"From what I know, every province in the Desolate North is facing severe fiscal strain."
Zong Shen's words were somewhat sensitive.
Even if he was stating the truth, it was not a topic outsiders should openly discuss.
Yet Prince Ortis did not react.
Others might not have known, but he understood perfectly well.
The man before him was someone who even dared to fleece Prince Ayub.
He was clearly a fellow with no taboos whatsoever.
The so-called authority and rules of a prince probably could not restrain him in the slightest.
Besides, he was telling the truth.
Although few in the Desolate North would ever openly discuss such a heavy subject.
Not even the finance ministers were exceptions.
In order to keep this mess afloat, Prince Ortis had already replaced several finance ministers.
And chopped off a few heads as well.
No one spoke. The few demigod-level powerhouses participating in the exercise, Prince Ortis included, waited for him to continue.
"So, Princess Tami."
"Your proposal truly does not suit the realities of the Desolate North."
"Even with His Highness's support, allowing you to promote education first in the imperial city and its surrounding areas."
"Those provincial beys will never agree before they see the results education can produce. Even if they agree on the surface, they will likely drag their feet behind the scenes."
"They may even take the opportunity to swindle funding from the imperial city."
Zong Shen's tone was calm as he peeled away the impractical naivety of the proposal.
This made Princess Tami raise her head.
She understood that everything he said was true.
Promoting education throughout the entire region really was too big a step.
After he put it that way, she realized that she had been too impatient.
But everything she saw and heard each