The imperial edict was a lengthy document of three thousand words, all written in defense of Li Jue. Some parts even used parallel prose, making it not only easy to read aloud but also quite rhythmic and rhyming...

Li Zhi was well aware that if he presented this imperial edict to His Majesty, His Majesty would most likely bring back his eldest grandson who had been banished from the capital.

To avoid this happening, Li Zhi had no choice but to grit his teeth and tear it up again, then order someone to draft a new imperial edict.

"Since Fourth Brother thinks the reward is too generous, then let's reduce it by one rank in the imperial decree."

"promise!"

"Your Highness, should we still proceed with the repairs to the city walls?"

"Well..."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked at Ma Zhou standing to the side.

"Uncle Ma, how should this kind of thing be handled in previous years?"

Ma Zhou had been feigning death, but now that the Crown Prince had directly called his name, he knew he couldn't keep up the act and could only give a vague answer.

"Your Highness, nothing like this has happened in previous years..."

"ah?"

"Really not?"

"Your Highness, there really isn't one... In previous years, all kinds of projects were consolidated, and then laborers were conscripted and resources were allocated in a unified manner. There was no such temporary assignment as this year."

"Oh oh oh..."

"In that case, let's not repair the city wall this year, and save it for next year!"

"Your Highness is wise!"

"Uncle Ma, is there anything wrong with handling the matter of bestowing rewards this way?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Zhou immediately nodded in agreement.

"no problem!"

"I'm just worried that the generals will be dissatisfied and think that Your Highness has withheld their rewards."

Li Zhi sighed helplessly upon hearing this.

"This isn't me trying to cut back; it's clearly my fourth brother!"

"Spread the word that the King of Wei disliked the generous rewards given to the generals of Liaodong and rejected several imperial edicts in succession..."

"promise!"