Chapter 6: The Petition to Assume the Throne

"This treacherous minister, how dare he stare at me so intently?"

Xiang Ning felt the weight of Fan Li’s focused gaze. Rather than anger, a sense of pride welled within her. Could it be that she was so strikingly beautiful that even a cunning minister found himself captivated?

The more Xiang Ning thought about it, the happier she became. Even being forced to pose as a palace maid seemed less bothersome now.

Fan Li watched for a while before letting the matter go. Crossdressing nobles were nothing new—he’d seen plenty at conventions and livestreams before he transmigrated. Instead, his curiosity was piqued by the system's mission reward.

“You have acquired a special constitution: [Universal Racial Mirror Body]!”

“The host can disregard all bloodline restrictions, cultivate any technique, and wield any precious treasures or divine weapons.”

“All racial or lineage-based prohibitions are nullified for the host.”

The system’s reward was indeed generous! Having repaired his spiritual foundation, Fan Li was eager to begin cultivation. With the [Universal Racial Mirror Body], the results would surely be exceptional!

He resolved to return to the Fan residence and begin training as soon as he finished dealing with the mountain of memorials before him.

However, the pile was immense. By the time Fan Li set aside the final scroll, the night had slipped away entirely.

Sunlight streamed through the palace windows, illuminating the hall. Only then did Fan Li and Xiang Ning realize they had spent the entire night together in Chengming Hall.

“I actually spent an entire night with the treacherous minister?”

Though Xiang Ning held the highest rank in the realm, her thoughts were much like any young girl’s. A strange mixture of shame and annoyance swelled within her, and she shot Fan Li a fierce glare.

How detestable this minister was! It was one thing for him to bully her in court, but now, even in private, he’d compromised her “virtue”!

The golden rays of morning carried a faint chill as they poured into the hall, gradually bathing the two of them in light.

Bathed in the dawn, Fan Li’s aura transformed; he seemed, in that instant, like a banished immortal descended from the heavens. But the fatigue on his handsome features could not be masked.

Only then did Xiang Ning recall: it was for the great affairs of Chu that Fan Li had toiled through the night.

Her irritation faded by more than half.

As Xiang Ning’s thoughts wandered, a young eunuch hurried into the hall.

“Prime Minister, the Ming envoy Zhang Juzheng requests an audience!”

“Is the envoy here to see me or His Majesty?” Fan Li inquired.

The eunuch replied hastily, “Upon learning the Prime Minister was in the palace, the envoy specified his wish to meet with you.”

Fan Li’s expression shifted, a cold smile touching his lips.

A Ming envoy? Zhang Juzheng? That name had been etched deeply into the history books of his previous world. Evidently, even here, he was not a figure to be underestimated.

The late Emperor of Chu had only recently been buried; Zhang Juzheng was sent to offer Ming’s official condolences. Yet, after more than a month in Chu, he had neither met the Emperor nor the Empress Dowager, and now wished to see Fan Li first?

Moreover, he chose to meet in the Chu palace itself. Was this not a deliberate attempt to sow discord, to suggest that Chu’s ruler was weak while her minister was strong? Such a move spoke volumes of Zhang Juzheng’s cunning.

“Summon him to Chengming Hall,” Fan Li ordered coldly.

Xiang Ning, curious, asked, “Prime Minister, have you heard of this Zhang Juzheng before?”

Fan Li replied, “Zhang Juzheng, a native of Jiangling in Ming, holds the rank of Supervisor of the Imperial Academy—an official of the fourth rank, lower division. He cultivates the [Vast Aura Technique], at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm.”

Such intelligence, of course, came from the system.

“Ming shows great disrespect, sending a mere fourth-rank minor official as envoy!” Xiang Ning exclaimed in surprise.

Chu’s own envoy to Ming was a high-ranking minister of the Nine Courts. The contrast in status made Chu seem overly deferential, while Ming held itself superior.

Fan Li cast Xiang Ning a stern look.

“Mind your tongue. Is that something you should say? If you dare speak out of turn when the envoy arrives, beware lest I tan your hide!”

Since the young emperor was disguised as a palace maid, a little admonishment was not out of place. Better to silence Xiang Ning now than risk her being exposed by Zhang Juzheng.

