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

Inside the Taiji Palace, the fragrance of camphor wafting from the purple-gold incense burner had faded somewhat.

Li Shimin stood with his hands behind his back in front of the world map, which was so bright that there was no room left to plant a flag. His face did not show much ambition for conquering new territories.

Instead, he stared at the red silk lines representing the railway lines, his eyes revealing a sense of disillusionment with the world.

The world is now so stable that it frightens him.

The bandits of the Western Regions have long since become international tour guides, while the natives of South America are busy learning how to grow high-yield corn.

The people of Chang'an now discuss every day which company's stock has risen, or whether the new radio from the Eastern Palace can receive frequencies from the British Isles.

"Loneliness, it's so lonely."

Li Shimin turned around, looked at Li Chengqian who was sprawled on the chair eating grapes in a daze, and let out a deep sigh.

"Chengqian, come here and look at the white hair on my head."

Li Chengqian didn't even lift his eyelids, casually replying, "Old man, that's just youthful melancholy you're having because you want a grandson. Just get rid of it, won't you?"

"Bullshit! I'm just mentally exhausted!"

Li Shimin slammed his hand on the imperial desk, causing the golden goblet on it to bounce wildly.

He walked a few steps to Li Chengqian, his expression more solemn and resolute than ever before.

"I visited the Changsun family yesterday. Chong'er's eldest son, who is also my grandson, is about to get married."

"I've done the math, and in another year or two, I'll be a great-grandson!"

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow: "That's a good thing. Your family has four generations living together. It's like your ancestors' graves are emitting auspicious smoke."

"Smoke, my foot!"

Li Shimin plopped down next to Li Chengqian, his tone becoming earnest and earnest.

"In my life, I have fought all the wars I needed to fight and seen all the sights I needed to see. Even that Pope who claimed to be acting on behalf of Heaven is now struggling to memorize the 'Standards for Being a Good Student and Child' at the Court of State Ceremonies."

"I've run out of material for bragging. If I keep wasting my time on the dragon throne like this, I feel like I'll go moldy."

He stared into Li Chengqian's eyes and said, word by word, "I've made up my mind. The temporary palace in Luoyang is already finished. It not only has that underfloor heating you arranged, but also a special heated swimming pool."

"I plan to issue an edict tomorrow to pass the throne to you. I'm going to Luoyang to wait with all my heart for my great-grandson."

Li Chengqian's heart skipped a beat, and he almost dropped the grapes in his hand.

The old man had mentioned retirement before, but it was mostly a test or an attempt to trick the Crown Prince into giving him some novelties.

But today's look was different; it was the look of someone who really wanted to quit and leave.

"Old man, calm down. Isn't the throne appealing? Respected by all nations, your words are law!"

"Smells good, my foot!"

Li Shimin stiffened his neck, and his spittle almost sprayed onto Li Chengqian's face.

"You're the Crown Prince, you know better than anyone. This imperial edict was issued, and before it even left Chang'an, you'd already finished it via telegram. I'm just a walking stamp box now!"

"I don't want to be a stone lion here anymore! I want to retire! I want to take care of my children!"

Li Shimin stood up and began frantically unbuttoning his dragon robe in the room.

"Chengqian, this is not a discussion with you, this is an ultimatum."

"Even if you argue until the heavens break, I must hand over the throne to you! I will take off my imperial robes tomorrow and depart the day after!"

"Anyone who tries to stop me, I'll fight them!"

Li Chengqian felt a headache coming on when he saw his father's stubborn and unyielding demeanor, as if he was determined to be a hands-off manager.

He knew Li Shimin too well.

Once this old man gets stubborn, even if you call Wei Zheng over and berate him for three days and three nights, you still can't pull him back.

If he really goes to Luoyang, my life as a salted fish will be over.

If you sit in this imperial study every day reading telegrams and dealing with trivial matters from all over the world, what's the difference between that and being in prison?

"Old man, are you really sure? Luoyang isn't as lively as Chang'an."

"What I want is no excitement! I want to fish in Luoyang, I want to bask in the sun in Luoyang!"

Li Shimin had already taken off half of his outer dragon robe, revealing a bright yellow shirt underneath, and his face was filled with the word "liberation".

Li Chengqian sighed deeply and slowly stood up.

"It seems that conventional methods won't be able to keep you."

For once, a strange and profound smile appeared on his usually cynical face.

Li Shimin paused, stopped what he was doing, and looked at his son with some suspicion.

"What trick are you trying to pull now, you brat? Let me tell you, even if you give me two elixirs of immortality, I'm not doing it!"

Li Chengqian didn't speak, but stared intently at Li Shimin, his left hand slowly reaching into his wide sleeve, as if to take out something extremely important.

"Old man, you've always wanted to see miracles, to see the boundaries of this world."

"I originally wanted to wait a little longer, but since you're so eager to hold your great-grandson, I'll have to show you something more exciting."

His hand groped inside his robes, and the air in the imperial study seemed to freeze for a moment.

Li Shimin subconsciously took a step back, his breathing becoming rapid.

"What...what exactly do you want to do?"

A smile curved at the corner of Li Chengqian's lips, the kind of smile capitalists use when tempting the ignorant masses.

"Old man, do you think this Earth... is big enough?"

"What do you mean?"

"I want to take you to see if there really is a Moon Palace on those stars."

Li Shimin was struck dumb, frozen in place as if by lightning.

Li Chengqian had already pulled his hand halfway out of his pocket, revealing a black instrument with a cold metallic sheen.

"You think holding your great-grandchild is the end of life?"

"No, that's just the starting point of your journey to the stars."

Li Shimin stared intently at Li Chengqian's hand, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Chengqian, tell me the truth, what exactly is in your arms?"

Li Chengqian chuckled and suddenly pulled the thing out.

"Old man, thinking of retiring? Take a look at this first."