"Tame...Black Thunder?" Fan Li was somewhat surprised.
That thing still exists? Moreover, it actually turned into a dragon? He was lost in thought when he realized the Empress Dowager had walked up to him.
"Prime Minister, I've heard that you saved His Majesty today? Truly a great achievement."
"This is nothing..." Fan Li was just about to make some modest remarks, such as I'm his godfather, this is what I should do. But saying such cheap words in front of the Empress Dowager seemed a bit inappropriate?
The Empress Dowager didn't wait for him to speak and continued, "Prime Minister truly lives up to being Great Chu's number one official. I will have to trouble the Prime Minister regarding taming Black Thunder."
"Huh? What does this have to do with me?" Fan Li couldn't help but ask.
The Empress Dowager faintly laughed upon hearing this. She was at the age of fading beauty in the prime of womanhood.
Accompanied by a light laugh, Fan Li even had the thought 'what a pity this widow didn't remarry'.
"I've heard that the Jiajing Emperor of Great Ming has his sights on stealing Black Thunder. He has personally sent National Teacher Lan Daoxing to the Wu River, wanting to bewitch Black Thunder into submitting to Great Ming.
This person is an expert at the Unity Realm, known as the second strongest in Great Ming, with only the Jiajing Emperor above him.
Lan Daoxing is also adept at the secret art Divine Revelations, said to be able to convey the will of Heaven and possess unerring divination."
The Empress Dowager faintly sighed. "I'm truly worried that Black Thunder has just transformed into a dragon, his consciousness still muddled. If he gets bewitched by Lan Daoxing into going to Great Ming..."
Fan Li had no interest in these matters, however. He wasn't an expert at the Unity Realm, nor did he know arts like Divine Revelations. Most importantly, this wasn't a mission issued by the System, so he was too lazy to meddle.
Just as Fan Li was about to make an excuse to decline, he suddenly heard a "ding" in his mind!
"New mission released: [Mine, Mine, All Mine]"
"Mission description: Seize the guardian dragon of Great Chu, Black Thunder, and make it submit to the host."
"Mission Reward: Special item [Substitute Doll], 1."
"Substitute Doll: External avatar item, replicates the host and produces a perfect clone. The clone can cultivate and share cultivation benefits with the host. The clone's strength improves along with the host."
Fan Li nearly drooled. This item is awesome! It immediately reminded him of a certain Chinese webtoon from his past life, multiple shadow clones? The more clones, the greater the exponential increase in cultivation?
"Why does the Prime Minister remain silent? Could it be you are unwilling to share His Majesty's burdens?" The Empress Dowager asked.
Xiang Ning felt somewhat anxious. She felt tremendous pressure about taming Black Thunder. Hearing that the Great Ming National Teacher had personally taken action, Xiang Ning was even more afraid the founding emperor's steed would be poached by another country!
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
But if Fan Li was willing to help her... Even if he was only at the lowly Body Refinement Realm, Xiang Ning inexplicably had full confidence in Fan Li.
"Empress Dowager, recovering Black Thunder concerns the nation itself. As Prime Minister of Great Chu, I have an inescapable duty!" Fan Li's voice boomed, continuously echoing within the imperial palace's main hall.
"Good!" The Empress Dowager looked approvingly at Fan Li, but she was puzzled inside.
She had prepared many arguments, originally planning an intense debate to coerce Fan Li into compliance. She didn't expect that he actually agreed so readily?
"Lan Daoxing is after all an expert at the Unity Realm. Chen Gonggong will have to accompany and protect His Majesty and the Prime Minister. Only then can I completely set my mind at ease." The Empress Dowager added.
"This servant obeys." Chen Gonggong responded extremely quickly, not giving anyone else a chance to react.
"This was prearranged." Fan Li thought to himself.
Having achieved her goal, the Empress Dowager left after casually saying 'the inner palace shall not meddle in politics'.
Fan Li lowered his head in contemplation. The System only provided basic intelligence on this world, mainly concerning the State of Chu.
Great Ming's National Teacher Lan Daoxing? He had virtually no useful intelligence on him.
Fan Li still had some Undying Pellets on hand and wasn't in the mood to eat them for now.
"Um...Godfather?" A soft call interrupted Fan Li's thoughts.
"Huh? What?" Fan Li saw the little emperor with flushed cheeks, unexpectedly wearing an ingratiating expression.
Xiang Ning was actually in great spirits, her eyes especially vibrant. "Many thanks to Godfather for accompanying me to Wu River." This was the first time Xiang Ning sincerely thanked Fan Li from the bottom of her heart.
Xiang Ning also saw the Undying Pellets in his hands and curiously asked, "Godfather, what are you eating? Give me one to try?"
The Life-extending Pellets were Fan Li's lifeline, how could he possibly give it to her as a snack?
Seeing Fan Li reject her without a second thought, Xiang Ning's budding goodwill instantly vanished. What a petty villain!
"Dismiss court!" Xiang Ning fiercely glared at Fan Li before flouncing away.
"Sissy boy." Fan Li's evaluation of Xiang Ning was just two words.
Didn't have a shred of masculinity at all. Fan Li really couldn't understand how the little emperor could be descended from the domineering founding emperor.
On departure day, Fan Li was caught completely unprepared. The Son of Heaven's travels were supposed to be extremely grand, flags and banners fluttering, endless crowds of people. Yet outside the imperial palace's main gate, there were only Xiang Ning and Chen Gonggong.
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Fan has finally arrived."
Chen Gonggong was dressed in coarse cloth commoner's garb, looking exactly like a small landowner's tenant farmer.
Xiang Ning was dressed as a rich young master, in snowy white clothes while waving a folded fan. Graceful yet lacking masculinity. Especially with rosy cheeks and pink lips, it really made Fan Li suspect she had put on makeup before leaving the palace.
"What are you staring at? Is there dirt on my face?" Xiang Ning asked in irritation. Now that they weren't in court, she saved herself the trouble of calling him 'Godfather'.
Fan Li naturally didn't mind, only joking, "Your Majesty's face isn't dirty, rather it's quite pretty."
"Ah? You're serious?!" Xiang Ning actually revealed joy, holding her cheeks with both hands as laughter nearly spilled from her eyes.
"Damnit, what's wrong with her?" Fan Li couldn't help but curse silently. Did she really think he was praising her?
"Ahem! Your Majesty, Prime Minister, we ought to set out now." Chen Gonggong reminded.
Fan Li was puzzled, "Chen Gonggong, it's just the three of us going to tame Black Thunder? And we still have to face the Great Ming National Teacher?"
Chen Gonggong smiled. "Lan Daoxing excels at formations and mysteries, he can disregard thousands of troops despite going alone. Bringing more ordinary soldiers would just be sending them to their deaths."
Great Chu's ordinary troops should at least be at the Qi Condensation Realm right? When even he, a nobody at the Body Refinement Realm came along, what's wrong with bringing some thousands of troops?
"Additionally, this servant has received intelligence that Lan Daoxing has already arrived at the Black Dragon Pool at the source of the Wu River. We must hurry." Chen Gonggong added.
"This old eunuch really can't hold his farts in." Fan Li thought inwardly. "This is Great Chu's own territory yet they let outsiders get ahead? Something fishy is going on here!"
"Could it be that the Prime Minister is afraid?" Xiang Ning seemed to have discovered a new continent and wanted to see Fan Li's reaction.
"Even ants can survive, let alone me, your esteemed father," Fan Li glanced at her.
In this day and age, who isn't a part-time keyboard warrior?
If his trash talk loses to the young emperor, then Fan Li would have wasted his time crossing over.