Chapter 213: The Emperor's SwordChapter 11: The Prince's Filial Piety

After finishing his words, Li Chen looked at Xu Changqing and said faintly, "Now the Ministry of Household Affairs is missing a Shangshu. The opportunity has been placed before you. If you succeed, you will be the next Shangshu. If you can't handle these things well, this palace will replace you. Do you understand what this palace means"

Xu Changqing was overwhelmed with emotion, and knelt down, shouting loudly: "I, Xu Changqing, am willing to give my life for Your Highness!"

Throughout history, the pursuit of profit has driven people's hearts. What's more, leading a department as crucial as the Ministry of Revenue, responsible for managing the nation's finances and grain reserves, is power far exceeding what ordinary people could imagine.

After sending Xu Changqing away, Li Chen hadn't even had time to take a sip of tea when the Three Treasures arrived.

"Your Highness, the Dongchang has received word that the Xianchao embassy which arrived in the capital last month is currently active among various high-ranking officials, offering generous rewards to persuade the empire to send troops to Xianchao and help them resolve the crisis of being invaded by Toyo."

The report from the Three Treasures caused Li Chen to frown slightly.

At this juncture, the situation in Beijing was already complex, with various forces intertwined and forming a chaotic web. Every move had far-reaching consequences, and then the arrival of the Xianchao embassy added fuel to the fire...

"How long have they been in the capital city" Li Chen asked.

Samba bowed and reported, "It's been over half a month. The reason is that six months ago, the East瀛 attacked the Xian Dynasty. The Xian Dynasty was caught off guard and is currently in turmoil. They have already lost one-third of their territory. They sent an embassy to the empire for help, but the emperor was unwell and did not see them."

They must be getting impatient, with the war in China intensifying. That's why they are looking for officials in the government and trying to bribe them into doing what they want.

Li Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Very well. This palace is just about to chop off a few heads. It can both establish authority and plunder wealth to replenish the national treasury, but I'm short of an opportunity and reason. You have your Dongchang spies keep an eye on the envoy delegation. Record everything they meet with, every penny they spend, big or small. Let it ferment for a while, gather enough heads, and this palace will chop them all at once."

The three treasures respectfully replied, "We obey your command."

After sending off the three treasures, Li Chen set off for the Qianqing Palace.

The Great Emperor was still lying on his dragon bed, unconscious.

"How is the Emperor's health" Li Chen asked the Imperial Physician.

The imperial physician sighed and said, “The Emperor’s health is deteriorating day by day. He could stay awake for a quarter of an hour every day some time ago, but now he may not be able to wake up for two or three days.”

"How much longer can you hold on" Li Chen asked bluntly.

The imperial physician immediately knelt down and said, “Your Highness, I am truly unable to answer you. The patient's condition has reached this point, where medical skill is secondary. What matters most is the Emperor's willpower and...the blessing of heaven.”

"Alright, this palace understands. Go now."

Li Chen did not blame the imperial physicians too harshly. After letting them retreat, Li Chen sat down beside the dragon couch.

Looking at the emaciated Emperor Taixing, Li Chen remained silent.

He was a time traveler, and he had no feelings for the emperor of Da Xing. In a way, if the emperor hadn't died, he wouldn't have been able to ascend to the throne... But right now, he wasn't thinking about the emperor's condition. He was thinking about how to deal with the corrupt merchants who were stealing state funds tonight.

These merchants, taking advantage of the empire's declining power, colluded with local officials to forcibly consolidate land. They then used benefits to entice these officials onto their chariots, forming a solid and complex network of interests over the years.

Li Chen wanted to move against them, it wasn't a simple matter. Even one wrong move could immediately bring backfire from the imperial court, and in the end, he would lose more than he gained.

If we do not take action, the national treasury will be empty. We will then be unable to provide relief during disasters, and if we allow them to run rampant, the lives of the common people will only become more difficult.

At that time, it would be just like a dynasty before the passage of time. The common people would be impoverished, the imperial court even more so, but those corrupt officials and merchants would be fattening themselves on oil.

