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

The autumn wind of the first year of the Zhenguan era seemed to carry a sweeter scent than in previous years.

The atmosphere inside the Taiji Hall was incredibly warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the gloomy and desolate atmosphere of just half a month ago, as if the country was on the verge of collapse. It was like living in a completely different world.

Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne, holding a stack of memorials that had just been sent from various places. His smile never stopped, and the corners of his mouth were almost stretched to his ears.

"Okay! Okay!"

He suddenly slapped his thigh, startling Wang De, who was dozing off next to him.

"Good news from Youzhou! Bai Qi, that god of war... cough, that fierce general, handled the cleanup work flawlessly. Not only did he quell the rebellion, but he also wiped out the local bandits. Now the people of Youzhou don't even lock their doors at night!"

Li Shimin tossed the memorial onto his desk, then picked up another one and read it aloud with a smug look on his face.

"And this too, the potatoes in Guanzhong have had a bumper harvest! The first batch of autumn potatoes has already been stored, and the yield... tsk tsk, I couldn't believe the figures Dai Zhou reported even after reading them three times. If all the people in the world could grow this stuff, what would I have to worry about for grain?"

"And look at this one! Qin Shubao was riding a horse and shooting arrows yesterday, hitting two eagles with one arrow! His physique is even stronger than mine!"

Li Shimin became more and more excited as he spoke, and he seemed to be floating on air.

These past few months have been more exciting than any storybook.

From the brink of humiliation at the Wei River to the present day when all nations revere him, the national treasury is full, and the people live in peace, this reversal came too quickly, giving even the emperor a sense of unreality, as if he were walking on clouds.

"My lords."

Li Shimin put down the memorial, leaned back slightly, and adopted an extremely relaxed and confident posture, his gaze sweeping over the civil and military officials below the throne.

"Although I have only been on the throne for a short time, how do my civil and military achievements compare to those of Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han?"

Upon hearing this, the sycophants below immediately perked up.

The newly appointed vice minister of the Ministry of Rites reacted the fastest, kneeling down with a loud "plop," his voice so loud it could lift the roof off.

"Your Majesty is wise! Qin Shi Huang was tyrannical, and Emperor Wu of Han was a warmonger; how can they be compared to Your Majesty?"

"Your Majesty governs with benevolence, saving the people from famine; and repels the barbarians, driving back the Turks at the Wei River! This is the beginning of a golden age unlike any seen in history!"

"In my opinion, Your Majesty's achievements rival those of Yao and Shun, and may even surpass them!"

"That's right!"

Cheng Yaojin was never one to be outdone in terms of a loud voice, and he roared in his hoarse voice, "I, old Cheng, am a rough man and don't know anything about Yao and Shun, but I do know that now my family has stewed beef with potatoes every day. Life is more comfortable than that of the gods! This is all thanks to His Majesty!"

Flattery will get you everywhere.

Li Shimin felt completely comfortable after being showered with compliments, as if every pore of his body had opened up, and he was slightly tipsy, as if he had drunk a couple of ounces of fake wine.

"Ah, you flatter me, you flatter me."

He spoke modestly, but his face clearly said, "I'd love to hear a few more compliments."

"However..."

Li Shimin abruptly changed the subject, a glint of ambition flashing in his eyes. He lightly tapped his fingers on the armrest. "Since everyone feels that the Tang Dynasty is now peaceful and prosperous, and I have achieved such unparalleled feats, shouldn't we... report this to Heaven?"

The ministers below the stage were all shrewd people; they immediately understood what he meant upon hearing his tone.

This is an attempt to perform the Fengshan ceremony!

The Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai was the ultimate dream of emperors throughout history, the highest ritual to prove that they were ordained by Heaven and that their merits were complete.

Qin Shi Huang is gone, Emperor Wu of Han is gone, and now Li Shimin thinks he can do it too.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right!"

It was that same Vice Minister of Rites again, his face flushed with excitement. "Your Majesty's achievements are unparalleled throughout the ages. You should perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, to uphold the imperial rule and reassure the people!"

"I second that proposal!"

"We second that proposal!"

Immediately, a chorus of agreement filled the court. Everyone had been doing well lately and wanted to go on a trip to Mount Tai with the emperor... oh no, to witness history.

Only Wei Zheng stood at the front of the line, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

He moved his lips, seemingly wanting to unleash his "trolling mode," but seeing Li Shimin's elated expression, and considering that he hadn't really had any major health issues lately, he swallowed back the advice that was on the tip of his tongue.

Well, His Majesty has been under a lot of pressure lately, let's cheer him up. Anyway, the Fengshan ceremony is just a ritual, it'll only take a little effort.

Seeing that Wei Zheng did not object, Li Shimin felt even more confident.

What does this tell us?

This proves that I really did a good job! Even Wei the Blackie couldn't find a fault with it!

"Okay! It's settled then!"

Li Shimin waved his hand, his spirit soaring, "The Ministry of Rites shall immediately draft the regulations and select an auspicious day. I will lead all civil and military officials in a grand procession to Mount Tai!"

"I want to show even Heaven how prosperous my Tang Dynasty is!"

After the initial excitement wore off, Li Shimin's mind calmed down a little.

The Fengshan ceremony was not something that could be accomplished simply by talking.

We need to build roads, manufacture vehicles, prepare ritual objects for the sacrificial ceremony, provide food, drink, and shelter for tens of thousands of people along the way, plus the rewards upon reaching Mount Tai...

Each of these requires a significant financial investment.

A few months ago, Li Shimin wouldn't have dared to even think about it, since the rats in the national treasury were so hungry they had to move away.

But it's different now.

Having previously confiscated the assets of the five prominent families and seven noble clans in Chang'an, Li Shimin had made a fortune. Coupled with the daily profits from the royal salt shops, Li Shimin felt that he now had a very strong backbone.

"Dai Zhou!"

Li Shimin shouted confidently.

"Your subject is here."

Minister of Revenue Dai Zhou walked out with a bitter face. He had been losing a lot of hair lately, all from doing accounting.

Li Shimin looked at the head steward with a smile, his tone as relaxed as if he were asking what they would have for dinner.

"I am going to perform the Fengshan ceremony. This is a matter of great importance to the Tang Dynasty, so the ceremony cannot be small."

"The Ministry of Revenue must be quite wealthy by now, right?"

"The gold and silver from the last raid, the profits from selling salt, plus the autumn tax... surely raising a few million strings of cash shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Upon hearing this, Dai Zhou trembled violently and almost knelt down before Li Shimin on the spot.

rich?

Your Majesty, do you have some misunderstanding about the Ministry of Revenue's account books?

That money had only been in the vault for a few days, and before it even had a chance to warm up, it was divided up by all sorts of powerful figures!

Dai Zhou opened his mouth, about to start his "poverty plea" and tell the emperor that his family had long been struggling to make ends meet.

Just then.

A lazy, slightly mocking voice suddenly drifted in from the entrance of the main hall, instantly shattering the "harmonious" atmosphere between the emperor and his ministers.

"Several million strings of cash?"

"Father, do you have some huge misunderstanding about the word 'wealthy'?"

Everyone turned around in astonishment.

Li Chengqian was seen walking in with an arrogant gait, fiddling with a golden abacus in his hand.

The sunlight shone on him, but it couldn't warm the mocking expression on his face that said, "You're a spendthrift."

Li Shimin's smile froze instantly, and his heart skipped a beat.

This unfilial son...

Why is it that every time I'm about to have some fun, he always shows up to pour cold water on my enthusiasm?