The Lü Family  

Xiang Ning's heart was pounding rapidly. She had never considered this issue before. When Fan Li brought it up, she only felt vexed and her heart started racing uncontrollably.

Ahhhh!

The Fan clan was Great Chu's foremost family, and Fan Li's elder brother Fan Ming used the Fan merchant group to control almost all of Great Chu's economy.

Fan Li's third brother Fan Chun had the 100,000 strong garrison troops of the capital Peng City firmly under his control. With just a single order from him, those 100,000 troops would even dare to attack the imperial palace!

And even the Fan clan's only daughter this generation, the fairy-like Fan Yuehua.

She had countless admirers within Great Chu's borders. No matter which prominent clan Fan Yuehua eventually decided to marry into, that clan would definitely become a staunch follower of the Fan clan.

The Fan clan was so powerful that if the imperial family established marital ties, wouldn't that also allow the Xiang clan's imperial authority to remain eternally steady?

'Could he be thinking of me and came up with this perfect solution? Without needing to fight or harm each other, as long as our families have a marriage alliance. I can continue being the female emperor, and he would still be the foremost figure among all civil and military officials.' Xiang Ning's thoughts went wild, and she even fantasized about herself wearing bridal clothes while holding Fan Li's hand as they entered the bedchamber.

Ah... this...

Xiang Ning secretly peeked at Fan Li's features like an exiled immortal. At this time, she became infatuated once more.

Within the entire court civil and military officials, there really wasn't any man more handsome and majestic than him.

"Then..." Xiang Ning hesitated, eventually unable to think of a better method.

She sighed softly, seemingly having given up and said resentfully as well as shyly to Fan Li: "If Duke Jin feels it's good, then We also feel it's quite good."

Oh well oh well!

I actually don't have any choice. Even if I resist, how could I be Fan Li's opponent? I can only hope that in the future, he treats me kindly.

Upon hearing this, Fan Li felt relieved. The little emperor performed well today, actually being so obedient. Since this was the case, unless it was for a system mission, he shouldn't bully her anymore in the future.

Fan Li smiled and said in a loud voice, "Your Majesty is wise. Then may Your Majesty take the initiative to propose marriage to the Han Emperor Liu Xi during the [Three Emperor's Meeting]."

"Liu Xi? Propose marriage?" Xiang Ning blanked for a few seconds as Liu Xi's appearance gradually emerged in her mind.

That was the portrait presented by the Han envoys. Xiang Ning had only taken a single look before losing interest.

The Han Emperor Liu Xi in the portrait had refined scholarly manners and a gentle appearance, quite resembling a famed Confucian scholar. But Xiang Ning didn't like such men at all.

She yearned for the Conqueror King like her ancestor Xiang Yu, believing that real men under heaven should all be brimming with masculine vigor like the true man Xiang Yu!

'What does Fan Li mean? He doesn't want to marry me, but wants me to marry the Han Emperor Liu Xi...

Isn't Liu Xi already so old? I clearly remember he has three daughters around my age!

That bastard Fan Li! Knowing that I'm female, he actually still wants me to propose to Liu Xi? Even if the marriages of a Son of Heaven aren't up to him, what woman takes the initiative to propose to a man!?'

The more Xiang Ning thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. She was nearly driven to the point of tears from anger.

Fortunately she still remembered that right now she was disguised as a man, furthermore facing all the civil and military officials in court.

So although tears didn't fall, Xiang Ning stared at Fan Li with eyes like daggers, truly wishing she could immediately stab him to death right now!

'What's wrong with this girl?' Fan Li was also puzzled.

But he still continued speaking: "Please, Your Majesty, ask for Princess Chang Le of Great Han's hand in marriage. The princess is similar in age with Your Majesty and is known as Great Han's foremost beauty. In Pure Sound Paradise, Princess Chang Le's name also resounds far."

After Fan Li finished, the officials below the imperial stairs couldn't help but applaud and praise loudly.

"Duke Jin's plan is ingenious! Your Majesty together with Princess Chang Le is truly an unparalleled couple of this age!"

"We have long heard that the princess has peerless beauty and extraordinary wisdom. Her innate talent towards cultivation is also exceptionally rare in this world!"

"If Your Majesty marries Princess Chang Le, not only could Great Chu draw closer to Great Han, we could also become much more intimate with Pure Sound Paradise!"

