Chapter 4: Prime Minister, Am I Beautiful?

Fan Li rode his horse within the palace grounds, as leisurely and carefree as if he were strolling through the city streets.

He was a powerful minister and a treacherous chancellor, so privileges like riding a horse or wearing a sword and boots into court had long been granted to him.

"The emperor hasn't attended court for a month. Skipping work at such a young age—how unfortunate for the people of Chu to be saddled with a ruler like her," Fan Li muttered carelessly, terrifying the eunuch leading his horse.

"They say the Chancellor harbors treasonous thoughts. It must be true if he dares to speak of His Majesty this way!" The young eunuch agonized over whether to report this to Chief Eunuch Chen.

"It's better to avoid trouble. Who knows how many Fan family spies lurk in the palace? If I earn a reward but lose my life before spending it, that would be a terrible loss!"

Settling on his decision, the eunuch chose to feign ignorance.

For a full month, the Treacherous Minister System had seemed to break down, refusing to issue any new tasks—until today.

"New task issued: [The Imperial Seal in Hand, The World Is Mine]."

"Task description: Use the Imperial Seal at will without the emperor's permission. The greater the transgression, the richer the reward."

There had only ever been two kinds of people allowed to use the Imperial Seal: the emperor, and the eunuchs by the emperor’s side. Even then, eunuchs did so only with imperial approval, reduced to mere tools for stamping documents.

A rare new mission—of course Fan Li would not refuse. Never mind using the Imperial Seal without permission; even if the task were to spank the emperor, he would do so without hesitation.

"The young emperor has long neglected the court. The memorials from officials are piling up like mountains. I might as well go and handle them."

"To Chengming Hall!"

When the emperor was absent from court, all memorials were sent to Chengming Hall.

Fan Li entered the hall, dismissed the eunuchs and palace maids, and approached the imperial desk alone.

He did not sit on the dragon throne.

A treacherous minister was still a subject. Fan Li pulled up a chair and sat sideways.

Taking up a brush and dipping it in cinnabar, he pressed the Imperial Seal into the ink pad.

He reviewed each memorial with meticulous care.

In truth, the original Fan Li had been a man of great learning, and after crossing into this world, Fan Li inherited those abilities as well.

He read and commented on the memorials with astonishing speed, and in just half a day, the system’s notification rang in his mind:

"Task [The Imperial Seal in Hand, The World Is Mine] completed."

"Host has abused the Imperial Seal, overstepped authority, and shown contempt for imperial power. Task completion is exceptionally high—reward doubled!"

"Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a Marrow Cleansing Pill, which can repair damaged spiritual roots."

"Detected that Host’s spiritual roots suffered severe injury. The Marrow Cleansing Pill is being used automatically."

Fan Li was momentarily stunned.

The original owner of this body had suffered grave injuries to his spiritual roots?

The Marrow Cleansing Pill was automatically consumed, and Fan Li noticed subtle changes within his body.

He closed his eyes, calming his mind and immersing himself in the sensation, forgetting he still held the Imperial Seal in his hands.

"Ah!"

"What is this treacherous villain doing in Chengming Hall?"

"And holding my Imperial Seal?"

Emperor Xiang Ning of Chu, dressed as a woman with delicately painted brows and a powdered palace gown, had just emerged from a month-long secluded cultivation. In the end, she was still a woman, and her fastidiousness compelled her to come out, bathe, and change clothes.

She once again donned her favorite feminine attire, even touching up her makeup.

Her place of seclusion, Gouyi Hall, was connected to Chengming Hall. Remembering she hadn’t reviewed the memorials in days, she stopped by—only to stumble upon Fan Li.

"The treacherous chancellor is holding my Imperial Seal. He’s surely up to no good… Wait! He dares to handle memorials I haven’t even read yet!"

The more Xiang Ning saw, the angrier she became.

Her cultivation had improved slightly during seclusion, and feeling confident, she wished she could slap Fan Li to death then and there.

"Asleep?"

Sneaking up to Fan Li, she found his eyes closed as if in deep slumber.

