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

"Speak! Are you mute?!"

Li Shimin's roar, carrying the oppressive aura of an emperor, made Li Chengqian's eardrums ring. The cold glint of the Emperor's sword drew a chilling arc in the air, as if it were about to "sacrifice family for the greater good" for the sake of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Chengqian shrank back in fright and unconsciously took two steps back. In the eyes of the court officials, he looked like an eight-year-old child who had been scared out of his wits.

Changsun Wuji felt a pang of pity and was about to step forward to plead for mercy when he saw that in Li Chengqian's seemingly terrified eyes, there was no fear at all; instead, there was a strange expectation flickering within them.

Li Chengqian had no time to pay attention to his cheap father's anger; his mind was already focused on the glowing panel in his mind.

[The God-Level Salted Fish System has been successfully activated!]

[Given the host's blatant laziness during such a solemn occasion as the coronation ceremony, the system has determined that the host's "desperate heart" is extremely firm, and hereby issues a supreme newbie gift pack!]

[Enable?]

"Open! Open it now!" Li Chengqian screamed frantically in his mind, "If I don't open it now, Li Erfeng will turn me into braised prince!"

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Northern Liang Iron Cavalry - Great Snow Dragon Cavalry (Complete Form of 3,000 Men)!]

[Bonus: God-level Commander Xu Xiao (Identity implanted: Grand Commander of the Eastern Palace Guard, absolutely loyal to the host)!]

[Note: The Northern Liang's withered tombs, the Great Snow Dragon Riders. This army is the strongest heavy cavalry in the world, with each soldier being a seventh-rank martial arts master. They are equipped with long-handled swords, repeating crossbows, and bright armor, making them unparalleled in charging into battle. At this moment, they are silently stationed at the Eastern Palace's Grand Training Ground, ready to be deployed at any time.]

Li Chengqian gasped sharply.

Holy crap?

This system is really powerful; it's truly amazing when there are cheat codes!

What is the concept of the Great Snow Dragon Riders? They represent the pinnacle of combat power in "Snowy Mountain," capable of slaughtering countless people in the Jianghu of Liyang and striking fear into the hearts of a million-strong army of Northern Mang. In the Tang Dynasty, an era of cold weapons, these three thousand men are practically a dimensional attack, a deterrent force on par with nuclear weapons!

And it even comes with a butcher, Xu Xiao?

Li Chengqian felt a warm current rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his back, which had been a little weak from staying up all night, straightened up instantly.

With these three thousand strong men, let alone not wanting the position of Crown Prince, even if I wanted the moon in the sky, I reckon Xu Xiao could bring his men and pluck it down for me.

"You unfilial son! What are you standing there daydreaming about?"

Seeing that Li Chengqian remained silent for a long time, Li Shimin assumed the child was frightened into a stupor. His anger subsided slightly, replaced by a disappointed disappointment. "I'm asking you a question: Why did you resign from your position as Crown Prince? Do you really think so little of my Tang Dynasty?"

"Father, please put the sword away, it's quite frightening."

Li Chengqian patted his chest, the fear on his face vanishing, replaced by a languid air of world-weariness. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he slowly said, "It's not that I look down on the Tang Dynasty; it's that I look down on this job."

"Work?" Li Shimin was taken aback; what a new word that was.

"That's right, being the Crown Prince is a job. And it's a high-risk job: low pay, lots of work, close to home, high position, great power, and a life-threatening situation."

Li Chengqian counted on his fingers and began to reason with Li Shimin: "Father, you see, according to the 'Law of the Tang Dynasty on Minors'... uh, according to the laws of nature, I am only eight years old this year, which is the time when I am growing. There is an old saying, 'If you don't sleep for four hours, you won't grow tall.'"

"But ever since I became the Crown Prince, I have to get up at dawn every day to memorize those obscure and difficult classics, and I also have to learn how to handle government affairs. This is not training a heir apparent, it is clearly child abuse!"

The entire court was dumbfounded.

Child abuse?

