mperial court is plagued by its own scandals. I can bear it no longer. I have purged numerous officials from the Ministry of Punishments and replaced them with capable individuals. I trust you are all...Chapter 335: We Need to Grease Some Palms Below

As the construction department of the entire Qin Empire, the Ministry of Works was responsible for more than just overseeing public works projects like irrigation systems, government buildings, and official roads. It also had the important duty of managing the construction and maintenance of residences for members of the imperial family and nobility.

Like the newly established Zhao Wangfu, despite Li Chen's decree that funds be sourced by Zhao Tai, once the money arrived, it was still managed by the Ministry of Works.

Therefore, the construction of the entire Zhao Mansion was always under the responsibility of the Ministry of Works.

But this doesn't mean that everyone else is blind.

The entire construction of the Zhao Wangfu was under constant scrutiny from the very beginning. Moreover, the Ministry of Works wasn't something Guan Zhiwei could simply dictate. Therefore, Li Chen's order presented a formidable challenge for Guan Zhiwei.

But... looking at Li Chen sipping his tea with his head down, Guan Zhiwei realized this was the first important task entrusted to him by the Crown Prince. This matter, he had to do it if he could, and he had to find a way to do it even if he couldn't.

Once rejected, there may not be another chance.

"Your humble servant... obeys your command, and will surely not fail to fulfill your trust."

Gazing at Guan Zhiwei with a knowing smile, Li Chen said, "Alright, this is a tough situation. I know you're struggling. From the start, I never intended for you to fight this battle alone."

"Wait outside. You take this imperial decree to find Sān Bǎo, and the Dongchang will cooperate with you."

Guan Zhiwei immediately beamed with joy upon hearing this, cupping his hands and saying, "With the cooperation of the Dongchang, this task will be within my grasp. Thank you, Your Highness, for your understanding."

"Since you are doing things for this palace, this palace will naturally be considerate of you."

Li Chen pondered for a moment, turned his head to glance at Xu Changqing, and said, "I heard that you have a distant nephew who came to live with you some time ago"

Xu Changqing immediately said: "Indeed, I am ashamed to say that my nephew's hometown has been struck by disaster. He has come here to seek refuge now. As his uncle, I cannot just ignore him. He once passed the township examination and is considered a scholar, but he failed the provincial examination. I plan to have him study diligently in my home and prepare for the next provincial examination."

Li Chen raised an eyebrow and said, "You're at least a minister of household affairs. Can't you even arrange a job for your nephew"

Xu Changqing's face turned bitter upon hearing this.

He's got the connections to make it happen. Being in the Eastern Palace gives him clout, and with his years of experience building a network, securing a good future for his nephew wouldn't be a problem.

But he dared not.

He knew that the Crown Prince was a man who could not tolerate even a speck of sand in his eyes.

This matter can be big or small. If the higher-ups are considerate, it'll just be a passing joke.

Right now is a crucial time when the prince and the cabinet are locked in a fierce battle. If I were to be caught aiding in this struggle and cause the prince to lose face, then I would surely be the one to suffer the consequences.

A nephew, no matter how close, is never as important as one's own descendants.

Li Chen saw through Xu Changqing's little scheme at once. He said, "Enough with the scheming. Just give the Ministry of Officials a heads-up tomorrow and tell them to add one more spot for this year's palace exam. Say it's on my orders."

Xu Changqing, not overwhelmed with joy, thanked him. Li Chen then added, “The opportunity is for your nephew. Whether he can grasp it depends on himself. Don't think that when the palace exam comes, I will let him off easy again. You, Xu Changqing, have been diligent and hardworking these past few months, enduring much hardship. This time, you deserve the credit.Chapter 540: The Secret of the Pope and the Saintess