Great Ci Dynasty.
Xiang Ning sat in her chambers, dressed in men's clothing, and with her eyebrows painted to resemble a man's.
"Sigh…"
She let out a long, mournful sigh.
Ever since the influx of women into the Brahma Sound Pure Land, her secret had become increasingly difficult to conceal. She had no choice but to wear men's clothing once more.
Although she knew that the Pure Land's scheming Sages could expose her true gender at any moment…
The Great Chu wasn't the Great Ci Dynasty. There was no precedent for a woman ruling as Emperor.
Xiang Ning could already envision the consequences. Once her secret was revealed, her legitimacy as the Chu Emperor would be challenged.
Fortunately, Xiang Chong, to secure his position on the throne, required Fan Li's support.
Thus, the two illegitimate Chu Emperors, Xiang Ning and Xiang Chong, had achieved a strange balance, thanks to the subtle maneuvering of Fan Li and Yao Guang.
"Why aren't you cultivating?" A familiar voice suddenly spoke.
Xiang Ning turned and saw Qing Qiu's breathtakingly beautiful yet emotionless face.
"Master… Ahem… I'm a bit troubled. I can't focus."
Qing Qiu walked towards her and placed a storage box in her hand.
"He sent you medicine."
"Hmm." Xiang Ning looked down at the box bearing the character "Fan" – a product of the Fan Clan Trading Company. Every month, she received a box filled with high-grade pills, both Heaven-grade and Earth-grade.
Thanks to Fan Li's support, her cultivation had progressed rapidly. Combined with the various secret techniques Qing Qiu had taught her, she was confident she could easily defeat Xiang Chong in a duel.
Unfortunately, the Chu throne wouldn't be decided by a simple fight.
"Since you're not in the mood for cultivation, I'll chat with you. Let's talk about the outside world," Qing Qiu said.
"Alright!"
Xiang Ning forced a smile, trying to appear cheerful.
"The Fan Clan Trading Company's beauty products are incredibly popular," Qing Qiu began. "In Peng City, Fan Li personally hosted a new product launch.
Tens of thousands of people, mostly women, came from all over the Great Chu to attend. The tickets were incredibly sought after. On the black market, they were being sold for three hundred top-grade spirit stones each!
And each new product is initially only available in the Great Chu. The Chu women, feeling valued, have become even more supportive of the Fan Clan Trading Company and Fan Li himself.
They call themselves his fans, or the 'Fan Fan Girls.' Don't ask me what 'fans' means. I don't know. Apparently, it's a new term Fan Li coined during the product launch."
Xiang Ning was stunned.
New product launch?
Fans?
Fan Fan Girls?
What nonsense was this?
Fan Li had become popular with women? Had the people of Chu forgotten he was the kingdom's most infamous traitor?
She felt a pang of jealousy.
Why… Why was he trying so hard to please women? He could have done so long ago. Why now?
Then, she remembered – Fan Li was still young.
It was only natural for him, full of youthful vigor, to desire a harem.
"Master, you said that to attend the Fan Clan Trading Company's business events, they actually charge an entrance fee?" Xiang Ning, having been an Emperor, quickly grasped the absurdity of the situation.
Weren't businesses supposed to treat their customers like gods?
They practically begged people to enter their shops. She had never heard of a restaurant, a clothing store, or a steamed bun shop charging an entrance fee.
Qing Qiu nodded. "In terms of business acumen, Fan Li is unmatched. He calls it a 'seller's market.' He can afford to be arrogant."
Xiang Ning struggled to adapt to these new terms, but with her intelligence, she understood the general meaning.
"Some cultivators, skilled in painting, have depicted the scenes from Fan Li's product launches. These paintings have spread to other nations, including Great Ci.
People who were initially unaware of what a 'product launch' was, were captivated by the extravagance and spectacle depicted in the paintings. I don't know how the other nations have reacted. But in Great Ci, many citizens have submitted petitions, requesting that we invite Fan Li to host a product launch here."
Xiang Ning listened with half an ear. She was distracted. Then, she heard Qing Qiu mention inviting Fan Li to Great Ci.
???
"Will… Will he come?!" she asked excitedly.
Before Qing Qiu could answer, Xiang Ning shook her head repeatedly.
"No! It's too dangerous! He mustn't come!"
The Great Ci Dynasty, in the eyes of ordinary women, was a paradise, a haven, a sacred ground. But for Xiang Ning, it was a cage, a death trap, a place filled with hidden dangers.
