Chapter 68: Alchemy Refinement

Chapter 68: Alchemy Refinement

When the servant announced that the Venerated Master had arrived, Yuan Zixu was indeed practicing calligraphy. Chong Xiao's heart raced as he prostrated himself, too terrified to inquire if the emperor was truly penning that 'Clearing the Air Poem.' He lost all the nonchalant charisma of his usual celestial being, appearing meek and evasive with his gaze.

Yuan Zixu's sharp and solemn gaze swept over his face, as if scrutinizing something. After a moment, he suddenly laughed. "Ever since I started taking the pills you've been refining lately, I've felt much better. Yesterday, I had Li Dongfu organize the medicinal pills you've presented to me in the past. The elixir given to the Crown Prince was called Double Phoenix Pill. You mentioned it was once consumed by Zhao Hede and Zhao Feiyan, sisters renowned for their beauty and youth. On that day, I bestowed one pill to the Empress and another to the Crown Prince."

Chong Xiao's vision darkened for a moment. Yuan Zixu smiled warmly and said, "I've already sent someone to inquire with the Empress. She mentioned that after taking it, she felt more agile and her complexion seemed to have improved. However, there were no extraordinary effects. It seems the pill only shows its efficacy when the Crown Prince consumes it. Considering how rare it is for the State Preceptor to create such an excellent elixir, I believe it's necessary to test it on more individuals. Thus, I've selected a number of death row inmates for drug trials. As for the ingredients listed in your prescription, I've arranged for them to be prepared. You and your disciple should refine a few more batches diligently."

Chong Xiao's forehead was drenched in sweat, his back soaked, and his mouth filled with bitterness. "Your Majesty means... the Crown Prince..."

Yuan Zixu smiled faintly and said, "I had people investigate from multiple sources in the northwest, individuals who were unknown to one another, yet they all returned with the same account. The illness-induced dream of the Crown Prince proved true; the city where the Princess resides was indeed besieged by the enemy forces. Despite being on the verge of giving birth, the Princess donned armor herself and ascended the city walls to boost the morale of her troops. On that day, there indeed appeared a miraculous five-colored auspicious cloud in the sky, a phenomenon confirmed not only by those within the city and its outskirts but also by the captured enemy soldiers. They all attested that for a long time, a resplendent five-colored cloud lingered on the horizon."

"Kunlun slaves, captured as spoils of war from the fallen city's governor's mansion, were the horse tenders of Bei Xi's renowned stallion. That horse was exceptionally agile, and so the princess decided to retain both the horse and its attendants."

Chong Xiao whispered, "I've heard that after Prince Jingbei secured the thirteen provinces, Princess sent one of her attendants to visit the Crown Prince... It's possible that she shared this information with him back then."

Yuan Zixu said nonchalantly, "Yi Yang had a servant bring a kitten to the prince. At that time, the crown prince was unwell and lacked energy, so he didn't engage in much conversation with his attendants."

Chong Xiao could only force a smile and say, "It might not necessarily be the effect of that pill."

Yuan Zixu gave Chong Xiao a sharp glance before suddenly smiling. "High Priest, rest assured. I'm not an unreasonable tyrant who would accuse you of hiding something. This matter seems mystical and accidental; I doubt even you expected such effects from the pill. Fortunately, we still have the recipe. Take your time to refine it. You'll stay in the palace during this period – but do not leak the formula outside."

Despite his weakening legs, Chong Xiao bowed and replied, "This poor monk will obey."

Satisfied, Yuan Zixu picked up a half-dried scroll he had just written. "I wrote this recently for the High Priest's enjoyment."

Chong Xiao could only kneel to receive the imperial gift. As the eunuchs brought it down, he read the poem: "Heavenly gods protect, earth deities welcome, blending the essence of heaven and earth, sun and moon. A tiger roars as a dragon emerges from its cave, phoenixes and phoenixes dance out of the golden city. Cinnabar mixed with mercury, a red glow ascending to the pure realm. Lead's pool bursts with golden light, and mercurial fire flows like pearls into the imperial capital." (Note: A stanza from Lü Yan's "Ode to Cross-Changes" in the Tang Dynasty)

He forced a smile. "This is a poem by True Man Pure Yang. This poor monk will not disappoint His Majesty's trust. I'll refine the pill day and night..."

