[{"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-89":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},2336528,4569,"Chapter 89: Still a Bonus Point in Li Chen","i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--chapter-89",89,"\u003Cp>\"Then stay here and reflect properly; a month will pass in no time. I’ll bring you food every day and bribe the guards to make sure they take care of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Lianyu softly comforted him, her tone brimming with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time she appeared, numerous eyes in the prison turned toward her—after all, in this gloomy, sunless place, encountering such a graceful beauty was an extraordinary rarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xu Zifeng immediately panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are only eight days left before the spring hunt; the Second Prince has already prepared, and the Third Prince is also stirring restlessly. Intrigue swirls through the capital, and if I’m locked up for a whole month, everything might have changed by then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the witch king’s envoy is about to arrive in the capital—I can’t possibly stand him up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Xu Zifeng pleaded, “Auntie, please help me one more time—go and beg the Empress Dowager for mercy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time Xu Zifeng begged her, Ji Lianyu found it impossible to refuse; she couldn’t bear to see him trapped in this prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was, Li Chen had already hinted to her last time—how could she not understand his demands?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, she’d likely have to sacrifice herself—spend one night serving the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Lianyu hesitated, her expression troubled: “But—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she couldn’t bring herself to say the rest; she couldn’t possibly reveal the truth directly to Xu Zifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Lianyu was a gentle, passive woman who endured whatever fate dealt her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This stemmed from the family upbringing she received since childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her family arranged her marriage to a Hanlin scholar—it was essentially an investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though she knew this, she never refused; to her, this was simply fate, much like Li Sining’s situation recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Ji Lianyu’s investment failed—the Hanlin scholar suddenly died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, her sister’s investment succeeded: the Southern Pacification Prince became a powerful regional governor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ji family even abandoned her here, while most of them relocated to the Southern Pacification Prince’s territory to build their fortunes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, she realized she had lost all significant value within her family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Lianyu struggled alone in the capital, surrounded by many who lusted after her—but they were all mere lecherous men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when her nephew Xu Zifeng appeared did she finally feel the warmth of family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why she doted on Xu Zifeng so deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Zifeng didn’t see it that way—he’d lived with his aunt long enough to understand her subtle hints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she said “but,” it meant she still had a way out—she just lacked the courage to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he first arrived in the capital, his aunt often refused to help him with things—but he always found ways to make her comply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zifeng began his act, slumping dejectedly: “Sigh, Auntie, I don’t want to put you in a difficult position. Maybe I should just write a letter to my mother and ask her to help me figure something out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zifeng’s mother entrusted him to his aunt, and his aunt was the last person who wanted his mother to find out about this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This tactic had always worked for Xu Zifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d used it successfully before—but this time, he hadn’t anticipated the consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to trouble your sister—I’ll give it a try,” Ji Lianyu said, as if making a final decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t let the Ji family look down on her, nor could she let her sister pity her—she still had value to offer the family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Xu Zifeng carried Ji family blood—she resolved to sacrifice everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zifeng could never have imagined he was the one who pushed his aunt into the abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because to Xu Zifeng, his aunt was going to plead with the Empress Dowager—not with Li Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the jail, Ji Lianyu returned home, changed into another outfit, and headed to the palace. Since childhood, she’d known her beauty was exceptional—and she’d noticed Li Chen’s interest in her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On her way to the palace, she fantasized that perhaps Li Chen might be reasonable; after all, she was a widow and didn’t know how to please a man—maybe if she explained this, he’d lose interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t realize that, to Li Chen, this might actually be an advantage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Li Chen was attending the Chu family banquet tonight, Ji Lianyu had waited in the palace without seeing him yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Li Chen returned to the palace, a eunuch informed him someone had been waiting for him inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Chu Ruoyan assumed it was urgent business and excused herself to return to her chambers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen had assumed it was Pang Jin with breakthrough news on the case—but when he arrived, he found it was Ji Lianyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her, Li Chen was momentarily stunned—so soon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unsure whether she’d come for what he suspected, he invited her into his private chambers first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she stepped inside, Ji Lianyu knelt and bowed her head: “Your Majesty, my nephew is truly innocent—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She recounted Xu Zifeng’s version of the incident, explaining that after her last visit, she had indeed reprimanded him, and he had since reformed; this time, it was another second-generation noble who struck first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>！\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen now understood—he’d been handed a gift straight from heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yue’e acted swiftly—she’ll be well rewarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he had to play his part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen walked over to her and gently helped her rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he touched her, her body trembled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today she wore a sheer, gossamer top that accentuated her slender, voluptuous figure with perfect proportions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her arms were smooth and luminous, like twin jade lotus stems—her beauty was exquisite, delicate, and alluring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely seeing her made Li Chen feel a surge of pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After asking her to raise her head, he said, “Madam Ji, you’ve come to me for the third time. I don’t doubt your words, but I’ve reviewed Xu Zifeng’s record—he’s been notoriously unruly. Could this incident not have originated from him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen meant: Don’t waste my time with excuses—I made my intentions clear last time, and you know it well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You know Xu Zifeng’s character—if he got beaten, the other party must have had good reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who else would dare attack the heir of the Southern Pacification Prince on the street?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Lianyu knew she was in the wrong—Xu Zifeng had indeed initiated violence in the past to conceal his abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d deliberately omitted this detail, yet the Emperor had still noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Li Chen’s words laid bare, she had no counterargument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she truly left with no choice but to serve Li Chen if she wanted Xu Zifeng released?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Lianyu tried one last plea: “Your Majesty, I’m already a widow—I fear I’m not suitable for you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen cut her off impatiently: “If you’re unwilling, you’re free to leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no room for negotiation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You came dressed like this—and still you hesitate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I hadn’t wanted to give you a moment to prepare mentally, I’d have seized you the moment you walked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m the Emperor—I’m offering you the chance to serve me. If you refuse, countless others will gladly take your place!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, Ji Lianyu finally accepted her fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Li Sining stayed awake another sleepless night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1213,"2026-06-20T21:59:17.413Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","797dd5a74acc9d8d729eb1d9e346a4040b1b6edc32e8384e7f4b846d2b452aea","i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--chapter-90","i-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--chapter-88",766,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-just-maxed-out-and-you-want-me-to-be-a-puppet--cover.jpg"]