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

In the dead of night, the Taiji Palace is so quiet that only the murmurs of autumn insects can be heard.

However, the lights in the Imperial Study were as bright as day. They were the Mohist school's latest "second-generation incandescent lamps," which not only provided soft light but also produced none of the pungent smoke from burning oil.

Under this bright light and shadow, the supreme ruler of the Tang Dynasty, the Heavenly Khan Li Shimin, was working at his desk in an almost frenzied manner.

"Snapped!"

He finished reviewing a folded book from Japan Province of the Tang Dynasty and threw it aside into the "read section" that was already piled up like a small mountain.

"That ninth brother (Li Zhi)!"

Li Shimin picked up a vermilion pen and drew a circle on a military intelligence report from the European Grand Governor's Office. Although his face was full of anger, he could not hide the pride in his eyes.

"I ordered him to lead 10,000 elite soldiers to spread the nation's power, but instead, he kidnapped the King of the Frankish Kingdom and made him his groom!"

"And he even told me that the Pope over there is disobedient, and that he's planning to build a thermal power plant in the Roman Forum to let those uncultured barbarians experience the 'wrath of God'?"

While cursing and swearing, Li Shimin skillfully added a note at the end of the memorial: "Act with the style of the Great Tang Dynasty. Also, if there is stubborn resistance, do not be stingy with the cannons. I will speak to Dai Zhou myself. Broken ground is still ground, it doesn't matter."

After approving the memorial, Li Shimin stretched his neck.

In the past, after working at a high intensity for four consecutive hours, this emperor, who was nearly fifty years old, would have felt dizzy, lightheaded, and had back pain.

But now.

He felt as if the blood in his body was boiling water, his boundless energy surging wildly through his limbs and bones. Even if he were to go to the training ground right now and take on a bear one-on-one, he felt he could knock it down with a single punch.

"The Imperial Advisor's medicine is truly potent."

Li Shimin touched his sideburns, which had completely regained their black luster, and felt the power beneath his skin that seemed about to explode. He couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh.

No need to sleep, never tired.

For an emperor of all ages with an extreme desire for control and a "workaholic" nature, this was simply the ultimate dream!

"Someone! Go to the cabinet and bring me another two hundred catties of folding cloth!"

Li Shimin roared loudly towards the door.

"Today, I'm determined to clear up all the official business that's piled up over the past month due to the global lockdown!"

The old woman on night duty outside heard the roar and her legs went weak with fright. She shakily leaned half her body inside, her face full of bitterness and despair.

"Your Majesty...it's already past midnight."

"The prime ministers in the cabinet couldn't stay up all night and have already... have already fallen asleep at their desks."

Before leaving, Chancellor Fang specifically instructed this old servant that Your Majesty had just taken strong medicine and needed to rest, and should not overexert yourself.

Li Shimin's eyes widened.

"Rest and recuperate my ass! I feel like I could run ten Akhal-Teke horses to death right now!"

"These old fogies, they always talk about serving the country with utmost loyalty, but they fail miserably when it comes to crucial moments. They can't even match my energy, what kind of prime ministers are they?"

"Go! Splash them with cold water to wake them up! Tell them that the Tang Dynasty's territory now spans three continents, and anyone who dares to sleep at this hour will be forced to retire early!"

The old eunuch trembled with fear and scrambled off to carry out this inhumane "awakening plan."

Li Shimin sat back down at his desk, preparing to pick up the next document and continue his great cause.

Sudden.

"Achoo—!"

"That's strange..."

Li Shimin put down the vermilion pen, a sharp wariness flashing in his eyes.

"Who's talking about me in the middle of the night?"

Several possible names flashed through his mind in an instant, but he quickly rejected them one by one.

Wei Zheng, that stubborn old mule? He's busy compiling the "Global Gazetteer of the Tang Dynasty" right now; he has no time to bother with me.

Changsun Wuji? That old fox has been busy calculating accounts every day lately because of Chang Le's railway dowry, he's so busy he doesn't even have time to rest.

Who else could it be?

Suddenly, a refined, lazy face, always exuding an air of "what do worldly affairs have to do with me?", appeared clearly in Li Shimin's mind.

"hiss--"

Li Shimin gasped, a strange chill inexplicably shooting from his tailbone straight to the back of his head.

"Could it be that rebellious son, Chengqian?"

"This kid...could he have put some kind of slow-acting poison in this medicine?"

Li Shimin's heart tightened, but he immediately shook his head.

impossible.

The medicine was potent and pure; he could clearly feel his body's vitality being amplified infinitely. It was definitely not some kind of potent or poisonous medicine.

What's in it for him?

