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

Winning people's hearts requires showing some effort, but you can't be too enthusiastic. What's too easily obtained will not be cherished, and this applies to any relationship.

That's just human nature.

Chu Ling felt that Li Bin's concern was partly a performance, but also partly genuine; she saw a reflection of herself in Li Bin.

Falling from heaven to hell is a huge contrast that most people can't bear. Li Bin does have some minor flaws, but on the Imperial Garden training ground today, Chu Ling discovered that Li Bin is very sentimental. His carefree attitude in the past, or more accurately, his nonchalant attitude, was just a facade.

Everyone has their own things to face, so it's inevitable that they'll keep some secrets in their hearts.

The prerequisite for subduing Li Bin is that his grandfather did not rebel. If this prerequisite is met, then all that he has done will surely make Li Bin submit.

Without him.

It's easy to add flowers to brocade.

Providing timely help is difficult.

Only when people experience major changes and insurmountable hurdles can they see through certain people or things. Once they overcome these obstacles, great changes will occur.

If you can't get through it, then none of this will concern you anymore.

After all, no one in this world has any lingering attachment to the dead.

"Your Majesty~"

After an unknown amount of time, Li Zhong walked to the emperor's presence with his head bowed. Chu Ling sat upright on the throne, copying the calligraphy in front of him. However, Chu Ling still needed to practice his calligraphy diligently.

"Is he asleep?"

Chu Ling put down his imperial brush, looked at the words before him, and said to Li Zhong.

"Sleep."

Li Zhong lowered his head and said, "With my guard down, I started snoring soon after lying down on the bed."

"It's not easy either."

Chu Ling sighed softly, "Anyone who experiences such a change would find it unbearable, let alone the eldest grandson of the Duke of Xun's family. Li Bin has endured a lot in the past."

"Your Majesty is wise."

Li Zhong flattered, "Perhaps this is the most authentic Li Bin."

Li Zhong had seen countless people, but he admitted that he had misjudged Li Bin. He never expected that such a carefree exterior would hide such a delicate heart.

In the eyes of the world, being born into the Duke of Xun's mansion, being the eldest grandson of the current Duke of Xun, having a cousin who is a vassal of the Great Yu, and having a powerful maternal family, and being granted a noble title at birth, is simply a perfect start. It can even be said that Li Bin doesn't need to do anything special; he will definitely have a place in the central government of the Great Yu.

This is the gap.

People are different.

Very cruel.

That's realistic too.

"What is the reaction in the court and among the people regarding Li Jin's matter? What is the situation in the inner court?" Chu Ling asked Li Zhong calmly, rubbing his sore neck.

"There are many."

Li Zhong replied first, then looked towards the palace gate. Seeing no one there, he took out a stack of memorials and whispered, "Please, Your Majesty, take a look. These are what I have compiled."

It seems the ripples it's created are quite significant.

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow, glanced at Li Zhong, and then took the stack of memorials. To be honest, this was the first time Chu Ling had come into contact with memorials since he ascended the throne.

However, this memorial was presented by someone close to him.

It seems ironic, but there's nothing we can do about it.

It's because Chu Ling doesn't hold real power.

Even an emperor with a prestigious position but no real power is merely a figurehead. For such an emperor, the dynasty and the central government do not require him to do anything; he only needs to live well.

But this is not what Chu Ling wanted.

"It seems that some people have bad intentions regarding Li Jin's matter."

Chu Ling read through the letters one by one. After reading quite a few, he frowned slightly and said, "They say they support Li Jin, but that's not actually the case. Are they trying to praise Li Jin to death?"

"Based on the information gathered by the Plum Blossom Guards in various parts of the inner court and the imperial city, that is the case."

Li Zhong lowered his head and said, "There have been quite a few people coming and going from the three palaces these past few days, as well as from the Secretariat, the Chancellery, and the Ministry of Personnel. The atmosphere is calm, but there is a hidden undercurrent of tension."

Due to the state system of Dayu, some of the eunuchs in the inner court were allowed to enter and leave the inner court and the imperial city, provided they possessed a palace pass. However, this also allowed certain things to spread very easily.

In Chu Ling's view, this was unavoidable. During the reign of Emperor Taizu, the eunuchs in the inner court were not allowed to do these things. However, this changed quietly during the reign of Emperor Taizong. And during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, although Emperor Xuanzong Chun's reign was short, he made some significant changes.

This includes the inner court.

If we're really going to talk about it, the Inner Palace Secretariat and the Secretariat were on par with the three ministries of the Secretariat, the Chancellery, and the Ministry of Personnel. Of course, the former was better, while the latter was purely a think tank.

But right now, Chu Ling can't even have this think tank.

It seems that Chu Ling has no better way than to exert influence from within the inner court and from those around him.

“It’s never too late to have a good meal.”

After reading the last memorial, Chu Ling handed it to Li Zhong and said with a half-smile, "Since so many people are behaving in various ways because of what I have done, let's continue to observe."

"I would like to see who is truly loyal to the country and who is disloyal in the matter of Li Jin's rebellion. With so many people involved, things can get complicated."

"They scheme and plot, one after another. I truly don't understand. What use are all these things to them? Do they perhaps want to seize power?!"

Li Zhong lowered his head.

The emperor can say these words, but he cannot listen to them.

"Summon Han Qing to see me tomorrow."

Chu Ling stood up and gestured to Li Zhong, saying, "And Xiao Jing, aren't there people trying to figure out what I'm thinking? Fine, then I'll let them figure it out properly."

"The slaves obey the order."

Li Zhong bowed and said.

Previously, he had boasted that he could read the emperor's mind and actions, but now, after experiencing all that had happened, Li Zhong realized that he was terribly wrong and that he could not see through the emperor at all.

"By the way, draft a list these next few days." As Li Zhong pondered, Chu Ling thought of something and looked at Li Zhong, saying, "I need to know all the generals of the Imperial Guard, including their backgrounds, where they come from, and which army they served in before being selected for the Imperial Guard. This shouldn't be difficult for you, right?"

"No, no."

Li Zhong hesitated for a moment, but still lowered his head and said.

"Keep this discreet, and don't let anyone notice anything."

Chu Ling frowned and asked, "How's your investigation going with that matter?"

"This servant is still investigating."

Li Zhongxin tensed up and immediately said, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, this servant will definitely find out."

"Ah."

Chu Ling responded but ignored Li Zhong and headed towards the dragon bed. He was exhausted; he had done and thought about too many things today. He needed a good night's sleep. He still had to attend the morning audience tomorrow, and just thinking about it gave Chu Ling a headache. Being an emperor had so many troublesome things to deal with…