At the tender age of eight, he was hastily dragged out and made emperor!

The most ruthless are those in the imperial family. But this is not about being heartless. As human beings, we all have moments of emotion. No one is born cold and ruthless.

The root cause of this situation lies in power itself.

With a large number of royal family members, interpersonal relationships become complex, leading to a multitude of ideas. And once power is involved, regardless of its size, it inevitably causes a lot of trouble.

Why should you get these things?

This one point alone determined some things.

A mature and shrewd emperor knows how to restrain his emotions and who to be affectionate towards and who to be indifferent to, thus preventing many things from happening.

However, on the other hand, being in such a situation for a long time can actually make people develop desires, whether for love, family, or friendship. Even if one is wary, it is still inevitable that one will be moved at times.

Chengen Palace.

At the palace gate.

Chu Ling, holding Chu Hui's hand, hadn't even entered the main hall when they saw figures moving about. In Chu Ling's mind, aside from those from the outer court who came to the banquet, the remaining people who were related to him by blood were just strangers, and there were many of them whom Chu Ling had never even met before.

If there were any familial bonds, why did no one come out to comfort the young Eighth Prince, who was squatting there grieving?

Even if he was born out of wedlock, he was still Emperor Taizong's son!

"It's just a family dinner, why be so nervous?"

Sensing Chu Hui's nervousness, Chu Ling smiled and comforted him, "Come on, accompany me into the hall." With that, Chu Ling took Chu Hui's hand and walked into the main hall.

This……

The crowd gathered in the main hall consisted of key figures from the outer court, led by Zongchuan and Changli; descendants of Emperor Taizong, led by Prince Ning Chuzheng; daughters of Emperor Taizu, led by Princess Wu'an Chujin; and daughters of Emperor Taizong, led by Princess Anle Chuxiu. Upon seeing the new emperor, they pulled Chu Hui along, chatting and laughing as they walked into the main hall, each displaying a different expression.

His Majesty and the Eighth Prince have a very good relationship.

Why were he allowed to enter with His Majesty?

Why is the Eighth Prince crying?

What's happening here?

Hmph! This is a tactic to win people over!

There is silence here, but the voices in one's heart are exceptionally loud.

"Your Majesty, I'd better return to my seat first." Feeling the gazes directed at him, Chu Hui felt extremely uncomfortable and whispered awkwardly to Chu Ling.

"What are you going back to your seat for?"

Chu Ling smiled and walked forward, saying to Chu Hui, "Come with me openly and honestly. Tonight, at this family banquet, my brother will stay by my side. I haven't seen my brother for a long time, and I really miss him."

As he spoke of these matters, Chu Ling scanned the various areas of the hall.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

In this atmosphere, everyone, with their own thoughts, bowed and paid their respects.

If this were at the beginning of Chu Ling's reign as the successor emperor, aside from the current high-ranking officials of the outer court, most of those related to Chu Ling would probably have looked down on him.

Why should a son born out of wedlock, who was disliked by Emperor Taizong during his lifetime, be called the successor emperor of the Great Yu?

But now that these people have learned about some of Chu Ling's actions, their attitudes have subtly changed.

Even though many still harbor resentment, how much of their thoughts and attitudes have they truly cared about in this situation and environment?

"Since this is a family banquet, there's no need for such formalities." Chu Ling continued walking, glanced at everyone in the hall, and said calmly, "Please, everyone, no need for formalities."

"Your humble servants kowtow in gratitude for the Emperor's grace."

Sounds echoed inside the hall.

The more it is a family banquet, the more careful one must be. A family banquet held in the royal family is different from one in an ordinary household. The latter is mostly filled with laughter and joy. Even if there is dissatisfaction or anger, people will choose to keep it to themselves for the sake of the head of the family or someone with prestige in the family. But in the former, it can be said that everyone has their own thoughts.

Chu Ling was aware of all this, but he didn't care.

Just be yourself.

Why bother thinking about what others are thinking?

Being too emotional and sentimental will only bring you more trouble and won't change anything.

"Li Zhong."

"The slave is here!"

Chu Ling's voice rang out in the quiet hall, and everyone standing in the hall looked towards the emperor with their own thoughts.

Chu Ling pulled Chu Hui to his rightful place. He paid no attention to the various arrangements before him. After a moment's glance, Chu Ling said, "Set up a seat for the Imperial Brother here."

