Chapter 416: Li Chengqian: Crown Prince, Will You Take the Role?

"Fourth brother, what exactly are you going to show me, all mysterious!"

Li Chengqian was dragged by Li Tai all the way to the research institute beside Xianlingfu, and he couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Elder brother, don't be impatient; you'll see it any moment now."

Li Tai, excited, pulled Li Chengqian into the research institute and then led him to a large courtyard.

When Li Chengqian entered, he was instantly stunned.

Because at that moment, the courtyard held a colossal Kongming lantern, many times larger than the ordinary ones people usually release.

Its body was made of five‑colored silk‑like material, with ropes neatly wrapped around the sphere, and a huge basket hanging beneath.

What shocked Li Chengqian the most was that this massive Kongming lantern actually lifted off, hovering about a meter above the ground.

If it weren't for the four ropes tightly holding it below, Li Chengqian had no doubt the lantern would have flown away high in an instant.

"Fourth brother, you... you!"

Li Chengqian stood there dumbfounded, for a moment not knowing what to say.

He had thought Chen Yan was just to fool Li Tai, but unexpectedly Li Tai actually made it.

Seeing those four taut ropes, Li Chengqian even began to believe the lantern could carry a person aloft.

"How is it, elder brother!" Li Tai grinned, "Is this okay for me?"

Li Chengqian was silent for a moment, then gave a thumbs‑up: "Although I haven't seen it carry a person myself, I'm starting to believe it."

"Believe?" Li Tai, hands behind his back, said, "Elder brother, what I want isn't your belief, but certainty!"

"So, shall we go up and try?"

Li Chengqian:?

"No, no, no, I'll pass. I'm a fool, afraid I'll ruin the hot‑air balloon you barely managed to make..."

Saying that, he lifted his foot as if to run away.

Li Chengqian didn't want to play along with Li Tai; his son had just been born, the Crown Prince's position was now as solid as Mount Tai, and only a lunatic would go test that hot‑air balloon.

If something went wrong, who would he cry to?

"Hey! Elder brother, we're already here, give it a try!" Li Tai gave him no chance to flee, grabbed his shoulder from behind and shoved him toward the basket beneath the hot‑air balloon.

Because of the height, Li Tai had placed a ladder below, so there was no worry about climbing up.

"No, no, no, fourth brother, I just remembered I have something else; I must return to the Eastern Palace. Next time, next time I'll try with you, okay?" Li Chengqian's eyes were terrified; his skinny arms and legs made it impossible to resist the plump Li Tai.

Seeing himself being pushed up, he panicked: "Stop, fourth brother, can we discuss matters properly? I really have to go back, it's extremely urgent!"

"What are you saying?" Li Tai retorted, "You just had Chen Yan set up two tables, you're fine!"

"Fourth brother, the way you're acting, listen to me—there's no need for us to try it ourselves; we could find a few condemned prisoners..."

"You're saying you don't trust me!" Li Tai complained.

"Is this a matter of whether I trust you or not? I... let me down!" Li Chengqian was finally pushed up, hurriedly trying to climb down.

But Li Tai grabbed him and shouted, "Someone, give me the rope!"

At his words, several people came out from outside and, without hesitation, began to untie the ropes.

Li Chengqian's body went numb; lowering his voice, he said, "Fourth brother, I'll step down from being Crown Prince, let's go back and discuss with Father Emperor, can you take over? Let me down."

"Crown Prince?" Li Tai snorted twice, his face showing zeal, "I'm not interested in being Crown Prince now; I pursue science!"

"Do you even understand science!"

I understand you...

Li Chengqian wanted to curse loudly, but Li Tai seemed untouchable.

Ah, damn it!

"Ascend!"

Li Tai laughed heartily.

At this moment, the ropes were being slowly released, and they were gently drifting upward.

Li Chengqian's eyes were vacant, clutching the rim of the basket tightly, not daring to move.

"Elder brother, it moved, it moved, do you see? We moved, we're flying!!!"

Li Tai trembled with excitement, happier than when his wife first gave birth to a son.

"Chen Yan didn't deceive me; I knew he didn't!"

"You all doubted me before, now you see, right?!"

"I succeeded!!!"

Li Chengqian wanted to cry but had no tears.

"Yes, yes, Zi Anxiong didn't deceive you, but why did you have to go up yourself?"

"Can't we find others first to confirm safety?"

"How can we let others try?" Li Tai, agitated, said, "This is the result of months of work, so of course I must be the first to fly!"

"To be honest, Crown Prince, I only managed to make this hot‑air balloon yesterday, but Chen Yan's daughter was just born, so he had no time to accompany me; that's why I brought you along to share this hard‑won honor!"

"From now on, the annals will record that in Zhenguan Year Five, April, Prince of Yue Li Tai and Crown Prince Li Chengqian conquered the sky!!!"

Li Tai spread his arms, his laughter wild and flamboyant.

He did it!

He achieved the future that Chen Yan had once described for him!

And only four months had passed!

"Elder brother, don't just lie there, get up and look, see this beautiful scenery with me!"

Li Tai, as stubborn as iron that won't become steel, walked over and pulled Li Chengqian up with one hand.

Now that it had come to this, Li Chengqian also realized fear was useless, forced himself to stay calm, and shakily stood beside Li Tai.

"How's it, elder brother!" Li Tai turned his head and asked.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, lifted his eyes, and saw the Weinan County beneath his feet gradually reveal its full layout, the intersecting streets spreading out like a chessboard before him, the pedestrians and carriages all becoming the myriad beings beneath his feet; in the distance, a palace‑sized library shimmered in the morning light, and faintly one could still see its upturned eaves.

"This... this is simply..." Li Chengqian's voice trembled, not knowing whether it was fear or excitement, and he could find no words to describe the moment.

"How's it? Isn't it far more interesting than reviewing documents in the Eastern Palace?" Li Tai said proudly, patting the edge of the basket. "Look over there, that's West Market! You can see a caravan from Bosi."

"That's East Market..."

Suddenly, the hot‑air balloon jolted sharply, and Li Chengqian's complexion turned pale at once.

"Fourth brother, what's happening?"

Li Tai looked down, then said calmly, "It's nothing, the rope has run out, we can only ascend this high."

Li Chengqian felt much relieved upon hearing that, mustered his courage to look around, and realized that a rope was continuously attached beneath them; if they wanted to descend, the people below could simply pull them down.

"Fourth brother, it seems you still have confidence," he thought, breathing a sigh of relief.

Li Tai laughed heartily, "Of course I have confidence; if I didn't, how could I dare bring you up here?"

"If an accident happened, wouldn't Li Zhi just reap a big profit?"

Li Chengqian: "......"

"......"