Jirong, who was frowning tightly, saw Li Jiancheng enter and quickly had Li Chengzong bow with her, then asked the lip-reading teacher to take Chengzong away for lessons.

After they had gone far away, Li Jiancheng asked, “How is Chengzong’s learning progressing?”

Jirong sighed, “Very poorly. Ever since he lost his hearing, Chengzong seems to be living in his own world, having less and less contact with the outside world. Even when facing me, he’s unwilling to speak. His condition really worries me.”

“Chengzong is still young—there’s no need to rush. Take it slowly, perhaps things will improve when he’s older.” Li Jiancheng’s consolation didn’t ease Jirong’s furrowed brow. “I’m worried that when he grows up, the situation will be even worse.”

After a moment of silence, Jirong changed the subject: “When I went to see you early this morning, Xue Wanche told me you had gone to see Father. Was there some urgent military matter?”

Li Jiancheng recounted his conversation with Li Yuan, saying vexedly, “Such a great opportunity is right in front of us, yet I truly don’t understand what Father is still hesitating about.”

Jirong thought for a while and said, “Father is, after all, a former minister of the Sui Dynasty and a man of loyalty and righteousness. To ask him to personally overthrow the former master he installed is truly difficult for him.”

Li Jiancheng said displeasedly, “Then should we just let that ignorant yellow-haired boy occupy the imperial throne? If it weren’t for our Li family maintaining order, how could Chang’an be so peaceful?” He then said, “Rong’er, you’ve always been resourceful. Tell me, what good method could persuade Father?”

“This…” Jirong lowered her head and thought for a while, then said, “From what you just said, all possible persuasions have been attempted. Even if we think of other words of persuasion, they probably wouldn’t be effective.”

Li Jiancheng’s brows furrowed into knots, “So we can only wait for Father to figure it out himself?”

“Not necessarily.” Jirong stroked her delicate face and said softly, “If His Majesty were to pass away, then everything would be a different matter altogether.”

Li Jiancheng never expected Jirong to say something so unconventional, but he had to admit she had hit the nail on the head. As long as Yang You died, all problems would be solved.

Not to mention there were no other Yang family descendants in Chang’an—even if there were, Father couldn’t possibly install another person with the Yang surname as emperor. At that time, the imperial throne would belong to none other than Father.

“But Yang You is only in his teens. Waiting for him to…” Li Jiancheng was about to say waiting for Yang You to die of old age would take countless years when he suddenly glimpsed the faint smile at the corner of Jirong’s lips and vaguely understood something. “You mean to have Yang You die now?” When no outsiders were present, Li Jiancheng couldn’t even be bothered to use the title “His Majesty.”

Jirong nodded, “Exactly. This is the best way to achieve what you desire. However… His Majesty lives secluded in the palace, and it wouldn’t be easy to deal with him. Moreover… if Father were to find out, he might punish you.”

Li Jiancheng remained silent for a full incense stick’s worth of time before a cold, sinister smile appeared at the corner of his lips. “It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible either.”

Jirong looked at him in surprise, which then transformed into a charming smile. “So you’ve already thought of a method?”

Li Jiancheng nodded with a smile, “Indeed. Thanks to your reminder, otherwise I wouldn’t have thought of such a wonderful method—killing two birds with one stone.”

Jirong didn’t ask what Li Jiancheng’s method was, but laughed charmingly, “Then I’ll congratulate you on your success in advance.”

“Good.” With that, Li Jiancheng drew her slender waist to him. After a passionate entanglement of lips and tongues, he bit her earlobe and said, “Others always think I spoil you too much, but they don’t know how wonderful you are. Every time I see you, all my troubles disappear. You are my good fortune.”

Jirong gasped under his nibbling, her eyes misty as she said, “Then… does this lucky star of yours get a reward?”

“What do you want?” Li Jiancheng asked while continuing to nibble. The tingling sensation made Jirong’s body go limp like water. She wrapped her arms around Li Jiancheng’s neck and whispered in his ear, “I want you to go nowhere today, just stay here in Yilan Pavilion.”

“As you wish!” With that, Li Jiancheng lifted Jirong horizontally in his arms and, amid her charming laughter and gasps, headed toward the bedroom behind them.

The next day, Li Jiancheng appeared in Shuangyue Hall, disguised as a eunuch just as in his previous two visits. After Xin’an had dismissed all the palace attendants from the hall, he looked at the peonies arranged in a vase and said, “It seems the Princess is living quite well—to have peonies for company even in this February weather.”

Xin’an smiled sweetly and took a pink peony from the arrangement to play with in her hands. “I owe my current situation entirely to the Heir Apparent’s grace. I have never forgotten this debt of gratitude. Everything about Shuangyue Hall is good, except…”

“Except what?” Before he finished speaking, Xin’an had already turned and sat on his lap, her fingers painted with crimson nail lacquer stroking his lapels as she said plaintively, “Except that I’m all alone in this hall—it’s far too lonely. You don’t come to see me often either. You’re truly heartless.”

Li Jiancheng stared at her coldly, “It seems the Princess has a poor memory, forgetting so quickly what I told you.”

Xin’an’s smile stiffened, then she smiled and stood up from his lap. “I was just joking with the Heir Apparent. Why are you taking it so seriously?”

“I don’t like such jokes.” After a brief pause, Li Jiancheng said, “What has been happening in the palace recently?”

Xin’an played with the colorful silk sash at her waist and said coolly, “What else could it be but busying themselves with that little slut Jinyang’s wedding? His Majesty is truly ridiculous—it’s just marrying off as a concubine, yet he’s making such a grand affair of it. Isn’t he afraid of losing face? He won’t listen to advice either. These past few days he’s even reduced the supplies to my Shuangyue Hall. Just thinking about it makes me angry.”

At this point, she remembered something and said, “By the way, didn’t the Tang Prince strongly oppose this before, not even letting Jinyang through the door? How did his attitude suddenly change?”

“That’s none of your concern.” Li Jiancheng’s coldness angered Xin’an, but she couldn’t afford to lose her temper and had to forcibly suppress it. While pouring tea, she said, “Didn’t you say you would let me have my revenge for that day? Now Jinyang is about to marry into your Li family, yet there’s been no movement at all. What’s this about? Could it be…” She spread her wide sleeves, covering Li Jiancheng’s eyes. When the sleeves embroidered with gold and silver threads fell, a cup of tea with fine powder floating on its surface was placed before Li Jiancheng. “The Heir Apparent doesn’t plan to eliminate Second Young Master anymore?”

Li Jiancheng stared at her for a moment and said, “I came today precisely to discuss this matter with the Princess.”

Xin’an’s beautiful eyes flickered as she picked up her own teacup and took a sip, saying sweetly, “I’m all ears.”

As Li Jiancheng continued speaking, Xin’an’s expression became increasingly unsightly. By the end, she had abruptly stood up, staring at Li Jiancheng with an almost terrified expression. After swallowing with difficulty, she said tremblingly, “You… have you gone mad? How could you do such a thing?” Without waiting for Li Jiancheng to respond, she quickly added, “No, I absolutely will not agree to this.”