Chapter 32: The Alliance Through Marriage Between Chu and Han

“What? All three of my ministers have gone to the Ming imperial residence to meet with the Jiajing Emperor!?”

Inside the palace of Great Chu, the visiting Han Emperor, Liu Xie, turned deathly pale upon hearing the eunuch’s report.

Xiang Ying, standing at his side, could only find the situation both comical and exasperating.

Just moments ago, this imperial predecessor had been assuring him that Fan Li might not defect to Jiajing, and had then shifted to declare that his three ministers were paragons of loyalty. Yet, barely an incense stick’s time had passed before it turned out those very three had been summoned by Jiajing as well.

“Why… why did they go? Why didn’t they refuse?!”

“As ministers of the Han, how can they heed the summons of another sovereign at his whim?”

Liu Xie was as frantic as an ant on a hot pan, unable to sit still, pacing back and forth in the palace.

“Your Majesty, please calm yourself. Have some tea, have some tea,” Xiang Ning urged. He was truly not skilled in comforting others, especially when the other party was an emperor like himself.

“How can I possibly think of tea at a time like this!?” Liu Xie’s voice was edged with a sob.

“Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan—they have all betrayed my trust! I must hold them to account, I surely will!”

“I will strip them of their titles, dismiss them from office, and reduce them to—”

To Xiang Ning, Liu Xie at this moment seemed more like a woman than he himself did. In fact, he resembled a woman scorned, heartbroken by a faithless lover.

The Son of Heaven of Han was, at this moment, radiating a pitiful sense of grievance.

At just this time, four figures entered the Chu Emperor’s palace in succession.

Fan Li.

Cao Cao.

Liu Bei.

Sun Quan.

The four, grateful to have returned alive, shared a camaraderie born of mutual peril. Yet they at once heard the Han Emperor’s cries.

Fan Li was unperturbed, but the three who had been named—Cao, Liu, and Sun—wore expressions of deep embarrassment.

“What’s going on?” Fan Li’s glance questioned Xiang Ning, who shrugged, as if to say, “None of my business.”

“Ahem! Your Majesty, we have just returned from the Ming residence and come to report,” Cao Cao stepped forward, breaking the awkward silence.

“Hmph! So you know to return, do you?”

Fan Li could only feel both amused and helpless at this. Was this truly befitting of an emperor’s bearing? The tone in Liu Xie’s voice was reminiscent of a woman in the throes of menopause.

“Your Majesty, the Jiajing Emperor summoned us merely so we could go through the motions. Please do not doubt our loyalty,” Liu Bei said. As the Imperial Uncle, he outranked the Han Emperor in seniority. At his words, Liu Xie managed to calm down a little, ceasing his emotional complaints.

Only then did Sun Quan step forward, speaking loudly and clearly: “Your Majesty, the Jiajing Emperor attempted to persuade us to surrender, but we refused him in the strongest terms and swore unwavering loyalty to Han!”

“I see… Well then, I may have lost my composure just now—pay it no mind, my beloved ministers.” Soothed by Sun Quan’s stirring declaration, Liu Xie was finally mollified, and even felt a twinge of guilt.

The two emperors listened to the four’s report and only then realized how arrogant the Jiajing Emperor had become. In the history of these “three emperor alliances,” rulers always competed in secret, and it was rare, indeed, for one to so blatantly try to poach another’s retainers at such a critical moment.

“Jiajing is truly contemptible—he clearly holds neither me nor the Chu Emperor in any regard!” Liu Xie fumed.

Xiang Ning frowned as well. “The Jiajing Emperor is indeed far too brazen.”

The two emperors stared at each other in helpless frustration; aside from venting their anger, they could do nothing.

Fan Li observed all this, thinking to himself, “With you two so feeble, how could Jiajing not be arrogant?”

As he mused, he exchanged glances with Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan. On their way back, the four had already reached a tacit understanding on certain matters. The three ministers, catching Fan Li’s look, nodded slightly.

