“Yes, everything is ready now, we’re just waiting for the King’s wife.”
Chu Xiang Long lowered his voice, speaking so that only he and Emperor Yuan Jing could hear.
The old emperor’s face, usually devoid of any emotion, couldn’t help but break into a smile. He took a deep breath, suppressing the laughter rising in his throat, and slowly nodded:
“Very good. The King of Huai hasn’t disappointed me. Very good, very good!”
Chu Xiang Long continued, “This servant has another request. Due to a mishap during training, I can’t fight for long or at full strength. I request that Your Majesty send someone to escort the King’s wife to the north.”
The old emperor scrutinized him, his gaze turning sharp, questioning, “A training mishap at such a crucial time?”
Chu Xiang Long quickly lowered his head, cupping his hands, and said fearfully, “Please forgive me, Your Majesty, please forgive me…”
He knew the old emperor was naturally suspicious. If he didn’t explain this matter clearly, even though he was the Northern Border King’s confidant, the old emperor would still doubt him.
So he recounted in detail his attempt to obtain Xu Qi An’s Vajra God Technique, his collaboration with the Duke of Cao, and their use of the imperial examination cheating case to blackmail.
“You fool!”
Emperor Yuan Jing was furious after hearing this. He kicked Chu Xiang Long flying, his beard and hair bristling, and suppressed his voice in anger: “If I didn’t still need you to handle matters, I would behead you right now.”
Chu Xiang Long remained prostrate on the ground.
Emperor Yuan Jing paced back and forth in the Imperial Study, pondering, “Sending the Imperial Guard as an escort would be too conspicuous, not suitable. The transport of provisions is slow and not yet fully prepared. If she travels with the provisions, it would be late spring or even early summer by the time they reach the north.
“Various court factions have repeatedly memorialized to send people to thoroughly investigate the matter of the three thousand li blood massacre… This way, the King’s wife travels with the team going north to investigate the case. It can both avoid attention and provide high-level protection.”
After saying this, Emperor Yuan Jing still shook his head: “It’s still not appropriate. The King’s wife has a magnificent aura. Even with magic to conceal her essence, her appearance…”
Chu Xiang Long’s eyes lit up, and he said, “That’s easy to handle, Your Majesty. The King’s wife has a magical treasure that can not only change her appearance but also conceal her aura, turning her into an ordinary woman.”
Emperor Yuan Jing frowned, “Where did she get such a treasure?”
Chu Xiang Long said, “The King’s wife said it was a gift from the Imperial Mentor. She has used it to sneak out of the mansion several times.”
Emperor Yuan Jing was silent for a moment, then said, “Let’s settle on this for now. We’ll discuss the details later.”
…
Xu Qi An walked to the Star-Observing Tower, with Zhong Li on his left and Li Miao Zhen on his right. Behind him followed a group of people: Heng Yuan, Chu Yuan Zhen, Li Na, Su Su, and others.
Yang Qian Huan wasn’t in the group; he had returned to the Astronomical Bureau ahead of time. If he had been in the group, it would have been difficult for him.
If he had walked in front of everyone, the junior brothers at the Star-Observing Tower would have seen his face. If he had walked behind everyone, the people on the street would have seen his profile.
After years of observing Wei Yuan and the Supervisor, Yang Qian Huan had come to understand that important figures don’t travel. For example, that old codger of a Supervisor would only sit on the Eight Trigrams Platform, staring blankly and drinking.
Important figures always travel by carriage, which also prevents the rabble from seeing their faces.
So when he heard that Xu Qi An and others were coming to the Astronomical Bureau, Yang Qian Huan flashed away first.
“Master, will I be able to get a physical body soon?” Su Su asked excitedly, her paper face flushed.
Li Miao Zhen didn’t answer, but her eyes held expectation. If they could rebuild a physical body for Su Su, it would fulfill this maid’s long-standing wish.
