December 8th, Xu time.
The East Palace of Laifeng Kingdom, the main hall in the front yard.
"Second Elder, I offer you a toast!"
Accompanied by the beautiful, dignified and majestic court music, and admiring the graceful dance of the dancers in the center of the hall, Emperor Nalan Qingcheng, who was sitting at the top seat, raised his glass to toast Xuanming in the VIP seat.
On the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Xuanming, Xiao Lengyu and Yang Wenqing set out from Huaqiao Village. After several days of travel, they finally arrived in the capital at noon on the eighth day.
As soon as Xuan Ming and others arrived in Beijing, they were directly welcomed into the Eastern Palace by Mu Lige's confidants.
After an afternoon of rest and reorganization, Mu Lige held a welcome banquet for Xuanming. In order not to disturb Xuanming, only Hua Qingcheng and her husbands attended the banquet.
However, upon hearing that the second elder of Xuanyi Valley was coming, Empress Nalan Yunzhi also brought the Imperial Noble Lord An Zihao, as well as two Noble Lords Ouyang Yuming and Gu Changqing, to the East Palace Hall to attend the banquet and welcome him.
Of course, Xiao Lengyu's father, Yang Wenqing, was not qualified to attend due to his low status. As for Xiao Lengyu, he was lucky enough to have a glimpse of the emperor's face thanks to his companionship as Xuanming's medicine boy (in reality, half apprentice, half servant).
"Thank you!"
Xuanming, sitting in the VIP seat, was neither humble nor arrogant. He raised his glass to greet Nalan Yunzhi, and then drank the tribute wine in the jade cup.
“Good wine!”
Xuanming, who always enjoyed drinking, couldn't help but sigh.
"If Second Elder likes, you can stay in the palace for a few more days. Firstly, you can be reunited with your beloved disciple, and secondly, I can also fulfill my role as a host."
An Zihao, who was sitting on the left side of Nalan Yunzhi, also raised his glass to toast Xuanming, acting like the host of the emperor's wife.
"No problem... no problem..."
Xuanming took a quick sip and then put down the jade cup. (This was already a huge honor for the other party!)
But when Xuanming glanced at An Zihao who was sitting in the main seat, a hint of ambiguous light suddenly flashed across his shrewd eyes.
(Xuan Ming: This Noble Lord An is very handsome, but both his skin and hair seem a little too beautiful. It's not normal...)
An Zihao was not angry at Xuanming's indifferent and distant attitude.
After all, any capable hermit would always have some quirks. Perhaps when he needed help from him in the future, An Zihao would treat Xuanming with extra courtesy.
Now, Wang Zhenyi, the abbot of Xiangyang Temple, was dead. Besides the one Rejuvenating Golden Pill Wang Zhenyi had given An Zihao, which he had already taken, he still had nine. However, taking only ten Rejuvenating Golden Pills was far from enough.
According to Wang Zhenyi, ten Rejuvenating Pills would only prevent him from aging as rapidly as before, allowing him to age more slowly than his peers, but it wouldn't preserve his beauty for life. If he wanted eternal youth, he'd have to take at least a hundred Rejuvenating Pills...
Ouyang Yuming, who was sitting on the right side of Nalan Yunzhi, only sneered in his heart at An Zihao's cold response, but he still maintained a generous and decent smile on his face, not revealing his true emotions.
As for the other noble, Gu Changqing, he always followed Ouyang Yuming's lead, and this time was no exception. With the Emperor and the Crown Princess here, and since Ouyang Yuming hadn't said anything, he'd better keep his mouth shut...
"Second Master, Qingcheng toasts you a glass!"
"Second Elder, Li Ge will offer you a glass of tea instead of wine!"
After the emperor and the uninvited guest An Zihao spoke, Hua Qingcheng, the master of the East Palace, also toasted Xuanming together with Mu Lige.
"No need to be so polite, Princess and Princess Zhengjun!"
Because there were outsiders present, Xuan Ming solemnly raised his glass to Hua Qingcheng and Mu Lige, and drank the wine in the jade cup in one gulp.
"Second Elder, please!"
"We did it, you can do whatever you want!"
After Hua Qingcheng and Mu Lige finished their toast, Situ Ye and Wu Chen also raised their glasses to toast Xuanming from afar.
Xuan Mingchao nodded slightly to the two of them, and also drank the tribute wine in the jade cup in one gulp.
"Second Master, although tribute wine is delicious, it's not advisable to drink too much."
Han Yichen, holding a cup of tea and raising it towards Xuanming, wanted to tell him that Xuanming was old and it was not appropriate for him to drink so much, but he was afraid of losing face for his master, so he could only give him a subtle reminder.
"Xiao Chenchen, Second Master knows that you are filial. But don't worry, I am in very good health." Xuanming stroked his gray beard, nodded slightly, and smiled with a look of satisfaction.
Then, Yu Xiaotian, Si Chengfeng, Wu Chen and Zuo An also toasted Xuan Ming.
"I'm tired, so I'll go back to the palace first. Princess, please take care of the Second Elder."
"Yes, Queen Mother."
"Farewell, Your Majesty."
After three rounds of drinks, Nalan Yunzhi said goodbye and left the table with her royal master and two noble masters, and walked out of the East Palace leisurely.
"Xiao Chenchen, that royal noble is no simple person..." Xuanming stroked his gray beard and said meaningfully.
"Second Master is indeed very discerning. Let's move to Bingquan Pavilion to discuss in detail."
Han Yichen nodded to Xuanming. Then, Hua Qingcheng and her husbands all went to the hall of Bingquanxuan together.
"To be honest, Second Master, not only was this noble Lord An poisoned by Han Shuying's 'Ice Soul and Snow Spirit', but I also gave him the 'Beauty Withering'. After being weaned off my medicine, he should have a head of white hair and a face that is gradually withering."
Han Yichen narrowed his narrow, almond-shaped eyes, his gaze suddenly cold, and continued, "But looking at his appearance now, he actually has a head full of shiny black hair, and his skin is also radiant. He looks full of vitality, even better than that young man..."
"Second Master, I suspect... An Zihaochen consumed an elixir made by Wang Zhenyi, the fake Taoist master of Xiangyang Monastery. This elixir is made from the heart blood of young girls and boys, supplemented with special medicinal herbs. It's extremely sinister."
"It's indeed very abnormal..." Xuanming nodded and agreed with Han Yichen's statement.
"Second Master, I'm sorry to have you come all the way here, but Brother Li and Achen are both pregnant, and Brother Li is about to give birth. Qingcheng doesn't want a repeat of what happened to my father (Feng Lingyan). From now on, I hope you will take good care of them."
Hua Qingcheng bowed solemnly to Xuanming. Mu Lige's due date was drawing near. Although Sanlang Han Yichen was a master of medicine, having Xuanming present during the birth would provide an extra layer of security, naturally providing a safeguard...
"Little Chenchen is my beloved disciple, like my own son. I'm not young anymore, and seeing him every time is precious to me... It's good for him to be here and keep him company. Don't worry, my lady, I will definitely protect him and your Majesty."
Xuanming stroked his gray beard, looking arrogant.
Although his good disciple tricked him into coming to the capital, actually to let him stay in the Eastern Palace to prevent anyone from using various means to drug and harm his good disciple and the Crown Princess, Xuanming felt more sorry for his disciple and did not bother with this little rascal.
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