Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne
Chapter 105 - 103: Please Punish Prince Dai Severely

Chapter 105: Chapter 103: Please Punish Prince Dai Severely

"Fu Zhong, go to Li Chuan and give him a good scolding on my behalf."

"Yes, Prince."

Prince Dai frowned and said, "At this time, if you cause trouble for me, are you thinking I don’t already have enough on my plate?"

"Your Highness, General Li usually indulges himself in the brothel, which can be overlooked, but I didn’t expect him to go to the brothel at this time." Fu Zhong was annoyed with Li Chuan for bothering His Highness at such a moment. "You had clearly warned General Li and others before, telling them to behave during this period, yet General Li..."

Prince Dai, with a grim face, cursed, "I have spoiled him."

"Your Highness, this time you mustn’t pardon General Li, otherwise he will repeat his mistakes." Fu Zhong always felt that Li Chuan and his men were too reckless, forgetting that the capital is not a military camp, yet they behaved as if they were." If General Li continues like this, he will end up in trouble sooner or later. After all, the capital is not the military camp, and the Crown Prince’s faction is watching closely."

"You are correct."

"Your Highness, I will go find General Li first."

"Go."

Fu Zhong got off the carriage and hurried to the Li Mansion. When he arrived, Li Chuan was bathing. He waited for a while until Li Chuan finished bathing and came out.

Seeing Fu Zhong, Li Chuan courteously cupped his hands in greeting.

Fu Zhong performed a proper bow, "General, His Highness has instructed me to scold you on his behalf."

Upon hearing this, Li Chuan immediately stood up straight and said, "Please, go ahead."

"General, are you unaware of what time this is?" Fu Zhong admonished, "Have you forgotten the warning His Highness gave you before?"

Li Chuan was left speechless.

"General, His Highness clearly told you before that during the late Empress’s mourning period, you should not go out drinking, not cause disturbances, not kill anyone, and especially not visit the brothel. If any of these misdeeds come to light, the Emperor will certainly punish you severely. Have you forgotten?"

Li Chuan looked embarrassed.

"The Prince said, you were just conferred the title of General Yingyang. Do you want to be demoted to a commoner?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chuan quickly said, "I do not."

"General Li, if you recklessly harm yourself, it’s one thing, but you’ll implicate the Prince." Fu Zhong said harshly, "Before entering the capital, the Prince told you all that the Crown Prince’s faction would be watching you. If they caught any mistakes, they’d spare no effort to crush you and slander His Highness."

"If your deeds are discovered by the Crown Prince’s faction, they will certainly latch onto it, ensuring the Emperor severely punishes His Highness."

"The Emperor cherishes His Highness, so he may not severely punish him." This was Li Chuan’s reason for acting so recklessly.

Hearing this, Fu Zhong knew Li Chuan still didn’t see his mistake, and immediately flew into a rage.

"General Li, although the Emperor favors His Highness, he also greatly values the late Empress’s mourning period. This year marks the seventh anniversary of the late Empress’s death, an especially important year; the Emperor even called off court for a day because of it."

"If His Highness errs during this time, the Crown Prince’s faction will say he disrespects the late Empress and label him with the charge of impiety. Then, His Highness’s reputation will be ruined."

"The Crown Prince and Duke Zhen will seize upon this. Even if the Emperor favors His Highness, he will have to punish him severely."

"This time, His Highness won great public reputation by quelling the Liangzhou revolt. The Emperor specifically granted the youngest daughter of Master Kong as a marriage to His Highness, intending for His Highness to gain the support of scholars and literati throughout the land. But if someday he is labeled as one who disrespects the late Empress, all will be for naught. Do you understand that you might ruin His Highness’s future?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chuan finally realized the severity of the situation.

"Eunuch Fu, I..."

Fu Zhong interrupted Li Chuan: "General Li, do you think what you did last night was not serious, and even if discovered, His Highness would protect you?"

Li Chuan remained silent, for that was exactly what he had thought.

"General Li, His Highness would protect you, but how do you repay him? Have you considered His Highness?" Fu Zhong angrily questioned.

Li Chuan, faced with Fu Zhong’s questioning, felt utterly ashamed, knelt down, and struck himself a few times.

"I was wrong."

Seeing Li Chuan recognize his mistake, Fu Zhong’s expression improved slightly.

"General Li, please think thrice before acting in the future. If not for yourself, think for His Highness."

"Rest assured, Eunuch Fu, I will never again do anything detrimental to His Highness in the future."

"I hope the General keeps his word."