World's First Traitor System (444)

Chapter 444 - A Marriage Proposal

When the officials heard Empress Dowager Li finish speaking, the last shred of hope vanished from their hearts.

They finally understood that the emperor they had eagerly awaited was, in fact, a woman disguised as a man. Uncertainty and bewilderment filled them. Although they resisted Xiang Chong and Empress Dowager Li inwardly, the current situation left them unable to utter a single word of rebuttal.

A female emperor? Who could fail to think of Yao Guang of Great Ci? The image of that female emperor kneeling in surrender to Emperor Jiajing remained fresh in their memories! Great Ci had already fallen. For Great Chu to enthrone another female emperor, wasn't that an omen of destruction?

"Heh?" Seeing the officials thoroughly cowed, Empress Dowager Li felt a surge of satisfaction, her confidence growing. She thought privately, Bringing things to this state today was my mistake for not winning over Fan Li back then. In truth, if we hadn't made an enemy of Fan Li, Chong'er and I wouldn't be in such a predicament.

Having reasoned this out, Empress Dowager Li immediately had an idea. She announced loudly, "Duke Jin! I have something to say to you!"

Fan Li's gaze rested lightly on the Empress Dowager. This woman possessed considerable cunning. Back then, she had lured Sage Ruler Blood Phoenix, forcing him into a deadly confrontation with the Brahma Sound Pure Land.

He had faced several perilous situations and even nearly died under Han Yue's sword. It was also because of Empress Dowager Li that Xiang Chong, despite not being of the former Emperor's direct bloodline, had illegitimately occupied the throne of Great Chu for many years.

"Speak. This Duke is listening," Fan Li replied. His condescending posture made no attempt to hide his arrogance and dominance.

Facing two hundred thousand Garrison Army soldiers, Empress Dowager Li dared not express her anger. She forced a smile and said, "Duke Jin, for the sake of Great Chu's realm, and even more for the common people, I have a perfect solution that could resolve today's conflict. I wonder if Duke Jin is willing to hear it?"

Noble goals, righteous justifications. Almost no one present believed Empress Dowager Li truly considered the realm or the common people. Yet, it was difficult to simply silence her.

"Fine," Fan Li conceded. "This Duke is listening." A cold sneer flashed across his face, gone in an instant.

Empress Dowager Li didn't notice and immediately launched into her eloquent speech. "I humbly believe that who actually serves as the Emperor of Great Chu is not the most crucial matter. In truth, the world knows that you, Duke Jin, are Great Chu's pillar supporting the heavens, the beam spanning the seas. As long as the court's affairs are presided over by you, Duke Jin, Great Chu's industries will surely flourish, and the nation's fortune will prosper!"

Empress Dowager Li openly flattered Fan Li, truly opening the eyes of the civil and military officials! Regardless of the outcome today, Fan Li's power, capable of making an Empress Dowager grovel, was enough to cement his image as a treacherous minister far surpassing Dong Zhuo or Yan Song! The officials also vaguely guessed what the Empress Dowager's supposed brilliant plan entailed, though they found it somewhat incredible.

Empress Dowager Li continued, "My meaning is that Chong'er should issue a decree, granting Duke Jin and his descendants hereditary succession to the titles and crucial positions of Duke Jin, Prime Minister, and Grand Marshal of Great Chu's armed forces, without fail."

"The Xiang family's realm can only prosper for generations if it is assisted by Duke Jin's line, generation after generation."

The officials were utterly shocked! What a grand gesture! Empress Dowager Li was clearly trying to forcefully win Fan Li over, even if it meant humbling herself and disregarding royal decorum?

Previously, the Fan clan had controlled Great Chu's military and political power for generations, but ultimately lacked legal justification. Many believed that the Fan clan would eventually decline. As the saying went, 'After your song ends, I take the stage'; new aristocratic families and powerful ministers would inevitably replace the Fan clan. But now, the bargaining chip Empress Dowager Li presented was one that would legally cement the Fan clan's position entirely!

