The half-immortal claimed to be a Taoist from Penglai, and all the elixirs he refined were of the highest quality.
No matter how difficult or complicated the illness, one pill can cure it completely.
With the help of the Taoist priest's elixirs, Emperor Zhou became vigorous and energetic, returning to his youthful state.
The beauties in the palace weren't enough for him, so Emperor Zhou held another imperial concubine selection, and privately hinted to Chu Xuan that he should send Chu Xinxin into the palace.
"What about Prince An..." Chu Xuan feigned difficulty.
Emperor Zhou: "He's nothing more than a dog I kept. I gave him a little power, and now he's acting like a prince or grandson of the emperor?"
"But what about the opinions of the officials..."
Emperor Zhou didn't care at all: "Just switch between the legitimate and illegitimate children, and choose the better-looking one for Prince An. You can decide for yourself."
Chu Xuan quickly understood what Emperor Zhou meant.
Chu Xinxin and the concubine's daughter switched identities. The concubine's daughter became the legitimate daughter and married Prince An, while Chu Xinxin entered the palace as the concubine's daughter to participate in the imperial concubine selection.
As for Qi Yi, we'll talk about it when he returns from the Southern Frontier.
Chu Xuan bowed and agreed.
"Then this humble subject will take his leave."
"Wait a minute."
The Taoist priest from Penglai called for Chu Xuan to stop.
How dare a Taoist priest order him around? Chu Xuan's face darkened: "What else does the Taoist priest from Penglai want?"
"Your Majesty, I have heard of the eldest daughter of the Chu family." After pretending to count on his fingers for a while, Penglai frowned and said, "This girl is born with fire in her destiny, while Your Majesty is a golden dragon. Fire overcomes metal. If this girl enters the palace, it may be detrimental to Your Majesty."
Emperor Zhou did not want to give up the beauty he was about to win.
Penglai Taoist: "Your Majesty, do you always feel a strange dizziness whenever you are near Miss Chu?"
Emperor Zhou recalled it and it seemed so.
"Your Majesty, do you experience health problems whenever you come into contact with her?"
The Taoist priest of Penglai spoke cryptically, but Emperor Zhou understood immediately.
Wasn't it that time that he discovered he... was impotent?
Absolutely!
Emperor Zhou believed it to some extent.
"Furthermore, Your Majesty, think about it. Ever since this woman returned to the capital, there has never been any peace in the Prime Minister's residence. But as soon as she goes to the Qi residence, everyone is at peace."
Emperor Zhou asked, "Why?"
"Because the Prime Minister of Chu is also associated with the element of metal, while Lord Qi is associated with the element of earth, fire can overcome metal but can generate earth. That's why the two families can live in peace while she is in the Qi residence!"
Emperor Zhou believed it.
But the beauty was still unwilling to give up: "Master, do you have a way to resolve this?"
Penglai stroked his beard: "There is a elixir that can cure this, but the medicinal ingredient needs to be soaked in cold water for eighty-one days, and then refined by Samadhi True Fire for forty-nine days before it can be formed."
"Refine!" Emperor Zhou made the decision, then turned to Chu Xuan and said, "My dear minister, then do as the immortal says. Go back and help me appease Xin Xin."
A hint of murderous intent flashed in Chu Xuan's eyes, but he suppressed his anger towards Penglai and said, "Yes, sir."
......
Prince An's Mansion.
Zhou Huaichuan had just returned from Jiannan and hadn't even entered the city when he received news that a Penglai immortal, known as a demigod, had appeared in the palace.
"Master, we've found out." Yun Zheng respectfully handed over a confidential document, then took ten steps back to a safe distance.
Zhou Huaichuan opened it, and after reading just the first line, he couldn't help but sit up straight: "Is the Penglai Immortal someone Xinxin found?"
Yun Zheng: "Master, please read on."
The secret document detailed the events from the moment Chu Xinxin went to Weiyang Palace until Chu Xuan emerged from the Imperial Study with a livid face.
After Zhou Huaichuan finished reading it, the secret document turned into powder and fell to the ground.
"Yun Zheng, what were my instructions to you?"
