Emperor Jiajing was still somewhat moved.
His title is so long that sometimes even he himself cannot remember it clearly.
However, Tao Zhongwen could remember every word clearly.
This is a good subject who is loyal to the emperor and patriotic.
"I heard that the Tao Qing family has newly refined a medicinal elixir?"
After serving Emperor Jiajing for nearly ten years, Tao Zhongwen had already understood the temperament and character of this Daojun Emperor very well.
He bowed deeply and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, this elixir is called Red Lead Pill. I took a virgin girl who had just begun her menstrual period and refined it into cinnabar. Taking this elixir will not only prolong your life, but also enhance sexual pleasure."
It is outrageous enough for a minister to offer elixir to the emperor, but to bring it into the subject of sex is simply shameless.
But Emperor Jiajing was not angry at all. Instead, he was delighted and said, "The Tao family is very thoughtful. I wonder how many pills they have refined this time?"
Tao Zhongwen replied in a gentle voice: "I have refined three pills in total. I have already tested one, and there are two left."
Emperor Jiajing felt heartbroken when he heard this.
There were only three pills in total, and Tao Zhongwen ate one of them.
However, there is no way around this. According to custom, all newly refined pills must be taken by the alchemist first to prove that the pill is non-toxic.
"Your Majesty, please look, this is the red lead elixir I refined."
Tao Zhongwen opened a small box and gently opened it.
Emperor Jiajing looked carefully and saw two quail egg-sized pills in the box. The pills were bright red in color.
He liked this and took elixirs offered from all over the place every day, but the one he trusted the most was Tao Zhongwen.
Emperor Jiajing couldn't wait to take the pill.
However, according to custom, he had to have someone test the medicine before taking it.
Usually, this is done by the eunuchs who serve as attendants.
However, Emperor Jiajing had a special candidate, that is, the cabinet minister.
Previously, he had rewarded many elixirs to Xia Yan and Yan Song. Now that Xia Yan was imprisoned, it was natural for Yan Song to test the elixirs.
"Send the imperial decree, summon Lord Yan to the audience."
Huang Jinlian said yes and went to announce the decree.
Recently, Emperor Jiajing has been busy meditating in the palace to seek enlightenment and has rarely interacted with outsiders.
After finally meeting Tao Zhongwen, Emperor Jiajing wanted to have a good chat with him.
"How about playing a game of chess with Mr. Tao?"
"I am honored."
After the king and his minister sat down, they each held their pieces.
Emperor Jiajing played black and Tao Zhongwen played white.
Emperor Jiajing sighed and said, "Yesterday the palace reported that the Crown Prince's headache had recurred. I am deeply worried."
Tao Zhongwen asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, may I ask if you have met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince recently?"
Emperor Jiajing nodded slightly and said, "I met him a few days ago."
Tao Zhongwen shook his head and said, "No wonder. I remember once telling Your Majesty that two dragons cannot meet. Your Majesty is a true dragon, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a latent dragon. The two dragons cannot meet. Otherwise, the true dragon will kill the latent dragon."
If an ordinary person said this, he would have been dragged out and executed by Emperor Jiajing.
But Emperor Jiajing had no choice but to believe what Tao Zhongwen said.
In the 12th year of the Jiajing reign, the Jiajing Emperor's eldest son, Zhu Zaiji, was born. At that time, the Jiajing Emperor was already 26 years old, which was very late for an emperor to have a child.
He was very happy and immediately wanted to make Zhu Zaiji the crown prince.
Unfortunately, the little prince died two months later. The Jiajing Emperor was deeply saddened and announced a three-day suspension of court.
Zhu Zaiji was posthumously named Prince Aichong and buried in Xishan.
In the 15th year of the Jiajing reign, the second prince Zhu Zaizhen was born. In the 18th year of the Jiajing reign, the Jiajing Emperor made him the crown prince.
As a result, in that year, Crown Prince Zhu Zaigang contracted smallpox.
Smallpox is a terminal illness, so even for a prince, it is nothing special.
The imperial doctors were helpless, so Emperor Jiajing had no choice but to invite a Taoist priest to the palace to exorcise the evil spirit.
Emperor Jiajing was already extremely desperate at this point and was simply trying his luck as a last resort.
The alchemist that Emperor Jiajing originally wanted to invite was Shao Yuanjie, but because Shao Yuanjie was old and frail, he recommended Tao Zhongwen.
As a result, a magical thing happened. Tao Zhongwen used talisman water to spit on the sword and eliminated the evil spirits in the palace.
After an exorcism, the crown prince recovered.
Emperor Jiajing regarded Tao Zhongwen as a god. After all, Tao Zhongwen could cure terminal illnesses that even the imperial doctors could not.
Since then, Tao Zhongwen gained the favor of Emperor Jiajing and became a popular figure around the emperor.
It was also at this time that Tao Zhongwen proposed the theory that two dragons should not meet.
Emperor Jiajing recalled the death of his eldest son Zhu Zaiji and suddenly realized the truth. He decided to avoid meeting the prince.
This went on for several years, but unfortunately a few days ago Emperor Jiajing couldn't help but meet his son.
Well, my son’s headache has come back again.
"I regret not listening to Mr. Tao's advice."
Seeing that Emperor Jiajing really believed it, Tao Zhongwen hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, it is not too late to prevent the true dragon and the hidden dragon from meeting each other."
Jiajing nodded repeatedly.
At this moment, Huang Jin came to the side of Emperor Jiajing and whispered, "Your Majesty, Lord Yan is here."
"Xuan."
Emperor Jiajing waved his hand and said.
"Grand Secretary Yan Song is here to see you at the Xuanhua Gai Palace!"
Huang Jinsui chanted in a shrill voice.
Yan Song was on duty in the cabinet of the Forbidden City. When he heard that the emperor had summoned him, he hurried to the Western Garden.
The Imperial Palace and the Western Garden are quite far apart, especially for an old minister who is 68 years old.
Yan Song hurried as fast as he could, his back was soaked and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
But he still did not slack off at all, and knelt down respectfully on the ground and shouted "Long live the emperor".
Emperor Jiajing raised his hand and said, "Lord Yan, please stand up."
"I, your Majesty, thank you."
Yan Song stood up tremblingly, and when he saw Tao Zhongwen was there, he understood what was going on.
This old Taoist must be here to offer elixirs.
As expected, Emperor Jiajing said directly, "Lord Yan, Mr. Tao's family has just refined this red lead pill, and there are three pills in total. He has already eaten one, and there are two left. I will reward you with one."
Upon hearing this, Yan Song quickly thanked him and said, "How could this old minister deserve such great kindness from Your Majesty? I am deeply ashamed."
Although he said this, he was in great pain in his heart.
Emperor Jiajing liked to take drugs. Before taking any pills, he would always give them to his cabinet ministers as a reward, asking them to try them first to see if there were any side effects.
After all, the emperor is worth a fortune and cannot take risks easily.
Yan Song had lost count of how many times he had tried elixirs on Emperor Jiajing. As he grew older, his health deteriorated.
When he was young, it might have been okay to take some pills, but now he was becoming increasingly unable to bear it. He would often cough after taking pills.
But this was a reward from the emperor and he couldn't refuse it, so he could only shout out his gratitude.
The elixir given by the emperor must be eaten even with tears!
"Lord Yan is too modest. You and the Tao family are both my loyal ministers. The Ming Dynasty still depends on your assistance in governing it."
Emperor Jiajing said slowly.
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