"Your Highness, Prince Qin!"
Seeing Qin Hao give in, Taishi Wudao pressed his advantage. "The realm has only just been brought under control, and there are expenses everywhere. During the First Emperor's reign, he campaigned against the Demon Race in the east and the grasslands in the north, and had immortal mountains and the Nine Cauldrons—divine artifacts that protect the state—crafted. As a result, the treasury is empty. I suggest that Your Highness, Prince Qin, follow the example of the wise rulers of old: lead by example and live frugally, reducing the palace's expenses."
"Reduce expenses?!"
Qin Hao wore an utterly defeated expression, longing for his days as a wealthy prince.
"Precisely. Reduce expenses!"
Taishi Wudao said solemnly, "The beautiful singing girls kept by the First Emperor should all be dismissed. The expenses for the royal disciples should also be cut."
"Dismiss the palace's singing girls?!"
Qin Hao looked as if someone had stepped on a cat's tail.
He agreed with reducing the royal disciples' expenses, but he absolutely would not compromise when it came to dismissing the palace's singing girls.
"Hmm?!"
San Qiu raised her head slightly and glanced at him, her eyes poised for the kill.
"Taishi makes a good point..."
Qin Hao felt wronged. He forced down his sorrow and said, "I should take the common people of the realm as my responsibility. I must lead by example and advocate frugality. I cannot indulge in pleasure, nor can I place any more burdens on the people."
"His Highness, Prince Qin, is wise!"
Seeing Qin Hao give in again, Taishi Wudao pressed on. "Recently, the princes and royal disciples have become increasingly arrogant and spoiled. They've been abducting respectable women in broad daylight and seizing people's ancestral estates, all while acting as protectors for court officials..."
"Heavens!"
Qin