150: Chapter 58 System: Oh, a fire!

On the 20th day of the fifth month of the first year of Yongan, Li Ling was in the Imperial Study researching the detailed plans for the Northern Expedition when the system's voice suddenly rang in his mind, carrying a clear sense of schadenfreude.

"Host, your backyard is about to catch fire."

Li Ling's hand trembled, and his brush drew a long ink streak across the paper: "What? What's going on?"

"Just now, Emily and Imperial Concubine Hui were both taking a walk in the garden when they ran into the Princess, who was also taking a walk. The three chatted for a while, and the atmosphere was a bit subtle. Emily said, 'His Majesty spent two hours with me last night,' Imperial Concubine Hui replied, 'His Majesty was clearly reading memorials with me until late last night,' and then the Princess smiled and said, 'You are both wrong. His Majesty was drinking tea and listening to me play the zither at my place last night, and even praised my playing'—the three of them fell silent at the same time. No one spoke again, but everyone knew what the others were saying."

Li Ling's scalp tingled: "Did they fight?"

"No. They were all very restrained, just smiled at each other, and then dispersed. But that smile... Host, you didn't see it. That kind of smile is even scarier than fighting."

"...System, are you doing this on purpose?"

"The system is just reporting the situation in real-time. Host, you promised to spend time with all three of them, and then stood all three of them up. Isn't that just asking for death?"

"When did I promise all three?! I just said 'I'll go if I have time'—"

"Right, so they all thought you had time tonight, but you didn't go to see any of them. Host, you are playing with fire."

Li Ling took a deep breath, put down his brush, and stood up.

"I'll go explain."

"Host, you can't explain your way out of this. If you go to explain now, all three will think you are biased toward one of the others. The best way is—"

"What is it?"

"Feign illness. Just say you are suddenly feeling unwell and won't see anyone. Once the heat dies down tomorrow, then coax them one by one."

Li Ling was silent for five seconds, then said: "System, you're becoming more and more like a person. You can even come up with such a lousy idea."

"The system is just providing the optimal solution based on data analysis."

"Then I'll do as you say."

Li Ling walked out of the Imperial Study and said to the eunuch at the door: "Pass down the decree: I am feeling unwell and will not see anyone tonight. Just have dinner delivered to the study."

The eunuch was stunned for a moment: "Your Majesty, what happened to you?"

"A little dizzy, perhaps I'm too tired." Li Ling rubbed his temples, "Don't make a fuss, don't let anyone know."

"Yes!"

Li Ling returned to the study, closed the door, and let out a long sigh.

"System, why do you think I bother? There are so many things to do, yet I still have to get a headache over matters of the heart."

"Host, this is the price of growth. With great power comes great responsibility. The more women you have around you, the more emotional issues you need to handle. Did you think being an emperor was easy? An emperor may seem high and mighty, but in reality, every step must be taken with caution; one mistake and you'll flip the carriage."

"Your tone... why does it sound like a disgruntled wife?"

"The system is just stating facts."

That evening, Li Ling hid in the study and ate dinner alone. Four dishes and one soup were laid out on the table, all things he loved to eat, but he had no appetite at the moment.

"System, what do you think the three of them are doing right now?"

"According to system monitoring, Emily is playing the piano in her music room, playing Beethoven's 'Pathétique'; Imperial Concubine Hui is looking at account books in her room, checking your military expenditure accounts; the Princess is admiring the moon in the courtyard, holding a cup of tea, looking at the moon for a long time, and sighing."

The more Li Ling heard, the more guilty he felt: "Did I do something wrong?"

"Host, the only thing you did wrong was promising all three of them at the same time. If you had only promised one, there wouldn't be these problems."

"I know, I won't do it again next time."

"Host, you said that last time too."

Li Ling was speechless.

Early the next morning, Li Ling, sporting dark circles under his eyes, went to the Princess's courtyard to apologize first.

The Princess was watering flowers in the courtyard. Seeing him enter, she didn't look up but said lightly: "Is my husband feeling better?"

"Better, better, completely better." Li Ling walked over and took the watering can from her hand, "Your Highness, I've come to apologize to you for what happened last night."

