Chapter 50: Who Is More Beautiful, Me or Miss Xu from the North of the City?
Cao, Liu, and Sun finally spoke plainly about the true purpose of their visit.
The day Dong Zhuo completes the fate of the Son of Heaven will be the day he makes his move against Emperor Liu Xie of Han.
“If His Majesty triumphs over Dong Zhuo, then the alliance between Chu and Han shall stand as before.”
“If, heaven forbid, His Majesty is defeated, the three of us will never allow Dong Zhuo the satisfaction of his schemes.”
“No matter how the Han dynasty’s fortunes may change in the future, we implore you, Duke Jin, never to abandon the alliance, lest you give Jiaying a chance to exploit the situation.”
Fan Li understood well—the three were subtly reminding him that the lips and teeth share a common fate; if one is lost, the other cannot endure.
Yet he sensed a deeper meaning: it seemed Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan were convinced Dong Zhuo would lose, but that Liu Xie was doomed as well.
Were these three intending to watch tigers fight from the mountain and reap the spoils as the fisherman does?
Fan Li probed, “When the Emperor comes into conflict with Dong Zhuo, where will the three of you be?”
Liu Bei replied at once, “Naturally, we will stand and fall with His Majesty!”
It was said Liu Bei had the bearing of a dragon or phoenix, destined for greatness. Fan Li found his appearance impressive; when he spoke, his voice rang with either righteous fervor or stirring passion.
Yet, this man with such bold brows and honest eyes… could he truly not betray the cause?
“In fact, within the tomb of the late Qin Emperor, it is said a divine sword lies buried,” Cao Cao interjected, as though choosing to reveal his hand to Fan Li.
“Besides attending the grand wedding of Princess Changle, the most important purpose of our journey to Great Chu is to retrieve this sacred sword.”
“The Emperor’s ancestral sword was broken at Lyu City, diminishing his strength; he can hardly hope to match Dong Zhuo now.”
“But if we obtain the Sword of the First Emperor, His Majesty will wield the power of the Great Perfection Realm! With the three of us joining the fray, Dong Zhuo will surely be vanquished!”
So this was their grand plan for ridding the Han of its traitor?
Fan Li could not help but feel disappointed. The supposed tomb of the late Qin Emperor might not even be genuine. If it were a false lead, and they returned empty-handed, would that not seal Liu Xie’s doom?
Cao Cao seemed to sense Fan Li’s doubts and smiled, “Rest assured, Duke Jin. We have reliable clues confirming the divine sword lies deeply buried in the tomb. The Han shall take only the sword; all other treasures will belong to Great Chu—yours, in fact.”
Fan Li grew increasingly bewildered.
It was the first time he had heard of grave robbing where one could be so certain about the contents without even verifying the tomb’s authenticity.
“Am I being set up?” The thought flashed through his mind.
He also recalled that, according to the “Map of the Qin Emperor’s Tomb,” the suspected tomb was located in a remote area within the borders of Great Chu.
A Qin imperial tomb on Chu soil? Yet Chu itself was unaware, while Han had already gotten wind of it?
Fan Li could not puzzle out the reason, even after Cao, Liu, and Sun took their leave. He remained lost in thought.
Seeing him so deep in contemplation, his siblings also left quietly.
In the Hall of Rivers and Mountains, only Fan Li and Xiang Ning remained.
“What are you thinking about? Calculating how much treasure lies in the late Qin Emperor’s tomb? How much does your Fan family plan to pocket for themselves?” Xiang Ning asked in a low, teasing voice.
Fan Li blurted out, “Stop talking nonsense! Just because you’re the emperor doesn’t mean you can slander me.”
Xiang Ning: ???
He realized at once his slip of the tongue.
Damn! How had he let his true thoughts slip out?
He had been too caught up in his reasoning—clearly, Cao, Liu, and Sun were hiding something, but their intentions did not seem hostile toward him, leaving him unable to deduce their true aim.
