[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet-":3,"chapter-i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--chapter-101":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Just Maxed Out, and You Want Me to Be a Puppet Emperor?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2336540,4569,"Chapter 101: If You Can","i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--chapter-101",101,"\u003Cp>Li Chen walked out of the government office, thinking the Prince of Jing’an’s birthday banquet was still some time away, so he headed to his usual flirting routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still the familiar No. 7 Changqing Street; when he arrived, Wu Qi happened to be out, and he missed yet another chance to grovel before Li Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know if he was unlucky—he rose early and returned late, all to gather news about Li Chen and find a way to approach him—but Li Chen was right outside his door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Wu Qi still brought gifts to the Liu residence to pay his respects to Liu Hao, who, after all, was a noble scion with plenty of opportunities to interact with Li Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you busy with your family’s business? What brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Hao was now dressed in full military attire, a bow and arrows slung across his back—clearly preparing for the spring hunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much of a sycophant he was, he was still at the peak of Void-Piercing Realm, one of the empire’s top prodigies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liu family counted on him to perform well in the spring hunt and earn a chance to join the campaign against Wang Ting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, the Khan of Snow Eagle Court had received Li Chen’s challenge, but had yet to respond—like he’d gone offline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew what he was thinking; many even suspected whether the northern court was in turmoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing was certain: Li Chen had made up his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Qi spoke politely: “Brother Liu, my family situation is dire—every Wu clan youth wants to replace me. If I can’t establish contact with His Majesty and make tangible progress, he’ll likely recall me to Tiger Squat City, and I’ll never return to the capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In plain terms, out of years of familiarity, he was seeking Liu Hao’s guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Hao sneered: “You’ve always competed with me for the goddess, recently copied me obsessively, and now you finally realize there’s still a gap between us, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, Liu Hao had no intention of helping Wu Qi—but he had his own calculations here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Hao was shrewd; since leaving Chu Ruoyan, his mind had returned to its former sharpness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his view, Wu Qi might not help him directly, but don’t forget: his grandfather was about to enter the Saint Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he truly crossed that threshold, the Wu family’s status would skyrocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remember, the gap between Saint Realm and Heaven-Depth Realm is immense—stepping across it is like crossing a chasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, if His Majesty weren’t in the Saint Realm but merely in the Heaven-Depth Realm, the other princes would have revolted long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who dares face the wrath of a Saint Realm cultivator without absolute certainty?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Hao was destined to inherit the Liu family, so now was no time for impulsive emotion—he had to weigh Wu Qi’s value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could invest in Wu Qi now, helping him secure his position as Wu family’s heir, thereby earning a great favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, when Wu Qi’s grandfather eventually reached the Saint Realm, Liu Hao could claim that connection and easily ask for help later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Liu Hao said: “Out of years of friendship, I’ll help you once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Qi exclaimed in delight: “Will you take me to the spring hunt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Hao: “Go to hell—I can barely get in myself. This year’s applicant numbers are unprecedented, and the screening’s brutal. But I’ve got another plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Liu Hao, his family had connections in the Ministry of War—he’d get Wu Qi hired as an auxiliary officer first, then use his influence to make him permanent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this would require some social maneuvering; Wu Qi understood—he had no other assets, but plenty of money and treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he became permanent, the Wu family wouldn’t easily recall him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it’d be up to Wu Qi’s own fortune: according to Liu Hao’s analysis, once the Tiance Dynasty and Snow Eagle Court went to war, the Ministry of War would become the capital’s most strained department—and thus the most desperate for talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Wu Qi could showcase his abilities—whether applying to join the frontlines or managing logistics in the rear—both were ways to earn merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the war, rewards would be distributed according to merit; if Wu Qi secured a proper rank, who in the Wu family would dare recall him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wu family might even actively support him to keep building his career in the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Hao concluded: “It’s not that I won’t take you to the front—I take people with me, and their merit counts as mine. If you want credit, you’ve got to go on your own.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Qi immediately replied: “Understood. Thank you, Brother Liu, for your guidance. If you ever need anything from me, just say the word!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Hao nodded approvingly: “Now you’re talking. I didn’t waste my breath on you. If you can’t even grasp this much, I can’t help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without delay, Wu Qi brought Liu Hao’s letter of recommendation to the Ministry of War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ministry of War was currently in a bind—war was imminent, yet the Minister was still out “lounging.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Vice Minister was now acting as Minister, overwhelmed with work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carried two jobs but received only one salary—it was truly unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Hao probably hadn’t anticipated that his casual recommendation would suddenly elevate someone so rapidly in the Ministry of War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Qi’s own abilities and luck were secondary; the main reason was his aunt, Wu Nanzhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Wu Nanzhi was on a date with Li Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who was that woman yesterday? Don’t tell me she’s your sister,” Wu Nanzhi said with a mischievous grin after being invited out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d passed the awkward stage and now spoke freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still that exotic restaurant—they were having lunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I do have a sister, but yesterday’s woman was my wife,” Li Chen replied with unflinching honesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’ve got a wife and still go out on dates with me? What a player!” Wu Nanzhi sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what if I have a wife? Aren’t you my sister?” Li Chen said between bites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t even know how to respond to you,” Wu Nanzhi nearly choked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday I let you off easy by calling myself your sister to avoid conflict with your wife, and now you’re climbing up the ladder?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And your wife is so beautiful—how dare you go chasing other women?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Nanzhi wasn’t surprised at all that the beautiful woman was Li Chen’s wife—Li Chen was handsome and powerful, held a decent position in Tiance Dynasty; which woman wouldn’t want him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen didn’t care—he’d done nothing wrong yesterday, and his wife even introduced him another wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Li Chen, teasing Wu Nanzhi was fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He loved watching this mature woman slowly mold herself into the shape he desired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Nanzhi changed the subject, commenting on the food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they debated the day’s ingredients, a woman walked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her entrance instantly drew the attention of everyone in the restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had willow-browed eyes, phoenix eyes, a slender nose, peach-cheeked cheeks, full lips, a beauty beyond description, and an aura of noble dignity that forbade disrespect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a tight-fitting green silk chiffon dress that accentuated her voluptuous figure perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put it this way—even from behind, Li Chen could see the round curves of her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That figure—he’d last seen something like it on the Empress Dowager. If he ever got the chance, he’d make them compare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her presence was a devastating blow, making every woman in the room’s couples feel inferior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It instantly spiked the testosterone of every man present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen turned around and saw Wu Nanzhi glaring at him, furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, any sensible man knew he should soothe his companion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Chen said: “Will you ever have this kind of figure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Nanzhi: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can’t you see I’m angry?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re on a date with me, staring at another woman, and then you ask if I’ll ever have this kind of figure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1346,"2026-06-20T21:59:17.413Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","bf3b7bf730a0195cbcef2ba1e64e29956bfb8db08e21839093e4af209932aac5","i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--chapter-102","i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--chapter-100",766,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--cover.jpg"]