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

The threshold of the Eastern Palace is particularly difficult to cross today.

It wasn't just because of the two rows of menacing Imperial Guards at the entrance, but also because of the strange, domineering, and alluring fragrance that filled the air.

Li Shimin stood with his hands behind his back, originally looking like he was about to interrogate someone.

He had made up his mind. When they met, he would first slam his fist on the table and question that unfilial son about why he had killed someone in the street, why he had set up a private court, and why the Imperial Guards were even more arrogant than his "fangs."

But as soon as he stepped into the courtyard of Lizheng Palace, the spicy and fresh aroma he had never smelled before was like an invisible hand that grabbed his stomach and squeezed it hard.

"Gurgle—"

An untimely noise sounded particularly jarring in the quiet air.

Wang De, who was following behind, shrank back in fright and pretended to be deaf.

Li Shimin blushed, and the imperial majesty he had cultivated throughout the journey instantly dissipated by half.

"What...what is this taste?"

He sniffed; the aroma was incredibly complex, with the richness of butter, the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns, and an indescribable, stimulating sensation that went straight to the top of his head, making his mouth water even before he tasted it.

Following the scent, Li Shimin's eyes widened.

In the center of the courtyard, a huge bronze pot was set up.

The bottom of the pot was a bright red color, with a large amount of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns floating in the bubbling red oil. It was steaming hot and the aroma could be smelled for miles.

Li Chengqian was squatting by the pot without any regard for his image, holding a pair of extra-long chopsticks, staring longingly at the slices of bright red meat rolling in the pot.

Beside him, Xu Xiao, the butcher who struck fear into the hearts of the Turks, was now wearing an apron and deftly slicing mutton. His knife skills were as thin as cicada wings, the red and white slices alternating—it was practically a work of art.

"It's ripe! It's ripe!"

Li Chengqian cheered, his chopsticks flashing out like lightning, picking up a piece of scalding hot, curled mutton, dipping it in the oil dish with some unknown seasoning, and putting it directly into his mouth.

"Hiss—ha—!"

He hissed in pain from the heat, but his face was filled with bliss and satisfaction. "Awesome! This is the life a human should live!"

Li Shimin stood at the door, watching this scene, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily.

What did he eat in the palace?

Steamed lamb, boiled mutton, roasted lamb leg... all they tasted was either gamey or salty. Compared to this pot of bright red and intensely fragrant broth, it was practically pig swill!

"Ahem!"

Li Shimin coughed heavily twice, trying to regain some sense of presence.

Without turning his head, Li Chengqian, his mouth full of meat, mumbled, "Old Xu, go see who it is. If it's that old jerk Wei Zheng, just say I'm asleep."

"..."

Li Shimin's face instantly darkened.

He strode over, plopped down on the stool opposite Li Chengqian, and said with a stern face, "What, I'm here, and you're asleep too?"

Li Chengqian was startled and almost dropped his chopsticks into the pot.

"Father? Why do you walk so silently, like a ghost?"

He quickly protected the oil dish in front of him, looking at Li Shimin warily. "Weren't you sulking in the palace? Why are you here? Let's make this clear first: I have no money, but you can take my life."

Li Shimin was so angry he wanted to laugh.

This unfilial son treats his own father like a thief.

"I came to ask you..." Li Shimin was about to bring up the Embroidered Uniform Guard when his nose was once again drawn away by the rich aroma of meat. "What's cooking in this pot?"

"hot pot."

Seeing that his father hadn't mentioned money, Li Chengqian breathed a slight sigh of relief, picked up a piece of tripe and tossed it up and down in the pot, saying, "A magical delicacy that can make people forget their troubles."

"Give me a set of chopsticks and a bowl."

Li Shimin didn't stand on ceremony and directly reached out his hand, saying, "I want to try what can be more delicious than my imperial cuisine."

"Hey, Father, don't you know the rules?"

Li Chengqian reacted quickly, stopping the chopsticks Wang De offered him. He was fiercely protective of his food, saying, "Even close brothers have to keep clear accounts. This hot pot base cost me a lot of money (system points), so I won't give you credit."

"You want to eat it? Sure, you can trade it for something else."

Li Shimin's eyes widened, and he pointed at his own nose: "I ate a bite of your flesh, and you still want money? This whole world belongs to you..."

