It was the ninety-ninth day of Fan Li's stay in Chang'an. For a long period, he had not seen Cao Cao, Liu Bei, or Sun Quan. It was not because these three turned their backs on him after Dong Zhuo's death.

In fact, given the current situation in the great Han, Fan Li's importance only grew. Almost every day, there were envoys from the three families coming to visit Fan Li.

On one hand, they apologized, saying their lords were too busy to pay respects to Lord Jin in person. On the other hand, they presented expensive gifts, proving the three families had never dared to slight him.

Fan Li was very understanding, smilingly accepting everything, and reassuring the envoys each time that he did not mind nor misunderstand Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan's inability to visit him in person. Because he knew the three were truly busy - busy with changing dynasties.

The Fan Family Trade operated across the realm, meaning Fan Li's intelligence network spanned the entire nation.

For instance, in Chang'an City, there were three extremely renowned master tailors who recently received mysterious orders to tailor dragon robes at premium prices.

Although the sources of the three dragon robe orders could not be traced, the measurements for the robes could be found.

"So Cao Cao is that short?"

"Extended sleeves? This set must be for Liu Bei."

"Whoa! Sun Quan's waist is that thick? What has he been eating? I thought it was just cheese buns and milk tea spring rolls. He must have had too much of Counsellor Jiang's tofu dishes."

As Fan Li mocked them, he tore up the papers listing the measurements for the three dragon robe sets. It was time for him to depart as well.

The Weiyang Palace had issued a summons - the Han Emperor wished to see him.

In the past three months, Fan Li had entered the palace many times, but always directly to the Palace of Lasting Joy.

He only now realized that since the great battle, he had not seen the Han Emperor Liu Xie again.

Outside the palace, the sunshine was bright. Yet inside, candles burned brightly as well. It was as if the person within had extremely poor eyesight and needed lamps lit even in broad daylight to see anything.

The excessive illumination made Fan Li squint as he stepped through the palace doors. He saw an elderly figure lying on a bed inside. White hair, white beard, eyes tightly shut, with Princess Chang Le personally attending to him at the bedside.

As Fan Li approached, he was given quite a fright!

This person's skin was withered and lined with deep creases. Several age spots were also visible - he was clearly an ancient, fading elder. But Fan Li immediately recognized that the elderly figure was none other than the Han Emperor Liu Xie!

Just a hundred days ago, he had been in his prime, handsome with refined features and a scholarly bearing. But now?

Fan Li glanced between the Han Emperor and Princess Chang Le, whose expression remained calm.

"He's not dead yet, is he?" Fan Li's mouth moved faster than his brain, blurting out his thoughts unintentionally.

"...No, I am not dead yet," the Han Emperor opened his muddy, clouded eyes. He looked at Fan Li with utter disdain.

"Heh heh." Fan Li scratched his head awkwardly. "Your Majesty is in radiant health. This subject rejoices to see it."

"Which of your eyes sees me in radiant health?" The emperor spoke slowly, shaking his head slightly. "To think I would have to entrust my daughter to the likes of you."

Did that carry the tone of a final entrustment? Fan Li fidgeted uncomfortably. He felt like an illegitimate wildling, while the Han Emperor still put on airs like a protective father-in-law.

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"Can you take good care of my daughter?" The emperor urged in a raspy voice when Fan Li did not respond.

"...Can I?" Fan Li wanted to say 'what does it have to do with me?', but he feared the Imperial Sword of Qin might unsheathe itself.

After staring at Fan Li for a long while, the Han Emperor finally let out a deep sigh. "The Jiajing Emperor will unify the realm sooner or later. When the Ming armies arrive at our city gates, how will you resist them? What will become of my daughter then?"

"The Chu-Han alliance is as firm as iron. Combined, the two nations' strength will make the Jiajing Emperor dare not act rashly," Fan Li recited the standard answer.

"The Chu-Han alliance?" The Han Emperor laughed as if he had heard a joke. "What if the great Han no longer exists? What then?"

Was this an old father-in-law's final test?

Why was he only speaking harsh truths?

Fan Li suddenly realized that giving any more pointless, perfunctory responses would not only fail to appease the Han Emperor, but make him lose respect for Fan Li instead.

