ss. This matter is as difficult as ascending to heaven, but the potential rewards are also immense."With a slight narrowing of his eyes, Li Chen said, "A few days ago, I spoke with your father. Once M...Chapter 66: To Charge with a Crime

Li Chen's angry shout startled Xi Wanli.

His face instantly turned ashen, wanting to retort and sneer, but seeing Li Chen's raging anger and imposing figure at this moment, he realized the young prince before him was no longer the weak and timid one who could be bullied and manipulated at will.

Even Zhao Xuanji had to engage in political balancing and compromise with him.

And since the Prince has been in charge, numerous officials have lost their lives at his hands.

Upon thinking this, Xi Wanli bowed and gritted his teeth, saying: "This humble official dares not."

"You dare! This palace sees that you dare very much!"

Li Chen let out a cold smile and said, "As Minister of War, you have Liu Bin, the former deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, operating under your very nose. He robbed the imperial treasury of four million taels of silver! Such a major incident, while Liu Bin is undoubtedly the main culprit, as the head of a department, this palace considers you guilty of dereliction of duty and failing to control your subordinates. Do you have anything to say!"

Xi Wanli's pupils constricted, only then did he realize that the Prince was truly going to use him as a scapegoat. He hastily defended himself: "Your Highness, this matter I truly knew nothing about. That Liu Bin, being the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, held a high position and immense power. He was unruly and refused discipline. Although I command the Ministry of War, I have little control over the Imperial Guard. If he wanted to die, how could I possibly stop him"

Li Chen said coldly, "He holds a high position and authority. Does he have more power than you, the Zheng'er-pin Minister of War"

“Today, someone like Liu Bin can rob the treasury in the heart of the emperor's domain. Tomorrow, could Zhao Jianye, the commander of the Imperial Guard, directly lead a mutiny against the East Palace and kill me!”

Even the arrogant and unruly Shi Wanli paled at those words.

"Prince, this is wrongful accusation!"

"This palace will still add charges against you!"

As for Zhao Xuanji's confidante in the court, Li Chen had no intention of letting him go from the very beginning.

"You think that with the support of the cabinet and Zhao Xuanji, I wouldn't dare touch you Don't forget, if Zhao Xuanji had the confidence to make me submit, he wouldn't have sent you, a mere Minister of War, to beg for money first. That thousand million taels of silver is meant for disaster relief – no one can touch it, not even him. He should know that!"

"You're nothing but a pawn he uses to test this Palace's limits, a stone thrown to feel the water."

Li Chen let out a cold snort, watching Xi Wanli's face shift between green and red. He said in a frigid voice, "Come here!"

The eunuch Sandaobao immediately appeared outside Xizheng Hall and respectfully said, "I'm here."

"Pass the word down."

Li Chen looked at Xi Wanli and said indifferently: "Xi Wanli, the Minister of War, is disrespectful to the crown prince, does not uphold his duties, is lax in governing subordinates, and tolerates disaster. As a result, the traitor Liu Bin has been allowed to seize the imperial treasury. This shows his character and ability are inadequate to serve as the Minister of War. He is hereby immediately removed from office and investigated, exiled three thousand miles away, and forbidden to return to Beijing unless there is a general amnesty!"

Narrowing his eyes, Li Chen gazed at Xi Wanli whose face had turned pale, etched with fear and horror. "Draft this decree into writing," he added, "seal it with the Imperial Prince's seal, and send copies to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Cabinet, and the Generalissimo's Mansion. Let every official in the court know: anyone who pleads for mercy will be dealt with as a co-conspirator."

The three treasures respectfully kowtowed and said, "Your servant obeys."

Xi Wanli's face was pale with terror, he felt like the sky was about to collapse and roared: "I disagree! The Crown Prince is so harsh, I disagree!"

"Not convinced"

Li Chen let out a cold snort, his tone indifferent. "As the regent for the Emperor, my decree is imperial, it is heaven's will. What can you do if you disagree"d be described as a talented young prospect, then San Bao is already a seasoned master.This old geezer is deeper than anyone else.If not for the constraints of his eunuch status, this guy would undoub...