"Prime Minister, do you think I'm beautiful?"
Hearing this, Fan Li directly rolled his eyes. "I think you're sick, your brain's sick! There's a famous doctor called Hua Tuo in the imperial hospital. Want me to introduce you to him?"
A brain doctor called Hua the Great in the hospital? Xiang Ning hadn't heard of him before. But Fan Li instantly said this person's name. Xiang Ning believed Hua Tuo must be part of the treacherous minister's faction. She should find a chance to expel Hua Tuo from the hospital, best if out of Chu!
"What's your name?"
Lost in plotting to eliminate Fan Li's minions, Xiang Ning didn't catch Fan Li's question the first time. Only when he asked again did she react.
"I'm called Ning'er." Xiang Ning unhappily replied.
Having ascended the throne for just two months, her gender was the biggest secret. She absolutely couldn't let others, especially Fan Li, know!
"Go brew a pot of tea for This Minister." Fan Li commanded without nicety.
Xiang Ning stared dumbfounded. "You, you, you...how dare you order me! By what right!?"
Fan Li looked at her somewhat strangely. "You're just a palace maid. Even if you usually serve the Emperor and Empress Dowager, serving This Minister tea today isn't much grievance right?"
Xiang Ning was so angry her face turned red! How could her peerless looks and distinguished air only pass for a palace maid?
"How do you know I'm a maid? What if I were a princess?" Xiang Ning retorted.
Fan Li sneered coldly: "This Minister thoroughly read the imperial clan's records. There is no Princess called Ning'er. His Majesty has no living parents, so you definitely aren't a concubine. Aside from the Empress Dowager, only maids can walk around the palace."
Xiang Ning was rendered speechless by his retort. But no matter what, she was unwilling to serve tea for this treacherous minister.
Slap!
"Ow!" Still stubborn, Xiang Ning was suddenly slapped on her bottom by Fan Li. "You dare hit me!?" Covering her stinging bottom, Xiang Ning was both shocked and angry.
Fan Li coldly said: "People may enter Chengming Hall at any time. If you don't serve This Minister tea, how will you explain it? Do you want to raise suspicion of stealing documents? Or having an affair with This Minister?"
"Bah!" Blushing to her ears, Xiang Ning couldn't refute. She even suspected Fan Li was protecting her. A lowly palace maid naturally couldn't bear the crime of trespassing into Chengming Hall.
"I don't believe a treacherous minister could be so kind-hearted." Despite thinking this, Xiang Ning still covered her swollen bottom and trotted off awkwardly to brew tea.
Peace temporarily returned to Chengming Hall.
Fan Li already completed the system task. The earlier Marrow Cleansing Pill made him feel reborn. He guessed the previous host's damaged foundation was already healed. But what did this imply? Cultivation? Fan Li's heart thumped rapidly!
But seeing the mountains of memorials on the desk, he endured for now. State affairs were foremost. Cultivation would have to wait, it wasn't something achieved overnight anyway.
"The little emperor's still in seclusion. He does call me Father at least. I'll work overtime on behalf of my son today." Fan Li casually muttered and continued reviewing memorials.
Brewing water in the corner of Chengming Hall, Xiang Ning couldn't help peeking at Fan Li. She realized she was secretly ogling a man and felt strangely embarrassed yet thrilled!
"Once my cultivation succeeds, if the treacherous minister repents and loyally assists my rule, I may consider sparing his life." Xiang Ning suddenly pondered so.
Never having brewed tea before, Xiang Ning ruined several pots before barely managing one drinkable. By the time Xiang Ning finished the passable tea water, the sky outside Chengming Hall had already darkened.
"Trea...Prime Minister, have some tea." Xiang Ning carried the tea over, but Fan Li was too absorbed to hear her.
"The treacherous minister laboring for my kingdom, working without sleep or food?" Xiang Ning fiercely shook her head, dispelling the slight feeling of being moved that mysteriously emerged.
A treacherous minister! Cannot be trusted! Just remembering being forced to call him Daddy in court today, hatred itched Xiang Ning's teeth. If not for him, why would she pretend to be a man and suffer bitter seclusion?
"Is this tea drinkable?" Fan Li finally noticed Xiang Ning. But the tea before him had already cooled long ago with just a glance.
Xiang Ning's face flushed red. She retorted: "It's because you were too focused on the memorials, ignoring my calling many times. Can't blame me for the tea cooling!"
After saying so, Xiang Ning instantly regretted it! Her current identity was a palace maid, while he was the all-powerful treacherous minister. Talking to him like this, was she giving him an excuse to kill her?
Hearing this, Fan Li pondered briefly then nodded. "You're right, can't blame you for the cooled tea."
Quite thirsty by now, he didn't mind drinking cold tea either, directly picking up a cup and downing it. The cooling yet bitter tea quenched his thirst despite the bad taste.
Fan Li smiled. "Thank you. Hopefully, I can drink hot tea brewed by you next time."
Xiang Ning never expected the treacherous minister to have such a refined side! Especially his harmless look when smiling that seemed to imprint itself into Xiang Ning's mind.
"You're so young, why force His Majesty to call you Father?" Xiang Ning changed topics. Her voice was full of blame as she asked: "Aren't you embarrassed to be called old like that?"
Fan Li was surprised. This palace maid really dared speak her mind! Not angry, but he couldn't tell the truth either. Just to complete system tasks? Who would believe that?
Fan Li casually said: "However young I look, I'm qualified to be his daddy."
The original was only 25, 6 years older. But adding Fan Li's age before transmigration, he was already over 50. A rotten 50-year-old geezer fathering a 19-year-old boy. Certainly qualified.
"Hmph! Shameless treacherous minister!" Xiang Ning felt he had no decent explanation. As expected, still a villain's nature.
After finishing all the memorials, Fan Li prepared to leave the palace and return home.
"Ding!"
"New Task: [The Ruler Serves Minister]"
"Task Description: Have the Emperor serve the host in any way. Reward effect increases based on completion."
Fan Li was surprised. What kind of nonsense task was this? Make the little emperor serve him?
Both men, Fan Li naturally wouldn't consider certain matters. At most forcing the Chu Emperor to serve tea or pour wine.
"I'll have the little emperor pour wine for me after he leaves seclusion." Fan Li somewhat lacked interest. With his intellect, he couldn't think of ways to raise task completion either. There seemed no chance of double rewards this time.
Feeling somewhat thirsty, Fan Li knocked his empty teacup. Can't you see the cup's already empty? This palace maid Ning'er really lacked sense.
"Hmph!" Xiang Ning was also extremely angry. She as the Chu Emperor, actually ordered around by Fan Li like a palace maid! But to conceal her identity, Xiang Ning could only take the teapot and fill Fan Li's cup.
Fan Li had just finished drinking when the system's prompt rang out in his mind.
"Ding!"
"Detected the Emperor in female disguise serving tea for the host!"
"Congratulations Host for the high-quality completion of [The Ruler Serves Minister] task. System rewards doubled!"
Fan Li blanked for a few seconds before slowly shifting his gaze onto Xiang Ning.
Ning'er?
Xiang Ning?
The Chu Emperor?
Boy...you sure know how to play!