Become Emperor?
A peculiar expression settled upon Fan Li's face. He didn't answer Qing Qiu immediately. He waited instead for the system to react. But the Traitor System remained silent.
Fan Li had expected at least a selection mission. Perhaps "Accept Yao Guang's offer, seize the Chu artifact, reward: XXX," or "Reject Yao Guang's offer, remain a loyal subject, reward: XXX."
But there was nothing.
"System," Fan Li called out mentally.
"I am here, Host."
"...Never mind."
After confirming the system was still functioning and hadn't issued any missions, a new suspicion bloomed within Fan Li.
A lie.
Had Yao Guang truly instructed Qing Qiu to offer him the throne? Or was it all a carefully crafted deception, a trap to lure him into agreeing to accompany Bai Shijiu, the Sage Ruler of Chess, to this "Southern Nest?"
Fan Li stared intently at Qing Qiu, trying to see through her, to discern whether she was complicit in the lie or merely a pawn in Yao Guang's game.
"Well? Do you agree?" Qing Qiu pressed.
Fan Li smiled wryly.
Qing Qiu's demeanor didn't resemble that of a schemer. She was too straightforward.
If this was a ruse, a true deceiver wouldn't urge him to decide so hastily; it would only reveal her impatience. But Qing Qiu's reaction was too calm.
She was just a messenger, relaying Yao Guang's words, then waiting to deliver his response. No more, no less. She wasn't the architect of this scheme; she was a tool.
"Qing Qiu," Fan Li countered, "do you want me to agree?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Qing Qiu nodded.
"Yes, I do."
"Fan Li, if you become the Chu Emperor, Elder Sister will no longer harbor any ill will towards you. Great Ci and Great Chu will coexist peacefully, forever."
Fan Li laughed.
Peacefully coexist?
Even if everything went smoothly, even if the Five Kingdoms alliance succeeded in defeating the Great Ming, did Yao Guang truly believe she wouldn't try to unify the land under her rule? When that day came, Great Ci and Great Chu would inevitably clash.
But in Qing Qiu's blunt words, he also sensed her concern for him. She wanted him to live.
"And what if Yao Guang lied? What if she still intends to harm me? What will you do then, Qing Qiu?" Fan Li asked. "Will you save me, or assist Yao Guang in killing me?"
Qing Qiu looked puzzled.
"Fan Li, your question is invalid."
"The Brahma Sound Pure Land… no, the Great Ci Dynasty represents justice and righteousness. Every life is precious. The Great Ci Dynasty would never kill an innocent person."
It seemed Qing Qiu was still struggling to adapt to the Pure Land's transformation into the Great Ci Dynasty. Every time she mentioned the new dynasty, she unconsciously frowned, as if she abhorred the very idea of the Pure Land establishing a nation.
Fan Li chuckled. "I was merely posing a hypothetical situation. If it truly occurred, what would you do?"
Qing Qiu paused, actually contemplating his question seriously. Gradually, her face contorted with doubt, frustration, and anguish. Under the influence of these negative emotions, her spiritual energy began to stir.
Eighth-rank Great Vehicle! Her aura was as terrifying as a raging storm, its slightest tremor shattered all one hundred and eight plates upon the table!
Fan Li, caught in the crossfire, was showered with porcelain shards.
Thud!
Qing Qiu rose to her feet, her usual calm demeanor replaced by a chilling coldness.
"If Elder Sister lied, then the Brahma Sound Pure Land is nothing but an empty shell. I… I would rather leave the Pure Land."
Fan Li was overjoyed!
This was the answer he had been waiting for!
He couldn't trust a single word from Yao Guang's lips, but Qing Qiu's words? They were as true as gold!
"Alright! I agree to host a product launch in Great Ci. And I agree to accompany Bai Shijiu to the Southern Nest!" Fan Li declared.
The worst-case scenario – he might lose a clone. But in exchange, he could free Qing Qiu from the Pure Land. He couldn't possibly pass up such an opportunity!
Two days later…
Great Ci Dynasty, Chao Ge Palace.
A grand and majestic stage had been erected outside the palace walls. Fan Li, dressed in pure white silk robes, as radiant as snow, stood before a crowd of twenty thousand women.
