Chapter 231 Unauthorized Weapon Forging

In the royal palace of the Bhai Kingdom in Mandalay, the capital of the Bhai Kingdom, the sounds of the Bhai Kingdom's unique drums, zithers, and crocodile zithers resonated in the ears of those attending the banquet.

The dancers, their bellies exposed, were also stretching out their graceful bodies.

But none of the people attending the banquet were in the mood to enjoy the food or admire the beautiful women.

They all looked cautiously at the elderly emperor of the Biao Kingdom at the very top.

The two princes have been locked in a fierce battle these days, and the ministers have all begun to take sides without prior agreement.

In the imperial court, everyone was divided into two distinct factions.

"Why isn't the Empress here?" someone asked in a low voice.

"I heard that the First Prince and the Second Prince had a fight in the Empress's palace a couple of days ago and smashed a lot of things."

"The Empress is furious!" Someone immediately whispered the reason.

"They're making such a scene! Arguing in the Empress's palace? This is a complete breakdown in relations!"

Both the First Prince and the Second Prince are born to the Empress!

"Oh, who knows! We've argued before, but never like this!"

"Oh dear, what if they start making a scene again tonight!"

"With His Majesty here, things won't get too out of hand."

If His Majesty gets angry, he can just reprimand both princes and that will calm them down.

...

The ministers were all talking amongst themselves, but the three princes sitting close to the emperor of the Biao Kingdom remained calm.

The eldest prince and the second prince sat on either side of the emperor of the Biao Kingdom.

The third prince's position is a little lower down.

In everyone's eyes, the eldest prince and the second prince were both eyeing each other with predatory intent.

The Third Prince, however, was attentively savoring the food on the table.

The old emperor of the Biao Kingdom squinted as he watched the dancers below, their bellies exposed.

Just as the ministers were shouting "Long live the Emperor!" to wish the old emperor a happy birthday, the second prince walked out with a memorial in his hand.

"Father! Today is your birthday. I didn't want to upset you on this day, but the matter is urgent, so I have to speak up."

"Even a day's delay will cause immense harm to the people of Biao Kingdom." The Second Prince knelt down, holding the memorial in both hands.

The old emperor of the Biao Kingdom narrowed his eyes, waved his hand, and the dancers who were dancing immediately went down.

The people playing the instruments quickly stopped playing.

The once noisy banquet hall suddenly fell silent as everyone looked up at the emperor and princes.

The old emperor squinted at the second prince again.

"Does this matter... really have to be discussed now?" the old emperor asked.

"It is of utmost urgency! Father, this matter is of great importance and cannot be delayed!" The Second Prince's attitude was resolute.

He finally obtained the crucial evidence; he had been worried about not having a good opportunity!

Unexpectedly, the Emperor decided to hold a birthday banquet at this time, which would be a perfect opportunity for the princes and ministers to see the ugly face of their eldest son.

The old emperor of the Biao Kingdom sighed and glanced at the eldest prince, whose expression remained unchanged.

These two...

"Speak! Everyone, see what's so urgent, and tell us what you would do if you encountered this situation!" The old emperor of the Biao Kingdom waved his hand, signaling the second prince to continue.

The second prince would then hold the memorials high above his head.

“Starting in March of the year before last, the Crown Prince has been secretly mining copper and iron ore in the Naga Hills and the Arakan Mountains.”

They also abducted nearly three thousand able-bodied men from the two areas to work in the mountains.

The eldest prince secretly forged weapons in two mountains, harming the people of Biao Kingdom. His crimes were heinous, and the people of both places were filled with resentment and lived in dire straits.

Please, Your Majesty, punish him severely.

Witnesses, physical evidence, and relevant personnel are all waiting outside the palace. Please, Your Majesty, make the judgment!

After the second prince finished speaking, he immediately kowtowed down the memorial in his hand.

As soon as the second prince finished speaking, the princes and ministers attending the banquet immediately erupted in uproar.

They forged weapons without authorization and forced people to do hard labor.

What? Could it be that the eldest prince is planning a rebellion?

Everyone looked at the eldest prince with suspicion.

Even the military generals who had previously sided with the eldest prince were now looking at him with curiosity.

Could it really be the eldest prince who did this? If he really did it, why didn't any of them know?

If His Majesty finds out about this, won't those of us who follow the First Prince be implicated?

In an instant, all eyes turned to the eldest prince.

The eldest prince, however, did not rush to refute. Instead, he calmly picked up the wine cup beside him and drank the wine in one gulp.

After hearing the second prince's words, the old emperor of the Biao Kingdom was initially surprised, but then he laughed.

"My son is always very steady in his work."

Bringing this up in a setting like today, there must be both witness testimony and physical evidence.

"So that means it's a done deal, isn't it?" The old emperor of Biao Kingdom looked at the second prince.

The second prince immediately kowtowed again.

"Father, I am only thinking of the great cause of the Biao Kingdom and the people."

The Naga Hills and Arakan Mountains are a place where people are living in misery, with nine out of ten households dying. If left unattended, it will become a living hell.

Even Buddha can punish you.

"I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for the people of Biao Kingdom." The Second Prince's eyes reddened as he spoke.

The old emperor of the Biao Kingdom remained silent.

Those ministers who were not attending the birthday banquet and were standing behind the Second Prince immediately realized what was going on.

This is an opportunity! With so many people around, and the Crown Prince still doing something like this, isn't this the best chance to bring him down?

Those who sided with the Second Prince immediately stood up and echoed his sentiments.

"Your Majesty, please uphold justice for the people!"

"Even princes are subject to the same laws as commoners! Your Majesty, please investigate this matter thoroughly."

"The people are the foundation of the nation; Your Majesty, please punish them severely!"

"Only the Ministry of Works is authorized to forge weapons. Forging weapons without authorization is tantamount to treason. I urge Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter and bring those involved to justice!"

...

Suddenly, the banquet hall became noisy and chaotic.

Those who sided with the Crown Prince immediately came forward to say that it was all a frame-up, that they couldn't produce any evidence, and that it was just a farce to bring down the Crown Prince.

Seeing that what was supposed to be a relaxed birthday banquet seemed to have turned into another court assembly, the Emperor of Biao Kingdom finally spoke.

"Shut up, all of you!"

The two sides who were arguing quickly stopped and looked up at the old emperor.

The old emperor snorted, then looked at the unusually quiet eldest prince who hadn't reacted at all.

"Boss, someone accused you of privately forging weapons with the intention of rebellion. Have you thought about explaining this matter?"

It's okay, everyone's here. If you did it, admit it; if you didn't, don't.

"No matter what, I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly!" The old emperor said to the eldest prince, word by word.

The eldest prince then slowly put down his wine cup.

“Father, that’s right! I did all those things!”

It's quite impressive that the second son was able to find so much evidence!

"But... Second Prince, even if you know I did it, what can you do about it? What can you do to me?" The First Prince looked coldly at the Second Prince, who was still kneeling.

The second prince felt a chill run down his spine.

"What do you mean?"