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

The news of Li Shimin's personal expedition swept through every corner of Chang'an like a whirlwind.

The people were both worried and excited.

What I'm worried about is His Majesty's safety, after all, those are 300,000 Turkic cavalry.

What excites them is that they believe that with that godlike Crown Prince in charge of the rear, the Tang Dynasty will be as stable as Mount Tai.

However, the Crown Prince, whom they believed should be "sitting in the rear, strategizing and planning," was currently...

"Old Xu! Move the parasol to the left, it's blocking my view!"

"Also, bring another pot of plum juice from the icebox; it's really hot today."

The scene in the back garden of the Eastern Palace, by the pond that was once used to raise cranes, has suddenly changed.

The once picturesque pavilions and towers are gone, replaced by—

Instead, there are rows of beach chairs and huge parasols.

Li Chengqian, dressed in a loose silk robe and wearing a pair of "sunglasses" (two black crystal pieces) made by the Mohist art, lay sprawled on the most luxurious recliner in the middle, holding a brand-new fishing rod made of green bamboo, idly swinging it.

There wasn't even a hook on the fishing line; it just floated bare in the water.

Beside him, the chubby Prince Li Tai of Wei was wearing a pair of big shorts, with the legs rolled up, catching fish in the shallow water, having a great time and occasionally letting out a silly laugh.

Further away, several eunuchs were busy around a newly built earthen stove, on which sat a whole roasted lamb, golden brown and glistening with oil.

The air was filled with a sense of languor, decay, and... a strong smell of cumin.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

The two prime ministers, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, were standing by the pond, looking at this scene that resembled a "feast for the eyes and ears," and were so anxious that they stamped their feet.

"His Majesty has only been gone for a day! And you...you're already like this..."

Fang Xuanling wanted to say "absurd," but he swallowed the words back.

After all, this guy was the kind of person who could actually pull out a god from his sleeve, so no one dared to curse him.

"What's wrong?"

Li Chengqian took off his sunglasses, glanced at them lazily, and said, "You two Grand Secretaries, in such a hurry, are you out of money again?"

"It's not about the money!"

Du Ruhui clutched his chest, afraid he would fall ill from anger. "His Majesty entrusted you with overseeing the country before he left! But you haven't attended court for three days! The memorials from the Secretariat are piled up higher than a mountain, and many important military and national affairs await your review!"

"A memorial to the emperor?"

Li Chengqian frowned, looking disgusted. "That kind of brain-taxing stuff, why don't you handle it yourselves? It's such a small matter, why bother me while I'm fishing?"

"Your Highness! This won't do!"

Fang Xuanling grew anxious, "The deployment of troops and the allocation of funds and provisions all require your approval as regent to take effect! How dare we make such decisions?"

"Oh, it needs to be stamped, right?"

Li Chengqian seemed to remember something and gestured towards Xu Xiao, who was massaging his shoulders.

"Old Xu, go and bring that copper lump."

Xu Xiao took out the heavy imperial seal from his pocket and respectfully handed it over.

Li Chengqian took it, didn't even look at it, and threw it directly into Fang Xuanling's arms.

"Take it."

"Next time something like this happens, you guys can discuss it and handle it yourselves. Once you're done, find a radish, dip it in ink, and stamp it on."

"Don't bother me."

"Thump—"

Fang Xuanling's hand trembled, and the seal symbolizing the highest power of the Tang Dynasty almost fell into the pond.

He held onto the hot potato tightly, completely dumbfounded.

Radish... dipped in ink... stamped?

My goodness!

This is the seal of the Regent! Not some radish stamp in your backyard!

Isn't this a bit too... too frivolous?!

"What? You don't like the look of the radish?"

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow. "We can use potatoes too. We can carve a pattern on them and stamp them with an anti-counterfeiting label."

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged a glance, both seeing deep despair in each other's eyes.

There's no reasoning with this guy.

His brain circuits are on a completely different level from those of a normal person.

"Your Highness, please have pity on us old bones."

Du Ruhui, his face contorted with misery, was practically begging Li Chengqian to kneel before him. "Couldn't you at least spare half an hour each day to sit in the Taiji Hall? If you don't go, the spittle from those censors outside will drown us!"

"To the Taiji Hall?"

Li Chengqian stroked his chin, seemingly deep in thought about the question.

A spark of hope ignited in the eyes of the two prime ministers.

"It's not impossible."

Li Chengqian nodded. "However, that dragon throne is too hard; it's uncomfortable to sit on. You need to have someone make me a pure gold, diamond-encrusted, massage-featured... cough, massage-featured reclining chair, and move it to the Taiji Hall."

"In addition, chilled fruit juice and freshly baked snacks must be prepared when attending court."

"If anyone dares to bring up any national affairs with me, it will ruin my mood for eating..."

Li Chengqian grinned.

"I told him to go and have a chat with General Bai Qi about life."

Fang Xuanling: "..."

Du Ruhui: "..."

Seeing Li Chengqian's shameless "I'm the boss, who am I afraid of?" attitude, the two prime ministers finally gave up on trying to cure him.

Forget it.

Destroy it, hurry up.

This Tang Dynasty, let whoever wants it, it doesn't matter.

"Alright, alright, look at your gloomy faces."

Li Chengqian waved his hand and tossed the fishing rod aside.

He stood up, stretched, and his joints cracked and popped.

A crisp, cracking sound.

"I fished for ages and didn't catch a single fish. What a loser."

"Let's go somewhere else to play."

He looked at the shimmering lake in the distance, then at Wu Meiniang beside him, who was peeling oranges for him with a sweet expression. His eyes darted around, and he suddenly laughed.

That smile looked exactly like a big bad wolf about to lure a little white rabbit.

He walked to Wu Meiniang's side, squatted down, and pinched her chubby little face.

"Meiniang."

"Your Highness." Wu Meiniang blinked her big eyes, her face full of innocence.

"Eating only fruit is boring, isn't it?"

Li Chengqian pointed to the pond, his voice filled with temptation.

"Would you like to learn how to fish?"

"Would you like to eat the fish that your older brother grilled himself?"

Wu Meiniang nodded vigorously, her mouth practically watering.

"think!"

"good!"

Li Chengqian snapped his fingers, a mysterious smile appearing on his face.

"Then I'll teach you a killer move today."

"This move is called—"

"Like Jiang Taigong fishing, those who are willing will take the bait!"