Once again, Cao Cao stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I suddenly recall a matter that I would like to put before you.”

“Oh? Speak freely, my good minister.”

Now that his anger was spent, the three before him reverted to being his cherished advisors and pillars of the state.

Cao Cao knelt at once, with Liu Bei and Sun Quan kneeling to his left and right.

“Your Majesty’s precious daughter, Princess Changle, has now reached the age of marriage. I merely wish to remind Your Majesty that perhaps it is time to seek a worthy match for her.”

“Ah?” Liu Xie’s gaze was dazed; clearly, his mind could not keep pace with Cao Cao’s train of thought. Was this not the time to discuss how to counter Jiajing? Why bring up his daughter’s marriage out of the blue?

Meanwhile, Fan Li kept signaling to Xiang Ning with his eyes. Xiang Ning understood all too well, but her cheeks flushed crimson, unable to speak.

In this gathering of three emperors, Jiajing might have many hidden plots, but Xiang Ning’s mission was singular: to propose marriage.

“How am I supposed to say it? Fan Li, you scoundrel, can’t you help me shoulder the burden?” Xiang Ning silently complained, but she knew this was inevitable.

With a resolute bite of her lip, she suddenly stood and offered a half-bow to Liu Xie, who was seated across from her.

Liu Xie was taken aback. “Chu Emperor, there’s no need for such formality. We are both sovereigns, and our rapport is as close as brothers by blood…”

Though his words were courteous, Xiang Ning’s embarrassment was overwhelming; she felt on the verge of tears. Here she was, about to ask him to be her father-in-law, and he was still talking of brotherhood.

“Han Emperor, as the sovereign of Great Chu, my harem remains unfilled. Today, I wish to take Princess Changle as Empress.”

Liu Xie was stunned, rendered speechless for a long while.

A Chu-Han alliance was all but certain; no one present believed Liu Xie would refuse Xiang Ning’s request.

Yet Liu Xie shocked them all once again.

“But… Chu Emperor, are you not still within your mourning period?”

Fan Li finally cursed inwardly, “Foolish ruler!” Was this really the time to worry about such mundane etiquette, when the situation was so dire?

He noticed Xiang Ning gazing imploringly at him, clearly at a loss.

Left with no choice, Fan Li spoke for her: “The Han Emperor may not know, but Chu and Han have different customs. In Great Chu, the mourning period is three months, not three years. Once the alliance concludes, my sovereign may proceed with the wedding.”

“Ohhhhh!” Liu Xie finally nodded in satisfaction. With the ritual obstacle removed, he could fully savor the advantages of a Chu-Han marriage.

“Once Man’er becomes Empress of Chu, the alliance will be stronger than ever!”

“At that time, we can deter Jiajing abroad and keep Dong Zhuo in line at home.”

“Haha! With three wise ministers within and the Chu Emperor as my son-in-law without, who would dare bully me in the future?”

The more Liu Xie considered it, the more delighted he became, his smile now plain for all to see.

Fan Li could only shake his head. Truly, he was a weak ruler—his reputation was well earned.

Thus was the marriage agreed upon, and Fan Li, together with Cao, Liu, and Sun, discussed the details of the grand wedding.

Once all was settled, Liu Xie returned to his own palace thoroughly satisfied.

“This is absurd…” Xiang Ning watched Liu Xie’s retreating figure, reflecting on how she, a woman in disguise, was now to take an empress as consort. She felt ready to weep.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your sacrifice on behalf of Great Chu,” Fan Li said, to her surprise, his demeanor solemn and statesmanlike.

“Mm, I know my duty. You may rest assured,” Xiang Ning replied, somewhat comforted and in a gentler tone.

But then Fan Li cleared his throat.

“Ahem… Now that Your Majesty will have an empress, surely adding a Noble Consort would not be remiss?”

Xiang Ning: “???”

Is he mocking me!?