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

Chapter 445 goes without saying, let's do it now! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
The woman was dressed in plain clothes, with exquisite features, a slender waist, and a slightly aloof expression, like a fairy untouched by worldly affairs, giving off an air of unapproachability.

Dai Xiaoyao caught sight of the newcomer, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, but he still respectfully bowed and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

In Dai Xiaoyao's memory, his mother had always been abstinent and detached from worldly desires since she was still the empress. After the late emperor passed away, she even went to a temple far away from the capital under the pretext of praying for blessings, and devoted herself to Buddhism and did not care about worldly affairs.

It is said that the Empress Dowager, out of compassion for the common people, was praying for His Majesty and for the people of Xingluo Kingdom.

Actually, this is just a nicer way of putting it. In reality, Dai Xiaoyao's father suffered from a common ailment among most emperors: he was too promiscuous and incompetent in those areas. He could only finish in a few breaths each time. Moreover, he was both bad at it and loved to play around, which always left the Empress Dowager feeling awkward and unsatisfied. As a result, the Empress Dowager gradually developed a dislike for matters between men and women and could only use the excuse of worshipping Buddha to avoid the late emperor.

Perhaps the Empress Dowager felt that such things were meaningless.

With the Empress Dowager's sudden return today, Dai Xiaoyao already had some guesses in his mind.

"Xiaoyao, you and Wuchang are brothers from the same mother. If you capture him one day, do not forget your brotherly bond." Sure enough, the Empress Dowager's first words were exactly what Dai Xiaoyao had guessed.

Dai Xiaoyao had already prepared a plan for this. He helped the Empress Dowager to sit in the main seat, then explained with a smile, "Mother, it's not that I covet my elder brother's throne, but..."

Dai Xiaoyao recounted the daily advance of the Tian Ce Dynasty's army, culminating in Dai Wuchang's introduction of the Yongzhou Empire's garrison into the Xingluo Empire. He embellished the story, focusing on how the Yongzhou Empire's garrison oppressed the people of the Xingluo Empire, highlighting the hardships the Xingluo Empire faced in surviving amidst a powerful nation. He also repeatedly assured everyone that even if Dai Wuchang were captured, he would at most be kept as a pet.

The Empress Dowager listened without interrupting, her face showing no emotion. When Dai Xiaoyao finished speaking, she nodded and said, "Remember what you said. Mother will set off for the temple tomorrow."

If an outsider were here, they would be amazed by the Empress Dowager's youth; time has left no trace on her face, and she and Dai Xiaoyao sitting together look like siblings having a conversation.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager wanted to leave, Dai Xiaoyao frowned slightly and tried to persuade her to stay, saying, "Mother, could you stay a little longer and chat with me?"

"Now that the Xingluo Empire is in dire need of rebuilding, it needs your help. How can your old body like the Empress Dowager delay your important matters? It would be more practical to go back to the temple to pray for you and Wuchang."

Dai Xiaoyao glanced at the Empress Dowager, then said sincerely, "Mother, you jest with me. Your beauty is unparalleled; even all the beauties of the Starfall Empire combined cannot match a tenth of your charm. How can you say you're old? If Mother wishes to return to pray for blessings..."

Before Dai Xiaoyao could finish speaking, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind!
What was he struggling with just now? He had no beautiful women to offer Li Chen, and preferably married women at that!

Who is this person right now?
The idea struck Dai Xiaoyao as absurd, yet he also secretly felt it was incredibly feasible.

Just kidding, do you think I don't know how beautiful my mom is? Back then, the king of the Starfall Empire almost went to war with several neighboring kings who coveted the queen dowager's beauty in order to make her empress!
But it was precisely because this was his own mother that Dai Xiaoyao found it absurd. Wasn't this just giving him a new father?
Wait! Dad!

