"Chen Yuanhao, present."
Vice Minister of Rites Chen Yuanhao immediately stepped out from among the court officials.
Fan Li smiled and said, "This duke asks you, how many members of the Great Chu imperial clan are there now? How many of them have Nascent Soul cultivation? Are they serving as officials in court, what ranks do they hold, and what is their relationship to His Current Majesty?"
Chen Yuanhao was clearly a seasoned veteran official. Without even thinking, he opened his mouth and fluently answered.
"According to the Laws of Chu, collateral branches of the Xiang clan more than five generations separated shall not be recorded in the imperial genealogy."
Therefore, there are a total of 4,518 direct blood descendants of the founding emperor and imperial clansmen recorded by name.
There are 75 people at the Nascent Soul Realm or above, of which 53 people hold hereditary noble titles and stipends and lead idle lives at home. Only 22 people serve as officials in court.
Among these people, the highest rank is Third Class, and the lowest is Fifth Class. According to the imperial genealogy, most of them are His Majesty's paternal uncles and elder cousins, with 3 even being His Majesty's grandfather's generation."
After listening to his whole answer, Fan Li nodded in satisfaction. "Minister Chen truly lives up to being a capable official. This duke has remembered your performance today."
Chen Yuanhao was overjoyed. Under the envious gazes of his colleagues, he withdrew back among the court officials.
"What do you mean by this!?" Although Xiang Chong had background and strength, he obviously lacked experience in court politics. He only vaguely felt something was off, yet couldn't figure out what pit Fan Li was trying to dig for him.
Fan Li smiled and said, "Isn't my meaning obvious? Nascent Soul Realm? Imperial clansmen? With just these two conditions, it seems you should start from being a Fifth Class official? As for treatment as Regent Minister... "
With you...not qualified!
Xiang Ning almost wanted to personally say those last two words!
If it wasn't for the Empress Dowager listening from behind the beaded curtain, she definitely would have!
Xiang Chong gritted his teeth furiously and said, "Then may I ask, Duke Fan, what merits have you accomplished at your mere twenties, for you to be conferred the title of Duke Jin and hold supreme power among officials?"
Fan Li raised two fingers. "First, my ancestors' merits. My Fan clan were the number one contributors when Great Chu was founded. My clan's founder followed the Hegemon King and was honored as the 'Second Father'. My Fan clan has labored for Great Chu until today, accumulating thousands of years of merit and hard work.
Second, I, Fan Li, also have extraordinarily great merits. Aside from several years of hard work in governing, I recently welcomed back the guardian beast Wu Gang and followed His Majesty in defeating Ming's Jiajing Emperor at Lu City."
Among civil officials, modesty was common, so someone like Fan Li bragging about merits starting from his ancestors was definitely a rare eccentric.
Xiang Chong's cheeks twitched!
If they really competed over merits, he truly couldn't compare with Fan Li.
Compete over ancestors?
The founding Emperor Xiang Yu established the country, thus the inheritance of the throne for thousands of years. But Xiang Chong didn't have succession rights, even mentioning it would be treason.
As for his own merits, Xiang Chong was sent to cultivate in the Blazing Fire Sect when he was six. He had only just returned to Peng City recently.
He was completely useless for Great Chu, and wasn't even the late emperor's son. Yet he enjoyed treatment as a prince all this time due to his mother's sake.
"Duke Fan..." The Empress Dowager's voice softly sounded from behind the curtain. "Does Duke Fan believe Xiang Chong is unqualified to be Regent Minister? This widow asks Duke Fan, now that Xiang Chong has completed his studies and returned, how should the court arrange his position?"
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Court politics were sometimes like doing business. Ask a sky high price first, then make concessions.
The Empress Dowager listening behind the curtain this past month was to prepare for her son's return. She felt distressed for Xiang Chong. Just because he wasn't the late emperor's biological son, he was forced to be sent to the Blazing Fire Sect when young.
She had to wait until the late emperor's death before she could finally arrange for Xiang Chong to return to Chu. But this time, not only did she want to welcome her son back, she also wanted to plan out his future!
With Fan Li present, the Empress Dowager also knew it would be hard to accomplish this matter. But even taking a step back, not becoming regent, or even giving up the prince title, it would be great if Xiang Chong could be appointed to one of the Three Excellencies!
Prime Minister, Minister Coachman, Censor-in-Chief.
Fan Li was Duke Jin concurrently serving as Prime Minister. The Empress Dowager hoped Xiang Chong could become Minister Coachman.
The Minister Coachman held military power!
