The mistress is not a cannon fodder, the cold prince falls in love with her every night

Li Ji knelt down solemnly.

He kowtowed three times to Li Guo respectfully.

"Father, don't worry. Ji'er will protect the country and will not let you down."

Li Guo nodded with satisfaction.

Li Ji was the successor he personally chose, and he was very satisfied with him in all aspects. He was very relieved to leave the country to Ji'er.

The only person I'm worried about is the Queen Mother.

"The Queen Mother is old. I am not with her anymore. Ji'er, you have to take good care of her for me."

"Father, don't worry."

Li Guo sighed.

He and the Queen Mother hadn't had a particularly harmonious relationship in recent years. Every time he went to see the Queen Mother, she was unhappy.

"I am a selfish person."

"I can't be like you, caring about the world and taking the happiness and well-being of the people of the world as my own responsibility. For the sake of the world, you can tolerate everything, even sacrifice your own happiness. Ji'er, my heart is too small, so small that it can only accommodate one person."

"I feel so sorry for you. I put the entire burden of the world on you alone, and now I am running away."

Li Guo looked at Li Ji and spoke earnestly.

To be honest, Li Ji also felt sorry for his uncle, who was now his nominal father.

He should have been a breeze, blowing freely over hills and rivers, but he was trapped in the palace.

"Father, you are not selfish at all."

"Your heart is filled with love and responsibility. In order to protect Ji'er, you chose to embark on a path you disliked. Although you've been trapped on the throne for so many years, you've never delayed state affairs simply because you didn't like them. You're busy handling state affairs every day, from morning till night, without a single moment of slacking off."

"Ji'er knows that father wants to leave Ji'er with a peaceful and prosperous world. Father, you have done it."

"Now, Ji'er has grown up and is able to shoulder all of this for you, father. You can just go and find your own life with peace of mind."

Li Ji has changed a lot over the years.

In the past, he would never have said such considerate words.

Seeing Li Ji like this, Li Guo felt truly relieved.

Mature and steady, with a big heart of love.

Daqi needs such an emperor.

After explaining the matter to Li Ji, Li Guo came to the Queen Mother's palace.

"Your Majesty. The Queen Mother has just gone to bed."

The nanny was a little surprised to see the emperor coming so late at night.

Thinking of the estrangement between mother and son over the years, Mammy said:

"Your Majesty, I will go and wake up the Queen Mother."

"no need."

Li Guo waved his hand.

"All of you please leave. I will just sit outside the Queen Mother's bedroom."

The nanny agreed and retreated with all the palace maids.

Benzoin was burning in the bedroom, with wisps of smoke rising from the copper stove, and a tea table was placed by the window.

Li Guo sat down at the tea table and began to boil water and make tea.

The Empress Dowager had been studying the new tea ceremony since the time of the late Emperor, and now she has mastered it. Every piece of tea set on the table shows signs of long use.

I made myself a cup of tea and it was filled with fragrance.

Unfortunately, it’s not as delicious as the one my mother made.

"This is this year's new tea. Madam Dingguo sent it over some time ago."

I don't know when the Queen Mother stood up and walked to the tea table.

"Longjing tea is delicate and cannot be brewed with boiling water. Get up and let me come."

Li Guo sat still and reached out to pour water.

"Mother, let me serve you today."

The tea soup is steaming and has a refreshing aroma.

The Queen Mother looked at her son and something moved her.

It has been many years since the mother and son sat down to drink tea and chat in such a calm manner.

Under the light, I saw a few strands of white hair on my son's temples.

But obviously, he is only twenty-five.

The Queen Mother sat down opposite.

Li Guo poured her a cup of tea and said softly:

"Mother, although I am not good at tea ceremony, this is my filial piety. Please just have a sip today."

For no reason, the Queen Mother had a bad feeling in her heart.

He lowered his head, took a sip, and commented:

"It's barely edible. It's a waste of a good thing."

"Hehehe."

Li Guo chuckled.

After deciding to leave, he felt extremely relieved.

"Son, you still remember that drinking tea in Shengjing wasn't done this way before. It was quite troublesome. Only the rich and powerful could afford to drink that kind of tea. Ordinary people found it troublesome and drank from large covered bowls. This way of drinking tea was introduced by the wife of Duke Dingguo."

"Yes! The late emperor took me to Suji for dinner, and we saw many new and interesting things. This tea art was secretly taught to me by the wife of Duke Dingguo that time. I also won the late emperor's heart with this skill."

Looking back on the past, it seems like a lifetime ago.

"The tea market in Shengjing is booming now, and the entire Daqi region has seen a significant increase in tax revenue just from tea alone. Not to mention border trade. Tea is exported to Beimang and Dali in exchange for their horses, cattle, sheep, salt, and iron. With the opening of the tea-horse trade routes to the north and south, and the start of sea trade, border trade is booming, and the people are all prosperous. Life has improved, and everyone longs for peace and no longer wants to fight."

During the years since he ascended the throne, Li Guo has done a lot.

For example, they encouraged commerce, opened the Tea-Horse Trade Route, and opened up border trade. In the past two years, they also began training the navy, preparing to lift the ban on sea trade and open up maritime trade on a large scale.

However, he planned to leave this matter to Li Ji.

"Your Majesty, thank you for your hard work in making Daqi what it is today."

The empress dowager had to admit that compared to the conservative emperor of the past, the emperor was more daring and did many things well.

"Mother, it's actually the Crown Prince who should be thanked."

"???"

"These ideas were all proposed by the Crown Prince. Mother, I am not an enterprising emperor. In this respect, the Crown Prince is more capable and more suitable for this position than I am. Mother, over the years, facts have proven this point. My original choice was not wrong."

The Empress Dowager was also surprised to hear what the Emperor said.

However, she still couldn't get over it.

"The Crown Prince is indeed very kind. However, that's no reason for Your Majesty to deceive me. Who am I to you? I'm your mother! Your mother! I'm not your enemy! Not an outsider! How dare you team up with so many people to deceive me!"

"Your Majesty, this is what chills my heart!"

After so many years, the Queen Mother still could not forgive the Emperor for deceiving and lying to her.

"Mother, if I hadn't done that back then, how could you have let me go? I've clearly told you everything I'm thinking, but you just won't support me. I have no choice!"

Li Guo stood up from his seat, walked to the Queen Mother and knelt down.

"Mother, I know I have gone too far and have caused you great sorrow and grief. I have come here today to apologize. I beg for your forgiveness."

As he said this, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the Queen Mother.

Years of grievances finally turned into tears. The Queen Mother supported the Emperor and cried:

"Son, I'm not wrong either. I shouldn't force you."

The mother and son hugged each other and cried bitterly.

Li Guocai helped the Queen Mother to stand up.

"Mother, it's cold at night, go to bed quickly. Your son is leaving."

The Queen Mother reluctantly let go of Li Guo's hand.

Watch him disappear outside the palace gate.

Mammy came in and said:

"Queen Mother, go to bed early."

The Queen Mother shook her head, put on some clothes and walked towards the small kitchen.

She knew that her son was about to leave.

The throne couldn't hold him back, and she, as his mother, couldn't keep him away either.

"I'll make some more almond cookies for him to take with him on the road."