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

With the earth-shattering roar of the red cannon, the entire East Palace spun wildly, like a top that had been whipped.

In the study of Lizheng Hall, the sound of abacus beads clattering was like a torrential downpour on banana leaves, a constant, crackling sound.

The officials from the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Works were coming and going, each carrying a stack of documents half their height, their foreheads covered in sweat.

"Three hundred thousand shi of grain have been loaded onto the wagons!"

"Five hundred barrels of gunpowder from the Divine Machine Battalion, sealed!"

"Medical alcohol, compressed biscuits, canned beef... everything counted correctly!"

This is no longer the prince's study; it's practically a wartime command center.

However, as the mastermind behind all of this, Li Chengqian was currently sprawled on the soft couch without any regard for his image, holding a bunch of purple grapes that had just been brought as tribute from the Western Regions, and throwing them into his mouth one after another.

"Slow down, slow down, don't get the carpet dirty."

"Hey you, just put the ledger down, don't block my view."

He gave instructions while yawning, his face displaying a nonchalant attitude that said, "I'm just a mascot, don't bother me."

On the other side of the desk, a small figure was kneeling there, buried under a mountain of files, with only the top of his head visible.

Wu Zetian.

This little girl, only seven or eight years old, is like a seasoned old shopkeeper.

She held a specially made charcoal pencil in her hand and quickly sketched on the huge resource allocation map.

With focused eyes, his writing flowed effortlessly.

"This batch of winter clothes was transported from Luoyang to Lingzhou by waterway, which saves three days compared to traveling by land."

"With Master Sun's apprentice escorting this batch of medicinal herbs with the army, the loss rate can be kept below 50%."

"Also, the Ministry of War's quote is 30% too high. Reject it and make them redo it."

The voice was young, yet it carried an undeniable decisiveness.

Several elderly officials with gray beards stood before her, so intimidated by the young girl's aura that they dared not even breathe loudly, and could only obediently accept their orders and leave.

"call--"

Finally, after finishing the last urgent document, Wu Meiniang breathed a sigh of relief and put down her pen.

She rubbed her slightly sore wrists, looked up, and met Li Chengqian's eyes, which seemed to be smiling but weren't.

"Well done, Meiniang."

Li Chengqian spat out a grape skin and sincerely praised, "This efficiency is even faster than that old man Fang Xuanling. I think you should just help me with the work of being regent from now on."

"Your Highness is joking."

Wu Meiniang stood up and straightened her slightly disheveled skirt. Although she was still young, the capable and efficient spirit that emanated from her very being was already beginning to take shape.

Instead of flashing her usual sweet smile to ask for praise, she pursed her lips, as if making a major decision.

"What's wrong?"

Li Chengqian keenly sensed something was wrong. "Who bullied you? Or are you complaining about how tiring the work is and want a raise?"

"Neither."

Wu Meiniang took a deep breath, strode confidently to Li Chengqian, and then—

With a "plop," he knelt down.

"Your Highness, Meiniang has a request."

Li Chengqian was startled and dropped the grapes in his hand.

"Hey, hey, let's talk this out. Why are you kneeling? We don't do that in the Crown Prince's Palace."

"If Your Highness does not agree, Meiniang will not get up."

The little girl stubbornly raised her head, and in her large eyes, which were originally like black grapes, a flame called "ambition" was now burning.

"I want to... go to war with the army."

"What?!"

Li Chengqian wondered if he had misheard. He picked at his ear. "Where are you going? The Western Regions? That godforsaken place, all sand?"

"yes!"

"Nonsense!"

Li Chengqian's face hardened, and he unusually displayed the authority of a crown prince. "How old are you? You're not even as tall as a table! What are you going to do in a place like that? That's war, people will die there! It's not a vacation!"

"Besides, with all the wind and sun outside, what if your pretty little face gets tanned? How will you get married then?"

"I'm not afraid of the sun! And I don't want to get married!"

