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

Night gradually fell.

The cold wind howled.

Starry.

The Daxing Hall was quiet inside and out. The Imperial Guards, the Imperial Clan Guards, and the Merit Guards were all on duty, each performing their duties. Compared to the Imperial Guards and the Merit Guards, many of the Imperial Clan Guards on duty tonight were forcing themselves to stay alert, and some even couldn't help but yawn.

Li Zhong stood outside the palace gate, like a statue, but everything around him was within his sight.

Li Zhong knew that these gang leaders who had been summoned to the palace would need time to be tempered and refined if he wanted them to truly learn from their experiences; otherwise, they would not take him seriously.

Compared to these things, what Li Zhong was truly concerned about was the Daxing Hall.

Li Zhong glanced at the palace gate, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally.

The main hall was brightly lit.

"Crack~"

Apart from the occasional crisp sound, there were no other sounds inside the hall.

On the daybed by the window.

Chu Ling sat cross-legged, holding a white chess piece, and sitting opposite him was Chu Hui.

Three years have passed.

It's not just Chu Ling who has changed.

The once tearful Eighth Prince of Da Yu, who accompanied Chu Ling to Shanglin Garden, has also undergone considerable changes.

"Brother, the Imperial Guards made quite a commotion today."

The once quiet hall began to change as Chu Hui spoke.

"tell me the story."

Seeing Chu Hui make a move, Chu Ling followed suit.

"Then Your Majesty should give me more time to think."

Seeing this, Chu Hui smiled and said to Chu Ling.

"Have I urged my younger brother?"

Chu Ling looked up and glanced at Chu Huidao.

"Too."

Chu Hui grinned and picked up a black piece, saying, "You don't know that when I received the imperial decree and rushed back to Yudu from Shanglin Garden, I saw many people who were shocked by the Imperial Guards' arrests in some places."

"There are all sorts of opinions."

"The most interesting one was the one we met in the outer city."

At this point, Chu Hui paused and glanced at his elder brother, the emperor.

Chu Ling stared calmly at the chessboard in front of him.

"The Southern Army responsible for the outer city actually dared to confront the Imperial Guards in several places." Upon seeing this, Chu Hui continued speaking, and at this moment, Chu Hui placed a piece.

As soon as Chu Hui placed his piece, Chu Ling placed his own.

"If I'm not mistaken, those Southern Army soldiers who are confronting the Imperial Guards are saying exactly the same thing, aren't they?"

Under Chu Hui's gaze, Chu Ling put away the black pieces and said with a faint smile, "They have been secretly investigating the people arrested by the Imperial Guard for several days and are preparing to arrest them for interrogation."

"Yes, no, Your Majesty, can't you just give way to your younger brother!"

Chu Hui, who was answering this question, saw that his elder brother had collected six black pieces at once, and immediately said.

"Do you wish to take back your move?"

Chu Ling reached out and handed the black piece to Chu Hui, his eyes resolute.

"Take back a move? I, your humble brother, will not do such a spineless thing!"

Chu Hui snorted and stubbornly said, "Your subject hasn't lost yet!!"

Seeing Chu Hui's stubborn expression, Chu Ling smiled without saying a word and placed the black piece in his hand next to the chessboard.

"What do you think about leaving the Imperial Guards, the Heroines, and the Shanglin Army behind after I leave the Shanglin Garden?" Chu Ling leaned against the armrest, picked up the teacup beside him, and said this to Chu Hui before taking a sip of tea.

"Everything remains the same."

Chu Hui frowned as he pondered the chess game before him. “However, the Imperial Guards in Shanglin Garden, especially those waiting to be promoted to the cadet ranks, are training like madmen. Many of them have been injured during training, but they still insist that they are just minor bumps and bruises. Some of their injuries are painful to look at.”

"Didn't Sun Bin do anything about it?"

Chu Ling put down his teacup and glanced at Chu Huidao.

"How could they not have taken care of it?"

Chu Hui said, "Marquis Chenyang has taken measures, but it's useless. Even if we reduce their training, they will still practice secretly. Unless the Emperor issues an imperial decree to go to Shanglin Garden, these Imperial Guards will continue to do so."

"understood."

Chu Ling replied.

At this moment, Chu Hui suddenly thought of something, a smile appeared on his lips, and then he picked up a black piece and placed it neatly on the chessboard.

Chu Ling glanced at it, raised an eyebrow, but didn't rush to make a move.

"However, Your Majesty, I think that even if you issue the decree, those Imperial Guards will still train," Chu Hui said with a smile, much more relaxed.

"You have no idea what kind of expressions the Imperial Guards who stayed at Shanglin Garden, regardless of age, had when you left Shanglin Garden to return to the palace."

"How could I not know?"

Chu Ling sighed softly, "They are still too young. I cannot force them to grow up too fast. Their fathers either died in battle for the Great Yu or were crippled for the Great Yu."

“They are not only my guards, but also the pillars of their families. They always think of serving me faithfully, but I cannot ignore them.”

When Chu Hui heard this, a complicated expression appeared on his face.

In the past, Chu Ling's affection for the Imperial Guards and the Heroines was undisguised. To be honest, Chu Hui was even a little jealous. Even if it was affection, there should be a limit.

But as he grew older, and learned about the battles in the northern and southern borders from Shanglin Garden, and saw the Imperial Guards and Heroines' Camp burst into tears several times, Chu Hui gradually understood why his elder brother had done such a thing.

"You met your mother during your trip to the palace, didn't you?"

As Chu Hui was reminiscing, Chu Ling picked up a white piece and placed it on the chessboard.

"I saw him."

Chu Hui smiled and said, "Before I came here, I ate a lot of good food at my mother's place."

As he spoke, Chu Hui's eyes reddened slightly.

He knew that his mother's position in the palace was entirely due to the secret actions of his elder brother.

Just as in the past three years, he did not go to the Tenth Prince's Mansion to stay alone, but was taken to Shanglin Garden by his own elder brother, so that he could grow up without worries.

Of course, he also learned a lot at Shanglin Garden.

Besides studying, Chu Hui also had to learn horsemanship with his elder brother and train with the Imperial Guard. It was tough, but deep down he was happy.

Because he no longer has to consider this or that before doing anything, he can laugh when he wants to laugh, cry when he wants to cry, eat whatever he wants, and say whatever he wants.

"Why are you crying?"

Chu Ling laughed and pointed at Chu Hui, saying, "Anyone who didn't know better would think I was mistreating you."

"Who dares to say that!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Hui glared and said, "Whoever dares to say that, I, your subject, will kill him!!"

"Haha~"

Chu Ling smiled and shook his head. "Alright, let's play chess."

"Your Majesty, am I capable?"

But at this moment, Chu Hui stood up solemnly, raised his hand and bowed to Chu Ling, saying, "Your subject is afraid that he will not do well and will delay Your Majesty's important matter."

Before entering the palace, Chu Hui had been thinking about one thing.

He has taken over the vacant position of Grand Master of Ceremonies. Can he really do a good job?

Chu Ling leaned against the armrest, quietly watching Chu Hui.

"When I received the imperial decree at Shanglin Garden, one thing came to mind," Chu Hui said. "If things change because of me, then..."

So you're scared?

Chu Ling said calmly.

……

This is the third update today. I'd appreciate a five-star review and urge you to update more.

Finally, I'd like to recommend "A Life on Thin Ice: Can I Reach the Other Side?" by the pen name Star Swordsman. It's also written by me, and while the style is similar, it's from a different perspective. If you're interested, please check it out. I'd appreciate a five-star review and a donation!