"Who? Who was able to easily defeat you?" Fan Li's split soul frowned and asked.
Wu Gang was at the Great Vehicle Realm. Naturally, only someone at the Great Vehicle Realm or stronger could defeat her. However, how could the battle be so quiet without causing any chaos in Great Chu's capital?
Even Fan Li didn't know about it?
Unwillingness showed in Wu Gang's eyes. She bit her lip and said weakly, "Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua, Jian, Jian..."
Fan Li's split soul: "What does that mean?"
"The six Sage Rulers of the Brahma Sound Pure Land's names refer to their areas of expertise and secret arts. Qin for zither, Qi for chess, Shu for books, Hua for painting, Jian and Jian for sword and arrow."
Fan Li’s split soul suddenly stood up!
An angry expression on his face, fists tightly clenched, he finally couldn't help but yell loudly: "Too excessive!!!"
What transcendental pure land? Cultivation holy land?
It was all bullshit!
It hasn’t even been that long!
How could the Brahma Sound Pure Land repeatedly oppose him so many times?
Now they sent six Sage Rulers at once, even kidnapping Great Chu’s Emperor. Was the Brahma Sound Pure Land trying to completely tear apart ties with the mortal realms’ dynasties?
"Wu Gang, you’ve suffered..."
Fan Li didn’t blame Wu Gang. She was there under his orders to protect Xiang Ning. Having to suddenly face six Sage Rulers, even Wu Gang was in danger of perishing in such peril.
Wu Gang smiled bitterly and shook her head, "Master, one of the Book Sage Rulers told me to pass on a message. The Brahma Sound Pure Land will never oppose Great Chu. They just favor Xiang Ning's outstanding talents and deep wisdom roots, having an affinity with the Pure Land. So they decided to accept her as a disciple and bring her back to the Pure Land for guidance."
"Book Sage Ruler?!"
Hearing the title 'Book', Fan Li immediately thought of a certain person.
"She is also called Golden Virtue Sage Ruler. She specializes in Confucianism and Taoism. Her lifebound treasure is a divine book called Female Virtues. She wants to accept Xiang Ning as a disciple."
A cold light flashed through Fan Li's eyes. As expected, it was the Golden Virtue Sage Ruler again!
"Among the six visiting Sage Rulers, the Golden Virtue Sage Ruler has the weakest cultivation and combat strength."
"The Golden Virtue Sage Ruler also said Great Chu cannot be without a lord for even one day. The Brahma Sound Pure Land suggests the Empress Dowager choose a new emperor to ascend the throne. No matter who the Empress Dowager recommends, the Brahma Sound Pure Land will fully support Great Chu's new lord."
The Brahma Sound Pure Land sounded polite on the surface, but they were actually interfering in Great Chu’s imperial succession. This was a headlining major issue of the dynasty!
Normally, no dynasty would accept such blatant interference either!
However...
Fan Li knew that behind the scenes, Empress Dowager Li would definitely happily accept the Pure Land’s stance. After all, the empress dowager and the Pure Land had been intimately communicating for some time now, not just one or two days.
"An imperial decree arrives!"
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Sure enough, just as he was thinking, he heard a palace eunuch come to deliver an imperial decree.
The Fan clan was Great Chu’s number one aristocratic family. In the past, the palace eunuchs didn’t dare to yell loudly in the Fan manor unless they were drunk or tired of living.
Hearing the voice, Fan Li recognized the visitor wasn’t anyone else. It was the most powerful expert of the Inner Palace, the Unity Realm’s Chen Gonggong!
For this old eunuch to personally deliver the decree, it was clearly not a good sign.
"Can you handle that old eunuch in your injured state?" Fan Li asked Wu Gang.
Wu Gang didn't hesitate at all and immediately nodded. "One strike defeat."
As expected of a dragon at the Great Vehicle Realm. Even while injured, she could still easily one strike defeat someone at the Unity Realm.
Fan Li felt reassured and immediately strode out of the cultivation chamber, leaving his other split body to continue cultivating.
The Fan manor's main hall.
Chen Gonggong held an imperial decree, his expression arrogant.