Li Shimin was completely baffled. He simply couldn't reconcile the image of a prince who possessed countless advanced technologies and could even conjure lightning and trains with his bare hands with that of a dutiful son who was simply delivering medicine out of filial piety.

Just as the Tang emperor was feeling suspicious and paranoid in his study, always feeling that someone was plotting against him.

A luxurious pleasure boat, crafted from the finest rosewood, gently sways on the ripples.

On the deck of the pleasure boat, there was a modern barbecue grill made of stainless steel.

The charcoal fire glowed red-hot, and several skewers of succulent lamb sizzled under the intense heat, the dripping fat releasing an enticing aroma.

"Your Highness, these lamb skewers are sprinkled with cumin brought back from the Western Regions; the flavor is truly unique."

Wu Zetian was wearing a light silk summer dress.

She held a specially made iron fan in her hand, obediently fanning herself beside the barbecue grill. Her little face, slightly red from the charcoal fire, was filled with pure joy.

Li Chengqian lay comfortably on a recliner covered with a white tiger skin.

He held a bottle of chilled beer (the brewing recipe recently rewarded by the system) in a glass bottle and took a large, contented gulp.

"belch--"

Li Chengqian let out a satisfied burp.

He closed his eyes, feeling the cool breeze blowing across the lake, and listening to the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments coming from the painted boats of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) not far away.

"This is life."

Li Chengqian muttered to himself.

He felt even better than when he first spent an all-night gaming session in an internet cafe.

"I bet Dad's in the Imperial Study right now, battling with those endless memorials he has to review, isn't he?"

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth turn up wildly.

A lifespan of five hundred years.

The peak state of five hundred years.

This means that, barring any unforeseen circumstances...

He, Li Chengqian, lived in the prosperous Tang Dynasty that he had built with his own hands.

He could be the Salted Fish Prince for a full five hundred years!

There was no pressure to get married.

There was no succession struggle.

There was no such despairing, grueling life as an emperor, working from dawn till dusk every day!

"Your Highness, what are you laughing at? Why are you laughing so happily?"

Wu Meiniang handed the grilled mutton skewers to Li Chengqian, looking at his cunning smile with some curiosity.

"It's nothing."

Li Chengqian took the lamb skewer, took a big bite, and mumbled something indistinctly.

"I just suddenly realized that the Tang Dynasty's national fortune is truly prosperous."

"With a diligent and tireless emperor like my father above me, I feel at ease."

He raised the beer bottle in his hand and, pointing it towards the Taiji Palace in the distance, made a playful toasting gesture.

"Respect to Father Emperor."

"A salute to these beautiful five hundred years belonging to salted fish!"

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study of Taiji Palace.

Having just sneezed, Li Shimin naturally couldn't hear his son's "filial piety" remarks.

He banished the strange thoughts from his mind.

His gaze fell sharply on the huge world map that occupied an entire wall in front of the imperial desk.

This map was drawn in detail by Li Chengqian based on the data provided by the system.

Above.

The territory of the Tang Dynasty had been boldly painted in a striking deep red.

East Asia, Europe, North America, and even that isolated piece of Australia.

Bright Tang Dynasty dragon flags were planted everywhere.

But Li Shimin's gaze did not linger on these conspicuous red areas.

His gaze, like that of a greedy lion, was fixed on the map, on those scattered corners that had not yet been covered by the red of the Tang Dynasty.

For example, the white continent in the far south, covered by thick ice and snow (Antarctica).

For example, that vast, mysterious sea area known as the southernmost point of Africa.

"The world... is actually this big."

Li Shimin muttered to himself.

He suddenly stood up from the dragon throne.

The slight fatigue that had been there from reviewing memorials was instantly and completely ignited by that terrifying, conqueror-like fervor!

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging, seemingly inexhaustible, magical power within his body.

"My current physical condition is such that I can't even cross an ocean."

"Even if I go to the ends of the earth, I can still scrape a layer of land off the land there!"

Li Shimin strode up to the huge map.

He stretched out his hand with an air of dominance and tapped heavily several times on the areas that had not yet been conquered.

"Issue my decree!"

Li Shimin's voice boomed like a raging thunderclap in the quiet imperial study.

"Order Zheng He, Li Ke, and others to quickly explore the hydrology and shipping routes of those unknown sea areas!"

"Order the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works to immediately begin large-scale research and development of super icebreakers capable of withstanding extreme cold storms!"

He turned his head and looked at the deep night sky outside the door.

In those dragon eyes, which had witnessed countless brutal wars, erupted the most terrifying and purest hegemonic will since the founding of the Tang Dynasty.

"Next spring."

"I will personally sail the seas and inspect all the vassal states around the world!"

"I want every inconspicuous corner of this globe to know this clearly!"

"This world."

"There is only one absolute master!"

"That is the Great Tang! That is me!"