After reprimanding the courtiers, Hua Shunming turned his gaze toward his grown sons. When the Crown Prince was formally instated, the other six Princes had also been granted the title of Commandery Prince. Establishing their own Prince Mansions meant drawing funds directly from the National Treasury, accounting for the bulk of the year's expenditures.
"Just how extravagantly are your Prince Mansions being built? Was the standard allocation of silver not enough for you? You constantly dig into the Ministry of Internal Affairs for more resources. Do you want me to build you a city modeled after the Imperial Palace?"
The Princes, who had previously been watching the spectacle, were terrified and immediately dropped to their knees. "We would not dare."
Seeing everyone get reprimanded made the Crown Prince feel much better, though he too knelt among his brothers. He wondered what his Imperial Father's true intention was behind this move.
