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

Xiao Yu knelt on the ground, trembling violently.

He didn't dare to look up.

Because in front of him, besides the prince who smiled like a little devil, there stood a mountain.

Yue Fei.

Although this famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty who resisted the Jin Dynasty did not utter a word at this moment, the noble spirit of loyalty and patriotism emanating from him was like the scorching sun, making these pro-peace ministers with dark thoughts feel as if their skin was burning and their souls were steaming.

His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and the cold light they emitted was even sharper than the Liquan Spear in his hand.

It's as if it's saying: You eat the king's food, yet you want to betray him for personal gain? You deserve to die!

"What's wrong? Not saying anything?"

Li Chengqian patted Xiao Yu's old face, the movement so slow and gentle as if he were patting a melon, "Weren't you quite the talker just now? All that talk about righteousness, all that talk about the common people, you had a whole repertoire of words."

"Why are you mute now?"

"Do you think the gun in the hand of the general behind me is tougher than your mouths?"

Xiao Yu swallowed hard, cold sweat dripping from the tip of his nose onto the floor.

"Your Highness...this old minister is also doing this for the sake of the Tang Dynasty..."

"Shut up."

Li Chengqian suddenly stood up, his languid demeanor vanishing in an instant, replaced by an aura of imperial dominance that made people dare not look him in the eye.

He surveyed his surroundings, his gaze sharp as a knife, scraping across the faces of every minister.

"For the Tang Dynasty? I think you're all after your own official hats and your pitiful, peaceful lives!"

"Trading women's skirts for peace? Is this the Confucian classics you read? Is this the backbone of the men of the Tang Dynasty?"

Li Chengqian let out a cold laugh, his voice suddenly rising and booming throughout the hall.

"Listen up, all of you!"

"As long as I, Li Chengqian, am still alive, as long as I am still regent!"

"The Great Tang Dynasty: No marriage alliances! No indemnities! No ceding territory! No tribute!"

"The emperor guards the nation's gates, the monarch dies for the state! Even if we fight to the last man, even if we shed our last drop of blood, the knees of the Tang Dynasty will never bend!"

boom--!

These words, like the resounding toll of a bell, made everyone's eardrums buzz.

Wei Zheng was so excited that his face turned red, and he almost crushed the ceremonial tablet in his hand.

This is the true heir apparent! This is the hope for the future of the Tang Dynasty!

The generals were even more excited, and Cheng Yaojin couldn't help but want to roar. These words were so inspiring! It was so damn satisfying!

Li Shimin stood on the high platform, looking at his spirited son, and his eyes even became a little moist.

No marriage alliances, no indemnities, no ceding of territory, and no tribute.

These sixteen characters carry immense weight.

Although he, as the father, wanted to stand up for himself, he always had too many concerns. But this unfilial son used the simplest and most brutal method to forcefully uphold the dignity of the Tang Dynasty.

"good!"

Li Shimin couldn't help but cheer in his heart, but then his gaze was drawn to the fierce general behind Li Chengqian.

That physique, that bearing, that gaze…

Gee tut.

Li Shimin was also an emperor who rose through the ranks on horseback, and he had a very keen eye for talent. He could tell at a glance that this Yue Fei was an exceptional military genius!

That calm and unwavering demeanor is no less than that of Li Jing!

Where on earth did this unfilial son find so many extraordinary people?

Just as the emperor and his ministers were lost in their own thoughts in the main hall, a piercing scream suddenly came from the palace gate.

"Ah—! How dare you! I am an envoy! I am…"

That was the stubborn, lost consciousness that had just been thrown out.

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow and a wicked smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"It seems our Turkic friends are still dreaming."

He gestured towards Yue Fei with his lip.

"Pengju, go."

"See him off."

"Tell him that the roads to Chang'an are not so easy to traverse. Now that he's here, he has to learn how to be a subservient servant."

"promise!"

