Chapter 9: Waiting Online... Urgent...

Bai Muge and Chen Duolong, accompanied by a group of imperial guards, continued to raid the residences of other rebel officials. Meanwhile, the dozen or so guards who remained at the Southern Prince’s Mansion carried chests into the palace.

At this moment, Young Prince Li Chen had already assigned tasks in court and returned to the imperial study to review memorials. Princess Li Shixuan was at his side, accompanying him, though her gaze frequently drifted toward the doors of the hall. Clearly, her thoughts were wandering far beyond the confines of the palace.

Within the Tai Chi Hall of the Imperial Palace, in the imperial study, a eunuch hurried in, bowed deeply, and reported, “Your Majesty, Lord Bai has finished raiding the Southern Prince’s Mansion and ordered the inventory list to be delivered ahead.”

“Oh? Old Bai, that fellow, managed it so quickly?” Li Chen was momentarily surprised by Bai Muge’s speed. Yet, recalling Bai Muge’s decisiveness, he was soon at ease.

“Bring it in!” Li Chen quickly instructed the eunuch. He was impatient to see just how much silver his royal uncle, the Southern Prince, had embezzled during his two-year dominance over court affairs.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The eunuch answered and exited the hall.

Princess Li Shixuan’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, her gaze locked on the entrance, her excitement barely contained.

Li Chen, seeing her eager expression, couldn’t help but feel speechless.

“Old Bai isn’t even half as handsome as I am, and yet he’s somehow more charming? He’s got Shixuan so enthralled that her mind is elsewhere!”

As he pondered this, he saw an assistant statistician and several guards approaching with their heads lowered.

“Your servant greets Your Majesty.”

“We greet Your Majesty.”

“Rise,” Li Chen commanded with a regal wave of his sleeve.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” After another round of thanks, the group straightened from their bows.

Before Li Chen could ask, the assistant statistician respectfully stepped forward, bowing slightly.

“Your Majesty, the raid of the Southern Prince’s Mansion has been completed. All assets have been sent to the national treasury. Here is the inventory list for Your Majesty’s inspection.”

With a deferential gesture, he presented the list. The eunuch beside Li Chen quickly took it and handed it to the Young Prince.

Beside him, Li Shixuan, noticing that Bai Muge himself had not returned, softly asked, “Where is Lord Bai… my Muge?”

Though the assistant statistician did not know why the princess asked, he answered honestly, “Princess, Lord Bai and Lord Duolong are raiding the homes of other rebels. Lord Bai instructed us to return ahead and report to His Majesty.”

“Oh…” Li Shixuan’s disappointment was palpable. She fell silent, her delicate fingers twisting the sleeve of her dress distractedly.

Li Chen’s attention was entirely on the inventory list, oblivious to Li Shixuan’s unhappiness. As he scanned the enormous sums recorded, his expression shifted from shock to furious anger.

Bang!

Li Chen slammed the list onto his desk, seething, “So this is how it is, Southern Prince! You’ve embezzled more silver than is in my entire treasury!”

“Ah—”

Li Shixuan, startled from her reverie by his outburst, blinked and gazed at the memorials. When she saw the figures on the list, she was dumbstruck.

“There’s… so much!”

She gasped, covering her mouth, her eyes wide with astonishment.

“Hmph!” Li Chen snorted coldly, waving his sleeve. “Fortunately, this traitor has been eradicated, or the whole Tang Dynasty would have been squandered into destitution!”

Li Shixuan nodded obediently, fully agreeing with his words.

[But all of this is thanks to Muge…]

Thinking of Bai Muge, a smile involuntarily appeared on Li Shixuan’s cheeks.

Meanwhile, the assistant statistician and the guards, seeing Li Chen’s fury, felt a deep warning in their hearts—they must never, ever embezzle! Otherwise, their fate would surely be even worse than the Southern Prince’s.

Just then, one of the guards, seizing the moment of Li Chen’s anger, summoned his courage, stepped forward, and bowed, “Your Majesty, this humble servant has something to say—I’m unsure if it’s appropriate.”

Li Chen furrowed his brow, recovering from his anger, and glanced at the guard, then sat down again.

“Speak!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The guard replied, feigning hesitation, and finally said, “When we raided the Southern Prince’s Mansion, this humble servant witnessed Lord Bai take a golden robe from among the stolen goods.”

Hearing this, the assistant statistician and the other guards instantly felt dread.

“Is he about to expose Lord Bai for secretly pocketing the golden robe?”

“What should we do?”

“Will we all be implicated?”

Before anyone could stop him, Li Chen barked, “If you have something to say, spit it out! Don’t play games with me!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The guard trembled and hurriedly explained, “During the raid, I personally saw Lord Bai take a golden robe from the loot.”

Having delivered this news, the guard kept his head bowed, but inwardly he was secretly pleased.

“Bai Muge, you dared to kill my prince. This time, I’ll avenge him!”

He wouldn’t have dared reveal this if not for Li Chen’s anger, but now he felt fearless, knowing Li Chen despised corruption, especially from Bai Muge. Bai Muge had just helped assassinate the Southern Prince, yet now he had blatantly pocketed a golden robe. At such a crucial time, Bai Muge dared to embezzle—surely a path to ruin!

As expected.

Li Chen’s expression instantly hardened, his gaze icy.

“Chen Qing, did Bai Muge and Chen Duolong, during the raid, indeed take a golden robe from the stolen goods?” Li Chen questioned the assistant statistician.

The assistant statistician’s scalp tingled with fear.

The other guards trembled as well, terrified by the prince’s words.

What should they answer?

Waiting online…

Urgent…