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

Beside Emperor Qing was a scroll in which he had just finished copying Fan Xian's poems and essays.

The tiny, square characters, less than a centimeter in size, lay neatly on the white Xuan paper. The thousands of characters stretched out like a scroll that could reach all the way down to the emperor's bed.

He picked up one side of the book, his joy undisguised.

"Tao Jingyang, what do you think of Fan Xian's poem?"

The sudden question left Tao Jingyang completely bewildered. But she didn't give herself much time to think before replying, "I am not fond of literature and cannot distinguish between good and bad."

Emperor Qing had heard similar congratulatory remarks countless times today. But this was the first time he had heard of a response like Tao Jingyang's.

Emperor Qing became interested in Tao Jingyang's words, and put down the scroll he was holding:

"You can't even read and write? I think you just don't want to say anything good about Fan Xian, do you?"

Tao Jingyang thought to himself: [They've taken the bait!]

Then, suppressing his emotions, he showed a hint of "unnaturalness" on his face and answered:

"Your Majesty, please understand, I never thought that way."

The person in the seat of honor smiled silently and asked, "Then tell me, what happened on Niulan Street before?"

"Your Majesty, seeing injustice on the road, I drew my sword..."

"Tell the truth."

Tao Jingyang used his inner energy to break out in a cold sweat, as if he had made up his mind to answer:

"We have no choice but to save them."

That day, it was the Second Prince who invited Fan Xian. If Fan Xian were to die on his way to the gathering, it would likely damage the Second Prince's reputation.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qing frowned in confusion. He knew the emperor was "honest," but this was too honest.

Tao Jingyang's words disrupted the rhythm of Emperor Qing's questioning, causing him to fall silent for a moment.

"You really hate Fan Xian that much?" Emperor Qing's tone held a hint of doubt.

"Your Majesty, it's not that I dislike it, but I just don't like it either."

Emperor Qing adjusted his sitting posture: "Tao Jingyang, your relationship with the Second Prince is quite good."

After speaking, Emperor Qing shook out the wrinkles in his clothes caused by adjusting his sitting posture.

“Your Majesty, that’s not good either,” Tao Jingyang said coolly as he stood there.

At this moment, the answers to all the questions Emperor Qing asked were quite different from what he had imagined.

"Tao Jingyang, are you mocking me?"

Anyone with eyes in the hall could see that the two were behaving intimately.

Tao Jingyang's answer sounded riddled with inconsistencies. Moreover, it was being listened to by Emperor Qing, a ruler known for his deep and calculating mind.

"Your Majesty, I dare not." She raised her hand above her eyebrows and placed it on her forehead.

"Then tell me, what's wrong with it?"

"The Second Prince poisoned me, and only gave me the antidote each time the poison took effect. So, the Second Prince and I are really not good friends."

After Tao Jingyang finished speaking, he lowered his head, showing no sign of sadness.

Emperor Qing: '?'

"So, you're asking me for help?" Emperor Qing tilted his head to the left, a smirk playing on his lips, his eyes dark and menacing.

[What audacity!] Emperor Qing thought coldly.

Tao Jingyang looked up upon hearing this, somewhat surprised, and said, "Your Majesty...didn't you tell me to tell the truth?"

Emperor Qing did not take her explanation to heart, but continued to ask her, "He poisoned you, don't you hate him?"

"There's nothing to hate about him, since he gave me the antidote anyway." Tao Jingyang answered with a frank expression, as if she truly thought so.

Emperor Qing ran his index finger through his temple, stared at the people below, and said, "Someone, summon the imperial physician."

The woman spoke so much without revealing any other emotions.

Every word he said was unexpected, making him quite enigmatic and interesting.

An eerie atmosphere enveloped the hall.

One seemed to be completely open and honest, while the other wavered between "belief" and "disbelief," even forgetting for a moment what he was truly "curious" about.

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The same applies to those inside the hall and those outside.