Chapter 789: Twelve-Character EvaluationChapter 147 Get Out

Seeing Zhao Xuanji walk toward the palace gate, those ministers who had been turned away earlier looked at each other and chose to remain silent.

"Zhao Shufu."

The guards at the gate were also feeling uneasy.

The other ministers had stopped him, but Zhao Xuanji was not like them.

Even with a royal decree in hand, the guard felt a pang of apprehension when he saw Zhao Xuanji.

After all, Zhao Xuanji had held power for over a decade. His deep-rooted prestige was unparalleled.

"What Can't even old me go in" Zhao Xuanji asked calmly.

The guard, gritting his teeth, said, "Please forgive me, sir. I'm just a lowly servant. The prince has given an order that no one is to enter without his summons."

"Damn it!"

Zhao Xuanji was furious and rebuked, "Now that the Emperor is gravely ill and unconscious, and the Ninth Prince has died in the depths of the palace, you yet stop this old man from entering. What is your intention"

If you delay this important matter, can you take responsibility for the consequences!

The guardsman's face turned pale with fright. Despite the cold winter, beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. His eyes darted around nervously, and he couldn't utter a word.

"Get lost!"

Zhao Xuanji shouted, pushing aside the guards and declared loudly, "This old man is going to see who dares to stop me from entering the palace today!"

Outside the palace gates, the noise was deafening. Just at this most bustling moment, a sharp shout pierced the air like throwing a large block of ice into boiling water. The scene instantly fell silent.

"The Prince has arrived!"

Zhao Xuanji's eyes were cold, and he turned his head to look in the direction of the voice.

Yet, Li Chen arrived quickly surrounded by a large group of Jinyiwei.

"I, your humble servant, pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhao Xuanji bowed his head and clasped his hands together, saying.

All other officials, following behind Zhao Xuanji, said in unison: "We, your humble servants, greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince."

Li Chen brushed away a thin layer of snow from his shoulder and said calmly, "What's all the commotion"

Zhao Xuanji remained silent.

Before the officials from the Ministry of Personnel, Liu Baichuan, were stopped at the gate, they had been trying to get in. Upon hearing this, he immediately chimed in and said: "Your Highness, we heard that the ninth prince died suddenly, so we rushed to the palace. However, the palace guards didn't know what they were thinking, they dared to stop us, civil and military officials alike, at the gate. We beg Your Highness to punish them severely."

Li Chen's eyes were cold as he looked at the pale-faced guard, "Was it you who stopped these ministers outside the palace gate"

The guard thought that the prince didn't want to offend so many ministers and was willing to sacrifice himself. Desperate, he said, "It is my fault."

The guard had even prepared himself for death, hoping in his heart that the prince would show mercy and leave some compensation for his family, considering he was carrying out his orders.

"Great!"

Li Chen's next words, however, were like salvation, giving the guard hope in his desperate situation.

What is your name and what is your position

The guard instinctively replied, "My name is Xu Wei, and I am a small captain in the palace guards."

According to the Qin army system, at least a hundred households were considered a rank, while those below a hundred households were called banners, and under banners were platoons and squads. Three squads formed one platoon.

Therefore, Xu Wei is nothing more than a second-rate character, slightly better than an ordinary soldier.

"Well, from now on, you are the commander of the Imperial Guard, bestowed with the rank of Ninth Grade. The security of the Shenwu Gate is now entrusted to you."

Li Chen finished his words, and regardless of Xu Wei's flushed face with excitement, he looked at the civil and military officials whose expressions were as uncomfortable as having eaten a fly, and said coldly: "Even a mere captain of the guard knows how to obey orders, how come you bunch of ministers, each with a rank higher than him by an unknown amount, don't have brains as useful as his!"

"All of you, get back to where you belong!"nding of the Yan Yun Sixteen Cavalry and King Ning, Zhou Changshou knew that this distance was already the limit. If he got any closer, the soldiers of the Yan Yun Sixteen Cavalry might discover him,...