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

Fang Xuanling's lament, "Your Majesty will never be able to get off work in this lifetime," still echoed in his ears, and Li Chengqian felt a chill run down his spine. He made an excuse to go to a side hall to "calm down" and slipped out of the imperial study.

After dismissing all the guards, Li Chengqian leaned against the cold white marble pillar, his breathing somewhat rapid. He took a deep breath and silently chanted in his mind. In an instant, the semi-transparent system panel that he hadn't seen for many days quietly appeared in the void.

"System, get out here! What's wrong with the old man? Did you smuggle counterfeit medicine into him?"

Li Chengqian roared angrily in his mind, his once clear eyes now filled with suspicion. As he questioned, the data stream on the panel flickered rapidly, eventually converging into a line of system prompts that shimmered with a faint glow.

[Note: The host has been detected to have previously used a special item on "Target Number Two (Li Shimin)"—"Longevity Gene Fluid (National Fortune Engine Version)".]

Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment, his gaze fixed on the five words "National Fortune Engine Version". He vaguely remembered that when he drew the lottery, the system did mention some additional attributes, but at that time he was only focused on making the old man live longer so that he could work for him, and he did not look into the details at all.

[Hidden Attribute Revealed: National Fortune Engine Mechanism.]

[Detailed Description: This version of the gene serum will deeply bind the recipient's biological functions to the "national fortune value" of their country. For every inch the Tang Dynasty expands its territory, every step forward in technology, and every percentage point increase in GDP, the recipient's cellular activity and adrenaline secretion will increase exponentially.]

[Side effect warning: When the nation's fortunes increase beyond a critical point, the user will experience an uncontrollable "compulsive urge to govern" and "desire for involution." Translation: As long as the Tang Dynasty continues to progress, he will not stop; as long as there are still memorials to review, he will not feel tired.]

Looking at the lines of cold explanations on the panel, Li Chengqian's expression gradually changed from fear to blankness, and finally evolved into a twisted expression of wanting to laugh but not daring to laugh out loud.

"So, the old man isn't being diligent in his duties now; he's 'recharging' himself?"

Li Chengqian rubbed his forehead and couldn't help but laugh out loud. This was simply the biggest joke God had ever played. In order to be lazy, he had used all sorts of shortcuts around the world, sending his fourth son to North America to mine and his ninth son to London to promote culture. In the end, all these achievements were attributed to Li Shimin.

The Tang Dynasty is now incredibly powerful, its territory spanning oceans and its telegraph lines covering the globe. It's as if Li Shimin has a perpetual motion machine inside him, and the fuel for this machine is the prosperous and flourishing era that Li Chengqian personally fed him.

The more prosperous the Tang Dynasty was, the more vigorous and energetic Li Shimin became; the more vigorous and energetic Li Shimin became, the more he wanted to elevate the Tang Dynasty to new heights. This was a vicious cycle, a "perfect trap" that all diligent emperors dreamed of, yet delighted all lazy second-generation rulers.

"Is this what they call karma?"

Li Chengqian stroked his chin, his previously tense nerves finally relaxing. He had thought that the old man's rejuvenation would lead him to seize power in the Eastern Palace or force him to ascend the throne immediately. But now it seemed that Li Shimin had become completely addicted to the thrill of "controlling the world."

This pleasure is not psychological, but physiological. Now, as long as Li Shimin finishes reviewing a stack of memorials, the positive feedback his body receives is probably stronger than eating a big meal or getting a good night's sleep.

"Well done, System."

Li Chengqian gave a thumbs-up to the void, and the absurd feeling of "walking into the wrong movie set" just now vanished, replaced by an unprecedented sense of security.

With such a tireless, even workaholic, super emperor standing in front of him, what else does the crown prince need to strive for? He only needs to provide innovative directions, and all the hard work, tiring work, and overtime work will be taken care of by that "spirited twenty-year-old lad" Li Shimin.

"Your Highness? Are you inside?"

Wu Meiniang's soft, tentative voice came from outside the side hall, followed by her graceful figure entering. She looked at Li Chengqian's strange appearance, sometimes frowning and sometimes laughing wildly, and a hint of concern appeared in her eyes.

