We'll have you impersonate the Crown Prince and create a prosperous era for the Great Qian Dyna

Qin Zhiang was stunned.

What is this?

Do you want a fiefdom in a war-torn area?

Do you need a force of 10,000 soldiers?

Should the National Protection Army be given preferential treatment?

What's the use of this?

Can they seize the throne?

Qin Zhi'ang chuckled and remained silent.

In his view, this was just a minor skirmish.

Zhou Rui was also taken aback.

"What do you intend to do with all this?"

Zhou Tiancheng remained calm.

"This is what I promised my brothers. I originally planned to talk about it after we won the championship, but now that people have died, I'm telling you in advance so that the fallen brothers can have a good final resting place."

"Back when I was recruiting soldiers in Kyoto, no one was willing to follow me. These people were transferred from prison. What they craved most was the respect of others."

"I promised them that if they won, I would give them this honor. I never imagined that they would be willing to give their lives for me for this honor. More than thirty people died, but not one of them backed down!"

"They've gone to such lengths, how could I go back on my word? If it weren't for them, the one standing here now wouldn't be the Crown Prince of Daqian, but a dead Zhou Tiancheng!"

Zhou Rui sighed, having already made up his mind.

Since these people saved the Crown Prince, why not give them a special honor?

"Granted!"

"Does Your Highness have any other requests? Please tell us all at once."

Zhou Rui gestured to Zhou Tiancheng to ask for some more compensation.

After all, these things are indeed rather small-scale.

Zhou Tiancheng thought for a moment and then gave his answer.

"I want to regain control of the Imperial Household Department's operations."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Rui was taken aback.

He even began to suspect that the Crown Prince was an idiot!

So, I've given you the position of Minister of Justice, and instead of assigning your own people to the court, you want the power to allocate resources to the Imperial Household Department. What are you trying to do?

But what is the truth?

The problem is that Zhou Tiancheng doesn't have any capable people at his disposal. Even if the position of Minister of Justice, a third-rank official, were to become vacant, he wouldn't have anyone who could fill the vacancy!

However, the authority to dispatch troops in the Imperial Household Department is different.

This is real money!

Zhou Tiancheng looked exhausted.

"Father, let me be frank. I'm out of money. Two thousand taels a month is not enough to support the army. I even sold my beloved wild beasts because of this."

"I heard before that the power to manage the Imperial Household Department was handed over to Consort Liu. Consort Liu has embezzled a lot of money. This power to manage the department is mine. It's better for me to handle the money myself than to let someone else embezzle it."

Well-reasoned and supported by evidence!

In short, they want money.

Moreover, he openly told everyone, "I'm going to embezzle, so what?"

Upon hearing this, the civil and military officials lowered their heads and pretended not to have heard.

Qin Zhiang's veins bulged out from listening.

Who was Consort Liu?

She's his own daughter!

The reason she doesn't have the surname Qin is because the surname Liu was bestowed by the Emperor. It was the Empress's surname, given by the Emperor in remembrance of the Empress and to express his affection for Consort Liu.

It should be noted that Consort Liu was originally just a palace maid of lowly status. If she hadn't gained Zhou Rui's favor, she would have died somewhere long ago.

As for the position of Empress, Zhou Rui never intended to give it to anyone else. Granting her the surname Liu was already Zhou Rui's recognition of Consort Liu. As for the title of Consort, it was a compensation that was gradually given to her later.

But this bestowal of a surname was also a signal from Zhou Rui to the people of the world.

Although the title of Empress was no longer conferred, Consort Liu's status was comparable to that of an Empress, almost equivalent to the mother of the nation.

Now, the Crown Prince is accusing Consort Liu of embezzlement in front of everyone, which is tantamount to digging up Qin Zhi'ang's roots!

Qin Zhi'ang couldn't hold back any longer and immediately spoke up.

"Your Highness, what proof do you have that you dare to slander the Imperial Concubine?"

Zhou Rui gave Qin Zhiang a cold look, which made Qin Zhiang shrink back on the spot.

He didn't wait for Zhou Tiancheng to object and made the decision directly.

"I grant your permission."

"Furthermore, Consort Liu is not worthy of the surname Liu; change her name back."

Qin Zhiang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, so cold that he shivered!

This is another signal.

Consort Liu is about to fall out of favor!

That makes sense.

Previously, a Hu woman from the palace had been easily taken away by a guard, and Zhou Rui had already become dissatisfied with Consort Liu.

Now the Crown Prince has brought Consort Liu's embezzlement into the open.

How could such a woman be worthy of the Empress's surname?

After Zhou Rui said that, Zhou Tianze's face turned pale.

The reason he has been able to get to where he is today is because Consort Liu is deeply favored by Zhou Rui.

Although he knew that Consort Liu could not replace the Empress in Zhou Rui's heart, he could use this to fight for the throne!

Now that Zhou Rui has turned against him and the Crown Prince is gradually gaining power, this is already a bad sign.

"Father! Please forgive Mother!"

Ignoring the fact that his nose was still bleeding, Zhou Tianze quickly knelt down and kowtowed to Zhou Rui.

Zhou Rui glanced at him, her eyes devoid of their usual warmth and appreciation, replaced only by coldness and indifference.

"Third brother, this matter is settled."

"Your mother was just a palace maid back then, and your maternal family rose from humble beginnings. If it weren't for me, how could you be where you are today?"

"Your mother was once virtuous and kind; I saw a resemblance to the Empress in her. But what has she done now? Do you want me to investigate each and every one of her deeds?"

Zhou Tianze shuddered and turned to glare at Zhou Tiancheng.

This fake prince is digging him out of his roots!

If Consort Liu were to fall out of favor, he dared not imagine how many princes like him would emerge, or how many palace maids like his mother would appear!

Without a doubt, they have paved the way, and many others will want to follow suit.

What if another woman wins Zhou Rui's favor? Wouldn't that mean there would be another Consort Liu and another Third Prince?

How could Zhou Tianze not be angry?

Unlike Zhou Tianze, Zhou Tiancheng narrowed his eyes slightly at this moment.

He mentally calculated his income situation.

With two thousand taels of silver per month, plus the authority of the Imperial Household Department to allocate funds, this place can provide at least twenty thousand taels of silver, right?

There is also the Drunken Spring Breeze.

With so much silver, there should be enough to support an army, right?

Just as he was lost in thought, Zhou Rui asked a question.

"Your Highness, don't you want to investigate this case yourself?"

Zhou Tiancheng then came to his senses. He glanced at Zhou Rui, then looked back at the corpses, and shook his head slightly.

"If I know I can't find anything, why should I even bother investigating?"

"Father, I must take my leave now. I need to see my brothers off."

He turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Zhou Rui sighed and silently shook his head.

On the contrary, the civil and military officials were all craning their necks, their faces full of frustration.

"The Crown Prince is foolish! His Majesty sent him to the Ministry of Justice to plant people there, why did he leave?"

"He just let such a good opportunity slip by?"

"If it were me, wouldn't I have the Minister of Justice firmly under my control? He's the head of a ministry, after all!"

Just as everyone was discussing this, a laugh reached their ears.

When they turned around, they saw that Zheng Rong had already stood up and was casually glancing at them.

"The Crown Prince doesn't have a single civil official under his command. Why is he meddling in the affairs of the Ministry of Justice? Is he waiting for you opportunistic people to fawn over him?"