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

Chapter 516 Is your brother Dai Xiaoyao reliable? (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
Pang Jin was a staunch close advisor of Li Chen and the first powerful official promoted by Li Chen after becoming emperor.

The Minister of Justice may not hold a high rank, but he wields immense power in the imperial court. To be able to hold this position, one must gain the emperor's trust and be utterly loyal to him.

Because of his special position, he offended many people and needed the emperor's protection to survive in the court.

Pang Jin has been impeached quite a few times recently. Li Chen looked at them and found that he hadn't done anything seriously wrong. Most of the time, it was just a matter of both sides being equally punished, and the matter was over.

Upon hearing Li Chen's summons, Pang Jin went straight inside.

Eunuch Cui tactfully withdrew from the hall and closed the door behind him.

Before His Majesty, Pang Jin was no outsider. If it were a foreign official like Charles who came to pay homage, he would certainly be nearby to guard him.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Pang Jin bowed, his face showing signs of fatigue, clearly having worked tirelessly on this case for many days.

Li Chen waved his hand: "No need for formalities, what is it?"

Pang Jin lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, there has been progress in the case of the assassination of the Yongzhou delegation. The one who made the move was indeed a Saint Realm expert from an organization called 'Starfall Pavilion'."

Li Chen frowned slightly: "Starfall Pavilion? What's its background?"

Tian Ce knew about many sects, even the hidden ones, but this was the first time he had heard of the Starfall Pavilion.

Pang Jin took out a secret report from his sleeve: "This organization is extremely mysterious. Its members come from various races, including not only humans, but also demons, sea creatures, and even some ancient races. According to my subordinates' investigation, their base is likely hidden in the deep sea."

This is a large organization, but no one knows who its leader is or what the purpose of its creation is.

A glint flashed in Li Chen's eyes: "Sea Clan? If the Sea Clan attacked Maurice, then it makes sense. You should first leak this information to Maurice as an explanation. Tell him that I will definitely catch the culprit."

Pang Jin nodded knowingly: "Your Majesty, I understand."

Even if it wasn't the sea creatures who did it, they should still be blamed for it. This is probably a result that all parties would like to see.

After Pang Jin left, Li Chen looked out the window thoughtfully.

Starfall Pavilion, deep-sea base. It seems things aren't peaceful on the sea tribe's side either.

However, the most urgent task at hand is to get the chip promotion done first.

While Li Chen was busy, the chosen ones of Tian Ce were also handling their affairs.

Xiao Ming goes without saying; he's the one who discovered the Starfall Pavilion. He's probably going to the deep sea, but his current strength isn't enough, so his master is giving him special training.

Lin Mo was arguably the busiest person. This wasn't just about planning train routes for the southern countries; as the most professional person involved, he was naturally the one who had to complete this project.

It can be said that he was responsible for completing many of Tian Ce's projects.

Xu Zifeng recently took Ma Hei north because the Great Luo Dynasty in the north seems to be starting to stir.

After the Snow Eagle Royal Court was destroyed, Tuoba Zhen fled to the Great Luo Dynasty, a fierce and warlike country located in the far north, with ice and snow as a natural barrier, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Tuoba Zhen was certainly not willing to give up, so he recruited soldiers and started making new moves. Xu Zifeng was able to improve his skills by fighting, so he asked his mother and aunt to plead for him, and that's how he got this opportunity.

Xu Zifeng had gained some reputation in the court, even though he still had a long history of misdeeds.

Some of the chosen ones also began to rise to prominence, such as Tang Shan.

This guy has grown stronger ever since he started cooperating with Dai Xiaoyao. In the private room on the top floor of Dengxianju Restaurant, sandalwood incense wafted through the air, and Tang Shan sat upright with a map of the Tian Ce territory in front of him.

To his left sat two distinguished middle-aged men: his second uncle, Tang Zhen, and his third uncle, Tang Yue.

Tang Zhen had a resolute face and fierce eyes. His hands were covered with calluses, indicating that he was highly skilled. Tang Yue, on the other hand, was much more refined, but there was a hidden sharpness between his brows. He waved his folding fan lightly, seemingly relaxed but actually harboring murderous intent.

On the right are two still-beautiful women.

Second Aunt Liu Yuran wore a dark green dress, her skin was as smooth as jade, her phoenix eyes were full of affection, and her every move exuded mature charm; Third Aunt Su Qinghe was elegant and dignified, dressed in white as snow, with a cold and aloof temperament.

In the corner, Tang Shan's aunt, Tang Hongxiu, was making tea.

She was in her early thirties, dressed in a fiery red dress, with a graceful figure and a charming yet sharp look in her eyes.

Meanwhile, her cousin Tang Yurou, sitting by the window, was a beautiful and refined young woman. She wore a light purple gauze dress, her skin was as white as jade, and she was quietly reading a book.

Tang Shan tapped the map lightly with his finger: "Gentlemen, we now have thirteen restaurants, seven martial arts schools, and five escort agencies in the capital, and we also secretly control three trade routes."

Tang Zhen stroked his beard and nodded: "Shan'er did a good job. However..."

A glint flashed in his eyes. "How much of the resources left by the Wang family are still there?"

Tang Yue closed his folding fan and chuckled, "Second Brother, don't be in such a hurry. Let Shan'er finish speaking."

Tang Shan took out an account book from his pocket: "Second Uncle, don't worry, Dai Xiaoyao has already laundered 70% of our assets. I plan to use the remaining 30% to open up trade routes in the Northern Territory."

"The Northern Border?" Liu Yuran frowned slightly. "Isn't there about to be a war there?"

Liu Yuran is in charge of intelligence and knows a lot.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Tang Shan's eyes: "That's precisely why it's profitable. Xu Zifeng is heading north to conquer the Great Luo Dynasty, and his military supplies will inevitably be scarce. If we can plan ahead..."

Su Qinghe took a sip of tea: "The risk is too great. It would be better to secure the trade routes with the southern countries first."

Tang Shan laughed and said, "Third Aunt, you don't know this, but Lin Mo is building a rail line in the south. Once the line is completed, the profits there will shrink significantly. On the contrary, the northern border will be a huge source of profit."

Tang Hongxiu pushed the teacup towards Tang Shan, her red lips slightly parted: "Shan'er, is your brother Dai Xiaoyao reliable?"

Tang Shan took the teacup and smiled confidently: "Don't worry, Auntie. He knows better than anyone that cooperating with us is his best choice."

Tang Yurou, who had been silent all along, suddenly closed her book and said cautiously, "Brother, why is the Wang family willing to support you so much? Could there be a trap?"

Tang Shan said with a sinister look, "They're not supporting me, they can only rely on me. Without me, they're just rats in the sewers."

This is Tang Shan's style of doing things: he uses whatever he can, whether it's his mentor, relatives, or friends, they are all tools for his success.

He exists in this world solely to achieve success and attain a status that no one else can reach.

Tang Shan really wanted her mother to know about her 'glory' in the capital, but unfortunately her mother wasn't around.

What he didn't know was that Tang's mother was now in the capital, and was already in Tang Hongxiu's courtyard.

It was quite a coincidence that after Tang's mother arrived in Tian Ce Imperial City, she stayed in the palace for a long time, and the only person she could talk to was Dai Xiaoyao's mother.

(End of this chapter)