Chapter 87: The Elixir of Long Life

Watching Chen Kedao's retreating figure, Zhu Youxiao broke into a smile.

Glancing at Chen Hong standing not far away, he spoke directly: "Spread the word that Embroidered Uniform Guard Regional Military Commissioner Luo Sigong recommended Chen Kedao to the palace. I find Chen Kedao's scholarship quite intriguing—have him come to the palace tomorrow to give a lecture."

After a moment's thought, Zhu Youxiao added: "Have the Grand Secretariat draft an edict, granting Luo Sigong the title of Junior Guardian."

Chen Hong could vaguely guess at his master's intentions, but that was as far as it went.

It wasn't that he couldn't figure it out—it was that he dared not think too deeply. This time, his master was clearly making Luo Sigong the target of everyone's arrows.

Chen Hong roughly understood one thing: this master of his liked to use his ministers—or rather, he disliked the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot having ties with the civil officials.

Just look at Wei Zhongxian now—what state had his relationships with the officials become?

Once this matter spread, Luo Sigong would likely end up in much the same situation as Wei Zhongxian—left with no choice but to rely on the Emperor alone. As for his reputation, it had long since stunk to high heaven; reconciling with the civil officials was utterly impossible.

If he ever wanted to accomplish things in the future, Chen Hong felt he too would first need to ruin his own reputation.

The reason Eunuch Wang An wasn't favored by the master was clearly because Wang An had grown too close to the civil officials, and his reputation was too good.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty—this servant will go deliver the decree at once." Chen Hong acknowledged, then turned and walked out.

At the same time, he made a resolution in his heart: the cooperation with Luo Sigong could now begin.

He had been hesitating and wavering before—not because he didn't want to cooperate with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but because he didn't know the master's attitude toward them.

If the master didn't want to prop up the Embroidered Uniform Guard against the Eastern Depot, then sticking his nose in would only earn the master's disgust.

Only if the master wanted to support the Embroidered Uniform Guard against the Eastern Depot could he get involved.

Chen Hong hadn't been certain before, but now he was.

The master intended to support the Embroidered Uniform Guard in contending with the Eastern Depot.

If the master hadn't thought so, he wouldn't have had him spread the news. That message was plainly meant to drive a wedge between the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the civil officials.

This was a sign of intent to promote them heavily—just as the master had once intended to promote Wei Zhongxian.

Because of that business with finding the Daoist called Han Li, Wei Zhongxian had been screwed over bloody. But ever since then, Wei Zhongxian had truly been given heavy responsibility.

What standing had Wei Zhongxian had before? And what standing did he have now?

Clearly, from this point on, the Embroidered Uniform Guard's standing would also soar. Now was the perfect opportunity for him to get his foot in the door.

Watching Chen Hong's retreating figure, Zhu Youxiao let out a soft sigh.

The little schemes of Chen Hong and Luo Sigong naturally couldn't be hidden from Zhu Youxiao.

Of course, the two of them didn't dare hide anything from Old Zhu either. Zhu Youxiao knew that the little moves the two had just made were nothing more than tests of him.

If he disagreed, he would stop them; if he did nothing at all, that would be tantamount to tacit approval.

In fact, he had not only done nothing to stop them, but had even sent Chen Hong to bestow rewards on Luo Sigong—that was the clearest attitude possible, plainly telling the two: go ahead and collude with each other, I support you, roll up your sleeves and do a good job.

Zhu Youxiao felt he was becoming more and more like an emperor who played the game of power.

In later ages, the art of political maneuvering had basically been summarized and codified. It generally referred to the schemes and means that the ruling class employed by relying on their power—the political tool exclusively used by the exploiting class. Here, the ruling class generally meant the emperor.

First, "political maneuvering" must serve the ruling class with "loyalty," and thus it was the ruling class's exclusive tool of governance.

Second, "political maneuvering" must fulfill its "duty" to the ruling class, and thus it must effectively divide, disintegrate, and even suppress hostile factions without mercy.

Third, "political maneuvering" must display its "capability" for the ruling class, and thus it must exhaust every trick of deceiving and fooling the masses.

Historical facts have already proven that every great master of political maneuvering was without exception a great fraud and a great schemer, and without exception left behind a name cursed for a thousand generations.

"Political maneuvering" meant cruelty, deception, and treachery.

"Political maneuvering" referred specifically to the schemes and means that the political class employed by relying on their power.

Among the emperors of the Ming dynasty, the Jiajing Emperor was a master of political maneuvering.

Surveying his entire life's deeds, he could absolutely be equated with a master schemer.

Thinking of the Jiajing Emperor, Zhu Youxiao suddenly recalled something, and stood up to walk outside.

Chen Hong, who had just returned, hurriedly came forward, went straight to Zhu Youxiao's side, and followed respectfully behind him.

Though he didn't know what the master intended to do, Chen Hong knew what he himself should do.

The group soon arrived outside a certain residence.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the residence and nodded in satisfaction.

The place wasn't large, and it was separated from its surroundings—a fairly secluded spot. This should be a suitable location.

Chen Hong followed the master here and was somewhat taken aback.

He naturally knew what this place was.

This was where the master had imprisoned that Daoist—that Han Li of the Azure Cloud Sect.

Although the master had done quite a few things under this Han Li's name, Chen Hong knew that the master had not the slightest interest in this Daoist.

The Daoist's identity and name had both been bestowed by His Majesty. But he had only been seen that one time, and never again since.

Could the master's visit here this time mean there was some other matter?

Zhu Youxiao naturally had no idea what Chen Hong was thinking.

Standing at the door and pondering for a moment, Zhu Youxiao gently pushed the door open and stepped inside.

After entering the courtyard, Zhu Youxiao saw that Daoist sitting in meditation in the yard.

He nodded lightly, quite satisfied with the Daoist's conduct.

Having been imprisoned by him, the man could still sit calmly in meditation and cultivation without going mad—that was clearly not bad.

Though he might be a fraud, he still had something of a Daoist's bearing about him.

Seeming to sense that someone had arrived, Han Li quickly opened his eyes.

Seeing the Emperor standing before him, Han Li hastily rose to his feet.

He had long been on the verge of going mad from boredom; now that the Emperor had come, he naturally dared not show any negligence.

He had been terrified all along, thinking his days might be numbered. Unexpectedly, the Emperor hadn't chopped off his head—he was actually living quite well in the palace, waited on hand and foot with fine food and drink.

Apart from being unable to leave this courtyard, everything else was quite good.

After getting through the period of fear, Han Li enjoyed a few days of comfort. But once those days of enjoyment were over, Han Li found himself unbearably lonely.

Now he wished he could leave this place, but he also knew that without the Emperor's order, no one would dare let him go.

Now that the Emperor had come, Han Li was naturally overjoyed, yet his heart was also filled with trepidation.

Glancing at Han Li, Zhu Youxiao asked, "As a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, do you know how to refine the Elixir of Immortality?"

Han Li's face, which had been full of expectation and written all over with 'please let me go,' instantly fell. He stood there dumbfounded, not moving a muscle.

Elixir of Immortality?

What the heck is that?

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