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

The roar of the private jet gradually faded into the distance, eventually disappearing behind the clouds. Li Chengqian walked barefoot on the soft, cotton-like sand of Hawaii Island, the scalding sand enveloping his toes, bringing a long-lost, real touch of the earth. This private territory, which he named "Salted Fish Island," was now immersed in the gentlest embrace of the Pacific Ocean.

In the distance, the azure sea and the clear sky blend perfectly at the horizon. Coconut palms sway gently in the breeze, their dappled shadows dancing a lazy waltz on the golden sand. Gone are the ever-burning neon lights of Chang'an, gone are the jarring roars of machinery; the tranquility here is as pure as an unreal dream.

Li Chengqian casually ripped off his slightly heavy high-tech trench coat, leaving him only in a pair of gaudy shorts. He swaggered toward the beach chair that had been set up, embedding himself into it like a lump of mud.

Wu Zetian was busy under a parasol not far away. She had changed into a light silk dress and was deftly taking a large coconut from an ice bucket. With a soft "snap," the coconut shell was cut open with a delicate knife. An eco-friendly straw was inserted, and the fragrant, slightly chilled coconut juice instantly flowed out.

"Your Highness, these coconuts were just picked fresh from the tree by the guards, and they're perfectly ripe. Why don't you try them? Aren't they much more potent than those canned, synthetic drinks?"

Wu Zetian walked gracefully over, her slender fingers gently holding a coconut, her eyes filled with a gentle smile.

Li Chengqian took the coconut and took a big gulp. The cool, sweet liquid slid down his throat, instantly washing away the last trace of restlessness in his chest. He exhaled a long breath, squinted, and stared at the rapidly spreading fiery clouds on the horizon.

That was a breathtaking sunset over the Pacific Ocean. A vibrant orange-red burst forth from the horizon, turning the deep blue sea into a dazzling rose gold. The clouds, outlined in gold by the setting sun, resembled layers of burning brocade piled high on the sky.

In that one second, time seemed to stand still.

Li Chengqian could even clearly hear the distant sound of waves crashing against the rocks. He could feel every microgram of heat carried away by the sea breeze as it brushed against his skin. His pupils contracted slightly in the rosy light, and the weariness deep in his eyes, born of long-term calculation, was being gradually washed away by the magnificence of nature.

Once upon a time, he racked his brains over how to angrily confront his father. He meticulously calculated every ounce of rations for the Great Snow Dragon Riders. The system's cold, impersonal notifications had jolted him awake countless times in the dead of night. The heavy burden of history, like an invisible mountain, weighed him down, making it hard to breathe.

But now, all of that has vanished with the wind.

The banner of the Tang Dynasty has been planted on the moon. Li Shimin has become the world's top emperor. His brothers are local tyrants on every continent. And he, finally, has shed all pretense, discarded all burdens, and completely realized the most absurd yet extravagant ultimate dream he had at the beginning of his transmigration.

Be a quiet, salted fish.

This elevation of his state of mind was far more intense than any thrill brought by cutting-edge technology. He was no longer the manipulator of the times, no longer the guide in mythology. At this moment, he was simply an ordinary tourist lying on the beach, waiting for night to fall.

"Meiniang, don't you think that after all these decades of struggle, what we've really wanted is just this coconut juice?"

Li Chengqian tilted his head, looking at the woman beside him who was watching the sea with him.

Wu Meiniang reached out and tidied her wind-blown hair, a gentle smile curving her lips. "If Your Highness says so, then so be it. As long as I can watch the sunset by Your Highness's side, it doesn't really matter where we are. However, this place is indeed very quiet; I can't even hear the ticking of the telegraph machine."

"That's life."

Li Chengqian muttered something lazily, his double eyelids starting to droop.

The sound of the waves became the perfect lullaby. The colors of the fiery clouds gradually deepened, and the cries of the seabirds faded into the distance. Just as Li Chengqian was drifting into a wondrous state of half-dreaming and half-awake, his mind was about to conjure up a grand fantasy about retirement.

"Crunch... crunch..."

An untimely sound of sand scraping against the beach abruptly shattered the absolute tranquility.

Li Chengqian's brow furrowed slightly. Although he was on vacation, his ingrained vigilance hadn't completely disappeared. He didn't open his eyes, but his right index finger unconsciously tapped the armrest of the beach chair.

The footsteps approached from afar. One of them was heavy and rhythmic; it was Xu Xiao. Although the old man was advanced in years, his aura of a fierce and ruthless general could be detected from ten miles away.

The other footsteps sounded light and chaotic, accompanied by a faint metallic clanging sound.

Li Chengqian sighed and slowly opened his eyes a crack.

What came into view was Xu Xiao's old face, etched with helplessness. Behind Old Xu followed a young man whose attire seemed out of place. The young man wore a tailored suit, the kind most fashionable among the elite of the Tang Dynasty, but instead of carrying a briefcase, he was carrying a state-of-the-art ultra-high-definition camera.

On the young man's chest hung a gleaming name tag. It read, in Mandarin Chinese: Chief Reporter, Datang Global Radio Station.

In the reporter's other hand, he gripped a long, silver microphone tightly. The microphone gleamed blindingly in the fading light of the setting sun.

Li Chengqian sat up straight, his previously languid expression freezing on his face. He stared at the dark camera lens, a sense of foreboding instantly washing over him.

Xu Xiao coughed awkwardly, his face turning as red as the sunset next to him.

"Your Highness, this old minister... this old minister really couldn't stop him. This boy has His Majesty's bestowed gold medal in his hand. His Majesty said that the Tang Dynasty's landing on the moon is a momentous event for all time, and His Highness the Crown Prince, as the heir apparent, must record a congratulatory message for the people of the world from the island. This reporter has been waiting at the gate of the Eastern Palace for three days and three nights, and just now he managed to hitch a ride on our supply ship to get here."

The reporter's breathing became heavy.

He had always thought he would never have the chance to see the legendary Crown Prince in person. In his mind, the Crown Prince was a deity dressed in elaborate court robes, so imposing that no one dared to look him in the eye.

But now, what does he see?

A young man wearing baggy shorts, holding a coconut, and even with a few grains of sand stuck to his chest?

This stark visual contrast caused the reporter's worldview to undergo a moment of destruction and reconstruction. His facial muscles trembled violently, and tears welled up in his eyes from the intense emotion. He felt his heart was about to leap out of his throat—a feeling of fervent excitement at witnessing, even participating in, history.

A "click" sound.

The reporter's fingers twitched slightly with excitement, but he still precisely pressed the power button on the camera. The indicator light flashed, signaling a simultaneous global live broadcast.

The reporter's face flushed crimson with blood. He seemed oblivious to Xu Xiao's threatening gaze, or Li Chengqian's almost murderous, vacant stare. He took a deep breath, as if exhausting all his strength, and abruptly took a large step forward.

He trampled a deep hole in the sand.

His hand, gripping the microphone, was so tight that his knuckles were white and it was even trembling slightly. But he still steadily placed the microphone to Li Chengqian's lips.

The reporter's voice, sharp and hoarse from excessive excitement, sounded particularly jarring against the backdrop of the ocean waves.

Your Highness, a billion viewers around the world are watching you. Would you be willing to grant us an exclusive interview?