Not long after Qian Jiaoniang left, Xing Muzheng rode into the palace.
He was clear in his mind who had attacked him last night. They came for him but did not mean to kill him—clearly thieves. He had nothing on him worth stealing except the sword. The thieves kept aiming for the snake-tooth emblem on his chest—their intent was obvious. Xing Muzheng simply did not want the Taikang Emperor to stoop to such despicable tricks.
Upon entering Shengnuan Pavilion, Xing Muzheng knelt solemnly before the emperor and requested control over the Shuntian Prefecture forces under his command.
The Taikang Emperor was startled. “Why would you want that when everything is fine?”
Xing Muzheng said gravely, “Last night, I was attacked at home. Thanks to the strong assistance of the Second Prince, I killed two assassins. To be honest, I was also targeted during my passage through Minghu. Later, Prime Minister Hang learned of this and sent guards to escort me and my family to Yongan. Yet these thieves are so brazen as to act under the emperor’s nose during the celebration of His Majesty’s longevity. Their impudence is unbearable. I beseech Your Majesty to allow me to personally investigate this matter. I swear to find the mastermind behind this within half a month.”
Xing Muzheng spoke with great confidence, as if he was absolutely sure he could find the killer within the deadline. But that time limit was just something he said offhandedly, because the Taikang Emperor would never allow him to personally investigate.
Sure enough, the Taikang Emperor was dumbfounded. He had just learned from Daoist Niu that the plan had failed, and the two people sent had been killed by Xing Muzheng. He was still angry and was about to secretly send someone to Shuntian Prefecture. If Xing Muzheng reported it as just two ordinary thieves, it could be dismissed easily. But who would have expected Xing Muzheng to escalate the matter so high? An assassination attempt on a former general surely involved the state itself—either foreign enemies or remnants of the previous dynasty. If it was to be investigated, it must be a thorough and heavy investigation. Yet if in the end it turned out the Emperor himself had sent people to kill him, wouldn’t his own face be lost and his officials lose their loyalty?
The Taikang Emperor cursed Daoist Niu’s bad idea in his heart, then kindly soothed him and promised to order Shuntian Prefecture to rigorously investigate the matter. But Xing Muzheng insisted on personally participating, claiming he suspected these assassins were remnants of the previous dynasty causing trouble.
The rebels from the previous dynasty had always been a thorn in the Emperor’s side. A hidden faction of survivors in the common people supported the bloodline of the former Crown Prince and had long sought to restore the dynasty. While Xing Muzheng fought external enemies, this rebellious faction sabotaged all over Xie Dynasty, even burning supplies meant for soldiers, leaving troops in the freezing cold without protection and suffering heavy casualties. Later, Hang cleverly dealt a heavy blow to the rebels, who then quieted down and went into hiding among the people, though signs of resurgence remained.
“Investigations into the previous dynasty’s traitors have always been Official Hang’s responsibility. I will summon Official Hang shortly and order him to strictly investigate this matter!” The Taikang Emperor said fiercely, “If I find out who has harmed my loyal minister, that person will be torn apart by five horses!”
Xing Muzheng was about to say something, but the Emperor raised his hand to interrupt, “My loyal minister, no need for more words. It’s decided. You were frightened—tomorrow you must go to the Crown Prince’s mansion and drink well with everyone!”
After saying this, the Emperor suddenly seemed to recall something, “Ah, among the gifts I received this time there is an interesting ancient book. Let us appreciate it together.” He called out loudly for Mao Qi, who soon came in carrying a silver tray covered with bright yellow cloth. On the tray lay a tattered old book. The Emperor picked it up and spread it on the desk, beckoning Xing Muzheng over. With great interest he said, “Yesterday I saw such a ragged book and wanted to find someone to confess their sins over it, but on closer look I realized it’s an extraordinary ancient text. Look at the characters—they’re all in small seal script.”
Xing Muzheng glanced at it, unsure what the Emperor’s intentions were, and silently nodded in agreement. The Emperor remained enthusiastic, “I skimmed it and found it actually contains a formula for immortality! According to this book, the formula was taught by an immortal who came on clouds to the ancient emperor during a heaven sacrifice. This formula can not only grant ordinary people eternal life but can also let them ascend to become immortals. The ancient emperor’s tomb has never been found—I suspect he ascended to immortality. But the formula disappeared along with him. I have searched everywhere and only found a fragment until now, so this must be the complete one. Minister, once I refine the elixir, I will surely reward you with a pill. Together, we shall keep this kingdom and ascend to the immortal realm!”
Xing Muzheng’s expression did not change. He cupped his hands and said, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s great kindness.”
“Hahaha, Minister, come see what’s in this formula. You have been at war for years and should have seen more rare treasures than I. Come, let us look together.” The Emperor flipped through the pages, reading aloud, “Cornus officinalis, Cudrania tricuspidata, dragon’s beard, old honey, thousand-year ginseng root, Tianshan snow, hundred-year snake tooth…”
The Emperor paused slowly. Xing Muzheng remained silent. The two exchanged a glance, and a strange silence fell over the imperial study.
After a moment, the Emperor spoke, “Minister, look… this hundred-year snake tooth is apparently the key ingredient for the immortality elixir?”
Xing Muzheng nodded steadily, “Exactly so.”
The Emperor was speechless. Was he pretending not to understand? “Minister, I remember… you have a snake tooth…” The Emperor said as he pointed directly at the tooth hanging on his chest.
Xing Muzheng acted as if suddenly enlightened, then cupped his hands and said, “I am guilty, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s face shifted slightly, “What crime have you committed, Minister?” He was nearly shamelessly hinting that the young man should just give him the snake tooth.
“Your Majesty, when I said before that this was a hundred-year snake tooth, it was because I was too lazy and spoke carelessly.”
The Emperor frowned, “So it’s not a hundred-year snake tooth?”
Xing Muzheng said seriously, “Right. I asked the locals, and this snake tooth is actually ninety-nine years old.”
The Emperor: “…” If he believed him, he’d be the biggest fool in the world! This guy just didn’t want to give him the snake tooth! He was thinking of some shady, unreliable scheme to use it on his wife!
“Minister, ninety-nine years and one hundred years are only a little difference. It should still work…”
Xing Muzheng continued seriously, “Since this formula was passed down by ancient immortals, there must be no carelessness. Your Majesty, rest assured, I am willing to find a genuine hundred-year snake tooth for you.”
As if such a thing could be found anytime soon, and is it even possible to find a hundred-year snake tooth? The Emperor was reluctant to give up, “Then we can try with your ninety-nine-year one first.”
“If Your Majesty tries it, I will find some seventy or eighty-year-old snake teeth. As I said before, this snake tooth is more important than my life; I relied on it to win back my wife’s heart.” Xing Muzheng said.
How stubborn he was! The Emperor was half mad, since persuasion didn’t work he tried to be stern. He darkened his face, “Official Xing, refining this elixir concerns the kingdom’s eternal future. Do you really want to ruin my great cause for the sake of a mere woman?”
Xing Muzheng dropped to one knee but said nothing.
“If the elixir is refined, any woman you desire in this world is yours. Go think carefully, don’t be stubborn. After the Crown Prince’s banquet, come to the palace to report!”
