Deposed? I couldn't be happier! I wouldn't even be a dog to the crown prince.

The ninth year of the Wude era, the eighth month, the Jiazi day.

Chang'an, Taiji Palace.

The sounds of ceremonial music, like morning bells and evening drums, resounded through the sky, while the deep and solemn horn calls echoed over the imperial city, startling a few birds that seemed oblivious to their own mortality.

Today is the big day of the new emperor's ascension to the throne.

In front of the Taiji Hall, on both sides of the white marble staircase symbolizing supreme power, civil and military officials, dressed in brand-new court robes, knelt in line according to their rank, a dark mass resembling waves of wheat swaying in the wind.

A solemn atmosphere, almost frozen in place, filled the air, and even the sound of breathing was suppressed to a minimum.

At the very top of the main hall, Li Shimin, dressed in a bright yellow twelve-movement dragon robe, wearing a crown that reaches to the heavens, and with the Emperor's sword hanging at his waist, sat upright on the dragon throne that symbolized the supreme ruler of the nine provinces. His gaze swept over the world, and although he tried his best to maintain the majesty and composure of an emperor, his slightly trembling fingertips betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

Finally, I've taken this seat.

The stench of blood at Xuanwu Gate seemed to linger, but Li Erfeng had ultimately become the master of the Tang Dynasty.

"The auspicious time has arrived!"

Wang Gui, the Minister of Rites, shouted at the top of his lungs in a hoarse voice, "Your Highness, please read the congratulatory message—!"

After that shout, all the officials' eyes turned to the first seat on the left side of the hall.

There stood an eight-year-old glutinous rice ball.

Li Chengqian.

The newly appointed Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty.

However, the Crown Prince's demeanor seemed somewhat out of place with the celebratory atmosphere of the day.

Li Chengqian's eyelids drooped, and his little head bobbed up and down as if he were fishing. The cumbersome and heavy imperial robes he wore seemed to weigh him down, and he exuded a sense of despondency and utter despair.

I've been here for three days.

For three whole days, Li Chengqian didn't get a good night's sleep.

"Having to get up early, memorize texts, and constantly be on guard against poisoning—this isn't the life of a prince; it's a high-risk job!"

Li Chengqian mentally ranted.

Having a deep understanding of history, he knew all too well what the fate of being Li Shimin's crown prince would be. He would rise earlier than the rooster and sleep later than the dog. If he did well, it was expected; if he did poorly, he would be considered "unlike himself." In the end, he would suffer from a leg ailment that led to mental instability, and his failed rebellion would result in his exile to Qianzhou, where he died tragically in a foreign land.

This stupid class, let whoever wants to go take it, I'm not going!

"Your Highness? Your Highness, wake up!"

The old eunuch Wang De beside him was sweating profusely. He lowered his voice, wishing he could pinch Li Chengqian's thigh, "His Majesty is watching you! Hurry up and read the congratulatory message!"

Li Chengqian suddenly woke up with a start, slurping the saliva from the corner of his mouth.

"Huh? Dinner's ready?"

Wang De stumbled and almost knelt down on the spot.

"Oh, our ancestors! It's the coronation ceremony! Hurry up and read the congratulatory address; all the officials are waiting!"

Li Chengqian rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked up at the high and mighty Li Shimin.

His cheap father was frowning, staring at him sternly, his eyes conveying the message: You unfilial son, show me some respect! Don't embarrass me on such a big occasion today!

Li Chengqian pursed his lips.

To live up to expectations?

He'll never amount to anything in this lifetime.

Only by lying down and giving up can one maintain a living like this.

Since we've stumbled upon such a grand occasion, let's get this done.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, and with his short legs, he walked unsteadily to the center of the main hall.

Instead of taking the yellow silk imperial edict filled with empty praise and flattery that Wang De handed him, he reached into his wide sleeve and rummaged around.

Everyone held their breath.

Changsun Wuji stroked his beard with a look of satisfaction: Although Chengqian is usually naughty, he still knows how to behave properly at crucial moments. He must have prepared some shocking congratulatory message.

Fang Xuanling nodded slightly: "The Crown Prince is young but has a calm demeanor, a blessing for the Tang Dynasty."

