Song Qing waved his hand:

“Always thinking of crooked methods. Instead of using that energy to craft toys for Young Master Xu, why not first create a vessel for Prime Minister Wang?”

The alchemist who had just suggested the “questionable idea” asked:

“What’s going on? Is Prime Minister Wang dying?”

Song Qing shook his head:

“I heard from the people on the first floor that Prime Minister Wang has been ill for a long time, worn down by overwork. If he doesn’t rest properly, his days might be numbered.”

The first floor referred to the mystics in the Grand Pharmacy. Worth mentioning, among the Astronomical Bureau’s factions, Song Qing led the alchemists, who specialized in crafting artifacts.

Yang Qianxuan’s mystics were on the third floor, specializing in feng shui and grave selection for officials and commoners alike.

The mystics in the first-floor Grand Pharmacy followed Zhong Li.

Each faction in the Astronomical Bureau had its area of expertise.

“Useless, useless, crafting won’t help. Prime Minister Wang is a mortal—once his soul leaves his body, he can only become a ghost. He couldn’t enter any vessel we craft.”

A mystic shook his head: “With Wei Yuan dead and Prime Minister Wang possibly following… tsk tsk, the Yuanjing era is truly ending.”

…

Prince’s Mansion.

Back Garden.

Wang Simu wore a jade-green gauze dress with a matching jacket, walking alongside Lin’an in her red dress.

“How did the Prime Minister fall ill so suddenly?”

Lin’an pursed her lips, speaking softly: “Can’t the Astronomical Bureau’s mystics do anything?”

Her skirts swayed with each delicate step, fur boots occasionally visible. She wore a small phoenix crown, golden ornaments, and pearl hairpins. Her oval face was fair and delicate, with peach blossom eyes concealing subtle charm.

She had grown increasingly alluring, increasingly enchanting.

Wang Simu turned her head, looking at her close friend Lin’an, sighing:

“The Astronomical Bureau’s mystics say father’s illness comes from worry and overwork. They say he should resign and rest at home. But if he continues like this, seeking death himself, what can we do?”

Lin’an smiled: “These mystics, are still so arrogant.”

Wang Simu tightened her fox fur cloak against the cold, worried:

“Father has been unwell for a long time and should have been resting. But with the court’s internal and external troubles, worry made him ill, dragging his health to this state.”

Lin’an frowned slightly, only able to comfort her:

“At least now, though bedridden, he can finally rest.”

Wang Simu forced a slight smile:

“The Astronomical Bureau’s mystics say it’s a heart ailment, and heart ailments need heart medicine. Before falling ill, Father worried about three things: the Qing Province war, the refugees, and the Western Region’s Buddhism.

“If even one of these issues could be resolved, father could rest easy.”

The refugees and empty treasury were cause and effect—one issue.

Lin’an’s delicately shaped eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Wang Simu glanced at her pure-hearted confidante, shaking her head:

“Never mind, let’s not speak of this. If the ministers have no solution, what could we two women do?”

Lin’an pressed her lips together, humming in agreement, then examined Wang Simu:

“Simu, you’ve lost weight. I suppose you’re worried about both Xu Cijiu and the Prime Minister’s health.”

Wang Simu showed signs of worry: “The situation in Qing Province is dangerous. He’s just a scholar, of course, I worry. Originally, we were to be engaged in five days…”

“Don’t fear!”

On this topic, Lin’an’s eyes sparkled with life again, like an animated bird: “That dog slave is there! Even if Qing Province falls, Xu Cijiu will be safe.”

Having just discussed the bedridden Prime Minister, she couldn’t appear too insensitive, so she maintained a serious expression to match her close friend’s mood.

Wang Simu started, asking: “Who told you Xu Silver Medallist was in Qing Province?”

“Isn’t he?”

Lin’an chirped: “If he’s away, he must be fighting in Qing Province.”

Though she’d never openly admitted it, the dog slave was her hero.

“But I heard father say the Qing Province situation is critical, and Xu Silver Medallist isn’t with the army, hasn’t joined the battle…”

Seeing the undisguised disappointment in Lin’an’s eyes, Wang Simu quickly changed the subject: “Let’s not discuss this. What about your marriage to Xu Silver Medallist? Isn’t His Majesty helping arrange it?”

Her oval face instantly turned red, and Lin’an stammered:

“What, what are you saying? Who said I want to marry that dog slave? Oh, these rumors are so annoying.”

Wang Simu smiled:

“We’ve known each other for years—how could I not understand your feelings? Xu Silver Medallist is talented and handsome, a hero in the common people’s hearts. Countless women admire him. What you need to do is quickly establish your position.

“With official status, you’d be his primary wife, and those other women could only be concubines or passing romantic encounters from his wandering days.

“If you can’t establish your position, Your Highness—and please don’t take offense—without official status, you can’t compete with anyone.”

Lin’an felt underestimated and puffed her cheeks.

In the cold winter months, the cutting wind blew against their faces. The two delicate noble ladies didn’t walk long before returning to the inner courtyard with their palace maids and servant girls via the winding corridor.

On the way, an effeminate middle-aged eunuch leading two younger eunuchs came out from the inner courtyard, meeting them face to face.

“Greetings to Princess Lin’an.”

The middle-aged eunuch and the two young eunuchs behind him bowed in greeting.

“You serve in Imperial Brother’s chambers… what are you doing here?”

Lin’an recognized him but couldn’t recall his name. Among the emperor’s eunuchs, she only remembered the Chief Eunuch Zhao Xuanzhen.

