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

Chapter 424 Who knew they'd be so scared! (Please subscribe and vote!)
Zhao Jing was well-known in the area, and the king, knowing his identity, was indeed quite polite to him.

But the king was no ordinary member of the royal family, and Zhao Jing spoke very modestly, not daring to overstep his bounds.

After all, businessmen value harmony above all else. Unless there are special circumstances, having more acquaintances means having more options.

When the king heard that Li Chen came from the Tian Ce Dynasty, a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

If this distinguished guest could become the prince consort, the Kingdom of Tasha would have gained some glory.

If the princess hadn't been mindful of Zhang Qi and Zhao Jing's presence, and hadn't been pulled along by her mother, she probably would have already run to Li Chen's side to keep him company while he drank.

She frequently cast ardent glances at Li Chen, the golden goblet of wine in her hand sloshing around, almost spilling.

After several rounds of drinks, the king finally couldn't contain himself any longer. Taking advantage of his slight intoxication, he smiled at Li Chen and said, "Young Master Li, I have some private matters I would like to discuss with you. Would you mind moving to a side hall for a talk?"

Li Chen smiled faintly and nodded, "Alright."

This single word startled the king; it felt as if he were asking the king for instructions.

He subconsciously stood up and led the way, but as he walked, he suddenly felt something was wrong.

Walking in front of Li Chen, he felt like a guard leading the way; walking behind Li Chen, he felt like a eunuch accompanying him.

How come this young man exudes an aura of imperial majesty that surpasses even my own?
"It must be an illusion," the king thought to himself, shaking his head. He knew the people of the Tian Ce Dynasty were always arrogant, and he had seen it before.

He composed himself, pushed open the carved wooden door of the side hall, and made a "please" gesture.

The side hall was dimly lit by candlelight, with wisps of smoke rising from the incense burner. There were only two people there.

Just as the king was about to bring up the matter of the prince consort, Li Chen suddenly asked, "I would like to see your country's envoy."

This statement startled the king, who thought to himself: Does this guy know the envoy? Maybe if the envoy puts a good word for him, he'll agree.

Thinking of this, the king quickly ordered the guards outside the door to summon the envoys to the palace.

The important ministers of the Tasha Kingdom all lived near the royal palace, and the envoy arrived in less than a quarter of an hour.

When he pushed open the door of the side hall and saw Li Chen inside, he was struck dumb, his legs went weak, and he knelt down, trembling as he shouted, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

The king, assuming the envoy was paying his respects, casually waved his hand and said, "Rise."

The envoy remained kneeling on the ground, his forehead pressed against the earth, not daring to move an inch.

The king's face darkened: "Are you deaf?"

The envoy felt like a million grass mud horses were galloping through his mind: I'm not kneeling to you, if you tell me to get up, do you think I'd dare to get up?
In an attempt to enlighten his foolish king, he remained kneeling and respectfully said to Li Chen, "I was unaware of His Majesty's presence and have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"Bang!"

The jade cup in the king's hand shattered, and his face instantly turned ashen.

He scrambled to his knees, his voice trembling, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty! I was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival and have greatly offended you. Please forgive me!"

As he spoke, he glared fiercely at the envoy, his eyes clearly saying: You knew he was the emperor of Tian Ce, why didn't you say so sooner!
The envoy was extremely aggrieved. I knelt down as soon as I entered the door. Whose fault is it that you were slow to react?

As a diplomatic envoy of the Tasha Kingdom, he had to pay tribute to the Tian Ce Dynasty every year. He had even seen Li Chen at the Tian Ce Imperial Palace not long ago. How could he possibly mistake this emperor who was so powerful that he could shake the world?
"Get up," Li Chen said calmly.

Only then did the envoy dare to stand up tremblingly, and the king also shakily got up, his back bent like a shrimp.

He doesn't even dare to mention the title of imperial son-in-law anymore, acting like a little eunuch waiting for his fate.

"Your Majesty, what brings you to our humble kingdom?" the king asked, wiping away cold sweat, his voice trembling. He suddenly remembered that he had actually tried to use the princess to bind this emperor, and he was filled with deep regret.

Fortunately, he hadn't said it yet.

Li Chen said casually, "I've heard that the Tasha Kingdom has recently been in contact with the Yongzhou Empire?"

The king's legs buckled and he knelt down again: "Your Majesty, I'm innocent! Those are all rumors spread by villains! Our country is utterly loyal to Tian Ce and has never harbored any disloyalty!"

He then desperately tried to signal to the envoy for help with his eyes.

The envoy hurriedly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, it is true that an envoy from the Yongzhou Empire entered our country last month, but His Majesty immediately ordered his men to drive him away! Heaven bears witness!"

Li Chen was just saying it casually, who knew it would scare them like this.

Actually, it was just a bluff. The Tasha Kingdom was so close to the Tian Ce Dynasty, and Xu Zifeng's army was already nearby. How could they dare to act rashly?

Now, seeing Li Chen, they wish they could pledge allegiance immediately.

Despite being the king of Tasha Kingdom, he's nothing in front of Li Chen.

The king knelt on the ground, his body trembling.

He also knew that the survival of his country rested entirely on Li Chen's decision.

At that moment, the princess's coquettish voice could be faintly heard from outside the palace: "Why hasn't Father come out yet? I want to see that young master!"

At this moment, the king wished he could tie up his arrogant daughter and hand her over to Emperor Tian Ce for punishment.

Still dreaming of marrying a prince consort? Do you even deserve it?
Even your father is only fit to stand by and be an ant.

The king didn't intend to pay her any attention, but the princess, used to being willful, didn't hear the king's reply and tried to barge in.

Fearing that his arrogant daughter might anger Li Chen, the king hurriedly left the side hall, slammed the door shut, and shouted at the princess, "Get out of here!"

The princess was taken aback, then pouted with a wronged look: "Father, are you being mean to me?"

This was her usual trick of charming others; in the past, whenever she did this, the king would always soften his heart.

This time, however, the king's face turned ashen, and his voice was even more stern: "Did you hear me? Get out of here!"

His fierce and imposing appearance frightened the princess so much that she trembled all over, tears welled up in her eyes instantly, and she turned and ran away.

The king took a deep breath, composed himself, and then pushed the door open again.

When he returned to Li Chen, there was no trace of royal dignity left; his face was plastered with a fawning smile, and he bowed so low he almost broke: "Your Majesty, my daughter was ignorant and disturbed Your Majesty."

Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall, Zhao Jing frequently glanced towards the side hall.

Seeing that Li Chen had not returned for a long time, he couldn't help but ask Zhu Zhuying in a low voice, "Young Master Li has been gone for so long, could something have happened to him? Should I go and check on him?"

Zhu Zhuying took a sip of wine and waved her hand dismissively: "No need, just wait and see the show."

Just then, the side hall door finally opened.

When Li Chen and the king walked out one after the other, Zhao Jing almost spat out the wine in his mouth.

The once imposing King Tasha was now following Li Chen like a lackey, a fawning smile on his face, and wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

(End of this chapter)