Chapter 142

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Shaowei

Liu Qi

This was Shaowei's first time truly meeting Red Yang in the full sense of the word, seeing him clearly, and being seen clearly by him.

This time, there was no ghost mask to cover him, no chaotic firelight to block the view; Red Yang stood to the side in the palace hall, calmly watching the young figure walking in from outside the hall against the light.

Two pairs of eyes met across the space, one pair like gray-white cold frost, the other pitch black like ink.

Red Yang was skilled at observing form, bone, and Qi, and skilled at using these three to deeply observe the other's character; besides this, he was also accustomed to distinguishing the strange looks with which first-time viewers regarded his unusual face, and what kind of first reaction they would have upon seeing him.

Over these years, he had made such observations countless times; those people's reactions were either fear, or astonishment, or retreat, or else disgust and rejection, and further still were sighs and sympathy... and regardless of which of the above it was, all made him feel both amused and disgusted.

But at this moment, this gaze belonged to none of those; she had only calmness, and even if this calmness was a disguise, the first reaction in the depths of her pupils could not escape his practiced judgment.

Ignoring his strangeness, not caring about his outward appearance.

The thing she raised really is just like her.

But in other respects, it is not alike...

Not just not alike...

As that figure drew closer, he was able to witness her skin and bone appearance more clearly, yet the more closely he examined her, the more he was unable to "see her clearly."

He had seen countless faces in his life, but had never encountered such a strange existence; that person had already walked past him, and he gained nothing; as that person held the box and bowed down, four words slowly surfaced in his heart—formless, imageless.

That formless, imageless girl presented the Emperor with the elixir she had refined.

There were two physicians attending in the palace interior; before the Emperor took this elixir, they first had these two people examine it, and after carefully checking and confirming it was non-toxic, the two each took one elixir pill; this was the test medicine after the verification.

Shaowei had long heard of such procedures, and naturally took them in stride, though she did indeed have some deception: she only needed three days to refine this elixir, but to make it seem not easy to obtain, she appropriately claimed it was seven days.

Seven days was not the limit of the lie, but the end of Shaowei's patience; she was eager to present the elixir to the Emperor, otherwise she would surely have concocted a miraculous forty-nine days to further add luster to this elixir.

During the interval of waiting for the test medicine, the Emperor summoned Shaowei to come near to take his pulse.

Her fingers rested on the Emperor's wrist pulse; upon careful examination, she could discern his emotional fluctuations, restless Qi and blood, and recurring depression... Shaowei thought of Liu Qi's words from last night, and now combined them with this pulse condition to reconsider, finding herself increasingly agreeing that this king of complicated emotions probably could not even sort out his own thoughts.

Still pressing three indentations into the Emperor's wrist, Shaowei roughly explained the situation, only saying that he could continue taking medicine according to the medicinal prescription she had prescribed last time for half a month, at which time the prescription would be adjusted based on the condition of the Dragon Body.

The Emperor nodded with an "en," showing that he recognized that prescription.

The two physicians then gave their reply after the test medicine; both said there was nothing unusual.

This was only the end of the first step of test medicine; the two would also report their experiences taking the medicine after two shichen and twelve shichen respectively, to ensure absolute safety.

And the Emperor glanced at the girl kneeling beside the table, but raised his hand to open the box, picked up a pill and put it into his mouth; Guo Shi saw this and hurried forward to present tea.

The pill slid down his throat into his belly; the Emperor, experienced in taking elixirs, felt it for a moment, then nodded and said: "This elixir enters the belly clear, harmonious, and warm; it is a top-grade product."

No one would comment on the Emperor's practice of taking the elixir early; those who must always follow the rules are they, not the Son of Heaven who makes the rules. At this moment, hearing the Son of Heaven praise the elixir, the two physicians also spoke in agreement, but this agreement was not out of pretense; rather, they truly felt their minds clear and their Qi refreshed.

This prescription was created by Jiang Fu; when she was formerly the National Preceptor, she had also refined elixirs for the Emperor, and though they had some curative effect, it was only during those years in Taoxi Township that she truly comprehended the way of consummate furnace fire.

Perhaps because she had set aside all affairs, her body and mind drew closer to the Way of Heaven and Earth; Jiang Fu made great progress in the elixir path during those years, she used Shaowei's blood to refine elixirs and comprehended some true knowledge and insight; as a repayment of cause and effect, she also imparted the entire prescription to Shaowei.

And Shaowei used this prescription to plot to seize the Holy Heart, and also walked the path of repaying the one who sought her.

Now the greatest enemy was right in the hall; Shaowei lowered her eyes and sat still, restraining the most primal killing intent in her heart—that was a restless beast, eager to pounce on the enemy in an instant, bite through his throat, split open his flesh and bone, and find the Immortal Treasure he had stolen and hidden away.

Guo Shi also smiled and praised: "It seems it is truly a divine elixir and wondrous medicine; as expected of something bestowed by a high person, it will surely make Your Majesty's Dragon Body healthy and your fortune and longevity long-lasting."

Every word of praise was like a provocation to the girl kneeling beside the Dragon Table.