"Fan Li has publicly stated that as long as Empress Yao Guang agrees, he will come," Qing Qiu said.
"Ah!"
…
Great Chu, Peng City.
Fan Li stood on a makeshift stage, facing thousands of adoring female fans. A simple wave of his hand sent them into a frenzy of screams.
Armed with knowledge from his previous life and the vast resources of the Fan Clan, it was surprisingly easy for him to become a celebrity.
First, establish a persona.
Young, handsome, talented, powerful, wealthy.
The "overbearing CEO" trope was overused in romance novels.
But in this world, where every dynasty valued virtue and moral governance, righteous and upstanding gentlemen, although seemingly perfect, failed to satisfy women's desires for excitement and a touch of danger.
Fan Li, on the other hand, his persona of "powerful and wealthy," combined with his youthful good looks, ignited their imaginations.
What was the saying? "Charmingly roguish?" What was a "devilish smile?"
Tropes that had been played out in another world were still incredibly effective here.
"I will not tolerate a single woman in the Great Chu who hasn't used this 'Fairy Face Mask,'" Fan Li declared. "I'm here to empty your wallets. You can keep your money, but beauty will belong to others.
Some say I hold immense power? Yes, it's precisely because of my power that I can ensure the women of the Great Chu are beautiful and radiant!"
Every sentence Fan Li uttered sent the crowd into a frenzy of screams. The sound was deafening.
If not for the barrier Wu Gang had set up beforehand, the female fans would have stormed the stage.
Fan Li was also startled by their enthusiasm. He was secretly sweating.
These cheesy lines… He had practiced them countless times in private, finally mastering the "three parts coldness, three parts mockery, four parts nonchalance" expression required for delivery.
Were these truly the words that would make women empty their wallets for him?
"Thank you, my beautiful fairies," Fan Li said, forcing himself to maintain his "overbearing CEO" persona.
"I am your Beauty Appraiser, Fan Li. Until next time!"
Another product launch was coming to an end.
Fan Li, struggling to maintain his "cold, aloof, subtly smiling" expression, escaped the stage before his face cramped.
Peng City, Dragon God Palace.
"Wu Gang! Wu Gang! My face is numb! Massage it!"
Fan Li collapsed onto a cushion, drenched in sweat, gasping for breath.
"Fifteen product launches in half a month! Even a donkey wouldn't be worked this hard!"
Wu Gang, dressed in black, gracefully approached him. Her hands were cool to the touch. As she gently massaged Fan Li's face, a wave of soothing coolness spread through him.
"Master, what is a 'production team'?"
Fan Li shook his head. "It's not important. What about the Great Ci Dynasty? Have they responded yet? I've made such a big fuss. Is Yao Guang truly unfazed?"
His strategy was known as "Making the Neighbors' Kids Drool."
He refused to believe that women, with their inherent love of beauty, could resist this temptation!
To complete the system mission, he had to force Empress Yao Guang to personally invite him!
"Don't worry, Master," Wu Gang said patiently. Ever since her lifespan had been extended by sixty years, she had become more relaxed and composed.
"You've been working hard these past few days, Master. It will take time for news to reach the Great Ci Dynasty, and even more time for their citizens to react. Perhaps in three to five days, we'll have a response."
Fan Li knew she was right. He sighed. Time was tight! The [A Traitor's True Colors] mission had a one-month time limit.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be parading around like a peacock on stage, selling himself for fifteen days straight.
Many Great Chu officials had already voiced their disapproval of his behavior.
Fortunately, the Fan Clan held absolute power in the kingdom. The officials only dared to gossip behind his back. They couldn't openly criticize him.
Fan Li didn't care about his official image. But he had no interest in becoming an entertainer, and this world had no entertainment industry anyway.
After another two days, the Great Ci Dynasty finally responded.
A woman's desire for beauty was truly a force to be reckoned with. Over a hundred thousand women had gathered outside the Chao Ge Palace, petitioning Empress Yao Guang to invite Fan Li to host a product launch in the Great Ci Dynasty.
The new products were secondary. If Yao Guang used Xiang Ning as leverage, he would immediately send his cosmetics to the Great Ci Dynasty.
But the celebrity effect was real. These women wanted to see Fan Li in person. His title as "Beauty Appraiser" had spread far and wide. It was as if his presence in a nation meant the women there had been officially recognized for their beauty.
The women of the Great Chu were already ahead of the curve. The women of Great Ci wouldn't be left behind.