Several beams of colored light, coalescing from spiritual energy, illuminated him, instantly transforming him into the center of attention.
Behind him, a troupe of musicians from the Chu imperial court played elegant melodies.
"My dear fans!"
"Beauty might arrive late, but it never misses its appointment!"
"New products have arrived. All the products you desire are here!"
"Today, outside the Chao Ge Palace, I won't allow anyone to leave empty-handed!"
Fan Li waved his hand, and staff from the Fan Clan Trading Company began distributing free gifts – the "Great Ci Exclusive Whitening Beauty Set."
The crowd erupted!
For fans, there was nothing more exciting than receiving gifts from their beloved idol.
The Fan Clan Trading Company's fans in Great Ci numbered two hundred thousand, a third of the dynasty's total population!
Fan Li, swelling with pride, declared, "In Great Ci, out of every three women, at least one is a member of our family!"
The crowd shrieked and screamed once more.
At this product launch, Fan Li had given away two hundred thousand free gift sets.
But he received two million pre-orders. The profits from the pre-orders alone exceeded the value of the two hundred thousand gift sets.
Fan Li had successfully imported the 'fandom culture' of his previous world into the Great Ci Dynasty. He even invented a "ranking system."
"My dear fans, I present to you the sales data for our new products in Great Chu, Great Han, Great Wei, Great Wu, and Great Ming."
"Currently, the 'Fan Fan Girls' of Great Chu hold the top spot, followed by Great Wei, Great Han, Great Wu, and Great Ming."
"The 'Fan Fan Girls' of Great Ci have just joined the rankings. Your current sales volume occupies the last position."
Fan Li didn't need to say more. He hadn't explicitly encouraged competition, but his words carried a subtle yet clear message.
Weren't they his fans?
Didn't they yearn to see him?
Alright, he had come.
He had brought his products.
How many were they willing to buy?
The sales data was displayed before them. How could they possibly fall behind other nations?
"The 'Fan Fan Girls' of Great Ci will not lose!"
"This is the first ranking! We cannot be defeated! Let Fan Li see our determination!"
"Every woman present must pre-order at least ten sets. Those who buy less will be automatically removed from the Great Ci 'Fan Fan Girls' family!"
The women who had abandoned their homes and families to join the Great Ci Dynasty weren't all wealthy. Some, struggling financially, asked timidly, "What if we buy ten sets, but we can't use them all? Will they spoil?"
This question didn't even need Fan Li to answer.
An enraged woman beside her, slapped her across the face.
"Haven't you read the product description?"
"There's an expiration date!"
"Ten years! The products last for ten years!"
"Ten beauty sets only cost ten thousand top-grade spirit stones! If you can't even afford that, what makes you think you deserve to be a 'Fan Fan Girl' like me?!"
"Get out!"
The weeping woman covered her face and fled the crowd.
The product launch concluded.
Fan Li hid backstage, wiped the sweat from his brow as he watched the crowd disperse.
Two hundred thousand women. This had been the largest audience he had ever addressed. It was truly terrifying.
Moreover, throughout the event, he had sensed several icy gazes directed at him from the Chao Ge Palace. But for now, he couldn't be bothered with these concerns.
He had successfully completed the product launch. Next, it was time for his mission.
Mission: [A Traitor's True Colors]
Mission Description: Force Xiang Ning to wear women's clothing and accompany him on an outing.
Time Limit: One Month.
"This… This is cruel and unusual punishment…" Fan Li muttered.
He had already inquired about Xiang Ning's current residence. Initially, she had been imprisoned by Sage Ruler Jin De.
But after Xiang Ning had become Qing Qiu's disciple, Yao Guang, out of respect for Qing Qiu, had granted Xiang Ning a small, private courtyard.
The courtyard was simple and unadorned, a reflection of the Brahma Sound Pure Land's austere lifestyle.
Fan Li was curious. Surely a woman who had grown up in the Great Chu imperial palace wouldn't be accustomed to such modest surroundings?
"Fan Li is truly coming here? He's coming to see me?!"
Xiang Ning's movements were restricted to the courtyard. She was rarely allowed to leave. The product launch? Of course, she hadn't been permitted to attend.
"Yes, he will be here shortly," Qing Qiu nodded.
As soon as she finished speaking, a familiar voice came from outside the courtyard.
