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

"Okay, okay, you're the best. Even cows would avoid you."

Li Chengqian gave a perfunctory reply, reached out and pulled Li Shimin back from the edge of the command platform, then dragged him into the shadows below.

The deafening cheers were shut out behind them.

The only sounds here are the wind and the slightly rapid breathing of the father and son.

Li Chengqian looked at the middle-aged man in front of him, who, despite having a few gray hairs at his temples, remained as stubborn as a donkey, and the playful smile on his face slowly disappeared.

He sighed.

There are some things that cannot be said in front of the entire court.

But the father and son need to have a private conversation.

"Father."

Li Chengqian's voice was soft, yet unusually serious.

"Actually, the reason I didn't want you to go wasn't because I was afraid you were too old, nor was it because I was afraid you would steal the credit."

Li Shimin paused for a moment, snorted, and turned his head away: "Then why? Do you think I'm in your way?"

"Because Chang'an cannot do without you."

Li Chengqian reached out and helped Li Shimin straighten the cloak that he had knocked askew in his excitement.

"We went too far with the killings recently."

"Although the five prominent families and seven powerful clans have fallen, even a centipede with a hundred legs will not die easily. The newly appointed officials from humble backgrounds in the court have not yet established their positions; and the local magnates are still observing the situation."

"The Tang Dynasty now is like a patient who has just undergone major surgery. He looks energetic, but he is actually very weak."

Li Chengqian raised his head and looked directly into Li Shimin's eyes.

"At this time, there must be someone in the family who can keep things in order."

"That person can only be you."

"With you sitting in the Taiji Hall, the world will not be in chaos. Those demons and monsters will have to cower and behave themselves."

"If you leave..."

Li Chengqian gave a wry smile and pointed to himself.

"Relying on Fang Xuanling and his men alone might not be enough to suppress the situation. What if trouble breaks out at home? How can I fight on the front lines then?"

Li Shimin remained silent.

His dragon eyes, which always gleamed with shrewdness and domineering aura, were now slightly moist.

He's not stupid.

How could he not understand the stakes involved?

only……

He didn't want to admit he was getting old, nor did he want to always hide under his son's wing and reap the benefits of his son's labor.

"But……"

Li Shimin opened his mouth, his voice a little hoarse, "I am the emperor, I can't always let you, the crown prince, be the one to shield me from the wind and rain, can I?"

"How can the father enjoy the good life while the son suffers?"

"That's called a different division of labor."

Li Chengqian grinned, reverting to his carefree demeanor.

"You are responsible for being beautiful... no, you are responsible for sitting in the center, coordinating the overall situation, and being the pillar of the Tang Dynasty."

"As for those clowns from the Western Regions..."

Li Chengqian turned around, looked westward, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

"Let your son do the dirty and tiring work of murder, arson, and extortion."

"After all, my reputation wasn't good to begin with."

"What's wrong with calling him a 'living Yama' or a 'demon king'? It's no big deal if he takes on a few more infamy."

"I'll go and scrape the land clean and build a road."

"You can stay in Chang'an, open the doors of the national treasury, wait to count the money, wait for all nations to pay tribute, and wait for those barbarians to kneel at your feet and shout 'Long live the Emperor!'"

That's enough.

Li Shimin looked at his son, whose body had not yet fully grown, yet who was already capable of shouldering half of the country for him.

My heart felt like it was stuffed with a ball of cotton soaked in vinegar—bitter, yet warm and burning.

"You brat..."

Li Shimin sniffed, then reached out his rough, calloused hand to straighten Li Chengqian's somewhat disheveled collar.

The movements were very light and slow.

Just like when he first taught Chengqian to ride a horse when he was a child.

"If you think I'm too old, just say so. Don't beat around the bush."

He patted Li Chengqian on the shoulder, the force was light, yet it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

"Go."

"Since you want to fly, then fly higher."

"You don't need to worry about things at home. As long as I have a breath left, the sky over this Tang Dynasty will not fall down."

"But there's only one."

Li Shimin stared into Li Chengqian's eyes, his tone more stern than ever before.

Go early and come back early.

"Stop playing wildly outside."

"If you lose weight, or even a single hair, I will tear down your Eastern Palace!"

Li Chengqian felt a surge of warmth in his heart and nodded heavily.

"Don't worry, Dad."

That cry of "Dad" was so genuine.

"Waaaaah—waaaah—"

Just then.

A desolate yet powerful bugle call suddenly resounded throughout the drill ground.

The auspicious time has arrived.

The army is setting off!

"Let's go!"

Li Chengqian waved to Li Shimin one last time, then turned and strode towards the extremely stylish carriage parked at the front of the procession.

It was a magnificent palanquin, as wide as a mobile palace, pulled by eight black and white balls.

The pandas seemed to sense the atmosphere of going to war, each chewing their bamboo with a crunching sound and letting out "whimpering" battle cries.

Li Chengqian jumped into the carriage and plopped down on the soft couch.

Wu Zetian was already waiting nearby, holding peeled grapes in her hands.

Huo Qubing rode beside him on horseback, his spear pointing to the sky.

The cannons of the Shenji Battalion stood erect, exuding a murderous aura.

"Set off!"

With Li Chengqian's order.

This strange army, destined to turn the Western Regions upside down, began to move with a thunderous roar.

Smoke and dust billowed, and banners obscured the sun.

Li Shimin stood on the command platform, watching the procession gradually disappear into the distance, and watching the back of the figure sitting in the carriage with his legs crossed.

Sudden.

The figure leaned out of the car window and shouted in this direction:

"Father!"

"Remember to feed the fish for me!"

"If that koi fish gets too thin from hunger, I'm not happy about it when I get back!"

Li Shimin was taken aback.

Then, he burst out laughing and said with a laugh:

"Get lost!"

"I'll stew them!"