Jiang Tang waited for over half an hour before Emperor Mingkang finally granted him an audience.

The awe-inspiring commander of the Jinlin Guards dared not show the slightest trace of impatience on his face as he respectfully paid his respects to Emperor Mingkang.

“Rise.” Emperor Mingkang said indifferently.

Only then did Jiang Tang straighten up.

“Sit down, milk brother. It’s not court time – why be so formal?”

“Thank you for granting me a seat, Your Majesty.” Jiang Tang sat down properly.

Everyone knew he was the emperor’s trusted confidant, honored with the privilege of being granted a seat before the Son of Heaven. However, as one of the few people who truly understood Emperor Mingkang, he dared not let his guard down for a moment.

It was precisely because he understood that he could deeply realize how moody and unfathomably scheming this Son of Heaven was.

“Wei Wuxie—”

“This servant is here.”

“Bestow two of the immortal pills I newly obtained upon the Grand Commander.”

“Yes.” Wei Wuxie immediately came out carrying a tray with a crystal plate containing two bright red pills.

Jiang Tang glanced at them, and his scalp immediately tingled.

This was a new variety!

“Milk brother, try them.” Emperor Mingkang said with a beaming smile.

He wasn’t wearing dragon robes but a loose Taoist robe, looking less like a nation’s ruler and more like a Taoist priest with profound magical arts.

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s gracious gift.” Under Emperor Mingkang’s smiling gaze, Jiang Tang swallowed both pills with a grateful expression.

He swallowed too hastily and choked, his face turning red as he struggled to breathe.

Emperor Mingkang laughed heartily: “Why the rush? I obtained quite a few this time. Take a few more when you leave.”

“Cough, cough, cough—” Jiang Tang couldn’t help but cough loudly.

Emperor Mingkang paid no mind and instead gently instructed Wei Wuxie: “Wei Wuxie, quickly pour some water for the Grand Commander.”

Jiang Tang finally managed to swallow the two pills, his eyes tearing from choking. He gulped down several mouthfuls of water and pleaded forgiveness: “This subject deserves death for losing composure before Your Majesty.”

“Get up, get up. I know you were eager to taste the immortal pills, but it’s not as if you won’t have them again after this once. Whenever I obtain immortal pills, I’ll certainly share them with my milk brother.”

Jiang Tang: “…” Thank you so much!

However, he knew his performance had pleased Emperor Mingkang. When he revealed the news of Master Wumei’s disappearance later, he probably wouldn’t have to face the emperor’s thunderous wrath.

Thinking this, Jiang Tang quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

“How does Milk Brother find them?” Emperor Mingkang asked.

Jiang Tang secretly sighed.

This was also why he couldn’t substitute the pills. The emperor always asked him about his detailed feelings after taking the pills – from taste to sensations after swallowing – and wouldn’t rest until he had inquired thoroughly.

“Spicy upon entering the mouth, and after swallowing, it feels as if fire is burning in the stomach…” Jiang Tang described in detail his sensations after taking the pills.

So that girl was indeed clever. With such a Son of Heaven who bestowed pills every few days, he needn’t fear being discarded after serving his purpose.

Not only could he not be discarded – in the future, whoever dared harm that girl, he would take their life!

“This was refined after the Celestial Master improved the pill formula. Unexpectedly, it succeeded in just one furnace, and milk brother happened to arrive just in time.” Emperor Mingkang spoke in a “you’re lucky” tone.

Jiang Tang was moved to tears of gratitude: “It’s all due to Your Majesty’s virtue that the Celestial Master could smoothly refine the immortal pills.”

This head of the Jinlin Guards, feared by all civil and military officials, hadn’t mentioned a word about his purpose for entering the palace from the moment he arrived.

The ruler and subject chatted about immortal pills for a long time until Emperor Mingkang was in excellent spirits and proactively asked: “Milk brother came to see me at this hour – what matter brings you?”

