Chapter 97: Dawn’s Promise

Chapter 97: Dawn's Promise

Heavenly Pavilion.

Two graceful Taoist nuns approached from Venerable Chong Xiao's hands, carrying golden elixirs, while another attendant offered pure water to assist Yuan Zixu in consuming the pill.

Incense burners on the side emitted a gentle haze, filling the room with a profound and mellow fragrance. Even the Taoist nun's face betrayed a hint of blissful, dreamy enchantment.

Yuan Zixu ingested the golden pill, and a familiar daze surged forth. He closed his eyes, surrendering to the sensation of his soul being lifted from a heavy prison. At such moments, if attended by the female Taoist nun, he would experience immense pleasure.

Lately, his ethereal excursions had decreased, and weariness weighed more heavily upon him. His interest in mortal sustenance waned significantly; food lost its savor, tasting like mere sawdust in his mouth. He began to experiment with abstinence from food.

He sensed the aging of this mortal frame, growing heavier by the day, signaling the impending moment when he would shed this earthly vessel. The Highest One senses, the essence stirs, the spirit departs, leaving behind this worn-out shell.

He drew a deep breath, focusing solely within himself, adhering to the cultivation techniques of Inner Alchemy. Beginning at his dantian, he relaxed his entire body, achieving a state of emptiness in his mind. His breaths lengthened and evened, drawing inward, banishing all distractions. A warm current seemed to emanate from the elixir he had consumed, flowing like billowing clouds, natural and effortless. The energy rose along his spine, eventually exiting through the crown of his head at the Baihui acupoint.

His soul, too, began to ascend gently. Heavenly melodies filled the air, and vibrant hues illuminated the sky as if something divine beckoned him, drew him in, summoned his very essence. He was a celestial prince, ruler of both heaven and earth. Ascending to his celestial realm was as effortless as breathing, as instinctive as drinking water.

He soared, he simmered with anticipation, feeling ethereal, envisioning his palace above the azure heavens, amidst the radiant glow of the ninth firmament...

"Clang!"

A shattering sound echoed in the alchemy chamber, as if the heavens had been torn apart. Yuan Zixu felt as if he had abruptly fallen from a great height, suddenly awakening from his exhausted slumber. He shot open his eyes, drenched in cold sweat.

The palace nun and Chong Xiao were both startled. Seeing the emperor roused, they immediately prostrated themselves on the ground. Suppressing his displeasure, Yuan Zixu barked, "Who disturbed my meditation! The Qinghou Guards, seize them!"

The fierce Qinghou Guards rushed into the outer chamber but found no one after searching. They only discovered a shattered crystal incense burner hidden behind the thick curtains of a corner incense burner.

Trembling, the nun within the chamber answered through her tears, "I didn't see anyone there. It wasn't us. We've been attending to Your Majesty's meditation this entire time."

Master Chong Xiao had already stepped out of the chamber and now returned, frowning but not daring to speak. He could only attempt to diffuse the situation with a forced smile, suggesting, "Perhaps it was a cat that leaped in and accidentally broke the crystal incense burner."

Yuan Zixu forcefully controlled his anger and walked to where the crystal incense burner had shattered. Looking at the ashes scattered across the luxurious carpet, he noticed no animal tracks. Frowning, he squatted down to examine the ashes more closely. Underneath the curtains, he found a golden pill.

Identical to the ones he took daily, there was also a half-burned piece of incense, seemingly extinguished hastily before being stolen, causing the accidental overturn of the crystal incense burner and the culprit's panicked escape.

He picked up the golden pill and the piece of incense, sniffing them. Turning his gaze, his sinister stare fell upon Master Chong Xiao. Meanwhile, he instructed the Qinghou Guards, "Everyone, stay where you are. All guards, thoroughly search the temple. Look for any suspicious individuals or objects."

Fixing his cold gaze on the unflustered Master Chong Xiao, he sneered, "Especially anything resembling a golden pill or an incense piece."

Chong Xiao thought of the golden pill he had just refined earlier that day, which he had placed in a box within his room. Could it be that the eunuch who delivered the food had taken it and then, in a panicked attempt to steal incense, accidentally shattered the exquisite crystal incense burner and lost the pill? A fine sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead, but his expression remained composed.

Tianyi Temple was not large, and the Qinghou Guards quickly finished their search. They returned to report that they had found a box in Chong Xiao Daoist's purification chamber, containing one golden pill.

Yuan Zixu looked at Chong Xiao Daoist and asked, "Does the state preceptor have any explanation?"

Chong Xiao Daoist promptly knelt down and said, "The number of golden pills produced from each furnace is counted and sealed in front of witnesses. This old Daoist truly has no idea how this pill ended up in my room. If I had intended to hide it, why would I leave it so carelessly on a table? It might be that someone with ulterior motives deliberately framed me. I beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate and clear my name."

Yuan Zixu's cold gaze fixated on him for a long time, watching as he knelt motionless. Then, he chuckled and said, "State Preceptor, please rise. Such divine blessings are rare, so it's inevitable that some overambitious individuals would covet them. But we must also find out how they stole the pill. A thorough investigation will alleviate suspicions."

With an ominous tone, he commanded, "Pass on my decree: all palace gates are to be tightly guarded, and no one within the palace is allowed to move about freely. Violators will be executed without mercy! Search the entire palace to remove doubts, but don't wrong the innocent, nor let the guilty escape."

