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

Chapter 693 I, your ancestor, will spare your dog's life! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

Upon hearing this, Ivan broke out in a cold sweat: "What is the purpose of the Ancestor of the Witches entering the Holy Capital at this time?"

"What else could it be?" Romanov said bitterly. "Naturally, it's to further seize power and fame! Now that he's become the new emperor's tutor, how could he be content with just an empty title? He's bound to take over the Holy Capital and, with the help of that fool Matvey, gradually erode and control the court! He's aiming for true power!"

Ivan flew into a rage: "Absolutely not! Isn't this inviting a wolf into the house? How can we allow an outsider to interfere with the power of the Romanov family?!"

Romanov looked at the furious Ivan and sighed helplessly, his tone filled with a sense of powerlessness: "This is also an open conspiracy. Do you think that old man is a fool? Why would he help us fight against Tian Ce for no reason?"

Why waste resources training Matvey? What he wants is to enter the Holy Capital legitimately today and interfere in the core affairs of the Empire! What can we do even if we know his intentions?
If you refuse him entry to Beijing, he can immediately turn on you, claiming we have no sincerity, and not only will his previous promises be null and void, but he could even switch his support to Sergei, or simply raise his own banner! At that point, we won't even be able to maintain this temporary stability!

Upon hearing this, Ivan seemed to have all his strength drained away, and slumped into his chair.

He realized that from the moment they decided to bow down to the ancestor of witchcraft and ask for help, they had already fallen step by step into the trap that the other party had carefully woven.

Now, it seems they have no better option than to open the city gates and "respectfully welcome" this treacherous "Imperial Tutor" into the Holy Capital.

In this game, the opponent played cautiously, pushing them into a corner.

Seeing Ivan's dejected look, like a defeated rooster, Romanov laughed and patted him on the shoulder:

"Grandson, why are you looking like this? Chess is a game of give and take. We made our move earlier and used his momentum to stabilize the situation. Now it's their turn to make their move. We should just respond to their moves. Why are you so dejected?"

Ivan's spirits lifted slightly after being pointed at by the patriarch, but his brows remained furrowed: "The patriarch is right. But how should we deal with this situation? Are we really just going to watch him enter the Holy Capital and stir up trouble?"

A shrewd glint flashed in Romanov's eyes as he said meaningfully, "It's true that the Witch Ancestor wants power. But as an outsider, who does he need to go through to seize power from my Great Luo? Naturally, it's through that puppet Matvi. But the problem is, Matvi needs to have power first."

Upon hearing this, Ivan was taken aback at first, then his eyes suddenly lit up, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun! He instantly understood his ancestor's intention, and was so excited that he almost slammed his fist on the table in admiration: "Brilliant! Ancestor! You are truly a master strategist! Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! You are still a cut above the rest!"

He finally understood that no matter how powerful the ancestor of witchcraft was, if he wanted to legitimately interfere in politics, he had to rely on the name of Emperor Matvi.

But what if Matvey himself is a figurehead emperor with no real power? Then even if the Witch Ancestor moves into the palace, he can only stare helplessly at an empty shell!
Romanov, seeing Ivan's sudden realization, stroked his beard and chuckled smugly, continuing to unleash his deeper scheme: "This is only the first step. Now that you have issued a self-reproach edict and abdicated, you are nominally 'guilty' and should no longer remain in the Holy Capital, the center of power. Otherwise, it would be easy for the Witch Ancestor to find an excuse to target you, or even punish you to establish his authority."
You might as well leave the capital for now and go to the royal villa outside the city to 'recuperate', but remember, even if you leave, don't let go of my hand! Which of those key ministers in the court wasn't promoted by you? Who do they listen to? That good-for-nothing Matvey can't command them!"

Ivan nodded repeatedly, feeling much more at ease: "Ancestor, your considerations are thorough! And what about you? If you stay in the Holy Capital, wouldn't that be..."

Romanov waved his hand, looking completely in control: "This is the backup plan I anticipated the Ancestor might use. If he can't find trouble for you, he'll definitely turn around and cause trouble for me, his ancestor. After all, I'm also the head of the royal family."
Therefore, I cannot give him that opportunity. I will announce to the public that I am in seclusion and will not receive any visitors. As long as you and I are both 'absent,' how could the venerable Witch Ancestor, an outsider, possibly lower himself to make things difficult for those 'dutiful' ordinary court officials? How could he forcibly seize the power to handle specific government affairs? Would he still have any semblance of his aloof and detached self-respect?

He snorted coldly, his eyes flashing with murderous intent: "We just need to treat him like royalty, give him the empty title of 'Imperial Tutor,' and let him be content as a clay idol. Once we concentrate our forces, crush the Tian Ce army, and eliminate the external threat, then... hmph!" He made a throat-slitting gesture, his tone chilling, "We'll start with him! Let him know whose territory this Holy Capital truly is!"

Romanov was absolutely confident that he would eventually defeat the Witch Ancestor. After all, this was the holy city that the Romanov family had managed for thousands of years, with a profound foundation. How could an outsider witch really shake it?

Ivan was completely relieved and respectfully said, "Grandson understands! We will proceed according to Grandfather's plan!"

Meanwhile, Li Chen and Matvey were riding together in the imperial carriage, escorted by a group of witch clan guards and royal entourage, returning to the Holy Capital in a grand procession.

During the journey, Matvey's awkward situation as the "new emperor" became obvious.

When they stopped to rest at a camp, the captain of the guards who was in charge of escorting them came to report on the matter. He was a distant relative of Ivan's royal family, and by seniority, he was Matvey's uncle.

When he bowed to Matvey, although he appeared respectful, there was a hint of contempt and perfunctoriness in his eyes. He also seemed somewhat careless when reporting, clearly not taking this puppet emperor seriously.

Matvey was used to this attitude and simply nodded weakly, not daring to say anything more.

However, Li Chen, who was sitting to the side, suddenly snorted coldly, like ice shattering: "Insolence!"

Without him making any move, an invisible force instantly slammed into the guard commander.

The guard commander screamed and flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto a tent pillar in the distance. He spat out blood, several of his ribs were broken, and he was on the verge of death.

"A mere commander dares to be so disrespectful to the current emperor? Who gave you the guts! Looks like you're tired of living!" Li Chen's voice was like ice that had stood for millennia, carrying a terrifying pressure that enveloped the entire camp.

Matvey was startled by this sudden turn of events, and his face turned pale when he saw the miserable state of the guard commander.

He had never seen anyone punished so severely for disrespecting him.

A strange emotion surged within him. Looking at the commander who usually ignored him, now lying on the ground like a dead dog, he hesitated for a moment, then mustered the greatest courage he had ever had, and pleaded with Li Chen in a trembling voice, "Master, he... he doesn't deserve to die. Please spare his life, Master."

Li Chen glanced coldly at the guard captain, then at Matvey who was pleading for him, before letting out a disdainful snort: "Since His Majesty has pleaded for you, I will spare your dog's life! Remember this lesson, and keep your eyes open in the future! If you dare to show the slightest disrespect to His Majesty again, I will make you suffer the torment of witchcraft and soul-devouring curses, wishing you were dead!"

(End of this chapter)