The officials discussed spiritedly, all praising Fan Li's clever scheme.

But Xiang Ning sitting on the dragon throne could only resentfully bottle up her feelings with nowhere to vent them. She felt like her fists were punching cotton.

What?

Fan Li even became a capable, good and wise minister?

And I still have to accept his terrible idea?

Xiang Ning helplessly accepted the facts before her eyes: Fan Li hadn't seen through her female disguise, and regarding this marriage alliance between Chu and Han, he was probably right.

Without even a reason to reject it, Xiang Ning became even more depressed.

"Your Majesty, what do you think?" Fan Li curiously asked. I've already made the proposal and all the officials supported it. What's this guy spacing out for? Oh, could he be worried about the issue of his gender?

But Fan Li found it inconvenient to say that out loud. Firstly, he estimated that with Princess Chang Le's wit or cunning nature, she could easily handle Xiang Ning. Secondly, unless necessary, Fan Li was too lazy to expose the little secret about her true gender.

"For such an important marriage alliance, We must first discuss it with the Empress Dowager! As for Lü City's side, We will set out tomorrow!"

After saying that, Xiang Ning stormed off with her sleeves fluttering. Her little face was clearly very unhappy.

Upon returning to the rear palace, Xiang Ning directly threw herself into the Empress Dowager's embrace. 

"Mother! What should your daughter do?" She spoke with traces of sobbing and repeated everything that happened in court.

After hearing it, the Empress Dowager also frowned. But after keeping silent for a long time, she finally said: "Fan Li is right."

Xiang Ning was greatly alarmed: "Mother! How can your daughter marry Princess Chang Le?"

But the Empress Dowager said: "Things like this aren't actually difficult to deal with. Ever since ancient times, the inner palace has many such secret tales. Ordinary commoners might not know, but I have heard about quite a few."

"Then what should be done?" Xiang Ning asked.

"My dear son, you have important matters at hand to first deal with regarding the [Three Emperor's Meeting]. As for Princess Chang Le's side, I will talk to her alone when you depart for Lü City."

Xiang Ning was left somewhat confused.

"Mother, does your son still have to marry the princess then?" Speaking from her heart, Xiang Ning hoped every day to restore her original female appearance.

Even if she continued being emperor, she still wanted to be a female one. If she could also appoint a male empress, Xiang Ning felt she would be quite happy.

As Xiang Ning thought, Fan Li's figure even emerged in her mind. She really wanted to loftily declare to Fan Li: Ancestral family laws decree no interference by the inner palace in politics!

But regarding marrying Princess Chang Le, she was utterly unwilling!

Yet the Empress Dowager said: "As long as the princess recognizes the greater picture, you must marry her! Regarding what happens between you and the princess after the wedding, it would merely be putting on a show for others. They are all trivial matters."

"But your daughter's integrity..." Xiang Ning still felt wronged.

"Humph! As an emperor, everything must be forsaken for the sake of power! If preserving your throne, even if you have to marry ten princesses, you can't refuse!"

"Yes..."

Xiang Ning no longer had any words left and could only hand over her marriage affairs to the Empress Dowager. As for the Three Emperor's Meeting, she still had to trouble Fan Li.

The emperors of Chu, Han, and Ming convened in Lü City, accompanied by military forces and key officials from their respective courts.

Fan Li, holding the title of Duke of Jin and concurrently serving as Prime Minister of Great Chu, had an indisputable duty!

On the next day, the imperial procession of Xiang Ning departed from the eastern gate, heading towards Lü City.

"Lü City, governed by Lord Lü Chunqiu, whose ancestors held the hereditary title of Marquis Wenxin from the previous dynasty.

After the fall of the previous dynasty and the division of the realm into three, the Lü clan constructed Lü City, declaring their neutrality.

The Lü clan claims to be the foremost clan in the mortal realm, contributing to literature and education, influencing the world.

The majority of today's eminent scholars, over seventy percent, hail from Lü City, being disciples of the Lü clan.

In recognition of their significant contributions to education, the three emperors acknowledge Lü City's neutrality and confirm the hereditary title of Marquis Wenxin for the Lü clan."

Fan Li rapidly reviewed the relevant information about Lü City in his mind.