face was as pale as paper. He cried out, "I am innocent! I am wronged! All of this is nonsense, I absolutely have not accepted bribes, please, Your Highness, investigate this clearly!"At this moment,...Chapter 271: Please, Your Majesty, Take Back the Imperial Decree

The Zongrenfu was actually an idle position held by collateral branches of the imperial family. The salary and benefits were high, but there were few things to do, and most importantly, there was no power.

Their primary responsibility is to handle matters within the royal family.

Royal enfeoffment, funeral rites, and marriage.

Right now, there are no funerals or arranged marriages for eligible princes and princesses within the imperial family. Moreover, this matter also involves the eunuchs who are in charge of drafting imperial edicts and members of the cabinet, so it must be a bestowal of fiefdoms.

At any time, the enfeoffment of royals was a momentous occasion.

As for the enfeoffment of princesses, they usually started as county princesses at best, reaching a maximum rank of princess. They held no real power and didn't require councilor advisors, so only princes could be enfeoffed.

When a prince leaves, he's at the very least a prince of a region.

Everyone couldn't help but speculate, wondering which prince had been bestowed with such an honor—to be enfeoffed at this sensitive time.

Speculation is speculation, but things still need to be done.

At once, several people responded and went to summon others.

Li Chen's eyes fell on Zhao Rui.

Yet, I saw the latter's eyes were slightly red, lowering their head as if a wronged wife standing aside unnoticed, looking pitiful.

"Does Concubine Tai Zi have something to say" Li Chen asked.

Zhao Rui hurriedly replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, this concubine is unharmed. She was just demoted by the Empress Dowager to be a Liang Di, no longer the Crown Princess."

Li Chen's eyebrows shot up.

"Mother, you're being too lenient. Can the concubines of the Eastern Palace just be punished as they please"

This was too blunt, and saying it in public left Zhao Qinglan with no face to save.

She angrily said, "As the Empress, I can't even punish a noble consort"

"Subject to a fine."

Li Chen's voice was firm and resolute, "But if this palace doesn't agree, then it's null and void."

Zhao Qinglan was furious.

Li Chen is openly challenging her authority as empress.

"The Empress of this dynasty governs the entire Imperial Harem, not even your father would dare to interfere. So, are you dissatisfied with this Palace"

"Mother, you may return to the inner palace. The prince consort of the East Palace is my prince consort. If she is to be punished, it will be me who punishes her."

Li Chen's tone was harsh and cold. He stared coldly at Zhao Qinglan and said, "Please, Mother, take back your imperial decree."

He used a word of "please" but it didn't sound polite at all.

Zha Qinglan took a deep breath, she could tell that Li Chen was completely unwilling to back down on this matter.

She couldn't understand why, after compromising on the matter of bestowing a king title upon the Eighth Prince, Li Chen would now create complications at this crucial juncture for Zhao Rui.

Seeing the Crown Prince and the Empress locked in a standoff, Zhao Rui felt deeply moved. She spoke up, "Your Highness, it was this concubine who acted out of line first. It is only right for the Empress to punish me. I am unworthy of mention, but please, Your Highness, do not clash with the Empress. It's not worth it."

"This palace says it's worth it if it is."

Li Chen's eyes fixed on Zhao Qinglan, his voice icy: "Please, Empress, retract your imperial decree!"

From Zhao Qinglan's eyes, she could see that if she didn't agree, Li Chen would be willing to turn his face.

She was filled with rage, and a strange, indescribable feeling.

Looking at Zhao Rui with a lowered gaze and an expression of feigned emotion, Zhao Qinglan took a deep breath, her palm clenched tightly inside her sleeve. Her voice was cold as ice: "Since the Crown Prince insists, then this palace will withdraw the imperial decree. Zhao Rui, you must serve the Crown Prince well and not waste his affections!"

Zhao Rui lowered her head, avoiding Zhao Qinglan's murderous gaze.

She knew that after this incident, she and Zhao Qinglan were completely enemies.

Thinking of her own father, and then thinking of Li Chen supporting himself today, Zhao Rui gritted her teeth and said: "Concubine obeys the Empress's will."s still smarting from the humiliation, immediately jumped out and said with righteous indignation: "I object!"Li Chen frowned slightly, regretting that he hadn't just kicked the old geezer to death di...