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

The moon rises above the willow branches, its silvery light bathing the flower-lined paths of the Eastern Palace.

The hot pot meal was so incredibly delicious that it was a truly earth-shattering affair. It wasn't until the last bit of chili pepper from the bottom of the pot was scooped up that this "imperial feast" finally came to a barely acceptable end.

With his round little belly protruding, Li Chengqian looked like a little mouse that had just stolen some oil. He strolled leisurely in the garden, arm in arm with Empress Zhangsun, as if digesting his food.

"Mother, please walk slowly. You shouldn't do strenuous exercise right after eating, as it can easily cause your stomach to sag."

As Li Chengqian walked, he didn't forget to flatter, "Tomorrow I'll have someone send a pot to the Lizheng Hall, so you can cook whenever you want."

Empress Zhangsun was so pleased with him that she reached out and tapped his forehead with her finger.

"You, all you ever think about is food. But this method is quite good; it's warming up in the winter."

The mother and son chatted and laughed in front of each other, a scene of maternal love and filial piety, as heartwarming as a painting.

And three steps behind them.

Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty stood with his hands behind his back, kicking pebbles by the roadside, looking resentful, just like a wronged little wife.

Looking at the unfilial son in front of him who was only focused on acting cute with his mother and completely ignoring his own father, he felt a surge of bitterness welling up inside him.

"Guanyinbi!"

Li Shimin finally couldn't hold back any longer, so he took a few quick steps to catch up and tugged at Empress Changsun's sleeve.

"Aren't you going to do anything about him!"

Empress Zhangsun stopped and looked back at her husband's aggrieved expression, unable to suppress a smile.

"Erlang, what's wrong now? Isn't your godfather quite well-behaved?"

"good?"

Li Shimin's eyes widened as he pointed at the back of Li Chengqian's head, his voice instantly rising eight octaves.

"How has he been well-behaved? Do you even know what kind of trouble this kid has gotten into?"

"He's been saving up his own money for eight whole years! That amount is more than the national treasury! I just politely asked him to lend me some money for an emergency, and guess what he said?"

Li Shimin mimicked Li Chengqian's shameless expression, spreading his hands and shrugging:

"He said he was so poor he had to pawn his underwear! And he wanted an advance on his living expenses from me!"

"Is this something a son should say?"

"besides!"

Li Shimin got more and more excited as he spoke, as if he wanted to vent all the pent-up frustration of the night.

"I wanted to incorporate his Great Snow Dragon Cavalry into my forces to protect the country, wasn't that for the sake of the Tang Dynasty? And what was the result?"

"He's settling accounts with me! He says I can't afford to support them! He says those soldiers only care about money, not me!"

"That's fine, I can tolerate matters of state. But what about the hot pot we were eating just now..."

Li Shimin pointed to his mouth, his face filled with grief and indignation.

"I just want to eat the last piece of meat! Just one! And he's trying to take it from me!"

"And they even have the audacity to say it's for my health? To prevent me from getting fatty liver disease?"

"Guanyinbi, you be the judge! What kind of son is this? He's clearly a troublemaker! He's been bullying me all along!"

Li Shimin's accusations were delivered with tears streaming down his face, moving all who heard them to tears.

If the ministers outside saw this, their jaws would probably drop in astonishment. Is this still the same decisive and ruthless General Tian Ce?

Li Chengqian shrank back, stuck out his tongue guiltily, and muttered under his breath:

"That's true, Father. With your build, if you keep eating like this, you'll definitely get high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar..."

"You dare talk back!" Li Shimin made a move to hit him.

"Alright, alright."

Empress Zhangsun quickly stepped in between them, patting Li Shimin's chest like she was comforting a child to help him catch his breath.

"Erlang, you are the emperor and father, why are you getting angry with a child?"

She looked at Li Chengqian tenderly, her eyes full of affection.

"Although my son is a bit impulsive and speaks without thinking, he knows right from wrong when it comes to matters of principle."

"Just think about it, what a huge crisis the Wei River Alliance was! The entire court was helpless, and even you were prepared to be humiliated."

"It was Gan'er who, with his Great Snow Dragon Riders, single-handedly stormed the Wei River, frightened away Jieli, preserved the dignity of the Tang Dynasty, and protected the people of this city."

Empress Zhangsun grasped Li Shimin's hand and spoke earnestly.

"If he were truly unfilial, why would he risk his life to save you? If he were truly greedy, wouldn't the entire Tang Dynasty be his in the future?"

"He was just... loving the Tang Dynasty and loving you in his own way."

These words, like a gentle spring breeze, instantly extinguished most of Li Shimin's anger.

He paused for a moment, recalling the scene on the banks of the Wei River.