If this truly came to pass, then in Great Chu hereafter, the Xiang clan would be the divinely ordained imperial family, and the Fan clan would be the divinely ordained family of ministers and generals. Most critically, if this imperial decree were issued by Xiang Chong, it would signify Fan Li's recognition of Xiang Chong's imperial position. Besides the grand gesture, it was also a clever calculation!

"Oh?" After hearing Empress Dowager Li finish, even Fan Li couldn't help but give her a second glance. He said blandly, "The Empress Dowager is wise. This Duke is impressed." However, his tone was far too flat, clearly showing he was unmoved.

Empress Dowager Li was not discouraged. She had anticipated this. The power of minister and general was something Fan Li already possessed; adding official recognition was merely icing on the cake, insufficient to sway him.

"Besides this, I have another great gift, one I believe Duke Jin will surely be willing to accept."

"Empress Dowager, please speak."

Empress Dowager Li's gaze shifted to Xiang Ning, a flicker of venom flashing in her phoenix eyes for an instant. This unfilial daughter!

"Duke Jin is already thirty, yet still unmarried," she declared. "Xiang Ning is the pearl in my palm, the sole bloodline of the former Emperor. If I were to offer her hand in marriage to Duke Jin, I wonder if Duke Jin would accept?"

These words sent shockwaves through the entire assembly! Civil and military officials whispered amongst themselves, a commotion rippling through the ranks.

Even Fan Li hadn't anticipated Empress Dowager Li could devise such a plan. She was clearly retreating to advance, constantly highlighting Xiang Ning's identity as a woman, making it sink deeper into people's minds and pushing her further away from the throne of Great Chu!

On one hand, she consolidated Xiang Chong's position; on the other, she ensured Xiang Ning could never claim the throne.

"Mother!!!" Atop the dragon carriage, Xiang Ning was utterly furious. She didn't understand. Both were children she had carried for ten months; why did Empress Dowager Li show such blatant favoritism? Before the civil and military officials, she, dressed in a dragon robe, returning in a dragon carriage, was being used like a piece of merchandise!?

As for marrying Fan Li? Her heart pounded wildly, feeling as if it had leaped into her throat. Fan Li, he'd better not foolishly agree to Mother's proposal! she thought frantically. Important matters come first; matters of the heart should be set aside for now. Later, slowly...

One moment Xiang Ning was fuming at the Empress Dowager's scheming, the next she was imagining herself marrying into the Fan mansion with a grand procession, and then she worried Fan Li would be deceived.

Suddenly! She noticed Fan Li looking at her with great interest. Their eyes met, and she clearly felt the clarity in the man's gaze, utterly untouched by greed or lust for power.

"Your Majesty?" Fan Li found the situation genuinely amusing. He took a few steps forward, approaching the dragon carriage, and leaned closer to Xiang Ning, lowering his voice. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will not be fooled. Your Majesty's marriage is entirely for you to decide."

Fan Li's intention was good; he wanted to encourage Xiang Ning and give her courage. But men never truly understand where a woman's attention lies.

My marriage is for me to decide? she thought. Does Fan Li mean I don't have to marry into the Fan mansion, but rather have him enter the imperial palace? Marry into the family? Could there be such a good thing?

Xiang Ning's bright, dark eyes stared fixedly at Fan Li, a spark of eagerness flickering within them.

Fan Li was stunned. "Your Majesty?" he asked. "What are you thinking? Wipe your mouth; let's handle the proper business first."

Xiang Ning snapped back to reality and subconsciously went to wipe the corner of her mouth. But, there was no drool; Fan Li had clearly been teasing her. She glared resentfully at Fan Li, who wore a cheeky grin, looking utterly deserving of a beating. Of course, if Fan Li knew what Xiang Ning had just been thinking, he probably wouldn't be smiling.

"Duke Jin, regarding my proposal, what is your intention?" Empress Dowager Li had exhausted her schemes, yet seeing Fan Li only engaging in 'playful banter' with Xiang Ning, she felt extremely uneasy. She sensed she had a chance. A woman's intuition had long told her something unclear existed between Fan Li and Xiang Ning. Now, it seemed she was right!