"Humph!" Empress Dowager Li let out a cold snort and stormed off.
With her departure, Xiang Chong's position became extremely awkward. As a mere fifth-rank counsellor, he had no qualifications to stand next to the dragon throne on the imperial steps.
Fan Li pointed to the corner spot at the very back of the ministerial positions. "Counsellor Xiang, go back to your spot."
A fifth-rank counsellor was an insignificant minor official. Especially inside the imperial court in the palace halls, he was basically negligible and could only barely stand in the back corner spot.
How could Xiang Chong endure such humiliation? He gritted his teeth and said, "This prince...this official coincidentally caught a cold from the wind and will take sick leave starting today and not attend court!"
After speaking, Xiang Chong turned and left. His strides seemed steady and powerful, as if every step could smash apart the floorboards. It didn't look like he had coincidentally caught a cold at all.
But no one tried to hold him back. Especially not Xiang Ning, who hoped this cheap half-brother of hers would never attend court again.
With the Empress Dowager's departure and Xiang Chong leaving, the Chu court seemed to have returned to its past normal state again.
Xiang Ning's eyes curved into crescent moons, happily staring at Fan Li.
"He still protected me in the end after all," she thought to herself.
Just then, Xiang Ning heard Fan Li sigh. "If there was no Lonely King in Great Chu, I wonder how many people would proclaim themselves emperor and how many would proclaim themselves prince?"
Was this reprimanding Xiang Ning for being useless right in front of all the ministers?
But Fan Li didn't feel like he said anything wrong at all. He properly brought up matters of state.
"Your Majesty will soon marry Princess Chang Le. The identities of the envoys sent from the Han Emperor have been determined."
"Minister Coachman Cao Cao is Chief Envoy, General of the Standard Liu Bei and General of Agile Cavalry Sun Quan are Vice Envoys."
"After Your Majesty's wedding, these three will also represent Great Han together with our side to excavate the suspected tomb of Qin Shi Huang."
As Fan Li spoke, he shook his head to himself.
The Han Emperor Liu Xie truly lacked capable people he could use. Whenever there was an important matter, he could only appoint Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan.
These three definitely didn't have any problems with their cultivations and talents. But loyalty...
Fan Li of course wouldn't judge the Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan of today using rigid impressions from his past life.
But during their previous encounter at Lu City, when the three went to meet the Jiajing Emperor, the Han Emperor flew into a rage over it. Moreover, the three haplessly bumped into the Han Emperor upon their return.
An suspicious emperor was the most important fuse leading ministers to abandon their rulers.
Fan Li was truly worried that even if the Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan of this lifetime were loyal ministers, they still might not necessarily remain loyal and devoted till the end.
In the days that followed, Fan Li attended court every day. Meanwhile, Xiang Chong never showed up again, as if he had vanished.
The Chu court seemed to have returned to its initial appearance again.
"Envoy of Great Han, Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan pay their respects to His Majesty the Emperor of Great Chu!"
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The three heroes of late Han finally arrived at Peng City and entered the imperial court to pay their respects. Although they were technically foreign ministers because of the marriage alliance between Chu and Han, Xiang Ning was also considered half their monarch. Thus, the three of them performed the ceremony of kneeling to pay respects.
Xiang Ning was in a good mood today. She had just raised her hand to tell them to rise when she saw the three people, after standing up, unanimously turn towards Fan Li again.
"Paying respects to Duke Fan."
The three surprisingly took the initiative to perform the half-kneeling ceremony to Fan Li.
Xiang Ning's right hand, raised midair, now seemed extremely awkward.
"The three of you may dispense with ceremony," Fan Li said. "I've heard that your procession is extremely large in scale. By the time the horse carriage at the very front arrives outside the imperial palace, the last carriage at the very back has only just entered the east gates of Peng City?"
Cao Cao smiled and answered, "All of that is the dowry my emperor has prepared for Princess Chang Le. Although the gifts are plentiful, they still far from match the deep affection and friendship between Chu and Han."
Fan Li secretly laughed to himself. Deep affection and friendship?
During the Three Kingdoms era, the founders of Chu and Han were the fiercest opponents. If Chu and Han hadn't killed each other red-eyed, the much weaker Ming back then wouldn't have been able take advantage of the opportunity to rise up and establish their nation.
