Alchemists living in Yue
"I don't want to, this is very good."
"I guess the head teacher in the Empress's Palace didn't remind the master that now that she's my Imperial Consort, she should be called my concubine." Xiao Yan'an glanced at the terrified head teacher with displeasure, warning her and threatening Yuanli. "Last night, a fire broke out in the Qi Mansion, burning nearly half the house. My Supreme Court Minister remains unconscious, and Chili was burned to death. Who can you guess who started the fire?"
"Who started the fire and what does it have to do with me? I don't want to guess."
Xiao Yan'an smiled with satisfaction and said, "Indeed, it was Chi Li who was burned to death. What does this have to do with Luan Jia?"
"Your Majesty, the time has come."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan'an immediately withdrew his hand that was holding the dish and stood up, "I'll come back tomorrow to have dinner with you." After saying that, he hurriedly left the side hall.
According to the head steward, Xiao Yan'an always left at a fixed time, but today, he seemed to have left a little earlier. After he left, Yuanli returned to her room early to wash and freshen up, just like yesterday, and ordered everyone not to disturb her without permission.
After blowing out the candle, Xiaobai immediately appeared and reported, "After leaving your side hall, Xiao Yan'an immediately went to the main hall to chant scriptures and incantations. Ju Yue's specific whereabouts have not yet been found, but from Xiao Yan'an's memories, he learned that this Ju Yue Taoist priest was a quack with some real skills. He was presented to Xiao Yan'an by the Minister Wang Quan'an. At first, Xiao Yan'an did not believe him, until Wang Quan'an immediately predicted that Jin County would be hit by a flood at the end of the month, causing great devastation. With the Minister Wang guaranteeing his official position and using his salary and property to send his son to Jin County to prepare for flood control, Xiao Yan'an agreed to see if it would actually happen at the end of the month. As the Taoist priest's prediction turned out to be accurate, Xiao Yan'an finally believed him. Later, every time Xiao Yan'an sent troops to annex other small countries, he accurately predicted the outcome of each battle, even the approximate number of casualties on both sides. From then on, Xiao Yan'an trusted him even more."
"No, most fortune tellers and feng shui practitioners in the mortal world are just scammers. Although there are some who are truly skilled, they are few and far between. Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed, and those who are truly skilled are often cautious, especially during natural disasters and wars that cause heavy casualties. When Ju Yue arrives in Beijing, I will ask He Qi to use the Dust-Bidding Technique to see his true form."
"Master, are you afraid that the Juyue Taoist priest is not a mortal?"
"It's possible, but I'm not sure. It doesn't matter if it's a desperate mortal or a small monster. I'm just worried about it... By the way, did you see the two of them talking about resurrecting mortals in Xiao Yan'an's memories?"
Xiaobai understood and nodded in affirmation. He might have forgotten other past events after a while, but he would never make a mistake about this one.
As he thought his predictions were getting more and more accurate, Xiao Yan'an began to value him more and more. Although he did not give him any official title, others treated him as the imperial teacher.
At that time, the ministers in the court once again advised Xiao Yan'an to become the successor. Several old and important ministers used their official positions to pressure Xiao Yan'an, which made him very angry. Several ministers of medium and low positions were dismissed from office as an example because they were the first to come forward and follow the advice.
Later, Ju Yue claimed that he could resurrect the emperor and empress, and was able to meet Xiao Yan'an. He said that there was an ancient forbidden technique that could recall the souls of the dead, and then guide the souls into a prepared new body, so that they could be "resurrected" and return.
Xiao Yan'an was hesitant, but the Taoist priest Ju Yue said that as long as he succeeded, the emperor and empress would be resurrected. Not only would he be able to stay with the emperor and empress forever, but even if he was very old, he could continue to use new bodies to resurrect Xiao Yan'an and the emperor and empress, just like they would be immortal and stay together forever.
Xiao Yan agreed without hesitation and spent a lot of financial and human resources to support the Yue Taoist priests to search various countries for the ancient forbidden technique to resurrect the emperor and empress.
But after more than twenty years of searching, and despite countless changes in the military servants accompanying Juyue each year, the Juyue alchemists still hadn't found the ancient forbidden technique. When setting out last year, Xiao Yanan issued an ultimatum: if there was no result by this year, his entire clan would be executed.
Just last night, Ju Yue wrote back.
"What kind of ancient forbidden technique is this..." Yuanli wondered to herself.
"I don't know. Ju Yue never explained the ancient forbidden technique clearly, nor did he provide any precedent to support it."
"Let's not look for the whereabouts of Taoist Ju Yue for now. For the next two days, you must stay by Xiao Yan'an's side. Ju Yue will definitely come to the palace to meet the emperor. When the time comes, follow Ju Yue and find his whereabouts in the imperial capital. Send a message back immediately so I can invite He Qi. Go ahead. Your own safety is the most important thing."
Xiaobai looked troubled and said worriedly, "But, Master, if Taoist Ju Yue is really one of Xie Yuan's former followers, I'm afraid the capital is in turmoil these days. If I follow Xiao Yan'an closely, what will happen to your safety?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, I'm the one who needs a new body for the so-called forbidden resurrection technique. Until then, Xiao Yan'an will definitely protect this body with all his might. Since Ju Yue has something in mind that Xiao Yan'an can give him, he naturally won't let me die prematurely. So don't worry about me. You're in far greater danger than I am. Go quickly."
