rned the intelligence in the candlelight. After a moment's thought, he smiled and said: "This younger brother of mine has made progress, hasn't he"Chen Tong bowed respectfully at the side, not daring...Chapter 8: Slapping the Ninth Prince

Li Chen's words turned Li Xuan's face pale.

He instinctively said, "I, I haven't treasoned. It was Mother and the teacher who allowed me to see them. They told me to learn about state affairs in advance..."

As soon as these words were spoken, Wei Xian, who was kneeling on the side with blood flowing profusely, almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

This Ninth Prince, how could he be so useless, to have uttered such words so easily.

"Learn about national affairs in advance"

Li Chen seized Li Xuan's handle, his voice rising two points, "What state affairs are you learning in advance Are you hoping for the Emperor to pass away so that you can usurp my position"

Li Xuan finally realized what utter nonsense he had spoken.

His face turned pale, and with a thump, he knelt down, panic etched all over him, "Second brother, I, I didn't mean it..."

As soon as his eyes caught sight of the unfolding situation, it became drastically more serious. Not far away, Li Xuan's personal maid quietly exited the Imperial Supervisor's Office and rushed towards the Empress's palace.

"Do you mean that This palace will settle accounts with you later."

When Li Chen finished speaking, he turned his head and scolded Sanbao eunuch: "Are you deaf Or do you want the palace to do it myself"

Hearing this, San Bao eunuch immediately stood up and ordered two Jinyi guards to drag Wei Xian away.

Wei Xian's wound was still bleeding, blood flowing freely from it as he was dragged across the ground. A long trail of blood marked his path. All he could do was scream: "Your Highness, spare me! I was only following orders. Please, have mercy!"

Wei Xian's voice gradually faded away, disappearing little by little.

Li Chen entered the Hall of the Imperial Supervisor without expression.

At this moment, a group of eunuchs belonging to the Imperial Household Department were kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear.

They had witnessed with their own eyes how Wei Xian, the powerful and domineering eunuch who ruled the Imperial Household Department with an iron fist, was dragged away by Li Chen and executed in just a few words. Now, they were filled with fear and trepidation, unable to even look at Li Chen.

"Three Treasures."

Li Chen called out softly.

The eunuch Sān Bǎo immediately knelt beside Li Chen, awaiting his fate.

"Within this Imperial Household Department, who isn't Wei Xian's associate Who could possibly replace him"

Upon hearing this, Sanzhao took a deep breath and cautiously replied, "Reporting to His Royal Highness, this matter is too big. This servant dare not speak recklessly."

"Aren't you using this palace as a shield to get rid of Wei Xian This palace has already killed that eunuch. Don't you seize the opportunity and take control" Li Chen said calmly.

This sentence instantly turned San Bao's heart from ice cold to clammy hands.

He immediately threw himself to the ground, his forehead touching the earth. The notorious Dongchang factory official, who was feared and hated by all civil and military officials, was now as humble as an old dog.

"Your Highness, I dare not..."

"Alright, this palace is too lazy to talk to you anymore. Remember, this palace only likes loyal and useful dogs. Otherwise, Wei Xian's fate could easily happen to you."

"All the officials and nobles fear you because your father gave you power. You are a eunuch, you will always be a eunuch. Your power comes from the royal family. Now that my father has given me the regency, I have the power to decide your life or death. Take care of yourself."

"You will present a list of the eunuchs still available in the Imperial Household Department, and this Palace will select a new chief scribe. As for the rest, they are likely all followers of Wei Xian as well. They may as well go with him."

After Li Chen finished speaking, he ignored the cries and pleas for mercy that echoed through the Imperial Household Department from the eunuchs, instead turning his gaze to Li Xuan who stood trembling at the doorway.

Li Xuan heard Li Chen's summons and walked cautiously to Li Chen's side.

Before he could utter a word, Li Chenyang slapped Li Xuan across the face with his hand.

Pop.

A sharp and loud slap resonated through the air, leaving Li Xuan's fair face instantly red and swollen. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

The sound of the slap was so loud that it even drowned out the cries and pleas for mercy from the eunuchs.

Li Xuan was completely stunned.

He didn't expect Li Chen to dare to hit him directly.

"You and I are half-brothers, and this palace doesn't wish to harm you. However, some things aren't yours to touch. This palace promises you a peaceful and prosperous life, but if you harbor other intentions, this palace will make sure you die a terrible death."

Since ancient times, the royal family has been the most ruthless.

Before the throne, even brothers born of the same parents would turn against each other.

Li Chen transmigrated through time, he was very clear, himself could only climb towards that dragon throne, anyone could not stop him, otherwise, the one who would die would be himself.

Whether for the supreme power of the world or for his own life, Li Chen decided that whoever dared to covet the throne would be utterly destroyed.

Li Xuan trembled all over.

The pain on his face was nothing compared to the bone-chilling fear that gripped him from Li Chen's icy gaze.

At the same time, a deep sense of humiliation and anger welled up inside Li Xuan, making his eyes bloodshot.

Li Chen remained expressionless. He wished Li Xuan would clash with him right now. Considering the reason behind Li Xuan reading the imperial decree, he could directly have Li Xuan killed. Even then, the Empress and Zhao Xuance wouldn't be able to save him.

Just then, a palace maid arrived with a squad of guards in a hurry.

"I have seen the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince. I, Li Cuier, am a personal maid to the Empress. The Empress sends her imperial decree requesting that the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince immediately go to Fengxi Palace to meet with her."

The arrival of the Empress' imperial decree dashed Li Chen's hopes.

At the same time, Li Xuan also regained some rationality.

"Your humble servant will obey," Li Xuan hastily said.

Li Chen said lightly, "Lead the way."

Watching Li Chen's departing figure, Sanbao eunuch slowly rose from the ground and let out a long sigh of relief.

He was the Eunuch of Dongchang, and with a single movement from the Jinyi Guards, all civil and military officials trembled in fear.

Except for Zhao Xuanji and those around him, this factory director couldn't move. No one else was not afraid of him.

But Sanbao also knew, as Taizong Li Chen had said, that his power came from the royal family. Once the royal family abandoned him, there was no need for them to do anything; those civil and military officials would instantly tear him to shreds.

It was precisely because of this that he could only cling desperately to the emperor's side.

"The prince... is truly frightening."

The eunuch, San Bao, took a deep breath and muttered: "Perhaps everyone has underestimated the Prince's abilities... So decisive in his killings, yet every strike is justified. I fear anyone would find it hard to argue against him..."

"The factory director."

A Jinyiwei guard came to Sanbao's side and glanced at the eunuchs crying in the Si Li Jian, then whispered, "These people..."

"Didn't you hear the Crown Prince Kill them all except for the names I mentioned."

Sān Bǎo gave those eunuchs a cold glance and said nonchalantly.

Inside the Fengxi Palace.

In the Imperial Harem.

Dressed in a phoenix crown and empress's robes, Zhao Qinglan sat on the throne. As a mother of the country, she possessed an air of nobility that was unparalleled.

Perhaps it was the nobility that came with her status, or perhaps she was simply the most noble woman in the world. In any case, Zhao Qinglan, adorned in her empress's robes, simply sat there, her bearing impeccable, inspiring awe and reverence from everyone who beheld her. No one dared to harbor even a sliver of disrespect towards her. a moon-white silk robe, his hair styled in a scholar's bun. A jade-like hairpin, precious and elegant, adorned his hairband, exquisite yet not ostentatious or vulgar.The lining is a pale ivory long s...