e within the court. He has tasked our Dongchang with handling this matter. From today onwards, no one is allowed to take a break or request leave. Even if they die, they must remain at their posts."An...Chapter 102: Brotherhood

The empress's procession was accompanied by twenty-eight guards carrying swords, marching in front and behind her. These twenty-eight guards were to protect the empress at all costs. Anyone who dared to bump into them, regardless of their status - from the highest nobleman to the humblest commoner - would be killed first and reported later.

Inside the guard of honor, sixteen eunuchs flanked the imperial palanquin, each carrying a pair of ceremonial items such as walking staffs, bone-inlaid staffs, gold maces, and clappers.

Closest to the phoenix chariot were eight maidservants from the palace, holding fans, red embroidered round parasols, blue embroidered round parasols, and red lanterns as they followed behind.

Magnificent and opulent, the phoenix palanquin resembled a miniature traveling palace. It was crafted entirely of gilded metal. The Empress sat regally within, adorned with a four-phoenix crown, her cloud-shaped hairstyle decorated with four phoenix hairpin flowers, and clad in a hundred phoenix robe, a crimson wide-sleeved garment, and a crimson cape embroidered with gold threads and phoenixes.

"Long live the Empress, long live, long live!"

Li Chen was also seeing the empress in full Han Dynasty imperial regalia for the first time, with a complete entourage and guards. He was amazed to the extreme, and his eyes grew hot with desire.

Right now, it's just not his fault.

"Your humble son greets his mother."

What is the utmost honor.

This is it.

Zhao Qinglan sat majestically in the Phoenix Palanquin. As soon as Li Chen intercepted the Ninth Prince outside the East Palace, someone with a sharp mind had already sent her a message.

She rushed over, but it was still too late. Her trusted maidservant had already been executed by Li Chen.

Her phoenix eyes held a cold glint, Zhao Qinglan sat like a goddess on the clouds, she looked at Li Chen and said: "Dong Mei is a maid close to my heart. You say you will execute her, putting me where "

Li Chen said indifferently: "That maidservant publicly clashed with this prince. This prince's punishment is to strictly enforce rewards and punishments, establish rules, and uphold justice."

Zhao Qinglan said angrily, "So I should praise you"

Li Chen said calmly, "As the Crown Prince acting as regent, everything I do is what I should be doing."

"Great!"

Zha Qinglan laughed with fury.

She knew that even though Dong Mei had spoken out, she was just a maidservant and couldn't possibly threaten the prince.

Even if Li Chen didn't offer any reason, and killed Dong Mei, he would have done so. After all, the difference in status between a maidservant and a prince was like heaven and earth. There was no way for her to question the prince.

She pointed at the Ninth Prince, who was bound and miserable, still whimpering in pain, and said to Li Chen: "Since you are the Crown Prince acting as regent, you should respect elders and take care of the younger. Is this how you protect your younger brother—with ropes and planks"

"Since the founding of the Qin Dynasty, it has always been ruled with filial piety. As a crown prince, you should treat your brothers with kindness and respect. But now, you are so cruel to your own siblings. Although your father is unconscious, this palace is still here. How dare you act recklessly!"

Today's Zhao Qinglan is different from before.

She seemed prepared to confront Li Chen head-on.

In fact, as long as she was not in a private, secluded setting with just the two of them, Empress Zhao Qinglan did indeed possess an unparalleled advantage.

Because of identity.

Li Chen looked at Zhao Qinglan, who was incredibly domineering, and he really felt a headache coming on.

That old scoundrel Zhao Xuanji must have said something to Zhao Qinglan, he needs her to make a noise in the palace.

Even, the Ninth Prince coming to find her alone, there was an eight out of ten chance that he would anger her and be punished. The prohibition was likely intentional between father and daughter.

Otherwise, how do you explain the fact that the Empress's procession takes two to three hours just to prepare

They planned from the beginning to use the Ninth Prince, aiming to diminish their influence and prestige within the imperial court.

Having figured these things out, Li Chen couldn't let Zhao Xuanji have his way.

Li Chen looked up, met Zhao Qinglan's gaze with indifference, and said, "If the Qin Dynasty hadn't ruled the world with filial piety, if brothers hadn't treated each other with respect, this incompetent younger brother of mine would have been beheaded long ago."after a moment of contemplation.Li Chen's face showed just the right amount of embarrassment and shame, then he said: "To be honest, it was King Zhao, Li Yinhou."Huangji Tian frowned.Although he was a...