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

Chapter 618 Right now, all he's thinking about is, please don't let his entire family be executed! (Please subscribe and vote!)
Inside the palace where Chu Ruoyan resided, her father, Chu Jingsong, was anxiously recounting in detail Chu Xiang's encounter at Hantie Pass and the damage to the tribute to his beloved concubine, who was deeply favored by the emperor.

The Chu family is now quite powerful in the capital, and they will try to regain their lost face.

Chu Ruoyan initially frowned slightly, feeling that her collateral descendant was really troublesome.

But upon hearing the name "Cheng Li," her delicate body trembled violently, and she stood up abruptly from the brocade stool. Her beautiful eyes widened, and she asked urgently, "Father! What did you just say that the captain's name was? Cheng Li? Which Cheng? Which Li?"

Chu Jingsong was startled by his daughter's strong reaction and asked in confusion, "It's Cheng Li's Cheng and Li Li's Li, is there something wrong with the name?"

Chu Ruoyan's breathing became rapid. She lowered her voice, her tone filled with disbelief: "Father! Read this name backwards. When I accompanied His Majesty on his incognito travels, this was the alias he liked to use the most?!"

Chu Jingsong was stunned at first, then as if struck by a thunderbolt from the heavens, he froze instantly, his face turning as pale as paper.

His lips trembled, his voice shaking so much it was almost incoherent: "Li...Li Chen...Cheng Li...Your...Your...Your Majesty?!"

His legs went weak and he almost collapsed to the ground!
He had just been planning to save face for the Chu family, but now he was thinking about how he must not be executed along with his entire clan.

As Li Chen's favorite concubine, Chu Ruoyan naturally knew some of His Majesty's little habits, and also knew that His Majesty had gone to the north this time, and had taken with him the northern concubine Tuoba Anyu.

Although the specific details are unclear, who else could it be but His Majesty himself, but a young, handsome, ruthless, and unscrupulous military officer named "Cheng Li" who dares to casually take and eat the tributes from the imperial concubine's household?!

Chu Ruoyan truly couldn't believe that anyone else would dare to be so arrogant, and even have the power to be so arrogant.

Hearing his daughter's words, Chu Jingsong was terrified, his mind filled with only one thought: That scoundrel Chu Xiang actually dared to offend His Majesty?! This is a crime punishable by the confiscation of his property and the extermination of his entire clan!

He scrambled out, shouting, "I'm going to Hantie Pass right now! I'll personally deal with that little beast!" He wanted to say "silence him," but the words caught in his throat.

Chu Ruoyan quickly called out to him, "Father! Come back! His Majesty is traveling incognito this time, and his identity must not be exposed! You can go to Han Tie Pass, but remember, you must never reveal His Majesty's identity! Understand? After you get there, act according to the circumstances, and you might even turn misfortune into good fortune!"

Chu Jingsong then seemed to wake from a dream, forcing himself to calm down, but his hands and feet were still ice-cold. He nodded repeatedly, "Understood! Father understands! I'll go right away! I'll go right away!"

After saying that, he almost staggered out of the palace, hurriedly preparing carriages and horses, wanting to rush to the Northern Border Cold Iron Pass as quickly as possible.

Having offended the Chu family of the capital, the Khan of the North, the imperial concubine, and even the only son of his superior, General Han, Li Chen's "fearsome reputation" had already spread like wildfire in the Han Tie Guan military camp, even taking on a legendary air.

The moment Li Chen stepped into the military camp, the atmosphere instantly became exceptionally solemn.

Whether they were soldiers on guard duty or officers passing by, they all immediately straightened their backs, stood at attention, and looked as tense as if they were being inspected by the supreme commander, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Those captains and colonels with higher ranks than Li Chen all addressed him politely as "Brother Cheng" when they saw him coming, adopting a very humble attitude.

Even the original top two leaders of the military camp, Supervisor Wang and Captain Zhou, would stop in their tracks upon seeing Li Chen from afar, forcing a slightly stiff smile and nodding politely before hurrying away. They were now basically certain that this man was someone they absolutely couldn't afford to offend. Even if he was faking it, and could fake it to this extent, they would never dare to stir up this hornet's nest.

Looking at the bizarre scene around him, which seemed to be muted, Li Chen turned to Feng Shuo beside him, puzzled, and asked, "What's wrong with these people? Why are they so serious today? It's like I'm going to eat someone up."

Upon hearing this, Feng Shuo gave a bitter smile that looked more like a grimace on his chubby face and said in a low voice, "Big brother, my dear brother! You've been playing such a spectacular game, beating up the prince, oh wait, the Khan's nephew, and the General's son. Who dares to hold back in front of you now? They're really afraid that if you don't like them, you'll beat them up too!"

Li Chen glanced at him, finding it amusing: "And what about you? Why aren't you afraid?"

Feng Shuo immediately puffed out his fat chest, his face full of righteous indignation, but his voice remained low: "Me? I have nothing to fear! I am your most loyal lackey! If you point east, I will never go west!"

His self-deprecating yet loyal words finally amused Li Chen.

"Alright, everyone go do what you're supposed to do, stop crowding around here." Li Chen waved his hand, and the invisible pressure seemed to dissipate a bit, allowing the people around to relax slightly as if they had been granted a pardon.

Today's task was still easy, just a routine patrol within the camp.

Captain Batu now completely regards Li Chen as his de facto superior, cautiously following beside him, not daring to assign any specific tasks, but rather acting like Li Chen's subordinate waiting to be dispatched at any time.

Just as the inspection was nearing its end, a series of muffled and orderly hoofbeats and the clanging of armor suddenly came from outside the military camp gate, and a chilling atmosphere swept over them!

A cavalry force of about five hundred men rushed in from the north gate like an iron torrent.

This army has a completely different temperament from the garrison at Hantie Pass!
They all had weathered faces and sharp, eagle-like eyes. Their armor was still stained with blood and marked with swords and blades. They moved silently, yet exuded a chilling killing intent and invisible pressure that only battle-hardened elites possessed, inspiring awe in all who beheld them!
The young general at the head of the group wore a dark black senior colonel's uniform, covered with light armor with dark gold patterns. His handsome face carried the coldness of someone who had been through many battles. He was none other than Xu Zifeng, the heir of the Prince of Zhennan and the current commander of the Northern Vanguard Army of the Empire.

He was ordered by Commander Han Wu to lead an elite squad to deal with the harassment of the border troops of the Great Luo Dynasty. After completing his mission, he came to the nearest Han Tie Pass for rest and resupply.

As the group marched to the main road of the military camp, they came face to face with Li Chen and his entourage who were on patrol.

According to military regulations, junior officers should give way when encountering a unit led by a senior officer.

Seeing this, Feng Shuo instinctively wanted to tug at Li Chen's sleeve to remind him, but he didn't know how to start, and he was sweating profusely with anxiety.

Wang, the military supervisor, also saw this scene from a distance. His heart skipped a beat. He was about to bite the bullet and step forward to explain, fearing that this lawless "Commander Cheng" would clash with the prince, who had made great military achievements, had a powerful background, and was also quite temperamental.

Everyone held their breath, sensing that a new storm was about to break out.

However, what happened next completely surprised everyone!

(End of this chapter)