In the novel "Joy of Life," the protagonist wakes up at Li Chengze's residence.

......

The fragments drifted in the wind, looking like ashes being scattered.

Wu Zhu's gaze followed it the whole time, and the instant it disappeared completely, Wu Zhu's mind cleared instantly.

The moment his consciousness returned, Wu Zhu suddenly realized what had just happened.

He looked at Tao Jingyang in horror, his right hand touching his forehead, and his voice was no longer as calm as before.

"Tao Jingyang, I just wanted to kill you! And Fan Xian, I even suddenly wanted to kill him!"

How could this be? Why would he suddenly have such a thought?!

If he hadn't suddenly regained consciousness, he might have actually attacked Tao Jingyang.

“The energy here in Dongshan is the strongest in the world, and it’s been quite a while since I was last exposed. They just detected my sensors,” Tao Jingyang continued, enduring the pain.

"They want to control your mind through what's on me." She spoke as if nothing was wrong.

If Wu Zhu could ignore the bloodstains that had almost spread across her entire back.

If Tao Jingyang really didn't feel the pain in his entire back of his neck, connected to his brain and his entire spine...

Removing the chip is not as easy as it seems; the pain of the knife tip cutting through flesh is the least painful part of the whole process.

The chip was hidden in a rather cunning location, placed near many acupoints and nerves that could cause pain, to ensure that Tao Jingyang could be prevented from revealing his identity at any time.

For example, the last time I suddenly fainted, it was also a self-protection device activated by the sensors.

So, she looks like she's fine now, but in reality, she's even losing some of her sight and her ears are constantly ringing.

Tao Jingyang gritted his teeth, but his tone remained relaxed. Seeing that Wu Zhu seemed shocked and panicked, he comforted him, saying, "It's alright, Wu Zhu. With the sensor destroyed, they won't be able to find you through me."

She remained completely still while speaking, only her mouth opening and closing.

Wu Zhu tilted his head and saw the gruesome wound on the back of her neck. He asked, "Tao Jingyang, are you alright?"

"well enough."

"Do you want to treat your wound first?" Wu Zhu stared at her clothes stained red.

"My body reacted strongly to the chip removal and I can't move. But it's okay, I'll be fine in a bit." Tao Jingyang was telling the truth. Although she couldn't move, there was plenty of nuclear energy here, and she could heal herself once she could move again.

And she wasn't very nervous at the moment, because she could feel the blood congealing at the wound site.

Wu Zhu stood there, looking at Tao Jingyang in deep thought. After a while, he said, "If a person's wound is not treated, it will become infected."

"It's nothing, it's winter, it won't get inflamed." Tao Jingyang wasn't deliberately mimicking his tone; rather, his joints were aching so much that he could barely speak.

"Okay, hopefully it won't affect the upcoming fight," Wu Zhu honestly said what he was thinking.

"......Won't."

"Ok."

"Wu Zhu, go away."

"why?"

You've ruined my mood.

“...Okay.” Wu Zhu thought for a moment, then vanished in a flash.

A few wisps of cool breeze passed through Tao Jingyang's chest. Standing "punished" in front of the cave entrance, Tao Jingyang could only think:

Damn it!

......

"I am not the only prince capable of commanding the central army within this tent. Don't you all know that perfectly well?" Li Chengze raised his head, his majestic yet icy voice resonating in everyone's ears.

Now, no one wants to resolve the Kyoto turmoil more than him.

With internal strife and unrest, he could not, in a fit of pique, leave this place like a child and abandon everything to go to Da Dong Shan to find her.

The only way to boost morale and capture a city is for the emperor to lead the army.

Upon hearing this, Fan Xian frowned first, then realized that Li Chengze was referring to him.

With the prince in charge... does Li Chengze mean he wants him to replace the second prince and stay behind to guard the rear?

Fan Xian was initially incredulous, although he himself didn't care about this so-called prince status.

But he never imagined that Li Chengze wouldn't mind.

Even knowing that the Cabinet and the Surveillance Bureau had close ties with Fan Xian, he still...

Wasn't Li Chengze afraid of the Crown Prince's rebellion in front and Fan Xian's encirclement and suppression behind? Was he really willing to let another adult prince emerge in Nanqing to compete with him for the throne?

Fan Xian was so surprised that his eyes widened, and he tilted his head, staring at the other person with his mouth slightly open in confusion for a while.

Xie Bi'an stood beside Li Chengze, frowning, his eyes darting back and forth between his own prince and Fan Xian.

He looked at Fan Xian with disdain, holding a sword in his right hand, his arms crossed in front of his chest, and even pursed his lips.

During his time in the mission, Xie Bi'an had a lot of contact with Fan Xian. Although their relationship wasn't exactly good, it wasn't as bad as it had been at the beginning.

In fact, they were quite familiar with each other.

If we were to describe Emperor Qing using an animal, perhaps his true nature would be that of a fox.

From a biological perspective, these two brothers have both inherited fox traits to varying degrees.

However, Li Chengze would occasionally transform into a leopard, while Fan Xian would transform into a wolf.

Or perhaps Li Chengze looks like a kitten, and Fan Xian is probably a puppy.

They may seem to be at odds in daily life, but they are not each other's natural enemies.

Just like now.

Fan Xian changed his expression, smiled slightly and tentatively approached Li Chengze, revealing a set of bright white teeth, and said, "Second Prince."

Li Chengze didn't smile. He watched Fan Xian walk up to him with a somewhat frivolous grin and suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at him.

"Fan Xian, speak quickly." Li Chengze stared at Fan Xian as he walked towards him step by step, watching him with his hands folded at his waist, his head still but his body swaying.

Seeing him tossing his hair back and forth, Li Chengze was already very annoyed, and now he just wanted to curse: What is this hair of his? Did he get struck by lightning?

Fan Xian walked closer and closer, until Xie Bi'an wanted to draw his sword and Li Chengze had to lean back slightly before he stopped.

"Your Highness, you trust me so much, aren't you afraid I'll stab you in the back?" Fan Xian seemed to be testing Li Chengze's intentions.

No, using the word "speculate" feels a bit off...

"You're standing so close to me just to say this?" Li Chengze's small head was filled with big doubt.

It was the same; its head was tilted to the side, and its mouth was slightly open.

He took two steps back, tossed his bangs speechlessly, rolled his eyes, and then put his arm around Xie Bi'an's shoulder to walk out.

Seeing that he was really going to leave, Fan Xian became even more enthusiastic, "Aren't you afraid that I'll take advantage of the chaos and seize your throne!?"

"Please do as you please!" Li Chengze didn't even turn his head. He and Xie Bi'an left the tent, leaped onto their horses, and headed straight for the battlefield.

------

Messengers passed the message back and forth across the battlefield, their cries echoing:

The second prince personally led the expedition to purge the court of corrupt officials and eliminate treacherous ministers!

The second prince personally led the expedition to purge the court of corrupt officials and eliminate treacherous ministers!

The Second Prince personally led the expedition! To purge the court of corrupt officials and eliminate treacherous ministers!

One sound followed another, and no one knew what was happening.

Until the soldiers actually saw the Second Prince, who was approaching with murderous intent.