The provoked Red Yang showed no reaction whatsoever; the Red Yang Immortal Master in the eyes of the world had always been thus, without sorrow or joy, without desire or pursuit.

The Emperor had long taken elixirs, all from Xian Tai Gong, but not by Red Yang's hand; there were many Taoists and diviners in Xian Tai Gong, while Red Yang always advocated the internal cultivation method of the unity of Heaven and Man, as well as the empowerment of talismans, Feng Shui, and spell arrays.

He was skilled at observing celestial phenomena and star omens, measuring good and bad fortune, laying arrays to drive away evil; his various abilities were beyond doubt. Though he had never refined elixirs for an emperor, this instead made many feel that he was not eager for quick success and instant benefit, that he had things he would do and things he would not do, that he truly had the immortal style and Daoist bone.

Shaowei, however, did not care about these things; she had no taboos at all, originally starting out with the heterodox and deceptive path of ghosts and spirits; whatever was beneficial to her actions, she would do.

Moreover, in Shaowei's view, Red Yang not refining elixirs was not necessarily because he did not want to; perhaps he simply could not compare to Jiang Fu's talent in medicine, and was not skilled in this path at all. If such a lofty Immortal Master acted mediocrely, it would instead damage his lofty image; he might as well simply not do it.

As for being without sorrow or joy, without desire or pursuit, Shaowei did not believe a word of it; if he truly sought nothing, why would he bring his strange illness a thousand li to the capital, and put on these Immortal Master robes?

If he were a Holy Person who acted for the country and the people but never for himself, then why did he treat human lives as pawns and straw dogs?

"Your Majesty first obtained the Immortal Master, and then obtained Jiang Tai Zhu; truly, talented and auspicious people abound. How could the Great Qian realm not flourish?" Guo Shi sighed and said.

There was no king in this world who did not love talent; and because of taking medicine, the gloom between the Emperor's brows eased slightly, though he still could not show a pleased expression. He rested both hands on the Dragon Table, his voice hoarse but not diminished in majesty: "You, my lords, must work together with one heart to assist Me in securing the realm and the ten thousand people."

The two, superior and subordinate, bowed together in ceremony and respectfully replied: "We obey."

Shaowei quickly put the words "one heart" into practice; she turned her head to look at Red Yang: "I observe that the Immortal Master suffers from a strange illness. I happen to know a bit of strange arts; if the Immortal Master is willing, I can examine the Immortal Master."

The girl's face bore a touch of naive sympathy; Red Yang saw through this pretense more clearly than anyone. He looked directly at her: "This illness is brought by fate; it is not worth treating. Tai Puzhe's kindness, this poor Daoist accepts it in his heart."

Then he smiled slightly, but spoke to invite: "Since Jiang Tai Zhu understands the elixir path, he can be considered a half-fellow disciple. This poor Daoist will lecture on Immortal Arts in the palace today; if Tai Puzhe is interested, he may later follow this poor Daoist to move over together."

Shaowei did not find his face terrifying at all; on the contrary, this unusual face made him look as if he had an inclusive divinity that treated all beings equally.

Facing this extremely deceptive face, Shaowei said: "The Immortal Master's great kindness; to decline would be impolite."

Shortly after, an official requested an audience, and these two, one a shaman and one a Daoist, who were "harmonious in one heart," took their leave and departed.

Outside the hall, the Divine Sky was azure blue, and the Golden Crow shone high.

The two walked side by side; just as they crossed the Weiyang Palace Gate, Shunzhen came forward holding an umbrella to welcome them.

The black umbrella covered the black robe trailing to the ground, like a black snake in a pool; the scorching sunlight fell upon the girl, like a vermilion bird in fire.

The former, in the name of following the Way of Heaven, sought to strangle the latter; the latter, only with the anger of private grudges, vowed to burn the former to ashes.

From under the black umbrella came a calm voice: "Tai Puzhe intends to sit in and listen to the Immortal Arts; I will lead the way for Tai Puzhe."

Shunzhen respectfully replied and bowed his head to Shaowei.

Shaowei quickly judged Shunzhen's identity; during these days she had roughly investigated the people around Red Yang. This should be the Daoist skilled in mechanism arts mentioned by the household slaves, very likely from the Mo Family. The tomb trap she encountered at Changling was undoubtedly the work of this person.

The Chi Yang master and disciple led the way ahead, while Shaowei walked several paces behind; wind blew from the front, and a trace of extremely faint scent once again caught Shaowei's attention.

Just now she had deliberately walked side by side with Chi Yang, and vaguely caught a whiff of an unusual scent on his body.

That scent was blocked by his black robe clothing, and hidden within the incense aura he was steeped in; unless one with extraordinary sense of smell drew close, it was not enough to identify, and besides, Shaowei had been extremely sensitive and familiar with this scent since childhood.

As she walked, Shaowei silently watched that black shadow.

Chi Yang often preached immortal arts, not only in the palace but also frequently invited by various Taoist temples to lecture on the Dao.

