Chapter 29: If It's Presence You Want, Presence You Shall Have

Arrogant! Overbearing! Treacherous!

Though Lü Chunqiu was not a subject of Great Chu, he could clearly sense that Fan Li was just one step away from rebellion.

Above His Majesty, there is myself?

Lü Chunqiu thought that even if Fan Li placed himself second and the Lü family third, it would all be reasonable. But Fan Li openly claimed superiority over the sovereign of Great Chu?

“The words you just spoke, Your Grace, I can pretend I never heard, and I shall never leak them to anyone.”

Lü Chunqiu believed he was being considerate with his implication, but Fan Li paid it no mind.

Fan Li smiled, “If the Marquis doubts anything I’ve said, I can invite Her Majesty here and repeat every word before her.”

“Uh…”

He was convinced. Truly convinced.

Lü Chunqiu finally felt, with utter clarity, that Fan Li was indeed the rightful power behind Great Chu.

Though the mighty minister Dong Zhuo of Great Han was renowned for his formidable cultivation and infamous cruelty, it was Fan Li’s effortless sweep, like autumn wind scattering leaves, that truly embodied the bearing of such a power.

What does ‘beneath one, above ten thousand’ mean? The true power-holder has no need for the first four words; he simply stands above ten thousand.

“I believe every word you say, Your Grace. If the Lü clan merges with Great Chu, indeed we would be beneath two, above ten thousand, but…”

Lü Chunqiu deliberately paused, leaving his meaning clear for Fan Li to decipher.

Your Great Chu is simply too weak. If Lü City pledges allegiance to Chu, we may not last the morning; sooner or later, we’ll be reduced to a nationless clan.

Fan Li smiled, for he understood the implication perfectly.

But having lived two lives, Fan Li’s innate maturity had long anticipated every concern Lü Chunqiu might harbor.

“The Princess Changle of Great Han is about to become the Empress of Great Chu.”

“What!?”

That single sentence from Fan Li moved Lü Chunqiu deeply.

A union between Chu and Han?

Two weak states forming an alliance against a strong one—this had long been within Lü Chunqiu’s expectations.

Yet he still favored Great Ming, for the success of a weak-state alliance depended on the sincerity of both sides, which ultimately determined the outcome.

Princess Changle was not only the finest bloodline of Emperor Liu Xie of Han, she was also coveted by all who sought the Pure Land of Brahma.

For Great Han to marry Princess Changle into Great Chu—this was the ultimate effect of their alliance!

Enough for Great Ming to respect and fear Chu and Han both!

At last, Lü Chunqiu was forced to take Fan Li seriously.

---

He probed, “This imperial marriage—was it orchestrated by Your Grace alone?”

“Yes.”

This was the perfect opportunity to reinforce his formidable persona, and Fan Li would not let it slip by.

As for lying, he had no fears; after all, Princess Changle would never travel thousands of miles to Lü City just to say, “I was the mastermind.”

“The Marquis holds Your Grace in the highest regard.” Lü Chunqiu sighed deeply.

Truly, the young are to be feared!

He spent his days worrying about the future of the Lü clan, while the Emperor of Ming was already pressing at his doorstep.

Yet here was a youth who played the game of alliances with masterful skill.

“With Fan Li in Great Chu, even if the Emperor of Ming unifies the world, the process will surely be delayed by twenty or thirty years,” Lü Chunqiu mused.

In his eyes, Chu and Han now possessed the means to contend with Ming.

Yet the stakes Fan Li offered were still insufficient to persuade Lü Chunqiu to join Chu.

Lü Chunqiu remained silent, simply watching Fan Li, waiting for him to continue his performance.

“If Fan Li stops here, with no further moves, Lü City can maintain its neutrality, pledging to none.”

The very existence of Lü City was based on the balance among three kingdoms. If that equilibrium remained unbroken, Lü City could stay neutral.

Ultimately, Lü Chunqiu had spent his life as master of his own house—he was unused to being a subordinate in another’s court.

