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

The morning court session at Taiji Hall has always been solemn and dignified.

Today, however, there was an eerie sense of gloom.

The civil and military officials stood in neat rows according to their ranks. Fang Xuanling held a draft budget for the construction of the railway from Luoyang to Yangzhou, ready to present it. Changsun Wuji, on the other hand, held a detailed list of the latest silver production from the Eastern Seas.

Everyone is waiting.

They were waiting for the high and mighty Heavenly Khan, or the Crown Prince who was dozing off below, to speak.

"Cough cough."

Li Shimin sat on the large dragon throne and cleared his throat.

He wasn't wearing that dazzling bright yellow dragon robe today; instead, he wore a dark-colored, even somewhat oversized, casual outfit.

Not only that, he didn't even wear his twelve-tassel crown properly; it was crooked and looked like a rich old man who had just woken up.

"My beloved ministers."

Li Shimin's voice was somewhat weak, and even carried a deliberate tremor.

"I didn't sleep a wink last night."

Upon hearing this, the ministers below felt their hearts leap into their throats.

Fang Xuanling quickly stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "Is Your Majesty unwell? I will immediately summon the imperial physician!"

"No need, the imperial physicians cannot cure my heart ailment."

Li Shimin waved his hand, and his dragon eyes, which had been shining brightly because of the system pills, forced out a few turbid tears.

"In the past few years, I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to the cause of the Tang Dynasty, working tirelessly day and night."

"From the northern expedition against the Turks, to the western pacification of Tibet, and then to the eastern expedition against Goguryeo."

"Every bone in my body is supporting the people of the Tang Dynasty!"

As Li Shimin spoke, he exaggeratedly wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve.

His sorrowful appearance moved several young censors, who were unaware of the situation, to tears.

But the old foxes standing at the front looked at each other in bewilderment.

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling exchanged a glance, both seeing a deep sense of doubt in each other's eyes.

What is Your Majesty up to?

You were so strong you could kill a bull with one punch! Just the day before yesterday, you personally fired three cannons in the royal hunting grounds, shaking the entire city of Chang'an. How come you look so frail and old today?

Ignoring the strange looks from his ministers, Li Shimin suddenly clutched his chest and coughed painfully twice.

"But... time waits for no one."

"I am old, truly old."

He pointed to his head of hair, which was jet black and shiny due to his vigorous blood and energy, and began to wail.

"Look at me! For the sake of the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, even my hair has turned white!"

The courtiers looked in the direction he was pointing.

The entire room fell silent.

Where are there any white hairs? Not even a single gray one! His thick, black hair was so shiny and lustrous that even the young concubines in the palace were envious.

"Your Majesty...you..."

Wei Zheng couldn't stand it any longer and was about to expose the clumsy acting.

Li Shimin suddenly raised his voice, directly interrupting Wei Zheng.

"Eunuch Li!"

The old eunuch who had been waiting nearby shuddered and quickly pulled out a bright yellow scroll from his sleeve.

"Read it!" Li Shimin waved his hand domineeringly, as if the weak old man from before was not him at all.

The old eunuch, his hands trembling, slowly unfolded the imperial edict.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"I have been ordained by Heaven to rule the world. However, as the years have passed and my energy has waned, I fear I am no longer able to shoulder this heavy responsibility."

"Crown Prince Chengqian is exceptionally intelligent and possesses both virtue and talent. Recently, he has even created divine objects to benefit all living beings, and his fame has spread throughout the world."

"I am very pleased and wish to enjoy my old age and spend my days playing with my grandchildren."

"Therefore, the throne is passed to Crown Prince Li Chengqian! This is hereby proclaimed throughout the land, so that all may hear of it!"

"So be it!"

"Buzz—!"

As the old eunuch's slightly raspy, high-pitched voice faded away.

The entire Taiji Hall seemed to have been instantly detonated by an invisible nuclear bomb.

All the ministers were stunned, as if struck by lightning.

The silver mine production details in Changsun Wuji's hand fell to the ground.

Fang Xuanling's jaw was agape, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

Even the usually composed Cheng Yaojin stared wide-eyed, his eyes widening like two copper bells.

Abdication?!

His Majesty actually intends to abdicate?!

This is an unprecedented spectacle in the entire history of China!

Throughout history, which emperor didn't value imperial power more than his own life? How many tragedies have occurred where fathers and sons turned against each other and brothers became enemies in the name of that throne?

To put it simply, Your Majesty, you rose to power by stepping over the corpses of your own brothers during the Xuanwu Gate Incident!

But now.

You are in your prime, and the Tang Dynasty's national strength has reached an unprecedented peak. The national treasury is overflowing with money, and barbarians from all over the world are lining up to kowtow to you.

This is an absolute peak moment where one can enjoy unparalleled glory even while lying down.

You're actually trying to throw away this supreme throne like it's a hot potato?!

And to use such an absurd excuse as "having gray hair"?!

"Your Majesty! You mustn't!"

After a brief moment of deathly silence, Changsun Wuji was the first to react, and he knelt down with a thud.

"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, and the Tang Dynasty needs Your Majesty to steer it! How can you so easily speak of abdicating!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! The Tang Dynasty cannot do without you!"

The courtiers immediately knelt down, their cries echoing throughout the hall.

Although they usually prefer to listen to the Crown Prince, it's because the Crown Prince is capable.

To allow an eight-year-old child to ascend the throne as emperor is utterly outrageous in terms of propriety and law. Moreover, everyone in the court knows that the crown prince hates working more than anyone else!

Li Shimin looked at the ministers below who were crying their hearts out, but he felt no emotion whatsoever.

Instead, he gave a cold snort of annoyance.

"Stop pretending to be ignorant!"

"When you're in discussions, who among you isn't secretly watching the Crown Prince's expression?"

"Now that he's in charge of the Tang Dynasty, he should bear the responsibility!"

"Do you really want to force me to my death, to make me work myself to death on this dragon throne?!"

Li Shimin started acting like a rogue. He sat down on the steps and started cursing at his ministers.

"I don't care! I'm not resigning as emperor today!"

The courtiers were at a loss, bewildered by Li Shimin's rogue behavior.

They looked at each other, then turned their heads away in unison.

Their gaze fell diagonally below the dragon throne, onto the large, comfortable folding chair.

There.

Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty.

He was leaning to one side in an unseemly manner.

He was still holding a half-eaten Hami melon from the Western Regions in his hand.

There was even a suspicious, glistening drool hanging from the corner of his mouth.

This moment was so momentous that it could change the course of Tang Dynasty history.

This future emperor, whom Li Shimin had praised as unparalleled in heaven and earth, was actually sleeping soundly.

It even started snoring softly.

"Your Highness...Your Highness, wake up!"

The old eunuch, sweating profusely, leaned closer and carefully brushed the tip of Li Chengqian's nose with the tail of his whisk.

"Your Highness, wake up! Something terrible has happened!"

Li Chengqian waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away flies.

"Quiet down, I'm dreaming about being on a yacht..."

The old eunuch was so anxious he was almost crying, so he raised his voice slightly, his voice filled with intense panic.

"Your Highness! His Majesty...he's going to pass the throne to you!"

"What?!"