"The slaves obey the orders!"

Li Zhong immediately bowed and said...

This……

Such behavior caused many people's expressions to change slightly.

The conversation with Chu Hui as they entered the palace was not the end of it.

During this family banquet, Chu Hui was also invited to sit before the emperor.

Some prominent people, seeing the eunuchs busy with their heads down, had many thoughts in their minds, but Chu Ling didn't care at all what they thought of them.

"Brother, didn't I tell you before that you should come to me whenever you have free time?" Chu Ling sat down on the throne, smiling as he spoke to Chu Hui.

"I was thinking of taking my younger brother around when he came to the Shanglin Garden, but you disappeared after returning to the Tenth Prince's residence."

"Your Majesty, my younger brother~"

Chu Hui was somewhat uneasy. It wasn't that he didn't want to go to Shanglin Garden. After Chu Ling returned to Yudu and a turmoil broke out in the court, Chu Ling tentatively returned to Shanglin Garden. During this time, Chu Hui also returned to the Tenth Prince's Mansion.

Living in his residence was mostly boring. Chu Hui wanted to leave the residence and go to Shanglin Garden to see his elder brother, but Chu Hui's wish did not come true.

The reason is self-evident.

"In such an environment, how could even a young child not mature prematurely?" Seeing Chu Hui's reaction, Chu Ling sighed, "Anyone connected to the royal family, regardless of distance, will find nothing easy to do. That's why the three empresses probably don't have any other thoughts about these people."

Putting himself in the role of the Third Empress, he knew that a group of people with their own agendas gathered around him, and no matter how well they disguised themselves, they would still be seen through. Therefore, Chu Ling knew that the Third Empress was probably very lonely inside.

"The Empress Dowager Cixi, the Holy and Benevolent Empress Dowager, has arrived!!"

"The Holy Empress Dowager, Zhaoyu Cishou, has arrived!!"

"Empress Zhuangsu has arrived!!"

A series of loud voices rang out, and the focus shifted from Chu Ling. Amidst the sounds of bowing, Sun Li, Xu Zhen, and Wang Xiu, dressed in their finest attire, entered the hall, with Sun Li leading the way.

"Grandmother, stepmother, sister-in-law!" In this atmosphere, Chu Ling smiled, stepped down from his seat, and walked towards the three empresses who were approaching.

Compared to Xu Zhen and Wang Xiu's calm demeanor, Sun Li's inner turmoil was evident.

Because she saw Chu Hui awkwardly bowing before the emperor.

Seeing Chu Hui reminded Sun Li of his mother.

But when she saw Chu Ling walking over and smiling as he reached out to help her, Sun Li's heart clenched, and many scenes flashed through her mind.

"Grandmother, let me help you."

Chu Ling smiled and looked up at Sun Li, saying, "I've stayed at Shanglin Garden for a while now. I hope Grandmother won't blame me for not giving you her morning greetings?"

That little rascal.

Upon hearing this, Sun Li smiled, recalling Chu Ling's actions at Shanglin Garden. However, her feelings upon seeing Chu Ling again were completely different.

"What am I blaming you for?"

As Sun Li walked, she said to Chu Ling, "You are the Emperor of Great Yu, and you wish to stay in Shanglin Garden for some time. Is it because of this that I blame you?"

"Right."

Chu Ling laughed and said, "Grandmother's heart is as vast as the sky. How could she blame her grandson for being a little playful?"

"Haha~"

Sun Li burst out laughing at Chu Ling's words.

Sun Li's smile surprised Xu Zhen and Wang Xiu, who recalled the events of the past few days and realized that the Empress Dowager hadn't smiled in a long time.

But right now, he's chatting and laughing with the new emperor.

How could this not make them overthink?

Moreover, there were things to do at this family banquet, and they were all determined to follow the Empress Dowager's wishes when they came.

no way.

When too many people talk about something, it can become confusing. Just like some things that happened before, although Xu Zhen and Wang Xiu were surprised, they did not change their minds.

The scene before them, however, stirred up a storm of emotions within many people in the hall.

When did the relationship between the Empress Dowager and the new emperor become so harmonious?

In particular, the way Chu Ling and Sun Li chatted and laughed made some people feel a little dazed. Wasn't this something that only happened when Emperor Xuanzong was still alive, before he ascended the throne, and when he was with the Empress Dowager?

That's changed?!