This is something Li Chen absolutely won't allow to happen.

Li Chen's contemplation, seen by onlookers, was thought to be the prince worrying about the emperor's health.

"Doctor Chen, His Royal Highness truly has a heart full of filial piety."

A physician whispered to his colleague.

Dr. Chen, the same imperial physician who had previously answered Li Chen's question, sighed and said, "Who would deny that Throughout history, imperial families have always been the most ruthless. However, I see the seriousness and worry in the Crown Prince's eyes right now, it doesn't seem to be a facade. The Emperor has many sons, but in the end, only the Crown Prince truly cares about the Emperor's health."

The companions beside him all nodded in agreement, believing they had glimpsed the secrets hidden within the prince's heart.

Just as Li Chen was pondering in the Qianyuan Palace, outside the palace, things were equally turbulent.

The death of Mount Reno, caused ripples that were like throwing a stone into the seemingly calm political waters of the capital city, which though turbulent, at least appeared to be peaceful.

The ripples this stone created instantly stirred the political landscape of the capital city.

Zhao Xuanji was the first to receive the news.

"Prime Minister, after Prince Regent executed Lei Nuo Shan, the Left Servant of the Household Department immediately went to the Eastern Palace. According to our sources, Xu Changqing and the Crown Prince talked for almost half an hour before coming out. However, we still don't know what they discussed."

Reporting to Zhao Xuanji was Qian Han, the Censor of the Ministry of Rituals from the capital city. He was a genuine official with the rank of Third Grade, which meant he held real power. At the local level, he would be a high-ranking official in charge of an area. However, before Zhao Xuanji, Qian Han's posture was very low, bowing his head and reporting respectfully.

Zhao Xuanji raised his teacup and gently shook it, scattering the floating tea leaves. He said, "First kill Wei Xian, then execute Lei Renshan. One is a eunuch who has been deeply rooted in the inner palace for over ten years, faintly able to rival the Three Treasures, and the other is the Minister of Household Affairs, leading one department, an official of the second rank. Our prince has very bloody means."

Qian Han hesitated for a moment and said, "Lei Yushan not only died, but now the Dongchang people are raiding his house. His family members have all been reduced to slaves, the men conscripted into the army, and the women forced into service as entertainers. This is equivalent to wiping out his entire family. Such thunderous measures have made many of us here quite apprehensive and uneasy, Chief Minister. Should we petition the court and ask the Prince to show some restraint"

"Convergence"

Zhao Xuanji shook his head and said, "He can't hold back at this time."

The Crown Prince has just taken over as Regent, a time when he is full of vigor and ambition. Anyone who tries to obstruct him will be ruthlessly eliminated as an obstacle. To openly oppose him at this time would be unwise.

Qian Han respectfully said: "I am incompetent. The prince is only the regent and has not yet ascended the throne, so how can he contend with all the officials Even the Emperor sometimes has to make concessions to the chief minister."

Zhao Xuanji put down his teacup and said, “The compromise between the Emperor and me was merely a political game, a concession made for the sake of the greater good. But the Crown Prince is different. As regent, he has a fiery temperament and wields great power. Who do you think he would listen to at this time”

"Furthermore, he hasn't ascended the throne yet. This is both his weakness and his advantage. If things become uncontrollable later on, he can push the emperor out and avoid taking on much responsibility himself. However, once he ascends the throne, he will have no one to rely on behind him. He will have to face everything head-on, which won't be as advantageous."

Qian Han asked, seemingly understanding but not fully, "Then how should we respond"

"Do nothing, and wait and see."

"He wants to kill the ministers. As long as they aren't core members of our group, let him kill them. If he wants to write an imperial decree, just show it to him. Ruling a country, does it really matter whether or not one reads the imperial decrees Even if he issues an order, the prince's orders won't leave the capital city. No one will execute them anyway; it would be nothing more than a joke."ther's limits.Negotiations are, by nature, about conflicting interests. It involves magnifying one's own advantages and exaggerating the opponent's weaknesses to secure greater benefits and pressure t...