Li Shimin's originally tense facial features softened as he looked expectantly at his eldest son.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone.

Li Chengqian finally took it out.

It was a crumpled piece of Xuan paper, with a few crumbs of leftover pastries from breakfast still stuck to it.

Li Chengqian cleared his throat and, in a childish yet exceptionally clear voice, began to read aloud into the microphone… no, to the entire court of officials:

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Li Shimin raised an eyebrow. "At this time, is this the time to submit a memorial?"

"Your subject is only eight years old, frail and sickly, and suffers from severe 'inability to get out of bed syndrome' and 'dizziness upon seeing memorials'."

Li Chengqian spoke nonsense with a straight face, his voice echoing in the hall.

"As the saying goes, the world is so big, I want to go and see it."

"The position of Crown Prince carries a responsibility heavier than Mount Tai, which my frail body simply cannot bear. The walls of the palace are too high, blocking my soul's yearning for freedom."

At this point, Li Chengqian paused, looked up at Li Shimin, and gave him an innocent yet irritating smile.

"Therefore, I hereby request to resign from the position of Crown Prince!"

"I beg Your Majesty's permission to return to the Eastern Palace to retire, tend to flowers, feed fish, and enjoy my early retirement. As for the throne, Your Majesty is still in your prime; you can serve for another fifty or sixty years without any problem. Or you can give it to Qingque (Li Tai), it's fine too. In any case, I'm not going to serve!"

The words fell.

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

In the vast Taiji Hall, you could hear a pin drop.

A crisp "snap" sounded.

The ivory tablet in the hand of the current prime minister and the emperor's brother-in-law, Changsun Wuji, fell directly to the ground and hit his foot, but he seemed not to feel the pain. His eyes were wide open like copper bells, and his mouth was so wide that a fist could fit inside.

Fang Xuanling's words of praise got stuck in his throat, causing him to cough violently and turn red in the face.

Wei Zheng, that stubborn old man, was so angry that his beard stood on end, his whole body trembled, and he pointed at Li Chengqian, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Li Shimin, sitting on the dragon throne, froze completely with a smile.

Then, his handsome face began to flush and turn red at a visible speed, eventually turning into a liver color.

What did he hear?

Resign?

Frail and prone to illness?

Do we still need to provide for the elderly?

You're only eight years old, what kind of elderly person are you supporting?!

I killed my brother and executed my younger brother for this position, and made you the crown prince. That is an honor that many people would rather die for. Now, in front of the whole world, you throw away the crown of the crown prince like trash.

"What...what did you say?"

Li Shimin squeezed out these words through gritted teeth, his voice as somber as the calm before a storm.

Li Chengqian blinked his big eyes, then innocently shook the crumpled paper in his hand: "Father, didn't you hear me? Then I'll speak louder."

"Your Majesty, I say, I wouldn't even be a dog to be the Crown Prince; I want to retire!"

"boom--!"

The string of "reason" in Li Shimin's mind snapped.

He suddenly stood up from the dragon throne, the movement so large that it even overturned the imperial desk in front of him.

"The traitor!"

"I...I will chop you up today!"

Veins bulged on Li Shimin's forehead, and his right hand instinctively reached for the Emperor's Sword at his waist. With a clang, the gleaming sword was drawn half an inch from its sheath.

The entire court was terrified and immediately knelt down, crying, "Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Just as tensions were rising and Li Shimin was about to stage a famous scene of "filial piety and parental love,"

Li Chengqian, who had been standing calmly, suddenly heard a cold, mechanical voice in his mind.

【Ding! 】

[The host's extreme willingness to give up has been detected, creating a stark contrast with the current environment.]

[God-level Salted Fish System, Activating...]

Li Chengqian's lips curled up slightly, his heart filled with elation.

"Brother Tongzi, you're finally here! If you hadn't come, your host would have been killed by his own father!"

Seeing his rebellious son, who not only showed no fear in the face of Li Shimin's wrath but also stood there grinning foolishly, Li Shimin was even more enraged. His roar shook the beams of the hall: "Li Chengqian! Speak to me! Are you mute?!"