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

The azure sea was as calm as a giant piece of jade, occasionally sliced ​​open by the snow-white bow of the "Salted Fish" ship, churning up delicate, sugar-like waves.

The Pacific wind carried a slightly salty smell, but it couldn't penetrate the temperature-controlled glass observation deck.

Empress Zhangsun sat on a soft silk sofa, with an exquisite blue and white porcelain cup on a small mahogany table in front of her, and the aroma of tea filled the air.

Through the huge, almost seamless tempered glass, she watched flocks of seagulls circling around the ship's gunwale.

This visual impact that transcends time left the Empress Dowager of the Tang Dynasty deeply impressed.

"Chengqian, your mother always feels like she's living a beautiful dream she doesn't want to wake up from."

Empress Zhangsun took a sip of the pre-rain Longjing tea from West Lake, her eyes gazing dreamily at the distant horizon where the sea and sky met.

"Before, in the palace, the high walls and stone steps I saw, even the clouds seemed to be square. But look at this sea, it is so vast. The craftsmen of our Great Tang Dynasty were truly amazing, able to build such a fairy palace that does not sway on the water."

Li Chengqian was lying on a beach chair by the pool on the deck, completely lacking any decorum.

He was wearing only a pair of flashy shorts, revealing his clean, white belly, and clutching an expensive carbon fiber fishing rod in his hand.

On a small table to the side, a thin mist rose from the chilled watermelon juice.

"Mother, what's this? Later, when I've uncovered all the secrets of the heavens, I'll take you to the Moon Palace."

Li Chengqian casually tugged at the fishing line, his tone revealing a lightheartedness that could infuriate Li Shimin.

"You can just stay here and retire in peace. As for those vassal kings and rebels outside, if they dare to make a move, I will have the Ninth Prince send ironclad warships to set off fireworks at their doorstep."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a long, drawn-out horn sounded from the sea.

That was a unique honorific name of the Tang Dynasty navy, somber yet extremely penetrating.

On the distant horizon, a large fleet can be vaguely seen arrayed and waiting.

That was a temporary rendezvous point that Li Zhi established in the waters off Europa.

When the princes and princes saw the enormous, snow-white vessel without even sails through their telescopes, they were so frightened that they fell off their dragon thrones.

"Big brother! That's your flagship!"

Li Zhi stood on the deck of his ironclad warship, his voice becoming somewhat shrill with excitement.

He looked at the "Salted Fish," a ship that seemed to defy the laws of physics and was filled with both awe and envy.

Soon, more than a dozen Tang warships began to change formation, lining up on both sides of the "Salted Fish" to form a spectacular maritime escort corridor.

The ships of envoys sent by various vassal kings frantically converged on this side, attempting to board and pay their respects to the Crown Prince and Empress.

Boxes of heavy gold, colorful South Sea pearls, and various local legendary treasures were carefully tied to ropes and pulled upwards.

However, Li Chengqian simply lay back in his chair and waved his hand lazily.

"Tell them that I brought my mother here to relax this time, and that I will not see any guests or go ashore."

"Let them go back to their own homes, cultivate their land well, mine their mines thoroughly, and stop thinking about coming to me all the time."

Xu Xiao accepted the order and shouted at the top of his lungs from the ship's side, "His Highness has ordered! All princes, please remain in your positions. You understand the order, but do not board!"

Upon hearing this, the vassal kings not only did not feel slighted, but instead felt as if they had been granted a pardon.

In the Tang Dynasty, the greatest favor one could receive was for this lord not to disembark and inspect your "financial statements."

Li Chengqian enjoyed this state of mind.

There was no Wei Zheng's spittle flying in the imperial court, no old man's "fatherly education" every now and then.

Only sunshine, sand, absolute power, and a fishing rod that keeps trembling in your hand.

On this ship, he is the only true god, and all logic and rules must be followed according to his whims.

"I won!"

Li Chengqian pulled the rod sharply, and a large, deep-sea fish with a brilliant blue body leaped out of the water, its silver scales shimmering like jewels in the sunlight.

"Xu Xiao! Slice this fish into pieces. Use half for sashimi and the other half to make a delicious soup for Mother!"

He smiled like a good-for-nothing playboy, but everyone knew that this playboy held the lifeline of the Tang Dynasty in his hands.

This perfect haven life is simply paradise for a saltfish whose soul comes from the modern world.

As long as the ship is still adrift, he will never have to face that pile of damned memorials.

Meanwhile, in Chang'an, thousands of miles away...

The Imperial Study of Taiji Palace.

The atmosphere here is the complete opposite of the cheerful atmosphere on the ocean; the air is so heavy it's almost freezing.

The mountain of memorials had stretched from the desk all the way to the floor, forming several twisted paper walls.

Li Shimin was currently engrossed in endless meetings and paperwork, and his once youthful and heroic face was now covered with angry red veins.

His right hand flew across the paper, each stroke so forceful that it nearly tore the specially supplied Xuan paper.

"Wang De! How many servings is this today?"

Li Shimin's voice was like that of a wounded wild beast, hoarse and filled with deep sorrow.

"Your Majesty, this is the 360th report for today. They say from the Western Regions that two more small kingdoms have started fighting over water resources, and they await your judgment."

Wang De huddled nervously in the corner, barely daring to breathe.

Li Shimin suddenly raised his head and crushed the vermilion brush in his hand into powder.

He looked at the empty harem, where there wasn't even anyone to confide in, and then at his body, which could no longer say "I am old."

The loneliness of being abandoned by the whole world and the endless pressure of working overtime finally erupted at this moment.

"Li...Cheng...Qian!"

Li Shimin slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly. The palm strike shattered the mahogany table in front of him, and the memorials flew everywhere.

"You unfilial son! You took away my Empress, my cook, and the best ship in the Tang Dynasty!"

"Did you turn me into this just so I could pull a millstone like a donkey?"

"I will kill you! I will definitely go to the sea and bring you back, you unfilial son!"

The roar echoed for a long time above the Taiji Palace, shattering several expensive glass lamps in the Imperial Garden.

The voice was filled with resentment, despair, and a deep envy of the salted fish's life.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean, Li Chengqian, who was biting into a piece of fresh fish, suddenly sneezed for no apparent reason.

He rubbed his nose and muttered, "Who's talking about me? Probably those vassal kings who're all tearful with gratitude."

Wu Meiniang covered her mouth and chuckled softly beside her, her eyes sparkling as if she had seen through everything long ago.

"Your Highness, where are we going next?"

"I'm going to Hawaii. I'm going to build a palace there. I've already thought of a name for it: 'Palace That Makes My Daddy Angry'."

Xu Xiao ran over and asked, "Your Highness, the telegraph machine went off. It says it's from His Majesty."

"Don't look at it, throw it into the sea to feed the fish."

"promise!"