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Chapter 936: The World in an Uproar
🕑 Added 2024-10-28 16:21:47 +0000 UTCJia Xu wasn’t exaggerating when he said Xu Shao was putting his life on the line with this ranking. He was quite literally risking everything.
Apart from the more standard inclusions, like Diao Chan, Cai Yan, Zhen Mi, Mi Zhen, and Wu Yuan, which were reasonable, there were some questionable names like Lady Gan, Lady Bian, and the Qiao sisters. These could still be overlooked with some tolerance. But why was Empress Fu on the list? And even worse, why wasn’t she ranked first?
This was the Empress, the mother of the empire. The fact that Xu Shao dared to rank her lower than first was already a death wish. How could Emperor Liu Xie save face?
Not to mention, the wives of Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Ce, and Zhou Yu all made the list, and they were ranked too! How would these three major warlords react to seeing their wives judged and ranked?
Additionally, this wasn’t a "Beauty Ranking" but a "Remarkable Women Ranking." Of course, beauty could count as part of what made someone remarkable. For example, Diao Chan ranked first for her beauty and loyalty, Zhen Mi came second for her stunning looks and noble family background, and Cai Yan was third for her talent and appearance.
From this, it was clear that unless one’s talent was exceptional, the list primarily focused on looks. However, Xu Shao had gone ahead and placed the wives of the Emperor and the three most powerful warlords of the time on the list without any regard for the consequences. It was like he had a death wish.
And there was more. Chen Yun, someone who arguably didn’t belong on this list at all, was included. While she could be considered beautiful, she wasn’t a top-tier beauty by any means. What made her inclusion even more problematic was her background.
Chen Yun came from Manxiang House, having been a courtesan before being given to Chen Xi as a maid by Liu Luo. She later became a renowned performer. Based on her talent, she indeed deserved a spot on the list, but the issue was that this list also featured the Empress, the wives of warlords, and noblewomen from prestigious families!
Overall, this ranking insulted many powerful people. Having someone like Chen Yun ranked among them was a slap in the face to everyone on the list, and even worse, it insulted those backing these women. Yet, by the rules of the ranking, it was technically legitimate.
"Is someone using me as a pawn?" Chen Xi turned to Jia Xu, wondering if he was somehow being dragged into trouble without cause.
"I don’t have any intelligence to suggest that, but it’s not out of the question," Jia Xu replied, tapping his folded fan on the table. The problems in this ranking were too many. Jia Xu even suspected that Xu Shao had been coerced or compromised in some way.
"Xu Zijiang isn’t normally so reckless. Besides, there’s no point in targeting me. What’s more, this ranking has already crossed several major lines. By comparison, including Chen Yun isn’t even that big a deal," Chen Xi said, drumming his fingers on the table. "What is he trying to achieve?"
"Whatever his intentions, the ranking is out now, and we can’t stop it. The whole world must already be in an uproar. As for your worries, don’t be too concerned. Chen Yun is your concubine. Though her status is low, she’s protected by you," Jia Xu said with a smile.
While Chen Xi wasn’t adept at analyzing such details, Jia Xu had already pieced together the situation. He understood that Xu Shao was indeed being reckless, but this stunt would elevate his "Monthly Reviews" to their peak popularity. Xu Shao’s reputation would reach an unprecedented height.
Just as Jia Xu predicted, once Xu Shao released the ranking, the entire world erupted in shock. Everyone who saw the list was astonished but also couldn’t help but admire Xu Shao’s audacity and dedication to his craft. This was a true ranking, uncompromised by power or influence.
Xu Shao had set clear criteria for the "Remarkable Women Ranking" and followed them strictly, without bowing to the rich and powerful. He didn’t care about rank or status, valuing only the accuracy and integrity of his assessments. It was clear that he was willing to risk his life to ensure the ranking was authentic.
Because of this, the ranking had undeniable credibility. Only someone with Xu Shao’s dedication would dare to produce such a list, even if it could be his last.
As people across the land saw the ranking, they were initially shocked but then felt a sense of admiration. Most believed Xu Shao was courting death—how could he rank the Empress outside the top five and expect to survive? Emperor Liu Xie would lose face over this.
But this very boldness made the list highly credible. If Xu Shao was willing to risk everything, the women on this list must truly deserve their spots. Even without portraits, the fame of each woman on the list quickly spread throughout the land.
"Xu Zijiang, that madman..." Zang Hong muttered as his eyes widened at the ranking in his hands. But amidst his shock, he also felt respect. This was true professionalism. No wonder no one had surpassed Xu Zijiang in character evaluations in over a century—his dedication was unmatched.
"Chan'er, look at this..." Lu Bu, who had reached a nearly god-like level in strength, handed the list to Diao Chan. She had been gravely injured during the battle at Xuan Yuan Cauldron, but Lu Bu had injected her with his endless inner energy, keeping her alive, albeit with limited combat ability.
"Loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness, huh?" Diao Chan traced the words on the list, thinking of Wang Yun as she sighed. "Fengxian, will you one day take me away from the Central Plains? Let’s find a secluded valley and live in peace, alright?"
"As long as Chan'er wishes it, once I fulfill my oath, we will retreat from the world," Lu Bu said solemnly. After the death of Yan Shi and Diao Chan’s near loss, he had come to realize what he truly valued.
In Chang’an, Cao Cao stared at the ranking, his eye twitching. Seeing his wife on the list irked him, but what annoyed him more was her rank—thirteenth. Liu Bei’s wife, Lady Gan, was tenth, while Sun Ce and Zhou Yu’s wives were tied for fourth. Cao Cao even felt tempted to spy on Lady Gan and the Qiao sisters to see what the fuss was about.
As for the top three, aside from Zhen Mi, Cao Cao didn’t have much to say about the other two. But seeing Empress Fu ranked sixth, he couldn’t help but curse Xu Shao for being so reckless.
"What’s this about a 'Lady Zou'?" Cao Cao murmured as he read the introduction of the twelfth-ranked woman, feeling a sudden urge to investigate further. Compared to the distant figures like Huang Yueying, Mi Zhen, and Wu Yuan, this Lady Zou was much closer and yet had gone unnoticed.
In Ye City, Lady Zhang covered her mouth and chuckled. While she didn’t make the top ten, being ranked at all was enough to satisfy her. As the only female head of the wealthiest merchant family in the land, her reputation gave her a significant boost.
Though beautiful and wealthy, Lady Zhang knew that with her daughter ranking in the top three, it would have been awkward if she had also made the top ten. Her current spot was just right, and most could understand why she ranked behind others like Lady Gan. Everyone accepted the arrangement, and it smoothed over potential conflicts.
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