Jiang Tang immediately tensed his back, leaned forward, and said respectfully: “Marquis Guanjun sent word from the mountains that culprits have killed the nuns of Shuying Nunnery, and Master Wumei’s whereabouts are unknown.”

Emperor Mingkang suddenly wiped the smile from his face: “Master Wumei’s whereabouts are unknown?”

“Yes.”

“What’s the current situation? Is there any news of Master Wumei? Jiang Tang, what exactly are my Jinlin Guards doing?”

Jiang Tang rose from his chair and knelt: “Your Majesty, due to the landslide, the mountain roads to Dafu Temple are severed. Currently, only Marquis Guanjun can enter and exit.”

“You mean to say that not one of my Jinlin Guards can enter?” Emperor Mingkang asked in a flat tone.

Jiang Tang broke out in cold sweat.

If they disregarded their lives, Eleven and Thirteen could certainly try, but if they slipped and fell midway, wouldn’t that be too unjust? As their adoptive father, he couldn’t bear to let his carefully raised adopted sons make such unnecessary sacrifices.

At the time, no one knew such a major incident would occur at Shuying Nunnery.

“True, there’s only one Marquis Guanjun in the world.” Emperor Mingkang said flatly.

“Your Majesty speaks truly.”

Acknowledging this point wasn’t shameful. If everyone could do what Marquis Guanjun did, the Northern Territories wouldn’t be dependent solely on him.

“I understand. Report immediately if there’s any news of Master Wumei, and keep this from the Empress Dowager for now.”

“This subject understands.”

Emperor Mingkang stood up and paced back and forth in the hall, stopping to gaze out the window.

Red walls and green willows – the summer imperial palace was extraordinarily splendid, adorned with precious flowers and plants, yet Emperor Mingkang felt very irritated.

Flowers could bloom again, but youth never returned. His time for cultivation was already insufficient, yet so many worldly matters had to trouble him!

“You may withdraw.” Emperor Mingkang waved his hand.

Having successfully reported the bad news of Master Wumei’s disappearance to the emperor, Jiang Tang quietly sighed with relief: “This subject takes his leave.”

“Wait, milk brother—” Emperor Mingkang seemed to remember something and turned to call out.

Jiang Tang immediately stopped and respectfully asked: “Does Your Majesty have further instructions?”

Emperor Mingkang glanced at Chief Eunuch Wei Wuxie: “Wei Wuxie, pack two immortal pills for the Grand Commander to take with him.”

“Yes.”

Wei Wuxie handed Jiang Tang a jade box. Jiang Tang quickly received it and gave thanks, thinking: His Majesty’s memory is truly excellent. In the future, whoever doubts that His Majesty has forgotten worldly matters due to cultivation, he’ll fight them to the end!

Princess Zhenzhen’s bedchamber.

These past few days, all reflective objects in the bedchamber had been stored away in the warehouse, and the palace servants didn’t even dare make loud sounds while walking.

The reason was simple – the beautiful princess’s face was festering, her mood was terrible, and no one was foolish enough to provoke their master’s displeasure at such a time.

Fanlan, the senior palace maid who personally served Princess Zhenzhen, still had to come report: “Your Highness, Miss Jiang has arrived.”

“I won’t see her, I won’t!” Princess Zhenzhen casually threw her pillow to the floor.

“Then this servant will go tell Miss Jiang.” Fanlan dared not say another word and bowed to withdraw.

“Wait.” Princess Zhenzhen stared at the pillow on the floor for a moment, then said in a heavy voice: “Ask Miss Jiang to sit in the hall first. I’ll tidy up and then see her.”

“Yes.”

As soon as Fanlan left, Princess Zhenzhen punched the bed post.

When Shiran came to see her before, she hadn’t received her. If she avoided seeing her again this time, she might truly anger her friend.

Princess Zhenzhen had servants help her dress properly and walk out wearing a light veil over her face.