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

Chapter 510 Li Chen's Friend List! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
By offering gifts, Venerable Yinyue gained Li Chen's 'friend status' and became a familiar face to Li Chen.

So many things will have to be discussed back in the capital.

With so many people around, it wasn't easy for Venerable Yinyue to speak.

Meanwhile, in a mysterious place, a group of strange-looking individuals were discussing something.

"Damn it, Maurice isn't in the mission. This plan has failed."

"Could someone have leaked our attack plan? We thought it was foolproof."

As they spoke, the people around them were sizing each other up.

Suddenly someone spoke up: "Stop looking. There are too many people trying to attack. It's probably those people who made a mistake, which was noticed by the Tian Ce people, allowing that old guy from the Witchcraft Holy Land to take Morris away."

This explanation makes perfect sense, and now they are trying to figure out which route Morris will take to get into the capital.

If we find it, we might be able to launch another attack; this time, we must succeed.

However, they should be thankful that they didn't find Maurice's route.

Because Morris now has four Saint-level experts by his side, it's not a matter of whoever goes will die.

On the train back to the capital, since Li Chen had already obtained three Immortal Tokens, he was too lazy to go to the Sumeru Lingxiao Pavilion in the north.

Sumeru Lingxiao Pavilion also missed an opportunity to curry favor with a powerful figure.

They probably didn't expect that Venerable Yinyue would intercept them here.

Upon returning to the capital, Li Chen had barely stepped through the palace gates when Eunuch Cui rushed up to him, saying, "Your Majesty, where have you been? There are so many things that need your approval!"

Li Chen waved his hand: "Are you talking about Morris?"

Eunuch Cui stared in surprise, "Your Majesty, how did you know? This old servant was just about to report it!"

"I ran into Maurice on the way back by carriage," Li Chen said as he walked towards the Imperial Study. "Tell me, what happened?"

Eunuch Cui jogged to catch up, speaking rapidly: "The Yongzhou Empire has sent an envoy to discuss the Papacy's missionary work in the north. Prime Minister Zhao and the Minister of Rites are undecided and have been waiting for your return."

In fact, Yongzhou had already sent people several times, but Li Chen was not in the capital. This was Tian Ce's answer.

Charles probably thought that Li Chen was deliberately saying he wasn't there to avoid the matter.

However, Morris can now prove that Li Chen was indeed not in the capital, since he returned with Li Chen.

Li Chen paused in his steps: "The Vatican is going north to spread Christianity?" He sneered, "Charles has quite the plan."

Inside the imperial study, the mountain of memorials had been neatly categorized. Li Chen casually picked up the top one, which was in Zhao Wenyuan's own handwriting:
"Your Majesty, please forgive my intrusion. The Yongzhou delegation's attitude is strange, as if they intend to take this opportunity to cause trouble. Judging from their words and actions, I fear this is not Charles's true intention, but rather the Vatican pushing things behind the scenes."

Li Chen put down the memorial and rubbed his temples.

It seems that Charles has been pressured enough by the Vatican, otherwise he wouldn't have sent his own uncle to discuss this matter.

Li Chen suddenly spoke up: "Eunuch Cui, prepare a welcoming ceremony according to state etiquette. Since Prince Morris has come, we must not skimp on the proper pomp and ceremony."

He is, after all, the second-in-command of the Eternal Day Empire's official government; this is simply a matter of etiquette.

"This old servant will take care of it immediately!" Eunuch Cui bowed and withdrew.

That afternoon, outside Zhengyang Gate in the capital.

Morris changed back into the princely robes of the Eternal Day Empire and, led by officials from the Ministry of Rites, officially led the delegation into the city.

The royal guard of honor lined both sides, with drums and music playing, and the people crowded on both sides of the street, eager to catch a glimpse of the foreign prince.

Unlike his aloofness in the small country, Maurice was all smiles now, waving to the onlookers from time to time.

When he saw children offering him flowers, he stopped his carriage and personally accepted the flowers, pinning them to his chest.

"His Highness is so approachable!" the onlookers exclaimed in unison.

"I've heard that the people of the Eternal Day Empire are very arrogant, but it seems that's not entirely true."

As Morris listened to these discussions, his smile deepened. This was exactly the effect he wanted—to show the people of Tian Ce the friendliness of the Yongzhou royal family, thus highlighting the tyranny of the Holy See.

At the state banquet that evening, Maurice took this strategy to its extreme.

He took the initiative to toast each minister, speaking elegantly yet humorously, even making the usually serious Zhao Wenyuan laugh several times.

Morris raised his glass to Li Chen, saying, "Your Majesty, although Yongzhou and Tiance are separated by thousands of miles, our hearts are connected in friendship. This glass is to Your Majesty's great talent and strategy!"

Li Chen raised his glass in response with a half-smile.

He saw through Maurice's trick, of course, but that suited him perfectly.

A friendly royal family is always easier to deal with than a fanatical papacy.

But this is only superficial, because there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests.

Li Chen wouldn't help Charles just because he'd met him.

Li Chen's consideration must be how to maximize his profits.

To put it bluntly, if the Pope offered a good price, Li Chen wouldn't mind helping him.

After a few rounds of drinks, Maurice, emboldened by the alcohol, finally got to the point: "Your Majesty, there is actually another matter I wish to ask of you."

Li Chen put down his wine cup: "Your Highness, please speak freely."

Morris sighed: "The Papacy wants to spread Christianity northwards, and His Majesty Charles, as the monarch, will act as the messenger on behalf of the Pope."

This guy clearly made it clear who was in charge, indicating that Charles would definitely not make things difficult for Li Chen; it was the Pope who would make things difficult for Li Chen.

The banquet hall fell silent immediately.

The ministers looked at each other, all knowing what this meant.

If the fanatical followers of the Eternal Day Church were to enter Tian Ce, trouble would surely ensue.

Morris had already prepared his response. If Li Chen refused outright, Morris could then tell the Pope the same thing when he returned.

In that case, even if Li Chen doesn't give the Pope face, the Pope will have no choice but to go to Li Chen if he gets angry.

If Li Chen agrees, Morris won't suffer any loss.

However, he felt that given Li Chen's arrogance, he would definitely not agree.

That king's king was able to allow divine authority into the country.

But Morris still underestimated Li Chen.

Li Chen could also see that this was a trap; no matter how you looked at it, it seemed like he was going to fall into it.

He simply asked directly, "So, are you representing the royal family or the Papacy?"

These words startled Maurice. After a moment of thought, Maurice said, "Your Majesty, I represent the Eternal Day Empire."

It's clear that both of them are masters of smooth and tactful communication.

Morris also sensed the problem, saying that he represented a group with issues everywhere.

Representing the royal family? What right do you have to discuss matters of the Holy See with Li Chen? Let the people of the Holy See come.

Representing the Papacy? That would be even more interesting. The prince's second-in-command representing the Papacy would greatly enhance the Papacy's prestige upon his return.

Upon hearing this answer, Li Chen did not immediately respond. He gave the Minister of Rites a look, and the Minister of Rites understood.

He stood up and said, "Your Highness, I've heard that the Holy See calls the shots in your Eternal Day Empire. I'm afraid you're not qualified to represent Eternal Day."

By saying this, the Minister of Rites is definitely going to be the villain today!

(End of this chapter)