World's First Traitor System (446)

Chapter 446 - A Night Visit

Fan Manor, Rivers and Mountains Pavilion.

Memorials piled up like mountains, nearly burying Fan Li beneath them. The affairs of state were overwhelmingly vast. The lands of the former Great Ci Dynasty had all been incorporated into Great Chu's territory and were also Fan Li's personal fiefdom, requiring his direct attention on numerous matters.

Furthermore, the states of Wei, Han, and Wu had all sent state letters. Ostensibly, they congratulated Fan Li on his enfeoffment as King, but their true intent was to discuss the future political landscape. With Great Ci destroyed, the balance of power between Great Ming and the remaining four nations was disrupted. War seemed almost inevitable.

Fan Li worked continuously from dawn till dusk, yet the mountain of memorials remained a mountain. He put down his brush and rubbed his aching neck.

"Did it get dark so quickly?" Fan Li only just noticed night had fallen and couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile. Who would believe that he, the infamous treacherous minister renowned throughout the land, would toil over state affairs to the point of neglecting food and sleep?

"Ah~~~~~~~~~~~~~!" He stretched languidly. "So tired!"

"Tired where?"

"Aching waist, sore back, stiff neck... eh!?" Fan Li suddenly realized that what should have been him talking to himself had turned into a question and answer. He only then became aware that someone had entered the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion, yet the voice was incredibly familiar and dear, even one he had longed to hear.

Before he could clearly see the visitor's face, a pair of plain hands rested gently on his shoulders. The kneading technique was unskilled but very earnest.

"Ah~!" Fan Li groaned, not feeling it was improper. Since the arrival was her, Fan Li couldn't be bothered to maintain his image.

"Is it comfortable?" Han Yue asked softly.

"Comfortable, extremely comfortable," Fan Li answered shamelessly. "I truly wish we could stay like this forever."

Even the simplest words of flirtation could stir the heart of a woman inexperienced in romance. Han Yue, in matters of love, was as green and tender as a young girl. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she feigned annoyance. "Speak properly, or I'll stop kneading."

"Eh? I spoke only the truth. Do you not believe me?"

Forever. Truth. Han Yue heard the words and tucked them away in her heart. She didn't reply, merely kneading his shoulders more carefully, drawing further groans of comfort from Fan Li.

Only when Fan Li genuinely worried about tiring her did he reluctantly ask her to stop. "Why did you come?" he asked with a smile.

"I wanted to see you, so I came." Han Yue's way of speaking was like her swordsmanship – direct, without schemes or guile, nor understanding roundabout tenderness. She wanted to see him, so she came. Besides, ten years ago, Han Yue had often entered and exited Fan Li's Rivers and Mountains Pavilion freely, without restrictions.

"Since you're here, stay," Fan Li smiled. "Seeing you daily is what would make me happy."

Unexpectedly, this simple request was refused by Han Yue. "No."

"I will stay in the Imperial Palace."

Fan Li was surprised. "Why?" He wouldn't believe that Han Yue, with her current state of mind, could still be attracted by such mundane material things as the palace's luxury. If that were true, she couldn't possibly have held fast in the Pure Land for ten years.

"Xiang Ning would be jealous," Han Yue stated blandly.

Fan Li felt awkward hearing this. Although he was confident he wouldn't favor one over the other, bringing a third person into the conversation at this moment felt decidedly uncomfortable. He scratched his head. "Um... what is she doing?"

"I don't know." Han Yue shook her head. "At first, she waited for you to enter the palace. She waited from day until night, but you never came, so she went back to her bedchamber in a huff."

"I missed you, and I was worried about your safety, so I left the palace to see you."

Fan Li couldn't help but chuckle. Great Ci was destroyed, Xiang Chong was eliminated. Even the old eunuch Chen Gonggong had his cultivation crippled and was confined to the Cold Palace with Empress Dowager Li, unable to cause trouble again. Within Great Chu, Fan Li held absolute sway; what danger could he possibly face?

"Yao Guang..." Han Yue reminded him. "You must be wary of her."

Hearing this name, Fan Li couldn't help but frown.

"Although she is no longer an Empress, she is still a supreme expert at the ninth stage of the Great Vehicle realm," Han Yue continued. "An Emperor is constrained by the nation's destiny and fears being unable to use [Pangu's Giant Body], so they rarely leave their borders easily. But Yao Guang no longer has this restriction."

"She is bound by Great Ming's Investiture of the Gods, which means she is essentially a blade in Emperor Jiajing's hand. Whoever Jiajing wants killed, she must become the most dangerous assassin in the world."

Han Yue gently sat down beside Fan Li. She tilted her head and leaned against the man's shoulder, the movement natural, yet representing a closeness they had never shared before. "If Yao Guang comes, I can protect you."

Fan Li looked at Han Yue in surprise. What immense confidence allowed her to say such a thing? Could it be that Han Yue's cultivation in the Pure Land over the past ten years had already surpassed Yao Guang's?

The woman saw through his thoughts and shook her head with a smile. "You're mistaken. I am still not Yao Guang's equal."

"Don't joke about your own life!" Fan Li was startled. He had many clones; losing one wasn't a major issue. But Han Yue only had one life and couldn't sacrifice it for a clone. "Listen to me..."

Fan Li was about to explain, but Han Yue gently pressed a finger to his lips, stopping him from continuing. "Rest assured. For as long as I live, I will always stay by your side."

Yet, just as Han Yue finished speaking, she suddenly stood up. She walked around Fan Li and went behind a jade-carved screen. "Someone is coming. I should step aside for a moment."

Someone daring to trespass into his Rivers and Mountains Pavilion in the dead of night? Fan Li felt quite annoyed. But judging by Han Yue's senses, she was merely stepping aside, implying the visitor posed no threat but might be sensitive enough that she felt the need to withdraw? Who could it be?

As Fan Li puzzled over this, he saw a familiar figure peeking cautiously into the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion. How could it be her!?

Fan Li smiled wryly. "Your Majesty, why have you come?" He stood up and strode out to greet her.

"Hmph!"

The visitor was indeed Xiang Ning. She wore informal imperial clothing, draped in a black cloak that blended almost perfectly into the night.

"King Jin puts on grand airs! How dare you ignore the words I spoke before the officials?" Xiang Ning shot Fan Li a reproachful glare, appearing angry, but more accurately, she bypassed him and walked directly to the main seat, sitting down.

Fan Li was completely bewildered. "What words did Your Majesty speak that I failed to heed?"

Seeing his reaction, Xiang Ning grew even angrier. "I granted you unrestricted access to the palace day and night! Why didn't you come looking for me?"

Eh? Fan Li truly hadn't expected it was because of this. He smiled wryly, pointing at the pile of memorials on the desk. "Your Majesty, please look. State affairs are heavy; I was momentarily overwhelmed by work."

"Busy, busy, busy!" Xiang Ning retorted. "Even if you are busy, couldn't... couldn't you bring the memorials into the palace? I could keep you company while you work?" Xiang Ning clearly knew she was being unreasonable, her voice growing smaller, yet her beautiful eyes filled with grievance.

"Fan Li."

"Hm?"

"Do you still remember? Back then, when you were reviewing memorials in the Chengming Hall, I even disguised myself as a palace maid and served you for a night... cough, served you tea for a night."

A young girl's burgeoning affections – no matter how slow Fan Li was, he sensed it now. However, someone was hiding behind the screen nearby. This situation was somewhat inappropriate, inconvenient.

"I... remember." Fan Li scratched his head awkwardly.

Xiang Ning, however, brightened up. "Good! Tonight, I'll keep you company again!"