Hall was silent, even Zhao Feng and Chief Steward Shang couldn't maintain their composure, their faces filled with shock and apprehension.However, Elder Ye and Wang Xi remained relatively calm, though their eyes also showed ripples, clearly deeply moved."You are, refusing Us?"The Emperor Yongyuan's tone was filled with disbelief.Li Xuan nodded silently, then continued to write:"I have no interest in becoming a Protector Beast of the Nation.""I believe Ankang also has no interest in the throne of Great Xing."Hearing the unspoken meaning in Li Xuan's words, the Emperor Yongyuan's hanging heart suddenly relaxed, and he then asked, "Then what do you two want?"Li Xuan raised one of his hind legs and scratched behind his somewhat itchy ear, saying with an extremely casual attitude:"We just want to live in peace and safety, that's all.""Preferably to live as we please, free and unconstrained."Upon hearing such an answer, the Emperor Yongyuan asked in surprise, "If that's the case, shouldn't you agree to the conditions I proposed?""Only by holding supreme power can you live the way you want to live.""This is your only path to the 'freedom' you yearn for."Li Xuan looked at the Emperor Yongyuan strangely, unable to suppress a scornful smile.The Emperor Yongyuan's mood, seeing such an expression on a cat's face, was imaginable; a vein immediately bulged on his forehead.If it weren't for the fact that he was currently seeking something from Li Xuan, with the Emperor Yongyuan's usual temper, he probably wouldn't have been able to hold back.At this moment, Chief Steward Shang stepped forward and sternly rebuked:"Li Xuan, how can you be so rude to His Majesty!""It seems we have spoiled you too much in the past.""Now you have no manners at all!""Your Majesty, this old servant has failed in his teaching, please punish me."With that, Chief Steward Shang knelt on the ground.Zhao Feng on the side also quickly followed suit, kneeling and bowing his head to the ground, silently pleading for forgiveness.Ordinarily, it was these two who represented the Emperor Yongyuan and had contact with Li Xuan.Now, with the tense atmosphere in Ganlu Hall, the two had to step forward to apologize, also serving as a reminder to both sides that they were not enemies.Chief Steward Shang and Zhao Feng's timely intervention created a clear buffer between Li Xuan and the Emperor Yongyuan.To be honest, even before Li Xuan revealed his special nature, Chief Steward Shang had been good to their Jingyang Palace.Li Xuan had always remembered the monthly stipend and fifty taels of silver that were sent back then.Li Xuan hadn't intentionally mocked the Emperor Yongyuan earlier; it was just an unconscious reaction.Immediately, he also offered his explanation."Although I haven't had many interactions with you.""But in my opinion, you are the least free person in this world.""In fact, I think a small eunuch in the palace is much freer than you."Li Xuan looked into the Emperor Yongyuan's eyes, but still spoke his thoughts truthfully.The Emperor Yongyuan was slightly stunned, looking at Li Xuan's serious gaze, knowing that he wasn't teasing or mocking him, but simply stating his thoughts directly.But this made the Emperor Yongyuan even more uncomfortable.Because even a cat could see something that many people couldn't understand.The Emperor Yongyuan suddenly felt a bit dispirited; he raised his hand and gently waved towards Chief Steward Shang and Zhao Feng, signaling them to get up and step aside."Li Xuan, you are right.""But it is precisely such a cage-like throne that countless people flock to, willing to give everything for it."The Emperor Yongyuan sighed with emotion, and casually stroked Li Xuan's head.It was fluffy and felt nice to the touch."Li Xuan, do you know?""In this world, there are actually only two kinds of emperors.""One is trapped in the cage of desire.""One is trapped in the cage of rules.""The former will inevitably be a tyrant, the latter might be a wise ruler."The Emperor Yongyuan casually petted the cat and began to speak of the past."When I was nineteen, I ascended the throne in a daze.""I originally thought that I was blessed with the Son of Heaven's fortune, and I planned to boldly make a big splash from the start, to submit a satisfactory answer sheet to my ancestors.""But in the end, like most other young emperors, I was merely a puppet of others."This was the first time Li Xuan had heard about the Emperor Yongyuan's early days on the throne, and he found it quite interesting.The several Grand Eunuchs on the side silently revealed worried expressions.That period of time was the Emperor Yongyuan's most unwilling memory.In fact, from the situation where there were only a few Grand Eunuchs in Ganlu Hall, Li Xuan could easily guess that the