ok one last deep look at Li Chen before leaving. Her gaze lingered for a moment on Zhao Rui, then she turned and walked away.After they left, Jin Luyao immediately came over to say goodbye."Your Highn...Chapter 7: Blood Bath at the Imperial Household Department

Outside, the conversation between the Dongchang Jinyiwei and Li Chen was clearly audible.

"He's dead... Chen Zhi is still dead."

Zhao Rui slowly closed her eyes. Though she was still warm in the blankets, she felt as if she were falling into winter.

She and Chen Zhi, although it was only Chen Zhi's unrequited love, were after all people Zhao Rui knew and was familiar with. But it was precisely such a person who was beaten to death right outside the palace.

Even, Zhao Rui felt that Li Chen had intentionally executed Chen Zhi in the open space outside the palace gate last night and then made love to her inside the palace.

She felt that Li Chen now was not only strange to her, but also frightening.

"No, I have to find a way to seek the Empress's help. I must deal with the Crown Prince..." Zhao Rui clenched the blanket and muttered to herself.

Two Jinyiwei guards had just left when the eunuch Sanbao arrived right behind them.

He brought a secret report and respectfully presented it to Li Chen's hands.

"Your Highness, your request has arrived."

Li Chen took it and looked. It indeed recorded in detail all the Ninth Prince's daily activities since last night, including where he was, who he met, and what he said, leaving no stone unturned. The level of detail was so precise that even the Ninth Prince himself might not remember things as clearly as this record.

"Not bad."

Li Chen nodded, he suddenly noticed something unusual.

Why does the Ninth Prince go to the Imperial Household Department first thing every morning

The eunuch, Sanbao, bowed his head and said in a submissive tone: "The Supervisor of Ceremonies is responsible for collating the memorials drafted by the cabinet ministers the previous day. According to the opinions of the cabinet ministers, they will be sealed with red ink and imperial seals before being sent out. Therefore, the Grand Tutor, under the guise of training the Ninth Prince, specially permitted the Ninth Prince to visit the Supervisor of Ceremonies every day to observe the memorials and learn about state affairs."

Li Chen was furious.

"I am the Crown Prince, and even the Regent Crown Prince! This Imperial Household Department dare not present the imperial edict to my desk but instead allows the Ninth Prince to see it. Is this how it is in Great Qin Did Zhao Xuanji, he, decide who the heir apparent should be He's decided it for the Ninth Prince"

The eunuch Siba bowed hurriedly and said, "Your Highness, please calm your anger. The head eunuch of the Imperial Ritual Department is a confidant of the Empress. For many years, he has managed the Imperial Ritual Department like an impenetrable fortress. Water cannot penetrate it. Moreover, the Empress supports him wholeheartedly. This matter is likely to require careful and long-term consideration."

Li Chen let out a cold snort and said, "Think long-term This palace never intended to waste time with them. What does it matter if the eunuchs in the Imperial Household Department write the decree If they are ignorant, just kill them. There are plenty of ambitious eunuchs in this palace who would take their place."

After finishing his words, Li Chen flicked his sleeve and said, "Let's go to the Imperial Ritual Bureau."

At this moment, outside the Imperial Supervisor's Office in the palace.

Though still a young boy, the Ninth Prince, through years of cultivation and education, has become elegant and noble in bearing.

“Your Highness, the Ninth Prince, please take your time. Tomorrow morning, I will have some important memorials compiled and ready for you to study state affairs.” Wei Xian, the Head Eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, said respectfully.

The Ninth Prince, Li Xuan, nodded and said, "Thank you, Eunuch. However, I haven't received my father's permission to read the imperial decree. If this gets out, it might lead to rumors. Moreover, with the Crown Prince currently governing in place of the Emperor, if he finds out, there will be even more trouble. So, let's keep a low profile and avoid making a fuss."

Wei Xian chuckled and said, "Your Highness, in the eyes of us servants, you are the best candidate. The Crown Prince is merely a few years older than you, taking advantage of being the eldest son. In terms of virtue, ability, and backing, you, who were personally nurtured by the Empress since childhood and tutored by Zhao, the current chief minister, are far superior to the Crown Prince."

A hint of triumph and satisfaction flashed in Li Xuan's eyes, but he said, "Don't talk nonsense. If this gets out, it might cause trouble."

Wei Xian's eyes lit up.

He always believed that with the support of the Empress and the Chief Minister, his chances were still great, even though the Crown Prince was currently regent. Compared to the Ninth Prince, the Crown Prince had nothing but his status as the eldest son. Even the power he held as regent was only given by the Emperor last night.

What if the Emperor suddenly passed away

This government, isn't it still up to the chief minister And in the palace, isn't it still up to the empress

What's so great about a prince anyway.

So he was very keen to get closer to the Ninth Prince, otherwise he wouldn't dare risk his head by showing the Ninth Prince a decree that had only been seen by emperors and cabinet ministers since ancient times.

