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"Your Majesty, the crystal mines in the Sasanian Region are now operating at full capacity. The Ministry of Works has built many manufacturing workshops there, which have also addressed the local employment problem."

The Minister of Works excitedly reported the recent progress to the Imperial Court.

In the Imperial Court, the Minister of Works was excitedly reporting on the progress of crystal chip development.

Suddenly, a clear ringing interrupted the court deliberations.

The Minister of War fumbled a crystal chip glowing blue out of his sleeve and bowed awkwardly to Li Chen. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I forgot to lock the screen before putting it in my pocket. I must have touched it by accident."

Li Chen waved a hand to show it was no matter, and good-natured laughter rippled through the court.

The Minister of Works wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Your Majesty, we have now produced over three hundred prototype crystal chip phones, and our colleagues have responded extremely well after trying them. But we await your instructions on the pricing once mass production begins."

The court immediately erupted into discussion.

The Vice Minister of Revenue was the first to step forward. "The crystal ore is precious to begin with, and the technology is sophisticated. Naturally, the price should be high! In my opinion, it should start at no less than a thousand taels of gold."

"Absurd!" the Left Vice Minister of Works immediately countered. "His Majesty developed this precisely to benefit the people. Would such a high price not go against his original intent?"

"But if the price is too low, how will the Imperial Court recover its costs? Building the workshops in the Sasanian Region alone cost several million taels of silver," the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices said worriedly.

Arguments rose one