"Apologize?" The Princess looked up, looking at him with a half-smile, "What does my husband need to apologize for?"

"I intended to go to your place last night, but I suddenly felt dizzy, so..."

"Husband, no need to explain." The Princess interrupted him, "I know you are busy with military affairs, and it is normal to occasionally feel unwell. But I heard that you had your dinner in the study last night?"

Li Ling broke out in a cold sweat: "Yes... yes."

"Then were you too dizzy to leave the study, or did you not want to leave the study?"

Li Ling gritted his teeth and decided to make a clean breast of it: "Your Highness, I'll tell you the truth. I did it on purpose last night."

The Princess was stunned: "On purpose?"

"Right. I promised all three of you last night, but couldn't go to any of you, so I had to feign illness and hide."

The Princess was silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Husband, you..."

"I know I was wrong." Li Ling held her hand, "Your Highness, please forgive me this once."

The Princess looked at his pitiful appearance and her heart softened: "Alright, I don't blame you. But husband, remember, you must keep your word in the future and not promise so many people at the same time."

"I will remember." Li Ling felt relieved, "Then tonight, shall I come to your place for dinner?"

"Okay." The Princess smiled slightly, "I will have the kitchen prepare the dishes you like."

Leaving the Princess's courtyard, Li Ling went to Emily's music room.

Emily was playing the piano, still playing that piece, 'Pathétique'. Li Ling stood at the door and listened for a while, and only knocked to enter after she finished playing.

"Emily."

Emily turned her head, saw him, and snorted: "Yo, His Majesty has graced me with his presence. I failed to welcome you properly."

"Don't be like that." Li Ling walked over and sat down beside her, "I came to apologize."

"Apologize?" Emily turned her head away, "I don't understand."

"Emily, I didn't do it on purpose last night. I originally wanted to go to your place, but I had also promised the Princess and Miss Lin, and in the end, I couldn't go to any of them, so I had to feign illness and hide."

Emily turned back and stared at him with wide eyes: "Feign illness?"

"Right." Li Ling confessed honestly, "I know I was wrong, and I will never do this again."

Emily stared at him for a few seconds, then couldn't help but laugh: "Li Ling, you... you are too cowardly, aren't you? A dignified Prince Regent, actually feigning illness to hide from women?"

"What can I do? I can't afford to offend any of the three of you." Li Ling put his hands together, "Emily, please forgive me this once."

Emily sighed: "Alright, alright, I don't blame you. But remember, if you stand me up again next time, I will... I will ignore you for three days."

"I'll remember."

"Also, you have to come to my place for dinner tonight."

"No problem!"

Leaving Emily's place, Li Ling went to Imperial Concubine Hui's courtyard.

Imperial Concubine Hui was looking at account books. Seeing him enter, she put down the account books and smiled slightly: "Your Majesty is here."

"Miss Lin." Li Ling sat down opposite her, "I came to apologize."

"Apologize?" Imperial Concubine Hui raised an eyebrow, "Why does Your Majesty say that?"

"About last night..."

"I've already heard about last night." Imperial Concubine Hui waved her hand, "I can understand that Your Majesty was feeling unwell and couldn't keep the appointment. But Your Majesty, I have a question to ask you."

"Go ahead."

"Do you think the three of us women are easy to fool?"

Li Ling was stunned: "Of course not! I have never thought that."

"Then why did you promise three people at the same time and stand all three of them up at the same time?" Imperial Concubine Hui looked directly into his eyes, "Are you testing our bottom line, or testing our patience?"

Li Ling was silent for a while, then said: "Neither. I was just... too busy, so busy that I didn't have the energy to handle everything well. I admit, I did wrong. I shouldn't have promised three people at the same time, and I especially shouldn't have feigned illness to hide."

Imperial Concubine Hui looked into his eyes, confirming that he was apologizing sincerely, and her expression softened a little.

"Your Majesty, I don't need you to come and accompany me every day. I only need you to keep your word. If you promise me something, you must do it. If you can't do it, don't promise it lightly."

"I will remember."

"Very well." Imperial Concubine Hui smiled slightly, "Can you come to my place for dinner tonight?"

