Chapter 12: A New Mission—The Substitute Doll

“Tame... Wuzhui?”
Fan Li was somewhat taken aback.
That thing still exists?
And it’s actually a dragon?
He was lost in his thoughts when he noticed the Empress Dowager had already walked up to him.
“Prime Minister, I hear you saved His Majesty today? That is quite a feat.”
“It was nothing...”
Fan Li was about to exchange a few polite words—something along the lines of, “As his regent, it is my duty.”
But saying something so self-serving before the Empress Dowager seemed just a bit inappropriate.
Before he could speak, the Empress Dowager continued, “Prime Minister, you truly are the most capable minister of our Great Chu. The matter of taming Wuzhui—I must trouble you to take it on.”
“Ah? What does this have to do with me?” Fan Li couldn’t help but ask.
The Empress Dowager chuckled softly.
She was at that age where maturity and allure coexisted, her charm undiminished.
With that gentle laugh, Fan Li couldn’t help but think, “What a shame a woman like her has been widowed.”
“I’ve heard that the Jiajing Emperor of Great Ming has set his sights on Wuzhui and has sent the Imperial Preceptor, Lan Daoxing, to Wujiang, hoping to sway Wuzhui into serving Ming.”
“This man is a master at the Dao Integration level, said to be second only to the Jiajing Emperor himself in all of Great Ming.”
“Lan Daoxing is also a master of secret arts, particularly the Spirit Summoning Ritual, which is rumored to deliver the voice of Heaven itself. His divinations have never failed.”
The Empress Dowager sighed softly.
“I truly worry that Wuzhui, having only just transformed into a dragon and still lacking clarity of mind, might be beguiled by Lan Daoxing and taken away to Ming...”
But Fan Li had no interest in these matters.
He was no Dao Integration master, nor did he dabble in the likes of fortune-telling or spirit summoning.
Most importantly, this wasn’t a mission issued by the system—he had no intention of meddling.
Fan Li was just about to come up with an excuse to decline when suddenly, a chime sounded in his mind.
“New mission issued: [Mine, Mine, All Mine].”
“Mission description: Seize the Guardian Dragon of Great Chu, Wuzhui, and compel its loyalty to the host.”
“Mission reward: Special item [Substitute Doll], one piece.”
“Substitute Doll: An external avatar item that perfectly replicates the host, creating a flawless double. The avatar can cultivate, and all cultivation gains are shared with the host. The avatar’s strength increases in tandem with the host’s.”
Damn!
Fan Li could hardly keep himself from drooling.
What an incredible item!
He immediately thought of that blue-collar anime from before he transmigrated—multiple shadow clones?
The more avatars, the greater the multiplied effect in cultivation?
“Why does the Prime Minister remain silent? Are you unwilling to ease His Majesty’s burdens?” the Empress Dowager asked.
Xiang Ning was a bit nervous.