The kings of the southern kingdoms are all vying to be dogs of the Tian Ce Dynasty. If I send my mother there and let Li Chen become my father, wouldn't that be a super seniority boost? Wouldn't all the kings of the southern kingdoms be inferior to me then?
Are you dogs of the Tian Ce Dynasty? Sorry, I am the puppet emperor of the Tian Ce Dynasty!

Upon thinking of this, Dai Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with excitement. After pondering for a moment, he sighed with a worried expression and said, "Mother, the most important thing right now is not the need to rebuild everything, but alas!"

Seeing Dai Xiaoyao's appearance, the Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it? Does it require your mother's care?"

At this point, the Empress Dowager's brows relaxed and her face broke into a smile. "That's right. You are about to ascend the throne, and there are many things you don't understand. Your father didn't groom you as his successor, so you know very little. Tell me, and I will do my best to help you." At this moment, the Empress Dowager thought that Dai Xiaoyao had encountered some trouble in political affairs.

"Mother, as I said, my current difficulty is finding a beautiful woman, but it is not a matter concerning me, but a matter concerning the fate of the Starfall Empire." Dai Xiaoyao told the Empress Dowager about Li Chen's recent entry into the harem, the discovery that Li Chen preferred mature women after the southern countries presented their princesses, and the fact that the countries had begun to send empresses.

"What does this trivial matter have to do with the fate of the nation? Our Starfall Empire has plenty of beauties, so we'll just send them over."

All the other countries have sent gifts, so if the Starfall Empire doesn't, it would be a slap in the face to the Tiance Dynasty. Even without Li Chen's permission, the other countries would use this as a pretext to attack the Starfall Empire! The Empress Dowager naturally understood this.

"Mother, you should know about Zhu Zhuying. Back then, I was philandering outside. Now that she has become the Empress of Tian Ce, she has gathered all the beauties of the Xingluo Empire into the palace to take revenge on me. Now, I have no one left to send her off!" Dai Xiaoyao said with a bitter smile.

"you mean?!"

The Empress Dowager was initially puzzled until she saw the way Dai Xiaoyao looked at her.

He immediately understood Dai Xiaoyao's meaning, and while his eyes widened in disbelief, he was also filled with helplessness.

In the past, she would have slapped him across the face, but now she knows she can't.

There was no other way. The Starfall Empire was too small to afford the slightest mistake in front of such a powerful nation. Although Dai Xiaoyao's idea was somewhat absurd, it was the most rational decision a ruler should make.

For a moment, the Empress Dowager was unsure whether she should be pleased that Dai Xiaoyao had developed the qualities of a qualified emperor.

"Mother, if we don't offer tribute, we won't be able to curry favor with Tian Ce. The southern kingdoms are currently undergoing a reshuffle. Many countries that have received Tian Ce's equipment are expanding their territories and achieving hegemony, while those that don't will only be swallowed up!"

As Dai Xiaoyao finished speaking, he suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up, saying, "Forget it, let's strike first! My mighty Starfall Empire, with more than a dozen generations of monarchs, has been allowed to be coveted by the surrounding small countries. What kind of behavior is this!"

At the end, Dai Xiaoyao roared, "Guards, take my armor!"

As he said this, he was about to fight to the death with the surrounding countries.

"Xiaoyao, you acted impulsively. Your previous decision was absolutely correct. Your mother is very pleased that you have become a qualified emperor. From now on, you must always remember that you have millions of people in the Xingluo Empire behind you." The Empress Dowager sighed deeply.

In truth, she harbored a deep aversion to matters between men and women, but since it concerned the entire Xingluo Empire, what did a little grievance matter? After all, even serving the late Xingluo Emperor hadn't been this easy, right? It would only be a matter of a few breaths!
"Mother, you... alas, it's all my fault for being incompetent." Dai Xiaoyao flicked his sleeves and sat back down in his chair, but his heart was already bursting with joy.

"No need to say anything more, let's do it today." The Empress Dowager waved her hand.

(End of this chapter)