Chapter 8: I Wish to Cultivate, Not Rebel

Fan Li toyed with the jade slip in his hand, reading through the “Memorial Urging Accession” once more.

Only then did he recall that the little palace maid at his side was, in fact, the emperor.

“Ahem!”

A trace of embarrassment flickered across Fan Li’s face as he reached out and patted Xiang Ning on the head.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to rebel.”

Though Xiang Ning was already a ninth-grade Golden Core cultivator at nineteen—capable of crushing Fan Li with a single finger—in his eyes, she was still just a child.

Xiang Ning was fuming, but had no idea her identity had already been uncovered. She glared at Fan Li, her eyes not truly fierce but rather adorably stern, like an angry woman.

“What does it matter to a humble palace maid like me whether the Chancellor rebels or not? I’m just a nobody in the palace, and would never dare to divulge the Chancellor’s secrets!”

Fan Li was speechless.

After venting her frustrations, Xiang Ning’s anger subsided somewhat, though her heart grew more conflicted.

At last, she couldn’t help but ask, “Chancellor, you already hold sway over Great Chu, and with the Emperor of Jiajing as your external ally, why not seize the throne?”

Even Xiang Ning felt this was the perfect opportunity for Fan Li to rebel and proclaim himself emperor.

Why refuse?

“Rebel?”

Fan Li chuckled.

“I share no blood with the Emperor of Jiajing—why should he help me to such a grand title? He simply hopes Great Chu descends into chaos so he can profit from the disorder.”

It was a simple truth: weakening one’s enemy was a way to strengthen oneself.

Xiang Ning quickly grasped his meaning.

Fan Li continued, “Of the three kingdoms, Great Ming is the strongest. I’m sure the Emperor of Jiajing dreams of unifying the world. So whichever of Chu or Han first falls into turmoil will be first to face Ming’s armies.”

This statement left Xiang Ning both relieved and anxious.

Relieved, because it meant Fan Li would not rebel.

Anxious, because the three kingdoms had been in a thousand-year stalemate, always vying for supremacy under the guise of the “Alliance of Three Emperors.”

Now, was the Emperor of Jiajing intent on destroying Chu and Han?

“What should Great Chu do, then?” Xiang Ning asked anxiously.

She was only nineteen, and had been emperor for merely two months—lacking in experience and confidence.

Fan Li, on the other hand, had the wisdom of two lifetimes—once an avid viewer of the renowned television program “Masters’ Forum,” and now inheriting the talents of his current self, Fan Li.

At the very least, when it came to strategizing on paper, he was far superior to Xiang Ning.

“It’s simple enough,” he replied.

“In the short term, we should use the opportunity afforded by the ‘Alliance of Three Emperors’ to openly ally ourselves with Great Han, deterring the Emperor of Jiajing from coveting either state.”

“In the long run, though, we must strengthen ourselves. Only by raising Great Chu’s own power can we survive, or even one day unify the world.”

Xiang Ning nodded repeatedly in agreement.

He truly had the makings of a great chancellor; so long as he didn’t rebel, he was the foremost talent in Great Chu.

Fan Li added deliberately, “I’ll memorialize His Majesty at the next morning court session, urging him to seize the chance during the Alliance to build ties with Emperor Liu Xie of Han.”

Xiang Ning thought to herself, “I already know. I’ll mention it first at court and startle him instead!”

She recalled the “Dispatch from the Thatched Cottage” she’d just read, with lines such as: “The late emperor did not disdain my lowly status, but thrice visited my humble hut to consult me on the affairs of the time. Thus moved, I pledged myself to his service…”

The more she pondered it, the more she was moved by the loyalty and integrity the text exuded.

She was especially surprised to learn that her father had had such a connection with Fan Li.

“If he didn’t harbor true loyalty, how could he write with such conviction? But the Fan clan is the foremost noble family in Chu—how could Fan Li have lived in a thatched cottage?”

“Could it be that both my mother and I have wronged him, and he is in fact a loyal subject?”

Unable to restrain herself, Xiang Ning asked, “Chancellor, what’s the story behind the ‘Dispatch from the Thatched Cottage’?”

Fan Li waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, that’s an ancient sage’s work. I merely borrowed it.”

The look of anticipation on Xiang Ning’s face immediately faded.

So she’d been overthinking it?

Whatever goodwill had just begun to form in her heart evaporated in an instant.

She murmured, “A man’s mouth—nothing but lies.”

Fan Li glanced at her, perplexed. Was this boy cursing even himself?

“I suppose I should begin cultivating as well,” Fan Li mused.

The Emperor of Jiajing’s growing ambition had begun to weigh on him.

With long strides, he left the Hall of Illumination, preparing to return home and consult his family on matters of cultivation.

Xiang Ning narrowed her eyes, watching him go, his words still echoing in her mind.

A treacherous chancellor seeking the path of cultivation?

Was he truly serious?

…

Back at the Fan estate, Fan Li immediately summoned his three siblings.

“I wish to begin cultivating. Do you have any advice?” he asked, getting straight to the point.

Fan Ming, Fan Chun, and Fan Yuehua all wore peculiar expressions.

Fan Ming spoke first. “Second Brother, at your birth, the omens of wind, cloud, dragon, and tiger appeared—it was said you were destined for greatness. But for reasons unknown, the omens suddenly vanished, and you were found to be born with a crippled spiritual root, unable to cultivate.”

Fan Chun added, “We’ve always suspected the late emperor feared your natural omens and secretly destroyed your root. But now that he’s gone, there’s no way to learn the truth.”

Fan Yuehua, eyes reddening, said, “Second Brother, one cannot struggle against fate. Your inability to cultivate is a fact. But should you give the word, our Fan family will rise at once, overthrow the Xiang clan, and set you upon the throne!”

Fan Li was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

He only wanted to learn to cultivate—how had the conversation turned to rebellion once again?

So it was his own situation that had sown the seeds of defiance in his family toward the royal house?

He said softly, “Well… what if my spiritual root were restored? Even at my age, could I still start cultivating?”

“Second Brother, let’s not joke about such things. A spiritual root is the foundation of all cultivation. Once destroyed, it cannot be restored—this is common knowledge since the dawn of the world.”

As Fan Ming spoke, he took Fan Li’s pulse.

Yet his expression turned increasingly odd, shifting from awkward embarrassment at being proven wrong to uncontrollable delight.

“Second Brother’s pulse is full and strong, bearing the vigor of dragon and tiger!” Fan Ming exclaimed in joy. “From today, if you train diligently, you’ll never have to bow to anyone again!”

Fan Chun and Fan Yuehua, however, didn’t believe it.

“Big Brother, what have you been drinking today? Was there no peanut snack to go with it?” Fan Chun quipped, but nonetheless checked Fan Li’s pulse himself.

Within seconds, he leapt from the ground.

“It’s the Wind, Cloud, Dragon and Tiger! Second Brother’s root is truly restored? Even that little emperor of the Xiang clan may not compare!”

Fan Yuehua pouted. “Well! Big Brother, Third Brother, you went drinking and didn’t invite me? Next time the noble ladies of the capital go flower viewing, I won’t tell you in advance!”

Yet she too took Fan Li’s pulse.

In an instant, her face changed.

“Second Brother, let’s just rebel! With a spiritual root like yours, it would be a waste not to be emperor! I even have a dragon robe in my chamber, custom-made to your measurements—why not try it on now?”

Fan Li was utterly exasperated.

“In truth, I just want a basic manual on body refinement. If you don’t have one, I’ll go buy one at a bookstore.”

He was already ready to flee.

What kind of family was this?

A whole nest of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang!