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

"Your Majesty! I don't understand."

Li Bin's eyes were slightly red, and tears streamed down his face. He pointed at Sun Ben and the others, his voice trembling, "I was just like them, loyal to the Great Yu. I served as a guard in the Imperial Guard. Why... because of some unfounded rumors, my grandfather was accused of rebelling. The court didn't even investigate, and didn't even send anyone to Xiliang, not even to question my grandfather!"

But it didn't happen!

"I was exhausted after a long day. I left the palace with my mother's favorite pastries and little trinkets that my younger siblings liked. But the moment I got home, I was met with Southern soldiers standing guard with knives!"

"I was born and raised in this city. In my memory, this city has too many unforgettable places, but my grandfather knew very little about them, and even my father did not. They would only come back once every few years, and often they would leave again after only a few months!"

"Your Majesty, can you tell me what my grandfather couldn't understand that led him to abandon my family and the Li clan, and to bear the infamy and condemnation of the world, and to choose the path of rebellion?"

Sun Ben, Zong Zhi, Chang Feng, Dong Heng, and the others all stared at Li Bin with complicated expressions. In their memory, Li Bin had never acted like this before.

Even when he was seriously injured, Li Bin was never seen crying.

“In my home, there are still many memorial tablets enshrined.”

Under such gazes, Li Bin's tears flowed even more. "There were my own uncles, my cousins, and even my grandfather. I don't even know what they look like, but I know their names and what remarkable things they did."

"Your Majesty, do you know how I found out?"

"Did the Duke of Xun tell you this?"

Chu Ling stared at Li Bin and said.

Li Bin visibly paused.

But soon, Li Bin spoke up: "That's right, it was my grandfather. I'm not afraid Your Majesty will laugh at me, but I once said that those who die on the battlefield are not heroes. A true hero should be like my grandfather, who, after countless battles, still manages to defeat powerful enemies and is ultimately rewarded with a noble title by the Emperor of Great Yu for his meritorious service!"

"But does His Majesty know?"

"My grandfather, who always doted on me, gave me a severe beating when he heard me say these words. While he was beating me, my grandfather recounted the illustrious military exploits of my uncles, my cousins, and my great-uncles!"

"Li Bin~"

"Li Bin."

Among the noble sons gathered around, many spoke with complex expressions, especially Dong Heng, whose eyes reddened slightly. Hearing what Li Bin said, he suddenly understood why Li Bin had acted that way.

"In this respect, the imperial court has indeed not done a good enough job."

Chu Ling sighed softly, "The court still doesn't give enough consideration to the widows and orphans who sacrificed their lives for the country."

"Then Your Majesty, do you think my grandfather would rebel against the Great Yu?"

Li Bin was in tears, his hands trembling uncontrollably. "If he really rebels, what am I? What are my grandmother, my mother, my brothers and sisters, my relatives, my clansmen—what are they all?!"

The man did not shed tears, but he did not go to the sad place.

No one could truly understand what Li Bin had been going through during this time. Li Bin didn't want to believe that his grandfather would rebel. All he knew made him feel a deep sense of malice. But deep in Li Bin's heart, there was an idea.

What if?

This torment constantly tormented Li Bin.

He used to be so full of vigor and ambition. In his heart, he thought that after serving in the Imperial Guard for a few years, he should be sent to the army for training.

When he begins to command troops, he will follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, going to the frontier to defend the territory of the Great Yu and expand its territory. Of course, he will also make outstanding military achievements.

He wanted the whole world to know that the descendants of the Duke of Xun had not disgraced the Duke of Xun's family!

But all of this changed quietly when the Duke of Xun's mansion was besieged and he and his relatives and clansmen were imprisoned.

"I cannot answer your question."

Under Li Bin's gaze, Chu Ling calmly said, "There is only one person who can answer you."

Li Bin's expression visibly darkened.

"But the answer I can give you is already my action."

Chu Ling flicked his sleeves, slowly turned around, and walked towards a sword-wielding eunuch under the watchful eyes of many, which aroused suspicion in many people.

"Your Majesty~"

Seeing the new emperor draw his sword, the eunuch's expression changed slightly. He subconsciously wanted to say something, but when he saw the new emperor's cold eyes, he lowered his head.

"His Majesty!"

"His Majesty!"

Seeing the new emperor draw his sword, turn around, and walk towards Li Bin, Sun Ben, Dong Heng, Zong Zhi, Chang Feng, and the others all spoke with nervousness.

"If I didn't believe some things, Li Bin, do you think you could have gotten out of the heavily guarded Duke of Xun's mansion and come to serve in the Imperial Guard, standing before me?"

