Chapter 390

The auction had already ended quite late, Zhu Ti was busy arranging guards to escort the guests who had bought the precious items away, Great King happily earned five million taels in a single night, returning to the private room, he waved a hand and ordered a late-night snack for the guests!

Bringing a whole houseful of chives, they rushed to Spring River Flower Moon Night, and again ordered a page of dishes; when everyone had almost finished eating, He Guang brought over the Rejuvenation Pill.

Great King sold each one for a starting bid of five hundred thousand taels, everyone thanked him repeatedly.

This move by Great King effectively halved the price, everyone saw it with their own eyes, so they were deeply grateful. Those who were tight-fisted and hadn't planned to buy also purchased it, after all, such an opportunity is rare.

Learning that Xie Tu was preparing to give it to the current head of the Xie Clan, Great King still had an impression of that stubborn old man who refused to leave Chen Commandery. No matter what Xie Yuan said, the old master insisted that the next head of the Xie Clan come to look after the migrating clansmen, while he himself firmly refused to leave, determined to stay in Chen Commandery and live with his youngest son.

"How old is our old gentleman this year?"

Xie Tu said he's seventy-two.

Upon hearing this, Great King exclaimed, "Oh my—this age is really not small in the Great Jin; next year he'll be seventy-three, which is a hurdle! If something happens to the old gentleman, won't Xie Yuan and Xie Che have to observe mourning?"

That's not allowed!

Xie Che didn't want to enter official service; earlier, Xie Yuan had hinted that Great King should step in and let Xie Che take over the Northern Border Academy.

Since Great King spoke a frank truth during the military review, Xie Yuan truly regarded Great King as a wise lord, wholeheartedly considering his interests—for example, without hesitation betraying his elder brother.

In terms of Xie Che's character and learning, he could easily support the Northern Border Academy; but as the eldest son of the Xie Clan's main line, he has stayed at home pursuing scholarship and helping his father manage clan affairs, keeping a low profile.

Great King had an epiphany!

Well, if you don't want an official post, teaching works too!

Given the Xie Clan's reputation and scholarship, Xie Che taking over as Libationer in place of Xie Yuan is absolutely the most suitable choice.

These days Xie Yuan is swamped with court duties; at most he has time to give Great King a few lessons, and he can't attend to the Northern Border Academy at all.

Besides, Great King, this academy still has side missions—not to mention the important task of supplying talent to the northern borders—so this Libationer position is truly vital.

Great King immediately became enthusiastic, taking Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy copybook to try his old trick again, but to his surprise, Xie Che accepted the copybook without hesitation, and gave no leeway about going out to the academy.

Xie Dalao's attitude made things clear, Xie Yuan has already entered service to support Great King, Xie Tu is also kept busy running around every day, and as the elder of the Xie Clan in the northern borders, taking a few things from Great King is really nothing.

Great King had never encountered anything like this before; upon leaving the Xie residence, Great King sighed to Zhao Baochang, "It's over, it's over—I've run into a master!"

Zhao Bao: "Does Your Highness want to give up?"

Great King: "How could that be! It's already come to my bowl—can I just watch him sit at home strumming his zither?!"

I've never been that carefree, and I won't allow it!

Although Xie Che hasn't agreed, Great King has already confidently placed him in advance as the Libationer of the Northern Border Academy. Therefore, this old man of the Xie Clan cannot die.

He told Xie Tu, "This pill is actually quite ordinary; you can give it to someone relatively younger, like your father. Great King still has something good coming next month." Great King hinted mysteriously, because just now he had come up with a brilliant idea to get Xie Che out of the mountain.

Just have Xie Che owe him a favor.

Xie Tu is sharp—this isn't a small matter; Great King has already hinted at it, so he insists on getting the specifics.

Great King: "…Well, telling you in advance is no problem, after all we're on the same side! Haven't I also set up a Medical Bureau? I do have some connections in the art of alchemy.

They say time cannot be reversed, but aging can be artificially slowed. As long as you have the ability to intervene, understand?

Great Talent Xie truly didn't understand: "Your Highness, do you have something better than the Rejuvenation Pill?"

"That's right! Flowers can bloom again, but people cannot be young again. Great King happens to have a pill that is extremely, extremely rare, which can repair bodily functions, slow aging, and cure minor aches and pains in one go; it's called 'Again Youth'. The Rejuvenation Pill lets one turn back time five years, while Again Youth can do so for about ten years."

Xie Tu was shocked—this is more than just having a few connections.

"Can't the Rejuvenation Pill and Again Youth be taken together?"

"Taking them together is just wasteful! After taking the Rejuvenation Pill, you only need to wait five years before you can take another; if you take more within five years it won't be absorbed and may cause side effects. Do you know what side effects mean? If you take two poisons together they might cancel each other out, but if you take two strong tonics together your body might not be able to digest them and could produce the opposite effect."

Xie Tu indicated he understood; just now at the auction, it was said that a person can only eat one within five years.

But the Rejuvenation Pill has already been bid up to one million taels; the five‑hundred‑thousand‑tael Rejuvenation Pill in our hands is already a welfare from Da Wang, so the Again Youth Pill would certainly be more expensive—how could we still dare to buy it at the opening bid? As for the auction price, that's another matter. Even if the Xie family had more wealth, they couldn't afford such a sum; they buy Da Wang's pills every month.

Renjing Da Wang understood at a glance at his expression; this guy isn't even hinting anymore, he straight out says: "The original price of the Rejuvenation Pill is what I, the king, offered out of respect for Mister and your senior brother; as for the Again Youth Pill~ I heard your father is still idle, strumming his zither and drinking tea every day at home?"

Xie Tu:...

It's fine; Father, you're not wrong to fall for Da Wang's tricks.

★

【

Xie Manor Mini-Theater:

Xie Tu: Father, if someone hired you for three years with one million taels, wouldn't that be generous?

Xie Che: One million taels to hire me? For what? Smuggling private salt?

Xie Tu: No, it's a position you could handle. Would you go? It's quite suitable for you, and it's also important for our family. However, this sum of silver is to be issued in the form of coupons; do you mind?

Xie Che:?

Xie Yuan had a premonition and inquired: May I ask who is hiring?

Xie Tu: Da Wang.

Xie Yuan:...

Xie Che:...

★

Da Wang: Spend two million, get one million off coupon—check it out!】