4: Liu Sichun's Struggle"Second brother, times have changed. With only this much money, we naturally need to be careful and calculate our expenses." Liu Sichun frowned slightly and patiently explained...Chapter 9, The Son Knows His Wrongs

Li Chen's words made Zhao Qinglan's body stiffen.

Li Chen got closer and closer, until the two of them could clearly feel each other's breath.

Zhao Qinglan struggled immensely inside, realizing she couldn't continue like this.

Yet Ke Li Chen seemed completely fearless, and kept pushing further.

The hall was eerily silent.

This feeling of doing something illicit was exhilarating for Li Chen.

"This is the Fengxi Palace, where the empress resides. You, you're not afraid of death" Zhao Qinglan spoke in a hurried voice, lowering her tone to threaten him.

"Be afraid How can you not be afraid of death There isn't a person in the world who isn't afraid of dying."

Li Chen rose slightly, using an extremely aggressive posture to pin Zhao Qinglan down on the wide seat. He lowered his head, looking at the woman beneath him who ruled like a motherland empress, his gaze intensely predatory.

Zhao Qinglan was both terrified and astonished.

"So, let's keep it down."

Li Chen's words made Zhao Qinglan feel humiliated and ashamed.

Just then, the Ninth Prince's voice came from outside the door.

"Mother, I seemed to hear your voice from the next room. Is something amiss Would you like me to come in"

"No! Don't come in!"

Li Xuan's sudden voice startled Zhao Qinglan, who was already extremely nervous, causing her to stiffen.

At this moment, she was completely focused on how to prevent Li Xuan from discovering the matter. Her vigilance towards Li Chen had relaxed slightly, but Li Chen, like the most skilled swordsman, immediately seized this rare opportunity. He pressed forward relentlessly, his hands silently slipping into the gap between Zhao Qinglan's clothes at her waist.

This taboo-breaking contact sent a jolt of electricity through Li Chen and Zhao Qinglan, leaving them both feeling intensely stimulated.

Zhao Qinglan was more angry than anything else.

But Li Chen was more pleased.

"Mother, are you really alright" Li Xuan's worried voice came again.

Zhao Qinglan was furious.

She had never found the Ninth Prince so annoying and troublesome.

One hand firmly pressed down on Li Chen's hand, the one that made her want to chop it off. On the other side, Zhao Qinglan still had to pretend to be calm and say: "This palace said it's fine, it's fine. You go back and review today's lessons!"

Li Xuan outside the door was at a loss. The concern he had shown was met with scolding, and he felt even more dejected. He thought that perhaps Li Chen had caught him going to the Imperial Sacrificial Supervisor to read the documents, causing him to be reprimanded, and even the Empress held some dissatisfaction towards his carelessness.

Thinking this way, Li Xuan, who felt increasingly terrified, could only respond with a whimper and leave.

Feeling that there was finally no one outside the door, Zhao Qinglan said to Li Chen with a menacing tone: "Have you had enough"

"How is this enough"

Li Chen's cheek brushed against her smooth face, feeling that infinite beauty. Li Chen turned his head and planted a kiss directly on her cheek.

Zhao Qinglan didn't know what Li Chen was going to do, but his sudden action made her exclaim in surprise.

She wanted to struggle and push Li Chen away, but with such a little bit of strength, she couldn't possibly resist him.

Zhao Qinglan was helpless, being pressed down by Li Chen until he was satisfied and raised his head from her neck.

Looking at the bright red strawberry he had just made on the snow-white neck, Li Chen said with satisfaction, "Much better."

Zhao Qinglan didn't know what Li Chen had done. She raised her hand to touch her neck, but only felt a trace of Li Chen's saliva left behind.

Driven by anger and frustration, Zhao Qinglan pushed Li Chen off her with a strength she didn't know she possessed.

Now free and liberated, she resembled a startled rabbit, leaping from her chair and fleeing far away.

A pair of eyes full of resentment glared at Li Chen. Zhao Qinglan knew that she had let Li Chen take advantage of her again today, and she felt both angry and wronged in her heart. She felt that she had suffered repeatedly and angrily said: "Get out! Get out of here!"

Li Chen kept staring at Zhao Qinglan's neck, as if admiring a piece of art just completed.

After Zhao Qinglan finished speaking, Li Chen raised his hand and respectfully bowed, saying: "Since that's the case, then I will take my leave first. Your Majesty, please take care of your health."

Zhao Qinglan indeed tempted Li Chen, but at the moment, it was no problem to make a little move against this empress who embodies maternal grace. However, if he really wanted to do something, the time wasn't right yet. Li Chen didn't want to cause a coup for a moment of pleasure.

Men, keep your pants up!

Opportunities abound, this deep palace within these walls, Zhao Qinglan, this phoenix, cannot escape.

After finishing his words, Li Chen swaggered away.

Zha Qinglan felt that Li Chen's last words were full of meaning. After Li Chen left, she immediately went to the bronze mirror and sat down, tilting her head to reveal a swan-like, long neck. But in the mirror, she saw herself with a small, strawberry-like red mark on her snow-white neck.

Zhao Qinglan, coming back to her senses, was filled with shame and anger. Now she understood the purpose behind Li Chen's previous actions.

"This shameless scoundrel!"

Zhao Qinglan, feeling that her pure and innocent body had been defiled by Li Chen, leaving a mark on her, was furious.

When Li Xuan knew that Li Chen had finally left, he hurriedly came in to pay his respects.

"Mother, Prince Did the Crown Prince say anything" Li Xuan asked worriedly.

Zhao Qinglan immediately reached out to pull at her collar, covering the strawberry marks. She scolded Li Xuan, "Who let you in You barged in without reporting yourself. What decorum is there"

Li Xuan's face turned pale, and he hurriedly bowed his head and said: "This son knows his crime, this son knows his crime."

"It's just that this humble son is worried about what the Crown Prince might say, or even punish me. My heart is filled with fear, please forgive me, Empress Dowager."

Looking at Li Xuan's lackluster appearance, Zhao Qinglan only felt that he was a piece of good material wasted.

As the Emperor's sons, how could Li Xuan be so different from Li Chen in terms of their selection

It seems it's time to let Father know just how capable I am, this Li Xuan is clearly not up to the task.

Thinking about this, Zhao Qinglan said angrily: "The Crown Prince is just making excuses. Even if he has the power to supervise the country, you are still a prince. The Emperor, although unconscious, is still alive. He can't kill you!"

"To see you so frightened, just by such a minor thing, makes me wonder how I could possibly entrust you with heavier responsibilities in the future."

Zhao Qinglan looked at Li Xuan's speechless and cowardly appearance, was so angry that she let out a cold snort and scolded: "Get lost!"

Li Xuan was extremely wronged, and his heart was filled with hatred to the extreme.

As if ever since the crown prince took regency, his own aura and glory, along with his mother's trust, had all vanished into thin air.

And all of this was brought about by the prince!

If I were to one day become the crown prince and replace him, my mother would then believe in me again and love me dearly.

Thinking of this, Li Xuan's inner resentment grew wildly.

But he didn't dare to express his true feelings, so after kowtowing to Zhao Qinglan, he left sullenly.

Within the palace, silence returned. Zhao Qinglan sat before the bronze mirror, her fingers lightly touching the strawberry mark on her neck. The faint scent of Li Chen still lingered on her body, causing a surge of shame and anger within her.

"Damn it!!!"

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!s and calmly said, "They can't choose their political stance; that's a matter for those in power. These soldiers are just fighting for a salary. All officers above centurion rank, kill them."This bold...