"Your subject, Fan Li, humbly greets Your Majesty."
A wave of emotion washed over Xiang Ning. It was as if a lifetime had passed since she had last heard his voice.
Heavens!
After such a long wait, despite her imprisonment in the Pure Land, they were finally reunited!
Xiang Ning rushed out of the house and saw Fan Li standing before her, dressed in white robes, rivaling a celestial being.
He hadn't changed at all. His appearance, even his demeanor, were exactly as she remembered them.
Most unmarried women would find him irresistible.
"Traitorous…"
She instinctively blurted out the word.
Fan Li, who had been attempting to maintain a serious expression, froze.
"Ahem, Your Majesty, long time no see."
Xiang Ning also realized her slip of the tongue. They spoke frequently through video calls, but this was indeed a reunion after a long separation.
"...Chancellor, is everything well?"
Compared to the formal title 'Duke Jin,' she preferred to address him as "Chancellor."
Of course, "Traitorous Chancellor" rolled off her tongue most easily.
Their simple greetings, however, were met with awkward silence. They felt restrained, unlike their casual conversations through video calls.
'Damn it! Maybe I'm just a keyboard warrior, brave and outspoken only in the virtual world?' Fan Li thought to himself.
Xiang Ning had similar thoughts.
'What's wrong with me? Why is my face so hot? Why is my heart beating so fast? I've been eagerly anticipating his arrival, but now I can't even look at him?'
The awkward silence stretched on.
Where should he begin?
Fan Li contemplated whether to start by reporting on the Great Chu's political affairs, or perhaps share some personal news, like how Princess Chang Le had seduced him, and how he had married Lu Fubao.
As for the founding of the Great Jin kingdom… That was a secret he couldn't reveal.
Suddenly, Fan Li noticed Xiang Ning was dressed in men's clothing.
His mission!
"Your Majesty."
"Hmm? What is it?"
Fan Li adopted a serious expression, cupped his hands, and said, "Please change your attire."
"Change my attire?" had a double meaning.
It could mean changing clothes, or it could mean going to the toilet.
Xiang Ning stared at him blankly for a moment, puzzled. "You… You want me to change my clothes?"
She glanced down at her attire.
Her Confucian robes were new. They were impeccably clean and of high quality. Surely they were appropriate for any occasion?
"Yes."
Fan Li nodded.
"I've just arrived in Great Ci. I would like to explore the city. Please, Your Majesty, change into women's clothing and accompany me on an outing."
As he spoke, Fan Li unconsciously dug his toes into the ground.
Damn system!
Couldn't it issue some reasonable missions for once?!
Xiang Ning thought she had misheard.
Her face flushed crimson, and she whispered, "Chancellor, surely you're joking? We're in the Great Ci Dynasty. How could I… How could I possibly…"
Fan Li felt a headache coming on.
How could he possibly explain the system mission?
He adopted a stern expression. "I will not repeat myself. Change your attire immediately!"
Xiang Ning was startled.
The familiar feeling of being bullied by the Traitorous Chancellor returned.
"I… I'll change. Please don't be angry."
…
Fan Li, Xiang Ning, and Qing Qiu walked side by side. Fan Li looked elegant as a fairy . Qing Qiu, in her green robes, resembled a mountain spirit. Xiang Ning, in a pink dress, was the most radiant and captivating.
'Ah! Ah! Ah!' Xiang Ning screamed inwardly.
She had only dared to wear the pink dresses Qing Qiu had purchased for her in the privacy of her courtyard. Now, she was forced to wear one in public?
Although the Great Ci Dynasty's territory was small, it still had a population of six or seven hundred thousand.
She was the Emperor of Great Chu, and she was parading around in women's clothing?
Xiang Ning lowered her head, wishing she could hide her face with her hands. She had to be discreet!
But with Fan Li, the "superstar" adored by countless "Fan Fan Girls," their every move attracted attention. Even with Qing Qiu's status as a Sage Ruler, preventing the citizens from approaching, they were still the center of attention.
Xiang Ning could sense countless women staring at her with envy, jealousy, even hatred. If looks could kill, she would have been ripped apart a thousand times over.
'When can we go back?' she thought miserably.
'When will this mission end?' Fan Li wondered.
