The protagonist of this crossover film and television series is disrupting the plot again.

Chapter 463 Joy of Life 19

It was common knowledge throughout the court and among the public that Prince Jing's heir, Li Hongcheng, had sided with Li Chengze.

Therefore, when he came to visit, he did not try to hide anything and went directly to the Second Prince's residence openly.

However, as soon as Li Hongcheng entered, he was shocked to find that the Second Prince's residence was now quite different from what it used to be.

The tranquility and serenity of the past seemed to be shattered overnight, and the once empty and desolate palace was instantly filled with life.

Li Chengze preferred peace and quiet. Usually, the servants in his mansion would quietly clean the courtyard before he got up, and then quickly return to their quarters to await his summons. They would not easily appear in the mansion so as not to disturb his peace and quiet.

However, as Li Hongcheng walked along the covered walkway toward the courtyard where Li Chengze lived, he saw servants and maids everywhere he went, whether in the courtyard or at a corner.

In addition to guarding fixed locations, the Prince's Palace also had several patrol teams dressed in armor and carrying sharp blades that crisscrossed the palace, creating a magnificent spectacle.

This scene, which might be commonplace in other princely residences, was particularly striking in Li Chengze's mansion, revealing an unusual atmosphere.

Although Li Hongcheng was surprised, he remained calm and composed, following the servant who was leading the way, until he arrived in front of an exquisite pavilion.

He stepped steadily into the room, where he saw that the furniture was complete, all simple yet elegant, with a light color scheme that exuded a sense of grandeur and luxury.

Between the side rooms and the main room on both sides, layers of curtains hang, cleverly dividing the interior space and completely concealing what lies inside.

A faint medicinal fragrance filled the air. The fragrance was not pungent, but rather had a refreshing quality that invigorated the spirits when inhaled.

"Second Prince?" Li Hongcheng didn't see Li Chengze, so he couldn't help but call out when he saw him.

"I am here."

A languid voice came from behind the curtain on the right.

Li Hongcheng gently lifted the curtain and looked closely. He saw a daybed in the side room, and Li Chengze was lying on it with his eyes closed, resting.

He was dressed in a loose, wide robe, with a handkerchief covering his forehead. The dim, pearly light shone on him, adding to his hazy and gentle appearance.

Li Hongcheng strode to the bedside and carefully examined Li Chengze. He noticed that Li Chengze's face was pale and he still looked sickly. His heart sank, and he asked softly, "Your Highness, how is your health? Why have you not recovered after so long?"

Li Hongcheng's heart began to pound. The Second Prince's illness was really strange. He had been bedridden for nearly a month and there was still no improvement. Could it be that he had contracted some kind of incurable disease?

Thinking about it this way, Li Hongcheng couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

Li Chengze took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.

He was clearly listless, not having fully adjusted to his new state of mind.

"Put away your assumptions. I don't have an incurable disease. After a few more days of rest, I should get better," Li Chengze said, his voice sounding somewhat tired.

Over the past month, countless people have wanted to visit him at his residence, but he has refused all of them, except for the imperial physician sent by Emperor Qing.

He was already annoyed, so how could he possibly want to see so many people?

Therefore, the people of Kyoto only knew that Li Chengze was sick, but apart from the imperial physicians who came to treat him, no one knew the specifics of his illness.

Li Hongcheng breathed a sigh of relief and then inquired about Li Chengze's illness, medication, and why he was still not better.

A hint of helplessness flashed in Li Chengze's eyes: "I know you're worried about me, but in my current state, I really don't want to talk. So, just say what's on your mind and don't beat around the bush."

Upon hearing this, Li Hongcheng's lips twitched a few times, seemingly hesitant. But he finally mustered his courage: "It's nothing else, I just wanted to ask Your Highness, since you are still seriously ill, will the monthly poetry gathering at the Prince's residence continue?"

Li Chengze suddenly smiled and raised his hand to remove the handkerchief from his forehead.

Although the Kingdom of Qing is known for its martial arts, the most popular event in Kyoto is actually poetry gatherings.

Countless students who yearn for a meteoric rise to success but lack the means to do so hope to shine at the poetry gathering. Even if they don't achieve instant fame, they can still make connections with the sons of officials and pave the way for their future.

For Li Chengze and the Crown Prince, the poetry gathering was an excellent opportunity to select talent and expand their influence.

Even if this approach has obvious political motives, once it gets out, people will only say that they value talent.

However, after the Crown Prince established his reputation for appreciating literature and frequently held poetry gatherings, Li Chengze could not openly compete with him and could only settle for second best, letting Prince Jing's heir, Li Hongcheng, take charge of organizing them.

Now that Li Hongcheng has suddenly brought up this matter, it is clear that he wants to use it to test Li Chengze's true situation.

It seems that even though he has settled things in the mansion, his subordinates are still starting to feel anxious.

Indeed, he has been out of the public eye for a long time, and his subordinates, unaware of his specific situation, naturally harbor concerns.

It is reasonable to use Li Hongcheng's words to test him through the poetry gathering.

If he is truly terminally ill, he will naturally have no time to attend poetry gatherings; conversely, if the poetry gatherings continue, it means that he is not seriously ill.

So Li Chengze didn't hesitate and immediately reassured Li Hongcheng: "Do it! I heard that the illegitimate son of the Fan family has arrived in the capital today. Find an opportunity to send him a letter and test him at the poetry gathering."

Upon receiving a positive response, a hint of joy flashed in Li Hongcheng's eyes.

However, just as he was about to get up and take his leave to return home to prepare for the poetry gathering, Li Chengze gently raised his hand, signaling him to stay.

Immediately afterwards, a series of tasks were ruthlessly assigned to Li Hongcheng.

Although he is still ill, his career cannot stop.

Lee Hong-sung was caught off guard by this sudden assignment, but seeing Lee Seung-jae's expression that said, "I believe in you, you can do it," he gritted his teeth and accepted the task.

Finally, Li Hongcheng left the Second Prince's residence with a heavy stack of mission plans in his arms.

Watching Li Hongcheng's departing figure, Li Chengze's lips curled into a faint smile.

The reason his men spend all day daydreaming is ultimately because they have too much free time.

Only by getting these people moving can we truly stabilize public sentiment and make the situation more controllable.

Shortly after Li Hongcheng left, Xie Bi'an, holding a note, hurriedly entered the house.

"Your Highness, this is news that came in from outside today, and it involves the Crown Prince..."

Upon hearing the words "Crown Prince," Li Chengze felt a headache coming on, and some unpleasant memories flashed through his mind.