The Four Siblings of the Fan Family  

As the Chu Emperor's voice fell, Fan Li finally heard the system prompt.

"Ding!"

"Congratulations to the host for completing the high-quality task [Power Over the Court]. The system rewards a significant upgrade." 

"The host obtains twelve life-extending pills and one protective talisman."

"Protective Talisman: Automatically blocks one fatal injury for the host when carried."

Fan Li was shocked with his mouth wide open. A protective talisman? This was simply a resurrection armor!

The twelve life-extending pills that could extend his life by a year also greatly delighted Fan Li. The pressure of possibly dying at any time was finally much relieved.

Seeing the happy expression on Fan Li's face, the Chu Emperor took notice. "This treacherous minister humiliated me, yet he still looks so smug! If I, Xiang Ning, don't avenge this, how could I be worthy as a descendant of the Chu Overlord!"

After waiting for a while, the system did not issue a new task. Fan Li also knew that with such abundant rewards, it was impossible to have tasks every day. Since there was no task, there was no need to bully the Chu Emperor.

"Your Majesty, shall we adjourn the court if there is nothing else?" Fan Li asked.

The Chu Emperor felt as if he was pardoned. "We shall adjourn as the Prime Minister suggested!"

...

The Fan Residence in the Capital of Chu State.

"Second Young Master has returned!"

Fan Li had just gotten off the carriage when he heard the gatekeeper yelling. The middle gate was wide opened. The steward led a group of guards, servants and maids, all kneeling on the ground in unison.

"We welcome the Second Young Master's return to the residence."

Fan Li was extremely embarrassed seeing this!

Indeed, with the bearing of a treacherous minister, nearly a hundred people knelt to welcome his return home. Who were they really kneeling for? Clearly it was for that teenage Son of Heaven back in the palace!

Fan Li recalled the system information in his mind. The Fan family had four siblings. He was the second son, and there was an elder brother, a younger brother and a younger sister.

"The Fan family's ancestor Fan Zeng followed the Chu Overlord Xiang Yu and fought all over the land for nearly a hundred years during the turbulent times, and finally carved out the great Chu dynasty spanning a third of the world that has stood for thousands of years."

"The world is divided in three, the two other countries are the Great Han ruled by Emperor Liu Xi, and the Great Ming ruled by Emperor Jiajing."

"Fan Zeng was the number one contributor to the founding of Great Chu, conferred 'Second Father' by the Chu Overlord and bestowed the title Marquis of Liyang."

"To honor Fan Zeng's great contributions, the Chu Overlord specially granted that the position of Prime Minister of Chu would be hereditarily held by the Fan family."

Fan Li kept absorbing the system information, inevitably dumbstruck.

The Chu Overlord Xiang Yu spent nearly a hundred years fighting to establish the country. This was no ordinary martial world!

And the average life expectancy...

But Fan Li felt like an ordinary person himself, even a weak scholar. How could this be? Just as he was pondering, he heard someone calling for him.

"Younger brother, what are you standing at the door for? Hurry in!"

Fan Li looked up to see a middle-aged man walking over. He immediately recognized this was his elder brother, Fan Ming, the current family head and master of the Fan Residence.

Fan Ming had a long beard over his chest and a sturdy build. His dignified face commanded awe even when not angry. Behind him were two young people, a man and a woman.

The handsome young man had his hair tied up with a blue ribbon and a sword hanging by his waist. The beautiful young woman was dressed in pure white robes like snow. She peeked out from behind Fan Ming, constantly blinking her eyes and making funny faces at Fan Li, cute and mischievous.

"Fan Chun, the third son of the Fan family."

"Fan Yuehua, the little sister of the Fan family."

Looking at the three extremely good-looking siblings, Fan Li felt that the family genes were truly superior.

"Eldest brother Fan Ming inherited the title of Marquis of Liyang from the ancestors, but does not serve as an official. He runs the Fan's commercial firm, the foremost business giant in Great Chu!"

"Third younger brother Fan Chun is extremely gifted in cultivation, unmatched among peers of the same level. He serves as General of the Divine Tiger Guards and is in charge of the capital's defense."