"If he must hold office, then appoint Xiang Chong as a Counsellor," Fan Li replied.
"What!?" The Empress Dowager and Xiang Chong exclaimed in unison, their tones mixed with anger and disbelief.
According to the Chu system, it barely counted as a Fifth Class official with no actual power and only existed as an advisory role.
Fan Li shrugged helplessly and said, "Xiang Chong has no experience in governance. As a Counsellor, it would at least allow him to observe politics and gain experience. This is for his own good!"
The Empress Dowager patiently asked, "How long must he observe politics before he can truly participate in handling government affairs?"
This was equivalent to asking how long before Xiang Chong could get a promotion.
"The court has regular performance assessments," Fan Li laughed and said. "With outstanding assessments, he can be promoted by one rank every three years. For mediocre assessments, one promotion every five years. If Xiang Chong has poor assessments..."
With poor assessments, naturally he couldn't get promoted, and might even be dismissed from office.
"Outrageous!" The Empress Dowager finally became furious.
As the Empress Dowager of Chu, she held utmost prestige. Yet appointing her own biological son was being obstructed by a subordinate?
But just as she was about to say something, Fan Li waved his hand interrupting her. "Empress Dowager, you should be aware the inner palace shall not interfere in politics. This is currently court session, please refrain from speaking, Empress Dowager."
The inner palace shall not interfere in politics!
This principle was something even a child understood. But daring to directly say this in front of the Empress Dowager not only required courage, it also required strength!
Everyone then recalled that Fan Li definitely possessed this strength!
Within the beaded curtain, Empress Dowager Li seemed to have also calmed down for the moment, not immediately responding.
"The Overlord Battle Armor and Sword of Prince Huai are treasures from the imperial treasury."
Yet Fan Li didn't intend to let Xiang Chong off. He winked at his third younger brother Fan Chun.
Fan Chun understood his intent and walked over in front of Xiang Chong, extending a hand.
"Thank you, Counsellor Xiang, for allowing us the opportunity to reminisce our founding emperor's grandeur by wearing the Overlord Battle Armor and Sword of Prince Huai. Now then, would you please take them off."
Xiang Chong's expression was extremely ugly. Just a moment ago he was still Regent Minister. Yet now, he had actually become "Counsellor Xiang"!?
Unfortunately, in the face of Fan Chun's absolute strength, Xiang Chong couldn't arouse the slightest will to fight.
The Overlord Battle Armor and Sword of Prince Huai ultimately weren't divine weapons like the Overlord Spear.
Xiang Chong was at the early Nascent Soul Realm in strength. Fan Chun possibly already reached the Unity Realm.
With a whole two great realms in difference, they weren't on the same level at all!
Thus, in front of the full court civil and military officials and Xiang Ning, Xiang Chong started taking off his clothes atop the royal court.
"Ahhhh! So satisfying!" Xiang Ning was so emotional she almost wanted to give Fan Li a big hug!
It turned out that when it came to bullying others, as long as it wasn't herself being bullied, it felt so liberating?
The Empress Dowager spoke again. "Duke Jin, I would like to remind you. The mistress of the Blazing Fire Sect is very interested in Xiang Chong, and the relationship between the Blazing Fire Sect and the Pure Land of Brahmanic Sound is extraordinary."
Pure Land of Brahmanic Sound?
Fan Li was already a bit fed up with these four characters.
Named as a Pure Land, but it didn't look like a secluded and sacred place at all.
Princess Chang Le inherited from the Pure Land of Brahmanic Sound, yet this woman had no appearance of being pure and ascetic.
The Empress Dowager, also a disciple of the Pure Land of Brahmanic Sound, was not a simple person either.
"As long as I, the Duke, am here, Great Chu will remain the same. Regardless of the Pure Land or the Wasteland, neither can meddle in the politics of Great Chu."
In the past, Fan Li might not have said such words solely based on the influence of the Fan family. But now, with the loyalty of the Black Dragon – Wu Gang, who reached the Great Vehicle Realm, there were very few entities that Fan Li would fear!
The Pure Land of Brahmanic Sound was, in fact, an alliance of powerful women. Each branch of the Pure Land had at least one extremely powerful female practitioner.
Even if Fan Li offended a powerful figure from the Pure Land of Brahmanic Sound, it would only be offending one branch, not the entire Pure Land. Therefore, he could still disregard the Empress Dowager!
"Congratulations to the host for successfully thwarting the Empress Dowager's ambition to interfere in imperial power."
"The mission 'Harem Shall Not Meddle in Politics' is complete! Rewards are immediately issued!"