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

That soft call was more effective than the hundred pounds of explosives just now.

Li Shimin's blood pressure, which had already soared to the critical point, was instantly forced back down.

The emperor, who had just been furious and ready to sacrifice his own family for the sake of the Tang Dynasty, now had his facial muscles twitch stiffly, forcing out a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Guanyinbi... what brings you here?"

Li Shimin hurriedly withdrew his hand from mid-air and casually wiped it on his dragon robe, pretending he was just adjusting his cuffs.

"It's so late at night, the dew is heavy, and you're not well, why aren't you resting properly in the Lizheng Hall?"

Her tone was so gentle it was almost tender, completely devoid of the imposing manner she had displayed in court just moments before.

The speed at which His Majesty changed his expression made Xu Xiao, who was standing to the side, raise an eyebrow and think to himself: "With His Majesty's acting skills, it's a waste that he's not a storyteller under a bridge."

The curtain was lifted.

Empress Zhangsun entered with a beaming smile, surrounded by a group of palace maids.

She was not wearing the elaborate empress's court dress, but only a light yellow casual dress, her hair loosely tied up, yet she still possessed a dignified and graceful demeanor befitting an empress.

But those phoenix eyes, which always seemed to be smiling, were now scanning back and forth between the father and son with a half-smile.

"I was resting."

Empress Zhangsun walked to the table, glanced at the bubbling copper pot, and then at the father and son who were covered in sweat.

"I heard that His Majesty stormed into the Eastern Palace in a fit of rage. I was afraid that my son, being so ignorant, might anger His Majesty, so I rushed over to see what was going on."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on Li Chengqian, who was hiding on the other side of the table, looking "weak, pitiful, and helpless."

"Godson, come here."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian felt as if he had met a living bodhisattva who could save him from suffering.

The arrogant brat who dared to use the imperial seal to crack walnuts just moments before now had a pout and his eyes instantly turned red.

"Mother Empress—!"

With a mournful cry, Li Chengqian took a few quick steps, like a little cannonball that had suffered a great injustice, and rushed straight into Empress Zhangsun's arms.

"You've finally arrived! If you had come even a moment later, your son... your son would have been beaten to death by Father!"

Li Chengqian hugged Empress Zhangsun's waist, buried his face in her clothes, and howled so loudly that it moved listeners to tears.

"Nonsense!"

Li Shimin grew anxious, his finger trembling as he pointed at Li Chengqian. "When did I ever hit you? That was...that was discipline!"

"education?"

Li Chengqian suddenly raised his head, pointed at the dusty jade seal under the table, and loudly accused it.

"Just now, in order to snatch the last piece of tripe, Father Emperor insisted that my use of that broken stone to prop up the table leg was a great disrespect, and even wanted to depose me! Mother Emperor, you be the judge! How can we eat with the table wobbling like that? I was just trying to make Father Emperor eat in peace! My filial piety is evident to Heaven and Earth!"

Li Shimin felt dizzy upon hearing this.

A broken stone?

That's the Imperial Seal of the State!

They're even stealing tripe?

Am I the kind of person who would abandon all dignity just to stutter?

"Guanyinbi, don't listen to his nonsense! This unfilial son..."

"Alright, Erlang."

Empress Zhangsun gently patted Li Chengqian on the back, interrupting Li Shimin's explanation.

She glanced at the pitiful-looking jade seal under the table, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes, but more so a kind of almost blind doting affection.

"My son is still young and growing, so it's understandable that he might be a little greedy. Besides, inanimate objects are inanimate objects after all; how can they compare to living people?"

Empress Zhangsun took Li Chengqian's hand and pressed him back into his seat, then gracefully sat down herself.

"Now that the table is set up, let's continue eating. Don't let this little thing ruin the relationship between father and son."

Li Shimin: "..."

Little things?

Is it a trivial matter to use national treasures to prop up table legs?

Li Shimin opened his mouth, but seeing his wife's protective attitude, he ultimately swallowed back all the complaints he had.

Row.

You two are in cahoots.

I am an outsider, so I'll shut up, okay?

Li Shimin sat down angrily, picked up his chopsticks, and fiercely grabbed a large mouthful of mutton, as if it were Li Chengqian's flesh, and vigorously simmered it in the pot.

"Mother, please try this."

With a powerful backer, Li Chengqian instantly regained his composure. He diligently blanched a piece of duck intestine, blew on it, and carefully placed it into Empress Zhangsun's bowl.

"This is called duck intestines, it's very crispy. And this, this is Kobe beef that I specially had brought over... cough, premium-grade fatty beef, it melts in your mouth."

