World's First Traitor System (372)

Chapter 372 - A Deplorable Idea

Fan Zhengming had disappeared.

Before dawn, the Zhou generals brought in four portions of Soul Cleansing Wine, as usual, demanding they be drunk.

Upon discovering one of them was missing, they immediately reported to Shangguan Wan’er.

The Great Zhou Chancellor arrived, seething with anger!

"Where is he!"

"Did you help him escape?"

Having just assembled the Four Exceptional Individuals, one had managed to slip away during the night.

Shangguan Wan’er's beautiful face was contorted with rage!

"Chancellor Shangguan, you wrong us," Fan Li retorted. "If I had the opportunity to help my brother escape, why wouldn’t I free myself first? Surely fraternal bonds aren't more important than my own life?"

Shangguan Wan’er paused and her anger momentarily subsided.

This reaction was exactly what Fan Li had hoped for.

Because she was Shangguan Wan’er, one of the people most familiar with the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

Brothers could be bound by blood, or be at each other’s throats.

“It seems ‘Wealth’ will have to be found elsewhere?” Shangguan Wan’er asked, “Emperor Jin, do you have a suitable candidate to recommend?”

Just moments ago, she had been at her wit’s end, and now, she was asking for his advice.

Women’s shifting attitudes were even faster than the changing faces in a Sichuan opera.

“If I could share your burdens, it would be my pleasure,” Fan Li said, already prepared. “The person with the greatest wealth in the world should undoubtedly be an Emperor, holding the power of a kingdom, enjoying all the riches beneath the heavens…”

As he spoke, he saw Shangguan Wan'er's expression darken.

He sighed inwardly.

It seemed impossible to provoke Shangguan Wan'er into targeting Emperor Jiajing or Empress Yao Guang.

It appeared she preferred to pick on those she considered easier targets.

Fan Li continued, "Besides the Emperors, the most wealthy are the highest officials of each dynasty. As the saying goes, 'Those who travel a thousand miles to become officials do it for wealth.' Under heaven, the most powerful kingdom is Great Ming, and the head of the Ming court is Yan Song..."

“The Great Ming Grand Secretary? I did hear of him while I was searching for ‘Wine’, ‘Sex’, and ‘Wealth’.”

“I’ve heard he often attends Emperor Jiajing and that there are also dedicated lodgings for Yan Song within the imperial palace. Emperor Jin, are you trying to trick me into storming the Great Ming palace to capture him?”

Shangguan Wan'er’s tone grew cold and her eyes became hostile.

"No, no, no."

Fan Li felt helpless.

This woman was too astute, leaving him no room to maneuver.

He quickly changed course.

“Great Ming’s power is at its peak, and Emperor Jiajing is known as the strongest man in the world. Of course, I wouldn't dare trouble Chancellor Shangguan.”

"It’s just, while Grand Secretary Yan is the head of the Ming court, he is not the wealthiest person. Have you not heard the saying: ‘One generation plants the trees; the next enjoys the shade’..."

Fan Li had spent some time in the Ming capital and had even had dealings with the Yan family.

As he made his recommendation, he was sure to provide advice as well.

“Besides the Yan manor, that man has a private residence and is a regular at the Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge.”

“With Chancellor Shangguan’s abilities, capturing him should be as easy as turning over your hand.”

“He takes advantage of his adopted father’s authority, plundering the wealth of Ming officials, merchants, civilians, and soldiers, amassing a fortune that is truly staggering, enough to meet the standards of ‘Wealth’.”

Shangguan Wan'er listened carefully, finding no flaw in Fan Li's reasoning.

She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him for a long time before finally speaking, “Emperor, do you hold a grudge against this man? Do you want to use me to eliminate him?”

"Uh..."

By now, Fan Li had begun to understand Shangguan Wan'er's temperament.

She was clearly the type of woman who distrusted men immensely. If he denied everything, it would only evoke her suspicion.

To get Yan Shifan to be a replacement for his brother, he had to tread carefully.

"You're right!"

"I do have a private grudge with that Yan Shifan. I have long admired the famous courtesan of Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge, Xue Susu, and had intended to bring her into my harem as a concubine."

"To that end, I disguised myself and infiltrated Great Ming, hoping to woo her with my charm. But that Yan Shifan, to please Emperor Jiajing, brought her to the palace! As a result, Xue Susu caught Emperor Jiajing's eye, and is now his favored concubine. I lost the woman I loved. And for this, I will never forgive Yan Shifan!”

As he spoke, Fan Li even feigned a gnashing of teeth.

He saw Shangguan Wan’er’s eyes light up, clearly captivated by this tragic love story.

"Heh!"

“I did not imagine Emperor Jin was such a romantic. But given your present circumstances, it’s hardly appropriate to openly admit such things.”

As soon as Shangguan Wan'er finished speaking, Fan Li felt a sharp pain in his waist, realizing that Princess Chang Le had pinched his flesh.

As for Qing Qiu, though she made no aggressive move, she had created some distance, turning her back to him.

Her solitary silhouette seemed to condemn Fan Li’s fickle heart.

“Hahahaha!”

Seeing this, Shangguan Wan’er found it even more amusing, finally accepting Fan Li’s recommendation.

She left the dwelling with a laugh, clearly intending to capture Yan Shifan.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch!”

Fan Li cried out, shaking from the pain of the pinch, and quickly removed Princess Chang Le's hand.

“Hehehehe?”

“Fan Li, acting the part, aren’t you?”

Fan Li rolled his eyes. "It’s just acting, does it need to be this realistic?"

Strange.

Princess Chang Le, upon hearing this, unexpectedly lost her smile, and jealousy flickered in her eyes.

She leaned close to Fan Li and their faces almost touched

“What if… What if I were truly angry? Tell me truthfully, are you or are you not drawn to the beauty of the Painting Sage?”

Fan Li was dumbfounded.

Was she truly jealous?

Was Princess Chang Le jealous over him?

Was this even possible?

He guiltily turned his head away, noticing Qing Qiu facing away from them, her tail drooping on the floor, clearly unhappy.

"I swear! My relationship with Xue Susu is purely innocent, I haven't even touched her finger!”

Qing Qiu’s tail twitched, regaining a hint of its former vitality.

Fan Li had barely sighed a breath of relief when Princess Chang Le spoke again, "Haven't touched her, or haven’t had the chance to touch her?"

Qing Qiu’s tail instantly drooped again, even more lifeless than before!

…

Foxes were skilled burrowers, as the Xuan Yuan Tomb proved.

Even the mausoleums of Emperors couldn’t stop them, let alone ordinary ground.
The highest form of burrowing for a fox was leaving no trace at all.

Therefore, fox spirits, without training, were born experts in earth tunneling.

Dozens of feet beneath the dwelling, Qing Qiu sat cross-legged, healing her wounds.

“That…”

A man’s voice broke the silence, but Qing Qiu’s eyes remained closed.

“If I called you ‘Sister-in-law’, would that be alright?”

Qing Qiu's tail twitched, opened her eyes, then replied firmly, "It would be.”

Fan Zhengming grinned.

He liked his sister-in-law’s straightforward nature!

"Alright, Sister-in-law, I need to ask you something." Fan Zhengming said seriously.

Qing Qiu, without waiting for the question, replied, “Once my wounds are healed, I will take you to Jin City first. After that, I will come back and help Fan Li.”

"No, no, no, I wasn't going to ask that. Sister-in-law, when do you and my brother plan on having kids?”