The Princess Arrives  

Fan Li felt that every word he uttered seemed to resonate mysteriously between heaven and earth. It was also like the chimes of an ancient temple, echoing repeatedly without end.

Then, a strange scene appeared. Above the sky, clouds and mist began to flow in all directions, with Fan Li at the absolute center above his head, condensing into an auspicious sea of clouds!

"Such a vast Righteous Qi...could it be the sign of a sage!?" 

Fan Li was completely unaware, but the Confucian scholars present saw it. Especially Huangfu Song, who immediately recalled what he had read in an ancient book, the description of a sage.

"Common people nourish their bodies with Righteous Qi, sages nourish heaven and earth with Righteous Qi!"

"Common people use qi to protect their bodies, covering the area of three feet around them."

"Sages use qi to protect heaven and earth, extending unknown tens of millions of miles!"

Without realizing it, Huangfu Song's knees had already dropped to the ground. At this moment, he lost the courage to look at Fan Li at eye level, and could only kneel and look up at him.

"Could he be a Confucian immortal who descended into the world, or perhaps a sa..."

The more Huangfu Song thought about it, the more shocked he was, and he regretted it even more. If his guess was right, wouldn't his previous words and deeds be greatly disrespectful!?

Seeing that even Huangfu Song had knelt down, the group of young Confucian scholars also fell to their knees, not daring to hesitate in the slightest!

"Duke Jin, please quell your anger."

Suddenly, an elegant and wonderful voice slowly emitted from within the waterside pavilion.

Fan Li paused briefly before realizing it was finally Princess Chang Le showing herself.

Princess Chang Le of Great Han, daughter of the Han Emperor Liu Xi, named Liu Man.

The Han Emperor had three daughters, but Princess Chang Le Liu Man's reputation was greater than her two sisters combined.

The shining pearl of Flaming Han!

Great Han's number one talent maiden!

Legend has it that [Pure Sound Paradise] once had a powerful person who hoped that Liu Man could become his heir, offering the condition that Liu Man abandon her secular imperial status and fully integrate into Pure Sound Paradise.

If Liu Man agreed, then Pure Sound Paradise's millennia of secret arts would have no more taboos for her, opening everything up for her to learn!

Then after several years, Liu Man could even become the patriarch of a branch of Pure Sound Paradise. Her status and position would be unmatched by any ordinary imperial princess!

At that time, everyone knew Liu Man had entered Pure Sound Paradise in order to learn its millennia old secret arts!

However, what shocked the world was Liu Man actually rejected the offer from that powerful person, while still insisting on cultivating in that sacred land.

She set out on another more difficult path. At sixteen years old, Liu Man consecutively broke through one hundred and seven of Pure Sound Paradise's [Heavenly Barriers], only losing to the one hundred eighth [Heavenly Barrier].

Thus Liu Man obtained the study rights to half of Pure Sound Paradise's millennia old secret arts.

Within the waterside pavilion, all the curtains suddenly withdrew. A graceful female figure appeared before everyone's sight. In that moment, it was as if all the men were struck dumb.

As it turned out, any description of feminine beauty was superfluous. True beauty, in an instant, could beguile a man's soul, making him forget his ideals, forget his goals, forget to breathe, and even forget everything else. Just focusing to admire her.

Princess Chang Le bent down in greeting, only repeating her earlier words to Fan Li. "Duke Jin, please quell your anger."

The crowd then reacted.

Duke Jin?

What Duke Jin?

Could it be that Great Chu's Chancellor Fan Li was just conferred the title Duke Jin?

And so, the people finally knew Fan Li's identity. They still maintained their kneeling posture towards Fan Li, only now kneeling with more realistic feelings in their hearts.

So he's Duke Jin?

Fortunately I'm already kneeling...

The eminent scholar Huangfu Song also quietly bowed his head lower.

"Greetings to the Princess." Fan Li cupped his fist in courtesy.

With his status and position, using this level of etiquette to Princess Chang Le was already sufficient.

As expected, Princess Chang Le showed no sign of caring, her exquisite face revealing a smile. "Duke Jin, please come into the waterside pavilion to chat."

Fan Li was startled, this was somewhat beyond his expectations. Under the watchful eyes of the public, for a lone man and woman to stay together in private quarters, wouldn't Princess Chang Le worry about idle gossip?

Fan Li could even clearly sense that the Confucian scholars present, including eminent scholar Huangfu Song, their surreptitious glances towards him had changed!

Although these men were not officials, they controlled public opinion amongst Great Chu's populace!

After today's literary gathering at Luo Lake ended, there would probably be various versions of stories between Duke Jin and Princess Chang Le circulating amongst the commoners, whether romantic, cruel, or weird.

"This woman is deliberately trying to spread rumors about me."

Fan Li wasn't suspicious, he was certain of the other party's intentions. He sighed. Turns out that being a villainous minister wasn't easy either, threatened from all sides.

"Duke Jin..." Huangfu Song tentatively called out in a small voice, especially wanting to apologize for his earlier impudence.

Although he was a famous scholar not employed at court, he still had many disciples. After they finished cultivation and went on to become officials, building connections now would benefit his students in the future.

How could Huangfu Song dare offend Fan Li, the de facto emperor maker of Great Chu? He was eager to get on Fan Li's good side.

"Please continue the literary gathering. The Princess and I are meeting for the first time today and have yet to get acquainted, so please don't let us disturb you all." Fan Li deliberately stressed the words 'first meeting today'.

Even if the Confucian scholars didn't fully believe him, as long as some of them believed it, it could still slightly clear Fan Li's name.

While scheming so in his mind, he strode towards the waterside pavilion. When their eyes directly met, he glimpsed a flash of astuteness in the Princess's eyes.

'Shit, my little scheme failed to fool her? Pure Sound Paradise? Screw that nonsense! Having trained women to be so crafty, I see that sacred land isn't much of a paradise at all!'

Fan Li frantically complained in his mind, while his face still held a smiling expression, seemingly greeting Princess Chang Le like a long unseen old friend after years apart.

Only after the two's figures disappeared behind the gauze curtains of the waterside pavilion did the Luo Lake literary gathering formally commence.

Successively, many famous scholars and talented youths arrived at the scene. But no matter who else came, it was mundane and mediocre now.

The participants of the Luo Lake literary gathering had lost interest. Because at this moment, the most honored personages of the entire Great Chu kingdom were in the nearby waterside pavilion. The Luo Lake literary gathering dimmed in their absence.

"Duke Jin, please sit."

"Thank you."

Fan Li had just sat down when the maid from earlier brought fragrant tea and refreshments.

'Would the tea have poison?' Fan Li thought, actually not quite daring to drink it.

Princess Chang Le saw through his concerns and laughed, "Duke Jin please set your mind at ease. With that black clothed senior lady guarding outside, We absolutely wouldn't dare harm a hair on Duke Jin's body."

Wu Gang?

Fan Li thought of her and immediately felt at ease, also somewhat embarrassed. So easily seen through by a woman, it seemed his own experience was still too lacking. But he had barely relaxed when Princess Chang Le's next words gave him a fright.

"We have intentions of marrying His Majesty the Chu Emperor, and for that, I considered assassinating Duke Jin."

The corner of Fan Li's eye twitched as he labeled the princess in his mind with two words:

Odd woman!

Princess Chang Le continued, "We absolutely didn't expect that Great Chu's new emperor would actually be...a female emperor."

As she spoke, the Princess stared at Fan Li with an indescribable smiling expression.

Fan Li instantly calmed down, but his calmness now faintly revealed a murderous aura! Yes, at that moment, Fan Li wanted to kill Princess Chang Le!