What I fear most is using the guise of thinking of the public good to seek personal gain.
Lord Liu did this simply so that Yi Chenli would adopt his suggestion to carry out disaster relief. When the time comes to reward those who have contributed, he will naturally receive a share of the benefits.
Since joining the camp, Yi Chenli has either made his own decisions or listened to Lord An. Lord Liu, who has spent half his life in the officialdom, has never been so ignored.
He was the father-in-law of the Fifth Prince, and he considered himself to be of extraordinary status. Since the Sixth Prince was unwilling to employ him, it was no wonder he seized power.
After all, he wasn't originally loyal to the Sixth Prince.
"Sixth Prince, please relinquish your decision-making power. If you cannot handle this matter well, then this old minister is willing to take your place." Minister Liu led his entourage forward, putting pressure on Yi Chenli. For many years, Yi Chenli had remained silent in court, giving Minister Liu the misconception that Yi Chenli could be manipulated.
An Chaoli was the first to speak out. He had witnessed the disaster relief efforts firsthand and, impartially, said that the Sixth Prince had done an excellent job. He had already maximized the relief efforts for the disaster victims with the limited food supplies, and to say that he had done a poor job was truly against his conscience.
Although the old father was still secretly competing with Yi Chenli because of his daughter's situation, he still did so.
But once the outsiders pointed their fingers at him, An Chaoli didn't hesitate for a moment. He said angrily, "Liu Pingsheng, you old scoundrel, do you still remember the Emperor's decree? It ordered us to wholeheartedly assist the Sixth Prince, not to let you cause trouble. The Emperor has already bestowed a gold medal upon the Sixth Prince. Seeing the gold medal is like seeing the Emperor himself. Do you dare to disobey the decree?"
Liu Pingsheng had long been at odds with An Chaoli. In their sharp exchange, he said, "Of course I wouldn't dare disobey the imperial decree. But times have changed. When the Emperor ordered us to assist him, who knew that the Sixth Prince would act so stubbornly, leading to a food shortage and even the people in the camp going hungry. In such a desperate situation, one must know how to be flexible. How can one talk about disobeying the imperial decree?"
"You're talking nonsense and being completely unreasonable. Do you know how much trouble it will cause if you take back the grain? Liu Pingsheng, you've really stirred up a hornet's nest!"
Lord Liu didn't take it seriously, thinking that Lord An was exaggerating and trying to scare him.
He's not easily intimidated. He has so many people backing him up!
He repeated, "Please, Sixth Prince, relinquish your decision-making authority."
Several ministers followed suit and echoed Liu Pingsheng's suggestion, putting Yi Chenli in a rather awkward position.
Yi Chenli had remained silent until now, watching indifferently. The other party was forcing him to step down, but he remained calm as if he wasn't the one being forced.
He spoke slowly and deliberately: "You think you can force me?"
Yi Chenli was too lazy to waste words; he preferred to use his actions to instill fear and dread in people.
Yi Chenli waved his hand lightly, and a group of soldiers rushed up from outside the door, surrounding Lord Liu and the other old scoundrels.
A sharp sword was placed against Lord Liu's neck.
Upon seeing the sword at his neck, Lord Liu's imposing manner diminished by half: "Sixth Prince... what are you doing?"
His voice trembled involuntarily. Even Lord Liu was unaware that soldiers had been brought to the camp.
Intellectuals often like to launch public opinion campaigns to force people to step down. But Yi Chenli is not an intellectual, so why waste his breath? Violent suppression is more suitable for him.
Sure enough, upon seeing the sword, Lord Liu's courage waned to almost nothing.
"Sixth Prince, please don't act recklessly. I am a high-ranking official in the court, and this is happening in full view of everyone..."
As he spoke, Yi Chenli's sword went deeper into his throat.
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