"No," Chu Qianli's answer was unequivocal.
"Then..."
"But Father Emperor truly needs a good helper now."
Whether it was Prince He or Prince Xuan, anyone who wished to ascend the throne in Beiming desired aid from the Emperor of Nanming.
Conversely, for the Emperor of Nanming to temporarily secure the stability of his own kingdom, he also required external support.
Assistance was a matter of mutual benefit.
"For now, it hasn't come to selling daughters," Chu Jiangnan chuckled and said, "Since you don't like it, we won't consider it."
"Not necessarily."
Chu Qianli coughed a couple more times, her qi still somewhat sluggish.
"Little Li'er, you are merely... this empire and its affairs do not require any sacrifice from you."
He wanted to say she was just a fake princess, but the words "fake princess" – he found himself unwilling to utter them.
As long as they weren't spoken aloud, at least she would still be considered real.
Once exposed, he would lose even his daughter.
Chu Qianli could understand his meaning perfectly.
Anyone else might have thought the Emperor was looking down on her for not being his biological child.
But she understood him.
She knew her Father Emperor.
In this chaotic era, being a princess of Nanming was not necessarily a good thing.
Assassination attempts would surely be endless. Moreover, a princess was not a prince; to have a princess inherit the throne required a very, very long journey.
And it was uncertain whether this journey would be peaceful.
"If I say that I will ensure this empire is stabilized under Father Emperor's rule, will Father Emperor believe me?"
Chu Qianli's words sent an indescribable warmth through Chu Jiangnan's heart.
He turned his head to look at her.
Suddenly, he seemed to see that familiar figure on her once more.
So familiar, so longed for.
"Yue'er..."
"Father Emperor, I am Li'er," Chu Qianli smiled faintly.
He was thinking of her mother.
As long as he still held his mother in his heart, the separation of over a decade, regardless of the reason, was forgivable.
The only emperor in Nanming's history who had no harem.
This was because, in his heart, there was only Mingyue.
Chu Qianli hesitated for a moment, then finally couldn't help but reach out and grasp his large palm.
"As long as you wish, you will forever be my Father Emperor, my only Father Emperor. In this life, I will do everything in my power to protect you."
A wave of sorrow washed over Chu Jiangnan's eyes.
She was just a little girl!
Yet, the strength in her grip, though not great, was so firm, so reassuring.
What an extraordinary little girl she was! Her body was frail, but her spirit was so strong that even he, a grown man, could feel a sense of security from her.
"Little Li'er, haven't you said it backward?"
Chu Jiangnan gently squeezed her hand in return, "It is Father Emperor who should be protecting you well."
Chu Qianli said nothing, but her gaze conveyed everything.
Love, romance – none of it mattered to her anymore.
Having lost her mother in this life, she absolutely could not lose her father.
Father Emperor, she would protect him well, with her life!
"Father Emperor, there is something we need to handle properly now."
She took something out of the Qiankun Chain and handed it to him.
"Prepare yourself, it's time for court."
... The next morning, the court assembled, all officials present.
However, this time was different from all previous occasions. In this court, to the right of the Emperor, there was an additional seat.
Upon the jade chair, of pure, cool, and clear quality, sat a young girl.
Their princess, Chu Qianli.