"The Son of Heaven's aura!" Lü Chunqiu blurted out, but what shocked him even more was the vast and majestic aura cultivation contained within this Son of Heaven aura.
Lü Chunqiu's forehead was instantly beaded with cold sweat. "This imperial edict was sent from the Great Chu's travelling palace, so it was written by the Chu Emperor? That young Emperor seemingly has average and unremarkable cultivation at the early Nascent Soul Realm. But in truth, he is actually a grandmaster of Confucianism and Taoism that even I failed to see through?"
"With this true dragon, Great Chu will prosper for at least five hundred years!" Lü Chunqiu swiftly drew his conclusion, his gaze greedily falling upon the imperial edict once more.
As a cultivator of Confucianism and Taoism, having the fortune to witness the calligraphy of the contemporary Son of Heaven who had reached grand mastery, was truly an honor!
"A slash?"
He saw clearly that apart from the Great Chu Nation's Jade Seal's imprint, the only ink mark on the entire imperial edict was a single slash.
"Daddy, what does this imperial edict mean? It's as if not a single word was fully written?" Lü Fubao curiously asked.
Lü Chunqiu, the foremost Confucian in all the land. With his intellect, he naturally understood faster and deeper than Lü Fubao. Almost instantly, he guessed the answer, but he still had to think it over repeatedly!
Only when he was completely certain his speculations were correct did the gratified, almost grateful smile show on Lü Chunqiu's face.
He slowly said, "Eight words, with one slash."
"Daddy?" Yet Lü Fubao still didn't understand.
Lü Chunqiu stopped talking. He believed he had read and understood everything. This was a gracious favor bestowed by the Chu Emperor unto himself!
The Son of Heaven personally conferred an edict indicating his stance. He was willing to take Lü Fubao as Great Chu's Imperial Noble Consort with just the Lü family nodding in agreement.
With such a grandmaster of Confucianism and Taoism, blessed by the heavens with a bright future, the Emperor was still willing to adopt such an esteemed and humble attitude towards the Lü clan?
Lü Chunqiu could almost see that after he led his clan to swear allegiance to Great Chu, Emperor Xiang Ning would definitely treasure and favor the Lü family without reservation!
"Fan Li did not deceive this Marquis." Lü Chunqiu muttered as if to himself.
Great Chu's kindness towards the Lü clan would definitely exceed Emperor Jiajing's by more than a hundred times!
And in person, the Chu Emperor definitely would not lose to the Great Ming's Emperor Jiajing!
The gaze Lü Chunqiu regarded the imperial edict with gradually turned from appreciation into reverence.
"This subject, Marquis Wenxin Lü Chunqiu, receives the decree and gives thanks."
***
"Ding!"
"Detected Lü Chunqiu's change in attitude, deciding to side with Great Chu."
"In view of Lü Chunqiu's esteem and reverence towards the imperial edict's calligraphy and inkwork, which represents his reverence towards the Host, the System acknowledges the Host for completing the mission [Arms stretched wide], which is cultivating the Host's own influence beyond Great Chu's borders."
"Congratulations Host for obtaining the mission reward, one [Substitute Doll]."
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Fan Li was accompanying Xiang Ning for her meal. Or rather, the imperial cuisine was truly delicious, so he decided to freeload a meal today.
Fan Li who was slicing venison was suddenly aware of an additional item in his hand. It was the Substitute Doll delivered by the System as a reward.
He blanked out for a bit before swiftly keeping it inside his sleeve.
"What is Duke Jin hiding? Let me take a look!" Xiang Ning clearly saw that it was an exquisitely stitched cute doll.
‘Why would Fan Li carry such an item on his person? Could it be a gift from some woman to him?’ Once she thought of this, a surge of stubbornness welled up within Xiang Ning. She absolutely must take a look at that doll!
"No." Fan Li glared at Xiang Ning displeasedly.
Was this woman looking to be disciplined recently? She even dared to covet his private belongings?
"Oh? What is Duke Jin hiding that cannot be shown? Earlier I thought Duke Jin was candid and upright, a true man."
Xiang Ning truly wasn't adept at verbal spars. Despite wracking her brains for a provocation, all she earned was another of Fan Li's white-eyed stares.
"Hand it over to Us!"
