne, he held great power and overcame various upheavals.

Since the Empress Dowager was not his biological mother, everyone was just being polite and didn't make things difficult for each other.

Empress Zhao was his first wife; she was generous and steady in her actions. She pleased him in every way.

Now, Empress Jiang is even more reserved and cautious.

His two favorite concubines, Consort Dong and Consort Zhong, had nothing more to do with him than to express their affections without him having to put in any effort.

As for his children... the two in his mind were Princess Ming'an and Prince Li Zhen.

He had personally raised this girl and this boy. One was unrestrained and bright, the other audacious and arrogant. He had molded them into the people he hoped they would become, but could never truly be.

And this bastard in front of me!
God knows how happy Nianci was when she gave birth to these twins!

But if Ming'an is a gift from heaven, then this bastard is a punishment from heaven!
He hit Li Zhen! He hit her while she was on the ground! She got a black eye, almost went blind!
That's his most beloved son!

The emperor's face showed a mixture of joy and sorrow.

...But in the end, they all died. His respected empress, his most favored Consort Dong, and the precious Ming'an and Li Zhen...all died.

As the Son of Heaven, his word was law, and he could turn the world upside down. He held the power of life and death over all people!

But he couldn't keep them...

That deep hatred and sense of powerlessness is the greatest regret and humiliation of my life.

The arrogance in his son's bones, as he grew older, only became more refined and profound, without diminishing in the slightest.

"Your Majesty?" Eunuch Liu reminded him with a smile, "Isn't the prince's physique a bit of a surprise to you?"

Li Jing slightly lowered his chin, his long, narrow phoenix eyes were downcast, and his thin lips were pursed. There was no trace of filial piety or respect on his face.

His broad shoulders and muscular chest exuded a powerful presence. Even kneeling before me, I could feel his unyielding attitude.

I am gentle and wise, and I am kind and gentle. How could I have given birth to such a thing!
"Get up! Sit down!"

"Thank you, Father Emperor!" Li Jing stood up and sat down next to the Emperor.

The crown prince readily agreed and sat opposite him.

(End of this chapter)