Chapter 22: I Want to Bear Your Child

Fan Li’s murderous intent was by no means a momentary impulse.

This thought was the product of extreme rationality.

Even though the system had arranged for him to become a powerful minister, Fan Li was actually quite satisfied serving under a monarch like Xiang Ning. If Xiang Ning’s true gender were ever exposed, her claim to the throne could be lost. With a change of sovereign, whoever the new ruler might be, it was unlikely they would be as agreeable to him as Xiang Ning was. At that point, Fan Li might truly become the archetype of a treacherous minister—he would spare no effort in suppressing the new emperor, hollowing out the imperial authority to protect his own interests and those of the Fan clan.

“You know too much,” Fan Li said calmly.

The Princess of Changle maintained her graceful smile, but in a flash, a chill crept up her heart, causing her expression to stiffen.

This man was extraordinary!

Changle was deeply shocked. With her level of cultivation, it was rare for her to experience such negative emotions, especially when facing a mere third-tier body cultivator. In truth, she had never underestimated Fan Li. When he had dominated the hall and his righteous aura surged like a great sea, she had already realized he was no ordinary man.

A Confucian cultivator replaces spiritual energy with righteous qi, though it must not be equated with the latter entirely. Spiritual energy is the most direct measure of strength for ordinary cultivators, but the righteous qi of the Confucian path is far less tangible. Beyond cultivating it through ordinary means, a Confucian’s essence, energy, and spirit can all be refined into righteous qi as well.

Thus, even as a third-tier body cultivator, Fan Li’s ability to condense his qi into a vast sea convinced the princess that his state of mind and cultivation approached that of a Confucian sage. His future path would be broad and unimpeded, free from the limits of inner demons or bottlenecks of comprehension. He was destined for greatness.

“I can promise not to reveal the Emperor of Chu’s secret,” Changle said softly.

Fan Li nodded, indicating his trust, though it was only provisional. Judging by the current situation among the Three Kingdoms, an alliance between Chu and Han was inevitable—neither could face the powerful Ming alone.

The Emperor Jiajing of Ming, now at the Grand Perfection stage, was unquestionably stronger than the Han Emperor Liu Xie. Xiang Ning, having just stepped into the Nascent Soul stage, might barely wield the Overlord’s Spear by virtue of her bloodline, but she still could not match the Emperor of Ming.

Fan Li had once privately asked Wu Zhui whether she could withstand a full-force attack from Xiang Ning with the Overlord’s Spear. Wu Zhui’s answer had been just two words: “Minor injury.”

Consider that Wu Zhui was a lone wanderer with nothing to her name. If a strike from the Overlord’s Spear could only lightly wound her, then what about Emperor Jiajing, protected by countless secret arts and treasures? One blow would likely not harm him in the slightest. Moreover, his cultivation surpassed even Wu Zhui’s.

Changle continued, “I have come to cement our alliance, but now that the Emperor of Chu is revealed to be a woman in disguise, what am I to do?”

Fan Li replied, “If the Han Emperor is sincere in seeking alliance, our Great Chu welcomes it wholeheartedly. Even without a marriage, we can swear oaths and sign accords.”

But the princess shook her head.

“I have lingered in Pengcheng for months. If I return home without a betrothal to the Emperor of Chu, I will be the laughingstock of the world. What use is a treaty between two nations to me personally?”

Fan Li could understand her perspective. The alliance was a matter of state, but Changle naturally had her own interests to consider. Yet, Fan Li sensed she was concealing something beyond mere pride.

“What does Your Highness intend?” he asked bluntly.

She had led the conversation here with elaborate care, clearly confident in her plan and just waiting for the real power in Chu—him—to give his support.

Changle smiled. “I still wish to marry the Emperor of Chu, and I must trouble you, Lord Jin, to personally petition your sovereign to propose marriage to my father.”

“What?” Fan Li was finally thrown for a loop.

What was going on? Changle was a woman, Xiang Ning was also a woman—why insist on a marriage, knowing this full well?

Fan Li immediately dismissed the idea that Changle belonged to a certain special category; the way she occasionally glanced at him, appreciating a man as a woman might, made that clear. The four Fan siblings were all striking in appearance, especially Fan Li and Fan Yuehua. Though Fan Li was not vain, he was well aware of his own looks.

So what was Changle’s game with this charade? What was she after?

“Please speak plainly, Your Highness,” Fan Li said.

Changle nodded. “I only want the title of Empress of Chu. After the wedding, I will fulfill my duties as a virtuous empress, supporting the emperor as a model wife. But I have one condition.”

Fan Li could hardly keep from laughing. She was the one forcing the marriage, not Xiang Ning, and yet she was the one making demands?

He nodded, indicating she should continue.

Changle smiled, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Once I have entered the Great Chu as empress, if I bear an imperial son, he must immediately be named crown prince!”

Pfft!

Fan Li, just in the middle of sipping his tea, sprayed it everywhere.

“Please… cough… Your Highness, don’t joke about such things!”

What was wrong with this woman? Did she think she could reproduce on her own? Or did Changle have a lover waiting in the wings, ready to make Xiang Ning a cuckold after their wedding?

If that was the case, Fan Li would never agree. That poor, pitiful Xiang Ning—only he, Fan Li, was permitted to bully her; anyone else was out of the question!

“I am not joking,” Changle said serenely.

“Then I must refuse,” Fan Li said sternly, making it clear he would not yield.

But Changle’s next words nearly broke through his composure.

“What if the father of my future child… is you, Lord Jin?”

Fan Li was speechless, staring at the stunningly beautiful Changle. Was there genuine feeling in her eyes?

Was this woman serious?

No, absolutely not! For reasons he could not explain, every fiber of his being rejected Changle’s proposal. What was she really after? Fan Li found her dangerous—more dangerous even than Zhang Juzheng, who had once tempted him to rebel.

Changle was unfathomable.

“Ding!”

Just at that moment, the familiar chime of the system echoed in his mind.

“A new mission has been issued: [I Am King Wen of Zhou].”

“Mission description: The host aspires to be King Wen of Zhou, laying the foundation for an immortal dynasty for his descendants.”

“Mission reward: The legendary Imperial Seal.”

Fan Li was becoming numb. This was exactly what the Treacherous Minister System would do—stir up trouble at the worst possible time, leaving him no choice but to go along.

As he was inwardly groaning, another system notification arrived.

“[I Am King Wen of Zhou] is a special mission. There are no completion criteria; the reward is granted immediately.”

“This system will, as always, fully support the host. Press on down the road of the treacherous minister, and become the greatest in history.”

The notification ended, and Fan Li suddenly felt something heavy appear in his hand.

Looking down, he saw an object four inches square, its knob entwined with five dragons, its face engraved with the eight characters: ‘Mandated by Heaven, may the reign be long and prosperous.’

Changle saw it too, and after a brief moment of surprise, she suddenly burst into laughter. “What is that in your hand, Lord Jin?”

If I said it was a brick, would you believe me?

Fan Li’s mouth twitched. “It’s… probably… the Imperial Seal, I suppose?”