I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 735 Just a "basic operation" in the emperor's life! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

These words caused the atmosphere in the court, which had just relaxed, to freeze slightly again.

The ministers looked at each other, wondering what the new emperor was up to.

Li Chen was also slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

'A private conversation? Does he recognize me?'

The thought flashed through my mind, but I immediately dismissed it.

He was confident that his disguise was flawless; his aura, appearance, and temperament were completely different from those of the Witch Ancestor, and Mavit had no chance of seeing through it.

'Then why did he want to meet alone? Was he trying to plead for more lenient terms? Or did he have some internal secret about the Great Luo Dynasty to report?'

After a moment's hesitation, Li Chen decided to see what he was up to, and said calmly, "Granted. After court, you will accompany me to the Imperial Study."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Mavit kowtowed again, his heart pounding with anxiety.

He himself couldn't explain why he suddenly made this request; it was just that deep down he had an inexplicable impulse that drove him to want to have a closer, undisturbed contact with the Emperor Tian Ce.

Inside the Imperial Study, the air was thick with the scent of sandalwood, creating an atmosphere that was both more tranquil and imposing than that of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Li Chen sat upright behind a large rosewood desk, holding a memorial in his hand, seemingly engrossed in reviewing it, but in reality, he was subtly watching Mavit kneeling on the ground below.

Looking at this "disciple" who had knelt before him countless times, now kneeling before him again as a surrendered ruler of an enemy state, Li Chen couldn't help but feel a strange sensation.

He did not speak first, but maintained the dignity and silence befitting the Emperor of Tian Ce, wanting to see what Mavit's sudden request for a "private chat" was all about.

After all, he hadn't given any instructions on this before coming. Perhaps this kid just improvised?

The chief eunuch, Cui, who stood to the side, had his head bowed and looked meek, but his aura was subtly locked onto Ma Weite.

Although he knew that His Majesty's cultivation was extraordinary and that he didn't need His Majesty's protection, it was his duty to protect him and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

Mavit felt the silent gaze from above, and his heart pounded with tension; his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

He took a deep breath, kowtowed again, and then carefully took out an exquisitely crafted jade box from his bosom, which exuded a faint chill, and held it high with both hands.

“Your Majesty,” Mavit’s voice carried a hint of deliberate respect and flattery, “official business has been completed. This is merely a personal gift from your subject, not a state gift. I hope Your Majesty will accept it with a smile.”

Li Chen raised an eyebrow but remained silent, only gesturing to Eunuch Cui with his eyes.

Eunuch Cui understood, stepped forward to take the jade box, and gently opened it a crack. Instantly, a refreshing and exotic fragrance wafted out. Inside the box were three strange fruits, each the size of a longan, ice-blue in color, with snowflake-like patterns slowly flowing on their surface.

"This is the 'Ice Soul Snow Spirit Fruit' unique to the ten-thousand-year-old glacier of the Great Luo North. It has a miraculous effect on nourishing the soul and purifying the primordial energy, and is extremely rare."

Mavit quickly explained, then changed the subject and began to make connections.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that my master, the 'Witch Ancestor,' is an old acquaintance of Your Majesty, and they are close friends. Your Majesty's magnanimity in accepting my Great Luo as a vassal state and ending the war must be due to my master's influence. I am deeply grateful and have no way to repay this kindness, so I can only offer this humble gift to express my gratitude and to convey my master's greetings to Your Majesty." His words were quite skillful; in public, he was the monarch of a vassal state, offering his sentiments to the emperor of the suzerain state.

Privately, he was using his status as a "disciple of the Witch Ancestor" to try to establish a more personal "junior-elder" relationship with Li Chen, to build rapport, and to pave the way for any future needs.

Li Chen couldn't help but smile after hearing this.

He hadn't expected that Mavit would think of this and say it so naturally.

This cleverness and attempt to build rapport did not offend him; on the contrary, it made him feel that the kid had indeed improved a lot since their first meeting and knew how to make use of all available resources.

"Oh? Fellow Daoist Wuzu, you are too kind." Li Chen finally spoke, his tone calm but with a hint of barely perceptible amusement. "I will accept this item. When you return, please give my regards to your master."

Upon hearing that Li Chen had accepted the gift and asked him to convey his greetings, Mavit finally felt relieved and quickly kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I will remember! I will certainly convey Your Majesty's greetings!"

Having achieved his goal, Mavit dared not linger any longer and immediately asked, "Your Majesty, the tribute mission is complete, the country is initially stabilized, and everything is in need of rebuilding. I dare not stay any longer and plan to depart immediately to return to Daluo to handle government affairs, lest some villains take advantage of my absence to cause trouble."

What he said was half true and half false.

It's true that the country needs him to stay and oversee things, but what worries him more is that during his absence, the powerful Sergei Grand Guild might take the opportunity to do something underhanded.

Little did he know that both he and Sergei were merely pawns on Li Chen's chessboard. Li Chen only needed to maintain the balance between them, and even enjoyed seeing them restrain each other. Whoever disobeyed would become a tool to suppress him.

The Great Luo Dynasty was already under Li Chen's absolute control.

Li Chen naturally understood his thoughts, but did not point them out. He simply nodded slightly and said, "Yes, national affairs are of utmost importance. Go ahead."

"Your subject takes his leave!" Mavit bowed again before bowing his head and respectfully leaving the imperial study.

Once Mavit and his party left the capital of Tian Ce, the matter of the Great Luo Dynasty submitting to the emperor was considered a done deal, with no further changes.

When the news reached the imperial court, even the most warlike military generals could not find any reason to provoke a conflict.

The emperor himself came and agreed to all the harsh conditions. He was so humble and submissive. What else could they say?
Must we force the opposing side to fight another war before we can consider it a success?
Soon, the news that the Daluo Dynasty had officially become a vassal state of the Tiance Empire spread like wildfire throughout every corner of Tiance.

From bustling cities to remote villages, countless citizens of Tian Ce rejoiced.

In teahouses and taverns, storytellers enthusiastically recounted how His Majesty was wise and resourceful, strategizing and commanding the powerful northern neighbor to surrender without a fight; in the streets and alleys, people praised him, comparing Li Chen to wise and virtuous rulers of the past, and hailing him as "the greatest emperor of all time"!
The empire's prestige and cohesion reached unprecedented heights at this moment.

Li Chen's reputation soared to its zenith, shining brightly.

To be fair, any monarch who could subdue a powerful northern neighbor without shedding blood, achieving such an unparalleled feat, would probably be laughing in their sleep, enough to leave a significant mark on history and be remembered for generations.

However, Li Chen appeared unusually calm about it, as if he had just completed a trivial daily task.

He was already destined to occupy an important chapter in history books, and such achievements were nothing more than a "basic operation" in his imperial career.

(End of this chapter)