Awkwardly, Fan Li turned to Xiang Ning, who sat beside him like an attentive maid.
Her stunning beauty was tinged with a blush as alluring as crimson fruit.
What should he do?
He was uncertain for a moment.
Was he about to be silenced? Or… should he consider silencing her?
No, no—their relationship was not so dire as to warrant violence.
Everything could be resolved through discussion; peace in the family brings prosperity.
Forcing a smile, Fan Li said, “Um… Your Majesty, are you hungry? Shall I make you some noodles?”
“I am not a woman!” Xiang Ning suddenly erupted, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her voice shrill.
“I… I… I disguised myself to observe the Han envoys and uncover their true intentions!”
Uh?
Fan Li stared, dumbfounded.
Listening to her clumsy excuse, he felt secondhand embarrassment, as if he could scratch a hole in the floor with his toes.
“Your Majesty, do go on… I mean, please continue?” he prompted.
Xiang Ning was nearly in tears, her eyes shimmering but stubbornly refusing to let the tears fall.
“My skill in disguising myself as a woman is flawless—even the three Han envoys could not see through it. Clearly, my plan has been a resounding success!”
“Though you happened to see through it, as a loyal subject of Chu, you must be devoted to your sovereign and your country!”
“For the sake of Great Chu and its countless people, you must keep my secret!”
What utter nonsense!
Fan Li’s head spun. He let her words go in one ear and out the other, dismissing her babble at once.
“All right, Your Majesty, rest assured—I will keep your secret.”
Hearing his promise, Xiang Ning felt greatly relieved.
Once her emotions calmed, she realized her earlier words had been rather improper, so she cautiously ventured another question.
“Duke Jin, do you find my appearance in women’s attire awkward?”
Fan Li shook his head at once. “Not at all. It suits you.”
“Really!?”
Xiang Ning’s delight grew.
“Am I beautiful in these clothes? How do I compare to the palace concubines and maids?”
She had harbored this question for a long time!
Did her appearance in women’s dress count as beautiful?
Fan Li’s mouth twitched. Would you just admit you’re a woman already? At this point, why keep up the pretense?
“Your Majesty in women’s attire… is exquisite.”
But to his surprise, this answer did not satisfy Xiang Ning.
She pressed eagerly, “I hear Miss Xu of North City is famed for her beauty. Am I more beautiful than her?”
Fan Li replied, “Your Majesty is far more beautiful—how could Miss Xu compare?”
Xiang Ning beamed, then thought of another and asked, “What about the newly instated Imperial Consort Lü Fubao? Who is more beautiful, her or me?”
Fan Li nearly groaned. “How could the Imperial Consort compare to Your Majesty?”
Xiang Ning planted her hands on her hips and laughed triumphantly.
“Then, what about your youngest sister, Fan Yuehua, called the Celestial Maiden? Who is more beautiful?”
Fan Li nearly drew his sword on her.
She usually seemed clever and cautious, but whenever it came to beauty contests, she completely forgot whether she was supposed to be a man disguised as a woman or vice versa.
Through gritted teeth, Fan Li answered, “Yuehua cannot compare to Your Majesty’s beauty.”
“Mm, mm!” Xiang Ning nodded emphatically. “I think so too.”
Ha!
Have you no shame?
My fourth sister has a prettier face, a better figure, a sharper mind, and a far naughtier temperament than you!
Fan Li grumbled inwardly, then finally could not help but say, “Your Majesty should return to the palace as soon as possible, lest your disguise be discovered. If rumors spread, the grand alliance between Chu and Han could fall apart!”
“Very well, as you say,” Xiang Ning agreed.
Fan Li was anxious, but Xiang Ning seemed somewhat reluctant to leave.
It was rare for her to appear in women’s clothing before others—especially before a man.
She walked to the door, glancing back at every step, only to be stopped by a servant of the Fan family.
“Second Master, the Han Princess Changle wishes to see you—she’s almost here at the Hall of Rivers and Mountains…”