A boy emperor with a penchant for women’s clothing? If word got out, all of Chu would be shamed.

Scolded, Xiang Ning was tempted to reveal her identity on the spot. But seeing the gravity in Fan Li’s eyes, she remembered her duty to the state and held her tongue.

“We’ll see how you handle the envoy. If you damage Chu’s dignity, I’ll hold you to account!” she thought fiercely.

“The Ming envoy has arrived!” came the eunuch’s announcement.

Resigned, Xiang Ning adopted the demeanor of a palace maid, stepping back with lowered head to observe the proper etiquette.

Outside Chengming Hall, the young eunuch led the way as a man in crimson robes, imposing and dignified, strode into the hall.

What a striking presence.

Fan Li could not help but admire the man. Phoenix-shaped eyes, thick brows, a fine beard cascading to his chest—he looked less like Zhang Juzheng and more like Guan Yu reborn as a scholar.

“I am Zhang Juzheng, envoy of the Celestial Ming Dynasty, Palace Attendant of the Right and Supervisor of the Imperial Academy. I greet the Prime Minister of Chu.”

Zhang Juzheng’s voice rang out, deep and resonant, echoing through the hall.

Even Xiang Ning was taken aback by his bearing. At first she stole glances, then found her gaze drawn to him.

The courtiers of Chu all shrank before Fan Li, and never had she seen a man with such presence. But soon, Xiang Ning realized something was amiss.

Celestial Ming Dynasty? And we are merely Chu? Outrageous! How insolent of this foreign envoy!

The humiliation stung even more than when bullied by her own ministers. In that moment, Fan Li seemed marginally less detestable, and Xiang Ning even found herself hoping he would uphold her honor.

“Ming… Celestial Dynasty?” Fan Li echoed the words, mulling them over.

“When did the Jiajing Emperor achieve the immortal feat of elevating his entire nation? How is it I was not informed? My apologies for not offering congratulations at the earliest opportunity.”

Zhang Juzheng’s face stiffened at the jest.

Elevate the entire nation to immortality? Not even the founders of Han, Ming, or Chu had managed such a feat. How could their descendants hope to surpass them? The legend of a whole nation ascending was even more unattainable than individual immortality.

Because Ming was strong and Han and Chu weak, Ming’s envoys typically acted with arrogance. Zhang Juzheng had not expected Fan Li to strike at him so directly at their first meeting.

But Zhang Juzheng had greater plans in motion and chose not to make an enemy of Fan Li just yet. He bowed deeply.

“Prime Minister Fan, forgive my slip of the tongue.”

Having yielded, his bow was even deeper than before.

Xiang Ning could not help but feel a surge of satisfaction.

“Hmph! The treacherous minister did well enough—not a disgrace to me.”

Oblivious to her thoughts, Fan Li asked calmly, “What urgent matter brings the Ming envoy to seek me?”

“There is indeed a grave matter,” Zhang Juzheng replied, straightening. He drew from his robe a jade slip.

“I must ask the Prime Minister to dismiss all attendants.”

Fan Li smiled coldly. So there really was something to hide?

But aside from Xiang Ning, there was no one else. Forcing her to leave might prompt her to reveal herself in a fit of pique.

With a crossdressing, hot-tempered young emperor, Fan Li dared not risk it.

“No need, Master Zhang. Ning’er is one of my own,” he replied.

Xiang Ning blushed furiously at this, mortified. Zhang Juzheng, however, took in the scene and believed it instantly. A glance told him that the maid’s makeup was crude, her youth and beauty her only assets.

So this is the Prime Minister of Chu’s taste? Zhang Juzheng secretly sneered, but presented the jade slip nonetheless.

“What is this?” Fan Li asked, curiosity piqued. Xiang Ning, even more intrigued, disregarded decorum and leaned forward for a look.

The title at the top of the jade slip leapt out at them both.

“A Petition to Encourage Usurpation!”

Zhang Juzheng’s voice drifted over. “The Jiajing Emperor of Ming promises: so long as the Prime Minister overthrows the Xiang clan and establishes himself, Ming will recognize your nation as a brother state and swear eternal alliance…”