Insufficient balance

  "Good! Good one, flew into the bushes and disappeared! Son, I didn't expect that after not seeing you for many days, you would have such talent, ah! The Emperor is very busy and has indeed neglected you quite a bit!" Li Shimin said this, but he was also helpless. As an emperor, especially a good one, it's difficult! He too wanted to share the joys of family with his beloved son, but such thoughts were unrealistic, especially for Li Shimin who had sworn to be a great emperor for all eternity.

  "The son greets the emperor, wishing the emperor's good fortune to be as vast as the East Sea and his longevity to rival that of Mount Nan!" Li Yunfei took a look at the person who was not his father, the current emperor, but still hastily bowed down, offering a flattering phrase. Li Shimin's eyes immediately narrowed into a smile, still enjoying listening to his son's words!

  "The slave and maid servant pay homage to Your Majesty, may the Emperor live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, and forever!" Xiaolian saw that the Emperor had arrived and hastily bowed down with Li Yunfei. She was puzzled as to why the Emperor would come to the Imperial Garden at this time!

  "Everyone, withdraw! You all go down! I have something to discuss with the Crown Prince alone!" Li Shimin looked at his son's thin face and couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart. He knew what kind of life Li Yunfei was living, but he also had no way to intervene. As the ruler of the country, he couldn't control everything that happened in the harem. Watching his most beloved son become more and more introverted, he felt helpless. Especially with Li Yunfei's recent illness, no one knew it was caused by his cultivation practice. But all this didn't matter, what was important was that his own son had been driven to such a state, and as the emperor father, he was powerless to do anything about it. This was indeed a sorrow, and the most ruthless thing about being an imperial family!

  "Your Majesty, I, your subject..." Li Yunfei looked at the majestic person in front of him, and his heart couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, which was also the original emotion of this body. Tears fell down uncontrollably, showing how much suffering this body had endured, and now it all burst out along with Li Yunfei's emotions.

  "Fei'er! I owe you an apology, and even more so to your deceased mother! Alas! Fei'er, whatever you ask for, I will grant it. Your father will take responsibility." Li Shimin looked at Li Yunfei with tears in his eyes, feeling a pang of guilt in his heart, which only grew stronger as he gazed at Li Yunfei, and so he made a promise to him.

  "Really?" Li Yunfei's heart skipped a beat, he was really troubled that someone would send him a pillow! He had been thinking of ways to leave the palace, but unexpectedly, Li Shimin gave him such a good opportunity now.

  "Of course it's true!" Li Shimin's eyes widened, and an invisible aura emanated from him. This son actually doubted himself? What kind of person was he? The Emperor, the only one in the entire empire, "When has Father ever deceived you? Moreover, I am a man of my word, what Father says, Father does!"

  "Will the Emperor allow me to leave the palace and establish my own estate?" Li Yunfei's eyes lit up, and he quickly stated his request. If he were allowed to establish his own estate, Li Yunfei would have the right to recruit his own personal guards and appoint or dismiss officials within his estate, of course, these would be private positions for his personal guards. However, the personal guards of a prince's estate are considered high-ranking officials, who dares to offend them? Unless it's another prince or someone with immense power.

  "Is this... the imperial son really wants to leave the palace?" Li Shimin's heart ached when he heard Li Yunfei's request, how could he not see through Li Yunfei's life these years? Although he wanted to help Li Yunfei every time, but later it only made those concubines even more overbearing, so Li Shimin also couldn't show too much favoritism towards Li Yunfei.

  "Yes! Father! I must leave the palace, and besides, I can come back to see you often after leaving the palace!" Li Yunfei would not give in on this matter, as it was his first step towards taking control of his own life, and an important one at that. If he couldn't even leave the palace, then everything else was off the table!