Emperor Yongyuan probably didn't have many trustworthy people in the Imperial Court.Otherwise, for such an important matter as today, there would have to be a few trusted ministers to witness it together, rather than being exclusively Grand Eunuchs.Moreover, even these few were not all of the Grand Eunuchs.Li Xuan estimated that the Emperor Yongyuan's reign was not as prestigious as it appeared."Over these twenty years, I have paid a great price to walk on thin ice to reach today.""Li Xuan, do you understand what I mean?""I have paid so many prices, I will never let them become meaningless."Li Xuan could hear that the Emperor Yongyuan's determination was beyond doubt.Whether it was for his own desire for power or for the Daxing Dynasty that had continued for nearly a thousand years, the Emperor Yongyuan would risk everything to complete his long-held plan.Li Xuan looked at the Emperor Yongyuan, silently wagging his tail and asking:"Then, was Consort Xiao also one of your prices?"The Emperor Yongyuan's hand, which had been stroking Li Xuan, suddenly paused, then silently withdrew.Chief Steward Shang and Zhao Feng, seeing Li Xuan's question, both frowned in unison, thinking 'this is bad'.But contrary to their expectations, the Emperor Yongyuan simply nodded, saying nothing else.However, Li Xuan, seeing the fleeting, undisguised sadness in his eyes, also got his answer."I am not like you."Li Xuan wrote decisively.The Emperor Yongyuan watched silently."Ankang is a price I cannot pay.""Even Yu'er is the same.""I am just a cat.""So my world is very, very small.""You must help me protect my 'world'.""This is my condition."When he saw the condition Li Xuan proposed, the Emperor Yongyuan had a strange feeling of expectation, yet unwillingness to accept it.This cat in front of him made him, the emperor, seem so humble.Humble as dust."When you cannot help me, I will protect my world in my own way!"When everyone in Ganlu Hall saw the sentence Li Xuan wrote, they were all deeply moved.Especially Chief Steward Shang and Zhao Feng, who recalled their initial assessment of Li Xuan when they first met him, and were now filled with mixed emotions.This Little Black Cat in front of them had always been so emotional and true to himself.Who would have thought that in the coldest place in this world, the most ardent emotions were nurtured."Is that all?""You don't want anything else?""Protector Beast of the Nation, Empress position, besides these, we can still discuss. You can go discuss with Ankang over there, how about it?"The Emperor Yongyuan asked, unwilling to give up."If I propose other things, can you do them?""For example, please remove all threats to Ankang in this palace.""To give an example, that would be His Majesty's Empress."Li Xuan's lips curled into a faint smile.Once the seed of distrust is planted, it is difficult to eradicate.Ever since Li Xuan realized that his cultivation of Yin Yang True Qi was under the Emperor Yongyuan's guidance, he began to doubt all information received from the Emperor Yongyuan.Even his temporary stay in Xingqing Palace to avoid danger was the same.Had Empress Wu really begun to feel threatened by Princess Ankang?This was a fact Li Xuan could not confirm.Furthermore, did Empress Wu truly harbor hostility towards their Jingyang Palace?With Empress Wu's strength, to deal with the previously weak Jingyang Palace, perhaps she wouldn't even need to dirty her own hands?Or was it that someone in the palace deliberately spread such rumors?Trust, once established, takes time and effort, but to destroy it, only a small lie is needed.The Emperor Yongyuan also noticed the change in Li Xuan's attitude, but there was nothing he could do about this matter.He had indeed, out of self-interest, guided Li Xuan's actions.The Emperor Yongyuan had thought this was not a big deal, but he didn't expect Li Xuan's reaction to be so strong."Is this the difference between a cat and a human?""Humans, as long as there's profit, can be driven no matter what.""This cat is clearly more willful."The Emperor Yongyuan thought about how he was currently coaxing a little cat to join his side, and he couldn't help but laugh at the unreality of it.But this was reality; from the moment Li Xuan mastered Yin Yang True Qi, the Emperor Yongyuan had no other choice."I truly cannot resolve the Empress's issue."The Emperor Yongyuan shrugged, stating it directly."Then that's that."Li Xuan looked at the Emperor Yongyuan with disdain, then continued, "You just need to do your best to protect our safety, and I will cooperate with you then.""Also, if you trick me again in the future, no matter what the truth is, as long as I feel deceived."Li Xuan didn't say more, just chuckled."You all better pray you can find a second being who has mastered