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

Li Shimin had already deftly unbuttoned half of his dragon robe, but now he seemed to be frozen in place, as if under a spell.

He stared at the black tube in Li Chengqian's hand, which was flashing with an eerie purple light. His face, which had been flushed with anger and excitement, instantly turned into one filled with astonishment and doubt.

He slowly lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly, and let out a deep sigh with a slight tremor.

"Father, after hearing what you just said, my heart is... being torn apart by a knife."

Li Chengqian raised his head, and the "grief" in his eyes left even the seasoned Li Shimin somewhat at a loss.

"Your subject knows that you have worried yourself sick over the years for the sake of the Tang Dynasty. The burden of the world is so heavy that it has bent your back and turned your hair white."

"It is only natural that you want to hold your great-grandchildren. It is your unfilial son who is always thinking of shirking his duties, but forgetting that Father Emperor is also made of flesh and blood, and will get tired and grow old."

Li Shimin felt a lump in his throat upon hearing this, and swallowed back the curse that was already on the tip of his tongue.

He looked at Li Chengqian suspiciously: "Chengqian, you... have you taken the wrong medicine today? Or are you plotting some wicked scheme again?"

Li Chengqian didn't speak, but simply held out his hands and slowly presented the transparent test tube to Li Shimin.

The tube contained a dreamlike purple liquid.

A unique fragrance, never before seen in the Tang Dynasty, instantly pierced through the rich ambergris and reached the depths of one's soul.

The aroma was refreshing and not cloying. After taking a whiff, Li Shimin felt his head, which had been aching from staying up late for a long time, miraculously become much clearer.

"What...what is this?"

Li Shimin subconsciously swallowed, and quietly pulled the dragon robe he had already taken off halfway back onto his shoulder.

Li Chengqian's expression was solemn, and he lowered his voice, speaking in a serious tone as if he were reading out ancestral tablets.

"Father, this matter concerns a secret of Heaven and should not be revealed today. But since you insist on retiring, I have no choice but to tell you the truth."

He crept closer and, in a voice only the father and son could hear, began to fabricate a story.

"A while ago, the Imperial Advisor Yuan Tiangang calculated that the Imperial Star was dimming. Knowing that this was due to excessive mental and physical exhaustion, he went deep into the Qinling Mountains and found the legendary 'lightning-struck wood' and 'ten-thousand-year-old earth core milk'."

"He exhausted his life's work over three whole years, using the tempering power of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, to refine this 'Nine-Turn Longevity Golden Pill.' Uh, although it's in liquid form, that's to allow the medicinal effects to penetrate the five internal organs instantly."

Li Shimin was stunned: "Yuan Tiangang? Didn't that old Taoist priest have tea with me just the day before yesterday? His face was as red as a monkey's bottom, I didn't see that he had exhausted his energy?"

"That's a temporary resurgence of energy before death! To avoid worrying the Emperor, Grand Preceptor Yuan deliberately used secret methods to maintain this appearance. He said there's only one of its kind in the world, and consuming it can strengthen one's constitution, replenish vital energy, and extend lifespan by twenty years!"

"Twenty years?"

Li Shimin's eyes widened instantly, becoming like two large light bulbs, and his breathing became heavy.

For a retired elderly person who is already feeling physically weak and is constantly clamoring to hold their great-grandchildren, this number is as devastating as a nuclear bomb.

"Chengqian, you're not lying to me? This shimmering purple thing really can prolong life?"

Li Shimin's hands trembled slightly. He wanted to touch it, but he was afraid that the "elixir" would dissipate like smoke.

Li Chengqian sighed deeply, his face showing a pained expression that said, "It hurts me so much that you don't believe me."

"Father, although I am fond of causing trouble in my daily life, how could I dare to joke about your health on such an important matter?"

"This is genetic... cough, this is the life essence liquid that Yuan Tiangang specially locked for you. If you drink it, let alone holding your great-grandchildren, by the time your great-grandchildren are married, you might even be able to lead the Great Snow Dragon Riders to North America to hunt bison."

Li Shimin was practically drooling, but as the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he still retained a sliver of vigilance.

"Then...why didn't Yuan Tiangang present it himself?"

Li Chengqian pointed out the window, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"He said he revealed too many secrets and was afraid of being struck by lightning. He's probably hiding in some cave eating dirt by now."

"Father, do you want to retire or not? If you insist on retiring, then I will take this elixir back to feed my iron-eating beast, so that it can live a few more years and keep me company."

"No! You unfilial son! Give it back!"

Li Shimin suddenly roared and moved with lightning speed, snatching the purple medicine tube into his hand.

He held it under his nose and took a deep breath, feeling as if all 36,000 pores on his body had opened up, and he felt as if he had lost 10 pounds.

The refreshing fragrance made his previously somewhat cloudy eyes clear up considerably.

"This taste... is indeed extraordinary, definitely not something from this world."

Li Shimin held the medicine tube carefully, as if he were holding the fate of the entire Tang Dynasty in his hands.

He turned his head and looked at Li Chengqian, his expression becoming unusually strange.

"Chengqian, since you had such a good thing, why didn't you take it out earlier? Why did you have to wait until I was taking off my clothes to pull it out?"