Inside the palace hall Chi Yang used to lecture this time, twenty or thirty people had already taken their seats, with Crown Prince Liu Cheng at the head, along with many imperial clan children, some long residing in the Capital, others arriving in the Capital successively in recent days.

After the Changling collapse, the Emperor, on the grounds of "comforting the spirits of the ancestors," summoned the various Vassal King households to the Capital to sacrifice to the ancestors. Last night, Liu Qi had told Shaowei that this was an opportunity when people's hearts were unsettled, and the Emperor intended to take the chance to test and deter the various Vassal States.

The Imperial Tomb collapse was a great misfortune, but it could likewise be turned into a political pretext for the Emperor's use.

At this moment the imperial clan children sat waiting in order, while ten Taoist-robed Xiantai Palace girls and boys stood to the side, ordered to assist the Immortal Master in lecturing on the Dao, Ming Dan among them.

Hearing a companion say the Immortal Master had arrived, Ming Dan immediately bowed her head with the others, but the next moment, suddenly heard someone say: "Jiang Tai Zhu has also come..."

Crown Prince Cheng also spoke out in surprise: "Jiang Tai Zhu."

"So that is the new Tai Puzhe? Even younger than I imagined..."

"I heard her Nuo Dance can summon Mountain Ghosts."

"Far more than that!"

Those imperial clan children all cast curious or awed gazes; only to see that girl, though not wearing Witchcraft Attire, still gave a strange feeling, her eyes pitch black, without expression, like a thing from a deep Mountain Forest.

She looked at them, raised her hand and performed a ritual: "I was invited by the Immortal Master Xiang Gong to come and listen to the Dao."

As everyone returned the salute, Ming Dan, who was already at the rear, tried to retreat, but found she could not move an inch. Her heartbeat grew faster and faster; she had never known a human heart could beat so fast, her chest seemed about to burst, her Blood Qi about to break through everything.

It was her, it was her...

So close, hearing the voice so clearly... Even if her appearance had changed greatly with age, but having grown up together since childhood, how could she mistake her?!

She was actually alive! She had actually become a Wu Nu, become a Tai Puzhe, and come to Chang'an!

Why come here at this time? Was she here to expose her? What should she do? What should she do?

Under enormous panic, she had become like a wooden puppet, until those pitch-black eyes swept toward her—

Ming Dan began to tremble, but only for a moment, that gaze had already left, as if merely glancing over everyone indifferently and carelessly.

Ming Dan's breathing and the voices in her mind trembled together: had she really forgotten?

The news gathered all said that the flower fox had experienced something miraculous, been saved by a high expert, and completely forgotten all childhood matters... Perhaps she truly escaped death, was injured too severely, and lost her memory?

Had she forgotten everything? Or did she still retain some memories? Would she suddenly remember? Or was she merely pretending to forget?!

In the past month, Ming Dan had thought about this countless times.

Since returning from Changling, she had endless nightmares, could not swallow food, had grown thin by a circle, and fallen ill; the physician said she had been frightened, and that very night Zhu Zhi was shot and killed, so being frightened was only natural... Feng Xu had people send many tonic medicines to Xian Tai Gong, but they could not suppress her terror at all.

And the person who brought her this fatal fright sat down right beside her...

Feeling the chaotic sounds around her, Shaowei was annoyed to death.

This extremely greedy and timid-as-a-mouse fool was being used by Chi Yang as a pawn to test her, and the more so, the more she could not do anything to this fool openly or secretly, otherwise she would expose a flaw.

The talisman paper painted with her eyes that Shan Gu mentioned before must be from Chi Yang, but Chi Yang at that time had no chance to see her clearly; presumably he used Ming Dan's eyes as a reference.

Chi Yang had already guessed, or already confirmed, that she was the Feng Family descendant.

The current test must be to confirm whether she truly had forgotten everything from childhood as she claimed, did not know her connection to the Feng Family, and felt no emotion toward her mother.

Shaowei could not help but be annoyed by Ming Dan; if Ming Dan had not appeared here and stolen her name, she could walk the Capital without any hindrance on this trip, as long as Ming Dan did not appear before Mother, no one would connect her with the Feng Family, and no matter how sharp Chi Yang was, he would have no grounds to suspect.

Now trouble had already appeared; gritting her teeth, being annoyed, complaining, and bearing grudges in her heart was fine, but she still had to deal with it cautiously; at this moment, before Ming Dan, she could not have any emotional fluctuation.

Without solid evidence, Chi Yang would not dare to easily threaten her with Lu Hou Fu; Lu Hou Fu was not some small door and small household; once this layer of relationship was pierced, although she would have a soft spot, she would also gain assistance; therefore, without full confidence, presumably Chi Yang would not rashly break this "balance."

During these days Shaowei had repeatedly weighed the pros and cons, and at this moment she was even more composed.

Chi Yang invited her here, not only to have her meet Ming Dan, but also to take the opportunity to observe her everything.

Testing and observation were mutual.

Today she finally saw this enemy clearly, caught a trace of unusual breath on him, and now, she wanted to listen well to his "Dao."

Good Night Everyone~