Cui Shixue pretended not to notice the look in his eyes, making a joke of it. Fifty thousand taels should all go into the national treasury, especially when there’s a war. If they don’t manage to collect more Silver, they’ll surely be pulling their hair out.

He wished the Saint would expose more corrupt officials and confiscate more properties; he was familiar with confiscating properties.

Prince Zhao wanted to say that the Ministry of Revenue need not trouble themselves, as he would personally supervise, indicating he would not associate with traitors of the state.

However, the Saint agreed.

Compared to the Liu Family, he valued Silver Coin more. Who knew if the second would spare the Liu Family and leave something with one eye open? Cui Shixue would be just right to oversee this.

As for the lost city, he decreed that Dian Quanjing be the commander to dispatch troops to Yang Pass and reclaim the city.

General Quan’s face looked somewhat grim. It was nothing to send his grandson to battle, but what about the military supplies and provisions? They should at least be allocated first. Without these things, how could they fight? Especially now that the weather was cold, if soldiers are not well-fed, they’d be weak and unable to run, let alone fight?

Lin Xiang casually glanced at Qi Qian, then mentioned military supplies and provisions, especially since they had just lost a battle and a city. To boost morale, they must feel that the court has not abandoned every city in the northwest, so supplies must be sent there to stabilize the army and boost morale.

Qi Qian stepped forward and cupped his hands, saying, "Emperor, I am willing to escort the army’s supplies westward to help our Da Feng warriors regain our Da Feng territory, willing to open up territories and protect the mountains and rivers for the Emperor."

Prince Zhao’s face twitched a few times. Good heavens, this wild bastard would seize every opportunity to advance. Dare to say he isn’t ambitious? Who would believe him?

The Saint looked at Qi Qian’s face as if he could vaguely see a familiar shadow in his features. At this moment, seeing his upright and resolute demeanor, he then looked at the old second grinding his teeth on the ground and the old third daydreaming among the ranks, making his head throb.

He thought of what Princess Consort Ru had mentioned recently, that she wanted to adopt this child under her name, which he suppressed.

This child was also his own.

The Saint didn’t know what he was thinking, but he agreed, ordering the Ministry of Revenue to cooperate fully and then instructed the Ministry of Rites to prepare the rites of heaven, as this must go through.

Minister Qian: How about we confiscate a few more households? Fifty thousand taels really isn’t enough!

After court dispersed, Prince Zhao walked to Qi Qian’s side, sneering, "You really don’t miss a single opportunity."

Qi Qian replied indifferently, "Second Brother, don’t show mercy when confiscating the properties, or the Saint will ask you to fill the gap further, especially since Liu An lost a city, and five thousand soldiers have died."

"You!" Prince Zhao was so angry he jumped up.

Qi Qian cupped his hands again, was about to leave, but was called back by the Grand Steward beside the Saint; the Saint summoned him.

Prince Zhao watched Qi Qian head toward Zhongqin Palace, his face instantly turning as black as the bottom of a pot, incidentally, the persistent Cui Shixue came over, urging him to confiscate the properties.

Damn it, all bastards!

Not far away, Prince Cheng, also known as the third prince, nudged his cousin Lu Xun beside him, saying, "Brother Xun, don’t you find the second and Haoran strange? These two are becoming more and more at odds."

Lu Xun’s eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "You could be a wealthy idle prince, without contending for that position, maybe you’ll live to a ripe old age." Without worrying a bit.

The Crown Prince was demoted, among the Saint’s sons were the second and third; the rest were either dead or too young to be of much use.

But not really, there was still an adult one. Moreover, as he grew, he increasingly had the shadow of the Saint, and the palace wanted to adopt him.

Ha.

If adopted, wouldn’t it just be rightful in name?

Prince Cheng said, "Brother Xun, I think you’re looking down on me, do you think I’m not up to the task?"

"No!"

Prince Cheng grinned, was about to say something, but then he heard him say, "It’s just that you’re not as fortunate as others."

The people and matters he checked all converged back to Qi Qian, which was really like being fed.

Prince Cheng was not convinced; he is a legitimate Dragon Son, can it still be said he’s not fortunate?

Even if it were so, it must be those God Sticks who divined his misfortune.

Lu Xun looked in the direction of Zhongqin Palace, and thought, seems he also had to go back and speak with his queen, for now the alignments were clear.

Amid the disturbances in court affairs, Qin Liuxi, through the Puppet National Master left in the Palace, also had some idea but didn’t pay attention, except when the National Master said the Saint wanted single-mindedly to engage in that labor-wasting and wealth-draining rite of heaven, she glanced at the Emperor Star, her brows lightly furrowed.

The Emperor Star was obscure, indicating misfortune, and he was courting death.

No good words would dissuade a destined ghost, let him carry it all by himself.

"There, that’s the Ghost Tower." The Eastern Ghost King drew Qin Liuxi’s Divine Sense back, pointing forward.