But Yuan Zixu said, "I've thought about it. True Man Lü believed in inner alchemy as the path to immortality, incorporating Zen Buddhism. Among all, True Man Pure Yang's teachings on inner alchemy are the most authentic. The Crown Prince practices asceticism daily, seeking emptiness and non-action. Perhaps that's why he has this immortal connection. These days, I plan to cultivate inner peace, study Taoist texts, and understand the true secrets. Focus on refining the pill, High Priest."

A glimmer of hope emerged in Chong Xiao's heart. Not bad. It was rumored that the Crown Prince hadn't taken any concubines yet. If the pill turned out useless, they could blame it on the prince's unique constitution. Otherwise, why would the Empress, who also took the pill, show no effects? The Emperor seemed to suspect this too, hence his recent focus on inner cultivation. Chong Xiao respectfully withdrew.

Seeing Chong Xiao leave, Yuan Zixu casually addressed Li Dongfu, "He's usually average in his Taoist practice, but he's diligent and meticulous with the pill recipe. He serves well, except for his greed for money. I thought of him as a symbol, a way to attract more talented masters. Now it seems his accidental discovery might yield something remarkable. I don't suspect him of hiding anything; it's obvious he's just as confused. Let's see if he can produce one or two more pills."

Li Dongfu's heart trembled. He'd always seen the Emperor treating the High Priest with respect, but now he realized the Emperor knew the High Priest was just swindling money... No wonder those pills were often casually given away, tested by others until proven safe before being presented. So much wealth was being poured into this, including genuine gold and silver for refining...

He asked, "Have you arranged for the pill testers properly?"

Li Dongfu replied, "They have been selected according to the Emperor's instructions, specifically by the Supreme Court. However, it's not easy to find young men of eighteen who are still virgins. We managed to find only three, one of whom has been a monk since childhood and is unfamiliar with worldly matters. We also chose several men in their forties and fifties and have them live in seclusion, with a Taoist master guiding them in daily chanting of scriptures for purification."

Yuan Zixu nodded and said, "Make sure they don't break their vows."

Li Dongfu quickly agreed, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Yuan Zixu sighed, "I wonder if it will even work. When I ordered the performance of the Heavenly Demon Dance, the Crown Prince remained as calm as an old well. He's just a young man, yet he possesses such composure!" He suddenly felt a twinge of worry. If it's true that only a virgin's essence is effective...

He then recalled the divination he had sought, which eerily aligned with the prophecy. Was this son truly incompatible with him? Chong Xiao had offered the elixir to him, but in his rage, he had wanted to test his son and carelessly bestowed it upon him. Yet, unexpectedly, Chong Xiao was the one who gained the divine connection? If he had taken it himself back then...

His mind swirled with suspicions, yet he knew it was too early to jump to conclusions. This out-of-body experience didn't necessarily mean anything. Nevertheless, a gloomy and envious expression crept onto his face.

Li Dongfu dared not respond, aware that the Emperor was prone to suspicion. He thought to himself, How meaningless the relationship between a royal father and son has become! He forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty's blessings are boundless. They say that true immortals spurn earthly riches. Now that a genuine immortal pill has been created, isn't it a sign of your divine connection? Can the day when Your Majesty attains enlightenment be far behind?"

Yuan Zixu felt reassured by Li Dongfu's words. Indeed, true immortals were indifferent to wealth and power. He always knew that those who sought his favor were merely after status. But perhaps this was the moment his divine connection had arrived. He regretted, however, that he hadn't used the pill himself that day.

Though he was suspicious by nature, Yuan Zixu only said solemnly, "We must investigate thoroughly. The Empress took the pill too, yet there was no effect. Perhaps the Crown Prince learned about the scene from another source and deliberately staged this mystique."

Li Dongfu, accustomed to the Emperor's distrustful nature, simply smiled and said, "In my humble opinion, the Crown Prince might have been startled. Usually, he remains in the Treasure Scroll Palace for quiet recuperation and never requests to see anyone. Suddenly, he asks to meet the National Preceptor. Does the Crown Prince not know that whatever he discusses with the National Preceptor, the Emperor is aware? It's likely that the Crown Prince is uncertain and fears involving the supernatural. Hence, he indirectly informed the Emperor through the National Preceptor, urging a thorough investigation. Otherwise, he could have simply kept silent and pretended to be ill."