"Stop, stop, stop making empty promises."

Li Chengqian interrupted him, "The world is the world, and meat is meat. Do you have any money on you right now? If you don't, then there's no point in talking."

Li Shimin touched his body.

He was traveling incognito, and it was a spur-of-the-moment decision; he had no money on him, not even a copper coin.

His only possessions were a bright yellow package he carried with him, containing several urgent memorials that he hadn't finished reviewing, and a paper he had just used and casually tucked into his pocket, forgetting to put it back...

Li Shimin was somewhat embarrassed: "I left in a hurry and didn't bring any money. I'll pay you back later, and the Ministry of Revenue will..."

"Forget about the Ministry of Revenue. That stingy Dai Zhou is impossible to squeeze any money out of him, unless the sun rises in the west."

Li Chengqian pursed his lips, his gaze sweeping over Li Shimin before finally settling on the bright yellow package.

To be precise, it was the bulging, square shape inside the package.

His eyes lit up, and a mischievous smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Father, it doesn't matter if you don't have money. I see something hard and square in your bundle."

Li Chengqian pointed to the package, his face innocent and naive. "Perfect timing! I have a few walnuts here that I just can't crack. Could you lend me that 'stone' to crack them? This hot pot is on you."

The air suddenly became quiet.

Wang De's face turned deathly pale instantly, and his legs trembled like a leaf.

Is that a stone?

That's the Imperial Seal of the State!

"By the mandate of Heaven, may your reign be long and prosperous!" That is the symbol of imperial power, the sacred instrument of the state!

This little devil actually wants to use it...to crack walnuts?

Li Shimin was also stunned.

He subconsciously touched the hard object in the package; it was a jade seal carved from the He Shi Bi jade, warm and hard, and heavy.

"Do you...do you know what this is?" Li Shimin's voice trembled slightly, whether from anger or shock, it was hard to tell.

"It's just a rock, isn't it?"

Li Chengqian shrugged nonchalantly. "Looks pretty sturdy; it should be easy to crack walnuts with. What, Father, are you reluctant to part with it? It's just a rock, is it really worth it?"

"Just a rock?"

Li Shimin was so angry that he laughed instead.

it is good!very good!

The imperial power that he considered paramount was actually less important than a hot pot meal or a few walnuts in the eyes of this rebellious son.

A strange competitive spirit suddenly welled up inside me.

He wanted to see just how bold this rebellious son really was!

"OK!"

Li Shimin suddenly untied the package, grabbed the gold-inlaid jade seal with a missing corner, and slammed it heavily on the table.

"Bang!"

The plates on the table were shaken so much that they jumped up.

In the candlelight, the jade seal shone with a lustrous sheen, and the eight seal characters, written in the style of insects and birds, appeared solemn and sacred.

"for you!"

Li Shimin gritted his teeth, staring intently at Li Chengqian. "I want to see just how delicious your hotpot really is, and whether it's worth exchanging the entire Tang Dynasty for!"

dark place.

The few "fanged" bodyguards responsible for protecting the emperor were practically drooling.

crazy!

They've all gone mad!

The emperor used the imperial seal to exchange for food, and the crown prince used the imperial seal to crack walnuts.

If this gets out, Wei Zheng will break the pillars of the Taiji Hall tomorrow!

Li Chengqian looked at the jade seal on the table, but instead of showing any awe, his eyes lit up as if he had seen a handy tool.

He reached out and grabbed the imperial seal, weighing it in his hand.

"Wow, it's quite substantial, and feels nice to the touch."

Then, under the horrified gaze of everyone...

He picked up a hard-shelled walnut from the plate, placed it on the table, and then raised the Imperial Seal of the State, which represented supreme power, high above his head.

Without hesitation, without delay.

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound.

The walnuts cracked open with a snap, separating the shell from the kernel.

Li Chengqian blew away a few crumbs stuck to the bottom of the imperial seal, then tossed a walnut kernel into his mouth with a satisfied look, and gave a thumbs-up to the petrified Li Shimin.

"Father, that's too much!"

"This stone is truly useful! Come, come, sit down and eat! Xu Xiao, serve Father Emperor his bowl and chopsticks!"