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

Chapter 449 Acknowledging Li Chen's excellence isn't wrong! (Please subscribe and vote!)
Anxin City is a relatively wealthy city in the Tian Ce Dynasty.

There was a prince here, namely Prince Anxin, Li Yu.

Since Li Chen forcibly stripped him of his military power, Li Yu has been recuperating here.

Normally, when the emperor strips a prince of his military power, it would cause some princes who hold significant military power to become wary.

But this time it was different. Li Yu had long been granted the title of king by the late emperor, but he had never taken up his post.

So after Li Chen becomes emperor, he can naturally send Li Yu to his fiefdom. This was the late emperor's intention, and it doesn't count as Li Chen depriving him of his fiefdom.

Li Yu sat atop a high building in the palace, overlooking the bustling city. Merchants from all over the world came and went in an endless stream, and many tourists disembarked from the train.

Li Yu had visited Anxin City before. Although it was lively back then, it was far less prosperous than it is now.

Especially after Li Chen demanded that the Ministry of Personnel strictly investigate officials, he promoted many talented people, which made the area well-governed and raised its level of prosperity to a new level.

The patrol guards were completely refreshed in terms of equipment and morale; their steps were synchronized and their eyes were sharp, clearly indicating that they had undergone rigorous training.

What surprised Li Yu the most was that there were no beggars to be seen in Anxin City anymore.

This reminded him of a scene from many years ago when he accompanied the late emperor on an incognito visit.

At that time, they were investigating a beggar organization that had taken over the city. These beggars formed gangs, seized territory, and even coerced children into begging.

The late emperor personally interrogated the captured leaders, coldly questioning them: "You have hands and feet, why don't you pursue legitimate work and instead choose to do such shady things?"

The beggar leader scoffed and mocked, "With our land confiscated and no work to be found, who would want to be a beggar in a truly peaceful and prosperous world?"

The late emperor's expression was not good at that time, because the leader was obviously saying that the late emperor was incompetent, but he said it unintentionally, and he did not know the late emperor's identity.

Seeing the late emperor's gloomy face, Li Yu was about to teach this arrogant fool a lesson, but the late emperor stopped him with a gesture.

After returning to the palace, the late emperor mentioned this matter many times, his eyes filled with heaviness.

Perhaps the late emperor always wanted to change all of this, but ultimately failed to achieve his wish.

He had many unfinished things before his death.

But now, Li Chen has done it.

On the streets, people were neatly dressed, vendors shouted their wares, children played outside the school, and smoke curled from the chimneys of workshops.

Everyone has food to eat and work to do; there are no more refugees suffering from hunger and cold.

"Perhaps... he really is suited to be the emperor," Li Yu murmured softly, his heart filled with complex emotions.

To put it bluntly, among Li Yu's brothers, apart from Li Chen, no one else could do this, no matter who became emperor.

He didn't understand how Li Chen did it, but Li Chen did indeed do it.

This is the difference between him and Li Chen. The emperor selects the virtuous and capable, and the Tiance system is vast, with many talented and extraordinary people.

Why not just select outstanding management talent and let them manage things?

Just like now, Li Chen is traveling incognito, but the imperial court is still functioning normally.

Thinking about this, Li Yu felt that Li Chen was more and more amazing. He had met Li Chen before. Was the current Li Chen still the same sixth brother who was described by his father as being content with pleasure and not very useful?

Perhaps Li Yu's status does allow him to address Li Chen as "Sixth Brother," but that's only in private. In front of Li Chen, he can only kneel and call him "Your Majesty."

Just as he was lost in thought, a familiar voice came from behind him—

"Third brother, what a refined taste you have."

Li Yu turned around and saw the Second Prince, Li Xian, standing with his hands behind his back, a meaningful smile on his lips. Although Li Xian was wanted by the Tian Ce Dynasty, this was Li Yu's palace, so he was allowed to show his face.

"Second Brother, how's the talk with the Eternal Day Empire going?" Li Yu started thinking about rebellion again.

Li Yu knew he was not good at governing the country, but he was well-versed in military strategy and had read a lot of history, both ancient and modern.

History books record many dynasties and the rise and fall of humankind.

But he gleaned from it that the entire history could be summarized in four words: striving to become emperor.

History only records the victors who become emperors, and the losers are merely stepping stones.

Our Li family achieved this great success precisely because we seized the throne.

"Sigh, that guy is utterly useless. He was supposed to hire a Saint Realm expert to assassinate the Emperor of the Eternal Day Empire who was traveling incognito, but he still failed."

When Li Xian and Chet were face to face, he naturally said it was nothing, but as soon as they left, he cursed the guy as a piece of trash.

If Chet had become emperor, he would have had a great help. Now Chet was exactly like him, failing to kill the emperor and becoming a wanted criminal of the Eternal Day Empire.

It feels like they're both following the same script.

"How is that possible? Didn't Chet ask a Saint-level expert to take action? Could it be that the Emperor of the Eternal Day Empire is also a Saint-level expert?" Li Yu was also unable to understand.

"Sigh, the emperor of the Eternal Day Empire didn't reach the Saint Realm, but who knew that when Chet hired the powerful assassin to kill the emperor, Li Chen was right there and blocked it for him," Li Xian said through gritted teeth.

Speaking of Li Chen, Li Yu could understand why a Saint-level expert could still fail in a battle.

There are too many victors who have been defeated by Li Chen. Li Yu was frightened by Li Chen's aura last time. How could he not know how powerful Li Chen is?

Li Yu didn't understand either, why was Li Chen everywhere!
Li Xian walked slowly closer and stood beside him, overlooking the city view. He said meaningfully, "The changes in Anxin City are truly astonishing."

Li Yu remained calm: "If the emperor governs well, the people will live in peace and prosperity, which is naturally a good thing."

"A good thing?" Li Xian chuckled, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. "Third brother, are you really willing to accept this?"

Li Xian started stirring things up, and he was afraid that Li Yu would back down at this point.

If you back down, you can become a prince, but what about me? I'm still a wanted criminal.

Seemingly seeing through Li Xian's thoughts, Li Yu said speechlessly, "I'm just stating the facts. There's nothing wrong with acknowledging Li Chen's excellence, nor does it mean I don't want to be emperor. Once we embark on this path, there's no turning back."

Hearing this, Li Xian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

There was no other way; Li Yu was, after all, a prince with status and power. Although he no longer had as much military power as before, he could still play a significant role on the surface.

After discussing the next steps for a while, Li Xian left Anxin City and returned to his sect, Guixu Wuya Sect.

However, there was one thing Li Xian didn't understand: his superior, Fairy Shuyu, had recently started to space out occasionally and then giggle foolishly.

The feeling was just like being in love.

Li Xian was puzzled. Who could someone of Fairy Shuyu's caliber possibly be interested in?

However, Li Xian was clear about one thing: Fairy Shuyu's beloved must also be a Saint Realm expert. If he were to meet him in the future, he would definitely try to win him over, as it might be of some help to him.

What he didn't know was that the person he wanted to please was Li Chen.

At this moment, Li Chen had already returned to the Tian Ce Dynasty and arrived at the sacred land of witchcraft in the southern border.

(End of this chapter)