I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 423 It seems the King is determined to keep you! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

According to the princess's original plan, the guards mixed in with the crowd were supposed to fight each other and throw the embroidered ball accurately at Li Chen's face.

As soon as Li Chen received the call, the Imperial Guards would immediately "invite" him into the palace.

Seeing Li Chen turn and leave, the princess was secretly annoyed.

She figured that the person must have left because they felt they were too far away to grab it.

After all, with her stunning beauty, how could anyone refuse her?
At the princess's signal, the guards disguised as ordinary cultivators immediately adjusted their strategy.

They pretended to fight fiercely, but secretly pushed the embroidered ball towards Li Chen.

The crowd surged forward, with many talented young people from Tasha Kingdom and other countries' elites vying for this opportunity to avoid decades of hard work.

"Bang!" A white-robed cultivator was thrown over by the shockwave, and the embroidered ball drew a strange arc in the air.

The commander of the plainclothes guards, who was hiding in the shadows, seized the opportunity, pretended to be hit in the back, and suddenly pushed the embroidered ball towards Li Chen.

The force of the blow was just right; it could have been caught easily with a simple reach.

To everyone's surprise, the hydrangea suddenly crashed into an invisible wall of air halfway through its flight, coming to a stop in mid-air!

"It's mine!" A young man with a pockmarked face seized the opportunity to leap up and grab the embroidered ball.

He moved with incredible speed and possessed an extraordinary aura, dodging the others' attempts to snatch the ball. In a few leaps, he landed on the high platform, holding the embroidered ball aloft and shouting, "I got it! The prince consort is mine!"

The princess's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Although this person's cultivation had reached the Six Harmonies Realm, his face was truly unsightly.

He has a bulbous nose, a face full of pockmarks, and his right eye is slightly crooked.

How could a princess possibly marry such a person? Throwing the embroidered ball was merely a way for the king to gain the favor of the people, along with the princess's method of choosing her consort.

She was about to declare the decision invalid, but was stopped by a look from the king.

"Congratulations, young hero! Please come with me to the palace for a chat."

The king stepped forward with a smile, skillfully avoiding the title "son-in-law".

Then we can find a secluded place to discuss it further, and this person can 'voluntarily' withdraw, so as the king here, it wouldn't be considered going back on his word.

As he spoke, he subtly winked at the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards beside him, who immediately led his men to surround Li Chen.

Seeing this, Zhao Jing whispered, "Young Master Li, it seems the King is determined to keep you here."

He looked at the Imperial Guards who were closing in, and the embroidered ball had just floated towards him.

Zhao Jing's first reaction was that it was being thrown at him.

Because of his special status, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was incredibly wealthy.

Of course, the "countries" in "wealthy enough to rival a nation" here refer to these small countries.

It certainly can't compare to the Tian Ce Dynasty.

But upon closer inspection, he realized the ball seemed to be thrown towards Li Chen, and he felt relieved.

Li Chen's appearance was so outstanding that even Zhao Jing, a man, had to admit it.

Looking at the princess's eyes, which were fixed on Li Chen, he roughly understood.

Zhao Jing, knowing he had shared a meal with Li Chen, asked, "Do you want some?"

His meaning was clear: if you don't want to be the prince consort, I can help you stop it.

Although Zhao Jing came from a merchant family, no royal family member of a small country would dare to disrespect him.

Li Chen waved his hand, watching with interest the pockmarked cultivator who had snatched the embroidered ball. At that moment, the man was being "enthusiastically" surrounded by guards, his smug smile still lingering on his face, completely unaware that he was someone who didn't even qualify to be a backup option.

"Young master, His Majesty requests your presence." The deputy commander of the Imperial Guards approached Li Chen, his tone respectful yet brooking no refusal.

Zhu Zhuying sneered and was about to lash out when Li Chen gently pressed her wrist: "It's alright, I also want to witness the grand court banquet of the Tasha Kingdom."

As he spoke, he glanced at the anxious princess on the high platform, a playful smile playing on his lips.

Since Li Chen had said so, Zhao Jing ordered his men to make way.

That's right, this guy's men really dared to block the imperial guards of the Tasha Kingdom; they weren't afraid at all.

The king didn't just invite Li Chen alone, as that would be too obvious, so he invited Li Chen's entire group, including Zhao Jing.

Zhao Jing originally didn't plan to enter the palace, but after Li Chen said so, he agreed.

He seemed curious as to why Li Chen did this.

Coveting the princess's beauty? That's impossible. The beauties around Li Chen are several times more beautiful than the princess.

The way this beauty treated Li Chen suggested she was either his wife or his maid.

With a woman like that around, Li Chen doesn't seem like someone who wants to become a prince consort.

Being a prince consort is the most unbearable position in the world. They are controlled by the royal family but have little real power; it's just a prestigious title.

Moreover, there are many rules and regulations, and even if the princess doesn't like you, you can't complain.

When the princess saw Li Chen enter the palace with the guards, she was overjoyed, her happiness overflowing.

In her opinion, although she was a bit of a womanizer, Li Chen was so handsome and dashing that if she could become his consort, she would definitely be devoted to him and that would be doing him a favor.

As for the woman next to Li Chen, he could simply give her some money and send her away.

Luckily, Zhu Zhuying didn't know what she was thinking, otherwise she would definitely have slapped her across the face.

How dare a mere princess from a small country negotiate with the holy ruler of the Tian Ce Dynasty?

You dare ask me to quit? You think you're so great?

The young man who caught the embroidered ball was named Zhang Qi. He was considered a hidden genius in the Kingdom of Tasha, usually keeping a low profile, but this time he made a name for himself.

He held his head high, enjoying the envious and jealous looks from those around him who couldn't catch the embroidered ball, as well as the insincere congratulations from his friends, completely unaware that he was just a dispensable supporting character in this palace farce.

Soon, he followed the imperial guards into the palace, already fantasizing about how prestigious it would be to be the prince consort. He was completely unaware that on the way back to the palace, the princess's eyes kept lingering on Li Chen.

Meanwhile, the deputy commander of the guards was already planning how to "hint" to the "prince consort" to give up voluntarily.

If he doesn't know what's good for him, then he'll be subjected to severe torture until he "voluntarily" gives up.

This is the job of a guard in the Imperial Guard.

Inside the palace of King Tasha, the lights were blazing and a grand banquet was being held.

Inside the magnificent hall, dozens of glazed palace lanterns illuminated the entire hall as if it were daytime.

The dancers, dressed in light gauze, danced gracefully to the melodious music. Their slender waists swayed like water snakes, their jade feet lightly touching the ground, and their skirts fluttered in the wind.

Maids filed in carrying exquisite silver platters filled with delicacies unique to the South.

Steamed carp, honey-glazed ham, and jade shrimp dumplings. The aroma of wine filled the air, and the atmosphere was lively and extraordinary as glasses clinked.

The princess's husband, Zhang Qi, was seated in a corner. Although he was far from the main seat, he was still immersed in the dream of becoming a member of the royal family. He would straighten his back from time to time, trying to attract the princess's attention.

Li Chen and Zhao Jing were seated in the seats of honor, alongside the King and Queen.

(End of this chapter)