Li Chengqian shrugged, looking completely innocent.

"Isn't this just finished being refined? It just so happens that you're about to quit. Father, think about it, if you've extended your life by twenty years and then go to Luoyang to retire now, how boring will the remaining decades be?"

"Don't you want to see the flags of the Tang Dynasty planted all over the world? Don't you want to see our steam trains reach the ends of Europe? Don't you want to see what the steel city that Fourth Prince is building over there actually looks like?"

Li Shimin tightened his grip on the medicine tube.

The flame of ambition to "do something great" that had been extinguished was reignited by this tube of purple liquid, and it burned brighter than ever before.

Yes, if I could live another twenty years, if my physical condition could return to its peak.

Then isn't this world entirely Li Shimin's playground?

"I...I'll think about it some more."

Li Shimin concealed the medicine tube against his chest, and the previous air of wanting to pass on the throne and run away vanished without a trace.

"What are you thinking, Father? Drink it while it's hot; the medicine will be most effective then."

Li Chengqian leaned closer, a wicked smile playing on his lips as if he had succeeded in his scheme.

"Drink it, and you will be the unshakeable pillar of the Tang Dynasty for all eternity. Then I will continue to be this leisurely Crown Prince, and you will continue to be your great emperor. We, father and son, will join forces and pluck the stars from the sky. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Li Shimin glanced at him sideways. Although he knew the kid was just trying to trick him into continuing to work for him, the bait was just too tempting.

The aroma was so enticing that he simply couldn't resist.

"Ahem, Chengqian, let's postpone our discussion about the succession."

As Li Shimin spoke, he deftly fastened the half-undone dragon robe buttons back on and even tidied his disheveled belt.

"I believe that my current physical condition allows me to continue to contribute to the Tang Dynasty for a while longer."

Li Chengqian was trying so hard not to laugh that his stomach hurt, but he still had to pretend to be a wise and righteous person.

"Father is wise! If the people of the Tang Dynasty knew how hard you have worked for the country, they would be moved to tears."

Li Shimin blushed slightly, then glared at Li Chengqian.

"Don't just sit idly by! Now that Yuan Tiangang has refined this thing, it means that destiny is on my side. You hurry up and implement the plan to bring in laborers. I want to cover the entire Tang Dynasty with telegraph lines!"

"Alright! As long as you don't retire, anything is negotiable."

Li Chengqian chuckled and took two steps back, preparing to turn and slip away.

"etc!"

Li Shimin suddenly called out to him, his eyes revealing a profound meaning.

"Chengqian, tell me honestly, can this medicine really allow me to hold my great-grandchild while also hunting bison in North America?"

Li Chengqian stood still, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed sincerely.

"Father, believe in science. Oh no, believe in National Preceptor Yuan."

Li Shimin nodded heavily, as if he had made a tremendous decision.

He turned and walked towards the inner hall, clutching the vial of purple liquid tightly in his hand, and shouted without looking back, "Wang De! Wake up my imperial kitchen! I want three bowls of rice today, along with braised deer tendons!"

Watching his father's back as he regained his fighting spirit, Li Chengqian stroked his chin.

"Done. This gene optimization fluid may not grant true immortality, but it will definitely keep him active for a few more years and bring his physical condition back to its peak."

"Old man, old man, since you want to see the stars and the sea, then you'll have to work for me for the rest of your life."

Just then, Xu Xiao emerged from the shadows, limping.

"Your Highness, that medicine...was it really concocted by Imperial Preceptor Yuan?"

Li Chengqian pursed his lips.

"Old Yuan is busy competing with Wei Zheng for the ice cream that just came out of the Eastern Palace; how could he have time to refine medicine?"

"Then this medicine..."

"Technology, do you understand? This is the power of technology."

Li Chengqian stretched and strode out of the imperial study.

"Go, send telegrams to North America and Europe, telling the younger ones that the old man isn't coming. Tell them to keep working themselves to the bone for me!"

Xu Xiao grinned: "Here you go!"

The moonlight over Chang'an was bright, and the lights in the Taiji Palace shone brightly once again.

Meanwhile, far away in the Honglu Temple, the Pope in Rome was crying and wailing over the "Great Tang Grammar Handbook".

"Holy Father, why has the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty suddenly become incredibly strong? Yesterday he even crushed a solid copper ball with his bare hands!"

Looking at the dictionary in his hand, he felt that the world was heading in some indescribable direction from which there was no turning back.

This sudden change was also transmitted to the deep sea through those telegraph lines that connect the world.

"Your Highness, now that His Majesty is not retiring, shouldn't we accelerate our 'journey to the moon' project?"

Li Chengqian listened to Wu Meiniang's question and looked up at the deep night sky.

"No rush, let the old man test the new jet plane on the ground first."

"If His Majesty could fly to the heavens, he would probably be even less willing to abdicate."

"Then let him fly. The higher he flies, the more he will be inseparable from my Eastern Palace for the rest of his life."

Li Chengqian's voice drifted in the wind.

"By the way, after the old man finishes his medicine, shouldn't he go and have a chat with that pope about life?"