He felt like a vagrant, aimlessly wandering the streets with two women.
He glanced at Xiang Ning. She resembled an ostrich, wishing she could bury her head in the sand.
Fan Li suddenly had an idea. Surely this wouldn't be considered exploiting a loophole in the system, would it?
He rummaged through his storage box, retrieving a beautifully crafted veil.
It was a prototype for a new line of sun protection products the Fan Clan Trading Company was developing.
Woven by a ninth-rank Foundation Building seamstress, using ice silk and jade, it was a limited edition, priced at 66,666 top-grade spirit stones – a price several thousand times its cost.
It was a luxury product, targeting the highest echelons of society.
"Your Majesty."
"...Yes?" Xiang Ning looked up shyly.
"Please wear this." Fan Li handed her the sun-protection veil.
Initially puzzled, Xiang Ning's eyes lit up as she recognized the veil's beauty.
"Is this… a veil? A gift for me?"
A gift?
Fan Li realized, with a jolt of surprise, that he had come empty-handed.
Unfazed, he said nonchalantly, "Indeed. It's a gift from me. A limited edition, high-end sun-protection veil, produced by the Fan Clan Trading Company.
This product hasn't been released to the market yet. You are the first woman in the world to own one."
Xiang Ning's heart fluttered with excitement. Limited edition? High-end? It sounded luxurious. And she was the first to possess it. She was touched!
Xiang Ning gracefully donned the veil, feeling the ice silk caress her skin, cool and soothing.
"Chancellor, how do I look?"
She clearly considered the veil a decorative accessory and couldn't resist asking.
Fan Li studied her carefully. "Excellent! It completely obscures Your Majesty's face! No one can recognize you."
Xiang Ning: "…"
So, it was a mask?
…
"Ding!"
"Congratulations, Host! You have completed the mission [A Traitor's True Colors]."
There were no additional rewards. The system had already granted early access to the [Encyclopedia] function.
Fan Li felt a wave of relief, quickly saying, "Thank you for your time, Your Majesty. We should return now."
"Hmm?"
Wearing the veil had given Xiang Ning a sense of freedom, as if a caged bird had finally been released.
She had gradually begun to enjoy wandering the streets of Great Ci. But now, Fan Li wanted her to go back to her solitary confinement in that cold and dreary courtyard?
"Fan Li, are you returning to the Great Chu?" she asked softly.
She was unaware that once this task was over, he would be departing for his next destination – the Southern Nest.
But what was the Southern Nest?
Where was it located?
Fan Li had never heard of such a place. He had investigated thoroughly, but he couldn't find any mention of it in the records of any nation.
Was it an ancient location, its name lost to time?
He had even consulted ancient texts, but they had yielded nothing.
Fan Li could only sigh. Time was a vast and flowing river. Who could possibly know where its currents had shifted or dried up throughout history?
Perhaps the records of the Southern Nest had been lost to the ravages of time.
They returned to Xiang Ning's courtyard.
"I'll wait outside." Qing Qiu left Fan Li and Xiang Ning alone within the house. She didn't bother to explain what she was waiting for.
Inside, the two stared at each other awkwardly.
Xiang Ning had countless things to say but couldn't find the right words.
Finally, she spoke.
"Why… Why are you here?"
The Great Chu and the Great Ci Dynasty were allies, but she knew that Fan Li and Yao Guang were enemies.
Was a simple product launch truly enough to entice him to risk his life by entering the Great Ci Dynasty?
She was an Emperor, not a fool. She sensed something was amiss.
Fan Li hesitated for a moment, then decided to be honest.
"I agreed to accompany Bai Shijiu to a place called the Southern Nest. In exchange, Yao Guang promised to convince Xiang Chong to abdicate the throne and relinquish it to me."
"What?!"
Xiang Ning's face paled with shock.
But seeing Fan Li's calm demeanor, she quickly regained her composure.
She knew that with the Fan Clan's power and influence, they could have seized the Chu throne long ago.
Why would Fan Li wait until now?
"Is there a scheme afoot?" she asked.
Fan Li nodded. "I might die in the Southern Nest."
"You can't go!" Xiang Ning exclaimed urgently.
But Fan Li countered, "Your Majesty, this is a rare opportunity."
They shared an unspoken understanding.
