As dusk fell, a magnificent residence blazed with lights.
The Ministry of Rites was one of the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's major institutions, overseeing national affairs such as ceremonies, culture, education, and diplomacy.
This evening's banquet was actually a gathering for the elite students of the Imperial Capital's major Battle Academies.
At the banquet, officials from the Ministry of Rites would teach these young students, who were about to enter officialdom, the so-called rules of etiquette.
Finally, the Minister of Rites would also appear and mingle with the young students, giving them a sort of on-the-spot assessment.
Everyone wanted to put on a good performance before him. If they could win this high official's favor, wouldn't their careers soar to dazzling heights?
As soon as Li Chen entered the residence, he saw quite a few talented young people like Lin Yue'e. They wore smiles, and their conversation revealed an extraordinary bearing.
Their presence infused the banquet with youthful energy and vitality.
These people were the future backbone of the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty. At first glance, they certainly showcased the dynasty's deep reserves of talent.
As time slowly passed, however, Li Chen discovered that dark currents lurked beneath this grand banquet.
Once the Ministry of Rites officials in their official robes and the privileged wastrels appeared, the smiles on the students' faces began to fade, and a shadow settled over the banquet.
More than once, Li Chen saw those privileged wastrels harassing and provoking the talented young people present.
The officials remained unmoved, while the young talents could offer only token resistance before swallowing their anger.
Li Chen glanced at Lin Yue'e beside him and asked, "Are they always like this?"
Originally, he had only wanted to beat someone up and complete his task.
But now, it seemed the whole affair had turned sour.
In theory, those ignorant, uneducated wastrels had no right to attend a banquet like this.
Yet here they were, swarming everywhere like flies, and no one was doing anything about it?
The late emperor had placed great importance on education. Even without doing much research, Li Chen knew these elite students were the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's future.
If even they suffered such humiliation and suppression here, the treatment of other students was easy to imagine.
As a prince, Li Chen could have ignored it. But he was the emperor now, and it left him deeply displeased.
He did not understand all the affairs of government, but he could see the expressions on the students' faces perfectly clearly.
If they swallowed their anger now, too afraid to speak, how would they get anything done in the future?
Hearing Li Chen's question, Lin Yue'e nodded helplessly.
What did it matter how furious she was? Unless she wanted to give up on making a life in the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty, she could only endure it before these Ministry of Rites officials.
In fact, before coming, Lin Yue'e had already considered that if the man pestering her went too far, she would simply leave the Imperial Capital and scrape out a living in one of the powerful sects.
This was one reason the sects had flourished in recent years.
Lin Yue'e simply felt it would be a terrible shame for all her years of hard work and advanced study at the academy to go to waste.
Now, with this member of the royal family helping her, she could at least get through this ordeal.
Unfortunately, the others present were not so lucky.
Unlike a homebody like Li Chen, Lin Yue'e had a fair number of connections in this circle.
Quite a few students from the Kindling Combat Academy came over to chat with her.
When they saw Li Chen beside Lin Yue'e, they cast envious looks her way, especially the girls.
"Yue'e, is this your friend? Why don't you introduce us?"
"Exactly! This young gentleman is so handsome and distinguished."
Lin Yue'e felt rather awkward at her friends' teasing. It was not that she did not want to introduce him; she did not know Li Chen's name either.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Li Chen."
Everyone nearby seemed able to tell that he belonged to the royal family, so naturally, his surname being Li was nothing unusual.
For precisely that reason, there were hardly any privileged wastrels around Li Chen.
There was a certain amount of friction between those wastrels and members of the royal family, too.
In the palace, Li Chen usually interacted most with maids and eunuchs, who always spoke stiffly in his presence.
It was rare to meet people around his own age, so Li Chen began chatting with this group of Battle Academy students.
At first, everyone exchanged polite pleasantries. Once they grew more familiar, they felt Li Chen had the air of an elder and began pouring out their grievances to him.
They said these ignorant wastrels often disturbed their training, monopolizing vast resources without putting effort into cultivation and giving the Battle Academy's teachers endless headaches.
Some of Lin Yue'e's female friends even quietly told Li Chen that quite a few inexperienced girls at the academy had been victimized by these wastrels, who even forced them to accompany officials over drinks.
They had just become fed up with being pestered, so they had come over to Li Chen to hide for a while, hoping he could shield them.
Hearing this, Li Chen laughed in anger and said, "Don't worry. If they dare come over, I'll beat up every last one of them."
At the time, everyone took it as a joke to lighten the mood and did not think much of it.
Lin Yue'e even felt a little embarrassed. She felt she was causing Li Chen far too much trouble tonight.
He had originally only been shielding her, but now he was protecting her friends as well.
Seeing the resentful looks from the wastrels around them, she knew Li Chen had already offended many people tonight.
Even a member of the royal family could not afford to offend certain powerful officials.
As time passed, more and more people arrived at the banquet.
Ordinary privileged wastrels did not dare provoke members of the royal family, which meant their backing was not particularly strong.
As for those who did dare, their fathers naturally held high positions.
Just as Li Chen was happily chatting with the Battle Academy students, a privileged wastrel in his forties approached.
His eyes were sunken, his bags swollen, and his face as pale as paper. Even as he walked, he looked ready to topple over. One glance told anyone that drink and women had hollowed him out.
He was in his forties without even an official qualification to his name, yet he still threw his weight around on the strength of his father's authority. Just how useless was he? No wonder Lin Yue'e looked down on him.
When the Battle Academy students saw him, they instinctively stepped back, apparently unwilling to offend him.
This middle-aged wastrel was arrogant beyond measure. He ignored Li Chen outright and addressed Lin Yue'e beside him.
"Have you thought over what I asked you to consider?"
While the other wastrels played their little tricks in secret, this one began threatening her in front of everyone.
He utterly disregarded the law. Apparently, he really treated this place as his own home.
Before Lin Yue'e could answer, Li Chen sent the wastrel flying with a kick.
His body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, overturning nearby tables and chairs. Cups and dishes scattered in a mess, and wine splashed everywhere.
He finally crashed heavily to the ground with a pained groan.
Everyone nearby was instantly stunned by this sudden turn of events.
Lin Yue'e's two female friends, in particular, stared wide-eyed as though they had witnessed something impossible.
We thought you were joking just now. We never imagined you really meant you'd beat them up!
They had thought this wastrel was already arrogant enough, but Li Chen turned out to be even more outrageously audacious.
When he struck, he had not even asked who the other man was!
People from the Ministry of Rites soon helped the beaten wastrel to his feet.
He spat out a mouthful of blood and glared menacingly at Li Chen, shouting, "You think royalty is such a big deal, huh? Does being royalty mean you can hit anyone you please?"
Li Chen shrugged and replied, "Royalty is a big deal. What are you going to do about it?"
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