I picked up the wine bottle and clinked it against Prince An's: "Prince An, to be honest, if I were in your position, I wouldn't have been able to choose either."

"Since ancient times, the dilemma of power and beauty has always been a tough one."

"Some love the country more than beauty."

"Some love beauty more than the country."

"There are always people who agree and disagree!"

I looked at Prince An and said, "Think carefully, do you really want that throne? Or have things reached the point where you'll die without a burial if you don't take it?"

"Is someone pushing you along, or do you truly want to benefit the people from the bottom of your heart?"

"Some people pursue things that they don't actually want. It's just that too many people have told them that they mistakenly believe it's their lifelong pursuit."

"In modern terms, they've been brainwashed."

"Think about it yourself, weren't you like that at the beginning?"

I wasn't talking nonsense, because the historical Prince An didn't really accomplish anything.

The reason he was eventually given poisoned wine was because the new emperor felt that Prince An had been nominated as the Crown Prince because someone wanted to become the Empress Dowager Regent. So, he had Prince An killed along with them.

Prince An was silent for a long time before nodding, "You're right! Anything else?"

I said in a deep voice, "Since I dare to speak, I'm not afraid of offending you."

"Do you think you're fit to be an emperor?"

"When a ruler places the succession of the throne on ghosts and gods, he is no longer fit to be an emperor."

"Since ancient times, true emperors have not believed in ghosts and gods."

"The ancient human kings fought against the heavens. Later, the Sons of Heaven only worshipped Heaven, not ghosts and gods."

"All emperors who are obsessed with seeking gods and worshipping Buddha, wanting to achieve immortality, don't really accomplish much."

Before Prince An could speak, I said, "Don't rush to refute me."

"Are you going to say that Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and even Genghis Khan in your later generations, all sought immortality, right?"

Since I met Prince An, I hadn't been able to determine what era he was from.

I led the conversation here, and I was now eighty percent certain that the Prince An in front of me was Li Rong, Prince An, son of Emperor Muzong of Tang.

As for why he would recite Li Yu's poems, it was easy to explain.

Because the sorcerers who died on the Xianyang River Road of Life and Death spanned thousands of years, it wasn't difficult for him to know what was happening outside.

Prince An nodded, "Yes, that's what I wanted to say."

I continued, "They sought immortality and eternal rule. But they weren't seeking to become immortals and attain enlightenment. If they became immortals, could they become the Jade Emperor? Why abandon being a human emperor to become a small soldier in the heavens? Do you think that's the ambition of an emperor?"

Prince An looked at me for a long time, unable to say a word.

He knew very well in his heart that even if he really ascended the throne, he might not be able to escape the fate of being controlled by a regent.

Prince An was silent for a long time and said, "I understand what you mean!"

"You're saying that the mistake was made when I chose to make the sacrifice."

"The only way to solve this problem is not how to answer the question, but how to deal with yourself, right?"

"That's right!" I nodded, "I think the demon god also gave you time to consider it, right?"

"The reason you ultimately chose to make the sacrifice was because you didn't recognize what you wanted? Or was it to protect yourself? Only you know best in your heart."

Prince An simply picked up the wine jar, tilted his head back, and poured it into his mouth. The wine mixed with tears and streamed down his face.

After a long time, Prince An finally said, "Why didn't I have your courage to simply die back then?"

I said lightly, "I'm also afraid of death, but I have a group of brothers who are willing to die for me. With them, I'm not afraid anymore."

"After I die, they will fulfill my unfulfilled wishes. They will do the things I didn't do. What do I have to fear?"

Prince An waved his hand dejectedly, "You all go! I want to be alone."

"If you have any requests, you can tell my old servant. He can fully represent me."

"I've already told him that as long as you can walk out of this room, any request you have can be fulfilled. Provided that it's within my capabilities."

"Thank you!" I stood up and cupped my fist at him.

Prince An waved his hand, "No need to thank me, you deserve it."

As I walked out of the secret room, I looked back and saw Prince An still sitting there, drinking wine in gulps.

Ghosts and gods can't get drunk.

Perhaps Prince An just needed to drink like that.

The old servant who led the way was already standing at the door. Seeing that I was still looking into the secret room, he whispered, "Let the master have some peace!"

"I really don't know if I should hate you or thank you."

"You led the master out of one trap, but trapped him in another."

"In the years to come, the master doesn't know when he will be able to walk out of this secret room, or out of the trap you set."

"You hate the master for hurting your friend. You don't have the ability to kill the master, but you've made it so that he can never escape."

"Your revenge is too cruel!"