Chapter 1: Reluctantly Becoming a Treacherous Minister
Great Chu Kingdom, Imperial Court.
“Prime Minister, please speak calmly!”
Seated upon the imperial throne, the emperor was a youth of barely eighteen or nineteen. Though his features were strikingly handsome and refined, at this moment he trembled in fear, his body instinctively curling in upon itself.
Fan Li sighed.
He ascended the imperial steps, approaching the dragon throne, and astonishingly, placed a hand upon the young emperor’s shoulder.
Fan Li wore the purple robes of high office, the mark of a prime minister at the pinnacle of power. Yet he was still a subject; such a gesture toward the emperor bordered on outright rebellion.
“Your Majesty, is it so difficult to call me ‘Father Prime’?”
“But… but the late emperor has not been gone a month, and you’re scarcely older than I am…”
“Hm?!”
With Fan Li’s cold snort, the Emperor of Chu’s eyes welled with tears, nearly frightened into sobs.
“Fa… Father Prime?”
At last, the emperor changed his address, and the court erupted in astonishment.
The Son of Heaven acknowledging a minister as his father!
Some rejoiced in secret, others seethed with indignation, and some gazed at Fan Li with worshipful awe, as if they had discovered the ultimate goal of their lives.
None of this mattered to Fan Li.
“Ding!”
“Congratulations, host, for completing the novice task: ‘Deceiving the Emperor!’”
“Host has received a reward: one Life Extension Pill.”
“The First Villainous Minister System will continue to serve you.”
Fan Li checked his system inventory and, sure enough, found the pill inside. He immediately swallowed the Life Extension Pill.
“Host has taken the Life Extension Pill. Lifespan extended by one month.”
“Host’s remaining lifespan: one month and three days.”
Fan Li was rather vexed.
A single Life Extension Pill only granted one extra month?
He glanced sidelong at the emperor.
“Sorry, it seems I’ll have to bully you much more,” Fan Li thought to himself.
As a transmigrant, Fan Li naturally possessed the standard equipment: a system.
But this one was the “First Villainous Minister System.”
The journey through time had greatly depleted his body.
The system informed Fan Li that his lifespan had been drastically reduced, leaving him only three days to live.
But as long as he completed system tasks, he would be rewarded with Life Extension Pills.
Fan Li suspected the system was tormenting him.
“System, when will you release the next task?” Fan Li urged inwardly.
One Life Extension Pill was far from enough for his needs.
---
The system replied with unusual speed.
“New task released: ‘Dominant Over Court and Country.’”
“Task description: Please flaunt your power, so that all court officials recognize your strength. The greater the completion, the richer the reward.”
Flaunt power?
Fan Li pondered briefly, his gaze sweeping the hall.
The civil and military officials of Chu—all their expressions were captured by Fan Li’s eyes.
Some were disgruntled, others anxious.
But most were secretly delighted by his oppression of the emperor.
“So, I have quite a few followers in the Chu court?”
Having just arrived in this world, Fan Li knew little of his predecessor’s circumstances.
The system had provided abundant intelligence, though he had only absorbed a portion: for instance, that the Fan family was the foremost noble house in Chu.
“Seems the Fan clan has deep roots here, and its influence spreads throughout the court,” Fan Li mused.
In that case, ‘Dominant Over Court and Country’ should be easy to accomplish.
Fan Li quickly devised a plan.
“You—come here.”
He pointed at an official with a goatee.
“Yes, Prime Minister, what are your orders?”
The goateed man, visibly excited, bowed as he stepped forward, then knelt.
“He’s not kneeling to the emperor, but to the villainous minister!”
Even the emperor was infuriated by such sycophancy.
Fan Li commanded, “Go to the Imperial Garden and bring me a spotted deer.”
The goateed official hurriedly kowtowed in assent and left for the garden.
While waiting, Fan Li turned his gaze toward the emperor, curious about this youthful monarch.
Royal blood—Chu’s emperor possessed extraordinary looks and bearing.
His face was like polished jade, with sword brows and starry eyes, yet delicate cheeks and thin lips lent him a peculiar beauty, somewhat lacking in masculine vigor.
“Why are you staring at me?” the emperor stammered, trying to shrink further into his throne.
“Nothing,” Fan Li replied coolly, withdrawing his gaze.
Because of the ‘Dominant Over Court and Country’ task, he planned to remain by the emperor’s side, casting his gaze down from on high upon the monarch and the officials below.
“Wait, standing here makes me look like a ceremonial eunuch,” Fan Li thought idly.
Just then, the goateed official returned, leading a spotted deer.
“Reporting to the Prime Minister—ah, and to His Majesty as well,” the official grinned. “I have brought the spotted deer.”
The emperor trembled with rage.
Rebels!
All rebels!
What do you mean, ‘oh, and the emperor’?
---
How dare he place the villainous minister above the emperor?
The emperor, unable to voice his anger, turned his head away, refusing to look at Fan Li or the officials.
“What is your name?” Fan Li inquired.
The goateed man replied joyfully, “I am Li Qun, a compiler at the Imperial Academy.”
So, a minor seventh-rank official.
Fan Li nodded. “I told you to fetch a spotted deer. Why have you brought me a horse?”
Huh?
Li Qun was stunned.
The entire court was stunned.
Even the emperor could not help but glance back and forth between the spotted deer and Fan Li, his face filled with confusion.
Li Qun, still unclear on Fan Li’s intent, whispered, “Prime Minister, this is indeed a spotted deer…”
“Fool!”
Fan Li suddenly roared.
His voice thundered through the palace, like a lion’s furious roar.
“You dare question me? I clearly see it as a horse—do you think my eyes deceive me?”
Li Qun collapsed to his knees, bowing repeatedly.
“It’s a horse! It’s truly a horse! My eyes are blind, I failed to see clearly. Just as the Prime Minister says, it’s a fine steed…”
Fan Li ceased his shouting, instead casting a profound, unfathomable look over the officials below.
“Grand Censor, do you see a deer or a horse?”
Immediately, a minister stepped forward.
“This is a superb horse.”
“Minister of Personnel, Captain of the Guards, Chief Ritualist—what about you?” Fan Li called out three more high-ranking officials.
All three stepped forward and replied in unison, “It is indeed a fine steed.”
Fan Li nodded, deliberately displaying a satisfied smile.
His smile was noted by all the court officials, who understood his attitude perfectly.
Fan Li drew a deep breath and proclaimed, “Gentlemen, if anyone sees this creature as a spotted deer, step forward.”
Not a single official dared move.
At last, Fan Li turned to the emperor and asked quietly, “In Your Majesty’s eyes, is it a deer or a horse?”
The emperor’s large, dark, shining eyes shifted between Fan Li and the spotted deer.
“Villainous minister! You’re more like a horse than it is!” he cursed inwardly, nearly driven to tears.
Ancestors of Chu, see how your descendant is bullied by this villain!
Swallowing his humiliation, the emperor gritted his teeth and replied, “Father Prime, I see it as… as a horse as well…”