If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

Li Zheng told Li Tiancheng and the Empress that he wanted to stay in the South China Sea, but neither of them agreed. The Empress, in particular, was extremely unwilling when she saw Li Zheng, who was tanned dark by the sun.

Li Zheng didn't keep pleading. Seeing that his father and mother disagreed, he gave up and stopped talking about it.

Originally, everyone thought the matter was over, but unexpectedly, Li Zheng chose a roundabout way to achieve his goal.

Li Tiancheng was playing chess with the Empress when suddenly the voice of a eunuch came from outside the palace.

"The Emperor Emeritus has arrived."

"what!"

Li Tiancheng was shocked.

The retired emperor was naturally Li Tiancheng's father. Since his abdication, he had been living in seclusion in the palace and rarely appeared in public.

Furthermore, there are rumors that there were some unknown factors behind the abdication of the retired emperor.

"Your Majesty, why are you so unhappy to see me?"

An old man rushed in, his hair completely white, but he looked very healthy and energetic, not at all like an old man.

"Father, you are too kind. I just don't know why you have come here so suddenly today."

Upon seeing his father, the Emperor, Li Tiancheng immediately rose and humbly greeted him.

"Hmph, none of you come to see me, so why can't I come out?"

"Father, please don't be angry. There are simply too many affairs of the court."

"Too much to do? Then why aren't you reviewing memorials here with the Empress?"

Li Tiancheng never expected his father to be so quick-witted these days, with perfect eyesight and hearing, yet still able to talk so much.

"Uh~"

Li Tiancheng was also rendered speechless by the rebuttal.

"You two won't come to see me, and you won't even let your grandchildren come to see me?"

"Father, no, absolutely not."

"Hmph, go and call all the children here. I want to see my precious grandchildren."

"Yes."

Li Tiancheng had done some dishonorable things in his pursuit of the throne, so he always felt guilty towards his father.

Since the grandfather wanted to see his grandchildren, this small request had to be fulfilled. Li Tiancheng quickly sent someone to call all his children over and also arranged a banquet.

. . . . . .

The main hall was bustling with activity, filled with members of the royal family.

"Your Majesty, the royal palace has not been this lively in a long time."

Basically all the princes and grandsons in the capital had arrived. The empress suggested to the emperor that they invite all the concubines to come and have a good time, to keep the retired emperor company, so as not to upset the old man again.

After hearing this, Li Tiancheng also felt that this made sense, which led to the current overcrowding.

"Your Majesty, it has been so many years since our royal family has been this lively. We are all family, all close relatives, and we should visit each other more often."

"Father's reprimand is correct."

Even the supreme ruler Li Tiancheng could only behave obediently in front of the retired emperor.

"Who is that black guy?"

"Hei Zi?" Li Tiancheng followed the Emperor Emeritus's gaze and saw that the Emperor Emeritus was actually asking about Li Zheng.

“Father, that’s Zheng’er.”

"What? You mean the fourth brother, Li Zheng?"

"Yes, Father."

The Emperor Emeritus could hardly believe his eyes. Although he hadn't seen his grandson in a long time, he remembered that Li Zheng was quite fair-skinned.

This dark-skinned man in front of me is almost as bad as a Kunlun slave, how could he be a prince?

"Zheng'er, come here, let your imperial grandfather take a look at you."

Because of Li Zheng's change, Li Tiancheng's opinion of him has also changed significantly.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"It really is Li Zheng. How come you're so dark-skinned?"

When asked by his grandfather, Li Zheng recounted his trip to the South China Sea in detail, and also told his grandfather, who had long lived in the deep palace, many interesting stories about the South China Sea.

Having not been in contact with the outside world for many years, how could the retired emperor resist such temptation?

"Zheng'er."

"Yes, Grandfather."

"You said you wanted to go to the South China Sea."

"Yes, Grandfather."

Why do you think that way? Is the South China Sea more fun than the capital?

At this moment, both the retired emperor and the emperor were wondering: no matter how fun the South China Sea is, is it more fun than the capital?

"Grandpa Emperor, Father Emperor, I want to go to the South China Sea, not because the South China Sea is fun."

Li Zheng suddenly became serious, as if what he was about to say was very serious and formal.

"Why is that?"

“When I was in the South China Sea, I found a map at Zhou Wufu.”

"A map? A treasure map?"

"No, Zhou Wu said it was a world map."

"A world map! Is what you're saying true? A world map?"

Maps were highly sought-after items in this feudal society.

The Great Dragon is already considered a relatively developed country in this era, but even now it can only barely piece together a simple map of the Great Dragon territory.

Li Zheng said that Zhou Wu already had a world map, which was quite surprising.

Before anyone could speak, Li Zheng continued.

“Looking at the world map, I see that my Great Dragon is not the center of the world. To our north is Dazi, which has now been destroyed by my Great Dragon. To the east is Gaoli, which is now also part of my Great Dragon’s territory. However, across the sea to the east is Fusang, which currently has some arms trade with us.”

Li Tiancheng nodded. He knew that Dalong's outdated arms inventory had all been sold to Japan by Zhou Wu.

"There are only a few scattered island nations in the south, which pose no threat to our Great Dragon. However, there are many countries in the west, and we do not yet know the situation. The South China Sea is right in the middle of our Great Dragon's maritime traffic. Zhou Wu said that by guarding the South China Sea, we can prevent other countries from invading our Great Dragon from the sea. And the South China Sea is also a good supply point for our Great Dragon when it goes out to sea."

"So I want to go to the South China Sea to help it develop as soon as possible and protect the borders of my great dragon."

Li Tiancheng never knew that the South China Sea was so important to the Great Dragon. He even thought it was too far away, so he bestowed it upon Zhou Wu as a fiefdom. Zhou Wu not only did not despise it, but also treasured it. It is estimated that Zhou Wu knew the importance of the South China Sea at that time.

However, after Zhou Wu took over the South China Sea, he never asked the court for help once. In fact, he even used the South China Sea to support the court. Li Tiancheng now felt even more guilty towards Zhou Wu.

"Zheng'er, now that you've said that, even Grandpa Huang is quite interested in the South China Sea and wants to go and see it."

The moment the Emperor Emeritus uttered his words, Li Tiancheng cried out inwardly in dismay.

However, the retired emperor seemed to understand that he might have difficulty even leaving the palace, let alone going to the distant South China Sea, so he immediately reassured everyone.

"However, I'm getting old and probably can't withstand the arduous journey. By the way, what bananas did you mention? Send some to Grandfather. He's getting old and his teeth aren't as good, so he likes soft and chewy foods."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, your children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Don't keep them by your side all the time. Keeping them around isn't necessarily a good thing."

The retired emperor seemed to be implying something, while Li Tiancheng fell into deep thought.