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

At 3:45 AM, the sun was high in the sky.

Golden sunlight streamed through the carved window frames, casting large swaths of light onto the golden brick floor of the Taiji Hall, dazzling the eyes. Normally, by this time, the court assembly would be halfway through, but today, the Crown Prince's throne, positioned below the dragon throne for overseeing the state, remained empty.

Like a missing front tooth, it stood out starkly in that solemn and majestic hall.

The entire court stared at each other, an awkward and anxious atmosphere filling the air.

Minister of Justice Li Daozong wiped the sweat from his brow and nudged Changsun Wuji beside him in a low voice: "Duke Zhao, this... why hasn't His Highness the Crown Prince arrived yet? His Majesty deliberately skipped court today and is keeping an eye on things from behind. If this happens..."

Changsun Wuji also looked constipated. As the uncle, he felt utterly humiliated. Just yesterday he had vowed to teach the Crown Prince to be diligent in his duties, but on his first day overseeing the country, he had simply "disappeared"?

"Wait a little longer, perhaps the road to the Eastern Palace is blocked?" Changsun Wuji made up a reason that even he himself didn't believe.

"Is the road congested?"

Wei Zheng, standing in the front row, had sharp ears and heard it clearly. This number one "troll" of the Tang Dynasty was instantly blown away, his beard standing on end, and his voice was as shrill as fingernails scratching a blackboard.

"Absurd! The distance from the Eastern Palace to the Taiji Hall is only two li (approximately 1 kilometer), even crawling would be enough! I think the Crown Prince is clearly lazy! He is showing contempt for the court!"

Wei Zheng grew angrier as he spoke, banging his tablet on the floor with a loud thud, as if he were about to smash his head against a pillar to prove his innocence.

"Go! Send someone to urge him! I want to see what 'national affair' has tripped up His Highness the Crown Prince!"

……

Outside the Lizheng Hall of the East Palace.

This book is first published on 111k.com, providing you with a reading experience without errors or disordered chapters.

Unlike the suffocatingly low atmosphere of the Taiji Hall, this place is simply a paradise.

Birds sing and flowers bloom, a gentle breeze blows.

Li Chengqian was sprawled on that specially made rocking chair made of golden nanmu wood, covered with a thin silk blanket. As the rocking chair swayed, it made a pleasant "creaking" sound.

The sun was shining brightly, and he squinted, like a lazy Persian cat.

Beside him, Xu Xiao, the "Human Butcher" who struck fear into the hearts of countless martial arts masters, was holding a white jade plate and a crystal-clear purple grape in his hand.

Xu Xiao's hand, which was used to wielding a battle sword and killing without hesitation, was now performing delicate work as if he were embroidering. He carefully peeled the grape skins and removed the seeds, his movements as gentle as if he were caressing a rare treasure.

"Your Highness, the seeds have been removed."

Xu Xiao's voice was hoarse, carrying a deep-seated respect.

Li Chengqian didn't even lift his eyelids, he just slightly opened his mouth.

Xu Xiao immediately put the grape into his mouth.

"Mmm, sweet." Li Chengqian chewed a couple of times and mumbled his evaluation. "Old Xu, your skills are pretty good. You should stick to peeling grapes from now on. Killing people is too bloody and not suitable for a 'craftsman' like you."

Xu Xiao forced a smile that looked more like a grimace onto his deeply lined old face: "Your Highness is too kind. As long as Your Highness is pleased, this old servant will peel grapes for the rest of my life."

Just as the master and servant were enjoying the peaceful moment, a series of hurried footsteps broke the tranquility.

The chief eunuch, Wang De, rushed into the courtyard, panting heavily, his robe hemmed up. He looked just like a duck being chased by a dog.

"Your Highness! My little darling! Why are you still sleeping!"

Looking at the scene of "corruption" before him, Wang De stamped his feet in frustration, his shrill voice cracking, "The Taiji Hall is in complete chaos! Lord Wei Zheng is so angry he's about to bang his head against a pillar, and His Majesty's face is as black as the bottom of a pot in the back hall! You must go to court immediately!"

Li Chengqian frowned at the shout and opened his eyes with some displeasure.

"What's all the noise about? Can't you see I'm contemplating matters of state?"

Wang De was taken aback. He glanced at the grape juice on Li Chengqian's lips, then at the limping old man beside him who looked like a formidable opponent, and looked completely bewildered: "Thinking...thinking about matters of state?"

"nonsense."

Li Chengqian rolled over, finding a more comfortable position. "I've been thinking about why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, why grapes have seeds but no skin. What principle governing all things in this world isn't a matter of national importance? You vulgar people, all you know how to do is stare at those few tattered memorials—how superficial!"

Wang De was so choked by this fallacy that he rolled his eyes and almost choked on his breath.