Empress Zhangsun took a bite, and her eyes lit up slightly.

"Yes, it certainly has a unique flavor. The spiciness is complemented by a fresh aroma, which really whets the appetite."

"That's right!"

Li Chengqian said smugly, "This is a secret recipe that I specially asked that old immortal to... no, I specially researched and developed to honor my mother!"

Li Shimin, who was listening nearby, rolled his eyes.

Didn't you just say it was for your own consumption? How did it suddenly become about being filial to your mother?

That unfilial son, his mood changes faster than turning the pages of a book!

"By the way, Mother."

Li Chengqian seemed to suddenly remember something, and reached into his sleeve to rummage around.

"Your subject has been busy these past few days. Besides this hot pot, I have also prepared a great gift for you."

As he spoke, he took out a delicate little glass bottle.

The bottle is crystal clear and shimmers in the candlelight. Inside is a pale pink, creamy substance that emits a faint, pleasant fragrance.

This is a small reward that the system just randomly sent out – [Youthful Skin Cream].

While we can't live forever, the effects of getting rid of wrinkles and whitening the skin are absolutely immediate.

"What is this?" Empress Zhangsun asked curiously as she took the bottle.

"This is called 'Miracle Water'... no, it's called 'Eternal Youth Cream'!"

Li Chengqian began to boast without batting an eye, "Just apply a little to your face every day, and your skin will be fair and tender, and you'll stay young forever. Even when you're eighty, you'll look like an eighteen-year-old girl!"

"puff--"

Li Shimin, who was drinking soup, immediately spat it out.

Eighty years old looking like eighteen?

Why don't you say it can become a spirit?

"You unfilial son, deceiving the emperor is a capital offense! How dare you use such nonsense to fool your mother?" Li Shimin said with disdain.

"Whether it's nonsense or not, we'll find out by trying it."

Li Chengqian snorted, scooped out a little ointment, and applied it to the back of Empress Zhangsun's hand.

A miraculous scene unfolded.

The moment the ointment touched her skin, it melted into a puddle of clear water and instantly seeped in. Empress Zhangsun's hands, which had been slightly dry from overwork, became visibly moisturized, fair, and even had a faint sheen.

"this……"

Empress Zhangsun covered her mouth in surprise.

Even though she was the Empress, the mother of the nation, she was completely powerless against things that could make her more beautiful!

"It really works!"

Empress Zhangsun looked at her hands with delight, her smile even brighter than when she was eating hotpot. "My son is so thoughtful. I love this gift."

"As long as Mother is happy!"

Li Chengqian beamed, "As long as Mother is happy, I would do anything, even if it meant reaching for the moon in the heavens or catching turtles in the deepest oceans!"

A loving mother and a filial son.

It's fun.

The entire Lizheng Hall was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Except for Li Shimin.

The Tang emperor sat alone opposite him, chopsticks in hand, feeling like a superfluous decoration.

I want a gift too...

I want to be praised too...

I wish I could stay young forever...

Li Shimin felt a pang of sadness. Looking at the affectionate mother and son, the hot pot that had seemed so delicious just moments before suddenly lost its appeal.

To hide his embarrassment, he turned his gaze to the pot.

At this moment, only one piece of premium marbled beef remained in the pot, bobbing up and down in the red oil, radiating an enticing sheen.

That was the "essence" he had deliberately saved for the final touches.

"Hmph, if no one pays attention to me, I'll eat by myself."

Li Shimin, feeling resentful, stretched out his chopsticks and swiftly and accurately picked up the piece of meat.

Nearly.

closer.

Just as the tip of the chopsticks was about to touch the slice of meat.

"Whoosh—"

A blur flashed by.

Li Shimin felt a blur before his eyes, and his chopsticks missed their target.

When he looked up again, the piece of meat was already in Li Chengqian's bowl.

"Father, you're already so fat, why are you still eating meat?"

As Li Chengqian stuffed meat into his mouth, he mumbled, "The imperial physician said that eating too much oily food at night is bad for your health, as it can easily lead to high blood pressure and fatty liver."

"This piece of meat is the root of all evil."

"As the Crown Prince, it is my duty to share the burdens of my sovereign and father."

"Let me bear this pain for you!"

Li Shimin: "..."

He looked at his empty chopsticks, then at Li Chengqian's irritating face, and at Empress Zhangsun, who was covering her mouth and chuckling beside him.

My mental state completely collapsed.

"Guanyinbi!"

Li Shimin slammed his chopsticks on the table, looking as aggrieved as a 300-pound child.

"Look at him! Look at him!"

"Is this supposed to be helping me? This is clearly bullying me!"