Daqing Reborn Prince, Intercepting Si Lili at the Beginning

Chapter 2: Slacking Off in Front of Emperor Qing?

Huh?

There are rewards?

Li Chengyuan was stunned. He hadn’t expected that being the third prince would come with intercepted rewards!

This was truly a surprise.

Li Chengyuan hurriedly opened the system again to check the reward.

Myoyinfang???

Li Chengyuan was once again overjoyed!

This was like being handed a pillow when drowsiness struck!

Now that he was forced to open a residence and establish his forces, he had to start from scratch.

What he needed most at this moment was intelligence and money!

And now, with Myoyinfang, all his needs were met.

At least for the short term, there was no need to worry about intelligence or financial needs.

Especially since Myoyinfang was just a place for singing and selling songs — an entertainment venue that sold art, not bodies, and wasn’t considered a brothel!

This made Li Chengyuan feel even more comfortable using it.

Li Chengyuan wasn’t a saint!

But he had his own conscience and bottom line. At the very least, he wouldn’t do anything wicked!

If Myoyinfang were a brother forcing good people into prostitution, no matter how useful it was, he wouldn’t have wanted it!

This wasn’t about being pretentious; it was just basic human decency.

What made Li Chengyuan happiest was that the system’s newly rewarded forces even had a six-month protection period.

This was incredibly important!

Places like Myoyinfang were the easiest to attract the attention of the powerful.

To survive in the capital, such a venue needed a sufficiently strong backer.

Of course, with Li Chengyuan’s identity, if he publicly declared Myoyinfang as his force, no one in the capital would dare to provoke it.

But right now, Li Chengyuan needed to lie low and develop quietly.

Especially when it came to cultivating power — he couldn’t expose himself lightly.

If Emperor Qing knew he was secretly developing his forces, the emperor would never let him off!

So, under no circumstances could he let Emperor Qing know about the connection between him and Myoyinfang.

If there were no protection period, Li Chengyuan would indeed be caught off guard.

But with a six-month protection period, he could make his arrangements more calmly.

In the next six months, he could find a public backer for Myoyinfang — something he was confident he could achieve!

…

After a long while, Li Chengyuan finally snapped out of his chaotic thoughts.

Just as he was about to carefully inspect the Myoyinfang organization, a eunuch outside suddenly called for him.

“Your Highness, His Majesty is no longer busy. You may go to express your gratitude now!”

“I understand.”

Li Chengyuan responded and reluctantly stood up, signaling to a palace maid to help him change in the sleeping quarters.

He had nearly forgotten.

After being rewarded by Emperor Qing, he had to go and give thanks!

’

In the depths of the palace, Emperor Qing’s bedchamber.

Led by the Eunuch Hou, Li Chengyuan arrived before Emperor Qing and respectfully saluted.

“Your son Li Chengyuan greets Your Majesty!”

“Rise.”

On the bed, Emperor Qing’s voice was low and deep, filled with countless hidden thoughts, making it impossible to decipher.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Li Chengyuan stood up and glanced at Emperor Qing.

Emperor Qing, not in court, was dressed casually.

He wore a white robe with a green silk dragon belt around his waist, and amidst his jet-black hair were a few strands of gray.

He lounged casually on the bed, yet he still exuded the aura of a hidden dragon, lofty and unfathomable.

Emperor Qing sized up Li Chengyuan for a long time before finally speaking. “Do you know why I’ve conferred this title upon you?”

“Your son does not know!” Li Chengyuan replied honestly.

He truly had no idea what Emperor Qing was thinking.

Emperor Qing stared at Li Chengyuan for a moment, his gaze heavy, and then asked, “You… don’t know?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, your son truly doesn’t know!” Li Chengyuan answered sincerely.

Perhaps surprised by Li Chengyuan’s sincerity, Emperor Qing remained silent for a moment before continuing, “Let me ask you this — do you want to vie for the position of crown prince?”

Li Chengyuan couldn’t hold it in anymore!

Damn, this old man is being way too direct!

Isn’t this just a point-blank question?

Li Chengyuan hesitated for a moment, then responded with utmost sincerity: “Replying to Your Majesty, your son does not want to!”

“Is it that you don’t want to, or you don’t dare to?”

“Your son truly doesn’t want to!”

“And why not?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, because being crown prince is too exhausting!”

“???”

This time, Emperor Qing was genuinely stunned.

He had imagined many possible answers from Li Chengyuan, but never had he thought Li Chengyuan would respond like this.

This left Emperor Qing momentarily speechless.

“Too exhausting?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Li Chengyuan replied earnestly, “You know me, Your Majesty. Since I was young, I’ve been mischievous, only interested in eating, drinking, and having fun. I don’t like socializing, and I hate handling political matters. Although I believe I have some talent, that talent is only good for talking. If I were made to handle affairs, it would be pure torture for me!”

“…”

Emperor Qing was so speechless, that he couldn’t even find words to respond.

Emperor Qing even began to doubt — is this kid my son with Ye Qingmei?

How could he have inherited none of our good traits?

Emperor Qing’s feelings towards Li Chengyuan were complicated.

Emotionally, as the son of Ye Qingmei, Li Chengyuan undoubtedly held a special place in Emperor Qing’s heart.

But rationally, Emperor Qing never considered making Li Chengyuan his heir.

After all, Ye Qingmei had been indirectly killed by him.

If that ever came to light and Li Chengyuan succeeded to the throne, he would undoubtedly seek “revenge.”

Even if Emperor Qing was dead by then, historians would surely label him a tyrant.

For this reason alone, he could never allow Li Chengyuan to ascend the throne.

The reason he had conferred Li Chengyuan the title of king was, on the surface, to have him participate in the struggle for succession, adding pressure to the crown prince and the second prince, serving as a whetstone for them.

It would also help disrupt the power dynamics in the capital, allowing Emperor Qing to act more freely.

Of course, Emperor Qing had his own deeper calculations.

But all of that assumed that Li Chengyuan had the ambition to fight for the throne.

Emperor Qing knew that Li Chengyuan enjoyed indulging in pleasures.

After all, Li Chengyuan had grown up at his side.

But he hadn’t expected that this kid would be so unmotivated.

An imperial prince who was afraid of hard work?

This lazy attitude left Emperor Qing unsure of how to reprimand him!

Naturally, Li Chengyuan might have been playing dumb.

But seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Emperor Qing found it hard to believe the kid had such deep cunning.

After holding back for a long time, Emperor Qing could only angrily scold him.

“You useless thing with no ambition!”

Upon hearing this, Li Chengyuan immediately admitted fault.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your son knows his mistake!”

Seeing Li Chengyuan’s shameless expression, Emperor Qing almost laughed from anger.

But after some thought, he simply waved his hand dismissively.

“Forget it, you may go now.”

He couldn’t be bothered to say anymore.

After all, the edict had already been issued.

Whether Li Chengyuan wanted to vie for the throne or not was no longer up to him.

Once he left the palace, he was already in the game.

Emperor Qing had wanted to give him some guidance.

But this slacking Li Chengyuan had made Emperor Qing lose interest.

Let’s leave it at that!

There’s no rush. Once this kid starts suffering setbacks and gets cornered, his ambition will naturally awaken.

By then, I can guide him again!

’’