Chapter 92: Li Chengqian Moved to Tears

Li Chengqian met the equally bewildered gaze of Crown Princess Su, his mouth twitching.

While Emperor Li Shimin and his wife and others focused on the glass phoenix, Li Chengqian gently shifted his body, moved beside Wushe, and his lips moved slightly:

"Grandfather Wushe, what's really going on?"

"I clearly remember I prepared the congratulatory gift as the Night‑Shining Pearl, so where did this glass phoenix come from?"

Wushe glanced around peripherally, whispered back: "Your Highness, this is the congratulatory gift prepared by the Marquis of Weinan for you; he intended to hand it to you upon entering the palace."

"But he didn't expect you had already arrived at the Eastern Inner Garden; he had no choice, so he asked this old servant to replace the Night‑Shining Pearl you had prepared."

"The old servant originally wanted to inform you in advance, but… you were constantly busy, and I truly couldn't find a chance to speak…"

Li Chengqian was slightly startled by the words.

Marquis of Weinan?

Chen Yan?

He instinctively turned his head, his gaze cutting through the noisy crowd, landing on the lazy figure in the corner of the banquet.

Chen Yan was leaning against the side table, with Xiao Sizi nestled in his arms; seeing Li Chengqian look over, Chen Yan raised his hand, clenched his fist, gave a gentle tap on his chest, then gave Li Chengqian a thumbs‑up and grinned.

In that instant, Li Chengqian's throat tightened abruptly.

An indescribable surge of emotion rose in his heart, and his eyes instantly turned blood‑red.

He forced his trembling body down, lifted his head, refusing to let his tears fall.

How many years, how many years have passed?

Since donning this Crown Prince's coronet, he has long grown accustomed to the open and hidden daggers at Court, to his brothers' predatory gazes, even to the faint, lingering scrutiny in his father's eyes.

Yet at this moment, that scoundrel who always cracked jokes, urged him to let the Crown Princess provide cover, then took him to the brothels, used a unique glass phoenix to shatter the heart defenses he had painstakingly built.

"Brother Zi An…"

"The way you treat me, what am I supposed to do!"

Li Chengqian clenched the two hands inside his sleeves, letting his fingernails dig deep into his palms.

"......"

"Young Master, you truly have clever means, managing to persuade Grandfather Wushe to replace the gift the Crown Prince prepared."

Li Chunfeng's gaze swept over the glass phoenix, sighing: "Such a treasure, if Young Master were to give it to the Empress yourself, I fear your importance in His Majesty's and Her Majesty's hearts would rise another level."

"But you deliberately didn't give it yourself, instead you convinced Grandfather Wushe to send it out under the Crown Prince's name."

"Letting the Crown Prince take all the spotlight."

"Young Master's magnanimity and spirit, I, the humble monk, admire!"

As events have unfolded, Li Chunfeng also saw it; Chen Yan must have prepared in advance, swapping out the Crown Prince's original gift.

That's why the glass phoenix appeared.

Chen Yan waved his hand and said, "Grand Historian, please don't speak nonsense; I'm just a modest county marquis—let alone what ability I have to obtain such a treasure, I certainly lack the power to persuade Grandfather Wushe to replace the Crown Prince's gift."

"You mustn't speak nonsense; if others hear this, I will be thrown into the capital prefecture's prison."

Li Chunfeng twitched his eyelid, speechless, and said, "Please rest assured, Young Master, you are highly unlikely to ever end up in the capital prefecture's prison in this lifetime."

"If you were to be imprisoned, it would certainly be Dali Temple Prison, or even the Censorate Prison."

"Huh?" Chen Yan asked, puzzled, "Why say that?"

It should be known that, at present, prisons are tiered.

For example, the lowest level, ordinary county jails, are mostly for detaining errant civilians.

Above that are the Capital Prefecture/Henan Prefecture prisons, used for ordinary criminals from the capital region; some low‑rank officials are also held there.

Higher still is Dali Temple Prison, which mainly holds officials of considerable rank who have committed crimes, or extremely heinous criminals.

The last time Chen Yan struck Princess Gao Yang, he was imprisoned in Dali Temple Prison according to the standard for extremely heinous offenders.

As for the even higher Censorate Prison, its cells are used to detain officials above the third rank, or princes, and rebels.

Li Chunfeng gave a meaning‑laden look, without further explanation.

He turned and said, "Young Master, let's not waste words; I am not a chatterbox, so you need not worry that I will leak today's matter."

"However… I have a matter that truly piques my curiosity; may I ask Young Master to answer?"

Chen Yan said, "Speak, which of us is who? Just ask directly."

Li Chunfeng: "......"

He steadied his mind and asked, "That world‑rare treasure, sent out like this, don't you think it's a pity?"

"What's there to lament?" Chen Yan glanced nonchalantly at the glass phoenix, "That thing, only you folks would call a treasure."

"If time weren't pressing, I could certainly forge a true treasure, many times better than this—just prettier but essentially meaningless."

Li Chunfeng heard the words and nodded heavily; if it had been someone else saying this to him, he wouldn't have believed.

But since it came from Chen Yan, Li Chunfeng believed it.

No way, when Li Chunfeng last went to the Marquis of Weinan's residence, the whole mansion was awash with golden light.

Even the sleeping sow was no exception.

Especially in Chen Yan's room, there was an item far surpassing everything in the Marquis's mansion, but the room was locked then, and he had no chance to see it.

Recalling this, Li Chunfeng suddenly said, "Young Master, the last time I, the humble monk, actually went to the Marquis of Weinan's residence with His Majesty and Her Majesty."

"Unfortunately, I left in haste and couldn't properly be a guest at the Marquis's residence."

"I wonder, in the future, might I have another chance to visit the Marquis of Weinan's residence again?"

Chen Yan found it amusing, "Grand Historian, the threshold of the Marquis of Weinan's residence is only two inches high; even a two‑year‑old child like Xiao Sizi can step over it."

"You, being so tall, can't step over it?"

He is increasingly finding Li Chunfeng to be a strange person.

Sometimes, he behaves very easygoing, and a bit… improper.

However, sometimes he is deadly serious.

If you want to visit his house, just go; why be so modest?

Li Chunfeng gave an awkward smile and, following Chen Yan's words, said: "Then... after today's birthday feast, shall I, a humble monk, accompany the young master to Weinan Bo Fu as a guest?"

Chen Yan hesitated after hearing: "Grand Historian, you're welcome to go, but I can't shake the feeling that you have ulterior motives."

"No way!" Li Chunfeng shook his head repeatedly and said: "Please, young master, rest assured; I merely wish to be a guest, with absolutely no other thoughts."

Chen Yan stared straight at him, saying nothing.

Li Chunfeng, uncomfortable under the stare, after a while gave in.

"Alright, to be frank, Young Master, the reason I want to go to the Marquis of Weinan's residence is indeed that I have another purpose."

After speaking, he quickly added: "But please, Young Master, I only wish to see your room; beyond that, I have no other intentions."

Chen Yan let out a breath, realizing it was just to see his room; he had thought...

Hm?

See his room?!

What the hell?!