"I..." Li Ling just wanted to say "Okay," but suddenly remembered he had already promised the Princess and Emily, so he quickly changed his words, "I have military affairs to handle tonight, I'm afraid I can't come. Another day, I will definitely come another day."

Imperial Concubine Hui looked at him with a half-smile: "Your Majesty, you've promised two other people again, haven't you?"

Li Ling broke out in a cold sweat: "I..."

"Alright, alright, I guessed it." Imperial Concubine Hui waved her hand, "You go. Come find me when you're done. I'm not in a rush here."

Li Ling felt relieved and quickly said goodbye.

Walking out of Imperial Concubine Hui's courtyard, he stood in the garden and let out a long sigh.

"System."

"Hmm?"

"I swear, I will never promise three people at the same time again."

"Host, you have already said this sentence three times."

"This time is for real!"

"You said that last time too."

Li Ling rolled his eyes, too lazy to argue with the system.

That evening, as agreed, he went to the Princess's place for dinner.

The Princess had indeed prepared a table full of dishes he loved. The two ate and chatted, the atmosphere warm and harmonious. After dinner, the Princess played a piece of guqin music for him, the sound of the zither melodious, floating in the night.

Li Ling listened to the zither music, watching the Princess's quiet profile as she played under the moonlight, and a warmth surged in his heart.

"Your Highness." He said softly.

"Hmm?" The Princess looked up.

"I think marrying you is one of the most correct decisions I have made in my life."

The Princess blushed: "Why is my husband so good at talking today?"

"Everything I say is the truth." Li Ling walked over and sat down beside her, "I used to think that marriage was a burden, a bargaining chip for political marriage. But now I don't think so. I feel that having you by my side is a very happy thing."

The Princess's ears turned red, she lowered her head and said softly: "Husband, did you drink too much tonight?"

"I didn't drink too much." Li Ling held her hand, "Everything I said is from the heart."

The Princess looked up at him, her eyes shining with a gentle light.

"Husband, since you said so, I also want to say something from the heart."

"What?"

"Marrying you, at first, was indeed for my father the Emperor's mission. But after spending time together, I found... I have really fallen in love with you. Not because you are the Prince Regent, not because you have an army and power, but because you are you. You feel sad for the casualties of soldiers, you worry about the suffering of the common people, and you are still studying maps and preparing for war late at night. You are a responsible man, and I... I am willing to walk with you."

A warm current surged in Li Ling's heart, and he reached out to pull her into his arms.

"Your Highness, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?" The Princess leaned on his shoulder, "We are husband and wife, no need to say thank you."

The moonlight outside the window spilled in, shining on the two of them, casting their shadows on the wall, overlapping together.

It was late at night, and Li Ling returned to the Imperial Study to continue researching the Northern Expedition plan.

On the map, the sphere of influence of the Northern Warlords was circled in red ink, and the dense markings looked like a spider web. His finger paused on the location of Taiyuan, then followed the railway line all the way north, extending all the way to Shenyang.

"Warlord Yan Xishan, Yuan Shikai, Zhang Zuolin..." He muttered to himself, "One by one, none of you can run away."

"Host." The system's voice rang in his mind.

"Hmm?"

"The system reminds you that there is also movement from the foreign powers. Meijian Country and the UK are secretly providing weapons and funds to Yuan Shikai, trying to use him to contain you. Although the German Empire is ostensibly your ally, they are also watching from the sidelines to see if you can really win this battle."

"I know." Li Ling sneered, "They want to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, wait for the Beiyang Army and me to both suffer, and then come out to pick the peaches? Keep dreaming. I will not give them this opportunity."

"What does the Host plan to do?"

"Preemptive strike." Li Ling stood up and walked to the window, "I want to take out Warlord Yan Xishan before the foreign powers react, then devour Yuan Shikai, and finally deal with Zhang Zuolin. By the time they react, I will have already unified the North."

"Is the Host confident?"

"Yes." Li Ling turned around, his gaze firm, "I have prepared for this war for three years; if I still can't win, then I might as well quit."

Outside the window, the night was deep, but the eastern sky was already starting to turn white.

A new day was about to begin.