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

Chapter 521 Ladies, please wait! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
After several rounds of drinks, Li Chen and Tang's mother got up to say goodbye.

The Tang family members quickly got up to see them off, escorting them all the way to the gate of the mansion.

Tang Yue and Tang Zhen exchanged a glance, both seeing a deeper meaning in each other's eyes.

This young master Li showed little interest in the sword, but he did take a few more glances at his younger sister, Tang Hongxiu.

After Li Chen's carriage drove away, Tang Zhen immediately pulled Tang Hongxiu back to the inner courtyard.

“Little sister, you’re not getting any younger, it’s time to think about marriage.” Tang Zhen got straight to the point.

Tang Hongxiu blushed slightly and lowered her head to fiddle with her sleeves: "It's just that I haven't met the person I like yet."

Tang Yue lightly waved his folding fan and smiled, "What do you think of this young master Li today?"

"Huh?" Tang Hongxiu's ears turned bright red. "We've only just met, we don't know each other well, and besides, he's younger than me."

"What do you know!" Tang Zhen slapped his thigh. "A woman three years older than you is a golden brick! This young master Li has a high status in the royal family and close ties with the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce. If you can succeed, why should our Tang family be so careful in everything we do? We'll have a powerful backer."

Tang Yue chimed in, "Little sister, this was specially arranged by your sister-in-law. If we miss this opportunity, we may never find such a good match again."

The two of them talked back and forth, until Tang Hongxiu blushed.

She bit her lip and whispered, "Then I'll give it a try. I'll dress up nicely next time we meet."

Hearing his younger sister say this, Tang Yue and Tang Zhen breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, they were worried that their younger sister wouldn't like Li Chen.

However, they were just overthinking it. Li Chen was practically the perfect partner template, in terms of both status and strength.

Tang Hongxiu didn't dislike him; she was just afraid that Li Chen wouldn't like her.

It would be so embarrassing to be rejected.

That's just how awkward women are.

Meanwhile, on the bustling streets of the capital, Tang's mother was strolling with Liu Yuran and Su Qinghe.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the streets were decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and throngs of tourists flocked to the area.

"Sister, how did you meet that young master Li?" Liu Yuran asked curiously, linking arms with Tang's mother.

Today, Tang's mother wore a light blue embroidered dress, and the phoenix hairpin in her hair shone brightly in the sunlight.

She smiled slightly: "It was introduced by one of my best friends. She has some connections with Mr. Li, and I'm just benefiting from her connections."

As she spoke, she subconsciously touched the palace token hidden in her sleeve.

You can't exactly say that you met her by sacrificing yourself for her, can you?

Su Qinghe was still dressed in white, her expression aloof and cold, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes: "That young master Li's swordsmanship is so high, he must be no ordinary person in the royal family."

Tang's mother did not deny this point. Her senior brother was the sect leader of the Eight Gates Heaven-Shattering Palace. If even the sect leader treated Li Chen with such respect, one could imagine how powerful he was.

However, she couldn't reveal Li Chen's identity here. This was just an invitation from Madam Dai for Li Chen to visit incognito; everything else depended on Li Chen's mood.

The three of them walked down the street, immediately attracting countless stares.

Tang's mother was elegant and noble, Liu Yuran was charming and alluring, and Su Qinghe was aloof and otherworldly. Wherever these three beautiful women went, passersby couldn't help but turn their heads.

When the men saw the three women's hairstyles, they wisely looked away. Anyone who could have such beauties in the capital must be either rich or noble.

Most of them were secretly envious, thinking that if these were their own women, they would be so happy. They were all so voluptuous and beautiful, they would never dare to let them out.

However, these men only thought about it. "Ladies, please wait!" Suddenly, several richly dressed young men blocked their way.

The leader, holding a folding fan, brazenly sized up the three men: "Would you do me the honor of sharing a drink with me?"

Liu Yuran's expression changed slightly, but she forced a smile and said, "Young master, we already have families, so it's really inconvenient for us."

The Tang family was just starting out, and these young men were clearly from powerful and wealthy families based on their clothes and accessories. How could they dare to offend such powerful and wealthy people?

Even though being stared at like that made me a little unhappy, I still forced a smile.

"Hey, don't say that," the young man persisted. "It's just a drink, why make such a fuss?"

Tang's mother snorted coldly and subtly revealed the palace token at her waist.

The young man looked closely and immediately turned pale: "I'm so sorry! I was blind to your greatness!"

After saying that, he fled in panic with his companions.

"This is..." Liu Yuran looked at Tang's mother in surprise.

Tang's mother put away the palace token and said casually, "Have you all forgotten? My best friend has a very close relationship with Young Master Li. No matter how arrogant these spoiled brats are, they wouldn't dare to offend the royal family."

Liu Yuran and Su Qinghe exchanged a glance, both seeing envy in each other's eyes.

The fact that the royal family bestowed a waist token for protection suggests that the relationship between that "best friend" and Young Master Li is likely far more complex than simply "having some acquaintance."
At this point, neither Liu Yuran nor Su Qinghe knew that Tang's mother's best friend was actually Dai Xiaoyao's mother.

Liu Yuran lowered her voice: "Speaking of which, if Hongxiu could follow Young Master Li, wouldn't our Tang family be able to stand tall?"

She had actually sized up Li Chen at the banquet, and could only envy Tang Hongxiu for being single. If she were single, she would definitely work hard.

Tang's mother smiled meaningfully: "So, when you go back, you should try to persuade Hongxiu. Such an opportunity is rare and hard to come by."

Su Qinghe covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief: "Little sister is really something. Old Yue and Old Zhen have been so obvious and suggestive today, and she's still being coy. If it were me, I would have already won over Young Master Li."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuran raised her hand as if to hit him: "You restless fellow! If Lao Yue heard you say that, he would be so angry that he would vomit blood."

"Ouch~" Su Qinghe twisted her proud figure and deliberately dodged to the side. "I was just using an analogy, did you really take it seriously? As for you, you were so attentive when you were toasting Young Master Li today, your eyes were practically glued to him."

"You!" Liu Yuran's face flushed red instantly, and she reached out to pinch Su Qinghe's waist. "You brat, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Two beautiful women were frolicking in the street, their snow-white skin peeking out from their flowing skirts, attracting the attention of passersby.

A peddler carrying a load was so engrossed in watching that he bumped his head into a stone lion by the roadside, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Seeing this, Tang's mother quickly stopped her, saying, "Alright, alright, we're on the street, be mindful of your manners."

As she spoke, she caught a glimpse of several furtive figures out of the corner of her eye and whispered, "Let's go back to the manor first; some of these people seem a bit suspicious."

At the same time, in the imperial study of the palace.

Madam Dai knelt beside Li Chen, her slender fingers pouring him a cup of tea: "Your Majesty, did you enjoy your incognito trip today?"

Li Chen took the teacup, his fingertips intentionally or unintentionally tracing the back of Dai's mother's hand: "That's quite interesting. If you ever have such pastimes again, just take me with you. Today I need to reward you properly."

"Your Majesty, I obey." Madam Dai lowered her head obediently, but her ears turned slightly red, because she already knew Li Chen's thoughts and indicated that she would make the arrangements.

Li Chen was quite satisfied with this. In any case, the Ministry of Industry would have to take its time with the chip development, so he had plenty of time to relax.

When Tang's mother returned to the palace, she heard voices begging for mercy.

(End of this chapter)