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

While the Eastern Palace enjoyed a peaceful and tranquil life, an inexplicable and eerie atmosphere gradually permeated Chang'an City.

At first, it was the storytellers in teahouses and taverns who suddenly ran out of material.

"Speaking of our Emperor, his personal campaign was incredibly swift and decisive! He just conquered Yunzhou the day before yesterday, and yesterday..."

At this point, the gentleman paused, unable to speak.

Because there was no good news yesterday.

Not today either.

Tomorrow... I don't even know if tomorrow will come.

In the days leading up to Li Shimin's expedition, urgent reports of victory arrived as if they were free, three a day, flying into Chang'an like snowflakes, stirring up the patriotic fervor of the people.

But just three days ago, this continuous stream of "exciting updates" suddenly stopped.

It was cut off cleanly and silently.

It was as if the battlefield in the north, along with the emperor who had personally led the expedition, had been swallowed up by something indescribable.

If there was no news for a day, the people assumed the messenger might have been delayed on the way.

After two days without any reports, the ministers in the court began to get restless.

On the third day, when Minister of War Hou Junji, sporting two huge dark circles under his eyes, announced in the court that "the front line has been out of contact for three days."

The entire Taiji Hall erupted in chaos.

"Out of contact? What does 'out of contact' mean?!"

Cheng Yaojin was the first to jump out, his booming voice making dust fall from the roof beams, "Was the scout dead, or was the carrier pigeon eaten by a hawk?!"

"Neither."

Hou Junji wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his voice hoarse, "It's...it's all the scouts we sent out, none of them have returned. Even...even His Highness the Crown Prince's Embroidered Uniform Guard spies have lost contact."

boom--!

These words carry a weight a thousand times greater than the words "missing contact".

What exactly is the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

That's a terrifying organization capable of uncovering the very secrets of powerful families! The fact that even they've lost contact can only mean one thing—

Something terrible has happened at the front!

A plague called "panic" spread instantly throughout the Taiji Hall.

"Could it be...could it be that we've been ambushed?"

"Three hundred thousand troops! His Majesty only brought three thousand Xuanjia soldiers... This..."

Shh! Watch your words! Be careful what you say!

The ministers whispered amongst themselves, their faces filled with fear and unease.

A country cannot live without a ruler for a day.

Although Li Shimin had only recently ascended the throne, he was, after all, the pillar of the Tang Dynasty. If anything were to happen to him while he was away, the newly stabilized empire would likely crumble immediately.

At that time, the Turks will be watching with predatory eyes from the outside, while remnants of powerful clans will be stirring up trouble from within...

The scene was too beautiful for them to imagine.

"quiet!"

A clear, childish, yet somewhat impatient shout abruptly interrupted the commotion.

Everyone instinctively looked up at the regent's throne that had been empty for half a month.

Li Chengqian was already sitting there at some point.

Today, he was unusually dressed in the Crown Prince's court robes. Although his face was still a little sleepy, his lazy demeanor was like a stabilizing force, instantly calming the crumbling court.

He was neither holding any memorials nor the imperial seal.

He was holding a big, bright red apple and a shiny little silver knife, and he was intently...peeling the apple.

The knife work was skillful; the fruit peel remained intact from beginning to end.

"I hereby report to His Highness the Regent..."

Hou Junji braced himself and repeated what he had just said.

"Okay, I understand."

Li Chengqian didn't even look up. He peeled off the last bit of apple peel and casually threw it into the trash can next to him.

"What's the panic?"

He took a bite of the apple with a "crunch" and mumbled something indistinctly.

"Perhaps it's snowing heavily up north, making the roads difficult to travel, and the messenger got lost?"

"Or perhaps, Father was so successful in his campaign that he chased them all the way to Siberia and forgot to let us know he was safe?"

These words were spoken with such nonchalance.

It was as if the missing person wasn't his own father, but a dog that had gone missing from the next village.

Hou Junji was so choked that he almost passed out.

Your Highness, what time is it? How can you still be joking?

"Your Highness!"

Fang Xuanling could no longer contain himself and stepped out of the queue, his face full of anxiety. "This matter is of utmost importance! His Majesty's safety concerns the very foundation of the nation! We are all extremely worried, you..."

"Master Fang, please calm down."

Li Chengqian finally raised his head. His eyes, which were always sleepy, were now as clear as a deep pool of water, without a ripple.

"I ask you, who holds the military tally?"

"In...in His Majesty's hands," Hou Junji answered instinctively.

"What about the keys to the national treasury? What about the blueprints for the arsenal?"

"They're all...locked up in the palace," Dai Zhou said softly.

That solves it.

Li Chengqian shrugged and precisely tossed the apple core into the trash can.

"The soldiers don't know their generals, and the generals don't know their soldiers. We don't even know where our father is. Even if we wanted to send reinforcements, where would we send them? How many would we send?"

"Acting rashly will only alert the enemy and throw us into chaos."

"So, the best solution now is—"

He paused, leaned back in his chair, and struck his signature "salted fish" pose.

"wait."

"We await news from our father, and we also await news from the enemy."

"Go back, everyone. Go do what you're supposed to do. Don't stand here and disturb my contemplation of life."

After saying that, he took out another apple from his sleeve and continued peeling it.

The entire court of officials: "..."

They watched the Crown Prince, who was as steady as a rock and even had the leisure to perform the "apple-slicing" skill, and felt a mix of emotions.

On the one hand, they felt that the Crown Prince was too unfilial. His own father had gone missing, yet he still had the mind to eat fruit.

On the other hand, seeing the Crown Prince's overly calm demeanor, their hearts, which had been in a state of panic, actually... inexplicably calmed down.

Yes.

Sir, when have you ever done anything you weren't sure about?

From repelling the enemy at the Wei River to quelling the rebellion in Youzhou, every time he effortlessly saved the day when everyone thought the world was doomed.

Perhaps... he really does have some backup plan?

With a mixture of belief and skepticism, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Soon, only a few core ministers, including Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji, remained in the main hall.

"Your Highness."

Fang Xuanling was still unwilling to give up. He stepped forward, bowed deeply to Li Chengqian, and his voice carried a hint of pleading.

"We are deeply worried about Your Majesty's safety, and we cannot eat or sleep in peace."

"Just give me a straight answer."

"How...is His Majesty?"

"Did you... already know something?"