After hearing Yuanli's analysis, Xiaobai finally felt relieved. "By the way, Master, Chi Xun asked me to tell you that he will do everything you said. If he still hasn't received news of your safe escape by the time he reaches the village, he will immediately set off to the capital to help you escape."
"Okay, so how long has he been away?"
"We just left the city gate. He did as you instructed, and Qi Zheng also agreed. He asked several high-ranking officials present to be witnesses and wrote a document to dissolve the engagement. The two families are free to marry and have no entanglement with each other. Qi Zheng took advantage of Qi Heng's unconsciousness and pulled his finger to stamp it. We were packing up and preparing to leave, but Qi Heng suddenly woke up. When Qi Heng woke up, he cried and looked for you. The servants said you were burned to death. The body was confirmed by the coroner. He was escorted back to Jiwang Valley by the Imperial Guards, so it couldn't be fake, but he refused to believe it. Later, he learned about the document and insisted that it wasn't his own writing and didn't count. He started another fuss, which delayed Chi Xun's departure from the city. Later, Qi Heng insisted on riding a horse to chase the Imperial Guards and see for himself that it was you before he acknowledged it. His father knocked him unconscious with the horse feed bucket, and Chi Xun was able to leave the city safely. "Do you need me to tell Qi Heng the truth?"
"No need. Leave him alone. Go monitor Xiao Yan'an first."
"good."
There was peace and tranquility for two days after that. Xiao Yan'an only came to accompany her for meals and then left early.
However, today, it was not Xiao Yan'an who came.
"Hello, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is busy with government affairs today and cannot come to have dinner with you. Your Majesty is afraid that you will be unhappy, so he specially ordered this old servant to come and tell you." The eunuch said flatteringly.
"No matter how busy your duties are, Your Majesty should eat on time. Your health is paramount. Since Your Majesty is unable to dine with me, I will personally bring the dinner to Your Majesty's study. Please lead the way, eunuch."
When the word "trouble" was mentioned, Yuanli specially grabbed a handful of golden melon seeds and gave them to the eunuch as a reward.
However, he said in embarrassment and fear, "Thank you for your gift, Your Majesty, but Your Majesty is truly busy with important government affairs and has no time to see Your Majesty. If Your Majesty is truly concerned about your health, I will remind Your Majesty of your words as soon as Your Majesty finishes your affairs."
The test was confirmed, and Yuanli said, "In that case, I will not bother Your Majesty anymore."
"Then I will take my leave."
"Come here, send the eunuch away."
Judging from the time, Ju Yue should have entered the imperial capital. Seeing the eunuch's reaction when he stopped him, it was most likely that Xiao Yan'an was busy with the "government affairs" at the moment, which was to meet the Taoist Ju Yue.
Yuanli called the head steward over, took out all the gold melon seeds that Xiao Yan'an had recently rewarded her with, and gathered all the maids and eunuchs who served her.
As everyone looked confused and worried, Yuanli said, "I'm in a good mood today. Anyone who has served me will be rewarded with a handful of golden melon seeds."
Upon hearing this, the maids and eunuchs present all kowtowed in gratitude, their hands trembling as they took the golden melon seeds from her. After personally distributing the golden melon seeds, only the head waiter hadn't received any yet, but the look in his eyes when he looked at them was still very happy.
After dismissing everyone, Yuanli asked the headmaster, "Aren't you afraid that after the distribution, there won't be any left for you? You clearly haven't received any yet, so why are you still so happy?"
"To answer the Imperial Noble Consort, to be honest, who wouldn't want golden melon seeds? But I know that what is destined to be yours will eventually come to you, and what is not destined to be yours should not be forced. We were all chosen together and have depended on each other for many years. We don't have a master to reward us. Although our salaries are higher than those of other maids and eunuchs, we can't save much money. Therefore, whoever gets the reward will be happy for the other person."
When she was Princess Liangzhu, she had witnessed many people in the palace scheming against each other and turning against each other for personal gain. Regardless of whether what the headmaster said was true or false, Yuanli still secretly reminded him, "Things in life are unpredictable. In everything, put yourself first."
After saying that, Yuanli took out the heavy purse from her body, grabbed a handful of golden melon seeds and handed them to her, then sealed the purse and hid it on her body for her.
"Go and have some fun with them."
Hearing this, the steward kowtowed to her with the golden melon seeds in his hand. "Thank you, Her Majesty, for the reward. I understand."
At night, a familiar coolness came from my wrist, and Yuanli said, "Come out."
Upon hearing this, Xiaobai appeared and replied, "Master, in the evening, Taoist Ju Yue came to the palace to meet Xiao Yan'an. He said that the forbidden technique to resurrect the empress has been found and can be performed at any time. Ju Yue is currently staying in the palace. Xiao Yan'an is anxious and has decided to perform the ceremony tomorrow."
"Did you understand how the forbidden technique works?"
"According to the Juyue Taoist priest, they will carve a totem circle for the ritual in the ground, tie you to the center of the circle, opposite the tablets of the emperor and empress. While he chants ancient Sanskrit mantras, he will cut your wrists and let your blood flow until the blood flows through the entire totem. Then, sacrifice six boys and six girls to summon the souls of the emperor and empress."
"absurd!"
Yuanli clenched her fists and silently recited Tianshu's name three times through telepathic communication. In an instant, Tianshu appeared before her, holding a white chess piece in his hand, with a look of astonishment on his face.
"This situation is urgent, so I have no choice but to rush. Tianshu Xingjun, can you help me find Heqi as quickly as possible?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