A woman's reason and EQ would instantly drop to zero when angered and humiliated, only impulse occupying her mind. She actually forgot how Fan Li concealed the heavens with one hand. She pounced at Fan Li desperately like her life depended on it!
The attendant guards stationed all around the palace saw this and were greatly shocked.
"Not good! Her Majesty wants to assassinate Duke Jin!"
They were all elites of the Imperial Guards. Their first loyalty belonged to Fan Li before the Chu Emperor.
Just when the guards were about to unsheathe their swords, they saw Xiang Ning pounce before Fan Li, only tugging at his sleeve.
"Just let me see, just one look!"
The guards had a false alarm. But Fan Li was extremely vexed.
‘Fuck, something's greatly wrong with this woman!’ He was so angry he exerted strength through both feet, wanting to break free of Xiang Ning. But how could a Nascent Soul cultivator's strength be something Fan Li could struggle free of?
Riiiip!!!
The sound of torn fabric. Fan Li's left sleeve was truly ripped apart.
Something dropped out from the tear, falling to the ground and smashing into the hard bluestone flooring, leaving a small crater.
"Uh..." Fan Li stared dumbfoundedly at the object on the ground.
The Substitute Doll was still hidden in his right sleeve. But what had fallen to the ground was unexpectedly a Nation's Jade Seal.
And not Great Chu's Xiang clan's Nation Seal, but his own, Fan Li's!
Xiang Ning was also stunned silly. "What is this thing? It looks very similar to my Nation's Jade Seal? This seal is brand new, definitely not mine.
Oh... This is the traitor's own Nation's Jade Seal... I discovered the traitor's own Nation's Jade Seal on his person...
Fan Li has a seal, Fan Li wants to rebel?
Hahahahahahahahahaha, I'm done for!
Ancestors of Great Chu, your son is fated to be the last emperor of the Xiang clan. Hahahaha, wuwuwuwuuuu... sobs"
Xiang Ning's EQ and IQ finally came back online.
She thought of the Fan clan's absolute control over Great Chu. She thought of Fan Li's power overshadowing the royal court. She even thought of how all the guards in the travelling palace were from the Imperial Guards.
Should she kneel and kowtow to Fan Li now? Would that preserve her little life?
"Cough!"
Fan Li gave a light cough, wanting to diffuse the awkward situation, but it only frightened Xiang Ning badly enough for her body to shudder.
Biting the bullet, Fan Li lowered himself and reached out to pick up the Fan clan's Nation Seal.
"Your Majesty, take a look. This is only a personal seal of mine... A private seal, that's all. Right?"
"Right..." Xiang Ning answered dryly.
Hmph!
A private seal?
One personally inscribed with the characters "Mandate granted by Heaven, eternal longevity"?
You dare trick me for being unlearned?
Fan Li nonchalantly kept the jade seal up his sleeve as if nothing had happened. Then he solemnly said, "Your Majesty, after the three emperors' conference concludes, we can return to the country for preparations to welcome and marry the Empress, as well as the grand ceremony to confer the title of Imperial Noble Consort."
"Lü Chunqiu agreed?" Xiang Ning had a strange look on her face.
Where did this guy get his confidence from?
Did he truly believe that everything he planned would succeed?
Lü Clan had remained neutral for thousands of years. How could it be so easily persuaded?
While she pondered this, a eunuch entered the hall, holding a letter respectfully.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Marquis Wenxin Lü Chunqiu has sent the birth chart of his daughter, Lü Fubao."
Xiang Ning: "???"
She incredulously took the letter, unfolded it, and read a few lines of delicate calligraphy. The handwriting was calm and conveyed a sense of respect and humility.
"Your servant, Lü Chunqiu, is fortunate to receive Your Majesty's favor. How dare I not think of repaying it and fulfilling the duties of a subject? I now present my daughter, Fubao, and her birth chart is as follows..."
Xiang Ning was stupefied.
What surprised her was not any particular peculiarity in Lü Fubao's birth chart but rather the wording of Lü Chunqiu.
"Your servant, Lü Chunqiu?"
Certainly not 'External Minister Lü Chunqiu'?
He still wanted to repay and fulfill the duties of a subject?
Did Lü City truly belong to Great Chu?
"In the presence of ancestors and deities, this descendant has actually expanded our territory..."