They didn't need to elaborate on sensitive matters; a few simple words were enough.
Fan Li had never abandoned his mission to rescue her. And she had been waiting patiently for him to return.
This "rare opportunity" was a chance to free her from the Great Ci Dynasty. But he couldn't simply barge in and demand her release.
The Great Ci Dynasty had the most Great Vehicle realm cultivators in the world. He had to weaken Great Ci before he could rescue Xiang Ning.
He could negotiate with Yao Guang once her power was diminished, or he could launch a direct assault on the Pure Land. But both options required him to weaken Great Ci first.
Xue Feng's death had been an unexpected boon. And planting a heart demon within Bai Shijiu had been an even greater stroke of luck.
Diao Chan was now an infant under his care in the Great Ming. Han Yue was growing closer to him, and it seemed her relationship with Yao Guang had soured.
Thus, only Yao Guang, Qing Qiu, Miaoyin, Ah Chang, Xue Susu, and Jin De remained as Great Ci's top fighting force.
Fan Li's next step was to win over Qing Qiu!
"Fan Li."
"Yes?"
"…If you can rescue me, I… I'll give you anything you desire. Anything, aside from the Chu throne."
Fan Li assumed she was finished speaking, about to offer some polite words of gratitude, when Xiang Ning continued softly.
"But if my freedom comes at the cost of your life… I would rather remain imprisoned here forever."
…
"Grand Secretary!"
"If that's how the Junior Grand Secretary intends to govern Yunzhou City, I would rather remain imprisoned! I will not lead the army!"
Hu Zongxian had knelt in the Yan Residence for days. Finally, he was granted an audience with Grand Secretary Yan Song. The old man no longer feigned sleep, and Yan Shifan was nowhere to be seen.
Yan Shifan wasn't even in the capital. The Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge had a new courtesan, and he was eager to be the first to enjoy her company.
"Ruzhen."
The Grand Secretary's voice, as raspy as the creaking of a coffin lid, echoed through the hall.
"Your subject is here."
Hu Zongxian knelt before the old man, resembling a child receiving his father's instruction.
But the Grand Secretary only uttered few words.
"The Ming… lacks funds."
Hu Zongxian was stunned.
The Great Ming lacked funds?
It was true. The dynasty was indeed struggling financially.
Emperor Jiajing, "nourished by the nation," spent lavishly on Daoist rituals, spirit roots, and countless other treasures, draining the treasury.
But he wasn't the only one responsible.
Yan Shifan, perhaps even more extravagant than the Emperor, followed closely behind.
There was a saying in the Ming court: "The father hoards power, the son hoards wealth."
It referred to the Yan family.
Perhaps Yan Song himself, his career a late bloomer, his years numbered, had no desire for wealth. He simply sought to please the Emperor, to maintain his position as Grand Secretary, and prevent Xu Jie from usurping him.
But Yan Shifan, in his prime, couldn't possibly resist the allure of luxury and indulgence.
The Great Ming Dynasty, with these two insatiable spenders, resembled a bottomless pit, swallowing any amount of wealth.
The Grand Secretary, as if worried that Hu Zongxian hadn't understood, repeated his words in a raspy voice: "The Ming… lacks funds."
Those words were all he offered before dismissing Hu Zongxian.
The disgraced Grand Coordinator, overwhelmed with despair, stumbled out of the Yan Residence with a broken spitrit.
He had endured Yan Shifan's insults for days, forcing himself to swallow his pride. But today, the Grand Secretary's words had shattered his last remaining hope.
It seemed he had no choice but to lead the army, to retake Yunzhou City.
But for what?
To return the citizens of Yunzhou to a Great Ming where their government offices were occupied by merchants, their pastureland transformed into private fields?
"To serve the Ming… is to harm the people…"
Hu Zongxian mumbled the words as he walked aimlessly. Suddenly, a figure blocked his path.
Hu Zongxian shook off his despair and sharpened his gaze. He looked at the man before him, dressed in plain clothes. He didn't recognize him.
"Step aside. I am an official," he said coldly.
This man was none other than Jing Wudi.
He bowed deeply and spoke in a calm, steady voice, "Grand Coordinator Hu, Fan Li, the Emperor of Great Jin, requests an audience with you."