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

Chapter 443 The Execution of Nine Clans! No, Ten Clans! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

If the presence of the guards had given these beauties a touch of reserve before, now they had completely abandoned that concern.

What a pampered young lady, what a goddess with hundreds of admirers, all turned to dust at this moment, and they almost came to blows over a piece of sheer fabric.

It's not that these once-famous goddesses are cheap, but rather that the opportunity to serve the Emperor of the Tian Ce Empire is too elusive. How could they willingly give up such a glorious opportunity to someone else?

"Enough!" Zhu Zhuying snorted coldly, startling all the beauties into freezing in place. However, Zhu Zhuying did not blame these beauties, but continued indifferently, "Everyone is here. Line up and come one by one."

Zhu Zhuying had initially worried that these beauties wouldn't be able to serve Li Chen well, but now it seems that she was just meddling in other people's business and worrying for nothing!

They would do anything to get even the slightest chance of becoming imperial concubines of the Tian Ce Dynasty!
General's Mansion.

Dai Xiaoyao, who had been sitting upright the whole time, was extremely uncomfortable. Li Chen was chatting with Zhu Yingxiong about everyday things, so he didn't dare to join in or find a comfortable place to sit. He could only stand there like a wooden statue.

Just when Dai Xiaoyao was about to give up, his savior finally arrived.

Zhu Zhuying walked quickly into the banquet hall with a smile on her face, then leaned down and whispered a few words in Li Chen's ear.

Li Chen nodded, and then left with Zhu Zhuying amidst Zhu Yingxiong's hearty laughter.

Dai Xiaoyao lowered his head, not daring to look at Li Chen's departing figure, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Only after Li Chen left did Dai Xiaoyao dare to hurry on his way.

He approached Zhu Yingxiong with a smile and asked, "Uncle, has His Majesty given any instructions?"

In fact, Dai Xiaoyao had overheard the entire conversation between Zhu Yingxiong and Li Chen, but he was still unwilling to give up and wanted to ask Li Chen if he had given Zhu Yingxiong any hints.

Zhu Yingxiong shook his head and said cheerfully, "Your Majesty is just chatting with me about everyday matters. By the way, Your Majesty, if you have some free time, why don't you talk to this old minister about the construction of the capital? If this matter is resolved, this old minister can retire to the countryside to recuperate from his old illness."

Zhu Yingxiong had just addressed Li Chen as "Your Majesty," so it was obviously inappropriate for him to address Dai Xiaoyao as "Your Majesty" as well. Therefore, he simply changed his address to "My King."

As a shrewd man, Zhu Yingxiong could certainly understand the principle of "discarding the bow after the birds are all gone." Not only was there nothing left to seal, but Dai Xiaoyao had also witnessed the influence of the Xingluo Empire's army. The only way to avoid becoming a thorn in Dai Xiaoyao's side was to retreat while he was ahead.

"Uncle, you mustn't! If you were to retire from my Starfall Empire, we would lose our right-hand man!"

"My king, it is truly my health that is failing me!"

Upon receiving Zhu Yingxiong's refusal, Dai Xiaoyao feigned regret and sighed deeply, but inwardly he was overjoyed. He had been worrying about how to guard against this high-ranking and powerful old general, but now everything was resolved.

Without Zhu Yingxiong, his former subordinates became a disorganized mess. Once they were gradually eroded, the Starfall Empire would naturally become his domain.

Inside the royal palace of Xingluo Kingdom.

The air was thick with steam, like a misty fairyland. Among them, women draped in flowing robes and sheer fabrics, each a different color like a rainbow in the sky, chattered and laughed. Some concubines frolicked, others played in the pool, and still others danced gracefully, like celestial maidens in a jade pool. Li Chen and Zhu Zhuying entered one after the other, instantly silencing the previously noisy scene. Zhu Zhuying, already meticulously dressed by the concubines, led them in a bow to Li Chen, softly greeting him, "Your Majesty."

