Chapter 363: Petty Scoundrels
Whether it was Zhao Qinglan or Li Yinhou, there was no abnormality on their faces.
Li Yinhu's silence, and Zhao Qinglan's impatience, were both normal reactions for them at this moment.
"Minions?"
Zhao Qinglan's face was filled with disbelief as she faintly said, "Then these little scoundrels are really bold, daring to cause trouble for the prince on such a day. Have you dealt with them?"
"It's clean now."
Li Chen glanced at Li Yinhu and was about to speak when the eunuch who had been standing beside him spoke up.
"Your Majesty, Crown Prince Zhao, the time has already passed. Shall we immediately go in and pay respects to His Majesty?"
This statement, called Zhao Qinglan and Li Yinhou, intentionally treated Li Chen as if he were air.
Li Chen frowned, turned his head and rebuked with a cold face: "You slave, are you blaming this palace for coming late?"
That eunuch, relying on his position in the Empress's presence, showed no fear of Li Chen at all. He said with righteous indignation: "Today is New Year's Eve, and we are here to pay our respects to His Majesty according to the schedule calculated by the Imperial Observatory. The time is strict to the minute. The Empress and others have been waiting here for a long time, but because of your delay, the time has been wasted. Shouldn't you feel guilty? Or perhaps you don't want to pay your respects to His Majesty at all, not hoping for His Majesty's recovery?"
As soon as he said that, a stunned silence fell over the dozens of people in front of the Qianqing Palace.
Only the howling of the cold wind remained.
Not to mention outsiders, even Zhao Qinglan frowned.
This statement can be interpreted in different ways. If we really look into it, it's a serious offense, especially considering the prince's unique status. If he doesn't hope for the Emperor's recovery, what else could he possibly want? Is he planning to seize the throne directly?
At this moment, Li Chen's response is crucial.
And Li Chen's response didn't take too long to come.
As soon as the eunuch's words fell, Li Chen raised his leg and kicked him in the abdomen.

Li Chen, seething with anger from the assassination attempt, kicked out with a furious blow that landed squarely on the eunuch's abdomen. A pained cry escaped the eunuch's lips as he rolled around in the snow.
"You're brave."
Li Chen sneered, his eyes cold and emotionless to the extreme.
"When did a stray eunuch from the palace dare to shout and scold this Palace, accusing this Palace of wrongdoing?"
"Don't you dare say that this palace has wasted time. Even if I haven't, who are you to question me? Do you have any respect?"
"Someone here!"
As soon as Li Chen spoke, a squad of ten soldiers with swords rushed into Qianyuan Palace from outside.
These soldiers' attire clearly shows they are not guards from the Eastern Palace or the Imperial Guard, but genuine members of the Imperial Bodyguard, a standing army!
"Drag this insolent wretch out and behead him."
At Li Chen's command, a pack of wolf-like Yulin guards were about to come up and apprehend him.
Seeing this, Zhao Qinglan couldn't help but speak.
If she lets Li Chen kill her own people at will, what authority does she have left in the palace?
"Stop!"
Zhao Qinglan shouted angrily, "Prince, what do you mean by bringing the Imperial Guards into the palace?! Are you trying to usurp the throne?!"
Seize power!
This statement, if uttered by anyone else, would be grounds for execution.
Only the empress had the right to question Prince Li Chen boldly.
Li Chen looked at Zhao Qinglan and said indifferently: “An hour ago, this palace was attacked by remnants of the White Lotus Sect in front of the main hall of the East Palace. Today is New Year's Eve, a day for families to reunite, and you almost had this palace's body collected, didn't you? This Imperial Guard, can't this palace command them?”

(Editor in charge：novel robinson crusoe)