As for Chu Yuan Zhen and the others, they were purely interested in Song Qing’s work.
Song Qing of the Astronomical Bureau, known as the top alchemist second only to the Supervisor, was famous far and wide. They had long admired him.
The reason he was ranked below the Supervisor was because the Supervisor forcibly suppressed him with his first-rank cultivator status. In terms of fancy techniques and the development of alchemy, even the Supervisor might not be a match for Song Qing.
Previously, they didn’t have the qualifications to enter the Astronomical Bureau. Now, with Xu Qi An leading the way, it was a rare opportunity. Naturally, they wanted to come and see Song Qing’s alchemy and the Star-Observing Tower.
As they approached the Star-Observing Tower, a figure in a yellow dress suddenly darted out from the first-floor hall. It was Chu Cai Wei, with her big eyes and oval face, whose smile was sweet, coming out to greet them.
Li Na happily went to meet her.
“I packed a table full of food from Gui Yue Tower, just waiting for you to come,” Chu Cai Wei said, bouncing a little.
“Did you get the braised pork trotters, smoked duck, and fish roe soup that I like?” Li Na asked happily, also bouncing.
“Yes, yes. Oh, Ling Yin didn’t come?”
“Her mother kept her at home. She was crying loudly.”
“Poor thing. Since she’s not here, all the food will be for us, hahaha.”
“I think so too, hehe.”
The two girls held hands and left, leaving everyone behind.
…Xu Qi An opened his mouth, then turned to the others and said, “I’m quite familiar with the Astronomical Bureau. I can show you around just as well.”
He had already asked Yang Qian Huan to return and pass on a message to Song Qing, telling him that he was bringing friends to visit the Astronomical Bureau.
Stepping into the hall, the smell of medicinal herbs hit their noses. White-robed physicians were busily working with lowered heads, either cutting herbs, boiling medicinal decoctions, or reading medical books…
At this moment, all the physicians simultaneously stopped their work, looked towards the entrance of the hall, and greeted loudly: “Young Master Xu!”
The others weren’t surprised by the respectful attitude of the ninth-rank physicians. Previously, when Number One had described Xu Qi An’s background through the Earth Book fragment, he had mentioned that this person was proficient in alchemy and had an excellent relationship with Song Qing of the Astronomical Bureau.
Moreover, although cultivators were proud and haughty, subtly having the air of Confucian successors, the ninth rank was still the ninth rank. The difference in rank couldn’t be compensated for by the difference in systems.
Xu Ning Yan is the Supervisor’s pawn. Perhaps he’s not skilled in alchemy at all, and everything is just a facade created by the Supervisor to allow him to reasonably get close to the Astronomical Bureau and deceive people… Chu Yuan Zhen thought of a deeper layer.
Xu Qi An nodded slightly: “Thank you for your hard work, junior brothers. Please continue with your tasks.”
After greeting them, he led Chu Yuan Zhen and the others up the stairs, talking as they went:
“The Astronomical Bureau has nine floors. The first-floor hall is the area for ninth-rank physicians, the second floor is for eighth-rank aura readers, and so on. The ninth floor, also called the Eight Trigrams Platform, is the Supervisor’s domain.”
“I’ve heard that the Supervisor has been sitting on the Eight Trigrams Platform for many years,” Li Miao Zhen said.
I understand what you mean. I also want to know, doesn’t the Supervisor need to use the toilet?… Xu Qi An thought sarcastically, but outwardly maintained a respectful attitude:
“It’s said that the Supervisor needs to focus on observing the mortal world.”
Focus on observing the mortal world… Everyone felt a sense of reverence, feeling that the Supervisor’s image had unconsciously become incredibly grand.
The tone suddenly became elevated.
The Supervisor should be able to hear my praise of him… Xu Qi’an thought to himself.
As they continued upwards, every white-robed cultivator they encountered along the way greeted Xu Qi An respectfully, as if juniors or students meeting a teacher.
