Chu Fan then sat on the dragon throne that had been prepared in advance. However, this time, it was not Eunuch Li who was guarding him, but two of the most powerful men in the Wei Kingdom. On his left sat Chu Yuanwu, and on his right sat Wei Zhongxian.
Chu Fan's gaze fell on the old eunuch sitting beside him, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. In Blue Star's history, there was also a Wei Zhongxian, and according to records, Wei Zhongxian had a bad reputation. He was known for his ruthless methods of excluding dissidents and arbitrary state affairs.
However, he also had his own achievements, such as ensuring that the soldiers on the border never ran out of food and wages.
Other crimes recorded against him included forming a clique for personal gain, manipulating government, and selling official positions. Chu Fan was struck by the thought that a single eunuch could wield such immense power, especially given the existence of a cabinet at the time. The fact that a single eunuch could accomplish these things undoubtedly proved his immense power.
Furthermore, after Zhu Youjian finally eliminated Wei Zhongxian, the court became even more chaotic, and even the soldiers at the border were demoralized because they could not get enough food and pay. This shows that although the people in the court at that time could not be compared in terms of character, they were probably not as capable as Wei Zhongxian.
It is ironic and a sad reality that the country can still maintain relative stability and soldiers can still receive food and wages to maintain morale when a person who is generally regarded as a treacherous minister and a bad person is in power.
Chu Fan took a deep breath, realizing he'd been overthinking things. He'd already conducted in-depth research and understanding of Wei Zhongxian, the incredibly powerful figure in the Wei Kingdom. While his name resembled a figure on Blue Star, his loyalty and abilities were not to be underestimated.
In fact, Wei Zhongxian was the only powerful person in the palace who had reached the level of Grandmaster. He was also the direct manager of all the eunuchs and maids in the palace. His control over the palace was unmatched.
Chu Fan knew very well that it was precisely because of Wei Zhongxian's existence that warriors from other countries could not easily sneak into the palace and assassinate him. Even with the existence of the Warrior Convention, how many forces actually abided by it?
If one could sacrifice a warrior, cause the death of a king, and plunge a country into chaos, this would undoubtedly be extremely tempting to certain forces.
After seeing Chu Fan sit firmly, Eunuch Li asked in a respectful and solemn tone, "Your Majesty, may we begin the selection ceremony?"
Chu Fan glanced at the female candidates below the stage, then asked, "How did you select candidates in the past?"
When Eunuch Li heard Chu Fan's question, he immediately replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, we first look at martial arts skills, which is the basis for selection. Another factor is age. If a person's martial arts skills are low, but he is young, we will also recruit him.
Another thing is that many ordinary people who previously had no access to martial arts now have the opportunity to enter the palace through selection and receive systematic martial arts training. If they have good martial arts talent, they will also be admitted as an exception."
Chu Fan disagreed and said, "I think this election method is a bit inappropriate. After all, this is to select women to enter the imperial palace, and I may meet them many times in various occasions in the future.
Therefore, I propose that we make appropriate adjustments to the selection criteria. In addition to considering martial arts skills and talent, we should also add requirements for women's dignified appearance and outstanding temperament. Only in this way can we ensure that they are qualified to be recruited into the palace."
Chu Fan hadn't thought about being a truly wise ruler anyway, so the more beautiful the palace maids, the better. These palace maids didn't need to take on important responsibilities, so why would he recruit those with ordinary looks?
This time, Eunuch Li did not immediately obey the order. After all, this involved palace rules and traditions, and there had never been a similar precedent before. In such a situation, he had to proceed with caution.
What's more, his direct superior, the extremely powerful Wei Zhongxian, was also present at the moment. Eunuch Li did not dare to carry out the emperor's orders easily, so as not to violate the taboos of the palace and bring himself unnecessary trouble.
Seeing Eunuch Li's hesitation, Chu Fan continued, emphasizing, "Don't my words have any effect? Don't I even have this little bit of power? Does my will have no effect on you?"
This was the first time Chu Fan showed obvious anger towards Eunuch Li. Seeing this, Eunuch Li quickly knelt down, his body trembling slightly, and said in a voice with a hint of fear: "Your Majesty, please calm down. I will obey your orders immediately and will not dare to neglect them in the slightest."
After Eunuch Li left, Wei Zhongxian couldn't help but sigh. Eunuch Li's behavior just now was indeed very unwise. With His Majesty present, how could he open his mouth and directly refute His Majesty's suggestion?
You have to know that His Majesty is not only the master of the imperial palace, but also the supreme ruler of Wei. His every word represents supreme authority. If I express my objection on this matter, wouldn't I be asking for trouble?
Wasn't he challenging the majesty of the emperor? Wasn't he telling others that he didn't respect the emperor's authority? Or was he saying that he had more power than the emperor in this matter? Wasn't he just setting himself up for failure?
It seems that I need to teach Eunuch Li a lesson, so that he can be smarter in his daily life. Now everything must be based on the emperor's authority and he must not make such mistakes again. Otherwise, I will be implicated and even my life may be in danger.
The current Emperor is unlike any previous monarch. Although he doesn't often personally participate in the daily affairs of state, his leadership and decisiveness are unmatched by other monarchs. He is ruthless in dealing with erring officials, regardless of their status, and will show no leniency or favoritism.
Chu Fan watched Eunuch Li's retreating figure, then turned his gaze to Wei Zhongxian. He addressed him in a calm and humble tone, "Great Eunuch Wei, I know I'm young and unfamiliar with many of the court's rules. If there's anything I'm not doing right in handling state affairs, please feel free to enlighten me. I will humbly accept your guidance."
Although Chu Fan's words sounded calm and ordinary, they gave Wei Zhongxian a chill. Could it be that he still couldn't escape the emperor's suspicion?
Wei Zhongxian immediately knelt on the ground and replied in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty is too modest. Your wisdom is unmatched, so how could you make a mistake? I am truly flattered."
He was secretly wary, realizing that His Majesty wasn't really seeking advice, but rather testing his loyalty. He couldn't help but wonder if his martial prowess and his prominent position in the palace had led His Majesty to suspect him of treason.
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