Thus, Empress Yao Guang sent an envoy to the Great Chu, "sincerely" inviting Fan Li to visit the Great Ci Dynasty. And the envoy was Qing Qiu.
"Elder Sister has promised your safety while you're in Great Ci," Qing Qiu said, enjoying the pastries Fan Li had personally served. They were in the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion at the Fan residence in Peng City.
"I don't trust her. Are you sure I'll be safe?" Fan Li asked, placing a plate of matcha yokan before her. He had recently discovered that although Qing Qiu seemed aloof and indifferent, she had a weakness for sweets.
Her face remained expressionless, but she ate quickly. The plate, piled high with treats, was empty in moments.
Her eating habits, however, were incredibly refined. Even Xiang Ning, raised in the imperial palace, couldn't possibly match her grace and elegance. But at such a rapid pace, even the most elegant movements appeared… somewhat wild?
As Qing Qiu finished her tenth plate, Fan Li couldn't help but glance at her slender waist and flat stomach. There wasn't a single bulge, as if she possessed a bottomless pit for a stomach.
"Safe," she said, looking at Fan Li expectantly as she saw the empty plates. "Bring more!" It seemed pastries weren't enough.
Fan Li chuckled. It was time for the main course.
The meal was a feast fit for an Emperor, one hundred and eight dishes prepared according to imperial standards.
It was the most thoroughly consumed meal in the Fan residence. As the last dish disappeared, leaving behind one hundred and eight empty plates, Fan Li thought of a phrase from his previous life – "Clean Plate Club."
There were only two diners: Qing Qiu and Fan Li.
Fan Li was merely a companion, his primary task to serve the dishes.
"I believe Elder Sister will keep her word," Qing Qiu said, wiping the corner of her lips with a silk handkerchief. "Besides, didn't she already promise she wouldn't harm you?"
Fan Li winced.
Believe Empress Yao Guang's promise?
Hah!
A woman's promise and an Emperor's promise, both were untrustworthy. Yao Guang, possessing both, was the embodiment of deceit!
"Don't worry. You'll definitely be safe. Elder Sister has a task for you. There's no reason for her to harm you," Qing Qiu said.
"A task?" Fan Li was curious. He wanted to go to Great Ci. And Yao Guang had something for him to do? Such a coincidence?
"Do you remember Bai Shijiu?" Qing Qiu asked.
Fan Li nodded. "The Sage Ruler of Chess? Of course I remember."
He couldn't forget her. She was the only Pure Land Sage he had ever "defeated." And he had even planted a heart demon within her!
"Bai Shijiu, seeking to achieve a breakthrough, has been searching for ancient Go manuals," Qing Qiu explained. "Recently, she received new information.
An ancient location called the 'Southern Nest' – apparently, it contains a Go game left unfinished by an Emperor of a bygone era.
She intends to use this ancient game to achieve a breakthrough. She requests your company."
Fan Li was confused. He was Bai Shijiu's heart demon. If he came within a hundred miles of her, her cultivation would drop a major realm!
Why would she bring him to a hidden realm?
Could it be that dropping from the Great Vehicle Realm to the Unity Realm was somehow beneficial for deciphering an ancient Go game?
"I'm unaware of the details," Qing Qiu shook her head. "Only Bai Shijiu and Elder Sister know the specifics. But Elder Sister has already agreed."
"Empress Yao Guang acts as if she rules the world! How dare she agree on my behalf? I am Duke Jin of the Great Chu, not her slave," Fan Li said coldly.
Qing Qiu, hearing his words, wasn't angry or anxious. As a messenger, she possessed no emotions. Her next words, however, surprised Fan Li.
"Elder Sister said that if you agree to accompany Bai Shijiu to the Southern Nest, she will consider asking Xiang Chong to abdicate the throne and give it to you."
Fan Li was astonished. He stared at Qing Qiu, hoping she would explain.
"Elder Sister said that she needs the Great Chu as a staunch ally against the Great Ming," Qing Qiu continued. "As for who sits on the throne, it's not important. Before they defeat the Great Ming, the alliance's unity is paramount. Xiang Chong is incompetent. As an Emperor, he's not even comparable to Xiang Ning. Elder Sister probably doesn't want to waste any more time on him."
Qing Qiu, finally finished with her meal, let out a small burp. Her cheeks were flushed, a rare display of emotion.
She looked at Fan Li intently and asked softly, "Fan Li, do you want to be Emperor?"