With these thoughts, his mood brightened, and he regarded Fan Li with newfound appreciation.

“Marquis Wenxin, in fact, after our Emperor of Chu’s wedding, the position of Imperial Noble Consort remains vacant,” Fan Li remarked calmly.

“Oh? Is that so?”

Lü Chunqiu was still inwardly marveling at Fan Li and momentarily failed to grasp the implication.

Fan Li smiled at him, then turned his gaze to Lü Fubao.

That look reminded Lü Chunqiu of an old proverb relating to his ancestors: precious goods reserved for the right moment.

“Hey! What do you mean by that?”

Lü Fubao, made uneasy by Fan Li’s stare, forgot all decorum and shouted directly.

Fan Li smiled, “If the Lü clan is willing to pledge allegiance to Great Chu, Miss Lü may enter the imperial harem as Imperial Noble Consort.”

“What!?”

Lü Fubao shrieked, her face drained of color, hiding herself behind her father.

Lü Chunqiu was stunned as well.

Though shocked, he was not frightened as his daughter was. He merely marveled at Fan Li’s wild, boundless thinking—so unlike that of a youth his age.

“At Fan Li’s age, I was still a bewildered half-grown boy. When my father was alive, he often lamented my dullness and conservatism, lacking both the wisdom and foresight of our ancestors.”

“If Fubao becomes Imperial Noble Consort of Great Chu, the Lü clan’s position will be unassailable. Combined with Lü City’s influence over the realm’s Confucian scholars, in time, the Lü clan might supplant the Fan clan and grasp the reins of Chu’s power!”

“When the world changes, Chu and Han could unite to destroy Ming, then even topple Han itself… Perhaps one day, my descendants might force the Emperor of Chu to abdicate, realizing a Lü dynasty?”

---

Though Lü Chunqiu harbored no imperial ambition, even contemplating it sent his heart racing with excitement!

He could not help but glance at Fan Li.

This young Duke of Jin—his opening gambit was an offer one could hardly refuse.

Too formidable!

Should he accept?

Lü Chunqiu hesitated, perhaps he should deliberately snub Chu for a while, forcing them to up the ante and bring greater profit to the Lü clan.

“This matter is momentous. I do not require an immediate answer, Marquis. But before the alliance of three emperors concludes, I ask only for a definite reply.”

Fan Li spoke suddenly, his demeanor matching that of the Emperor of Ming.

Both seemed entirely at ease, never pressing Lü Chunqiu for an immediate response.

This composure once again surprised Lü Chunqiu.

“Fan Li… does he possess the bearing of an emperor?”

Lü Chunqiu was confused; he began to doubt his own earlier fantasies.

He had imagined that in a few generations, his descendants might force the Emperor of Chu to abdicate.

But with such a person as Fan Li, could Chu ever have another generation of monarchs?

And could Lü’s descendants ever rival those of Fan Li?

“Marquis Wenxin, I take my leave.”

“Uh? Ah?”

Lü Chunqiu wanted to say more, but saw that Fan Li had already turned and strode away.

Leaving the Marquis Wenxin’s residence, Fan Li breathed a sigh of relief.

Their initial meeting, his primary aim was to size up Lü Chunqiu.

Now it seemed Lü Chunqiu was manageable.

Sons of noble families—capable of maintaining their inheritance, but lacking ambition.

Fan Li recalled the professor-types he often encountered before his journey, in university.

They lacked the drive for profit, focusing only on research and academic improvement.

The result: neither wealth nor administrative power within the university.

Such individuals were a blessing for students, but as leaders of a family in troubled times, they were most prone to failure.

“Duke of Jin, wait—long time no see.”

Fan Li was deep in thought when a familiar voice reached his ears.

He looked up to see a man with phoenix eyes, thick brows, and a fine beard cascading to his chest—a familiar old acquaintance.

Great Ming—Zhang Juzheng.