"Your Highness, His Majesty's condition is indeed quite alarming. If you are truly worried, why not consult with Grand Preceptor Yuan again?"

Li Chengqian snapped out of his daze, grabbed Wu Meiniang's soft little hand, and a mischievous smile almost spilled out of his face.

"Worried? Why should I worry? Meiniang, you must understand, the fate of this Tang Dynasty needs an energetic leader like your father."

Wu Meiniang was stunned. As intelligent as she was, she couldn't keep up with Li Chengqian's train of thought for a moment.

"But His Majesty's appearance just now terrified even Chancellor Fang..."

"Old Fang is old, his thinking can't keep up."

Li Chengqian pulled Wu Meiniang to sit down, his tone leisurely and self-satisfied.

"Father has 'awakened.' He used to think being emperor was tiring, but that was because he was using the wrong methods. Now he has found the true meaning of life. As his children and grandchildren, we not only cannot stop him, but we must also fully support him and 'develop' him more deeply."

Looking into Li Chengqian's bright eyes, Wu Meiniang, though still harboring doubts, felt much more at ease.

"So, Your Highness means we're going to live a life of blandness from now on..."

"It's safe! It's completely safe!"

Li Chengqian slapped his thigh, stood up, and walked around the hall twice before his gaze fell on the icon on the panel that was not yet lit up and was glowing with a faint blue light.

That is a brand new branch of the technology tree called the "Electrical Age".

Originally, Li Chengqian planned to gradually promote electricity after he ascended the throne, as managing and popularizing it was too mentally taxing. But now things are different; isn't the old man full of energy? Doesn't he enjoy the intense competition?

Since you enjoy generating electricity by running on a treadmill, I'll get you a real generator set. Since you enjoy reviewing memorials all night, I'll install electric lights that stay on all night in the Taiji Palace, so you won't even need to change your candles.

"Meiniang, go and fetch Moju for me."

Li Chengqian stood by the window, looking at the distant city of Chang'an with its rows of chimneys, the smile on his lips growing ever deeper.

"Tell him that I have a few ideas about 'the power of lightning' and I want him to develop a prototype by the end of the year. Remember, it doesn't need to be too complicated; just make His Majesty think that this thing has great potential."

Wu Meiniang smiled, for she had already foreseen the future style of the Taiji Palace.

"Your Highness, are you planning to keep His Majesty so busy that he won't even have time to eat?"

"That's called realizing your life's value."

Li Chengqian turned around and lightly tapped the virtual panel with his finger.

A faint electrical sound flashed through his mind, and the first fundamental theory of the "Electrical Age"—"The Preliminary Application of Alternating Current and Direct Current"—was instantly unlocked, transforming into countless complex symbols and merging into his memory.

He looked at the rows of technologies representing more advanced civilizations: telegraph communication networks, transoceanic telephones, radio waves... Each one, if thrown out, would be enough to excite Li Shimin all night long.

"Since Father Emperor loves working so much, then I must give you a more intense workout."

Li Chengqian murmured to himself, his eyes filled with the pleasure of a successful prank.

"Old man, didn't you want to see the flags of the Tang Dynasty planted across the stars and the sea? Then you'll have to work hard on this initial infrastructure project."

At this moment, Li Shimin's powerful roar came again from the direction of the Imperial Study.

"Wang De! Go and bring me two more boxes of candles... no, get me some strong tea to perk me up! I haven't even finished reviewing this memorial, yet I feel so full of energy!"

Hearing this vibrant voice, Li Chengqian leisurely lay back down on the soft couch.

"Xu Xiao, go and make me a bowl of chilled plum juice. I need to plan how to lay the first high-voltage power line in the Tang Dynasty."

He watched the constantly fluctuating national fortune value on the panel; each point of increase represented the strengthening of the old man's vitality.

The thrill of having your dad be your "top-tier employee" is even more exciting than time travel itself.

"In this electrical age, it's time for Chang'an to be illuminated as well."

Li Chengqian yawned, his gaze deep.

"The day the electric lights come on, I will be able to watch the midnight theater in the Eastern Palace. As for working overtime, let Father Emperor handle that."

Outside the window, the setting sun was like blood.

Meanwhile, another revolution in the Tang Dynasty was quietly unfolding, accompanied by the Crown Prince's wicked smile.