"Your Highness, I beg you, please! Even just showing your face would be enough! Otherwise, Lord Wei will truly risk his life to remonstrate!"

"I'm not going."

Li Chengqian answered decisively, "Go back and tell them that I am currently undergoing a profound meditation concerning the fate of the Tang Dynasty, and no one is allowed to disturb me. If anyone dares to bother me, I will... I will have Xu Xiao peel, oh no, peel grapes for them."

Xu Xiao, standing beside him, raised his head in agreement. A chilling murderous intent flashed in his cloudy old eyes as he grinned at Wang De, revealing a few broken, yellow teeth.

Wang De felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

When did this terrifying old man appear in the Eastern Palace?!

He dared not offer any further advice and scrambled out, crying, "This servant...this servant will go and report right away!"

Watching Wang De's disheveled escape, Li Chengqian chuckled softly, and the beautiful mechanical voice echoed in his mind at just the right moment.

【Ding! 】

[The host has been detected to have successfully skipped work once, establishing an image of "extreme laziness" in front of all officials.]

[Reward: Max Level Divine Culinary Skill (Master of all eight major cuisines)!]

[Bonus: Sichuan Hot Pot Broth Recipe (System-Improved Version, the aroma is irresistible!)]

"Oh? Your cooking skills?"

Li Chengqian clicked his tongue. Although this reward wasn't as impressive as the Great Snow Dragon Riders, it was a godsend for a seasoned foodie. The food in the Tang Dynasty was a disaster; it was all boiling and roasting, with not even a stir-fry. His mouth was practically parched.

"Looks like we can almost have a hot pot dinner tonight."

Li Chengqian was in a great mood and was just about to instruct Xu Xiao to prepare the ingredients when a commotion suddenly broke out from the direction of the Taiji Hall, and Wei Zheng's extremely penetrating roar could be faintly heard.

……

The atmosphere inside the Taiji Hall was extremely tense.

After Wang De brought back Li Chengqian's original words, "Consider the affairs of the state," Wei Zheng completely erupted.

"Meditation? I think he's just sleeping!"

Wei Zheng flung Fang Xuanling away, who was holding him back, rushed to the center of the hall, took off his official hat and held it in his hands, and roared at the empty dragon throne and the regent's seat with bloodshot eyes.

"Your Majesty! The Crown Prince is absurd and negligent, treating the affairs of state as a child's game! Your Majesty, I request that the Crown Prince be deposed! If Your Majesty does not agree, I will smash my head against this dragon pillar and die today, my blood staining the court!"

As he spoke, he lowered his head, like an angry bull, as if about to charge at the pillar.

"Xuancheng is impossible!"

"Lord Wei, please calm down!"

The entire court was in chaos, with officials rushing to Li Chengqian's side, some grabbing his waist, others pulling his legs. Changsun Wuji was sweating profusely with anxiety, inwardly cursing Li Chengqian: "My dear nephew, you've really stirred up a hornet's nest this time!"

Just as this farce was about to turn into a tragedy, and everyone's attention was focused on Wei Zheng.

"boom--"

A muffled, loud crash suddenly came from the direction of the palace gates—the sound of the heavy palace gates being forcibly smashed open.

Immediately afterwards, a rapid and chaotic sound of hooves, accompanied by heart-wrenching roars, abruptly shattered the clamor within the Taiji Hall.

"Report—!!!"

Everyone froze in that instant.

Wei Zheng stopped banging his head against the pillar, and Changsun Wuji stopped wiping his sweat. Everyone turned around in astonishment and looked towards the entrance of the main hall.

A courier, covered in blood and adorned with a red feather on his back, stumbled into the main hall. His armor was tattered, and his face was covered in dried blood and dust, making him look as if he had been pulled from a pool of blood.

He had just run into the main hall when his legs gave way and he fell heavily to the ground with a thud. But he ignored the pain, struggled to lift his head, raised the command flag in his hand that was already stained with blood, and let out a final roar squeezed out with his life.

The voice was shrill and desperate, carrying a suffocating stench of blood, instantly plunging the entire hall into an icy abyss.

"Urgent dispatch!!!"

"The Turkic Khaganate... has torn up the alliance! He has assembled 200,000 cavalry and has broken through the Jingzhou defense line!"

"The army's advance...is heading straight for the Wei River! Chang'an is in grave danger!!!"

"What?!"

The tablet in Changsun Wuji's hand fell to the ground again, and this time, no one went to pick it up.

Inside the Taiji Hall, after a deathly silence, came an explosive panic.

Just then, a childish voice, tinged with a hint of morning grumpiness, abruptly came from the side door, sounding completely out of place.

"It's so noisy! I just decided to have hot pot tonight, who's making such a racket?"