Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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Zhen Ji looked at him, understanding dawning. She knew this was not just a husband’s comfort; it was the Emperor speaking. ”Brother Zhen Tuo is a good man,” she affirmed quietly. ”He cares for the clan’s well being, not just its wealth. I... I will support whatever action you deem necessary, husband. Husband’s judgment is the compass of my life now.”

The atmosphere had grown heavy with the implications of statecraft entering their garden sanctuary.

It was Diao Chan, who had been watching with her chin propped on her hand. ””My, my, Husband,” she chided gently, a playful smile on her lips. ”You have turned our music practice into a council meeting. The air has become far too serious! Must every talk of family end in politics?”

Lie Fan laughed, a genuine, hearty sound that echoed in the pavilion. He released Zhen Ji’s cheek and stepped back, spreading his hands in a gesture of apology. ”You are right, you are right! Forgive me. My mind is like a wagon stuck in a rut, it always finds its way back to politics. Let us cast away these heavy matters for tonight.”

He clapped his hands together, and glanced at them all, his eyes softening again. ”I have a better idea in mind. Let us go to the dining room. I have a sudden, powerful craving for the lotus seed pastries you all made the other day. If I recall, they were more delicious than any banquet dish. I would very much like to taste them again, and I would like the company of my beautiful wives while I do so.”

The request, so simple and childish from their husband who have grown to be more serious after proclaiming himself Emperor, who held the fate of millions in his hands, was met with a chorus of delighted smiles.

The shadow of the Zhen Clan receded. This was the man they loved, the man who, beneath the weight of the crown, still craved their pastries and their company.

”Of course, husband,” Ying Yue said, taking charge. ”It is rare these days that you make such a charming request. We would be happy to indulge you.”

”And we shall make sure to bake even sweeter pastries this time,” Cai Wenji added with a quiet laugh.

Lie Fan spread his arms in a mock gesture of command. ”Then let us march to the dining room, my beloved generals of flour and sugar.”

Their laughter rippled like silver bells, and as they rose, a flutter of colorful silks, and began to walk back towards the Harem Palace, Lie Fan walked in their midst, an emperor temporarily off duty, his arms linked with Ying Yue and Zhen Ji. The scent of flowers and the sound of their laughter followed them.

Within the dining hall of the Harem Palace, warm candlelight flickered upon silk draperies embroidered with phoenixes and lotus blossoms.

The aroma of pastries filled the air, flaky crusts glazed with honey, delicate lotus seed paste, sweet scented osmanthus cakes, and small almond buns arranged on lacquered trays. Lie Fan, his robe loosened slightly in comfort, sat among his wives at the low circular table.

He laughed freely, allowing the childlike indulgence to bubble forth. Ying Yue carefully placed one of the pastries onto his plate, teasing. ”If you eat too many, Husband, Master Hua Tuo and Master Zhang Zhongjing alongside the Imperial Physicians will scold us instead of you.”

Lie Fan waved a hand dismissively and bit into the pastry with relish. ”Let them scold! For tonight, I declare myself free of medicine and rules.” Crumbs clung to the side of his mouth, and Zhen Ji reached forward with a cloth, dabbing gently at his lips, smiling softly as she did so.

Diao Chan leaned back, one hand over her stomach as she giggled. ”How strange to see the man who carries the burdens of empire fight so ferociously with a pastry.”

”It is a worthy battle,” Lie Fan declared dramatically, earning another chorus of laughter from his wives. ”Not even the cooks of my grand banquets could match this flavor. It is unfair to compare them to you, my beloved wives, but it is the truth.”

The women laughed softly once again, their faces was very bright with affection. Cai Wenji covered her smile with one hand, while Diao Chan leaned forward to place another pastry upon his plate, teasing, ”Then you must eat more, Husband. We cannot have you return to state matters hungry.”

”Or grumpy,” Lu Lingqi added with a grin, earning a chuckle from Ying Yue, who, ever composed, poured another cup of tea for Lie Fan herself.

Lie Fan allowed himself to relax into their presence. Each bite, each shared laugh, dulled the sharp edge of politics that never left his mind.

For a time, the heavy matters of state, the shadows of court intrigue, and the endless calculations of war and politics faded into the sweetness of lotus paste and the brightness of shared joy.

But while the Emperor allowed himself this fleeting respite, outside the Harem Palace, the machinery of reform continued its steady turning.

That same evening, across Xiapi in the district where the Hengyuan Imperial Academy sprawled like a small city of scholars, four figures made their way through moonlit courtyards. Their footsteps echoed over stone pavements lined with lanterns.

It was Chen Qun, Jia Xu, Zhuge Liang, and Sima Yi,

Their destination was the Education Is Foundation Hall, the grand chamber at the heart of the academy where the Six Pillars of Education often gathered.