"Little sister Fan Yuehua is known as the Fairy Maiden Yuehua. She awaits marriage in her chambers. Those who wish to marry her range from nobles and royalty above to talented youths below, enough to line up from the palace gates to the peak of Fengming Mountain outside the capital."

Fan Li suddenly felt that the Fan clan was full of exceptional talents, all pillars of the state, while only he himself was a weak scholar who somehow became a treacherous official.

Damn!

Could I have smeared our ancestor Fan Zeng's name?

Just as he was thinking, his third brother Fan Chun rushed over excitedly with a thrilled look.

"Big brother, I heard you made the little emperor call you daddy in court. I think our Fan family can launch a rebellion now and make him abdicate in your favor. If he doesn't agree, I'll lead 100,000 Divine Tiger guards to attack the palace!"

Hearing this, Fan Li almost tripped and fell!

He looked at Fan Chun in disbelief.

Damn!

What kind of treacherous rebel was this?

Talking about rebellion so casually? Hadn't he noticed the people coming and going outside the Fan residence, what if there were imperial spies?

Before Fan Li could respond, little sister Fan Yuehua also happily chimed in: "When big brother ascends as Emperor, my status should be Founding Princess, right?"

Fan Li swallowed hard, thinking this couldn't be! Little sister, you're supposed to be a fairy maiden, not a rebel!

"Stop spouting nonsense, both of you!" Eldest brother Fan Ming suddenly scolded them.

Seeing this, Fan Li breathed a sigh of relief. At least eldest brother was a decent man.

But Fan Ming went on, "Overthrowing the regime and changing the mandate of heaven are major events requiring careful planning, not child's play. But don't worry little brother, the Fan family's accumulated wealth has surpassed the imperial treasury. Just give the order, and the clan will be your staunchest backing!"

Fan Li: "..."

So the entire Fan family were treacherous rebels!

Seeing his apparent surprise, Fan Ming stroked his beard and laughed. "Does little brother think that I've been doing business all these years just to pay taxes to that Xiang Ning brat?"

"That Xiang Ning brat? I wish I could give you this villainous system!" Fan Li thought to himself.

The four siblings entered the residence and took their seats in the main hall.

Seeing the three staring intensely at him, Fan Li couldn't help asking, "If the Fan family stages a rebellion, why make me the Emperor? Wouldn't eldest brother or third brother be more suitable? What do you think, little sister?"

Hearing this, the three burst into laughter.

Fan Ming shook his head with a smile. "Little brother should know me. I only love doing business, especially seeing wealth pile up like a mountain."

Fan Chun also said, "Big brother, you know I only like fighting, especially ambushing and slaughtering surrendering enemies."

Fan Yuehua: "Big brother, don't you have any interest in the throne? What a pity I'm a daughter, never been a female emperor in history. Besides, I just want to enjoy being beautiful and watch men fight over me."

"You three are definitely sick!" Fan Li felt extremely depressed, only able to curse them silently.

He had no choice but to return to his own courtyard and spend half a day thoroughly digesting the remaining information.

This was not some martial world, but a true cultivation world! Everyone cultivated, seeking ascension! The immortal realm did exist. There were many historical instances of people ascending over the ages.

The official historians of Great Chu, Great Han and Great Ming all recorded that the founding emperors of the three countries had ascended.

But Fan Li was shocked to find that he himself was just an ordinary person without any cultivation base.

Cultivation was divided into Tempering the Body, Qi Condensation, Foundation Building, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation, Unity, Great Vehicle, and Tribulation Crossing.

"How could I not even have the basic tempered body cultivation level?"

Eldest brother Fan Ming, while the number one business tycoon in Chu on the surface, actually had a cultivation base at the third-stage of Divine Transformation realm!

Little sister Fan Yuehua's title of "Fairy Maiden Yuehua" was half due to her beauty, and half because she was a powerful woman who had attained the Nascent Soul stage Great Perfection.

As for Fan Chun who commanded 100,000 Divine Tiger Guards, despite his youth, he had already reached the peak of the ninth-stage Divine Transformation, and had even once slain a Unity realm cultivator above his level!

Within Great Chu, apart from a few "undying old monsters", Fan Chun was already the supreme power!

Fan Li suddenly realized that aside from himself, the entire Fan clan consisted of experts!