That usually lazy boy, standing before the two armies, exuded an invincible domineering aura and a fierce protectiveness...

indeed.

If it weren't for this rebellious son, I would have truly lost all face this time.

"snort."

Li Shimin gave a haughty snort, his expression softening considerably, but he still refused to back down.

"I'm only letting him off the hook because of you. Otherwise, I would have given him a good spanking!"

Li Chengqian hid behind Empress Zhangsun and made a face at his father.

Hit me?

Let's ask the knife in Xu Xiao's hand if it agrees!

The family of three was enjoying this rare moment of warmth when the beautiful atmosphere was ruthlessly shattered by a series of hurried and flustered footsteps.

The Grand Eunuch Wang De, his old face wrinkled like a bitter gourd, stumbled over, forgetting even to perform the proper etiquette.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"

Li Shimin frowned, and the anger he had just suppressed surged up again.

"What's the panic! I'm not dead yet!"

"No...it's Minister Dai! Minister Dai is blocking the palace gate, saying he has an extremely urgent matter and must see His Majesty!"

Wang De was panting heavily, his voice trembling.

"Wearing armor?"

Li Shimin's heart skipped a beat.

This old miser never goes to the palace unless there's a reason, and when he does, it's never anything good—he'll either complain about being poor or announce a death.

"Let him come here!"

After a while.

Minister of Revenue Dai Zhou, his official robes askew and his hat askew, rushed up to the group, sweating profusely.

With a "plop".

He knelt down on the ground, and the sound of it made him look like he was in pain.

"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! The sky has fallen!"

Dai Zhou raised his head, his usually shrewd and calculating face now filled with despair and terror.

"Urgent reports have just arrived from various prefectures and counties in Guanzhong: the major granaries... are empty!"

"What?!"

Li Shimin swayed, his face turning deathly pale instantly.

"How could it be almost empty? What happened to last year's autumn harvest?"

"Sold out!"

Dai Zhou gritted his teeth, his voice filled with deep hatred, "Those people from the Five Clans and Seven Families, taking advantage of the Turks' retreat and the unsettled state of the people, colluded to buy up grain at exorbitant prices in the market! They not only bought up all the surplus grain from the people, but even the old rice in the official granaries was sold to them privately by some corrupt officials!"

"Right now, in the entire Chang'an, and even the entire Guanzhong region, you can't even buy a single bushel of rice on the market!"

"Just now, the price of grain in the East Market has soared to 150 coins per dou! And it's still rising! There's no market for it!"

boom--!

These words struck Li Shimin like a bolt from the blue.

One peck of rice costs 150 coins?

This is driving people crazy!

The Tang Dynasty had only been established for a short time, and the people were already poor. If they couldn't afford to eat, they would rebel!

"These traitors! These vampires!"

Li Shimin's eyes were bloodshot, his fists were clenched so tightly they cracked, and his murderous aura was even more terrifying than when he faced the Turkic army.

The Turks wanted money, but these powerful clans wanted the life of the Tang Dynasty!

"What about the national treasury?"

Li Shimin stared intently at Dai Zhou, as if grasping at a last straw. "How much money is left in the national treasury? Quickly take it out and send grain from other regions! No matter how expensive, just feed the people!"

Upon hearing this, Dai Zhou's expression was even more unpleasant than if he were crying.

He collapsed to the ground, spreading his hands in despair, his voice hoarse like a broken bellows.

"Your Majesty... have you forgotten?"

"Even the mice have moved out of the national treasury!"

"No money! Not a single penny left!"

Dead silence.

A suffocating silence.

Li Shimin felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, his legs went weak, and he almost lost his footing.

Empress Zhangsun quickly supported him, her face full of worry: "Second Prince!"

Li Shimin waved his hand, indicating that he was alright.

But the light in his eyes was slowly fading.

There is no food.

No money.

Internally, powerful families are forcing the emperor to abdicate; externally, starving people are about to rebel.

This is absolutely desperate!

Is it possible that after I just defeated the Turks, the Tang Dynasty is going to be destroyed by these parasites?

He is not willing!

At this moment of despair, Li Shimin's gaze inexplicably drifted to the side.

There, Li Chengqian was leaning against a tree, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, still looking like a carefree, indifferent fish.

But I don't know why.

Looking at his rebellious son, Li Shimin suddenly recalled the events of the past few days.

Snow Dragon Rider...

Embroidered Uniform Guard...

And that terrifyingly large secret stash of money...

This eight-year-old prince, who keeps saying he wants to retire and give up, always seems to be able to pull out something unexpected in desperate situations.

Li Shimin took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.

He turned around, his gaze fixed on Li Chengqian, his voice hoarse but carrying a glimmer of hope.

"Chengqian".

"Do you... have any ideas?"