Xiang Ning couldn’t help but study his face. The Fan family boasted four siblings, all outstanding; naturally, Fan Li’s looks were remarkable.

She stared at him for a while, becoming somewhat dazed.

“Hmph! All that beauty wasted—he’s still the most treacherous minister in the realm!” she grumbled.

Her gaze shifted to the imperial desk, where a stack of memorials reviewed by Fan Li lay.

Reviewing memorials was the emperor’s prerogative. Did he wish to be emperor himself?

Her anger grew.

She picked up a memorial, sneering as she opened it.

A treacherous minister in power must surely do things that harm the country and oppress the people!

“I’ll find Fan Li’s mistakes, correct them one by one, and see if he dares show his face as Chancellor of Great Chu!”

The first memorial was from the Prefect of Linjiang, reporting a peasant uprising.

In summary: A locust plague had devastated Linjiang County’s fields, leaving no harvest. Starving peasants stormed the county office, raided the granaries, and injured officials. The prefect requested permission to deploy troops to suppress the revolt.

Xiang Ning muttered, “The starving are still subjects of Great Chu. How can we use force against our own people? If I’d seen this memorial earlier, I’d have sent grain to relieve the disaster.”

Curious, she wondered how Fan Li had handled it.

Her eyes fell to the blank space at the end of the memorial, where she saw a bold, vigorous script:

“The locust plague has harmed the people, and the county officials neglected to provide relief, already derelict in duty. To use force against the people would be an even graver offense. Open the Linjiang granaries and distribute grain to the people. Publicly announce the officials’ dereliction and strip them of their rank and office to appease the people.”

“Furthermore, as the farming season has passed and the afflicted peasants may lack food and money for winter, the prefect shall provide work in exchange for relief so they may earn their sustenance. Should another revolt occur, the responsibility shall rest with the prefect, and the court will deal with him accordingly.”

By the end, Xiang Ning nearly wanted to applaud!

Not only did he know how to comfort the people and punish negligent officials, but he also demonstrated foresight, even accounting for the agricultural calendar. This was simply… simply…

Unwilling to accept this, Xiang Ning flipped through a dozen more memorials.

In every instance, Fan Li’s handling was impeccable and thorough.

“Is this really the greatest traitor of Great Chu?”

“Even the celebrated ministers of history were no better at governing.”

Xiang Ning’s emotions were in turmoil.

Such ability was exactly what emperors throughout history had coveted in their ministers.

Had she misunderstood Fan Li all along?

“No! Talent is no measure of virtue. Fan Li is arrogant and overbearing at court—he even bullies me! I have not wronged him!”

“If Fan Li is a great talent but a greater villain, I must remain all the more vigilant!”

As these thoughts whirled through her mind, Xiang Ning’s gaze drifted to Fan Li.

But at some point, Fan Li had already awakened.

He was staring at her, their eyes meeting in awkward silence.

“Who the hell are you?” Fan Li asked.

How bold!

He had only dozed off for a moment, and someone had crept over to spy on his review of imperial memorials?

This little beauty was rather fresh-faced, her looks no less than his fourth sister Fan Yuehua, though her makeup was a bit heavy.

Fan Li guessed she must be a palace maid. Did she not know it was a capital offense to peek at documents intended for the Emperor of Chu?

“Chancellor, you… you don’t recognize me?” Xiang Ning was startled, but at Fan Li’s words, she inexplicably felt a sense of relief.

“This treacherous chancellor can’t recognize me in women’s dress—does that mean my makeup is dreadful?” Raised as a prince from childhood, Xiang Ning loved to dress as a woman but was not skilled at it, so she felt a bit insecure.

“Should I know you? Are you famous?” Fan Li retorted.

A mere palace maid—where did she get such confidence?

As Chancellor of Great Chu, Fan Li seldom entered the inner palace. How could he possibly know her?

But Xiang Ning was not offended; in fact, she seemed rather pleased.

With a hint of anticipation, she asked, “Chancellor, do you think I’m beautiful?”