Wu Meiniang's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of youthful stubbornness.

"Your Highness once said that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles."

"I spend every day doing accounts in the Eastern Palace, staring at these cold, hard numbers. Although I can calculate the Tang Dynasty's assets clearly, I don't know where that money came from, or how that grain was transported!"

"You said the Tang Dynasty's journey is to the stars and the sea; I want to go see it!"

"I want to see the Gaochang and Tibet you mentioned, to see those Western Region merchants, and to see just how big this world really is!"

Li Chengqian was stunned.

Looking at the bright-eyed young girl before him, he seemed to see, in a daze, the future empress who would leave a lasting mark on history.

This girl...

My heart has wandered.

"Meiniang."

Li Chengqian sighed, his tone softening, "It's good that you have ambition, but the Western Regions are really too chaotic. Ju Wentai in Gaochang is a madman, and Songtsen Gampo is an ambitious man. What if..."

"There's no 'what if'!"

Wu Meiniang interrupted him, a shrewdness and calculation that were far beyond her years showing on her small face.

"Your Highness, you have led General Huo Qubing as the vanguard and the Shenji Battalion as the main force for this western expedition. Your military strength is sufficient."

"but……"

She paused for a moment, then pointed out Li Chengqian's biggest weakness.

Did you bring someone to manage your accounts?

Li Chengqian was taken aback: "Accountant?"

"General Huo is a master at fighting, but he's also a master at spending money. Wherever the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry goes, nothing grows; the spoils of war probably aren't enough for his extravagant spending."

"As for the Shenji Battalion, each cannon shot costs hundreds of strings of cash. If no one is careful with the calculations, you will lose money even if you win this battle."

Wu Meiniang took a step forward on her knees and looked directly into Li Chengqian's eyes.

"Moreover, your purpose in going there is to open up the Silk Road and to do business with those cunning foreign merchants."

"Those foreign merchants are all as cunning as devils, except for me..."

A slight upturn of her lips revealed a fox-like smile.

"Who else do you think can get every single penny out of them?"

"Who can help you empty the treasury of Gaochang Kingdom, even scraping off three layers of land?"

"Who else but me, Wu Zetian?!"

boom--!

These words were like a precision-guided missile, striking Li Chengqian squarely in the heart.

money!

profit!

A losing proposition!

These words swirled wildly in Li Chengqian's mind.

Yes!

Old Huo was a spendthrift; he only cared about killing and didn't care about burying the dead.

If no one keeps an eye on things, we might even have to pay out of our own pockets to win this western expedition!

But if you bring along this human calculator, this natural little housekeeper...

Li Chengqian looked at Wu Meiniang with the same gaze he would give her as if she were a money tree.

This is hardly a burden.

This is clearly a case of bringing along a "financial officer"!

"Cough cough."

Li Chengqian cleared his throat, concealing his inner turmoil.

"Well...Meiniang, what you said might be a bit arrogant, but...it actually makes some sense."

"However, this journey will be very tough. There won't be any soft beds to sleep in, and no good food to eat. Are you sure you can handle it?"

"I can handle it!"

Wu Meiniang's eyes shone brightly, "As long as I can follow Your Highness, as long as I can see the outside world, I'm willing to eat sand!"

Li Chengqian stroked his chin.

Since the future empress has volunteered to "work overtime," wouldn't it be ungrateful of me, as her boss, to stop her?

and……

Keep this girl by my side and train her, let her see what true cruelty and scheming are.

This can be considered...

Is this part of the "Empress Development Project"?

"Alright."

Li Chengqian finally relented, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

"Since you insist on making yourself suffer, then I will grant your wish."

"But let's make this clear first."

"Once we reach the Western Regions, you'll obey orders. If you dare to run away, I'll sell you to the Hu people as a child bride!"

Wu Meiniang's eyes lit up, and she immediately kowtowed to express her gratitude.

"Thank you, Your Highness! Meiniang will certainly... keep a close eye on your purse!"