He turned solemn. "Even without the great Han, I am still a steadfast ally to Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan."

The Han Emperor's gaze finally changed. "I knew it - you and those three...are profiteers feeding from the same trough."

As a treacherous minister, Fan Li had never been insulted so directly by an emperor before. Well, that was a novel experience.

"What do you intend for my precious grandchild?" The emperor asked sternly again. "From what I know, your Fan Family holds the hereditary Marquis of Li Yang title, yet in this generation it will be inherited by your elder brother Fan Ming, who has no heir?"

Fan Li made an odd expression. "My elder brother will have children eventually. The Marquis of Li Yang title will definitely pass to his legitimate son."

"What? My dear grandson of imperial bloodline cannot even compare to your brother's son?" The emperor was about to fly into a rage when Fan Li's next words stopped him.

"Is the Crown Prince of Chu truly inferior to the rank of a hereditary marquis?"

The Han Emperor's mouth fell open. He stared blankly for a long while before finally pointing at Fan Li's nose, erupting into furious cursing!

"I had almost forgotten! You are a treacherous minister, just like that villain Dong Zhuo! Stealing from the dragon to groom the phoenix...how dare you speak of such treachery! The founding Chu King labored immensely to establish his nation. Yet you stole the sacred artifacts..." The Han Emperor ranted and raved endlessly, spraying Fan Li's face with spittle.

Fan Li wiped his face and asked, "So by Your Majesty's logic, we should not accept the Crown Prince of Chu position?"

"You dare refuse?" The emperor glared furiously at Fan Li.

Ah, wait... So why were you cursing me then?

Fan Li dared not voice his thoughts. The elderly always wanted to save face.

"Does Your Majesty have any other matters? If not, this subject shall take his leave and not disturb your rest further." Fan Li became subservient. After speaking, he realized no one was responding to him.

The Han Emperor held Princess Chang Le's hand, the father and daughter communicating with their eyes.

Fan Li did not dare make another sound, fearing he might provoke the old man's anger again. He stood awkwardly by the dragon bed, feeling utterly out of place in this portrayal of filial piety.

After a long while, the Han Emperor finally spoke again. "I have used these hundred days of remaining life to slightly repay the suffering of the common people. Chang Le, I have not been a good father. What I can leave you...is still too little in the end."

Princess Chang Le smiled but did not respond.

"Fan Li."

"Ah...present," Fan Li instinctively answered upon hearing the emperor call his name.

"Tonight, I permit you to stay the night in the Palace of Lasting Joy."

Just as Fan Li was about to decline, he met the emperor's brook-no-refusal gaze. "...This subject obeys your command." Fan Li could only agree.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he voiced his assent, the princess stood and pulled him towards the exit of the palace hall.

Soon, the two arrived at the Palace of Lasting Joy. Fan Li could not help but ask, "What did your imperial father mean by that?"

"Nothing much." The princess waved her hand, signaling the palace maids and eunuchs to all leave.

The palace doors closed tightly, even the windows shut. The lingering sunset rays filtered through the door and window cracks, bathing the princess's splendid robes in radiance.

In the next moment, those robes slipped to the floor. Before Fan Li's eyes appeared the most beautiful sight of his life. Princess Chang Le's exquisite face held an ethereal, celestial purity.

"Every time you visit the Palace of Lasting Joy, my father knows you and I only idly converse. My father wishes for harmony between husband and wife. Just this one night will suffice...to bring my father joy..." The princess's tone was gentle, yet her actions shockingly forceful.

Against a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, he had no ability to resist.

The night was painful and endless. Painful because of his involuntary role. Endless because he did not have a moment's respite.

Fan Li yearned for it to end, occasionally hoping his attempts to fight back might succeed. But alas, even until the first rays of dawn filtered through the window cracks, he remained the loser.

Suddenly, a solemn, weighty tolling of bells resounded from the Weiyang Palace.

Princess Chang Le froze, utterly silent.

Fan Li fell quiet as well. Even as a teardrop fell upon his cheek, he did not wipe it away.

After a long while, the princess finally spoke. "My father...has passed away..."