o much to chew at once.""I have good teeth."Li Chen let out a light chuckle and said calmly, "Now that there are many vacancies in the cabinet, yet government affairs cannot be neglected for a day, th...Chapter 276: Xu Wei's Opportunity

Xu Wei's face was pale, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He always felt that things were going too smoothly for him, and the feared retribution never came. He thought he was lucky, but he didn't realize that everything about him had long been under the control of the Crown Prince.

However, Xu Wei also found it strange. He had previously been just a small guard. Thanks to the prince's favor, he was promoted to Baihu, a ninth-rank military officer, and gained some real power. But how could someone as insignificant as him be worthy of the prince's special attention

Xu Wei didn't know how badly Li Chen needed people now, but he understood that when an opportunity arose, he had to seize it.

After tasting the sweetness of power, Xu Wei never wanted to go back to being an ordinary guard whom everyone could trample on. That was even worse than killing him.

“Your Highness, it is my utmost honor to serve you. To you, this may seem like a simple gesture, but for me, it has changed my life entirely. For thirty years, I wandered aimlessly until I met you. Under your guidance, I have tasted the sweetness of success. Now I understand that everything I have is because of you. Your Highness, whatever you ask of me, I will do without hesitation.”

Xu Wei's statement sounded good, but it was the behavior of a novice in the officialdom.

Similar in expressing loyalty, Xu Changqing and others were much more sophisticated than Xu Wei.

It wasn't said outright, but the actions spoke volumes.

But Xu Wei's immaturity was exactly what Li Chen wanted.

He has plenty of old foxes under him; sometimes a roughneck comes along, and it's not necessarily a bad thing.

More importantly, in Li Chen's eyes, Xu Wei's ruthlessness, decisiveness, and potential surpassed even those of Xu Changqing and the others.

An hour ago, right here, this palace, along with the Empress and important ministers from the Imperial Council, approved the decree to bestow upon Prince Li Yinhu the title of King Zhao. Now the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Council have gone to prepare the proclamation. At the latest tomorrow, this news will be known throughout the land.

Xu Wei didn't know why Li Chen told him this, but he just listened patiently without interrupting.

As expected, Li Chen's tone changed as he said, "According to the law, after a prince is enfeoffed, he must go to his fiefdom to take office. However, with the current turmoil in the court and the emperor in a coma, this matter of enfeoffment has been put on hold by this palace. Even so, King Zhao remaining in the capital still requires three hundred personal guards. This palace intends for these three hundred guards to be selected from the palace guards."

Xu Wei's eyelids twitched wildly upon hearing this.

He vaguely realized that he, a nobody in the capital, was going to be dragged into the power struggle between the crown prince and the princes.

At this level of conflict, even a small ripple could shatter him to pieces.

But he had no opportunity to retreat.

Moreover, he didn't want to back down.

Having tasted the sweetness of power, he craves more.

He saw a huge opportunity amidst the danger.

From Xu Wei's eyes, Li Chen saw excitement. Li Chen didn't beat around the bush any longer and said, "This palace will arrange for you to join this personal army, but King Zhao will certainly not be pleased with the people this palace arranges to go in, so this palace won't give you too much support. That would only harm you. Therefore, how far you can go depends entirely on yourself."

Li Chen didn't make his words too clear, but everything he needed Xu Wei to understand was already in these few sentences.

Xu Wei respectfully said, "I understand, I will definitely not disappoint Your Highness's trust."

"Very well."

Nodding, Li Chen waved his hand and said, "Get out."

After Xu Wei respectfully left, Li Chen beckoned to Zhao Rui beside him.

"Come, accompany this palace to stroll through the garden."he pain stimulated Xu Changqing's inner fury, which continued to rise. He ignored Li Yinhu's unsightly expression and said through gritted teeth: "Your Highness speaks of misunderstanding, this lowly...