Chapter 657: How unfair! How shameless! (Please subscribe)

Ivan was silent for a moment; he was struggling intensely within.

On one hand, he was indeed shaken by the powerful military force displayed by Tian Ce, fearing falling into the quagmire of a long-term war; on the other hand, as the monarch of a country, doing this was no different from cutting off his own arms and showing weakness to an opponent, damaging the empire's face and his own majesty.

When it truly came time to make a choice, Ivan began to hesitate, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

Although this operation was not explicitly approved by him, it was tacitly allowed to some extent. Could Li Chen really be trusted?

"Draft the decree." Ivan finally made a decision, his voice recovering the calmness and majesty of an emperor. "Announce Andrei's crimes to the world. The wording must be severe, clearly stating that this matter was his personal doing and has nothing to do with the empire. Send envoys to the Tian Ce military camp, presenting my personal letter and the criminal Andrei, to express our dynasty's sincerity in stopping the war."

He paused, his tone suddenly turning sharp, carrying an unquestionable dominance: "But at the same time, let Tian Ce understand! My Da Luo Dynasty is by no means a cowardly lot! If they do not know what is good for them and insist on fighting, then I will accompany them to the end!"

"Let us see whose blood runs dry first on this vast land! I give them face because I hope to avoid suffering for the common people, not because I fear their Tian Ce!"

And all of this had long been within Li Chen's expectations.

Today, Li Chen was chatting in the courtyard with several graceful and beautiful women.

Sunlight spilled through the gaps in the vines, mottled and scattered; the atmosphere seemed relaxed and pleasant.

Anastasia was wearing a low-cut navy blue long dress today, which outlined her mature and plump figure to perfection. She smiled charmingly and said:

"Master, Katrilan's hometown tribe is said to be hidden deep in the extremely cold snow mountains of the North. There are glaciers that have not melted for thousands of years, and ancient altars that can talk to the stars as legend says. If the Master is interested, we sisters would be very happy to lead the way for you to explore those lost Shaman secrets together."

As she spoke, her eyes flowed with charm, inadvertently revealing all kinds of allure, but she was secretly thinking: This Master is knowledgeable. If I can cater to his preferences and make him happy, the hope of rescuing Vasily will be greater.

Darya also echoed softly from the side. She was wearing a simple and elegant moon-white dress, appearing gentle and moving: "Yes, Master, Katrilan often says that the tribe's Great Wizard is knowledgeable and might be able to exchange many mysteries of the natural Dao with you, Master."

As she spoke, she quietly observed Li Chen's reaction.

After the last "misunderstanding," she now looked at Li Chen with eyes that always felt that his deep gaze only held an exploration of knowledge, with no other distracting thoughts.

Li Chen's gaze did indeed linger for a moment on Anastasia's proud chest and Darya's slender waist; this time, he was truly looking with a bit of appreciation.

These two beautiful mature women, one passionate as fire, one gentle as water, each had their own charm and were very pleasing to the eye.

However, Anastasia and Darya "misunderstood" again. They thought the Master was just deep in thought about matters related to the tribe, or at most looking at them like appreciating works of art, with absolutely no intention of desecration.

They even secretly incited other female relatives who were close to them and equally worried about their husbands' fates to come together. Several beauties sat around Li Chen, their voices like orioles and swallows, desperately creating a harmonious and respectful atmosphere, just wanting to earn some favor in front of this "expert from the world."

Li Chen was indeed very interested in the tribe Katrilan mentioned; it might be related to the passage to the Myriad Worlds. And with these beauties taking the initiative to show favor, he was happy to enjoy this feeling of being surrounded by stars.

He was just considering how to go with the flow and agree to this northern trip—not only to investigate clues but also to maintain his "Master" demeanor—when Xie Ergai ran over in a hurry, his face full of panic.

Xie Ergai didn't even care about etiquette, rushing directly to Li Chen, bowing and saying urgently: "Master! Something terrible has happened!"

His shout instantly broke the peace and harmony of the courtyard. Several beautiful women looked at him in surprise, their faces showing confusion.

Xie Ergai panted, not caring that others were present, and spoke at a very fast speed: "Just received news from the Imperial Capital! Emperor Ivan has issued a decree! Claiming my father, Grand Duke Andrei, colluded with Tuoba Zhen, provoked border conflicts without authorization, and harmed the country and the people! He wants to strip my father of his title and rank, and hand him over to the Tian Ce Dynasty to deal with, in order to quell the war!"

This news was like a bolt from the blue, instantly exploding among the several beautiful women. ===== CHAPTER 658 =====