"Your Majesty, Emperor An, no matter how good your material possessions are, they are not as important as preserving your beauty."

Seeing An Zihao's hesitation, Wang Zhenyi flicked the whisk in his hand, ready to add fuel to the fire.

"The Imperial Master has a natural fascination with iron. If you take only 30% of what's in the hands of His Majesty, Emperor An, you can exchange it for ten anti-aging pills, ensuring you won't age precipitously. Of course, if His Majesty, Emperor An, wants to get rid of it once and for all, taking 80% will ensure you maintain your current beauty for the rest of your life."

Wang Zhenyi, sitting upright on the futon, looked as if he was thinking wholeheartedly about An Zihao.

"Eighty percent? Isn't that too much?"

Hearing that the other party wanted 80% of his iron ore output right from the start, An Zihao felt that the request was really too much.

"Your Majesty Emperor An, although the Anti-aging Pill has amazing effects, if you only take one pill, the effect will only last for a month. If you don't take enough, your beauty... will rebound. Given your current condition, I'm afraid you'll have to take at least ten pills to maintain your beauty." Wang Zhenyi added considerately.

An Zihao: ...

(The Anti-aging Pill you gave me earlier was just bait...)

Having tasted the sweetness of success for the first time, An Zihao has now adapted to his current handsome appearance. He is unwilling to return to his original state, let alone become a horrible person with white hair and wrinkles on his face?

"Your Majesty, this Anti-aging Elixir is priceless, and its supply is limited. And you're not the only one who wants it..."

Although Wang Zhenyi was merely a fake Taoist priest, his friendship with Ran Qiyue, the Imperial Preceptor of Zhaoyang State, was indeed genuine. The Golden Elixir of Youth was indeed a sinister elixir crafted by Ran Qiyue using the heart blood of young girls and boys as a lure, along with other ingredients.

However, although the elixir of youth can beautify people's skin and prolong their life, it comes at the cost of the blood and vitality of young girls and boys. There is only one result for the children who are captured to refine the elixir of youth, and that is death.

"What the Taoist priest said makes sense. Let me think about it carefully..."

An Zihao was heartbroken to have to take away 80% of his iron ore output all at once. But as long as he kept his honor and favor, wealth and glory would be just a matter of raising his hand.

After a fierce ideological struggle, An Zihao had already made up his mind and quickly made a choice.

As for Wang Zhenyi, he sat cross-legged opposite An Zihao with a calm and composed look on his face, because he knew that Emperor An would definitely agree in the end.

After all, who can resist the allure of eternal youth?

"Master, I agree. However, I have to get one hundred Rejuvenating Golden Pills at once." An Zihao gritted his teeth and agreed to Wang Zhenyi's request.

"Your Majesty, Emperor An, this golden pill of rejuvenation is not something that can be found anywhere. It is not easy to refine one, let alone giving you a hundred at once?" Wang Zhenyi said in embarrassment.

A few days ago, all 32 children captured by Guo Dongbing were rescued. Now, with the situation at its peak, it would be too risky to capture young girls and boys. It seemed the only option was to capture young girls and boys from various locations and then transport them here...

"In that case, the things I give you can only come in batches." An Zihao said with a little displeasure.

"Okay." Wang Zhenyi nodded slightly.

The mining of this iron ore is not a matter of a day or a night, so it is reasonable to distribute the iron in batches. Wang Zhenyi agreed without hesitation.

While An Zihao was playing chess with Wang Zhenyi at Xiangyang Temple, Hua Qingcheng and Han Yichen also got on the carriage pulled by Xiangyun horses and went down Qifeng Mountain, leaving the north of the city and heading towards the center of the city.

"Achen, how do you feel? Do you still feel nauseous and want to vomit?"

Hua Qingcheng specifically asked Feng Wu to drive the carriage slowly. Along the way, she kept her arm around Han Yichen's waist and gently embraced him.

"Xiao Qingcheng, I'm fine now. I don't feel uncomfortable."

Han Yichen's complexion was indeed much better than when he was at Xiangyang Temple. Although pregnancy was indeed very difficult, seeing Hua Qingcheng's attentive and thoughtful care, Han Yichen suddenly felt that all the hard work was worth it.

The rumbling carriage moved forward all the way, and around seven quarters in the afternoon, Hua Qingcheng and Han Yichen arrived in the city.

After returning to the city, Hua Qingcheng, who was worried that Han Yichen had not had lunch yet, kept looking for stalls selling wontons along the way.

"Achen, there is a snack stand selling wontons at the intersection ahead. Do you want to eat here?" Hua Qingcheng said with relief after finally finding the wonton stall.

"Xiao Qingcheng, I suddenly don't want to eat wontons again." Han Yichen, who was sitting side by side with Hua Qingcheng, said embarrassedly.

Hua Qingcheng: ...

"It's okay, Achen, what do you want to eat now?"

"Xiao Qingcheng, I don't know why, but I suddenly want to eat the noodles made by my second brother."

Han Yichen gazed idly southward towards Huaqiao Village in Fufeng County. He had once despised Situ Ye's cooking, but now he actually missed the taste of Situ Ye's cooking...

"What's the difficulty? Let's go back to the East Palace now. I'll ask Aye to make you a bowl of noodles in the small kitchen later." Although Han Yichen changed his attitude from time to time, Hua Qingcheng still coaxed him patiently.

At three quarters past three, Hua Qingcheng and Han Yichen returned to the East Palace and went directly to Qiyuntai where Situ Ye lived.

"Aye, are you practicing boxing?"

As soon as Hua Qingcheng and Han Yichen stepped into the courtyard of Qiyuntai, they saw a tall and majestic figure. The man was punching in the garden with great vigor.

Although Situ Ye now lives in the backyard of the Eastern Palace, he has not slacked off and practices diligently every day. Now Situ Ye's skills are already 70% to 80% of the level of Tianlang in his previous life.

"Yes. My wife, Third Brother, didn't you go to Xiangyang in the north of the city to see the red roses? How come you're back so soon?"

Situ Ye still preferred to use the old name privately. Seeing Hua Qingcheng and Han Yichen approaching, he immediately stopped practicing and walked with them to a nearby pavilion to sit down.

"Aye, Achen suddenly wants to eat the noodles you cooked. Why don't you go and cook a bowl for him?" Hua Qingcheng took Situ Ye's hand and smiled at him.

"Want to eat the noodles I cooked?" Situ Ye glanced at Han Yichen in surprise, then he smiled and said lovingly, "I'll arrange it for you right away, Third Brother!"