Previously, Chen Gonggong was unwilling to come to the Fan manor. Even on the rare times he had no choice but to come, he only dared to stand and immediately left after finishing his business without daring to linger.
Yet today, Chen Gonggong was leisurely seated in the prime minister's chair, slowly savoring the fragrant tea personally served by Eldest Master Fan, even eating two candied fruits and honeyed snacks.
"With the entire Brahma Sound Pure Land backing Empress Dowager Li, the Fan clan is finally done for!"
Chen Gonggong had always looked down on others. As both an Empress Dowager confidante and the number one expert of the Inner Palace, in the past, whenever he saw Fan Li, he still had to bow his head low. Now with the Brahma Sound Pure Land clearly backing Empress Dowager Li, Chen Gonggong also felt his backbone grow much straighter.
"Master Fan, this servant only came to deliver an imperial decree. You may receive it now. Why make so much effort to entertain me? Besides, isn't Second Lord Fan not at home? Even if there’s something, you can’t make decisions as the head. It’s better to wait until Second Lord Fan returns before slowly discussing."
Chen Gonggong's mouth was nasty!
First scolding Fan Ming for lacking the ability to be the head of house and make decisions, while also calling Fan Li "Second Lord Fan".
Throughout Great Chu's court, no one had dared to address Fan Li that way before. Previously he was called Imperial Father or Prime Minister. Now he was called Duke Jin, unequalled below the Son of Heaven!
"Second Lord Fan?"
Fan Ming's mouth twitched as he strongly endured the urge to flip out at the old eunuch. Although his cultivation was only at the Divine Transformation Realm, just the obvious and hidden sentries of the Fan manor working together could definitely make Chen Gonggong have a bad end. But Fan Ming endured!
‘Relying on others' power while looking down on people, daring to be arrogant in my Fan manor. There must be changes in the imperial court with petty men rising up. I have to restrain myself and not stir up trouble for my younger brother.’ After making his resolution, Fan Li's smile grew increasingly respectful.
"Chen Gonggong rarely graces this humble abode. I, Fan, can properly fulfill my host duties. How can I dare to neglect Gonggong? Why don't I let my men prepare fine wine and dishes to accompany Gonggong with a drink first?"
Frugal lifestyles were enforced in the imperial palace. Fine things were only in the hands of a few nobles like the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, Empress and Imperial Noble Consort.
Although the number one expert of the Inner Palace, Chen Gonggong was still a servant. Strict rules governed what he ate, wore and used.
Hearing Fan Ming offer to treat him to wine and food, the old eunuch was genuinely moved for a moment.
The Fan clan's influence in Great Chu was unmatched. Even a casual reception would surely not lose out to the imperial kitchens.
"Fine, I shall impose on your hospitality for a meal..." Chen Gonggong was complacent, not even bothering with polite refusals.
He had just wanted to ask what dishes and wine Fan Ming prepared today. Were there any rare delicacies like dragon liver and phoenix marrow? At least there should be bear paws, bird nests, shark fins and sea cucumbers to treat guests right?
"I rushed back to the capital upon hearing the imperial decree. What is going on?"
A voice extremely familiar to Great Chu's ministers suddenly rang out. Chen Gonggong also instinctively shot to his feet. To his shock, he discovered Fan Li had actually entered from outside, even followed by the guardian beast Wu Gang!
"Second Lo... Duke Jin, why did you return so quickly?" Chen Gonggong couldn't help but ask.
He was somewhat nervous. The nature of servants was to bully the weak in the absence of their master, and it was quite simple to take advantage of other members of the Fan clan while Fan Li was away.
But now that Fan Li had returned, despite the Pure Land’s support for the Empress Dowager, Chancellor Chen, following his old habits, immediately straightened up. He even felt like the Grand Preceptor's chair behind him was a bit too hot.
Fan Li's duplicate stood before the old eunuch, glancing at the decree in his hand and then at the chair where the old eunuch had just sat. This chair was meticulously carved by a master woodcarver and was quite expensive; only Fan Li and Fan Ming would usually sit on it.
"Elder brother, send this chair to the kitchen and burn it for firewood. This tea set, smash it in the backyard and bury it in the soil!"
Fan Li's voice was cold, cutting through Chancellor Chen like a knife, leaving him no face at all.