Chapter 1761: Summoning Zou Qingyuan

They couldn't understand why Li Chen would do something so thankless and tiring. They assumed it was just another one of the Crown Prince's strange antics.The imperial treasury's money is different fr...Chapter 1761: Summoning Zou Qingyuan

After Li Chen finished speaking, he turned onto his horse and rode up the official road with his men, facing away from Yulin Prefecture and heading towards the front lines.

Xu Wei waited on the spot for a while, waiting for Zou Qingyuan's men to send the old man away. He then sent a quick-witted subordinate to follow and check the situation, and Xu Wei rushed straight to Zou Qingyuan.

Who are you

Zou Qingyuan looked at Xu Wei, a towering figure who exuded an aura of power without even needing to raise his voice. There was a palpable presence surrounding him that made it clear he was no ordinary peasant. Zou frowned and asked.

Before his words even hit the ground, Xu Wei pulled out a waist card and shoved it in front of Zou Qingyuan.

"East Palace Guard, Xu Wei."

East Palace, Inner Guard.

These two keywords sent a shiver down Zou Qingyuan's spine.

Although he held the rank of a fourth-grade official, under normal circumstances, the East Palace was far away from him. Unless one day he advanced to the third grade, holding the position of a left or right assistant minister in one of the six departments of the capital, or serving as an important official in a provincial government, he would have no opportunity or qualification to meet the current crown prince.

Especially the word "inner guard," it's not something just any guard can call themselves. Once "inner guard" is used, it means someone who is deeply trusted by the Crown Prince, a core member within his inner circle. When an inner guard goes out on a mission, it is always a crucial task given personally by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Zou Qingyuan immediately respectfully said, "I wonder if this general has anything to do"

Xu Wei looked at Zou Qingyuan with a half-smile and said, "I won't say anything else, but this Zou Qingyuan does know how to draw people in."

Even if the Inner Guard were larger, they would still only be a guard class, nothing more than confidants of the prince, making it convenient for them to speak with him. That's why they seem important. But in the end, there is a vast chasm between the Inner Guard and a general.

"By the order of the Prince, summon Yulin Prefecture's magistrate, Zou Qingyuan, to meet at the Sending Guests Pavilion five miles outside the city immediately. He must not fail to appear."

After Xu Wei had delivered his decree sternly and unwaveringly, he turned to Zou Qingyuan and said, "Zou sir, come with me for a while."

Zou Qingyuan's heart pounded like thunder, sure enough, it was the prince who had summoned him.

He almost instinctively followed up with, "Excuse me, General, was the Prince here the entire time"

Xu Wei said faintly, "Mr. Zou, His Highness is extremely busy with state affairs and has a tight schedule. It's probably best not to keep him waiting too long, don't you think"

This is the difference between Xu Wei and Chen Tong.

If Chen Tong were here, he would certainly give it some thought. If he felt that answering this question wouldn't affect his meeting with Zou Qingyuan later, he would definitely answer, at least to forge a good connection.

But Xu Wei was different. He only handled the tasks assigned to him by Li Chen and wouldn't interfere with anything else that wasn't on his list.

This stems from the difference in their personalities, and even more so from their different positions.

Xu Wei was more like Li Chen's personal bodyguard, while Chen Tong, after all, was the commander of the Dongchang Jinyiwei. As someone who navigated the official circles, he naturally had to consider interpersonal relationships.

There is no right or wrong, only what is suitable and what is not.

Zou Qingyuan reacted very quickly, there was no disappointment on his face, and he immediately nodded and said: "General, what you say is true. This officer can set off immediately."

At least Zou Qingyuan still has some shame. He calls himself "the official" rather than "the lower official." Otherwise, a fourth-rank official like him would be embarrassing himself by calling himself a "lower official" in front of Xu Wei, a eunuch!

Zou Qingyuan gave a few instructions to his subordinates, then immediately mounted his horse and followed Xu Wei straight to the welcoming pavilion.

Moments later, Zou Qingyuan dismounted several dozen meters outside the guesthouse and walked briskly into the pavilion, kneeling with both knees on the ground. "Your humble servant, Zou Qingyuan, pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"ied.Less than half of the time Wen Wang gave him remains. If he fails to deliver the person by then, Wen Wang's thunderous measures will fall upon him.At this juncture, Zhao Xuanji absolutely did not...