The memorials requesting the establishment of the second prince as crown prince piled up on Emperor Zhou's desk.

Emperor Zhou, however, was obsessed with alchemy and beautiful women, ignoring everything else.

The second prince wanted the court officials to add fuel to the fire, but Consort Shu persuaded him to stop.

"Xian'er, isn't this just right?" Consort Shu took out a bottle of peach blossom powder that she had acquired at great expense. "Give this to Chunyang and have him add a little bit to His Majesty's elixirs every day. This Great Zhou will be ours from now on."

This peach blossom powder is extremely addictive; consuming it brings a blissful, ethereal feeling, while cutting it off causes a thousand ants to gnaw at your heart.

Once you're addicted, it's very difficult to quit.

Consort Shu intended to use the peach blossom powder to control Emperor Zhou.

The second prince accepted the peach blossom powder, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. After all, Emperor Zhou was his father, and had doted on him since childhood.

"My dear, a man must be ruthless to succeed. If you want to sit in that position, you must use some tricks." Consort Shu's eyes revealed ruthlessness. "Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. The emperor's favor can be withdrawn at any time. Only what you hold in your own hands is real."

Zhou Xian's hesitation faded, and his gaze gradually turned cruel: "Your subject understands."

......

After the peach blossom was mixed into the elixir and given to Emperor Zhou, Emperor Zhou's health improved day by day, and his complexion became rosier and rosier.

Officials from the Suzhou area came to the capital to report on their duties and presented Emperor Zhou with a group of beautiful women with supple waists and gentle charms. Emperor Zhou spent his days in Yanxi Palace, indulging in wine, women, and debauchery.

With the aid of the elixir, Emperor Zhou became increasingly powerful in battle, and the number of beauties in Yanxi Palace also increased.

One day, Emperor Zhou was in high spirits when he overturned a medicine bottle, finding it empty, which summoned Chunyang.

Chunyang said with difficulty that one of the main ingredients was missing.

This main ingredient is extremely difficult to find, and once it is picked, it must be delivered within seven days; otherwise, its medicinal effects will be lost, and it will be impossible to make it into a miraculous elixir.

Emperor Zhou summoned his second prince and ordered him to search for him immediately.

The second prince looked troubled: "Father, this medicine is thousands of miles away. Even if I find it, without the support of officials in various places, it will be difficult to send it back within seven days."

To deliver medicine back to Beijing, both horses and manpower are indispensable.

The mountains are high and the emperor is far away; even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake. Local officials all have followers in the imperial court.

If he happens to encounter a political enemy, and the other party uses a dirty trick, the Second Prince will have no way of noticing it.

"Su Zhong, go to the Imperial Study and fetch my Imperial Sword for the Second Prince!" Emperor Zhou ordered.

Those who wield the Imperial Sword are as if the Emperor himself were present; those who disobey will be killed without mercy.

The second prince was overjoyed and bowed deeply, saying, "I will obey Your Majesty's decree!"

The second prince won on his first attempt.

Next, he used the same method to trick Emperor Zhou into going to the imperial palace, and thus gained the power of regent.

Consort Shu's status also rose accordingly, and her clothing, food, housing, and transportation were all up to the standards of an empress.

The court officials, seeing which way the wind was blowing, were already privately calling for the crown prince.

People in the capital seemed to have gradually forgotten that Emperor Zhou was still in the imperial palace.

"That won't do."

Chu Xinxin glanced at Chu Yun, who was pretending to bump into the Second Prince not far away, and pondered in her heart that she should have Chunyang switch the Zhou Emperor's medicine.

Not far away.

Dressed in white, Chu Yun resembled a pure white flower. She bowed gracefully to the Second Prince, but when she stood up, she lost her balance and fell onto him.

With the beauty in his arms, the Second Prince paused for a moment, then helped her to a proper position and took a step back imperceptibly: "Miss Chu, I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

“But what did Yun’er do wrong that Brother Xian wouldn’t even talk to her?”

