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

"They're growing so fast..."

Li Chengqian's ambiguous words made Wu Meiniang's heart, which had just been leaping with joy at being praised, skip a beat.

A flicker of panic flashed in her dark, bright eyes, and her small hands, clutching the account book, tightened unconsciously until her knuckles turned white.

In the seemingly peaceful but actually turbulent city of Chang'an, she knew all too well what the words "merit overshadows the emperor" or "overstepping authority" meant to a young girl who had not yet grown up.

Even if the other party is the Crown Prince, who usually dotes on her and entrusts her with all the financial power.

"Your Highness...did Meiniang do something wrong?"

Wu Zetian's voice carried a very rare tremor.

She lowered her head slightly, and her neatly combed double buns became somewhat messy because of Li Chengqian's casual "head pat" just now.

"Meiniang was just thinking that since those barbarians from the Western Regions dared to make trouble behind our backs, if we didn't teach them a lesson, how would the Eastern Palace Merchant Guild maintain its foothold on the Silk Road in the future?"

"If Meiniang's methods go too far or overstep her authority, Meiniang will go and accept the punishment..."

Seeing the little girl's cautious and timid demeanor, Li Chengqian couldn't help but sigh.

This girl is too calculating; she always thinks the worst of people.

However, this cannot be blamed on her. After all, the historical Wu Zetian climbed to the supreme throne step by step amidst swords and bloodshed.

Li Chengqian abandoned his lazy, salty sitting posture.

He sat up from the soft couch and very naturally reached out to pull Wu Meiniang to his side.

Then, in front of this extremely sensitive little girl, he reached out that hand again.

Without any hesitation, he ruffled her already somewhat messy hair, making it look like a bird's nest.

"Ah! Your Highness! My hair!"

Wu Meiniang gasped in surprise and instinctively reached out to protect her head.

But when she looked up and met Li Chengqian's clear eyes, which were full of doting affection and even a hint of teasing, all her panic and defensiveness melted away like ice and snow.

"Who said you did something wrong?"

Li Chengqian looked at his "masterpiece" with great satisfaction, a warm and reassuring smile appearing on his lips.

"When I said you were growing too fast, I was actually complimenting you."

"Well done. This decisive and ruthless approach, this ability to turn the world upside down with a flick of the wrist, really does have the air of an empress."

An empress?!

These two words were like a bolt from the blue, exploding directly in Wu Meiniang's young heart.

Her delicate, fair face instantly flushed bright red, almost as if it were about to bleed.

This is a capital offense of disrespect!

Even in private, this was a treasonous statement that was enough to shake the entire Tang Dynasty!

"Your Highness! Please don't joke about Meiniang!"

Wu Meiniang was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes, and she hurriedly covered Li Chengqian's mouth.

"Meiniang has no desire to be an empress! Meiniang's greatest wish in this life is to stay in the Eastern Palace, help His Highness manage this household, and keep the accounts clear!"

"Anyone who dares to threaten His Highness's throne, Meiniang will tear them to pieces on His Highness's behalf!"

Although the little girl's voice was still immature, the firmness and undisguised ambition in her tone warmed Li Chengqian's heart slightly.

He knew that the girl was telling the truth.

In the original historical trajectory, Wu Zetian was forced onto the path of becoming a lonely empress.

But now, because of him, this cunning prince who traveled from another time.

This phoenix, destined to soar through the heavens and make all men tremble in awe, has now willingly sheathed its claws, wishing only to be the most loyal housekeeper under its wings.

Li Chengqian gently removed Wu Meiniang's small hand from his mouth.

He didn't take this innocent childish remark as a joke. Instead, he looked into Wu Meiniang's eyes with utmost seriousness and made a domineering promise befitting the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, word by word.

"Meiniang, remember this."

"I am an extremely trouble-averse and extremely lazy person."

"The Tang Dynasty is so vast that even taking a nap every day feels like a luxury."

"Since you enjoy managing accounts so much, and enjoy helping me deal with these messy things so much."

Li Chengqian reached out and pinched Wu Meiniang's still chubby cheeks with an extremely domineering gesture.

"Then go for it!"

"Don't be afraid of offending people, don't be afraid of using ruthless methods!"

"As long as I'm alive, you can mess with the heavens of this Tang Dynasty as you please!"

"If you've exposed it, I'll mend it for you! Anyone who dares to gossip behind your back will taste the power of the Red Cannon!"

These words were like a reassuring pill, completely shattering the last trace of worry and fear in Wu Zetian's heart.

She stared blankly at the domineering boy in front of her, who was only eight years old but seemed to be able to control the whole world and even hold up a world for her.

Two lines of extremely clear, extremely happy tears finally slid down from the corners of her eyes.

"Your Highness..."

Wu Zetian sniffed, deeply moved, and was about to say a few words to express her loyalty.

In this extremely warm, even slightly eerie pink bubble atmosphere.

Suddenly, without warning, a system alarm sounded from the depths of Li Chengqian's mind. It was extremely piercing and even had a sense of madness and tearing.

[Beep—! Beep—! Beep—!]

[Warning! The host has been detected to have drastically altered the fate of key historical figures!]

[Warning! The progress of Tang Dynasty civilization is under extremely strong, unknown interference, and an irreversible dimensional leap is occurring!]

Li Chengqian was suddenly stunned, and the hand that was originally on Wu Meiniang's head froze instantly.

This damn system has been playing dead for months since it gave me the cotton seeds, so why did it suddenly come back to life like it's having a fit today?

Moreover, the alarm was a hundred times louder than any god-level army I've ever signed up for!

What does it mean to change the fate of a key figure?

What is dimensional leap?

Before Li Chengqian could figure out the cause and effect relationship,

The system's extremely cold and emotionless mechanical voice rang out in his mind again like a thunderclap, making his scalp tingle.

[Ding! Civilization level upgrade approved!]

[Host has successfully activated the hidden era's main storyline—'The Roar of Steam and Steel'!]

[The ultimate, groundbreaking reward is being distributed...]