The Crown Prince, East Palace.
A young eunuch with a delicate face stepped into the palace.
The Crown Prince sat in the shadows of the palace, his handsome face flickering between light and dark.
The young eunuch walked to a short distance from the Crown Prince before speaking.
"Your Highness, the Left Guard Commander sent word that the Sixth Prince entered the Convict Camp and killed Commander Pang to establish his authority."
"He then took away over a thousand Convict Camp soldiers, and even stripped the Left Guard Commander of his armor, taking that along too."
After he finished speaking, he saw that the Crown Prince still showed no reaction.
The young eunuch dared not inquire further and could only remain standing in place.
After an unknown amount of time, a soft voice came from the shadows:
"I underestimated Sixth Brother."
"Your Highness, the Sixth Prince is arrogant. Your Highness can take this opportunity to report his crime of brazen seizure to His Majesty."
The young eunuch's voice was not sharp; instead, it was quite magnetic, even possessing an… indescribable allure.
The Crown Prince sighed slightly: "Father Emperor will not intervene. News just came from the palace that Father Emperor is already displeased with me this time."
The young eunuch remained silent, and the hall became quiet once more.
"Bixie." The Crown Prince's gentle voice broke the silence, "Come here to me."
The young eunuch rose, swaying his graceful figure, and walked step by step into the shadows.
The Crown Prince on the throne took Bixie's hand, which was even fairer than a woman's, and pulled him with force, embracing him in his arms.
A perfectly appropriate blush and shyness appeared on Bixie's face.
Lightly sniffing Bixie's dark hair, a morbid pleasure appeared on the Crown Prince's face.
"You tell me, I just want Sixth Brother to die, so why won't Sixth Brother agree?"
"Why should Your Highness be angry? The Sixth Prince is merely a clown." Bixie walked behind the Crown Prince and gently massaged his shoulders, "Since His Majesty allowed him to go Outside the Pass, then let him go. Once he leaves the Imperial Capital, won't he be at Your Highness's mercy?"
The Crown Prince held Bixie's hand and sighed: "After what Old Six did today, His Majesty probably no longer has the intention to kill him."
"I, this Crown Prince of Great Qing, am merely a pawn of Father Emperor. How dare I defy the imperial will?"
Bixie looked at the Crown Prince with tender affection: "Then what does Your Highness plan to do?"
"Naturally, I must obey Father Emperor." The Crown Prince toyed with a strand of Bixie's hair that hung down.
"Tomorrow, I will personally go to the Ten Princes Residence. Since Father Emperor likes to see the show of brotherly harmony, then I will perform it for him!"
"My good Sixth Brother is going to his fief, and it won't do for him to be short on money. You go to the treasury again and withdraw five thousand taels as my apology to him."
......
"Five hundred taels, just like that, gone?!"
Uncle Yang's face showed bitterness: "Your Highness, it's my fault. The things you asked me to buy, I paid a lot of deposits for them."
"Plus the money to buy supplies for the Convict Camp, these five hundred taels of savings weren't enough."
After settling the Convict Camp and returning to the Ten Princes Residence, Li Che received the bad news that his savings were spent.
It's said that raising an army is the most expensive thing; he hadn't even reached his fief yet, and money had already become a big problem.
"The stipend bestowed by His Majesty will arrive tomorrow morning." Uncle Yang advised, "Your Highness doesn't need to rush to depart. It's not too late to prepare slowly after the stipend and rewards arrive."
Li Che sighed softly.
How could he not be anxious?
He had no foundation in the imperial court, and hidden arrows were hard to guard against. This Imperial Capital was much more dangerous than Outside the Pass.
Li Che picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip of tea.
The delicate feel unique to porcelain came from his fingers. Li Che suddenly seemed to think of something and looked up at Uncle Yang.
"Uncle Yang, these items in the residence should be worth some money, right?"
"Most of them were bestowed by the palace, and then there are those left by the empress, so they are indeed worth some money... Wait."
Uncle Yang paused: "Your Highness, you wouldn't be thinking of selling off these family possessions, would you?"
Li Che held the exquisite teacup and laughed disdainfully: "What use are these luxurious and impractical items?"
"This is, after all, Your Highness's only residence in the Imperial Capital. If you sell everything, won't you have no home in the Imperial Capital?" Uncle Yang anxiously advised.
"A true man takes the sky as his blanket and the earth as his mat." Li Che replied, "How can a few mere tile houses be called a home?"
Hearing this, Qiu Bai, who had been brought back by Li Che and stood in the corner, immediately brightened his eyes.
To be able to say such words, His Highness the Sixth Prince indeed possessed the demeanor of a great lord. He had not misjudged the person.
"Even so, in such a hurry, these things won't sell for a good price." Uncle Yang added.
Li Che smiled slightly: "Uncle Yang, who said we're only selling things from our residence?"
"Your Highness, you are..." Uncle Yang's heart sank, and an ominous premonition surged within him.
"Uncle Yang, this Ten Princes Residence is not just the residence of one prince." Li Che's face was cunning, "Although the Imperial Brothers have moved out, they must have left behind quite a few treasures, right?"
"This... Your Highness, you mustn't! You absolutely mustn't!" Uncle Yang was instantly dumbfounded, "If you sell off the other princes' things too, then, then wouldn't that be outright robbery?"
When did his Highness change his nature and become a bandit? Where did that sensible and obedient Sixth Prince go?
"Why not?" Li Che raised an eyebrow, "The Imperial Brothers moved out of the Ten Princes Residence and into their respective princely estates, but has any of them ever returned?"
"Rather than letting their things gather dust in this Ten Princes Residence, it's better to turn them into bricks and tiles for the frontier, protecting the people of my Great Qing!"
"In this way, even if the Imperial Brothers find out, they surely won't blame me."
Li Che was a man of action; once he made up his mind, he would not hesitate.
"Qiu Bai!"
"Your subordinate is here." Qiu Bai responded, appearing before Li Che and bowing with clasped fists.
"Go and sweep this Ten Princes Residence, from top to bottom, inside and out!"
"Remember, except for books, medicinal herbs, and weapons, don't miss a single valuable item!"
"Tear down the valuable wooden materials in the rooms; just leave the Zhu Zi to support it!"
"Pry up the jade tiles and stone tiles on the floor; be careful not to chip them!"
"Don't waste the valuable tables, chairs, and benches either; sell everything that can be sold for money!"
Li Che's string of commands left Qiu Bai completely dumbfounded.
How could his Lord's banditry be even heavier than that of the bandit leaders in the Convict Camp?
This was truly plucking feathers from a passing goose, leaving nothing for the other princes...
"Are you deaf, you brat?" Seeing Qiu Bai still stunned, Li Che kicked him, "Why aren't you going quickly!"
"Yes! Your subordinate will go do it now." Qiu Bai shivered, quickly responded, and hurried out with the servants of the residence.
Uncle Yang, watching this scene, sighed deeply and slowly closed his eyes.
It's over. This Ten Princes Residence is probably going to be emptied!