"Please, Young Master Chu, come out for a chat." The leading general said indifferently, a playful smile on his face.
"Young Master Chu?" The old man driving the carriage was startled and quickly looked up at Chu Chen inside the carriage.
"Father, I'll go down and see. They should be looking for me." Chu Chen nodded slightly, lifted the curtain, jumped out of the carriage, and walked directly towards the group of generals.
"I thought you wouldn't dare to come out," the leading general grinned.
"Who are you?" Chu Chen frowned, staring at the general. The man's identity was rather peculiar.
"By imperial decree, we are here to invite Young Master Chu to the palace for an audience." The general replied.
"The Emperor summons me to the palace?" Chu Chen's eyebrows rose, a hint of surprise in his heart.
"Please hurry, Young Master Chu, do not delay His Majesty's important affairs, otherwise..." The general sneered, issuing a veiled threat.
"You all wait here for me. I will return shortly." Chu Chen instructed, then entered the imperial palace alone.
The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Garden.
Long Kun, clad in a dragon robe, sat by a stone table, leisurely sipping tea from a cup, seemingly paying no mind to Chu Chen.
"Your subject, greets Your Majesty!" Chu Chen approached the stone bench and cupped his fists in greeting.
"Mm." Long Kun glanced at him and said indifferently, "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Chu Chen slowly stood up.
"Chu Chen, I hear you've been up to quite a lot lately, making quite a name for yourself." Long Kun put down his teacup, looking at Chu Chen with interest, and said with a smile.
"I heard you eliminated members of the Li imperial family and also incidentally killed the grandson of the King of Zhao, Zhao Yunyang?"
"This subject is humbled." Chu Chen bowed, "Your Majesty, the Li imperial family committed many wicked deeds and deserved their fate. Zhao Yunyang, the grandson of the King of Zhao, relied on the backing of the imperial family.
He wantonly bullied the common people. I could not bear to see these pitiable individuals suffer such injustice, so I acted to eliminate Zhao Yunyang."
"Oh? And do you know how powerful the Li imperial family and the King of Zhao are?" Long Kun asked, looking at Chu Chen with amusement.
"No matter how powerful they are, they are but ants." Chu Chen waved his hand dismissively and said lightly, "Even ants cling to life, let alone humans?
Your Majesty, what must be done must be done decisively. If they are allowed to grow stronger, they will pose a grave danger to the Great Xia Dynasty.
Not only will it shake the stability of imperial power, but it will also bring unimaginable disaster to our Great Xia Dynasty."
"Heh heh, Chu Chen, you truly dare to speak your mind. Do you know the consequences of saying such things?" Long Kun sneered.
"This subject does not wish to speculate, nor does he deign to. For such an outcome, Your Majesty should be well aware.
Everything I say is the truth." Chu Chen stated, neither subservient nor arrogant, "Your Majesty must be clear that once Li Zhongyi rebels, the consequences will be dire!"
"You!" Long Kun slammed the table and glared at Chu Chen, "You dare to point out my faults? You have quite a bit of nerve!"
Chu Chen remained unfazed and said calmly, "Your Majesty, I am not accusing you. I am merely stating a fact."
Long Kun took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger within him, "Do you know? Ever since Li Zhongyi rebelled, the entire Jiangbei Commandery has been in chaos."
"Your Majesty, if Li Zhongyi were to rebel, it would indeed be a catastrophe for the dynasty. It is a pity that Li Zhongyi did not rebel."
Chu Chen shook his head and said lightly.
"You!" Long Kun was instantly choked into silence.
"Enough, I will not argue with you. Come with me into the palace first." Long Kun waved his hand.
"Yes." Chu Chen nodded and followed Long Kun into the imperial carriage.
The carriage set off, slowly entering the imperial palace.
"Your Majesty, what is the reason for summoning me this time?" Chu Chen asked doubtfully.
Long Kun did not answer Chu Chen's question, his gaze fixed on the scenery flashing past the window, falling into a long silence.
After an unknown amount of time, the carriage finally arrived before the Golden Dragon Hall.
"Chu Chen, go in by yourself. I will not be accompanying you." Long Kun said in a low voice, "Your mother and sister, they miss you dearly."
With that, he turned and left.
Watching Long Kun's receding figure, Chu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, "What is the true purpose of His Majesty's invitation today?"
"Rumble!" Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from the sky.
Chu Chen looked up and saw a massive black war chariot descending from the sky, landing on the Golden Dragon Hall.
"Welcome, Third Prince." A group of generals knelt in unison, shouting with awe.
"Rise." A young man in splendid robes descended from the war chariot. His gaze fell upon Chu Chen, and he said with a smile, "Young Master Chu, long time no see."
"Third Prince, long time no see." Chu Chen said indifferently, his eyes flickering as he subtly assessed the young man before him.
Although this was their first meeting, from the Third Prince's somewhat arrogant demeanor, he could tell that this was an arrogant and conceited fellow.
"You are that abandoned son of the Chu family?" The Third Prince's gaze swept over Chu Chen, and then he revealed a look of disdain, sneering.
"As expected, a mere waste, with only the cultivation of the fourth level of Body Refining."
"You!" Chu Chen's expression darkened, and he stared coldly at the Third Prince, "What right do you have to insult me?"
"Hahaha!" The Third Prince threw his head back and laughed, looking at Chu Chen with mockery, "You are but a commoner, and I am the dignified Third Prince. What right do you have to insult me?"
"Abandoned son of the Chu family?" Chu Chen snorted and said, "If you think to insult me with that, then you will likely be disappointed."
"What does a useless person like you know!" The Third Prince snorted disdainfully, "Let me tell you, in this imperial capital, who doesn't know that I, the Third Prince, am a once-in-a-million genius prodigy?"
"You are a genius, but your father made you the Third Prince?" Chu Chen shook his head, a look of deep mockery appearing on his face.
"Shut up!" The Third Prince roared in anger, shouting sternly, "Do you think I *want* to be some damned prince?"
"I don't like that feeling of being above everyone else. I hate everyone's flattery. I crave power.
I need to control the destinies of others. Only then can I gain enough respect."
"Do you understand?"
"Chu Chen, you are nothing but a lowly commoner. Why should I condescend to speak with you?
Let me tell you, I am the Third Prince now, and in the future, I will become the ruler of the empire, the supreme Emperor!"
"You are nothing but a stray dog. With a single word from me, I can make you disappear without a trace!"
"The Chu family will be destroyed sooner or later!" The Third Prince's tone became increasingly agitated, as if he had fallen into a frenzy.
With a crisp sound, a sudden crack was heard. Chu Chen raised his hand and slapped the Third Prince across the face. His cheek swelled, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Chu Chen's action completely enraged the Third Prince. A violent killing intent surged wildly. He clenched his fists and said menacingly, "Bastard! You're looking for death!"