The concubines who were able to enter the palace naturally had nannies who specially taught them how to serve the emperor. Now that the emperor had arrived, they naturally got straight to the point without any hesitation.

Zhu Zhujing first respectfully welcomed Li Chen into the large bathtub that was already filled with hot water. While serving Li Chen his bath, some concubines played music to please him, and others danced gracefully in thin gauze, revealing their stunning figures.

Meanwhile, the concubines serving Li Chen during his bath began to display their talents. One of the concubines from the nearby sea area demonstrated the survival skills passed down from her ancestors, swimming in the water for half an hour without needing to breathe while carrying a pearl in her mouth.

Some concubines, born in the mountains, performed how to fight tigers and capture dragons naked, while others, born in the desert, performed how to ride camel humps and swim in the desert.

While the concubines were vying to showcase their talents, Dai Xiaoyao and Zhu Yingxiong finally finished discussing the details of the coronation and were now rushing towards the palace at full speed, their minds filled with the image of Zhu Zhujing's fiery yet innocent and adorable appearance from back then.

Upon seeing Dai Xiaoyao, the guards along the street all knelt on one knee, weapons in hand, the clanging sound of their armor hitting the ground echoing from the entrance of the imperial city all the way to the gates of the inner palace.

Dai Xiaoyao, who was like an ant in front of Li Chen, was very satisfied with this. He found the sense of superiority that belonged to a person in power. He secretly made up his mind that he would definitely get back at the Zhu family for the grievances he suffered from them.

Why was it the Zhu family who suffered the injustice, and not Li Chen? Because Dai Xiaoyao dared not harbor the slightest resentment towards Li Chen from the bottom of his heart!
Just as they arrived at the palace gate, the two guards standing at the entrance crossed their spears, creating a deafening roar.

This startled Dai Xiaoyao, but he quickly snorted coldly.

The general responsible for Dai Xiaoyao's safety immediately spoke up, snorting coldly, "Are you all blind? How dare you block His Majesty's path!"

"Your Majesty?" The two guards at the gate each glanced at Dai Xiaoyao, but their spears, which were held together in a cross shape, showed no sign of loosening their grip.

A cold glint flashed in Dai Xiaoyao's eyes as he faced this blatant disregard. The general beside him, who had been watching Dai Xiaoyao's expression, immediately understood and drew his long sword from his waist. The dozen or so soldiers following behind naturally followed suit and drew their blades as well, and the sound of swords being drawn echoed throughout the area.

He had been thinking about how he should treat Zhu Zhuying's sister after entering the palace, and now he was seething with anger, just waiting for a place to vent it.

But being blocked at the door, how could I not be angry?

Dai Xiaoyao immediately waved to the general behind him and said through gritted teeth, "Kill them all, leave no one alive!"

Just as a great battle was about to break out, the commander of the imperial guards in charge of the harem strode over. He first waved to two harem guards, then knelt on one knee and clasped his hands in greeting to Dai Xiaoyao, saying, "Commander of the Imperial Guards greets Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!"

Upon seeing this, the guards who were blocking the door put away their weapons and followed the guard captain in paying homage to Dai Xiaoyao.

"You're the commander of the guards? Don't you know the rules here! Drag them all to the Meridian Gate and behead them, along with their nine generations of relatives! No, ten generations!" Dai Xiaoyao's words were filled with murderous intent. A dignified emperor was being blocked by his own lackeys when he entered his palace, yet a commander of the guards could easily make his way, not only without fulfilling his duty to protect the palace, but also without any regard for the consequences. He couldn't quell his hatred without executing ten generations of his relatives.

"Your Majesty, I would rather die than surrender, but the one inside is the Heavenly Emperor!" As a subject of the Starfall Empire, the commander of the guards naturally dared not disobey. In order to prevent Dai Xiaoyao from entering and bringing disaster to the Starfall Empire, and also for the sake of his family, he could only bring up Li Chen.

(End of this chapter)