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

At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight swept across the majestic outline of Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, what awakened the city was not only the melodious chimes, but also the deep, powerful whistles of steam locomotives.

Chang'an today is no longer just a coordinate on a map; it is the only sacred place on this planet that still shines with the flames of industrial civilization.

On the streets, the original wide stone slab roads have been replaced by thick and flat cement roads.

Here, you can see wealthy Arab merchants dressed in silk robes arguing heatedly with a Baekje merchant on the streets of the West Market over a box of glass mirrors made in the Tang Dynasty.

You can also see dark-skinned Kunlun slaves pushing carts loaded with cotton cloth, their faces beaming with pride as they weave through the crowd.

Because they knew that as long as these items were stamped with "Made in the Tang Dynasty," they could be exchanged for gold of equal weight when they were shipped to the other side of the sea.

"Have you heard? The Roman envoy spent the whole night in his hotel room crying while hugging the toilet, saying he witnessed a miracle."

"Hey, that's nothing. A few minor kings in India have practically emptied their ivory treasuries just to get a ticket into the Crown Prince's palace to express their gratitude."

In the teahouse, the people of Chang'an ate melon seeds, their tone revealing a sense of superiority that said, "I'll just quietly watch you bunch of country bumpkins who have never seen the world."

In the eyes of the people of Chang'an in this era, the barbarians in the world can be divided into only two kinds:

One type is those who have already knelt at the feet of the Tang Dynasty and become laborers.

Another type is those who are lining up, crying and shouting, wanting to come to the Tang Dynasty to work as laborers.

The source of all this, the being that was privately circulated among envoys from all nations as almost divine, even to the point of being completely "deified," was none other than the eight-year-old crown prince of the Tang Dynasty—Li Chengqian.

In the envoys' minds, although Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty was majestic, he was still within the realm of mortal emperors.

But that Crown Prince...

He controls fire-breathing steel behemoths, can make cold iron run wildly on tracks, and can reduce thousand-year-old city walls to ashes with a wave of his hand.

What else could this be but a god descending to earth?

There are even rumors that when His Highness the Crown Prince sleeps, lightning flashes between his breaths, which is his way of deducing the truth of the world.

Today is the day of the officially designated grand court assembly.

This was also the day when delegations from more than one hundred countries were granted permission to enter the Taiji Hall to offer tribute.

Before dawn, the square outside the Taiji Hall was already filled with a dark mass of people kneeling on the ground.

Marcellus and Prince Peroz were placed near the front.

Each of them bowed their heads, their hands holding their respective countries' most precious treasures with utmost reverence: the finest spices from Rome, rubies from Persia, and Buddhist relics from India…

As the cold wind blew, these powerful figures who commanded respect in their respective territories dared not even breathe loudly.

Standing before this palace complex filled with the aura of steel and concrete, they felt an unprecedented sense of insignificance.

It was a tremor that came from the depths of one's soul.

Because they knew that if the eight-year-old child nodded, their country would usher in prosperity and peace; if he shook his head, what awaited them was the overwhelming power of the Tang Dynasty's invincible fleet.

"Summon—envoys from all nations to enter the palace!"

With a sharp, piercing announcement from a eunuch, the heavy doors of the Taiji Hall slowly opened.

Marcellus looked up and felt an overwhelming aura of domineering royalty wash over him.

Inside the main hall, the original wooden pillars have been covered with a layer of gleaming steel.

The Tang generals standing solemnly on both sides were all clad in scale armor and wielding steel swords. The murderous aura in their eyes even made these famous Western generals dare not look them in the eye.

At the very top of that great hall.

Li Shimin, wearing a crown and a bright yellow dragon robe, sat upright on the dragon throne.

Looking down at the foreign delegations kneeling on the ground, his vanity as the "Heavenly Khan" had swelled to its extreme.

Cool!

That was fucking awesome!

Having been emperor for so many years, Li Shimin had never felt as if the whole world was curled up in the palm of his hand as he did today.

He coughed lightly, his authoritative gaze sweeping across the entire room.

"Gentlemen, you have come from afar, you must be tired."

A series of extremely humble kowtows rose from below.

"Your humble servants pay homage to His Majesty the Supreme Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty! Long live the Heavenly Khan! Long live the Heavenly Khan! Long live the Heavenly Khan!"

Marcellus and Peroz kowtowed so hard their heads were thumping loudly.

In their eyes, the Tang Dynasty was a projection of God on earth, and Li Shimin was God's spokesperson.

however.

Amidst this deafening roar of worship.

Marcellus furtively raised his head and glanced upwards.

Then, his expression changed slightly.

Not only him, but also Prince Peroz and several sharp-eyed envoys noticed the extremely strange scene.

Beside Li Shimin's large dragon throne.

That is, the seat that symbolizes the heir apparent of the Tang Dynasty, a seat that should rightfully be occupied by His Highness the Crown Prince...

It was empty.

On the golden chair, there was only a sandalwood hand warmer that had not yet been removed and was still emitting a faint warmth.

No one is empty.

The air became somewhat subtle at that moment.

Li Shimin's smile froze for a moment.

He turned his head somewhat awkwardly and asked the old eunuch beside him in a low voice.

"Where is the Crown Prince?"

The old eunuch shuddered and leaned in, sweating profusely.

"Your Majesty... I just went to the Eastern Palace to urge them."

"But His Highness's attendant said... that His Highness was too tired from researching that 'generator' yesterday and is taking a nap right now..."

"He also said... anyone who dares to wake him up right now will be dragged straight to the boiler room where the railway is being repaired and stuffed with coal..."

Li Shimin's eyelids twitched violently after hearing this.

That brat!

With such a grand occasion of all nations paying tribute, how could he possibly let me down here?

Do you think it's easy for me, as the father, to put on a show here?

However, when I think of Li Chengqian's temper, he's so angry that he'd even dare to drag cannons towards the entrance of Taiji Palace.

Li Shimin forcefully swallowed the words "rebellious son" back into his mouth.

He forced a calm smile and, facing the hundreds of puzzled eyes below, spoke softly:

"The Crown Prince has recently gained insight into the truth of the Heavenly Dao and is currently in a critical moment of seclusion. Please wait a moment."

The entire room fell silent.

Envoys from hundreds of countries remained kneeling, waiting there stiffly.

In the Tang Dynasty, in Chang'an.

Everyone had to wait for the Crown Prince to wake up.

This is the only... and the highest truth in the world right now.

Li Shimin stared expressionlessly at the empty seat next to the dragon throne, a single tear of bitterness silently falling from his heart, a testament to his father's suffering.

"Where is the Crown Prince? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"