bines, and the less attractive ones become maidservants. There's always a way to sell them. If things really get desperate, they marry into a slightly better-off family in the village, exchanging for...Chapter 246: A Desperate Alliance

This exclamation, like thunder, shook the heavens with its power and might.

Li Chen stood alone, facing a thousand fully armed elite soldiers of the Qin Dynasty. Yet, he showed no fear whatsoever. His commanding presence was undiminished, and his aura didn't falter in the slightest.

This alone is astonishing enough.

Wei, for the first time, felt a strange unease in his heart. His warhorse seemed to sense his master's wavering confidence, stamping its hooves nervously and shaking its head with a snort.

This loud sniffle also broke the silence of the scene.

Wei spoke first, saying: "The Crown Prince is incompetent. Since he has been in charge, he doesn't know how many ministers he has killed, leaving the court in fear and disarray. If he had at least some achievements, it would be acceptable, but until now, the Crown Prince has only indulged in bloodshed. Not only has he done nothing for the country, but he has also caused chaos in the capital. Look at the countless disaster victims throughout the land, the people are living in misery. As the Crown Prince, you don't think about how to alleviate the suffering of the people and provide relief, but instead, you spend every day scheming and plotting against each other!"

"The current emperor is a wise ruler, but his health is failing, leaving him no choice but to have you rule in his stead. However, if you cannot fulfill the duty of ruling on behalf of the emperor, we will naturally have the obligation to assist His Majesty and ensure the stability of the court!"

A single statement from you, my lord, would make the entire situation irreversible.

Throughout history, scholars have died protesting injustices and warriors have sacrificed themselves to protect the throne. These are all manifestations of the irreconcilable conflict between imperial power and ministerial authority, a conflict that ultimately leads to one side's complete annihilation.

The atmosphere on the scene was heavy with tension. Over a thousand people stood there, not uttering a single sound. The north wind howled like a tiger, the cold wind bit through everything, and snowflakes fell relentlessly. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, poised on the edge of something momentous.

Su Pingbei dared not even breathe, he had gathered all his energy and focused it on Wei Dangxian.

He had even made preparations and plans. Once a fight broke out, he would do whatever it took to protect Li Chen.

Li Chen, absolutely cannot have an accident.

The already precarious Qin Empire, with no warning, found itself on the brink of collapse right at the doorstep of the General's Mansion.

The future of the empire, no one can see through.

"Listen to the wind rustling through the leaves, sit and watch the clouds rise and fall."

Within the mansion of the Prime Minister, Zhao Xuanji, wrapped in a heavy cloak, his silver-white beard trembling slightly, uttered these words.

At this moment, he was holding a book, with the steadfast Eighth Prince Li Yinhu sitting opposite him.

Only the scenery and conversations outside General Li's Mansion, every detail, were continuously reported to him by scouts. Even though Li Yinhu tried to maintain a composed expression, there was a hint of fluctuation in his eyes.

Zhao Xuanji glanced at Li Yinhǔ's trembling palm and spoke in a gentle voice: "Prince Eight, when the old minister was young, I read a book and saw the four characters 'unmoved by the eight winds'. I knew their meaning but not the reason behind them. After much thought and pondering, I searched for where these 'eight winds' came from. Later, I found them in Buddhist scriptures and understood their meaning. Prince Eight, are you interested in hearing it"

Li Yinhu laughed heartily and said, "Please enlighten me, Chief Minister."

"Zhao Xuanji said slowly: "The so-called Eight Winds refer to profit, loss, slander, praise, honor, criticism, hardship, and joy. The four smooths and the four reverses make a total of eight things. If anyone's mental cultivation can achieve that in these four smooths and four reverses, they remain unfazed by gain and loss, then it can be said that they have reached a certain state, and are truly a gentleman."

Li Yinhu bowed and said, "Thank you, Grand Secretariat, for pointing me in the right direction. It was I, Li Yinhu, who couldn't keep my cool."

"As the Eighth Prince's first time experiencing such a major event, it is understandable that he feels some nervousness. It's human nature. However, please remember, Eighth Prince, no matter what happens, stay calm and keep your head clear. Otherwise, without the enemy needing to do anything, if you lose your composure, you will have already lost half the battle."

Facing this, Li Yinhǔ stood up and respectfully bowed to Zhao Xuánjī, saying: "Yinhǔ has learned a lesson, and will definitely keep it in mind." acres of land, and Old Wu next door also has less than two acres. We both only planted sweet potatoes on three-tenths of the land, but according to the government's records, it says that we both plan...