To tame Wuzhui already felt like a mountain of pressure.
Hearing that the Imperial Preceptor of Ming was personally involved, Xiang Ning was even more terrified of losing the ancestral beast to another nation!
Though Fan Li’s strength was only at the Body Refining stage, Xiang Ning trusted him for reasons she couldn’t explain.
If Fan Li was with her on this journey, she was certain they would bring the Black Dragon Wuzhui back to Pengcheng!
“Empress Dowager, reclaiming Wuzhui concerns the dignity of the nation. As Prime Minister of Great Chu, I cannot shirk this duty!”
Fan Li’s voice rang out loud and clear, echoing through the grand hall of the palace.
“Excellent!” The Empress Dowager cast Fan Li a look of approval, though she was inwardly baffled.
She had prepared many arguments, ready for a fierce debate to force Fan Li’s hand.
Unexpectedly, he agreed so readily?
“Lan Daoxing is a Dao Integration master, after all. For this mission, Eunuch Chen will accompany you to protect His Majesty and the Prime Minister. Only then can I truly be at ease,” the Empress Dowager added.
“Your servant obeys.”
Eunuch Chen answered immediately, not giving anyone else a chance to respond.
“So this was arranged in advance,” Fan Li thought to himself.
With her aims accomplished, the Empress Dowager left, satisfied, leaving only the customary admonition, “The inner palace must not interfere in state affairs.”
Fan Li bowed his head, lost in thought.
The system had only provided him with basic information about this world, mostly centered on Chu.
As for Lan Daoxing, the Imperial Preceptor of Ming?
He had almost no useful intelligence.
Fan Li still had a few Life-Extending Pills left, but he had lost his appetite for them.
“Um... Regent?”
A gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Huh? What is it?”
Fan Li looked at the young emperor, noticing her cheeks had turned pink, her expression oddly ingratiating.
Xiang Ning was clearly in high spirits, her eyes brimming with warmth.
“Thank you, Regent, for agreeing to accompany me to Wujiang.”
For the first time, Xiang Ning was sincerely grateful to Fan Li.
She then noticed the pill in his hand and asked curiously, “Regent, what are you eating? Can I try one?”
“No.”
Those pills were Fan Li’s lifeline—how could he let her treat them as snacks?
Seeing how quickly Fan Li refused, Xiang Ning’s budding goodwill evaporated instantly.
Such a stingy traitor—despicable!
“Court is dismissed!”
Xiang Ning glared fiercely at Fan Li and swept out of the hall in a huff.
“What a sissy.”

That was Fan Li’s only evaluation of the look Xiang Ning gave him.
Not a shred of masculinity—he simply couldn’t understand how the young emperor could possibly have descended from such a heroic ancestor.

...

On the day of departure, Fan Li was utterly surprised.

The emperor’s journey should have been an extravagant affair, banners flying, crowds thronging to see them off.
But outside the palace gates stood only Xiang Ning and Eunuch Chen.

“Your Majesty, Prime Minister Fan has finally arrived.”
Eunuch Chen was dressed in rough, plain clothing, looking every bit the tenant farmer from a minor landlord’s household.
Xiang Ning, on the other hand, was dressed like a wealthy young master—all in snowy white, a folding fan in hand, refined to the point of femininity.
Her cheeks were rosy, her lips pink, making Fan Li suspect she’d put on makeup before leaving.
“What are you staring at? Is there something on my face?” Xiang Ning snapped.
With no courtiers around, she dispensed with the trouble of calling him “Regent.”
Fan Li didn’t mind, only teasing, “Your Majesty’s face is spotless—in fact, quite pretty.”
“Really? You mean it?!”
Xiang Ning’s face lit up, hands cupping her cheeks, her smile nearly spilling over.
Damn, what’s wrong with her? Fan Li grumbled inwardly.
Did she really think he meant that as a compliment?
“Ahem! Your Majesty, Prime Minister, it’s time we set off,” Eunuch Chen reminded them.
Fan Li was curious: “Eunuch Chen, are just the three of us going to tame Wuzhui? And face the Imperial Preceptor of Ming?”
Eunuch Chen smiled. “Lan Daoxing excels at formations and mystical arts. Though he travels alone in Wujiang, he fears not even an army. Bringing ordinary soldiers would only be sending them to their deaths.”
The regular soldiers of Chu were all at least at the Qi Refining stage, weren’t they?
He himself was only at the Body Refining stage—what difference would a few thousand soldiers make?
“Besides, I’ve received word that Lan Daoxing has already reached Black Dragon Pool at the source of Wujiang. We must hurry,” Eunuch Chen added.
“This old eunuch is up to no good,” Fan Li thought. “This is Chu’s own territory—how could outsiders get there first? Something’s fishy here!”

“Could it be that the Prime Minister is afraid?”
Xiang Ning seemed to have discovered a new world, eager to see Fan Li squirm.

“Even ants struggle to survive—how could your regent do any less?” Fan Li shot her a look.

“You...!!!”
These days, who isn’t a part-time keyboard warrior?
If he couldn’t out-talk the young emperor, then his transmigration would have been for nothing.