Chu Chen's heart tightened. He had been worried that Li Xinyue would ask about matters related to the Empress, and just as he feared, his worries had come true.
"Your Highness, the truth has not yet been revealed, and I dare not let His Majesty appear. I ask for your understanding, Your Highness."
Li Xinyue smiled and nodded, saying, "I understand, of course. I didn't say I blamed you. Look how scared you are."
Chu Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead. Li Xinyue smiled and said, "Didn't you want to play chess? Let's go, I'll play with you."
"In the Empress's sleeping quarters, there is Chinese chess, military chess, and Go."
"What kind of chess do you want to play?"
Chu Chen smiled and shook his head. "Your humble servant can play any chess. Let's play Chinese chess then."
Li Xinyue immediately sent someone to fetch it. A moment later, a palace maid brought the Chinese chess set and spread it out before them.
"The quality of this Chinese chess set is indeed exquisite. Every pattern makes one's imagination soar, allowing one to feel the profound historical weight within."
"Yes, Mother Empress said these pieces are carved from ivory and are extremely precious. She rarely uses such ivory chess pieces, yet I am the one using them in the end."
"I wonder how your chess skills are, Your Highness. This humble servant wishes to seek your guidance."
Chu Chen's words made Li Xinyue's face bloom with a smile.
"What guidance, what guidance? My chess skills are nothing, but it's still very easy for me to crush you."
Chu Chen nodded and said with great interest, "In that case, that would be wonderful. Your Highness, Chu Chen eagerly anticipates being crushed by Your Highness."
"Your Highness, the imperial kitchen has prepared breakfast. May we serve it?"
A princess approached Li Xinyue and knelt respectfully, saying.
"It's ready so soon? Then bring it up. Just set it beside us, and we'll eat while we play chess."
Chu Chen was also a little hungry at this moment, and a look of longing appeared on his face.
"Eating delicious food while playing chess with a beautiful woman. What more could one ask for in life?"
Li Xinyue's face turned slightly red, and she lightly tapped his foot, saying, "Look at you, so pleased with yourself. But we can't delay too long, or the other ordinary ministers will have opinions too."
Chu Chen nodded and said indifferently, "Your Highness, rest assured, I know what I'm doing. Those fellows are shrewd. They won't have any opinions. They are all thinking about stability. As long as it doesn't affect them, they won't interfere."
Li Xinyue nodded and said, "Chu Chen, when can I be as at ease as you are?"
Chu Chen said with a wry smile, "Your Highness, you are actually doing very well. Anyone else would probably not even be half as good as you."
Li Xinyue was stunned for a moment, then her face was filled with smiles. "Chu Chen, do you truly think so?"
Chu Chen nodded and said with certainty, "Yes, Your Highness. Our Yun Yue Kingdom is currently in a period of rising national strength. As long as you maintain the current territory, it is already very good."
"Moreover, our grain production is constantly expanding, giving us a significant advantage against other nations."
"Everything in Yun Yue Kingdom is excellent right now. There is no need for Your Highness to make any changes."
"Your Highness only needs to maintain the status quo. However, even this requirement is something that many ambitious rulers may not be able to achieve, because they always want to do better, resulting in many negative outcomes, and ultimately being worse than maintaining the status quo."
Li Xinyue nodded and smiled, "Chu Chen, you are right. Originally, I felt that I was very incompetent, but after hearing your comforting words, I feel much better."
Upon hearing this, Chu Chen comforted Li Xinyue a couple more times, and then the two of them focused on their chess game, occasionally taking a bite to eat.
They stayed in the warm pavilion for an hour before coming out. Several groups of palace maids sent by the ministers to check on the situation were all turned away by Chu Chen. The imperial court was already in an uproar.
An hour earlier, several people had already appeared in the imperial court, but everyone seemed indifferent, as usual.
However, some observant individuals gathered together, conversing amongst themselves.
"We will proceed according to the plan today. No one is to act on their own accord. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, we have already sent people to watch the entrance of Prime Minister Chu's mansion. We will absolutely not let this fellow not come."
"That's good. This fellow knows that something is happening on our side and wouldn't dare to run around. But to be safe, we still need to keep a close eye on him."
"That's right. This fellow is truly a thorn in our side. He has caused such a big mess at such a young age. But this time, he should be finished, right? If he's not finished, our descendants will live under his shadow forever."
"Exactly. And this fellow is too arrogant. He has always been so overbearing. Now is the time to teach him a profound lesson."
"But we shouldn't say this in front of him. We will just impeach him later."
"We already have evidence, so we are not afraid of any denial from this fellow."
"Even if the Princess protects this fellow, she cannot protect him forever."
"When we bring down Chu Chen, all of you present will be meritorious officials."
"Later, when His Majesty returns, he will have to select talented individuals from among you to fill the position of Prime Minister."
"Where, where? Minister Guo is more suitable to be Prime Minister."
The people gathered for discussion were not among the top officials. Originally, they were led by Qian Jieren.
After Qian Jieren was dealt with by Chu Chen, these people lost their leader. The other top-ranking officials did not favor them much.
They gathered together, pooling their resources, preparing to contend with Chu Chen.
It must be said that they did have some capabilities, at least enough to gather so many resources.
However, what they never expected was that they had been deceived by Chu Chen.
As more ministers arrived, they each returned to their positions and stopped talking.
They had prepared thoroughly. As soon as Chu Chen arrived, they would give him a stern warning to let him know of their existence.
However, they waited and waited. It was almost time for the morning court, but they did not see Chu Chen.
Under normal circumstances, Chu Chen would arrive fifteen minutes in advance.
Now, it had dragged on until the start of the morning court.
"I say, is Prime Minister Chu not planning to come? Does he still have any regard for the regent?"
Guo Yong's expression changed slightly as he looked back the way he came, still seeing no sign of Chu Chen.
Yan Fa also stepped forward and said, "Yes, does he think he's won because the people he sent have won? Is he celebrating too early?"