This made Chu Yuan Zhen and the others gradually realize something was amiss. If it was just a good relationship, why would it go to this extent?
Moreover, the white-robed cultivators never greeted Zhong Li, but Zhong Li was the Supervisor’s fifth disciple and should have had a very high status.
…Hmm, perhaps it’s because she’s plagued by misfortune, and others dare not get involved. Chu Yuan Zhen secretly speculated.
I only thought Lord Xu had a good relationship with the Astronomical Bureau cultivators, but the respect these cultivators show can’t be explained by just a good relationship… Number Six Heng Yuan was stunned.
This guy has quite a lot of prestige in the Astronomical Bureau. Li Miao Zhen thought in surprise.
Wow, this lecherous Xu Ning Yan wasn’t lying, he has such a high standing in the Astronomical Bureau? But I heard that the sixth-rank alchemists are the most arrogant group in the Astronomical Bureau, will they give a face to Xu Ning Yan? Su Su felt both excited and worried.
“The alchemy room is on the seventh floor, which is also the headquarters of the alchemists. They usually study alchemy, eat, and live here,” Xu Qi An said.
The clever Su Su raised a question, saying in a sweet voice, “Didn’t you say that the floors were determined by rank? Alchemy is sixth rank, so shouldn’t it be on the fourth floor?”
“That’s how it is in theory, but reality often differs. For this question, I think Senior Sister Zhong can give you the answer,” Xu Qi An looked at Zhong Li, who was following obediently beside him with disheveled hair, not saying a word.
Zhong Li said softly, “In the Astronomical Bureau, there’s only me at the fifth rank, only Senior Brother Yang at the fourth rank, and Second Senior Brother at the third rank.”
Under everyone’s focused gaze, she spoke very quietly, not daring to raise her voice.
I see. High-ranking cultivators are rare, so one person occupying one floor doesn’t make sense or serve any purpose.
Heng Yuan sighed, “It’s truly difficult to advance in the cultivator system.”
Saying this, he and Chu Yuan Zhen looked at Zhong Li together, remembering vividly this young woman’s tragic misfortune.
Zhong Li sadly lowered her head.
Su Su asked in an extremely nervous tone, “Has Song Qing succeeded in human transmutation? Will he, will he give it to me?”
Everyone immediately looked at Xu Qi An.
This… I’m such a busy person, how would I have time to keep track of Song Qing’s bizarre experiments? Xu Qi An said awkwardly, “I’m not sure either.”
Zhong Li said softly, “Junior Brother Song did indeed create a person. It’s said that on that day, all the sixth-rank junior brothers were in a frenzy. What was most surprising was that even the Supervisor didn’t punish him.
“During that time, Junior Brother Song was quite proud. However, no one has seen his finished product, except for the junior brothers who participated in its creation. For Junior Brother Song, this was a huge step in his alchemy career, and he treasures it like a precious jewel, not showing it to anyone.
“Even I, even Senior Brother Yang, Junior Brother Song won’t let us see it. He said that good things are only for like-minded friends to appreciate, and ordinary people don’t deserve to see his work. Of course, Senior Brother Yang also disdains to look, because, in Senior Brother Yang’s eyes, Junior Brother Song is equally an unbearably ordinary person.”
At this point, everyone looked at Xu Qi An with eyes full of distrust.
In their view, Song Qing was the type of obsessive person who was devoted to alchemy, and one could imagine how much he valued his creations.
If he wouldn’t even show it to his fellow disciples, senior and junior, how could he show it to an outsider like Xu Qi An? Although Xu Qi An had an excellent relationship with the Astronomical Bureau, could that relationship be better than that of fellow disciples?
The light in Su Su’s eyes immediately dimmed.
Li Miao Zhen gave her a comforting look and said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I’ll find a way to take a look at Song Qing’s work.”
Su Su nodded and transmitted back, “Master is still the most reliable.”