But ancient history from thousands of years ago was of course not something Fan Li would bring up now.
Next, the three Han envoys took the initiative to invite Fan Li to inspect the dowry.
Outside the imperial palace, the dowry carriages were arranged in a long line. The dowry gifts were unloaded from them one by one.
"Jiaolong pearls from the Eastern Sea, snow ginseng from Mount Baishan, brocade made of yarn from jade silkworms...one hundred boxes."
"Deer antler from three-colored deer, bear gallbladder from hibernating bears and all kinds of spiritual medicines and exotic fruits, one hundred boxes."
Fan Li yawned as he listened to one of Cao Cao's subordinates list out the items while people continuously opened boxes of dowry gifts to authenticate them.
The marriage alliance between Chu and Han was a major event, mistakes with the dowry were obviously out of the question. But they still had to complete this process. It was a bit of a show of wealth. Fan Li could only endure patiently.
By now, the court session had ended. The Emperor returned to his palace. The ministers left court.
Fan Li was thinking about what to eat for dinner tonight when he noticed a ghostly figure slowly approaching him from a distance.
"F*ck me, what does she want!?"
The approaching person turned out to be none other than Xiang Ning dressed as a palace maid!
This dumb woman probably thought Fan Li wouldn't recognize her disguise. On a mere impulse, she had changed out of her dragon robes into palace maid attire, wanting to tag along with Fan Li and watch the liveliness!
Other than Fan Li, most of the people present were subordinates of the Han envoys. Although they felt this freely wandering palace maid was a bit bold, they wouldn't try to stop her.
"Duke Fan, you haven't seen Ning'er for so long. Do you still recognize me?"
Dressed as a woman, it was as if Xiang Ning had become a different person. She thoroughly lost all the dignity of an emperor. Faced with the mountainous piles of dowry, her eyes shone with stars.
Fan Li shook his head speechlessly to himself.
Even if you turned to ashes, I'd still recognize you!
He nodded. Xiang Ning became even happier. She successfully struck up a conversation with Fan Li, so she could now shamelessly admire Princess Chang Le's dowry.
"Wow! That gauze gown is so beautiful, but a bit too thin and translucent! If that was the only thing worn while going out, wouldn't everything be seen through!?" Xiang Ning murmured to herself.
Fan Li impatiently said, "Who cares if it's Princess Chang Le wearing it anyway? What's it to you!"
"Heavens! What a massive Jiaolong pearl. It's brighter than the palace lanterns here in the imperial palace. It can be used as a nightlight!" Xiang Ning then noticed an enormous pearl emitting soft, warm white light. She was so captivated she almost wanted to immediately go up and fiddle with it.
Listening to her babble, Fan Li could only keep shaking his head. If this woman kept running her mouth, her disguise would probably fail soon.
The Great Chu Emperor was actually a woman? And she's going to welcome and marry Princess Chang Le of Great Han? This was completely cheating a marriage!
Once this got exposed, then with that hotheaded temper of the Han Emperor Liu Xie, he'd probably immediately sever diplomatic ties with Chu. A war between both countries breaking out wouldn't even be out of the question then.
"Shut your trap! Is this a place for you to be shooting your mouth off randomly!? Utter one more word, and I'll give you a beating," threatened Fan Li.
Xiang Ning was infuriated but helpless. Disguised so "perfectly," she was currently nothing more than a powerless palace maid. Even if she were to be punished, she could only endure it.
After a considerable amount of time, the gifts were finally counted.
However, Fan Li found something strange. Although the dowry sent by the Han Dynasty was extensive, the convoy required for transportation did not seem sufficient to extend all the way from the palace gates to the city gates.
Perplexed, he noticed Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan approaching.
Cao Cao glanced at Xiang Ning, clearly having something to say but not in the presence of others.
At this point, separating Xiang Ning was impossible.
Fan Li sighed, "She belongs to me. Han envoys, speak your minds."
The three men shared a knowing smile.
Cao Cao respectfully stated, "Duke Jin, the three of us have brought a substantial gift to the Chu Kingdom, a total of 108 carriages. Thirty-six carriages contain gifts as dowry, and they are all here. The remaining seventy-two carriages, as a gesture of goodwill from our Great Han, have been delivered to the Fan residence."