And at this moment, the Ninth Prince's words clearly set himself apart from those 'outsiders'.

“The Ninth Prince is right, this servant has been too talkative. This servant has been too talkative.”

Wei Xian said, and patted his own mouth gently with his palm twice.

Li Xuan said, "Well, it's getting late. I'm going to pay my respects to my mother."

As Li Xuan's words fell, a loud cry from the eunuch came from outside the Imperial Supervisor's Office.

"His Royal Highness has arrived!"

The chanting still echoed in the air, Li Xuan's face paled with alarm. Before he could react, Li Chen strode towards him.

All the palace maids, eunuchs, and guards surrounding him knelt down to greet the Crown Prince.

"My younger brother has met the Prince."

"I have seen the Crown Prince."

Li Xuan and Wei Xian, with gritted teeth, stepped forward to greet him.

Li Chen's cold gaze swept over Li Xuan before settling on Wei Xian.

He didn't say anything about dismissing the courtesy, so Wei Xian could only kneel on the ground. As time passed, Wei Xian began to gradually feel a sense of danger, and his body couldn't help but tense up.

Li Xuan frowned. As Li Chen's younger brother, he didn't have to kneel and kowtow, but at this time, Li Chen remained silent, offering him no chance to speak.

"Wei Xian, how many years have you been the chief eunuch of the Imperial Ritual Bureau" Li Chen asked calmly.

"Reporting to His Royal Highness, thanks to the Emperor's gracious favor, I have been serving as a palace scribe for four years now." Wei Xian knew that Li Chen was bound to be causing trouble, and he acted with meticulous propriety in every word and deed, not daring to give Li Chen any handle.

Li Chen let out a cold snort and walked up to Wei Xian.

He suddenly kicked Wei Xian in the face.

This kick landed solidly.

Wei Xian let out a scream, his face met with a brutal kick from Li Chen's foot. His nose was instantly broken, blood gushing from the wound.

A sour and sharp pain surged into his mind, Wei Xian collapsed to the ground, screaming: "Prince, why is this!"

"Why is that"

Li Chen sneered: "This palace is the Crown Prince, regent for the Emperor. The Imperial Decree clearly states that all military and state affairs must be handled by this palace. Seeing this palace is like seeing the Emperor himself. You, a mere eunuch in charge of calligraphy in the Imperial Ritual Bureau, dare to defy the decree Today, even if I strip you bare, no one will dare say a word. If I kick you, will you still dare question me"

Pain stimulated the raging fire, Wei Xian's eyes filled with malice.

He glared at Li Chen with a venomous look in his eyes and said resentfully, "I am but a thing like a dog. The Crown Prince can do whatever he wants to me, kill or cut me up, and I naturally cannot resist."

"But I was personally appointed by the Emperor, approved by the Empress, and trusted by the chief minister of the Inner Cabinet. The Crown Prince killed me for no reason at all! My lowly life means nothing, but the Crown Prince must give an explanation to the Empress, wouldn't you say"

Li Chen smiled coldly and said, “You dare to use the Empress and the cabinet to pressure this palace This palace thinks that you eunuch have climbed too high.”

"Do you think I, the Empress, would care about what the Empress Dowager and the court say and compromise with you You aren't worthy!"

After finishing his words, Li Chen's eyes narrowed, and a murderous glint flashed in them.

"Let someone in."

The eunuch San Bao immediately stepped out from behind Li Chen and knelt on the ground.

"I am here, my lord."

The moment Wei Xian saw Sanbao the eunuch, he widened his eyes in shock and anger, exclaiming, "Sanbao! It was you who sabotaged things!"

Sān Bǎo, the eunuch, remained impassive, as if he had heard nothing at all.

"Drag him down and have him executed. This Imperial Supervisor, since he won't listen to this palace, then there's no need for him anymore."

Li Chen's single sentence made Wei Xian finally realize that Li Chen had no intention of playing those political games of compromise with him.

It's possible that, as Li Chen said, he simply isn't heavy enough yet.

Wei Xian was terrified to the extreme, and immediately said to Li Xuan: "Prince Jiu, save me! Prince Jiu!"

Li Xuan didn't expect Li Chen to be so ruthless. He gritted his teeth and said, "Second Brother, Wei Xian is after all an old man of the palace. Over so many years, he hasn't had any credit but has certainly put in his effort. Moreover, he is a personal eunuch appointed by Father Emperor. Killing him like this, I'm afraid there will be discussions from the former dynasty..."

Before Li Xuan could finish his words, he saw Li Chen looking at him with icy eyes.

Li Xuan's heart pounded in his chest, and the words that were about to come out were swallowed back down.

Li Chen's next words made Li Xuan's liver and guts tremble, his hands and feet turning ice cold.

"Do you know that any prince, without the Emperor's permission, who dares to peek at imperial edicts, can be charged with treason"Chapter 587: Picking a Fight