Chapter 88: Who Eats the Refined Elixir?

Zhu Youxiao looked at the stunned Han Li and seemed to harbor no displeasure at his failure to answer the question.

He merely sat up slowly, tapped lightly on the armrest of his chair, and quietly waited for Han Li to speak.

After a long moment, Han Li finally snapped back to his senses.

He understood now.

The Emperor was having him refine elixirs!

Though he had only met this Emperor once before, and counting this time it was only twice, Han Li already knew his own situation very well. Or to put it another way, he knew this Sovereign's attitude toward him.

This Sovereign wanted to use him to do things an emperor wished to do, only it needed to be disguised as something old Han had done himself.

From the moment the Sovereign had given him a new name and established his sect, it had already been like this.

Now asking whether he could refine an elixir of longevity was not really a question at all — it was a clear directive for him to refine the longevity elixir.

Though Han Li understood this in his heart, there was one thing he did not grasp: what exactly was this longevity elixir?

If what he refined was not what this Sovereign wanted, then his fate would certainly be miserable.

Right now he was under house arrest here, well-fed and well-treated. If the Emperor was dissatisfied with what he produced, then he probably would not even enjoy the treatment of being imprisoned.

Thinking of this, Han Li spoke up directly: "I report to Your Majesty — this humble priest does not know whether the longevity elixir Your Majesty speaks of is the same kind of elixir this humble priest knows how to refine. I beg Your Majesty to enlighten me."

Hearing Han Li's words, Zhu Youxiao nodded gently.

As expected of someone who swindled people on the streets — quick to react and quick to adapt, understanding his situation in such a short time.

But that was fine too; having someone who knew how to handle things saved him the trouble of wasting words.

"The longevity elixir I would have you refine is a medicine capable of extending one's years and strengthening the body. Though it cannot truly make a person immortal, it can still fortify the constitution." Zhu Youxiao spoke slowly.

Han Li listened to Zhu Youxiao's words, lost in thought.

As a Taoist who spent his days roaming the jianghu practicing righteous (swindling) deeds, though not a true Taoist, he still knew some basic tricks — otherwise he would have been exposed long ago.

He also knew a little simple medicine. Of course, by medicine here, it meant he knew how to roll medicine pills, such as hawthorn pills.

But true elixir refinement? He had no idea how to do it at all!

"Replying to Your Majesty, the longevity elixir this humble priest knows of also has such effects. However, this humble priest does not know whether Your Majesty's formula is better than mine. Would Your Majesty be willing to bestow the formula upon this humble priest?" Han Li spoke these words with great care.

In truth, Han Li already had a plan in mind — if worst came to worst, he would just fob the Emperor off with hawthorn pills.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Han Li and nodded gently.

He too knew that this Han Li had no idea how to refine elixirs, but that did not matter — after all, the elixirs produced were not for him to eat anyway.

As for the formula, though he did not have one himself, the world was hardly lacking in recipes for refining elixirs of immortality — he could simply send someone to procure one.

Rising lightly to his feet, Zhu Youxiao instructed: "I will have someone prepare the formula."

Having said this, Zhu Youxiao turned and walked out.

As he walked, he instructed Chen Hong: "Have someone prepare the elixir furnace, and assign a few people to assist Taoist Han. Once the formula arrives, begin refining immediately."

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Chen Hong hurriedly replied: "This servant will see to it at once."

In truth, Chen Hong was worried sick inside.

Chen Hong knew Han Li's background perfectly well — the man was nothing but a wandering charlatan.

Now His Majesty was having this swindler refine elixirs — who would dare eat what he produced?

Wasn't it likely poison?

Could His Majesty intend to eat it?

Chen Hong shook his head.

If he himself knew about Han Li's background, then His Majesty naturally knew it even more clearly — especially since the entire affair had been personally arranged by His Majesty in the first place.

How could His Majesty possibly eat elixirs refined by this Han Li?

Then... who was this elixir for?

It could not be that he was just refining it for fun, could it?

Thinking of this, Chen Hong suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He knew he could not think any further — if he did, he feared he would be dead.

Stepping out of the courtyard where Han Li was housed, Zhu Youxiao stretched lazily.

What peaceful times? It was merely himself playing at schemes and machinations.

Thinking of this phrase, and its original meaning, Zhu Youxiao smiled wryly.

Inside the palace, Zhu Youxiao was pondering elixir refinement; outside the palace, everything was in an uproar.

The Donglin Faction was facing a great crisis — this was something all Donglin members knew.

Today's gathering was precisely to resolve this matter and come up with a solution.

Thus all the Donglin leaders in the capital had arrived, including Minister of Rites Sun Shenxing, Vice Minister of Works Zhao Nanxing, and the gathering's initiator, Gao Panlong.

As for Zou Yuanbiao and Yang Lian, they were confined at home and naturally could not come.

Apart from these men, Grand Secretary Han Kuang of the Grand Secretariat and Sun Chengzong, the Son of Heaven's teacher, were both absent.

In fact, the Donglin Faction had not intended to invite those two in the first place.

By comparison, though Han Kuang and Sun Chengzong were Donglin members, their ties to the faction were shallow — they could only be counted as peripheral members, not core ones.

The men deliberated well and reached a consensus.

Regarding this matter, compromise was out of the question. Their view differed from Han Kuang's — if they compromised this time, there would be no retreat.

Moreover, abandoning Zou Yuanbiao and Yang Lian would anger many people.

Once people's hearts scattered, the ranks would be hard to lead.

The previous impeachment of Xiong Tingbi was not the doing of one or two men — it was something everyone had worked together to bring about.

Though there had been little discussion, they all shared an unspoken understanding. If they abandoned these men now, then how could they get others to risk their lives next time?

They had already made their decision: they would resolutely refuse to admit to forming cliques for private gain, sacrifice Yao Zongwen, Feng Sanyuan, and the others, hold fast to Gao Panlong's original strategy, shift all the blame onto Li Ruzhen — perhaps even adding Liu Guojin — and acknowledge that these men had accepted bribes.

This counts as a way to give Your Majesty an explanation. The charge of forming cliques for private gain cannot be admitted—we must protect Zou Yuanbiao and Yang Lian.

They will accuse Feng Sanyuan of making false accusations, and the death of Old Third Zhang at the Court of Judicial Review has nothing to do with them either—from start to finish, it is nothing but a frame-up.

Besides, Old Third Zhang is already dead. One could say that death has eliminated the evidence of any crime—no one can prove that Yang Lian was behind the whole affair.

As for Feng Sanyuan and the others, they are merely petty men guilty of corruption and bribery. They are only trying to drag others down with them—how can the words of such people be believed?

With that, the main tone was set, and they would operate according to this framework.

Everything had already been agreed upon, but a piece of news that suddenly arrived made everyone present tense up.

Sun Shenxing, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, looked at the messenger who had come to report, rose to his feet, and asked: "Are you certain this news comes from within the palace?"

The messenger was Sun Shenxing's steward. Hearing Sun Shenxing's question, he quickly replied: "It is indeed news that came from the palace."