“Your Highness, His Majesty sent this servant to inform the Prime Minister that the Western Region’s Buddhism is now constrained by the Myriad Demon Nation’s remnants and cannot threaten our Great Feng. His Majesty asks Prime Minister to rest easy and focus on recovery.”

The middle-aged eunuch said.

Such wonderful news… Wang Simu was overjoyed, unable to suppress her smile: “What did my father say?”

The middle-aged eunuch replied: “Prime Minister asked me to tell His Majesty that court recommendations can proceed.”

Court recommendations were a system where the emperor summoned ministers to discuss and nominate candidates for important vacant positions.

Wang Simu immediately understood—her father intended to resign or temporarily step down from his position as Prime Minister.

“Thank you for informing us, sir.”

Wang Simu removed a gold bracelet and tried to give it to the middle-aged eunuch, smiling:

“Is there any more detailed information? If inconvenient, sir need not say.”

With Princess Lin’an watching, the middle-aged eunuch didn’t dare accept bribes, waving his hands repeatedly:

“It’s not secret information. This servant heard His Majesty say these matters seem related to Xu Silver Medallist—he facilitated an alliance between Great Feng and the Myriad Demon Nation in the Southern Borderlands. The news came from Qing Province.

“This servant knows only this much.”

Xu Silver Medallist facilitated an alliance between Great Feng and the Myriad Demon Nation to contain Buddhism… Wang Simu was stunned for a long while. She finally understood why Xu Silver Medallist wasn’t in Qing Province.

She couldn’t help turning to look at Lin’an.

Her close friend’s face bore a smile that was sweet, proud, and full of showing off.

“He never disappoints me.” Lin’an lifted her chin.

…

At dusk, an exhausted Miao Youfang stood in a treetop, like a weightless paper cutout balancing on a slender branch.

Making the heavy seem light, floating like a goose feather—Fifth Rank Energy Consolidation!

So this is the glory of the Energy Consolidation realm? Miao Youfang faced the setting sun, arms spread wide as if embracing the world.

In two and a half months, he had advanced rapidly from the Qi Cultivation realm to Fifth Rank, becoming an Energy Consolidation martial artist.

Though the dragon qi had been extracted long ago, before that it had left him one final gift—Xu Qi’an.

Meeting Xu Qi’an and receiving his careful guidance was also a great blessing bestowed by the dragon qi.

“Come down!”

Xu Qi’an’s voice came from below the tree: “I have something to tell you.”

“Right away!”

Miao Youfang floated down lightly, performing over a dozen somersaults in the process, fully displaying his lightness skills.

A martial artist in the Energy Consolidation realm had excellent lightness skills. By Fourth Rank, they could begin to fly.

Xu Qi’an sat by a campfire, boiling water while saying:

“Now that you’ve reached Energy Consolidation, our fate is complete. From today, I set you free.”

Miao Youfang froze, his joy gradually fading. His lips twitched as he said softly:

“Why? Sir Xu, I, I said I would follow you forever.”

Xu Qi’an replied irritably:

“Get lost, you’re not a beauty, why follow me? You’re an eyesore.”

After scolding him, his expression gradually softened:

“When I was still weak, I met someone who devoted himself to cultivating my talents. Though we had no relation, he was willing to nurture me without expecting anything in return.

“Just because he saw my fierce nature and knew I wouldn’t stray from the right path, believing I could do something for the common people in the future. You should thank him—it’s because of this that I was willing to give you a chance.

“Just like how he cultivated me back then, not for reward, not for personal gain, but for the people of the Central Plains.”

Miao Youfang fell silent for a moment, then said softly:

“Then why, why drive me away?”

Xu Qi’an smiled:

“I have nothing left to teach you. Fourth Rank is the process of tempering ‘intent,’ the process of martial artists finding their own ‘way.’ Letting you go now is perfect timing.

“Go, Miao Youfang. I look forward to hearing tales of you in the martial world, hearing people say how Hero Miao serves the country and people with a chivalrous heart.

“Isn’t becoming a great hero your dream?”

For some reason, the usually smiling and joking Miao Youfang showed a rare serious expression:

“Then, when I travel the martial world in the future, can I call myself your disciple?”

Xu Qi’an sneered:

“I don’t have such an incompetent disciple. Walk your path, don’t associate yourself with me. Get lost, get lost.”

Miao Youfang scoffed:

“What’s so great about you? I’ll become a world-renowned hero, and then don’t come desperately begging me to call you…”

The words “master” remained unspoken.

Miao Youfang darted through the dense forest, going further and further without looking back.

Only after traveling over ten li did he suddenly stop, standing still for a long while.

…

Three days later, northern Southern Borderlands.

At a place called Three-Tier Falls, Xu Qi’an finally met Lina and Xu Lingyue, who were two days late for their appointment.

From afar, he saw a large beggar carrying a small beggar, lightly leaping among the rocks.

They were disheveled, their clothes in tatters, giving off a sour smell, looking exactly like refugees fleeing disaster.

Lina’s bright black eyes stood out in her dirt-covered delicate face. Xu Lingyue’s eyes were vacant, her expression dull, drooling at the corner of her mouth, like the foolish daughter of a landlord.

Xu Qi’an was shocked: “What happened, what happened…”

Seeing Xu Qi’an, Lina sighed in relief and bounced Xu Lingyue on her back:

“Alright, stop pretending, we’re safe now.”

Xu Lingyue’s large eyes immediately regained their sparkle as she happily called out:

“Big Brother~~”

She jumped from her master’s back, flying toward Xu Qi’an.

This must be quite a story, related to being two days late. Xu Qi’an reached out to grab her neck, then threw her away.

“Splash!”

Xu Lingyue landed in the pond.