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

Chapter 698 We must not let His Majesty Ivan down! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
At this moment, Matvey was on pins and needles in the royal study, pacing back and forth, his face filled with unease and anxiety.

He didn't look like an emperor who ruled the world; instead, he looked like a little eunuch waiting for his master to return, afraid of messing up his job.

Upon seeing Li Chen appear at the door, he immediately rushed forward as if he had found his pillar of support, his tone urgent yet ingratiating: "Master! You're finally back! How did things go? What did the Empress Dowager say?"

He only knew that his master had gone to "persuade" the Empress Dowager to support him, but he didn't know what specific methods of "persuasion" were used.

Seeing that his master had been gone for more than ten hours, he couldn't help but worry. He was afraid that his master had failed, and even more afraid that his master had encountered some danger or difficulties with the Empress Dowager.

In his mind, the Empress Dowager held a prestigious position in the palace, and her family was deeply rooted with powerful and complex influence.

In the imperial harem, which of the concubines who were favored did not try every means to obtain official positions and elevate the status of their fathers, brothers, sons, and nephews?
As the most favored woman of the previous emperor Ivan, the Empress Dowager's family had seized power by virtue of this, occupying numerous important positions in the court and wielding considerable influence. Without her support, truly seizing power would be extremely difficult.

Looking at Matvey's useless appearance, Li Chen chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly calm as he slowly walked to the side and sat down.

He picked up the hot tea offered by the palace maid, took a sip, and then leisurely said, "Don't worry. I have already had an in-depth conversation with the Empress Dowager. She has agreed to fully support you and will personally contact her relatives in the court to pave the way for you."

Upon hearing this, Matvey was overjoyed and almost burst into tears.

He had never felt this way before, that there was such a powerful person working for him, planning for him, and sincerely helping him!
This feeling of being protected and supported was an unprecedented experience for him, a puppet emperor who had long been ignored and used as a pawn.

He knelt down with a thud, his voice choked with emotion: "Thank you, Master! I will never forget your great kindness!"

Li Chen offered a slight gesture of support and said calmly, "Get up. As master and disciple, there's no need for such formalities. What you need to do next is figure out how to forge a bond of mutual benefit with the Empress Dowager's family and other forces connected through them."

He began to instruct Matvey meticulously, “You have to make them understand what they can get by supporting you. There are only so many positions in the court, and who doesn’t want to climb up? Although you don’t have real power now, you have the title; you are the emperor!”
As long as they help you frame those disobedient officials, you can use your imperial status to depose them. The vacant positions are exactly what they've been dreaming of. Remember, only by offering substantial rewards can you motivate them to work for you.

Matvey nodded repeatedly, feeling as if a new world had opened up before him. He excitedly exclaimed, "Disciple understands! Disciple will immediately go and try to make contact, and will certainly not fail Master's expectations!"

Watching Matvey's excited departure, Li Chen's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.

His disciple is becoming more and more "sensible".

As for Li Chen himself, he naturally turned around and returned to Vorenzova's palace to continue his arduous harem conquest.

At this moment, inside the palace, Empress Dowager Julia had already awakened.

Compared to last night, her brows were less dignified and aloof, and more languid and alluring after being completely conquered. Her gaze toward Li Chen was filled with awe and infatuation.

Like Vorenzova, she had completely given herself to Li Chen, body and soul.

By controlling the Empress Dowager, Li Chen effectively controlled most of the power in the harem, and his plan progressed exceptionally smoothly.

Li Chen's gaze lingered on Yulia's voluptuous and mature figure for a moment, before another few hours of fighting ensued.

After completely calming Yulia down, Li Chen instructed her, "Go and summon Anastasia to me."

Yulia was completely obedient to Li Chen at this moment, and immediately sent someone to invite him.

Before long, a beautiful woman dressed in simple palace attire, with a cool and aloof demeanor, gracefully arrived.

She possessed rare, long, silver-white hair, like flowing moonlight, fair skin, and exquisitely beautiful features.

What is most striking is her exceptionally full and high breasts, which, even when covered by conservative palace attire, create a breathtaking contrast with her slender waist.

She was Anastasia, one of Ivan's most beloved wives. She was introverted and conservative, and kept a low profile, but her unique blend of aloofness and voluptuousness was particularly intriguing.

Anastasia entered the hall and first respectfully bowed to Empress Dowager Julia, saying, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

As she stood up, she noticed Li Chen sitting to the side, exuding a deep aura. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she still maintained proper etiquette.

Li Chen sized up the voluptuous, silver-haired beauty and was quite satisfied.

Her every smile and gesture exuded an irresistible allure, a stark contrast between her ascetic and conservative nature and her naturally stunning figure.

He did not speak immediately, but went back to the inner room to wait.

Empress Dowager Julia walked to Anastasia's side, took her hand, and, as Li Chen had instructed beforehand, lowered her voice and spoke in an unquestionable tone:

"Anna, His Majesty Ivan has sent a secret decree, ordering us concubines in the harem to serve the Witch Ancestor with utmost care and diligence in exchange for his full support of our Great Luo Dynasty."
"I have already served the Witch Ancestor for a day; now it is your turn. You have always been a man of great principle; you must not fail His Majesty Ivan's expectations and trust!"

Anastasia trembled slightly upon hearing this.

She had indeed vaguely heard that His Majesty Ivan seemed to intend to have some of his concubines approach the Witch Ancestor in order to solidify their relationship, but she never expected that this matter would fall on her head.

Of course, she didn't know it was Ivan's scheme, and Ivan certainly wouldn't openly discuss it on a large scale.

Anastasia was conservative by nature and deeply resisted this, but as a concubine, the emperor's decree and "national righteousness" were like shackles that she could not defy.

She remained silent for a moment, then lowered her head, her voice barely audible, tinged with a bitter resignation: "Your Majesty, I understand. I will serve you wholeheartedly."

After saying that, she took a deep breath and, as if heading to the execution ground, walked with heavy steps toward the inner room where Li Chen was.

She never came out again after that, which shows how much Li Chen liked her.

At this very moment, Ivan, who was "resting" in a villa near the capital, was secretly pleased with his "brilliant plan."

He thought he was secretly pushing forward a plan to frame the witch ancestor for causing chaos in the harem, but he never dreamed that his plan would go too "smoothly".

There's no need for false accusations; Li Chen is already taking care of his entire harem with his actions! You could even say he's practically wooed them all.

After completely winning over Empress Dowager Yulia, Li Chen found it increasingly convenient to act.

To favor a particular concubine, one often only needed to issue an order through the Empress Dowager.

Over the next five days, like leaves swept away by a whirlwind, hundreds more concubines of varying beauty and charm were ordered to serve the Witch Ancestor, thus gaining the opportunity to receive in-depth guidance from Li Chen.

The news naturally reached Matvey's ears as well.

The naive disciple was deeply moved when he heard that his master had "sacrificed" himself so much to help him gain support, working tirelessly day and night to deal with the concubines in the harem.

I just feel that my master has really sacrificed too much for his imperial cause, and he has gone to great lengths for it!

Little did he know that his good master, Li Chen, was enjoying himself so much that he almost forgot about helping him fight for power.

For Li Chen, this arduous task was pure bliss.

(End of this chapter)