These six were Lu Zhi, Cai Yong, Zhuge Xuan, Sima Hui, Pang Degong, and Huang Chengyan, elders whose wisdom stretched across generations, revered not only as teachers but as the very conscience of the Empire’s scholarly world.

When the four men entered, they bowed deeply, hands cupped in utmost respect. The six elders sat upon carved wooden seats, their hair white or graying, their robes simple but carrying an aura of authority no jeweled crown could match.

Sima Hui, the eldest among them, smiled faintly. ”Gentlemen, the night grows late, yet still you come. Please, take your seats. We are curious as to what matter has brought the Grand Secretary, the Chancellor, and two of our most promising ministers here together.”

The four sat. Silence lingered a breath before Zhuge Xuan, his tone direct, leaned slightly forward. ”Tell us then, what purpose lies behind this sudden visit? Surely it is not idle talk that draws such men to disturb our peace.”

Chen Qun, calm and measured, answered with a smile. ”You are correct, Master Zhuge Xuan. This is no idle call. We believe the Six State Teachers must have heard by now of the storm within the court, the proposals that are shaking the old pillars of governance. The Nine Rank System and the Imperial Examination.”

Pang Degong, stern eyed, inclined his head. ”Indeed, we have heard. How could we not? Scholars, magistrates, and even minor tutors come knocking upon our doors, their voices loud with complaint. They beg us to lend our weight against these reforms. They say it will unravel the old order, that it will cast aside tradition. It has stirred the education circle as greatly as the palace itself.”

At this, Jia Xu gave a low chuckle, the sound like a knife sliding across stone. ”We expected as much. The old guard will never yield easily. Those steeped in ancient custom cling hardest to it, not out of reason but out of fear. It is the same each time reform comes. Did they not resist when education itself was widened to commoners?”

”Yet look now, schools bloom like spring flowers, small academies in every town. Children who once could not even hold a brush now learn their characters, some even for free. Tell me, Masters, is this not progress?”

Cai Yong stroked his beard thoughtfully. ”True words. I recall the cries of outrage when we first began that reform, yet the people thrive for it. Knowledge is no longer hoarded by the wealthy alone. We stand, I believe, at the final stage of that journey. And it is those same voices, fearful and stubborn, who now rail against this Nine Rank System and this Imperial Examination.”

He gestured slightly with his sleeve. ”So before we offer judgment, let us hear your explanations fully. Speak to us of this Nine Rank System, of this Examination. Let us weigh its worth with clarity.”

Zhuge Liang, who had been silent until now, bowed his head before speaking. His voice was steady and clear, carrying the quiet conviction of a man certain of his vision. ”The Imperial Examination, honored teachers, is to be held once every three years. Candidates will be drawn from across the realm, from noble families, merchant houses, and even common folk should their talent shine bright enough.”

”They will be tested not by their lineage but by their knowledge, their ability to reason, to govern, to compose, to calculate. And to preserve fairness, the examiners shall rotate, officials from the ministries will change each cycle. This ensures that no single family or faction can dominate, no one can bribe their way into office. It will be a great sieve, filtering true talent from shallow names.”

Chen Qun then added, his voice steady as iron law. ”The Nine Rank System is the companion, Officials and candidates will be classified across nine clear grades were each grade was separated into three ranks, determined by their achievements, their capabilities, and their proven conduct.” he explained.

”It is a framework for evaluating the character and competence of officials already in service. It moves beyond mere seniority or patronage. An official will be assessed on his integrity, his achievements, and his capabilities, and assigned a rank. Promotion and demotion will be tied to this rank, creating a clear path based on merit. These two, Examination and Nine Ranks, stand as twin pillars to uphold merit over nepotism.”

Throughout their explanations, the four ministers were careful. They never issued a demand. Instead, they wove a subtle, unmissable thread through their rhetoric.

Phrases like, ”It is His Majesty’s fervent wish to create a truly meritocratic government,” and ”The vision for a stronger dynasty requires that we tap into the entirety of our talent pool,” served as a quiet, persistent reminder. This was not merely their proposal. This was the Emperor’s will.

The Six Pillars listened intently, their expressions inscrutable. They were far too wise to miss the hint. In fact, they had known it before the ministers had even arrived. Lu Zhi, who had known Lie Fan since his earliest days, exchanged a glance with Cai Yong, who saw his daughter’s influence in the palace’s cultural patronage.

They all understood. The sheer audacity and scale of these reforms bore the unmistakable imprint of Lie Fan. The fact that he was allowing a theatrical debate to play out in court, rather than simply issuing an edict, was a masterstroke of political theater. He was not being a tyrant, he was being a strategist, allowing his opponents to reveal themselves before the net was closed.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Founding Emperor Of Hengyuan Dynasty

Age: 35 (202 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 2325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 966 (+20)

VIT: 623 (+20)

AGI: 623 (+10)

INT: 667

CHR: 98

WIS: 549

WILL: 432

ATR Points: 0