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

"No way!"

Li Chengqian stretched out his little arms straight, like a mother hen protecting her chicks, firmly shielding Yue Fei behind him. His disgusted expression made it seem as if Li Shimin was not the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, but a child trafficker luring children with a lollipop.

"Wang Xizhi's original calligraphy? Even if you brought Qin Shi Huang's calligraphy, it wouldn't be of any use."

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes, mercilessly exposing his father's ulterior motives, "Are you looking for the Deputy Commander? You're just lusting after his body... ugh, lusting after his skills! Let me tell you, Yue Fei is not for sale in the Eastern Palace, not to be rented, not to be transferred, and even a glance will cost you!"

Li Shimin blushed, speechless for a long time after being choked by his son's retort.

He craned his neck, peering over Li Chengqian's head, and glanced one last time at Yue Fei, who stood like an iron tower.

That posture, that aura, that gaze...

Wow, it smells delicious!

Unfortunately, she's already taken.

"Hmph, you stingy person."

Li Shimin muttered sourly, then reluctantly withdrew his gaze, walked back to the dragon throne with his hands behind his back, and sat down again. "I possess the entire world; what kind of fierce general can't I find? Why would I need one of yours?"

That being said, the resentment in her eyes could practically flood the Taiji Hall.

Yue Fei stood behind Li Chengqian, his face still expressionless, though his grip on the Liquan spear tightened slightly. He was somewhat unaccustomed to this scene of "filial piety and parental love," but a warm feeling welled up inside him.

A scholar will die for one who understands him.

His Highness dared to defy the Emperor for his sake; such high regard is worth risking his life for.

After the banter ended, the atmosphere in the main hall became serious again.

Those few pro-peace ministers, who were terrified, were now shrinking back, wishing they could turn themselves into invisible men.

Li Chengqian turned around, and the playful smile on his face instantly disappeared.

He did not return to the regent's throne, which symbolized power, but instead stood casually in the center of the hall, hands behind his back. Although he was short, the aura he exuded at that moment made all the officials feel somewhat suffocated.

"Listen up, everyone."

Li Chengqian's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a power that penetrated people's hearts.

"I know that some of you are afraid of war."

His gaze swept over Xiao Yu, then over the civil officials. "You think that spending some money and sending a woman can bring peace? You think this is a good deal, that's called bearing humiliation and carrying a heavy burden, that's putting the big picture first."

"But I'm telling you, that's called—being a jerk."

"Whoosh—"

The court was in an uproar.

That's way too direct!

"Don't take it too seriously," Li Chengqian sneered, holding up a finger. "The Turks are wolves. If you feed a wolf a piece of meat, it will eat it and only think you're weak and easy to bully. Next time it will eat your hand, and the time after that, it will eat your life!"

"Therefore, from today onwards, the Tang Dynasty's policy toward the Turks will only have this one path."

He suddenly swung his hand, his movement as decisive as a knife.

"beat!"

"Beat them until it hurts! Beat them until they're terrified! Beat them until they tremble at the mere mention of the words 'Great Tang'!"

"I will not only drive them away, but I will also turn the grasslands into the horse ranch of the Tang Dynasty, turn their cattle and sheep into hot pot ingredients for the Tang Dynasty, and capture their Khan to dance for my father!"

"This is what it means to eliminate future troubles!"

These words were spoken with murderous intent and unparalleled domineering power.

The generals were thrilled, and Cheng Yaojin was so excited that he slapped his thighs until they turned red, shouting "The Crown Prince is mighty!"

Li Shimin sat on the high platform, his fingers lightly tapping the dragon table, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

Turn grasslands into pastures?

This kid's appetite is bigger than mine!

However... I like it!

Just then, the pitiful wails of Zhishi Sili could still be faintly heard outside the main hall. This guy was crawling out, kowtowing as he went, following Yue Fei's orders.

"Go and deliver a message."

Li Chengqian beckoned to the guards at the door, "Have that good-for-nothing who crawled out deliver a message to their Khan."

The guard rushed over and knelt on one knee.

Li Chengqian lowered his head slightly, a cruel and mocking smile curving his lips. His voice was soft, yet it sent chills down one's spine.

"Tell Jieli."

"Don't rush to run, and don't rush to die."

"Tell him to go back and wash his neck clean, and wait patiently."

"My Great Snow Dragon Riders, and the Beiwei Army behind them, will soon take his dog's head."

"If there's mud on your neck and it gets on my knife, I'll be angry."

"Did you understand?"

The guard trembled and shouted, "Yes, sir! I'll go and deliver the message right away!"

Watching the guards rush away, all the officials felt a chill run from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.

Wash your neck clean and wait?

What arrogance, and what self-confidence!

This was practically throwing a challenge right in the faces of the Turks!

However, at this very moment when the crowd was in high spirits and full of fighting spirit...

An untimely cry suddenly rang out in the hall, instantly shattering the passionate atmosphere.

"No! Absolutely not!"

Suddenly, Xiao Yu, a veteran of two dynasties and prime minister, rushed out of the queue as if he had gone mad.

He knelt down with a thud, took off his official hat and put it aside, then slammed his head heavily on the gold brick, making a dull thud.

"Your Majesty! Your Highness the Crown Prince! Please reconsider!"

Xiao Yu raised his head, his forehead already bruised from the bump, tears streaming down his face, his beard covered in snot and tears, looking utterly miserable.

"Weapons are instruments of violence! Even sages use them only as a last resort!"

"The Tang Dynasty has just quelled an internal rebellion. Although the confiscation of property from powerful families has brought a slight surplus to the national treasury, it's still a drop in the ocean!"

"If a full-scale war breaks out, it will be a bottomless pit! It will push the Tang Dynasty into a fire pit!"

He pointed at Li Chengqian, his fingers trembling, his face contorted with grief.

"Your Highness, you are young and unaware of the dangers of war; you only seek momentary pleasure."

"You are gambling with the fate of the Tang Dynasty! You are playing with the lives of millions of soldiers!"

"This is... a path to national ruin through relentless militarism!"

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over my head.

Many of the civil officials who were initially fired up have now calmed down, looking at each other with hesitation in their eyes.

Yes.

War is a money-burning affair.

The Tang Dynasty had just enjoyed a few days of peace; could it really withstand such turmoil?

Li Shimin frowned as he looked at Xiao Yu, who was kneeling and remonstrating with his life. Although he was displeased, he knew that Xiao Yu was loyal.

He opened his mouth, about to say something to ease the tension.

Li Chengqian smiled.

He looked at the old man kneeling on the ground, as if he had suffered a great injustice, and the coldness in his eyes gradually gathered.

"War-worshipping and militarism?"

"The path to national ruin?"

Li Chengqian walked step by step to Xiao Yu, looking down at him with a frighteningly calm voice.

"Lord Xiao, do you think that as long as we kneel properly and in a graceful posture, the Turks will let us go?"