Chapter 247: Assassination of the Crown PrinceChapter 294: Important Matters During the Zhenguan Reign

Outside the Xizheng Hall in the Eastern Palace.

The square before the hall was covered in snow.

Chen Tong knelt before the Xizheng Hall, a thick layer of snow coating his body, making him look like a snowman.

Nearby stood guards, expressionless and vigilant. Their eyes would occasionally flicker over Chen Tong, the recent favorite of the prince who had been in the spotlight just days ago.

He didn't know how long he had been kneeling, Chen Tong felt like he was almost numb when a strikingly beautiful and graceful woman in palace attire came before him.

Chen Tong stiffly raised his head, opened his cracked lips and smiled: "It's Miss Wan."

Wan Jiaojiao looked at Chen Tong, whose eyelashes were covered in frost, and said, "The prince told you to go in."

Chen Tong nodded upon hearing this and struggled to his feet, saying, "Thank you, Miss Wan."

He rose slowly, for his long time kneeling on the ground had stiffened his body and he nearly fell.

After a while, Chen Tong gritted his teeth and gradually regained his ability to move. He followed Wan Jiaojiao into the familiar practice hall known as Xi Zheng Dian.

In contrast to the freezing temperatures outside, Xi Zheng Hall was warm as spring.

The hearth fire was burning brightly. A palace maid carefully added premium charcoal, then adjusted the angle to ensure that the well-ordered fireplace within the grand hall radiated heat continuously towards the direction of the prince's seat.

With steaming breath, Chen Tong came to the front of the hall and knelt down with a thud, his forehead touching the ground. He said, "Chen Tong, your humble servant, pays respects to Your Highness, thousand years!"

At this time, Li Chen was reading a book.

Holding The Book of Laws of the Zhenguan Era in his hand, he was engrossed in reading.

Like the *Zizhi Tongjian*, *The Essentials of Governance during Zhen Guan* is a book that every emperor throughout Qin Dynasty would keep on their desk.

Unlike many versions of the Zizhi Tongjian circulating in the world, the Zhenguan Zhengyao in Li Chen's hands was a capital offense if discovered by the public.

Because the entire "Zhenguan Political Principles" talks about only one thing, that is how to be an emperor and how to govern a country.

It's fine for the Emperor and Crown Prince to read this book, but what about others If I don't kill you, who else will I kill

Li Chen languidly said: “The Zhenguan Political Treatise states that the ruler relies on the country, and the country relies on the people. It promotes the idea of placing the people first and the ruler last. You are a general, so this palace doesn't ask if you agree with this principle or not. I only ask you, since the ruler relies on the country, and the country relies on the people, then how should a subject behave”

Chen Tong instantly froze.

As a military general, and even more so as a military general of the Jinyiwei, he was skilled at killing. But if it came to culture, he could barely write his own name properly, let alone speak such profound truths.

After racking his brains, Chen Tong finally managed to squeeze out a sentence: "I don't understand these principles, nor have I ever thought about them much. But I understand that Your Highness's orders are my mission. Whatever Your Highness asks me to do, I will do it."

Chen Tong's answer, if it were given by Xu Changqing, Guan Zhiwei, or even the Three Treasures, any of them, would be inadequate. But when Chen Tong says it, it makes sense, and it is the best answer.

"Are things done" Li Chen asked.

"It's done."

Chen Tong respectfully replied, "I sent one person back to deliver a message."

"That's fine."

Li Chen said lightly, then raised his eyelids to glance at Chen Tong and said, "Go down and receive ten lashes."

Having been punished, Chen Tong not only showed no fear or dejection but instead beamed with delight and exclaimed, "I shall go receive my punishment immediately."

He knew that after these ten trials, he had finally passed this level.snowy weather, she was barefoot, simply hovering an inch above the snow.Like a fairy, like a god."Someone would even die for you."A wrinkled old woman opened her mouth and sneered: "It's no use puttin...