[{"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-44":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},2336483,4569,"Chapter 44: We Don","i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>Those invited by Feng Huai are all loyal ministers of the late emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They have served as officials for years, with many students and great power, all real power brokers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In court, these are all senior figures; anyone wanting to move them must weigh whether they’re even qualified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, none of those present expected that Minister of Justice Feng Huai would start taking sides—choosing the Second Imperial Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seems the Second Imperial Prince promised him certain benefits, plus his resentment toward Li Chen, so he firmly chose the Second Imperial Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Feng Huai said this, many court ministers thought: Feng Huai is no impulsive man—he rarely does anything without certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Second Imperial Prince Li Xian was humiliated in court last time, he must have sought his master’s help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, the renowned sect powerhouse of the Tian Ce Dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had never met the Top Heaven Man, but they knew such a person existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s said this individual is respected not just in the Tian Ce Dynasty, but across the entire continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is a true top-tier powerhouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it seems the Top Heaven Man has likely agreed to help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Feng Huai probably knows this, which is why he decided to stand with the Second Imperial Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had judged the Second Imperial Prince incapable of dealing with Li Chen, he would never have dared to take sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one believes the young Li Chen could be a match for the Top Heaven Man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless Li Chen can secure other allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But given Li Chen’s current connections, who could help him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s just a lone man with no support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many of the elderly ministers attending Feng Huai’s banquet look up to him; upon hearing his proposal, they immediately agreed and began envisioning a bright future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few elderly ministers were uncertain, as they truly did not wish to join the imperial succession struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had worked hard to reach their current position—Li Chen only revoked their special privileges, but their official authority remained intact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had interacted with the new emperor Li Chen for some time and felt he was not a suspicious, paranoid man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as they did their duties properly, their official robes would remain secure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking sides means risking their lives for no reason, adding unnecessary danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Second Imperial Prince wins, fine; if he loses, won’t they be implicated?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confiscation of property, execution, extermination of nine clans—this is no joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several court ministers wanted to leave, but at that moment, they sensed movement outside the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ministry of Justice has many elite warriors, and Feng Huai has cultivated numerous guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These external energies are likely Feng Huai’s pre-arranged men, serving as a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now the court ministers understood: Feng Huai had spoken so boldly today precisely to bind them all to the same boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, offending Feng Huai was clearly unwise, so they abandoned their desire to leave and all agreed to side with the Second Imperial Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of their shared hostility, Feng Huai produced the “oath of allegiance” and had everyone sign it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once you sign this, don’t think you can run or betray me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I die, you die with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Huai’s banquet was no simple affair—if anyone refused to sign, he would not let that person leave alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a moment of life and death; no carelessness is allowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After years in the position of Minister of Justice, one must have some ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within the imperial palace, in the Empress Dowager’s chambers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the Empress Dowager lay lazily on her bed, her stacked chest pressing into a striking indentation on the mattress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thin gauze robe revealed her graceful figure unmistakably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Chu Ruoyan were here, she’d probably bleed from the nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager greatly favored Chu Ruoyan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt Chu Ruoyan’s gaze was intensely focused, fixed on her as if memorizing every word she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other people, when speaking to the Empress Dowager, either lowered their heads or avoided eye contact, as if harboring their own agendas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Li Chen was the exception—the Empress Dowager couldn’t read him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Ruoyan’s gaze was utterly “sincere,” her “reverence” for the Empress Dowager plainly visible on her face. Most importantly, this girl spoke little and had no desire to show off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She never uttered awkward, forced words of loyalty to flatter her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made the Empress Dowager see her as a well-behaved child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Empress Dowager and Li Chen reached agreement: Chu Ruoyan’s entry into the palace pleased everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she was about to rest, her trusted maid quietly entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Empress Dowager was still awake, she presented the Second Imperial Prince’s secret letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager picked up the letter, glanced at it briefly, and showed little interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The letter’s opening naturally contained the Second Imperial Prince’s flattery—these sycophantic words the Empress Dowager could easily skip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later in the letter, the Second Imperial Prince subtly expressed his desire to return to the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was testing, seeking to know whether the Empress Dowager supported his return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after her reply could he make his next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Feng Huai, who deeply resented Li Chen, the Second Imperial Prince only needed to promise grand rewards to win him over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he was a former minister of the late emperor; siding with the Second Imperial Prince wasn’t betrayal of the imperial clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, both the Crown Prince and the Second Imperial Prince treated Feng Huai well, visiting him during festivals and holidays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the Crown Prince is dead, Feng Huai naturally favors the Second Imperial Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Li Chen—he’s truly unfamiliar with Feng Huai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Second Imperial Prince found it unsurprising that he could recruit Feng Huai, a senior court minister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Empress Dowager is different—remember, Li Chen was placed on the throne by her; unless her demands are excessive, Li Chen will likely agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This letter from the Second Imperial Prince was essentially telling the Empress Dowager: I don’t ask you to help me, but don’t interfere when I act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you do help me, I will grant you the power you desire once I ascend the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Second Imperial Prince’s strategy was to create division between Li Chen and the neutral factions, then recruit those who disliked Li Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager clearly understood the letter’s meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trusted maid asked: “My lady, whom should we support?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager yawned lazily and said: “Compared to the second son, I actually prefer the sixth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seems the Empress Dowager still remembers the “favor” of Li Chen’s hot pot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trusted maid nodded and asked: “Should I inform His Majesty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager replied: “If you tell His Majesty, are you going to help him solve the problem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left the trusted maid speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed—Li Chen’s nature is such that whoever presents him with a problem must solve it themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Minister of War still hasn’t returned to the capital precisely because he hasn’t completed Li Chen’s task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I say this, Li Chen will truly make me deal with the Second Imperial Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what is your lady’s intention?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since she couldn’t figure it out, the trusted maid directly asked her mistress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and said calmly: “We have no need to take the initiative, but we must prepare for both possibilities—give the sixth son more support.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now the trusted maid understood: it meant laying multiple plans to respond to whichever prince ascends the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager wants Li Chen to come begging to her—she has ways to handle the Second and Third Imperial Princes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Li Chen doesn’t beg her, she won’t act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her goal is Li Chen himself!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Controlling a Saint Realm emperor in the palm of her hand—isn’t that more thrilling than gaining more power?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is there anything in the world more satisfying?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Empress Dowager spoke little, the trusted maid fully understood her meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the Tian Yan Divine Sect, a private pavilion exclusively belonging to Li Xian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His subordinates were reporting recent developments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1364,"2026-06-20T21:59:17.413Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9c97969fb481f9c5317c6dcb69a122254324a10ee0afcf199341a4bafd80cf07","i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--chapter-45","i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--chapter-43",766,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--cover.jpg"]