Chu Ling, holding a knife, looked at Li Bin and said, "I know you feel wronged, and I know you've been suffering these past few days. I'm afraid you've even thought about dying, haven't you?"

Li Bin's hand trembled slightly.

"Do you remember what I said before?" Chu Ling continued, "Right here, I said that in some matters, I would not make too many judgments; right and wrong will be judged by the laws of Great Yu. But in guarding the borders, protecting the territory of Great Yu, defeating invading enemies time and time again, ensuring the safety of Great Yu's territory, and protecting the people of Great Yu from worry..."

Now, it wasn't just Li Bin who showed a complicated expression; Sun Ben and Dong Heng did too. Perhaps when they first heard these words, they had different emotions and feelings, but this time, their emotions and feelings were different again.

Will the same thing that Li Bin faced really never happen to them?

How many things in this world can be absolutely certain?

No! !

"If they don't believe in something, Li Bin, do you think they'd be willing to vouch for you?" As everyone was lost in thought, Chu Ling pointed his knife at Sun Ben and the others, and rebuked Li Bin: "Raise your head and take a good look at them, look at what some of them have paid for vouching for you!"

Li Bin turned to look at Sun Ben and the others.

At that moment, Li Bin's feelings were complicated.

These were people he knew all too well, including some he disliked, but after his accident, they were all willing to do what they could.

Some people even had bruises on their faces.

Li Bin's tears flowed again.

He didn't know what to say.

"Before things are settled, talking or thinking too much is useless!!" Chu Ling continued, "If Duke Xun really rebels, the laws of the Great Yu will punish him, because this prosperous era has not come easily. No matter the reason, he must pay the price for his decisions!!"

"As for you, you will be beheaded, because that is the law of the Great Yu."

"But before this, neither I nor they were willing to believe certain things. If you have grievances, you can speak out. But what about them? Don't they have them too?"

"Your Majesty..."

Li Bin choked up.

The knot in his heart was untied at that moment.

"Until the matter is settled, you remain a member of the Great Yu Imperial Guard, a noble scion of Great Yu, and the eldest grandson of the Duke of Xun. This is something no one can deny!"

At this moment, Chu Ling raised his knife and smashed it down hard on the iron chains in front of Li Bin's feet. This caused many people who were watching to gasp in surprise to be stunned when they saw this scene.

"My strength is too weak."

Chu Ling slashed at the chain, but the chain didn't even have a notch. Chu Ling frowned, looked up at Sun Ben and the others, and said, "Whoever among you is the strongest, cut this chain for me!!"

"minister!!!"

"minister!!!"

"minister!!"

In this atmosphere, many noble sons shouted, their emotions influenced by Chu Ling's words, something that had never happened before, but was different at this moment.

Li Bin's experience evoked their sympathy, but at the same time, they felt a sense of shared experience. What people fear most is projecting certain things onto themselves.

Especially those from similar family backgrounds.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to wear this chain."

In this situation, Li Bin knelt on the ground. These words left all the noble sons who wanted to seize the knife staring blankly at Li Bin.

"Have you figured it out?"

Chu Ling, holding a knife, looked down at Li Bin and said.

"I have thought it through."

Li Bin's body trembled, and he was crying, but he didn't want anyone to see it. He didn't want his brothers who had vouched for him to suffer because of him.

Only at this moment did Li Bin truly understand what his grandfather meant when he said he could entrust his life to his comrades.

"Then stand up for me!!"

Chu Ling said loudly, "I still need to improve my horsemanship. You, go and fetch my horse!"

"I obey the decree!!"

Li Bin raised his hand in a gesture of respect, and then slowly stood up under the gazes of everyone present. No one knew what Li Bin was thinking at that moment.

What are you all standing there for?!

While everyone was still in a daze, Chu Ling brandished his sword and shouted, "Do I still need to invite you?"

At that moment, Sun Ben, Dong Heng, and the others followed behind Li Bin, watching the backs of these noble sons in front of them. Chu Ling's lips curled into a faint smile.

At least the seeds he wanted to sow have been planted in the hearts of these closed-off noble sons; as for whether they will take root and sprout, that remains to be seen.

"From this day forward, Li Bin will not be off duty." Chu Ling threw away the knife in his hand, turned his back to Li Zhong, and said, "Wherever I am, he will be there."

"The slaves obey the order."

Li Zhong hurriedly bowed and said hello.

But in Li Zhong's heart, a storm was brewing. The emperor's words and actions just now, regardless of what they might cause in the court and the public, had at least caused a change within the Imperial Guards. This was something no one could change, not even the three empresses...