Yin Yang True Qi."The Emperor Yongyuan sighed, knowing that with Li Xuan's current attitude, if that time truly came, he would do anything.The Emperor Yongyuan had also gradually figured out Li Xuan's temper, and immediately went along with him, saying:"As long as you are willing to cooperate, then we are on the same boat, and there's naturally no need to play any more tricks.""We were just trying to establish a basis for cooperation before."After saying that, the Emperor Yongyuan pressed his temples, then quickly asked, "Do you have any other conditions or questions?""If not, I'll assume we'll have a pleasant cooperation starting today."Although Li Xuan was unwilling, he also knew there was no other choice.The Emperor Yongyuan was still speaking nicely to him now, only because of the Yin Yang True Qi.If he acted any more arrogant, it might be inappropriate.Li Xuan knew when to stop and asked the most important question."Who are your enemies?"The Emperor Yongyuan released his hand from his temples and quipped:"It's a wonder you could hold back until now."The Emperor Yongyuan pondered for a moment, then said:"Our enemies are many, and they are all very strong."Li Xuan had expected this, but still couldn't help but roll his eyes.What kind of proper emperor would beg a cat for so long?Moreover, the Emperor Yongyuan had said earlier that after ascending the throne, he was a puppet emperor, and only reached his current position after paying a great price.But even after paying so much, some things were probably still difficult to change."Stronger than you, right?"Li Xuan asked irritably.The Emperor Yongyuan touched his nose and calmly uttered four words:"Equally matched."Li Xuan understood the art of imperial language and knew that the Emperor Yongyuan had added a lot of embellishment to those four words for himself.Li Xuan thought carefully for a moment, then asked:"Empress Wu isn't on your side, is she?""She can be, and she cannot be."The Emperor Yongyuan answered habitually.But then he realized that the being in front of him was a little cat who lacked common sense, so he switched to more direct language."Li Xuan, in this Imperial Court, there is only one relationship, and that is mutual utilization.""When interests align, then they are friends.""When interests conflict, then they are enemies.""As you said, the Empress is indeed not on my side at this moment.""But with mutual concessions, cooperation is also possible."The Emperor Yongyuan gave Li Xuan a political lesson."Li Xuan, you only need to know.""I have something the Empress needs, and the Empress has something I need.""How to obtain what each other needs, that is the art of politics."In other words, in the Emperor Yongyuan's view, Empress Wu was a potential ally, and also a potential enemy."Why would the Empress feel threatened by Ankang?"Li Xuan continued to ask.The Emperor Yongyuan smiled and said, "The Empress will not see Ankang as a threat; in her eyes, all other princes and princesses cannot pose a threat to the second prince.""And it must be admitted, this is indeed true."Li Xuan was stunned at first upon hearing this, but then he quickly realized what they had been hiding from in Xingqing Palace these past few days.But just then, the Emperor Yongyuan continued:"Although the Empress doesn't care, there are others in the harem who do care, and who hope that Ankang becomes a threat to the Empress."Li Xuan understood the Emperor Yongyuan's meaning, but also felt puzzled.Since this Second Prince was so excellent that Empress Wu could be so confident, were all the others fools?What was the point of fighting then?If the Eldest Prince and his two siblings were so invested, wouldn't they just be making a fool of themselves?Although Princess Ankang had won a few competitions in the Imperial Garden, if the Emperor Yongyuan and Empress Wu both believed that others could not pose a threat to the Second Prince, what were the others thinking?"Could it be that they just dislike Ankang? That doesn't seem right, either."How many fools were there among the nobles in the palace?Li Xuan felt that there must be some details he didn't know yet.He immediately asked the Emperor Yongyuan his doubts."Since the Second Prince is so assured of victory, what are the others fighting for? What is the meaning of the Imperial Garden competitions?""Why do they need to target Ankang so much?"The Emperor Yongyuan looked at Li Xuan's question with a face full of surprise.The faces of the other Grand Eunuchs were also full of strangeness.Li Xuan immediately looked around and noticed that everyone's expressions were off."What's going on?""Did I say something wrong?"The Emperor Yongyuan suddenly let out a chuckle, then asked, somewhat puzzled:"Who told you that the second prince is a prince?