  "Haha! Alright! My imperial son has grown up, and it's time for you to go out and see the world. However, if I agree, you must compose another poem, still on the theme of these peonies in the garden. If it's good, I'll let you go; if not... haha! then just stay honestly in the palace with me!" Li Shimin originally wanted to agree immediately, but after a moment's thought, he added some more ideas and decided to make things difficult for his son one more time before letting him leave.

  "This... Your Majesty..." Li Yunfei originally wanted to decline, but when he saw Li Shimin's unyielding gaze, his last shred of luck was shattered. Seeing Li Shimin's interested expression, Li Yunfei gritted his teeth and thought to himself that this era wasn't Earth anyway, so who knows if there would be a Bai Juyi in the future? He might as well plagiarize then! With that thought, Li Yunfei comforted himself and looked at the peony flowers filling the garden. "Alright, Your Majesty, please allow me to think for a moment."

  Li Yunfei pretended to be nonchalant as he strolled around the peony flowers, while Li Shimin watched him with curiosity. In fact, the reason why Li Shimin liked this son so much was that Li Yunfei looked very similar to him - both were handsome men. Although Li Yunfei still looked a bit immature at this time, he had undoubtedly already possessed a hint of handsomeness.

  "Here it is! Listen carefully, Your Majesty."

  Peony fragrance

  Peony Fragrance

  Golden stamens bursting red jade house.

  A thousand pieces of crimson cloud glow brightly

  A hundred branches of wisteria, with lanterns shining brightly.

  The ground is first opened with brocade segments

  When the wind does not tie the orchid and musk sachet.

  The immortal qizhi tree is white and colorless.

  The Queen Mother's peach blossoms are not very fragrant.

  Dew drops sparkle with a light purple glow.

  Morning sunshine shines with vital light.

  Deep and shallow between red and purple two colors

  Everything depends on the rise and fall of one's fortunes.

  The leaves reflect the emotions of a shy face

  Lying in a cluster, weak and drunk with makeup.

  A faint smile seemed to conceal her mouth.

  Deep in thought, resenting others is like cutting one's intestines.

  Rich colors and elegant postures, extraordinary and unique.

  Weeds and wildflowers have no comparison.

  What's the use of having a lot of money?

  Peonies and tree peonies are usually bitter.

  Thus causing kings and nobles,

  The flowers bloom and wither in alternation.

  A luxurious carriage with soft cushions for the noble princess.

  A handsome young man from a wealthy family.

  The Wei Gong's residence was quietly closed in the east courtyard.

  Ximing Temple deeply opens its north corridor.

  A pair of butterflies dance together, watching people for a long time.

  The oriole's song is heard once on a long spring day.

  Sorrow shared in sunshine is hard to retain

  The curtain is still hanging down, casting a cool shade.

  Twenty days of blooming and falling flowers

  The whole city is in an uproar.

  Three generations have passed down Wen's literary excellence.

  People value appearance over substance.

  Heavy fragrance wafts as far as the peony is fragrant

  It has been developing gradually and did not come suddenly today.

  The emperor Yuan was worried about agriculture and sericulture.

  Good fortune descends every day.

  Last year Jiahe gave birth to nine sons

  Tanaka's house is quiet and deserted.

  This year's wheat is divided into two branches

  Delighted in your heart, nobody knows.

  No one knows

  What a pity.

  I am willing to temporarily seek creative power.

  The peony's gorgeous color fades away.

  A few scholars love flowers with all their heart

  Similar to your lord's worries about farming.

  "This poem, 'Peony Fragrance' by Bai Juyi, truly captures the beauty of peonies. Bai Juyi was a great realist poet of the Tang Dynasty, with nearly three thousand existing poems to his name, making him the most prolific poet of the Tang era. Under his brush, rich imagination, bold exaggeration, and clever personification blend together in perfect harmony, rendering this poem akin to a traditional Chinese painting - intricate where it needs to be, free-flowing where it counts, fully conveying the majestic beauty and charm of peonies, leaving readers with an immersive experience."