Chu Yun's tears came easily, making her look pitiful and instantly heartbreaking.

The Second Prince still needed Prime Minister Chu's support, so he couldn't be cold to Chu Yun and had to patiently say a few words to her.

Before leaving, Chu Yun stuffed a purse embroidered with mandarin ducks into the Second Prince's hand, then walked away shyly.

The second prince didn't even look at it and threw it directly into the water.

"This Miss Chu is beautiful. Now that the Third Prince has been demoted to a commoner, the engagement has long been null and void. Since she is interested in Your Highness, why doesn't Your Highness take her as a concubine?"

A trusted confidant suggested, "In this way, Prime Minister Chu will surely stand firmly on His Highness's side."

"What's this? You haven't seen her elder sister..." The Second Prince recalled the stunningly beautiful face he had only seen once, and couldn't help but become somewhat lost in thought.

"Indeed, once Your Highness inherits the great cause, what kind of beauty wouldn't you have?"

The second prince smiled proudly, his eyes gleaming with a determined light.

......

Imperial Palace.

Chunyang was so startled by the woman who suddenly appeared in the center of the hall that he jumped out of bed.

"Miss Xin Xin, what brings you here?"

Chunyang quickly closed the door tightly, afraid of being seen.

Chu Xinxin glanced into the bedchamber: "How is Emperor Zhou doing now?"

“Extremely dependent on hibiscus powder.” Chunyang took out another small bottle. “This was sent by the Second Prince today.”

Chu Xinxin took the bottle and was about to open it when she suddenly realized something was wrong.

Seeing her expression change drastically, Chunyang immediately asked, "What's wrong?"

Chu Xinxin: "This is a Seven Star Begonia."

The Seven Star Begonia is colorless, odorless, and invisible; however, just a whiff of it will infect you with its poison.

Zhou Xian intends to kill everyone in the entire palace.

Chunyang was so frightened that he fell to the ground with a thud: "Luckily, luckily I didn't have time to open it."

Chu Xinxin returned the small bottle to him, but Chunyang dared not accept it.

"Here, as long as you don't open the bottle cap, everything will be fine." Chu Xinxin took out another bottle from her sleeve. "There is a pill inside. Give it to Emperor Zhou after he wakes up. Half an hour later, tell him about the Seven Star Begonia."

"Miss Xin Xin, does that mean His Majesty knows about my relationship with the Second Prince...?"

Chunyang panicked.

Chu Xinxin retorted, "What have you been colluding with the Second Prince about? Peach powder? Have the imperial physician examine him; His Majesty's health is perfectly fine."

Chunyang was skeptical, but after giving Emperor Zhou the medicine, he summoned the imperial physician to take his pulse.

"How about it?"

Emperor Zhou asked with a smile.

"His Majesty is in excellent health."

The imperial physician's brows were furrowed so deeply they looked like the character "川" (river).

It's outrageous! How can Emperor Zhou be so healthy despite doing all this every day?

Emperor Zhou laughed heartily: "Chunyang, Chunyang, did you deliberately send the imperial physician to take your pulse just to get a reward?"

Chunyang knelt down and took out a bottle containing Seven Star Begonia powder: "Your Majesty, a criminal has a report to submit..."

"Your Majesty, I, a sinner, can clearly distinguish right from wrong. Although the Second Prince used my disciple as a hostage, the act of regicide is a crime punishable by heavenly retribution, which will destroy all blessings and good fortune for all eternity. I dare not do such a thing. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

Emperor Zhou's face darkened completely halfway through the conversation.

As his mind gradually cleared, he slowly recalled the events of recent times and realized that the Second Prince's disloyal intentions had already become apparent!

"Prepare the carriage! Return to the palace!"

Eunuch Su bowed and was about to leave.

Emperor Zhou stopped him: "Wait, go and find Prince An. My return to the palace must not be told to anyone except Prince An!"

"yes!"