Zhou Huaichuan was so angry that his face showed no emotion whatsoever.
Yun Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly shifted the blame: "Master, this can't be entirely my fault. Miss Chu is a young, unmarried woman. As a man, I can't possibly stay by her side every step of the way, can I? Besides, Yun Gui follows her around every day, and I haven't seen her come to report to me..."
Zhou Huaichuan took the cloak and glanced at Yun Zheng: "I'll settle the score with you when we get back."
Then he left in a hurry.
Yun Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and planned to try to curry favor with Haitang and curry favor with Miss Chu tonight.
The Prime Minister's Residence.
This time, Zhou Huaichuan went straight in through the main gate.
The steward stepped forward with a smile: "Your Highness, the Prime Minister is not in the manor."
"I did not say I was looking for him."
Zhou Huaichuan stormed into Qiluan Courtyard: "Chu Xinxin!"
"Here!" Chu Xinxin raised her hand. "Xinxin is here! What kind of monster are you? Show yourself at once!"
Zhou Huaichuan grabbed Chu Xinxin's cheeks with both hands and pinched them hard, and all his anger dissipated.
"You're just making a fool of yourself."
Zhou Huaichuan released her, and Chu Xinxin covered her face, her eyes accusing him: "It hurts!"
"Let me blow on it for you."
"roll."
Zhou Huaichuan pretended not to hear and sat down next to Chu Xinxin.
"Was this trip fruitful?"
Chu Xinxin observed his expression; his eyebrows and eyes were clear, and his complexion was rosy, which was an auspicious sign.
"I presented evidence of Emperor Zhou's ruthless elimination of meritorious officials during his reign, along with his self-inflicted wounds, harsh treatment of soldiers, and drastic reduction of military pay. Lord Cao, who was in charge of the Right Wei Army, nodded in approval."
"Where is the Jiannan Army?"
"The leader of the Jiannan Army is indeed loyal to Emperor Zhou, but his soldiers are already dissatisfied. With a few words of provocation, they have become disloyal. They are not of one mind, so the Jiannan Army is not a threat."
Chu Xinxin: "Then don't underestimate the enemy. You should send a few people in."
"Yes, I've left a few trusted men there."
Zhou Huaichuan turned his head and looked at Chu Xinxin, his eyes sparkling: "How did you know what I wanted to do? You even arranged for a Taoist from Penglai to come."
"Because I'm good at divination," Chu Xinxin said with a smile. "I've already predicted that your Ziwei Star will move, so I have to work harder to earn the merit of supporting you."
Zhou Huaichuan's hands were itching to play again.
"Next time you're going to do something, tell me first. If you do it yourself, those people will easily find out."
"No, no one will know that Penglai is one of my people."
"I know."
Chu Xinxin said with a look of disdain, "Tch, with Yun Zheng's brain, if I hadn't deliberately leaked it to him, he wouldn't have been able to find out anything."
Yun Zheng, who was eavesdropping outside the wall, rolled up his sleeves and was about to barge in when Haitang grabbed him, saying, "Save your breath. You have no reason to lose to our young lady."
Yun Zheng cried with a long face: "Waaah, Haitang, am I really that bad?"
While eating the candied hawthorns that someone had brought, Haitang tried to comfort him, saying, "It's alright, I think you're okay."
"Could you please talk to your young lady for me and ask for a get-out-of-jail-free card?"
"I don't even have it myself!"
Haitang grabbed the candied hawthorn and ran off. Yunzheng's eyes flashed with a smile as he chased after her.
......
No one knew that Zhou Huaichuan had secretly left the capital.
However, the Zhou Emperor's growing dependence on Penglai caused unease among the third prince.
"Master, we sent people to Penglai Island to inquire, but there is no Taoist named Penglai."
Third Prince: "Oh? Did you bring back any people from Penglai Immortal Island?"
"have."
The Third Prince's confidant exclaimed excitedly, "My lord, they are truly immortals! I saw them with my own eyes on the Immortal Island. They can summon wind and rain!"
"Do they know how to make pills?"
"They brought the elixir of immortality!"
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