Yuan Zixu revealed a hint of satisfaction, "If that's the case, then he has filial piety. But I'm afraid he might have other intentions... Let's wait and see until the Master of State finishes refining that pill."

After a moment, he added, "Send all the memorials from today's cabinet meeting to me."

Li Dongfu didn't dare delay and immediately instructed his servants to bring them in. Yuan Zixu picked through them for a while, selecting around twenty or thirty memorials, then instructed, "Have these delivered to the Crown Prince, telling him that I'll be in seclusion for some time and need him to share my burdens."

Li Dongfu watched as Yuan Zixu put back the impeachment memorial against Ge Chengxuan, the old Tutor, which was originally intended to remain unaddressed. His heart skipped a beat. Tutor Ge was the Crown Prince's most trusted mentor. The cabinet's proposed resolution was to remove him from office, send him to the imperial prison, and thoroughly investigate his crimes. The Emperor had initially planned to keep the memorial without action, implying his intention to protect Tutor Ge. But now, he was passing it on to the Crown Prince. Was this... a test for the prince?

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In the Phoenix Chirping Palace, Empress Lu was also speaking with Prince Yuan Zhen, "I don't know why someone was suddenly sent to ask about the pills he granted me before, inquiring about their effects and how I felt after taking them. He's given me so many pills, how could I possibly remember which one? I could only vaguely describe some supposed effects. Later, I learned that the Emperor hasn't visited the Heavenly Oneness Temple recently, and those female Taoist cultivators who practice dual cultivation haven't been summoned for his bed either. I've heard that he summoned Daoist Priest Chong Xiao to the palace today, asking him and his disciples to refine pills at the Heavenly Oneness Temple, with guards surrounding the area, forbidding entry or exit."

As the one overseeing the harem, Empress Lu knew the Heavenly Oneness Temple stood between the former and current imperial courts, holding a delicate position. The Palace Ladies' Bureau, following instructions from the Eunuchs' Department, forbade the palace attendants from wandering there. She naturally received this news promptly, linking it to the Emperor's recent inquiry about the effects of the pills he had granted her.

However, she had received so many imperial pills that even her attendants had consumed quite a few. How could she remember when the Twin Phoenix Pills were given? Yet, she dared not admit her forgetfulness before the Emperor. Instead, she confidently claimed that since taking the pills, she felt lighter, healthier, and more refreshed, as if her skin had even become younger.

It was clear that the Emperor wasn't looking for such responses. He also inquired about her sleep quality and whether she had fallen ill. She could only truthfully say that she felt she slept more soundly after taking the pills, and her health was excellent, with even her chronic headaches subsiding.

What exactly did the Emperor want to find out?

Since Lord Lu couldn't frequently visit the palace, she summoned her son to come and hoped he could gather detailed information for her.

Yuan Zhen had married the princess of Bei Xi and established his own residence outside the palace, receiving the title of Duke of Jingqin. It had been a while since he was summoned to the palace by his mother, and upon entering, the topic was trivial, causing him to grow impatient. "That Daoist Chongxu is undoubtedly up to his tricks again. Last time, by chance, he organized a ritual, and the Crown Prince woke up. Now, he must have invented some new scheme to deceive your father into giving him more money. Since he's already alchemizing within the palace, there's not much to inquire about from the outside."

Empress Luo felt deeply uneasy. Seeing that her son was no longer as respectful as before, she became annoyed. "Your father is usually suspicious and every action he takes is for his own benefit. He seems to be placing great importance on alchemy now, even neglecting the dual cultivation. I've heard that the test subjects for the elixirs have always been selected from the convicts at the Department of Justice. Go and investigate if there's anything unusual about them."

Yuan Zhen replied impatiently, "I understand."

Seeing her son's indifferent attitude, Empress Luo felt irritated but held back her scolding. She tried to console herself, saying, "Is there any good news about your wife? If you were to have an imperial grandchild soon, you would gain an advantage over your siblings and also earn more favor from your father."

Yuan Zhen let out a sarcastic laugh. "It seems that in Mother's heart, your son is only worth using for competing for favor!" With that, he stood up abruptly, without paying his respects, and walked out.

Empress Luo was inexplicably angered by her son's behavior, yet she had no recourse. The headache she had returned, but she dared not call for the imperial physician. After all, she had just claimed that the elixir had relieved her headaches. She feared that if the Emperor found out, he might think she was lying.