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

At that moment, the light inside the Taiji Hall seemed to dim, and all attention was focused on the small figure standing against the light at the entrance.

Li Chengqian strolled leisurely across the threshold, carrying with him a strong, pungent smell that made one want to sneeze—a unique aroma a blend of precious peony ash and Western cumin. As he walked, he casually brushed the wood ash from his sleeves, his movements as relaxed as if he had just returned from a stroll in his own backyard, rather than stepping into the imperial court that would determine the fate of the Tang Dynasty.

"Who just said that? That the Tang Dynasty is nothing special?"

He stopped three steps away from Zhishi Sili, raising his head slightly. His eight-year-old frame looked exceptionally thin in front of the burly Turkic envoy, who was as strong as a bear, as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

But those eyes were as cold as two knives that had just been tempered by ice and snow.

Zhi Shi Sili looked down at the little child who was not even as tall as his waist, paused for a moment, and then burst into a loud, booming laugh that shook the dust off the beams of the main hall.

"Hahaha! I thought some extraordinary person from the Tang Dynasty had arrived, but it turns out to be just a baby who hasn't been weaned!"

He pointed at Li Chengqian with unbridled arrogance, his fleshy face trembling, his eyes practically overflowing with contempt. "What? Are all the men of the Tang Dynasty dead? You let a greenhorn speak? Is this how you treat your guests?"

The pro-peace ministers in the court lowered their heads in shame, wishing they could disappear into the ground. Xiao Yu was so anxious that he stamped his feet and desperately tried to signal to Li Shimin that the crown prince should be taken away immediately to avoid making a fool of himself and angering the Turks, which would lead to trouble for everyone.

Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, his face ashen, but he neither moved nor spoke. He knew this son all too well; although the boy seemed unreliable at times, his fierce protectiveness was ingrained in him.

He'd dare to dig up anyone's ancestral graves if anyone dared to touch his people.

Li Chengqian completely ignored Zhishi Sili's mockery. He even took a step forward, stretched out the little hand that had just been holding the cotton candy, and waved it disdainfully in front of his nose.

"It stinks."

He frowned, as if looking at a talking, indescribable thing. "Haven't you showered in months? The stench of mutton on you could knock someone out from three miles away. With your appearance, do you even deserve to mention my sister's name?"

Zhi Shi Sili's laughter abruptly stopped, like a male duck whose neck had been suddenly grabbed.

He stared wide-eyed at Li Chengqian, his cloudy, bull-like eyes filled with disbelief. On the grasslands, even tribal leaders treated him with utmost respect; how dare this Han child humiliate him like this?

"What did you say?!"

"I'm saying you're like a toad trying to eat swan meat, can't you understand human language?"

Li Chengqian picked at his ear, looking impatient. "Chang Le is the eldest legitimate princess of the Tang Dynasty, a golden branch and jade leaf. Your so-called Khan, don't you even take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror? You savage barbarians who eat raw meat and drink blood, dare to try and climb the social ladder of my Li family?"

"If you really want to ask for my hand in marriage, go back and have your Khan learn how to walk upright first, then wash off that stench, and kneel outside the Vermilion Bird Gate for three days and three nights. I might then consider giving him a foot-washing maid as his wife."

"As for Chang Le..."

A cruel smile curled at the corner of Li Chengqian's lips, his voice suddenly turning cold. "Forget about it. Anyone who dares to lay a finger on her will regret ever being born!"

"Damn it!!"

Zhi Shisi completely lost his mind.

As a Turkic warrior, when had he ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace? The anger of being despised and trampled upon instantly clouded his mind.

"You ignorant bastard! I'll tear your mouth apart!"

He roared, and his large, fan-like hand, accompanied by a whistling sound, viciously grabbed at Li Chengqian's head. If that claw landed, it would crush the skull of not only an eight-year-old child, but even an adult.

"Your Highness, be careful!"

"No!"

The entire court exclaimed in shock, and Li Shimin sprang up from his dragon throne, his eyes wide with fury, but it was too late to come to his rescue.

Just when everyone thought a bloody tragedy was about to unfold.

Li Chengqian made a move.

Instead of retreating, he leaped up to meet the large hand.

This jump used up all the strength in his small body, and even mobilized the meager internal energy from the system's newbie gift pack.

He left a trail of afterimages in the air, raised his right hand high, and then, in full view of everyone, slammed it down hard and without reservation.

"Smack—!!!"

A slap that was both incredibly crisp and incredibly loud resounded like a thunderclap in the Taiji Hall.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

The large hand that held the thoughtless man froze in mid-air. He was knocked to the side and staggered several steps before he could barely stand up.

He covered his left cheek, where a clear, red, swollen handprint was visibly appearing.

He was stunned by the beating.

Not only him, but everyone in the Taiji Hall was stunned.

Xiao Yu's mouth dropped open, his jaw nearly dislocated; Wang Gui's scepter fell to the ground and hit his foot without him even noticing.

The Crown Prince...hit the messenger?

This is a matter of diplomacy: envoys are not to be killed in times of war! This is an ironclad rule of diplomacy! To slap an envoy in public is tantamount to declaring war on the entire Turkic Khaganate! It's pushing the Tang Dynasty into a fire pit!

"Cool."

Li Chengqian landed, shook his slightly numb hands, and said with a look of disgust, "You're so shameless, the impact made my hands hurt. Next time, we'll have to let Lao Xu do this dirty work."

"You...you dare hit me?"

Zhi Shisi finally came to his senses, feeling the burning pain on his cheek. The humiliation instantly transformed into a monstrous killing intent.

He was the eagle of the Turks, the warrior of the grasslands, yet he was publicly humiliated by a Han Chinese child.

This is not just a slap in the face for him, it's rubbing the face of the entire Turkic people into the ground!

"I'm going to kill you! I'm going to kill your whole family!"

Zhi Shisi's eyes were bloodshot, and a beast-like roar came from his throat. He suddenly reached for his waist, and with a clang, a gleaming curved knife was drawn.

The blade still bore the marks of undried blood, clearly indicating it was a vicious weapon that had drunk the blood of many people.

"Go to hell!"

He gripped the knife with both hands, raised it high, and with the force of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, cleaved it down towards Li Chengqian's head.

"Protect the Emperor! Quickly, protect the Emperor!"

Wang De screamed and rushed down, trying to use his body to block the knife.

Li Shimin drew his imperial sword and charged down from the platform without regard for the consequences, shouting, "You dare harm my son! I will exterminate your entire clan!"

However, faced with this fatal blow...

Li Chengqian didn't even blink, nor did he show any intention of dodging.

He just stood there, still with that smug look on his face, raised his right hand, and snapped his fingers lightly in the air.

"Smack."

The sound was crisp and clear, standing out exceptionally well in the deathly silent hall.

"Yue Fei".

He uttered two words calmly, as if he were calling a guard dog.

"Let's get out there and teach this barbarian a lesson about manners in the Tang Dynasty."