Chapter 45: Fan Li Attends Court

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Xiang Ning stared at Xiang Chong in terror.

She could never have imagined that after a long separation, the first words from her brother would be a threat to her.

Xiang Chong seemed to believe she was intimidated, the corners of his mouth curling into a victorious smile.

Suddenly, Xiang Chong knelt on the ground, bowing repeatedly toward the beaded curtain behind which the Empress Dowager sat.

"Mother, your son has returned."

"Good... good! My royal son has come home, rise quickly."

The Empress Dowager, who had always ruled from behind the curtain, unprecedentedly lifted it and leaned forward to gaze at Xiang Chong.

Her face showed excitement, a glimmer of tears shining at the corners of her eyes.

Everyone present, from the court officials to Xiang Ning herself, could sense the deep bond between mother and son.

Xiang Ning closed her eyes in pain, silent.

She could not discern what she felt at that moment.

Jealousy?

Loss?

Certainly, both.

The affection the Empress Dowager showed for Xiang Chong far surpassed the attitude she usually displayed toward Xiang Ning.

Indeed, with Xiang Chong’s return, Xiang Ning even felt herself to be a superfluous outsider.

After their reunion, the Empress Dowager lowered the beaded curtain once more, retreating behind it.

Xiang Chong, however, stood tall and proud beside the Dragon Throne.

His robust figure, dazzling golden armor and sword, made Xiang Ning, seated upon the throne, appear tiny and utterly lacking in presence.

The officials of Chu stared at Xiang Chong with puzzled expressions, unsure what the newly appointed Regent Minister intended.

Chief Eunuch Chen suddenly called out,

"All civil and military officials, kneel before the Regent Minister!"

An uproar broke out.

Even Xiang Ning was stunned.

This was the palace, the central hall where the Son of Heaven held court.

By law, officials could only kneel to the emperor.

Even when Fan Li wielded immense power and officials bowed their heads to him, it was never so blatant.

"Eunuch Chen, we serve alongside Minister Xiang in the same hall; what right have we to kneel to him?" someone protested.

Eunuch Chen sneered, "That is not correct. You are subjects of Chu, gentlemen and scholars. But the royal prince is different—he is Regent Minister, a titled king! Can gentlemen and kings be compared?"

As he spoke, a chilling aura radiated from Chen.

All the officials, including the protester, were enveloped in this murderous energy, cowed into silence.

"Fan Li, what are you doing, you corpse? Shut away every day cultivating your body—does it amuse you? You’re about to lose your power!"

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In her heart, Xiang Ning cursed Fan Li a hundred and eighty times.

Yet now, she desperately wished he would appear before her, shielding her from the storm.

Finally, some officials buckled under the pressure, hesitantly kneeling to Xiang Chong.

Those who remained standing were mostly from Fan Li’s faction.

"Oh?"

Xiang Chong smiled.

"Quite the attitude. Eunuch Chen?"

Eunuch Chen smiled back, "Regent, no need to worry about such trivial matters. These gentlemen have merely forgotten how to bow—I shall remind them."

In the next moment, Eunuch Chen, like a phantom, flashed in front of a military officer.

He intended to repeat his earlier display, crippling this officer just as he had dealt with Guo Ling.

"The laws of Chu state: when an official commits a crime, it shall be investigated by the Palace Justice, then reported to the emperor for sentencing.

The laws further declare: the inner palace must not meddle in state affairs.

The inner palace refers to the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and all consorts.

As for eunuchs and palace maids, they are but servants of the royal household; when have they ever had the right to offend the gentlemen of Chu?"

A clear, confident voice rang out from outside the hall.

The newcomer recited as though reading poetry, each word pronounced with clarity and ease.

Xiang Ning nearly leapt from the Dragon Throne at the familiar sound.

She had never been so happy at this person's arrival; at this moment, she even felt blessed.

Xiang Chong's face changed.

He was the only one in the court who did not recognize the voice, but from Eunuch Chen's sudden pause, he guessed the identity.

The Marquis of Jin, Fan Li!

Fan Li strode leisurely into the hall, as if walking in his own backyard.

Everyone present could sense his modest cultivation, yet also an uncanny confidence.

The laws of Chu?

Fan Li, a notorious manipulator of kings, quoting the laws seemed almost comical.

Yet he spoke so openly, as if slapping Eunuch Chen in the face.

The old eunuch, seasoned in servitude, showed no trace of embarrassment at Fan Li's rebuke.

On the contrary, he bowed respectfully to Fan Li and carefully returned to his place.

Eunuch Chen’s deference was not merely due to the Fan family’s influence in Chu.

More importantly, accompanying Fan Li was Fan Chun.

Fan Chun, commander of the Tiger Guards, controlled one hundred thousand troops in the capital and possessed formidable cultivation.

Fan Chun, a ninth-grade perfection cultivator of the Divine Transformation stage, had the impressive record of defeating a first-grade expert of the Fusion stage.

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Eunuch Chen himself was a Fusion stage expert, but he had no desire to cross Fan Chun.

After all, Fan Chun’s feat of defeating a Fusion stage master was more than half a year ago; who could say he hadn’t advanced further since?

"You are Fan Li? Chancellor of Chu?"

Xiang Chong spoke.

He scrutinized Fan Li, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

He took little notice of Fan Li’s words driving off Eunuch Chen.

After all, he had returned to Pengcheng as powerful support for the Empress Dowager, not as one relying on her protection.

"Yes, I am Fan Li."

Fan Li also examined Xiang Chong, as if admiring his unusual attire.

The Overlord’s Battle Armor had rested in the royal vault for millennia, rarely brought out; Fan Li had seen it only a few times.

As for the Sword of King Huai, Fan Li had never seen it.

"Excellent." Xiang Chong nodded, "From now on, I shall govern as Regent. You shall assist me well!"

His tone brimmed with confidence, as if his words were beyond dispute.

Fan Li laughed.

"Me? Assist you?"

He glanced deliberately at Xiang Ning, as if to say: so this is how you’re bullied when I’m absent?

Xiang Ning’s cheeks flushed; she lowered her head, unable to meet Fan Li’s eyes.

Yet her panic vanished, replaced by a spectator’s curiosity, eager to see how Fan Li would handle Xiang Chong.

"What, you dare question me?"

Xiang Chong raised his voice, flaunting his power.

"I am a direct disciple of the Sect Master of the Fire Sect, a third-grade cultivator of the Nascent Soul stage, and the emperor’s own brother—a noble of pure blood..."

Fan Li waited for him to finish, then merely smiled in silence.

Something about Fan Li’s smile unsettled Xiang Chong.

"Where is the Deputy Grand Warden?" Fan Li suddenly called out.

It was the Grand Warden’s petition that had paved the way for Xiang Chong’s entry to court.

Fan Li had just taken his seat, but now called for the Deputy Grand Warden.

All the officials felt a deep sense of reassurance.

So, after all, everything was still under the Marquis of Jin’s control...

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