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

Chapter 654 He's just putting on a show! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
Ever since they were "invited" to this heavily guarded detached house deep within Grand Duke Andrei's residence, Vasily's wives and concubines had felt a growing unease.

This place is less a convenient residence for caring for patients and more like a magnificent prison.

Anastasia, Vasily's wife, whispered worriedly to her closest confidante, Dalia, "Dalia, don't you feel like we're not here to take care of Vasily, but rather that we're being held captive here?"

Dalia sighed. She was more worldly-wise than Anastasia and said with a wry smile, "Sister, it's not just 'like,' we're probably under house arrest. The guards at the gate seem respectful, but they're never leaving our side. Even when we leave the courtyard, they interrogate us in detail about where we're going."

Anastasia's beautiful face was filled with confusion and anxiety: "But why is this? Vasily is the chief strategist whom even Grand Duke Andrei respects!"

Dalia glanced around warily, then lowered her voice: "Sister, have you forgotten? Grand Duke Andrei himself is unconscious, and young Sergei is in power now. And Vasily's hidden identity..."

She paused here, seemingly hesitant to speak further, as if she had something to say.

"A secret identity? What do you mean?" Anastasia's heart tightened, and she hurriedly asked.

She loved Vasily deeply and always thought her husband was just a highly trusted advisor.

After confirming that there were no spies nearby, Dalia said in an extremely low voice, "Once I accidentally saw Vasily talking to a secret envoy from the Imperial Palace, and they were exchanging cryptic messages. He seems to be someone His Majesty the Emperor planted next to Grand Duke Andrei long ago!"

"What?!" Anastasia gasped, covering her mouth in shock, her emerald eyes filled with horror and fear. "If young master Sergei finds out..." She couldn't even imagine the consequences.

“Judging from young master Sergei’s current demeanor, it seems he only wants to seize power. By keeping two highly authoritative people under house arrest here, he probably hasn’t yet uncovered the most crucial layer,” Dalia analyzed, but her tone was not optimistic. “Otherwise, we probably wouldn’t be able to do something as simple as just house arrest.”

The more they talked, the more panicked they became, realizing they couldn't just sit and wait to die.

After discussing it, they decided to ask Sergei's mother, Catherine, for help.

After all, this duchess is usually quite kind and knows them, so perhaps she can mediate and at least find out some information.

However, when they nervously arrived near the courtyard where Catherine the Great lived, they were surprised to see something that shocked them.

The man who was usually cold and aloof to Vasily was now standing under an ice crystal flower tree, chatting happily with a great wizard wearing a mysterious cloak and with his face painted!

What was even more unbelievable to them was that Katril's beautiful face, which was usually frozen in ice, was now adorned with a warm smile like a spring breeze that they had never seen before, and her eyes even carried a hint of flattery and admiration!
This is completely different from her cold and distant attitude towards Vasily!
Anastasia and Dalia exchanged glances, both seeing shock and a hint of disdain in each other's eyes.

They temporarily suppressed their doubts and anger and first went to find Lady Catherine.

After explaining her purpose, Ekaterina elegantly sipped her tea and calmly said, "You two need not be alarmed. Sergei invited you here to better care for Strategist Vasily and my husband. As for that master..." She glanced at the figure talking to Katrin outside the window and continued, "He is the master that Ge'er painstakingly invited from the deep mountains. He is a true reclusive saint with great supernatural powers. Ge'er hopes that his master can use his supreme magic to heal his father."

These words, seemingly an explanation, instantly enlightened Anastasia and Dalia!

So that's how it is! Kathryn, that incredibly intelligent woman, must have realized that this great wizard held a prestigious position, possessed unfathomable strength, and was Sergei's most respected master!
Seeing Vasily lose power and fall into a coma, she immediately turned around without hesitation, trying to climb this new high branch!
Since she had no feelings for Vasily anyway, she naturally felt no guilt.

Having figured this out, Anastasia felt a mix of emotions, including disdain for Katril's actions and a strange sense of crisis.

A glint of light flashed in Dalia's eyes, as if she were quickly weighing the pros and cons.

It seems that everyone in this suddenly perilous mansion must find a new way out for themselves as soon as possible.

Back at her lodgings, Anastasia glanced worriedly at Vasily, who was still unconscious on the bed, her eyes filled with heartache and helplessness.

At this moment, Dalia leaned closer to her and whispered, "Sister, I just heard that Master Urg's strength is truly unfathomable! It is said that he just casually cast a healing spell, and Grand Duke Andre was briefly awakened. Although it was only for a dozen seconds, it was enough to prove his supernatural power!"
Why don't we go together and beg that master to help Vasily? He's sure to have a solution!

Anastasia shook her head bitterly upon hearing this: "Sister, you don't understand. Sergei will absolutely not allow his master to truly awaken Grand Duke Andrei."

"Huh? Why?" Dalia's eyes widened in astonishment. "That's his biological father!"

Anastasia sighed, her tone tinged with a world-weary helplessness: "Think about it, if Grand Duke Andrei were to wake up right now and regain power, wouldn't all the power that Sergei has worked so hard to acquire during this time vanish immediately? How could he possibly allow such a thing to happen?"

Dalia seemed to understand somewhat, but she was still puzzled: "If he didn't want to save him, why did he go to such lengths to invite Master over from so far away?"

“It’s all just a show, silly sister,” Anastasia explained. She had been exposed to these political maneuvering tactics by Vasily and knew quite a bit about them.

"He was doing this for the sake of the old retainers and subordinates within his fiefdom who were still loyal to his father. He wanted everyone to know that he was a 'filial son' who had done his utmost to save his father, even summoning a reclusive sage."
Imagine you are Sergei, at a crucial time when your power is being consolidated and rising. Would you allow someone who could easily take everything from you to wake up?

Bringing your strongest backer to your side not only demonstrates filial piety but also ensures your safety—isn't that killing two birds with one stone?

Dalia felt a chill run down her spine and said in a trembling voice, "If Sergei wouldn't even sincerely save his own father, he certainly wouldn't save Vasily either. What should we do?"

Anastasia's eyes flashed with determination: "Since that master has such abilities, perhaps we can go directly to him and ask for help. We don't ask him to wake Vasily up immediately, but we hope that after Sergei has completely secured his position, we can ask him to be lenient and spare Vasily's life."

(End of this chapter)