This is a favor that countless princes and grandsons would dream of, yet in this man's mouth, it has become abuse?

Wei Zheng was so angry that his beard trembled, and his hand pointing at Li Chengqian shook: "Absurd! Utterly absurd! Which ancient sage didn't rise at the crack of dawn to practice martial arts, or hang himself by his hair to stay awake? Your Highness is the foundation of the nation, how can you be so greedy for comfort?"

"Uncle Wei, please don't get agitated, be careful of high blood pressure."

Li Chengqian kindly offered a reminder, then continued his barrage of questions to Li Shimin: "Father, what were you doing when you were eight years old? Were you playing with cats and dogs in Taiyuan, running wild all over the streets?"

Li Shimin blushed and subconsciously retorted, "I was... I was observing the people's conditions!"

"Yes, yes, you understand the people's needs."

Li Chengqian nodded perfunctorily. "Then why should you be able to understand the people's plight, while I, your son, have to be a puppet in this deep palace, only able to nod? This is unfair! I protest! I demand the implementation of a 'nine-to-five' work schedule, weekends off, and winter and summer vacations!"

"If these conditions cannot be met, then I would rather return to the Eastern Palace to farm, or set up a stall in the West Market to sell sweet potatoes. In any case, whoever wants to be the Crown Prince can be it!"

These words were spoken with conviction and conviction.

The entire Taiji Hall fell into a deathly silence once again.

Everyone was stunned by the Crown Prince's shocking "laissez-faire theory." Nine-to-five, weekends off—they'd never even heard of such a thing, but coming from this young master, it somehow...made sense.

Li Shimin took a deep breath, his chest heaving. He looked at his son, who was only waist-high, and at those clear eyes that seemed to say "I'm hopeless," and suddenly his anger vanished.

Really, he's not angry anymore.

He laughed in exasperation.

"Great, what a great 9-to-5 job, what a great weekend off."

Li Shimin sheathed the Emperor's Sword with a clang, a chilling smile playing on his lips.

Ministers familiar with Li Shimin knew that when His Majesty made this expression, someone was usually about to suffer a great misfortune.

Changsun Wuji's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself: This is bad, Chengqian is going to be in trouble.

really.

Li Shimin slowly adjusted the cuffs of his dragon robe, looking down at Li Chengqian with a gentle yet chilling tone: "Chengqian, you said you didn't want to be the crown prince because it was too tiring, you wanted to rest, and you wanted to grow taller, right?"

Li Chengqian took a half-step back warily. Although he had the support of the Great Snow Dragon Riders, the instinctive pressure from his bloodline still made him feel a sense of danger: "Father... what do you want to do?"

"I don't want to do anything. Am I the kind of unreasonable emperor?"

Li Shimin walked down the imperial steps with a smile and came to Li Chengqian. He even reached out to straighten Li Chengqian's crooked collar. "Since you feel that the job of Crown Prince is not suitable for you, then as your father, I will naturally grant your wish and give you a more 'relaxed' job."

Li Chengqian's eyes lit up: "Father, does that mean it's approved? Then I'll go back to the Eastern Palace to pack my things!"

After saying that, he turned and tried to slip away.

"Wait a minute."

A large hand, like an iron clamp, precisely pressed down on Li Chengqian's shoulder. Li Shimin's voice sounded softly behind him, carrying a hint of teasing, like a cat playing with a mouse.

"Want to retire? Dream on!"

"I'm not dead yet, and you already want to be a rich man?"

Li Shimin abruptly turned around, facing the assembled civil and military officials. The smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by boundless majesty: "Issue my decree! Crown Prince Li Chengqian, though his words are absurd, is exceptionally intelligent and deeply understands the hardships of the people (not really). I am greatly pleased!"

"Effective immediately, the Crown Prince is hereby appointed to oversee the state and assume full control of the government!"

"I will personally teach you what diligence in governance and the way of an emperor truly mean! Want to slack off? I'll make sure you're busy as a bee!"

"Wang De, draft the imperial edict!"