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

"Jingyang, is this how your father and mother are?" Li Chengze's eyes held an unreadable emotion.

“My...father and mother?” Tao Jingyang was taken aback.

She searched her memory: "That's about right... I think." For some reason, her tone seemed hesitant.

"That's great, Jingyang, I'm so happy for you." Li Chengze spoke sincerely, and he truly felt the same way.

"By the way, do you have any other brothers or sisters?"

If they have connections, we can get to know them. If they are of good character, we can give them an official position.

In this way, Jingyang will have a strong maternal family.

Li Chengze couldn't help but imagine himself in his father's harem. The women in the harem, if they came from poor families, all had a very difficult life.

For example... his elder brother Li Chengru's mother, formerly Consort Ning, now... Consort Ning.

"Siblings? I don't have any."

However, whether either of them has any illegitimate children outside of their marriages remains unknown.

Li Chengze thought to himself, "What a pity."

Suddenly, Tao Jingyang thought of Li Chengqian, who had "lived and died with" Li Chengze:

"However, you do have quite a few brothers."

In Emperor Qing's eyes, Li Chengqian was nothing more than a "pawn" who was slightly more favored.

You mean my brothers and sisters?

Li Chengze then thought of his unfortunate younger brother from the morning court session this morning.

His eyes turned cold, and his voice was like the frost on the grass at dawn:

"There is some, but... there's absolutely no affection involved."

"Why?" Tao Jingyang pretended to be confused, "luring" the person in front of her to pour out their pent-up feelings to her.

Upon hearing Tao Jingyang's question, he suddenly chuckled softly.

His head, which had been lowered, suddenly rose, and his gaze fell on who knows where: "The court is divided into two factions, one side stands with him, and the other side stands with me."

He's the crown prince, so tell me, how could he not hate me?

His words were cool and detached, devoid of any ambition, as if he were merely stating a trivial fact.

Tao Jingyang reached out and straightened his slightly wrinkled collar, speaking softly, "Do you really have to argue with him?"

"If you don't fight, you'll die. A 'dead person' can't come back to life."

"The dead can't come back to life? That sounds like a very philosophical statement."

Like an Englishman, Tao Jingyang pursed his lips into a straight line and nodded with considerable "approval".

Her appearance made Li Chengze feel much more relaxed.

He posed a question: "Jingyang, tell me, in your eyes, what constitutes a 'dead person'?"

Tao Jingyang tilted his head, his eyes darting around:

"Her ears cannot hear, her mouth cannot speak, her nose cannot smell, and her eyes cannot see." She paused there, leaving a slight hint of mystery.

Li Chengze chimed in, "Is that what you call dead?"

"Of course it's not called that."

"Oh? Then what is it?"

Tao Jingyang raised his voice and continued what he had just said:

"When the brain can no longer function, the heart can no longer love, and the memories cease to exist, then this person has to say goodbye to the world."

After saying that, she looked at Li Chengze and asked again, "Do you understand?"

Her tone, from the inside out, revealed a "serious" attitude.

"...Is this a poem you wrote?" These two sentences held Li Chengze captive for a while.

Regardless of anything else, the main issue is that the sound quality is somewhat vulgar; to put it simply... it's a bit nauseating.

"You just don't understand... This is the great 'Four-Six-Eight Lines,' please show it some respect."

[Li Chengze]: ......

"So... will fighting guarantee survival?" Tao Jingyang asked softly.

"Only by winning can you survive."

"So, the reason you brothers have become like this is all because that emperor is raising poisonous insects?" Tao Jingyang's tone rose.

Li Chengze raised an eyebrow at this remark: "Raising Gu? That's quite an interesting metaphor."

However, the situation on my end is probably worse.

Tao Jingyang didn't reply, remaining silent for a long time. She casually picked up a round fan and fanned herself gently.

In the quiet room, the only sound was the fan "breaking" the wind.

But there will always be people who can't stand the silence:

"Jing Yang is scared? There's nothing to be afraid of. I'm still quite capable."

The latter blinked and said, "I just think that your father, the current emperor, is quite ruthless."

"Emperors are all ruthless," Li Chengze said indifferently, having long been accustomed to it.

Tao Jingyang turned his head and glanced at Li Chengze, who was lying on the couch with his head tilted back, looking "half-dead" all over.