Chapter 105: Summoned

Inside Chang’an City, at the Office of the Court Ceremonials.

As one of the Nine Major Offices, the Office of Court Ceremonials was responsible for foreign guests and matters of protocol.

Fan Li and the Chu Kingdom envoy delegation were accommodated there.

Just as he stepped down from the carriage, he saw Cao Cao and Sun Quan standing respectfully with hands clasped, waiting patiently.

Princess Changle also descended from her carriage.

Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan exchanged only a glance upon seeing the princess riding with Fan Li, showing no hint of surprise.

After all, during the Qin Emperor’s tomb expedition, the princess and Fan Li had been just as “close.”

“We humbly pay respects to the princess,” Cao Cao and Sun Quan knelt, while Liu Bei, being of imperial lineage, stood.

Among the Chu envoys, the princess held the highest status, as both the mother of the Great Chu Kingdom and a princess of the Great Han.

Only then did they pay respects to Fan Li and the Sacred Lord of Cold Moon.

Thus, the three bowed first to Princess Changle.

The Sacred Lord of Cold Moon, noting their heavy respect, thought to herself, “I am the Pure Land Sacred Lord, with the Chu Emperor as my sworn son; my status is no less than Liu Man’s. Yet, these three are subjects of the Great Han. It is only natural they bow first to Liu Man.”

Everyone had a sense of rivalry; she was no exception.

By giving herself a graceful excuse, she did not feel defeated by Princess Changle.

Cold Moon was expecting the three to pay respects to her next, but instead, they approached Fan Li.

“Lord Jin, you must be weary from your journey! Welcome!” Cao Cao said with some excitement.

“Indeed, Lord Jin, the Office of Court Ceremonials has prepared a grand feast; the three of us will have the honor of helping you wash away the dust of travel,” Sun Quan said warmly, grasping Fan Li’s right hand as if they were old friends.

Liu Bei had ridden a hundred miles out of the city to greet him, his sincerity unspoken but clear.

Having long served in officialdom in his past life as well, Fan Li was well versed in such formalities and immediately engaged them in friendly conversation.

After a while, he noticed the Sacred Lord of Cold Moon’s cold expression.

“Oh, I have yet to formally introduce her. This is the Sacred Lord of Cold Moon, who is…” he began.

“No need!” she interrupted coldly.

“I am fatigued and need to rest. Take me to my quarters!”

Fan Li looked puzzled.

When had he offended her again? Why the sour face?

Liu Bei, wearing a loyal and sincere expression, smiled and said, “Rest assured, the Office of Court Ceremonials has made all arrangements and will not neglect any esteemed guest. Someone, please escort this Sacred Lord to her chambers.”

He summoned a young official to lead the Sacred Lord away.

“Hmph!”

Furious but in the capital of the Great Han, the Sacred Lord of Cold Moon dared not show her anger openly, though her resentment boiled within.

“The Pure Land of Buddhist Sound is the sacred place for women’s cultivation of the world!”

“I am the Pure Land Sacred Lord, a great vehicle practitioner—how can I be treated as invisible by these few?”

“Does the Great Han dare to despise the Pure Land of Buddhist Sound?”

“Or do they dare to look down on me, Cold Moon?”

Fan Li watched the Sacred Lord of Cold Moon leave, puzzled.

He was certain Cao Cao and the others were deliberately slighting her; otherwise, how could a great vehicle master be ignored?

“Well…”

The three men, seeing the doubt on Fan Li’s face, laughed heartily.

Cao Cao explained, “This Sacred Lord bears ill will toward Lord Jin. Naturally, she is our foe, not a friend.”

Sun Quan added hastily, “What of her great vehicle cultivation? I stand alone.”

Liu Bei finally said, “If it were a one-on-one fight, none of us could match her. But in a life-or-death battle commanding an army, I am confident I could take her down.”

Fan Li nodded.

In the worldly imperial courts, even the Great Han—weak as it was beneath the surface—had no openly recognized great vehicle experts.

Yet, with thousands of troops and horses, they had no fear of the Sacred Lord of Cold Moon alone.

Just as Fan Li commanded three thousand palace guards, enough to intimidate Cold Moon.

