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

"Wang De, draft the imperial edict!"

The name Li Shimin resounded like a thunderclap in the Taiji Hall.

Every single official in the court was dumbfounded.

Regent?

How can an eight-year-old child, a brat who just shouted about resigning and retiring at his coronation ceremony, be put in charge of the government?

Your Majesty, are you serious?

Are you sure you haven't been so angered by His Highness the Crown Prince that you've lost your mind?

Changsun Wuji's lips twitched, and he was about to step forward to offer his advice, but was glared back by Li Shimin's cold gaze.

Fang Xuanling lowered his head, seemingly trying to focus on his own thoughts, but inwardly he was frantically calculating: Was His Majesty's action a punishment born of great anger, or was there a deeper meaning behind it?

As the protagonist of the incident, Li Chengqian was struck by a bolt from the blue.

His face was deathly pale, his mouth was agape in an "O" shape, and his expression was one of disbelief and utter grief.

"No...no, Father!"

Li Chengqian suddenly grabbed Li Shimin's leg and began his Oscar-worthy performance, "Your Majesty, I was wrong! I will never dare to do it again! I beg you to retract your decree! I really just want to be a useless person!"

However, his inner monologue was:

"Hahaha! Regent? Isn't that like handing over the company seal to me? Awesome! From now on, anyone who dares to make me get up early, I'll just stamp their seal and send them to guard the frontier!"

Li Shimin looked at the "rebellious son pendant" hanging on his leg and sneered inwardly.

You think you can mess with me? You're still too green!

He ripped Li Chengqian off his lap and handed him to Wang De beside him: "Take the Crown Prince away and let him reflect on his actions!"

"promise."

A coronation ceremony that should have been solemn and dignified ended hastily amidst chaos and disorder.

……

After the court session, in the Ganlu Hall.

Only Li Shimin and his son Li Chengqian remained in the hall.

Li Shimin changed out of his imperial robes and into ordinary clothes. He sat in the main seat, drinking tea with a gloomy expression, without saying a word. His powerful aura made the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall afraid to even breathe.

Li Chengqian, on the other hand, was like a primary school student who had made a mistake, being punished to stand in the center of the main hall with his head drooping, looking like he was saying, "I was wrong, but I will do it again next time."

"Chengqian".

After a long silence, Li Shimin finally spoke, his voice filled with deep weariness, "Tell your father, what are you really thinking?"

"Do you know how many of your uncles and brothers dream of this position of Crown Prince? Do you know how much effort your father put in to ensure you could sit securely on this throne?"

"Your father knows that the Xuanwu Gate Incident has frightened you. But you must understand that being born into an imperial family is your destiny! You must shoulder the responsibility of this Tang Dynasty and ensure that the millions of people live a good life! This is your responsibility as the eldest son and the crown prince!"

Li Shimin tried to influence his "deviant thinking" son with the greater good of the nation and its people.

However, Li Chengqian simply raised his head, blinked his innocent-looking big eyes, and posed a soul-searching question:

"Father, what do you mean by all this?"

"puff--"

Li Shimin spat out his tea.

"What did you say?!"

"What I'm saying is, as emperor, you governed diligently and earn the praise of the people, your name is etched in history. But what about me? I toiled myself to the bone, and in the end, all that's recorded in history is 'Crown Prince Chengqian, who successfully succeeded to the throne.' You reaped all the benefits, why should you?"

Li Chengqian began to spout his fallacies and heresies.

"Besides, hard work doesn't guarantee success, but lying down is certainly comfortable. Father, you can't force your son to join the competition just because you enjoy it yourself. That's immoral."

"Involution?" Li Shimin heard a new term, but he could roughly guess its meaning.

He pointed at Li Chengqian, his hand trembling with anger: "You...where did you learn such absurd talk! I think you've been spoiled rotten by the people in the palace! You don't know your place!"

"Father, please don't get agitated."

Li Chengqian sighed like a little adult, "Is it wrong for me to just want to live a little easier?"

Looking at his son's "I'm rotten, what can you do about it?" attitude, Li Shimin felt dizzy.

He finally understood.

Reasoning with this rebellious son is pointless.

This kid's brain circuits are different from normal people's!

"Okay, very good."

Li Shimin took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, "It seems that I alone cannot teach you."

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

"I have decided that, starting tomorrow, I hereby appoint Wei Zheng, the Grand Counselor, as the Crown Prince's Tutor, specifically responsible for instructing you in your studies and conduct!"

"I refuse to believe that this entire court of officials can't handle an eight-year-old child like you!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian was overjoyed.

Wei Zheng? That troll? Great, perfect for using him to farm system rewards.

But his face showed extreme terror: "Father! No! Uncle Wei will scold me to death!"

"Hmph, now you're scared? Too late!"

Li Shimin waved his hand impatiently, "Get back to your Eastern Palace! If you dare to be even a moment late tomorrow, I'll break your legs!"

"oh."

Li Chengqian pouted, gave a pitiful reply, then slowly turned around and walked slowly out of the hall, his back view looking as desolate as could be.

However, the moment he stepped out of the Ganlu Palace...

All the dejection and grievance on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a languidness and composure that seemed completely out of place for his age.

Li Chengqian stretched out a big yawn, his joints cracking and popping, making him squint his eyes in comfort.

"Regent? And you're giving me a troll as my teacher?"

"Hehe, Li Erfeng, you think this is punishing me, but you don't know that you've handed me the keys to the entire amusement park."

He stood on the steps in front of the hall, bathed in the afternoon sun, a playful smile curving his lips.

He spoke softly to the empty shadows, his voice low but carrying an undeniable authority.

Where is Xu Xiao?

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure silently emerged from the shadows in the corner of the hall.

He was an old man dressed in ordinary blue cloth clothes, with gray hair and a hunched back. What was most striking was his limping right leg.

Yet this seemingly frail, lame old man exuded a terrifying, overwhelming killing intent, and his cloudy old eyes seemed to hold mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

He walked three steps behind Li Chengqian, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a hoarse but steady voice.

"Your Highness, this old servant is here."

Li Chengqian didn't even turn his head, but lazily ordered, "Go, clean up the East Palace for me. I don't like anything left behind by others, replace it all with new ones."

Xu Xiao raised his head slightly, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes: "What about the people in the Eastern Palace?"

Li Chengqian yawned, speaking casually as if they were discussing what to have for dinner.

"Get rid of those that are disobedient and an eyesore."

"Yes, sir." Xu Xiao bowed again.

Li Chengcheng looked at the distant sky, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "Oh, and get me a comfortable rocking chair, the biggest one yet."

Xu Xiao respectfully replied, "Your Highness, the rocking chair has been prepared. It is made of the finest Phoebe zhennan wood, and you may use it at any time."

"Hmm, not bad." Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction. "Then what are we waiting for?"

"Prepare the carriage and return to the palace. I need to take a nap."