The queen's words echoed in the bedroom, not only a warning to Li Xingchen, but also a warning to everyone present.

She knew very well that as a member of the royal family, every decision she made concerned the future of the country and the dignity of the nation, and there must be no rashness or selfishness.

“Xingchen, you need to understand that true strength does not rely solely on the continuation of bloodline, but lies in the inheritance of morality, wisdom and ability. You should set an example and become a role model for the people, rather than trampling on the dignity of others for your own selfish desires.” The queen said earnestly, her eyes showing both severity and expectation. She hoped that her son could return to the right path and rediscover his sense of responsibility and mission as a prince.

Li Xingchen lowered his head and clenched his fists. He never thought that his mother, who had loved him since he was a child, would teach him like this.

"Mother, you love me the most. Do you know what people outside say about me? They say that I can't inherit the throne without a child. Is it wrong for me to want to have a child? Please help me. I want to have a child of my own, just one. Please!"

Li Xingchen's voice was a little choked up. He was always good at pretending to be pitiful to soften the queen's heart.

He looked up at the queen, with a pleading light in his eyes, as if at this moment, he was no longer the high and mighty Third Prince, but an ordinary child who longed for his mother's understanding and support.

The queen looked at Li Xingchen with mixed feelings.

She knew very well how much pressure the rumors from the outside world put on Xingchen, but as a mother, she hoped to see her son win respect with his own abilities and virtues rather than just relying on the continuation of his bloodline.

And considering what Li Xingchen had done, she absolutely could not be soft-hearted towards Li Xingchen.

"Xingchen, you are wrong." The queen took a deep breath, her tone both loving and resolute, "My child, as a prince, you should understand that responsibility and duty are far from being measured by blood. Your value does not lie in whether you have children, but in whether you can make substantial contributions to the empire and the people. The voices of the outside world are ultimately just clouds. If you really want to be respected by the world, you should prove your worth with your actions."

The queen paused, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes, and she continued: "As for you and Han Luo, although I don't like her as a human, since you have married her, you should cherish this fate and face the challenges of life together. Not having children does not mean that your marriage has lost its meaning. True love is to support each other and weather the storms together, rather than relying solely on the bond of blood."

At this point, the Queen looked at Li Xingchen and continued, "Besides, didn't you ask for this marriage? You gave up your marriage with Princess Sheng Rao and chose to marry a human woman. This was your own choice, so you should have expected not to have children. Why do you need another child now?"

Li Xingchen's body trembled slightly when he heard this. He had never expected that his mother would mention his marriage with Han Luo so directly, and he had never expected that she would mention Sheng Rao.

"Mother, Sheng Rao is inherently vicious. What she has done makes her unworthy of being my prince's consort?"

Li Xingchen is still slandering Sheng Rao, but he doesn't know that the Queen knows everything he has done.

"She's vicious? Xingchen, where did you send her? Do you need mother to remind you? Don't forget that Sheng Rao is a princess of the mermaid tribe. Although mother is not a member of the royal family of the mermaid tribe, she is also a daughter of the Duke's family. Mother knows how protective the mermaid tribe is. What you did was too much. If the mermaid tribe knew about it, do you know what would happen to the human empire?"

The queen questioned it. She never thought Li Xingchen would be so bold and cruel.

Li Xingchen's face turned pale in an instant. He didn't expect that what he did was so close to offending the mermaids' bottom line, and he didn't expect that the queen knew all about his actions.

"But as long as you don't tell anyone, no one will know! And Sheng Rao can't get out if she's locked up there!"

Li Xingchen still tried to explain himself, but his voice was trembling and uneasy.

He realized that he might have really touched an insurmountable limit, and that this uneasiness came more from the unknown, but he did not regret doing so.

The queen shook her head, a hint of disappointment and pain flashed in her eyes.

"Xingchen, do you think power can cover up everything? In this world, there is no impenetrable wall, especially when it comes to race dignity and interests. Although the mermaids and the human empire coexist peacefully on the surface, there are undercurrents behind the scenes. Any slight disturbance may lead to unpredictable consequences. You can easily imprison the mermaid princess today, but how do you know that there won't be a more powerful force to retaliate tomorrow? We, the royal family, should understand the principle of 'peace is beneficial to both sides, while fighting is harmful to both sides'."

She walked closer to Li Xingchen and patted his shoulder gently. That action contained both the tenderness of a mother and the majesty of an elder.

"My child, power is a double-edged sword. It can make you stand at the top, but it can also make you fall into the abyss. As a prince, you should learn how to use it correctly, instead of using it to satisfy personal desires or settle personal grudges."

Li Xingchen lowered his head and remained silent for a long time, as if he was digesting the Queen's words, and as if he was reflecting on his own behavior.

The bedroom fell into silence for a moment, with only the occasional sound of wind outside the window breaking the tranquility.

"But mother, I don't regret it. Han Luo and I are in love. I don't like Sheng Rao. Han Luo just doesn't have a child now. If you can find a mermaid to give birth to a child for us, it would be great."

Until now, Li Xingchen still hasn't given up asking the Queen to find him a mermaid to bear his child.

Upon hearing this, the queen frowned, and a look of disbelief and deep worry flashed in her eyes.

She realized that Xingchen's desire for power and obsession with the continuation of his bloodline had far exceeded her expectations, and had even begun to touch upon the delicate balance and taboos between races.

Although there is marriage between the mermaids and humans, this matter is not that simple.

What's more, finding a mermaid just to have children without giving her a name.

"Xingchen, do you know what you are saying?" The queen's voice was low and serious, and every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting Li Xingchen's heart.

"You really disappoint me!"

The queen's words were like ice, instantly freezing the air in the bedroom. Even the sound of the wind outside the window seemed to stop at this moment.

She looked at Li Xingchen, her eyes that were once full of love and hope, but now filled with pain and disappointment.

The queen knew very well that her son had gone further and further down the wrong path, but she was still unwilling to give up and tried to use her last bit of reason and maternal love to bring him back on track.

"Xingchen, do you think that the mermaids are your pawns? They are creatures with wisdom and emotions, not tools for reproduction. Your idea is not only disrespectful to the mermaids, but also a stain on the honor of our royal family. Although there is a tradition of marriage between us and the mermaids, it is based on mutual respect and understanding, not to satisfy one's own selfish desires."

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