===

As night fell, the moon was obscured by a veil of misty clouds, casting faint moonlight across the city's glazed tiles. The silhouette of the palace seemed especially solemn and eerie in the darkness, as if it held countless secrets.

The Qinghou Guards, clad in dark armor and flexible cuirasses, with swords at their waists and torches and spears in hand, swiftly traversed the silent night sky. Their armor and weapons clanged against each other, creating crisp metallic sounds that broke the tranquility of the night.

All the guards received the notice and mobilized en masse. Some stood guard at key points, while others searched through various palaces, executing the emperor's unyielding will. The guards were divided into several teams, each responsible for different areas – from the opulent halls to the dimly lit corridors, from magnificent libraries to humble servants' quarters – no place escaped their meticulous search.

In each palace, maidservants and eunuchs were startled awake and ordered to stand in the center of their rooms, awaiting the guards' inspection.

The Precious Box Palace was also stormed by guards, who began an extensive search.

Rong Bi, awakened by the commotion outside, opened her eyes to see Yuan Jun standing in the center of the inner chamber, conversing with Yan Xin and Shen Anlin. His expression was grave.

Confused, Rong Bi got out of bed. Through the window, she noticed the flickering torchlight and countless guards stationed outside. The palace maids and eunuchs had been herded into the courtyard, where they were being individually named and ordered about. Shouts and whispers echoed through the quiet night.

She could vaguely hear Yuan Jun say, "Light all the candles in the bedrooms, open every chest – let them search."

Alarm bells rang in Rong Bi's mind as she recalled the secret tunnel beneath the lotus pond. The crown prince had used it just the other day.

She put on a robe and, sensing her movement, Yuan Jun stepped behind the screen. Gazing at her, he said, "Stay in bed, there's no need to wake up. This has nothing to do with us."

Noticing her pale complexion, he inferred her concern for the hidden passage. Lowering his voice, he whispered, "Relax, I had it sealed from the outside when I came in the other day. Tang Xi is meticulous; everything is under control."

A weight lifted from Rong Bi's heart, and admiration filled her gaze as she looked at Yuan Jun. Could he have anticipated this search when the prince left? What had he done?

Yuan Jun approached and draped a cloak around her shoulders, speaking softly, "Go back to sleep. It's just some clowns causing trouble. You need your rest, especially with your health."

Rong Bi allowed him to guide her back into bed, lying down obediently but with her bright, curious eyes still fixed on Yuan Jun.

Yuan Jun couldn't help but smile slightly, knowing she must be eager to find out why. But tonight was crucial. He gently stroked her eyelids, urging her to close them. "Sleep now. Tomorrow, I'll explain everything to you."

Seeing Rong Bi's eyes closed, he rose and walked out.

Yu Huan, the deputy commander of the Qinghou Guards, was standing outside, bowing deeply. "Your Highness, this subordinate pays respects to the Crown Prince. We have been ordered to search the entire palace for any assassins. Please, Your Highness, and Liangdi, move to the main hall."

Yuan Jun's voice was cold. "Is that so? Commander Yu plans to search even me and Liangdi?"

Yu Huan bowed respectfully without showing any inferiority. "I dare not disturb Your Highness's esteemed body. But we must inspect Empress Liangdi's quarters. The eunuchs and ladies-in-waiting will conduct the search, ensuring no disturbance to Empress Liangdi. I hope Your Highness forgives us."

Yuan Jun sat sternly in his armchair, his face icy. "As husband and wife, we share the same fate. If you must search for suspicion, then have the eunuchs examine me as well. That way, if nothing is found, there won't be any more suspicion towards me. My heart is pure as ice in a jade vase; there's nothing to hide."

Seeing Yuan Jun's determination, Yu Huan paused but didn't refuse. He had already offended the Crown Prince today; a search would be a search.

Eventually, Rong Bi was summoned out after being searched in her chambers. She was asked to sit beside the Crown Prince.

Observing her thin attire after the search, Yuan Jun removed his outer robe and draped it over her, instructing someone to bring tea for her to drink.

In her heart, Rong Bi was still very worried about the mechanisms at the Nine-Curve Bridge pavilion. She kept glancing at the torch-lit guards patrolling outside, their footsteps echoing on the floor.

Trained guards moved with the sharpness of hawks, their eyes vigilant and suspicious. The flickering torchlight serpentined into every corner of the palace, interweaving with the dim indoor shadows.

The guards meticulously searched, inspecting every potential hiding spot - behind each book on the shelves, beneath each piece of charcoal in the fireplaces, under carpets, through air vents on walls, within alcoves, behind paintings, and even inside vases. No spot was overlooked.

It wasn't until the first light of dawn began to break that the search of the Precious Scroll Palace was finally concluded.

Upon receiving the report from his subordinates, Yu Huan entered and bowed deeply before Yuan Jun. "Your Highness, the Precious Scroll Palace has been thoroughly searched. All registered eunuchs and palace attendants are accounted for, and every room has been examined. No suspicious items were found. I take my leave and beg your forgiveness for disturbing Your Highness's night."

Yuan Jun gazed at him thoughtfully for a moment. "Commander Yu has fulfilled your duty diligently. I imagine searching all night must have been no easy task. Take this reward for yourself and your guards, go enjoy some wine."

Shen Anlin stepped forward to hand over the reward to Yu Huan, who was slightly taken aback. Nevertheless, he accepted the silver and withdrew.

As the sky started to lighten, Yuan Jun watched his guards depart, observing the sun preparing to rise. He spoke softly, "Daybreak is upon us."