As they walked and talked, the group entered the alchemy room. In the spacious area, a group of alchemists were engrossed in their experiments, each at their desk covered with bottles, jars, vessels, and materials.
“Senior Brother Song, this new type of gunpowder isn’t working. It explodes every time. I’m starting to suspect Senior Sister Zhong is cursing us,” someone said.
“My new soap formula is just one step away. If I can’t develop a soap that surpasses the current one, this formula will be meaningless.”
“I’m just one step away from completing my pill refinement. If I fail again, my total losses will exceed a thousand taels of silver…”
At this moment, Song Qing raised his head from his desk and saw the group entering the alchemy room.
He was startled at first, then his expression slowly twisted, gradually becoming fierce, and he shouted, “Senior Sister Zhong is here!”
The entire alchemy room fell silent and then erupted into chaos.
“Put out the fire, quickly put out the fire…”
“This batch of pills is ruined again… Oh my goodness.”
“Quick, everyone stop, stop! The alchemy room can’t explode, it’s full of failed gunpowder…”
The alchemists’ faces were contorted as if they were in battle, quickly dealing with their ongoing work.
In a moment, everything was calm again.
“It didn’t explode?”
“Is it Fifth Senior Sister, or is someone impersonating her?”
Amidst the cheers of the alchemists, Zhong Li lowered her head and silently walked away, her retreating figure lonely and pitiful.
Suddenly, her arm was grabbed. Zhong Li turned her head to see Xu Qi An’s displeased expression. He reproached, “Where are you going? Without me, you can’t go anywhere. Stay obedient by my side. With me here, nothing will happen.”
Zhong Li stared at him for a while, her eyes hidden behind her hair seemingly brightening a bit. She nodded her head vigorously and obediently said, “Mm.”
On the other side, the alchemists cleaned up their miscellaneous items and interrupted their experiments. Then they raised their chins to look at the group, their eyes full of scrutiny.
Li Miao Zhen’s heart sank, feeling that this trip to the Astronomical Bureau would likely end in rejection. However, with Xu Qi An and Zhong Li present, they might at least be able to talk.
The Astronomical Bureau’s cultivators are indeed arrogant… Just as everyone thought this, they heard Xu Qi An frown and say in a commanding tone:
“Senior Brother Song, I heard you created a person. My friends would like to take a look.”
Idiot! Is that how you ask for a favor… Li Miao Zhen cursed inwardly.
Su Su secretly stomped her foot, anxiously frowning.
Suddenly, laughter erupted, echoing in the alchemy room. Song Qing opened his arms to welcome them, as enthusiastic as if he had seen a long-lost brother:
“Young Master Xu, you’ve finally come! You’ve been back in the capital for months, visited the Astronomical Bureau countless times, but only knew how to fool around with Senior Sister Zhong, completely forgetting about the great cause of alchemy.”
The other alchemists excitedly gathered around, exclaiming:
“Young Master Xu, you’ve finally come.”
“Many of our recent alchemy developments are stuck at bottlenecks. We brothers have been discussing day and night without any clues, eagerly waiting for you.”
“Young Master Xu, please, can you spend more time at the Astronomical Bureau? Alchemy needs you.”
“Young Master Xu, has the next volume of the Blue Book been written? We’ve been waiting for a full half year.”
The crowd surged, pushing Li Miao Zhen back continuously, forcing her to give up her position.
This… Li Miao Zhen’s expression was bewildered. She scrutinized the alchemists; their arrogant expressions were gone. These white-robed figures’ faces were brimming with joy and excitement as they crowded around Xu Qi An, chattering incessantly.
From their eyes, one could see that Xu Qi An’s status seemed very high. Everyone showed genuine reverence, especially when mentioning something called the Blue Book, their attitudes became very humble.
Li Miao Zhen wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she had the impression that they were waiting for some kind of handout.
It’s too absurd, too absurd.