Five-year-old Li Chengqian is a very happy child. His biggest worry is that his chubby little brother keeps competing for their parents' attention. After missing a step and tumbling down the stairs, he has a very long dream. In it, his chubby little brother becomes his father's favorite, while he gets yelled at all day long and even ends up with a lame leg.
It was so scary that he still wants to cry after waking up.
Seeing his eldest son, who has always been so proud, now sobbing in Guanyin Bi's arms as he complains, Li Shimin is so astonished his eyes nearly twitch. His brilliant mind turns over and over, but he still can't figure out how he has been biased.
Only Li Tai, standing to the side with his finger in his mouth, giggles.
The older brother cries and the younger brother laughs, making Li Shimin's face darken in an instant after he'd just been reflecting on himself. In the end, he kicks both boys over to their tutor and orders them to hold hands and recite the Classic of Filial Piety.
The sight is so beautiful that none of the tutors dare laugh, but they still carry out the Prince of Qin's orders with due seriousness, reciting the text right there. Even their grandfather Li Yuan comes over in person to watch.
Feeling thoroughly humiliated, Chengqian vows to give his father the cold shoulder. But why does he keep having those absurd nightmares every night? He even dreams that his father stages a coup and becomes emperor.
Is this dream really going all out? It shows him every sort of beheading, without caring whether he can take it.
He may only be five, but he understands how serious this is.
If his uncles or grandfather learn about what happens in his dreams, his father could be in trouble.
His mother has just returned from yet another palace banquet, looking exhausted. He decides to lock those absurd dreams away in his heart and see what other twists they have in store.
Ha! The dream really does have more in store. By the end, his mother dies young and he is deposed. The arrogant, hot-tempered way he acts makes Chengqian clench his fists despite himself.
Dreams really are fake. How could a well-behaved child like him turn out that way?
But after waking from an ordinary night's sleep, how has his father become crown prince?!
Before his bewildered mind has fully cleared, his father becomes emperor, and he himself is named crown prince. The wheels of fate seem to be rapidly aligning with his dream. That night, he dreams that the person who inherits his father's throne is his yet-to-be-born ninth younger brother.
So Fat Sparrow's hopes come to nothing too.
This is... wonderful!
But if he already knows he's definitely not going to become emperor, and his health won't be good later on, does he really need to work so hard?
Taking care of his health, seeking out famous doctors, looking after his mother: aren't all these things more useful than being crown prince and having people yell at him all day? Besides, the ninth brother can take care of everything, and his father can't bear to kill his own son.
Starting today, the crown prince is going to slack off. He'll try to get deposed early and enjoy an easier life~
Li Shimin has barely finished dealing with all the chaos of his coronation when he suddenly realizes his eldest son seems to have entered his rebellious phase far too early.
What a headache.
Reading guide: A fun story, not a historical analysis, though it will be adapted with reference to official histories. Lots of love for Li Shimin. The blurb is still being revised; the next book will start later. If you're interested, feel free to bookmark it.
Theme: A loving father and filial sons, one happy family~
