. I’m just a brother, not even a prince. In your Qin terms, I’m just an ordinary prince. How could I agree to this I need to communicate with my people first.”"It's alright, take your time communicati...Chapter 100: Beating Up the Ninth Prince

"Not outrageous!"

Li Chen laughed in anger.

You've grown accustomed to fine clothes and delicacies, yet you dare to utter such callous words as "If you don't eat meat, why not" This palace asks you, do you even recall the origin of this phrase

The Ninth Prince immediately replied, “Remember, this was hundreds of years ago when Emperor Wen of Jin faced a nationwide famine. When officials reported that there was no grain to eat, the emperor asked, 'If there is no grain to eat, why not eat meat'”

"means... It means this person is unaware of the suffering of the common people and lacks awareness."

"At least you didn't go to school for nothing."

Li Chen let out a cold snort and said, "Since the shelters being built for the disaster victims are only meant to provide basic protection from the cold, there's no need to be particular about the materials or craftsmanship. As long as they can shelter people from wind and rain, what more money is needed"

"You say the soaring grain prices are getting at something, but even factoring in this expense, sixty thousand taels is far too much."

After finishing his words, Li Chen took up his pen and changed the amount on the document to one hundred thousand taels, then tossed it back to the Ninth Prince.

“As for transporting grain and building shelters, those disaster victims could contribute themselves. That would save a lot of labor costs. At the very least, we could send those criminals from the Ministry of Justice prison to do hard labor. There are many ways to solve this problem. The most I can approve is this number for you.”

Seeing himself about to have 600,000 taels, he ended up being only allocated 100,000 taels.

If I brought this result back, Mother would be terribly disappointed in herself again.

Thinking of this, the Ninth Prince gritted his teeth and said: "Your Highness, please show mercy and at least grant thirty thousand taels. Otherwise, my younger brother will be unable to explain to Mother when he returns."

Li Chen's eyes were cold as he said, "If the Empress has any grievances, have her come to this palace herself and speak. Now leave."

The Ninth Prince's anger flared, and he looked directly at Li Chen. "Does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince not want his younger brother to do a good job with disaster relief, so that all the people will say that his younger brother is kind, that he deliberately makes things difficult"

Bang!

Li Chen was furious, slamming his palm on the table and roaring, "Audacity!"

A deafening roar shook the Ninth Prince's body. When Li Chen's gaze, brimming with unparalleled majesty and icy coldness, landed on him, the Ninth Prince finally realized the terror.

Now, Li Chen, having been in power for a long time, exudes an air of absolute authority, like a ruler surveying his kingdom, which grows stronger with each passing day.

At this moment, Li Chen's anger filled the entire Xizheng Hall. The air was heavy with his imposing presence, like a thunderclap erupting silently, leaving the Ninth Prince stunned and disoriented. He saw in Li Chen the shadow of his father.

With a thud, the Ninth Prince instinctively knelt on the ground, trembling as he said, "Your Highness, please calm your anger. It was my younger brother's presumptuousness! My younger brother has been reckless!"

"If this palace wanted to make things difficult for you, I wouldn't have agreed to Zhao Xuanji pushing you out in the first place!"

"Do you and Zhao Xuanji both think that this palace compromised out of pressure from court politics But there are still the Fourth, Sixth, and Eighth Princes ahead of you. You're the youngest, so why must you come forward"

"Or do you think Zhao Xuanji chose you, and this palace has no choice but to agree"

“What I truly value is your willingness to handle this matter. Zhao Xuanji and the other ministers and departments will fully cooperate.”

"For the sake of those disaster victims finding peace sooner, I can make concessions, but these concessions have nothing to do with you, Li Wu!"

Fixated on the Ninth Prince, Li Chen said after finishing his words, without even looking at him who was trembling all over, he rebuked: "Get out and take ten lashes yourself!"

The Ninth Prince's face was ashen, but he didn't dare utter a word. He slowly retreated.

Moments later, sounds of wood striking buttocks and the Ninth Prince's cries for pain could be heard outside Xizheng Hall.

After a while, the screams stopped. Chen Tong, the deputy commander of the Jinyiwei executioners, entered the room and whispered, "The news reached Empress Dowager, she sent people to take away the Ninth Prince."

"Can you fill a whole board" Li Chen asked.

Chen Tong's face stiffened, and he whispered, "Only, only seven boards."

"Damn it!"

Li Chen kicked Chen Tong over with one foot and strode out of Xi Zheng Dian, saying, "Go stop that person. Even if the Heavenly King himself came, he'd still have to take ten lashes!"time. The prince who was once a mere babe, knowing nothing but crying, eating, and sleeping, has now grown up and even deliberately sent me out to greet you.”Everyone could hear the resentment in King...