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

That evening, the Taiji Palace was brightly lit.

This celebratory banquet, ostensibly to "celebrate auspicious omens," was in reality a lavish display of wealth, leaving even seasoned Tang Dynasty nobles speechless with astonishment at its extravagance.

The finest grape wine from the Western Regions, which even the emperor once seldom drank, was now being carried into the main hall bucket by bucket by the palace maids, just like free water.

That's right, it's bucket by bucket.

Moreover, the wine wasn't stored in any precious gold or silver vessels, but rather in an "oak barrel" specially made by Li Chengqian using system blueprints to improve the taste.

The wine made from this stuff has an extremely rich woody aroma and silky tannins, and its taste completely surpasses the original versions from the Western Regions that have a sour, earthy flavor.

"belch--!"

Li Shimin let out a loud burp, completely losing his composure, and a satisfied, silly grin appeared on his face, which was flushed red from the alcohol.

He was still clutching a jade luminous cup, a tribute from the Kingdom of Kucha, as he shakily rose from the dragon throne.

"Chengqian! My good son! Come! Let's have a toast!"

Li Shimin, slurring his words, stumbled and walked with a wine cup to Li Chengqian's table.

At this moment, he had lost all trace of the majesty of the Heavenly Khan; he was nothing more than a drunk old man eager to escape his work.

"Father, you've had too much to drink. You should rest early."

Li Chengqian moved aside with extreme disgust, avoiding the smell of alcohol that Li Shimin exhaled.

He's long since grown tired of this grape wine; back in the Eastern Palace, it's now just the drink he uses to rinse his mouth every morning.

"Nonsense! I'm not drunk! I'm perfectly sober!"

Li Shimin grabbed Li Chengqian's arm, leaned close to his ear, lowered his voice, and spoke with an almost pleading, seductive tone.

"Chengqian, look, the Western Regions have been pacified, Tibet has submitted, and you've even produced that auspicious cotton that can withstand the cold."

"The Tang Dynasty can now be said to be at peace throughout the land, and the national treasury has so much gold that even that old miser Dai Zhou is almost going crazy counting it."

"You've managed this Tang Dynasty's empire better than I have!"

As Li Shimin spoke, he suddenly smashed the luminous cup in his hand to the ground with great fanfare.

With a loud crash, the priceless luminous cup shattered into pieces.

The entire hall fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes turned in terror.

Li Shimin, however, paid no attention. He stared intently at Li Chengqian and roared, word by word:

"I've made my decision! Tomorrow! No! Right now!"

"I will pass this throne to you! You will be the emperor, and I will go fishing at the Luoyang Imperial Palace! I will go play with cannons!"

Holy crap!

Li Chengqian was so frightened he almost jumped off his chair. This old Li was really shameless in his pursuit of retirement, daring to force the abdication even in this kind of situation.

Being an emperor? Getting up earlier than the rooster and going to bed later than the dog every day, with endless memorials to review and countless ministers to meet—that's a miserable job only someone with a screw loose would do.

My ultimate dream is to be a top-notch salted fish who lives a life of leisure, counting money until his hands cramp!

"Father, be careful what you say! You've really had too much to drink!"

Li Chengqian's eyes darted around, and he immediately put on an expression of extreme fear and heartache.

He grabbed Li Shimin and shouted, "Father, you are in the prime of your life and in excellent health! After taking that health-strengthening pill I gave you, you can reign for at least another five hundred years!"

"The Tang Dynasty cannot do without you! Your subject is young and ignorant; how can I shoulder such a heavy responsibility!"

"If you bring up the matter of abdication again, your son... your son will now smash his head against a pillar in this hall and die to prove his innocence!"

Li Chengqian's tearful yet righteous performance of "refusing the throne" instantly moved the ministers present to tears.

Look! What true filial piety and parental love look like! What a wise and virtuous king looks like!

His Highness the Crown Prince clearly possesses extraordinary talent, yet he remains so humble and filial. This is truly a blessing for the Tang Dynasty!

Li Shimin was so speechless by Li Chengqian's words that he rolled his eyes.

He knew his cunning son too well. What nonsense about being young and ignorant, or about proving his loyalty with his life. This kid just didn't want to work!

However, he couldn't lash out in front of so many ministers, so he could only glare fiercely at Li Chengqian before being half-pushed and half-helped back to the inner palace by several eunuchs.

call--

Li Chengqian let out a long sigh of relief, wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead, and slumped back into his chair.

"That old Li almost got his tower stolen."

With the crisis averted, Li Chengqian picked up the chilled oak barrel wine on the table and took a small sip.

The rich, aromatic liquid burst on his tongue, but his mind was preoccupied with a very real "luxury problem."

"Your Highness, what are you thinking about?"

Beside him, Changsun Wuji, who had been sitting dignifiedly at the lower end, couldn't help but lean over and ask softly, seeing Li Chengqian's thoughtful expression.

This most powerful minister of the Tang Dynasty now holds the crown prince, who is only eight years old, in the deepest awe.

"I am thinking that the national treasury is indeed a bit too full right now."

Li Chengqian sighed, his tone filled with the extreme Versailles-like feeling of "having so much money that he didn't know what to do with it."

"Uncle, look, the Western Regions and Tibet are sending us large quantities of cattle, sheep, spices, and furs every month."

"Even if our Great Tang Dynasty has a big appetite, it can't eat this much. These things not only take up space in the warehouse, but they will also spoil over time."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji frowned slightly.

This is indeed a happy problem. Before, I worried about not having enough things; now I worry about having so many things that I have nowhere to put them.

"Then... what does Your Highness mean?"

"Dumping!"

A shrewd businessman's glint flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes.

"If we can't eat it all ourselves, then we'll sell it to others."

He stretched out his finger, dipped it in some liquor on the table, and drew a simple map.

"Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje to the east, and Japan across the sea. Although these places are poor, they have gold, silver, and copper mines."

"Let's ship all the excess spices, furs, and that newly developed strong liquor over on merchant ships!"

"Use those cheap surplus resources to exchange for their hard currency!"

Changsun Wuji gasped upon hearing this.

This tactic not only solves the Tang Dynasty's inventory problem, but also indirectly drains the wealth of neighboring countries; it's a brilliant and ingenious scheme that kills two birds with one stone.

"Your Highness is wise! I will immediately arrange for the people from the Court of State Ceremonies and the Ministry of Commerce to make preparations!" Changsun Wuji nodded excitedly.

"Don't rush."

Li Chengqian waved his hand and glanced around the main hall.

"We should engage in trade, but our foundation still lies in the Western Regions and Tibet."

"The cotton seeds have already been distributed, but large-scale planting, water conservancy construction, and trade route development all require a capable person to oversee the work."

"That's a tough job, exposed to wind and sun, and most civil officials simply can't keep up."

Li Chengqian tapped his fingers lightly on the table, then suddenly his gaze fell on a corner of the main hall.

There, Li Ke, the King of Shu, who had just won many battles in the western expedition and was boasting to a few cronies with a radiant smile, was raising his wine cup with extreme arrogance.

"Yeah, isn't this a perfect 'working class' already available?"

Li Chengqian's lips curled into an extremely wicked and cunning smile.

"Third brother, how could I bear to let you live such a comfortable life as a salted fish in Chang'an?"