"Tinkle~!"
The crisp, melodious sound of a silver bell drew Fan Li's attention. He looked over and saw Lu Fubao shaking the bell while playfully teasing baby Diao Chan. It had been three days since their visit to the imperial prison. He had been waiting to see how Yan Shifan would rescue Hu Zongxian, but so far, there had been no news.
"Look, look! Chan'er is smiling," Lu Fubao held the baby up joyously as she showed Fan Li her success. She was right. Fan Li glanced at the infant. Her smile was quiet yet sweet, hinting at the breathtaking beauty she would possess in the future. It surprised Fan Li how much Lu Fubao doted on the child. It was almost… No, it wasn't "almost."
Lu Fubao was raising Diao Chan as if she were her own daughter. She poured not only her energy but her love into caring for the infant.
"I'd rather hate the person who wielded the knife, not the knife itself."
Lu Bu's dying words echoed in Fan Li's mind.
He also felt an inexplicable fondness for Diao Chan. It wasn't just him; the entire Fan household adored her. Everyone, from the stewards and servants to the maids, cooks, and even the stable hands, whenever they saw Lu Fubao holding the baby, they wanted to do something for the "mother and daughter."
Duke Jin's "daughter" was the most popular figure in the Fan residence.
A natural charmer?
Fan Li stared enviously at Diao Chan. If only he possessed such charisma… Being a traitor would be so much easier.
"System," he called out.
"I'm here, Host."
"I have a feeling that Diao Chan is naturally likable. Is that just my imagination?"
"This system is not obligated to answer your questions."
"...%&￥!"
Fan Li suppressed a string of curses in front of Lu Fubao and Diao Chan.
"Ding!"
"Host's inquiry detected. Activating random mission."
"Mission Name: [A Traitor's True Colors]."
"Mission Description: Host will bully Empress Xiang Ning, forcing her to dress as a woman and accompany you on an outing. Time limit: one month."
"Mission Reward: Activating System [Encyclopedia] function, providing access to most common knowledge information within the current world."
Fan Li rolled his eyes. What a ridiculous mission! It was completely impossible! Bully Xiang Ning at this time? She was in the Great Ci Dynasty!
"Ding!"
"Host's strong desire for information detected. System will grant early access to mission reward."
"Activating [Encyclopedia] function."
"Answering Host's question: Diao Chan cultivates the Grand Destiny Arts. After each reincarnation, she gains a special ability, replacing the previous ability."
"Diao Chan's current ability: Auspicious Omen."
"Auspicious Omen: No practical effects, but it causes people to feel fondness, trust, even devotion towards the individual possessing this ability."
Fan Li was speechless. Early access to the reward… This had happened before.
And Diao Chan, in this lifetime, possessed the ability "Auspicious Omen." Was it a coincidence, or something she had wished for before her death? To be loved by everyone?
Fan Li shook his head. He didn't understand women.
Diao Chan was already a breathtaking beauty. How many men could resist her charms?
Why would she desire an ability to make everyone like her?
"Ah!"
Lu Fubao, holding Diao Chan, suddenly tripped near a step. She fell forward, and the baby slipped from her grasp, flying through the air towards the ground!
Fan Li was startled. He was about to rush to save the child, but a servant, passing by at that moment, lunged forward with the desperation of someone racing towards their death.
The servant caught Diao Chan with outstretched hands and his own body slammed heavily against the ground!
He wasn't a cultivator. The fall was severe.
Fan Li ran over. The servant's back was a mass of bruises, turning purple as blood pooled beneath the skin.
Yu Shenzi arrived, alerted by the commotion. Fan Li instructed him to examine the servant's injuries.
"It's nothing serious," Yu Shenzi retrieved a gourd and poured out a pill.
"Take this. You'll recover completely within half a day."
Fan Li recognized the pill. It was an Earth-grade healing pill, commonly used in the armies of various nations. Its origins traced back to the pre-Qin era. This particular pill, refined by Yu Shenzi, was undoubtedly of superior quality.
"Thank you," Fan Li said to the servant. "You risked your life to protect Chan'er. I will reward you handsomely."
Unexpectedly, the servant, wincing in pain, shook his head. "It's not necessary, Young Master. I don't need a reward. As long as Miss Chan'er is safe, I'm content."
He looked at the infant with lingering concern.
Fan Li was astonished once more. He suddenly understood… This was the power of "Auspicious Omen?"
Everyone loved Diao Chan?
No, perhaps a better description was… Everyone was unwilling to harm her?
…
Great Ming imperial palace.
"Your subject, Minister of Works Yan Shifan, greets His Majesty! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand ten thousand years!"
Requesting an audience with Emperor Jiajing was an incredibly difficult task for the officials of the Great Ming Dynasty.
Even for matters of state, the Emperor typically only summoned Grand Secretary Yan Song and Junior Grand Secretary Xu Jie, his two most trusted advisors.
Yan Shifan was among the officials with the most frequent access to the Emperor. But even he couldn't always see the Emperor whenever he wished.
And indeed, after kneeling outside the Renshou Palace for a long time, an old eunuch finally emerged to relay the Emperor's message.
"Master Yan, His Majesty has instructed that all officials with matters of state should submit memorials to the Grand Secretariat for review. As for personal matters…"
Yan Shifan nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes! I indeed have a personal matter to discuss with His Majesty."
The old eunuch shook his head. "His Majesty has decreed: The Emperor has no personal matters."
Damn it!
Yan Shifan almost cursed out loud.
The Emperor has no personal matters?
How dare he be so shameless!
All these years, who had arranged the Emperor's Daoist rituals, the collection of spirit roots and treasures, and all the countless expenditures incurred for his cultivation?
It was Yan Shifan!
And each of these matters, weren't they the Emperor's personal affairs?
Yan Shifan cursed Emperor Jiajing in his heart, forcing a smile on his face. "How dare I disturb His Majesty with trivial personal matters? My apologies."
Hearing this, the old eunuch's curiosity was piqued. "Then what is it, Junior Grand Secretary, that requires you to see His Majesty? You must know that he has just entered seclusion. He won't emerge for at least a month."
Seclusion?
Yan Shifan felt nothing but disdain. Cultivators possessed long lifespans. Why not enjoy life's pleasures?
Why subject themselves to decades of austere cultivation, sitting in meditation day after day?
Did Emperor Jiajing truly believe that his unrivaled strength, his status as the world's strongest, was solely a result of his diligent cultivation?
If not for the entire Great Ming Dynasty nourishing him with resources…
"Please relay this message," Yan Shifan said. "Your subject, Yan Shifan, has discovered an auspicious omen! This matter must be reported to His Majesty immediately!"
The old eunuch's expression changed drastically upon hearing the words "auspicious omen!"
"Is… Is it truly an auspicious omen?" he asked anxiously.
Yan Shifan nodded. "Absolutely! Please, Eunuch, don't delay. Inform His Majesty!"