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

"big eater?"

Upon hearing these two words, Li Chengqian immediately became displeased.

He reached out to protect the panda's head, which was munching on bamboo, his face full of protectiveness.

"Father, how can you resort to personal attacks?"

"They're national treasures! They're auspicious creatures! What gluttons? That's called—abundant beauty!"

"Besides, look how well-behaved they are. They don't make a fuss and they can gnaw on a bamboo stick all day. Unlike your warhorse, which needs to eat fine feed, drink soy milk, and has to be waited on hand and foot."

Li Shimin was so angry that his chest felt tight. He pointed at the panda rubbing its rear end against the car wheel, his finger trembling.

"good?"

"What else can this thing do besides being cute?!"

"I'm at war! It's a matter of life and death! You've brought over these few... a few black and white bears, are you trying to make Jieli laugh to death?!"

"No, no."

Li Chengqian shook his finger and began to spout nonsense with a straight face.

"Father, you don't understand. This is called 'strategic deterrence'."

"Think about it, the Turks are people too, and they've never seen such adorable creatures before. If I just put these puppies on the battlefield, and they just roll around and act cute, wouldn't the Turks' hearts melt on the spot?"

"By then, they'll be too busy watching the pandas to remember who was attacked."

"This is what you call—subduing the enemy without fighting!"

"and……"

Li Chengqian patted the panda's thick back.

"This thing is tough and durable. If you really get angry, a slap from it is no less powerful than a Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword). Most importantly..."

He lowered his voice, looking mysterious.

"They're vegetarians! They eat all the bamboo and wild grasses that cover the mountains and fields. Think of how much food and fodder that saves!"

"Environmentally friendly, low-carbon, and saves money. What a perfect ride!"

The more Li Chengqian spoke, the more convinced he became of his point, and he even nodded in affirmation.

Li Shimin stood there, listening to his rebellious son spouting all sorts of fallacies and heresies.

Environmentally friendly? Low-carbon?

What kind of nonsense are these words?

He felt his head buzzing and his vision blurring.

I'm hungry.

I was angry too.

He looked at his son, who was sitting in a luxury car, looking radiant and still had the energy to chat with him.

Look at yourself again.

His golden armor was now tattered, his face was covered in blood, his stomach was growling with hunger, and he could barely stand.

This stark contrast gave Li Shimin an extremely absurd sense of unreality.

"Am I...dreaming?"

Li Shimin muttered to himself.

He raised his hand and rubbed his eyes vigorously.

Rub it hard.

She even rubbed the bloodshot in her eyes until they became even redder.

I opened my eyes again.

The scene remained unchanged.

The panda was still munching on bamboo, making a crisp "crunch crunch" sound.

The mutton in the pot was still bubbling and steaming enticingly.

That unfilial son was still there, grinning in a way that made him want to punch someone.

"No...it's definitely not right..."

Li Shimin staggered back two steps, supporting Cheng Yaojin beside him, his voice so weak it sounded like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Old Cheng, pinch me."

"I must have gone mad from hunger after being starving for three days."

"Otherwise... how would I have seen this rebellious son riding a bear to rescue me? And he even brought a hot pot with him!"

"This must be a hallucination... a final burst of energy before death..."

Cheng Yaojin swallowed hard, his large, round eyes fixed on the watermelon in Li Chengqian's hand, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"Your Majesty... um... I don't think it's a hallucination."

Why?

"Because... the mutton smells so good."

Cheng Yaojin clutched his stomach, looking aggrieved. "Can hallucinations smell this good? My mouth is practically watering."

Li Shimin was taken aback.

He subconsciously sniffed.

The rich, spicy aroma of butter, mixed with the fresh scent of mutton and the refreshing sweetness of watermelon, wafted into his nostrils on the wind.

"Gurgle—"

A loud bang came from inside the Tang emperor's stomach.

The sound was so loud that it even drowned out the neighing of the warhorses beside them.

Li Shimin's face instantly turned a deep liver color.

awkward.

It's so embarrassing.

The emperor, standing before his army, was drooling over his son's hotpot, his stomach growling like thunder.

Where is the dignity? Where is the respectability?

"That... Father Emperor."

Seeing his father's expression, as if he wanted to disappear into the ground, Li Chengqian finally had a change of heart and sighed.

"If you're hungry, just say so. Why be so polite with your son?"

He turned around and rummaged through the food box that looked like a treasure chest.

Then, he took out a large chicken leg wrapped in oil paper, still steaming hot.

Golden and crispy, topped with cumin and chili powder.

"Give."

Li Chengqian jumped off the carriage and held the chicken leg up to Li Shimin's nose, waving it around.

"Freshly baked, Orleans style."

"It was originally meant for Qingque as a midnight snack, but seeing how pitiful you are, I'll give it to you to tide you over."

The overwhelming aroma of meat instantly shattered Li Shimin's last psychological defenses.

What kind of hallucination?

What kind of authority?

At this moment, all of you, get out of here!

Li Shimin's Adam's apple bobbed violently, his eyes fixed on the chicken leg, unable to look away.

"Is...is this real?"

He reached out his hand, trembling, and asked incredulously.

"It really is, even more real than pearls."

Li Chengqian pushed the chicken leg forward and stuffed it directly into Li Shimin's hand.

"Eat it while it's hot, it'll taste fishy when it cools down."

The warm touch from his palm finally convinced Li Shimin.

This is not a dream.

That rebellious son really did come to rescue him, bringing food and riding a panda!