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

Chapter 501 Could something really happen to Maurice? (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
The official accounts of Tian Ce and Yong Zhou have never publicized Morris's visit, nor have they made any deliberate effort to do so.

Normally, this would be a diplomatic mission visit, and the people who should know about it are the officials of the cities along the way, the soldiers guarding the city, and the personnel responsible for receiving the mission.

They had to ensure that Maurice's course of action did not go wrong.

Morris didn't come alone; he came on behalf of the Eternal Day Empire.

Zhang Mingyuan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, sensed that something was amiss.

The delegation had just arrived at Qinglan City, a key city on the southern border of the Tian Ce Dynasty.

The city gate was already crowded with people, and the noise and discussion were deafening.

"I heard that a prince from the Eternal Day Empire has arrived?"

"That's right! It's said that even the kings of those small southern countries who wanted to see him were given the cold shoulder by him!"

"Tsk tsk, will our Tian Ce officials give him any face?"

"Dare you not give it to him? Otherwise, we'll make sure he never leaves."

Zhang Mingyuan frowned slightly and immediately waved to signal the accompanying Ministry of Rites guards to disperse the crowd. At the same time, he turned to Chen Zhen, the prefect of Qinglan City, and said, "Prefect Chen, immediately dispatch the city's garrison to maintain order. This place is a mixed bag; we must prevent any trouble from happening."

Chen Zhen nodded and immediately ordered: "Seal off the city gates, and no unauthorized personnel are allowed to approach the delegation!"

However, the crowd remained bustling, with many even standing on tiptoe to try and get a better look at Maurice inside the carriage.

Zhang Mingyuan felt a vague unease, sensing that something was wrong!

Logically, although Morris's itinerary was not deliberately kept secret, it shouldn't have become common knowledge.

Moreover, although Qinglan City is an important border town, the enthusiasm of its people for the Yongzhou Empire's delegation is rather unusual.

This city is where Maurice will be staying today; he will be spending the day at the city lord's mansion.

After all, it was already late, and the journey was tiring. The city lord was an official of the Tian Ce government, and his strength was at the peak of the Tian Yuan Realm. The city lord's mansion was heavily guarded.

The city lord of Qinglan City, Liu Tianheng, had already prepared a grand banquet at the city lord's mansion. Fine wines and delicacies filled the long table, and the mansion was heavily guarded with elite guards to ensure that nothing went wrong.

Accompanied by Zhang Mingyuan, Morris entered the reception hall with a smile and chatted amiably with City Lord Liu Tianheng.

"Your Highness has come from afar and must be tired from your journey. Please rest well at your residence today." Liu Tianheng raised his cup in a toast, his tone respectful yet authoritative.

Morris nodded with a smile: "Lord Zhao, you are too kind."

The two men clinked glasses and chatted amiably, showing no trace of Maurice's previous arrogance towards the king of the small country.

However, Zhang Mingyuan remained uneasy.

During a break in the banquet, Zhang Ming left his seat and found Chen Zhen.

The two arrived at a secluded spot, and Zhang Mingyuan whispered, "Prefect Chen, something's not right."

Chen Zhen was taken aback: "What makes you say that, Lord Zhang?"

Zhang Mingyuan said in a deep voice, "The news of Morris's visit should not have spread so quickly, and the people should not have been so enthusiastic about it."

Chen Zhen pondered for a moment and then smiled, "Lord Zhang, you are overthinking it. The Yongzhou delegation came all the way from the southern countries, so it's normal that they are well-informed. As for the people's enthusiasm, it's just that they rarely see Prince Yongzhou and are simply curious."

He didn't seem to care, because the kings and delegations from the southern countries often passed through here, and he was used to seeing them.

Zhang Mingyuan frowned and paced back and forth, feeling that something was wrong.

Seeing this, Chen Zhen comforted him, "Lord Zhang, this is Tian Ce, within our jurisdiction. How could anything happen to Morris?"

As the saying goes: What is said without intention may be taken to heart by the listener!
Zhang Mingyuan suddenly looked up, a flash of horror in his eyes: "Oh no!"

Chen Zhen was startled: "What's wrong?" Zhang Mingyuan lowered his voice and spoke very quickly: "Think about it, what is Morris's status? He's a veteran of several dynasties in the Yongzhou Empire, second only to the emperor! If something happens to him in Tian Ce, do you think the Yongzhou Empire will let it go?"

Chen Zhen's expression changed drastically, and cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead: "Lord Zhang, are you saying that someone wants to take this opportunity to provoke a war between the two countries?"

Zhang Mingyuan nodded, his voice grave: "Assassinate Morris and frame Tian Ce, that's the most direct way!"

Chen Zhen immediately realized: "Among those enthusiastic civilians, there might be assassins hiding!"

Zhang Mingyuan said with a solemn expression, "That's right, that's the effect the assassin wants."

Tian Ce is very powerful, a super force on the continent, but no matter how powerful a force is, it will still face many crises.

For example, there are remnants of the previous dynasty, princes and dukes who want to rebel, even those within the Eternal Day Empire who want to take the opportunity to create chaos, the sea tribes that attacked the continent during this period, and possibly some countries that want to take advantage of the war between the two countries to rise up. There are simply too many to count.

They were all potential assassins of Maurice.

If Maurice dies here, a great battle between Tian Ce and Yong Zhou will be inevitable.

It's easy to imagine what kind of punishment Zhang Mingyuan and Chen Zhen will face for their poor performance.

This is the main reason why Chen Zhen was drenched in sweat after realizing what had happened.

I was definitely careless just now; I didn't expect there to be this.

But what good is it if you think about it? Morris's whereabouts are now practically public knowledge.

Chen Zhen pondered for a moment and said, "How about this, we secretly send Maurice to the capital?"

His words were euphemistic, meaning: find an opportunity for Maurice to sneak away from the city lord's mansion, then conceal his whereabouts to go to the capital, while the delegation can continue to advance openly.

That way, if anything happens to Maurice after he arrives in the capital, neither of them will be held responsible.

His words resonated with Zhang Mingyuan, and Morris must have understood this principle as well.

If he wasn't deliberately courting death, he would definitely be willing to cooperate.

Just as the two were about to make arrangements, Zhang Mingyuan stopped Chen Zhen and said, "No, the delegation still has guards and troops. If Maurice is attacked, there is protection. But if Maurice leaves secretly, there are no guards around. Who can protect his safety?"

This statement left Chen Zhen completely dumbfounded.

That's true. Letting Maurice leave secretly would also pose a huge risk.

City Lord Liu Tianheng is a peak expert of the Heavenly Abyss Realm, which is already a terrifying level of strength. At least Chen Zhen is not at this level.

The problem is, it wasn't just Tianyuan Realm that came to attack?
Don't say it's impossible. It's said that the last time Emperor Charles of the Eternal Day Empire was attacked, the attacker was a Saint Realm expert.

Although Cardinal Dill denied that he had gone to attack Charles, saying he was only there to investigate.

But everyone with eyes can see this, they just can't find the evidence.

Deer was unlucky to run into Li Chen; there was nothing he could do about it.

It is said that Dill has been placed in solitary confinement by the Pope, but this solitary confinement is actually a form of protection.

Even if the Pope gave Charles an explanation.

People from the Papacy have rights that surpass those of royalty, and this has happened more than once or twice.

Zhang Mingyuan and Chen Zhen became increasingly frightened as they thought about it, their official robes lining soaked with cold sweat.

"Prefect Chen, are there any Saint Realm experts stationed nearby?" Zhang Mingyuan asked in a low voice.

(End of this chapter)