What of thirty thousand? Three hundred thousand?

The Pure Land of Buddhist Sound was aloof and transcendent, refusing to bow to any mortal dynasty, yet it dared not truly tear apart relations with Chu, Han, and Ming.

While they conversed, a palace eunuch delivered a message.

“His Majesty heard of the princess’s return and is joyful. He urgently summons her to the Weiyang Palace to pay homage.”

Princess Changle frowned but did not move.

“His Majesty only wishes to see the princess? Does he not know Lord Jin of Chu has also arrived in Chang’an with his delegation?” Liu Bei asked, puzzled.

“Er, I am merely the messenger and know nothing else,” the eunuch said sheepishly, glancing at Fan Li and shrinking into a shriveled posture, unwilling to look up.

“Heh, it’s nothing, never mind,” Fan Li scratched his nose, somewhat self-aware.

The Han Emperor Liu Xie?

This emperor had long been humiliated by Dong Zhuo and probably harbored a belly full of resentment.

In Liu Xie’s eyes, Fan Li was clearly the Chu version of “Dong Zhuo.”

He despised the man, and how could he warmly receive Fan Li just upon arrival in Chang’an?

“If you are upset, then I will not enter the palace,” Princess Changle whispered into Fan Li’s ear, smiling softly.

She was daring indeed.

Such intimate behavior might be ignored by Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan, but the eunuch bearing the imperial order would surely report it truthfully to the emperor.

Before Fan Li could respond, another arrived.

“Master Dong has long admired Lord Jin’s virtuous reputation and has prepared a banquet. Lord Jin must honor us with your presence!”

Master Dong?

In the Great Han court, many bore the surname Dong, but only one could claim the title “Master Dong”—the Grand Tutor Dong Zhuo.

Everyone was taken aback!

Especially the eunuch from Weiyang Palace, his face flushed with urgency, clearly eager to return and report this great matter to the Han Emperor.

“Seems I must go?” Fan Li muttered inwardly. “Can treacherous ministers really find camaraderie among themselves? Why would Dong Zhuo want to see me?”

Cao Cao, thinking Fan Li hesitant, lowered his voice to advise him.

“Lord Jin, this journey should be safe. It would be best to pay a visit, to avoid offending Dong Zhuo. If you feel uneasy, I shall accompany you.”

Among Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan, only Cao Cao maintained a facade of cordiality with Dong Zhuo and had free access to the Grand Tutor’s residence.

“Then I will trouble Minister Sikong,” Fan Li replied quietly.

With Cao Cao by his side, there was at least an additional layer of protection.

…

Within Weiyang Palace.

“Ahhh! My Changle, you have suffered so much!”

Absurd cries echoed beneath the palace beams.

Han Emperor Liu Xie wept copiously, his sorrow genuine.

In contrast, Princess Changle, though speaking warmly to comfort her father, had eyes as calm and still as water, showing no emotional upheaval.

“Changle, it is your father who has wronged you.”

“I had thought Emperor Xiang Ning of Chu a reliable support, but within months of his enthronement, he was usurped.”

“Unlike me, who reigned steadily for decades—how could Xiang Ning be so useless?”

“Now you are in Great Chu, living awkwardly alongside the new ruler Xiang Chong in the palace—how are you to endure this life?”

Liu Xie’s voice was loud enough to be heard throughout the palace.

This was meant to be a royal secret, but by tomorrow it would surely spread through every street and alley of Chang’an.

Changle sighed, helpless before her father’s mediocrity and weakness.

She soothed him, “Father, rest assured. Though His Majesty has temporarily left the palace, he has decreed Lord Jin Fan Li to protect your daughter. These days, the false emperor Xiang Chong has not been disrespectful to me.”

Her words were meant to improve Fan Li’s standing in her father’s eyes.

But upon hearing Fan Li’s name, Liu Xie grew angrier.

“Fan Li?”

“I hear he arrived in Chang’an and immediately went to see that old villain Dong Zhuo?”

“All these treacherous ministers are cut from the same cloth!”

“Perhaps your father should take matters into his own hands and have Fan Li eliminated here in Chang’an at once?”