Yue Fei clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, turned around, and strode out. His heavy war boots pounded the ground with a dull thud, each step feeling like a blow to the hearts of the pro-peace ministers.

……

Outside the Vermilion Bird Gate.

Zhi Shisi was dragged along like a dead dog by two Beiwei soldiers, his legs leaving two long trails of blood on the ground.

He was still struggling, still shouting.

"Let me go! You bunch of two-legged sheep! When my army is on the border, I will slaughter your entire city of Chang'an!"

"Bang!"

Yue Fei walked to the door, and without saying a word, he raised his leg and kicked Zhi Shisi Li directly in the back of the knee.

"Click."

There was a heartbreaking sound of bone cracking.

Zhi Shisi screamed in agony, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees, his kneecaps shattering. The pain was so intense that his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"Ah—! My leg!"

"Kneel properly."

Yue Fei's voice was as cold as ice, without a trace of emotion.

He stood before Zhishi Sili, looking down at this barbarian who had been so arrogant in the main hall just moments before.

"His Highness has given the order."

"Those who offend the mighty Han, though far away, shall be punished."

"This is Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty. Want to leave? You can."

Yue Fei pointed to the long Zhuque Avenue that led out of the city.

"Climb out."

"They crawled out of Chang'an City on their knees and kowtowed all the way."

"If you skip a single bow, I'll chop off a finger. If you skip a single step, I'll chop off a foot."

Zhi Shi Sili raised his head in terror, looking at the man before him who was like a demon god, and then at the Beiwei Army around him with their hands on their swords and their faces expressionless. His defenses completely collapsed.

He knew that this group of people were serious.

They really dared to kill him!

"I...I'll crawl...I'll crawl..."

The once arrogant Turkic envoy now resembled a mangy dog ​​with its spine broken, tears streaming down his face, kowtowing repeatedly as he shuffled out of the city.

"Thump!"

"Long live the Great Tang Dynasty..."

"Thump!"

"Your Highness... the Crown Prince..."

Each kowtow was accompanied by tears of shame.

More and more people gathered around, and seeing this satisfying scene, they erupted in thunderous cheers.

"Wow! His Highness the Crown Prince is mighty!"

"Let these barbarians know that our Great Tang Dynasty is not to be trifled with!"

The news reached Taiji Hall.

The officials looked at each other, some relieved, others terrified.

It's too cruel.

This is like tearing off the face of the Turks, skin and flesh, and trampling it on the ground!

Hearing the cheers outside the hall, Li Chengqian clapped his hands in satisfaction and resumed his carefree, irresponsible demeanor.

"Alright, the flies are gone, and the world is quiet now."

He yawned and turned to leave.

"Well, Father, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now. There's still soup simmering in the Eastern Palace; it won't taste good if it's overcooked."

"stop."

Li Shimin suddenly called out to him.

Li Chengqian paused, turning back warily: "What? No money, no overtime, no blind dates."

Li Shimin ignored his nonsense and instead stared intently at Yue Fei, who had just returned, with eyes gleaming. His gaze was like that of an old lecher seeing a stunning beauty, green with lust, making one's heart pound.

He rubbed his hands together, put on what he thought was a kind and approachable smile, and stepped down from the dragon throne.

"Ahem, Chengqian."

"That general is exceptionally brave and upright; he is clearly a pillar of the nation."

Li Shimin pointed at Yue Fei, swallowed hard, and the true intentions were revealed.

"My Xuanjia Army is currently lacking a deputy commander, and I think he... is quite suitable?"

"What do you think... could we let him help Father Emperor lead the troops?"

"The price is negotiable. I'll trade you that... that genuine work by Wang Xizhi?"

Li Chengqian: "..."

Yue Fei: "..."

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes and stood directly in front of Yue Fei, like a little tiger protecting its food.

"Father, have you no shame?"

"You just stole my meat, and now you're trying to steal my person?"

"No way!"