Chapter 481: Ruler and Subject in Harmony

Yuwen Yong tapped his fingertips against the edge of the brocade box; the gilded patterns shimmered in the light beneath the pavilion, reflecting the lustrous white sheen of the medicinal pills.

The corners of his mouth curled upward, his eyes brimming with irrepressible triumph, and even his usually composed tone took on a buoyant lilt: "Duke, look—this pill is not something an ordinary sorcerer could refine!"

He then raised his hand to vaguely hover over the box, his knuckles tightening slightly with a touch of excitement. His voice dropped, though he could not mask his exuberant, beaming excitement: "I spent three years searching before I finally encountered a hermit hidden in the Zhongnan Mountains."

"This pill took eighty-one days to refine, using Kunlun snow water and Zhongnan spirit herbs as the base, tempered day and night with true fire, to finally obtain these two treasures!"

Having said this, he gently pinched one of the pills between his thumb and forefinger. The pill radiated a warm, gentle glow from his fingertips, and a crisp, exotic fragrance grew increasingly rich. "Consuming it can solidify the foundation, nourish the essence, prolong life, and even strengthen the tendons and bones, filling the blood and Qi. Even if one is past sixty, one can feel as light and vigorous as a man in his prime!"

Upon hearing this, the moment Chen Yan lowered his eyes, he had already rolled them silently in his heart, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly: "To hell with your eighty-one days!"

That piece of junk pill—Yun Xi hadn't even been refining it for forty days since she started, had she?

Yuwen Yong placed the pill back into the brocade box, his gaze suddenly turning solemn, his tone as heavy as iron: "The Duke is the backbone of Great Zhou; today, I specifically bestow this precious pill upon you!"

As he spoke, the brocade box was gently pushed toward Chen Yan. The moment the lid opened, the exotic fragrance rushed toward him.

He could act so confident because, after obtaining them, he had already been taking them for some time...

The effects were truly good!

It was only to win over the person before him that he had endured the pain of parting with them.

When Chen Yan raised his eyes, his face had long since changed into a look of fearful trepidation. He waved his hands repeatedly, his voice carrying a perfectly measured tremor and panic, and even fine beads of sweat seeped from his temples: "What virtue or ability do I have? How could I dare to accept such a precious pill? I am unworthy!"

At that moment, Chen Yan finally understood: this wasn't a test at all, but an act of goodwill...

Yet, deep down, he felt an incomparable resistance!

As the originator of this so-called "precious pill," how could he not know what ingredients were inside?

Who would have thought that such a thing could actually have a boomerang effect?!

Seeing him insist on refusing, the triumph on Yuwen Yong's face faded slightly, replaced by a sincere, heart-to-heart earnestness. He personally pushed the brocade box toward Chen Yan again, his fingertips almost touching the other's sleeve, his voice gentle: "Duke, you must not decline!"

"You have fought battle after battle in recent years. I have heard that in every fight, you are always the first to charge, with blades and arrows striking your body. I imagine you must have accumulated quite a few hidden wounds and old injuries..."

"This pill can not only prolong life but also dissolve stasis, relieve pain, and nourish the tendons and bones. It will surely have miraculous effects on your old ailments!"

These words came from the bottom of Yuwen Yong's heart.

This young emperor did not want the future military leader of Great Zhou to die young because of old wounds...

To follow in the footsteps of the Han Dynasty's Huo the Biaoqi General!

Damn it! Chen Yan couldn't help but curse inwardly. His peripheral vision swept quickly over the two glowing pills in the brocade box, his inner cold sneer intensifying, yet his outward demeanor grew even more respectful: "Watching this precious pill's color, it is lustrous, and the exotic fragrance is crisp. It must have been formed by gathering the spirit of heaven and earth; it is extraordinarily precious!"

He paused deliberately, the force of his cupped-hand salute increasing, his tone carrying a touch of "fearful" helplessness. "I am but a crude martial man, spending my days with blades and spears, filled with the aura of slaughter. How could I be worthy of such a fairy-grade treasure? If I were to soil the spiritual charm of this pill, wouldn't that be a waste of heaven's gifts?"

Having said this, he bowed deeply once more, his spine bent into a humble arc, his voice carrying a trace of an imperceptible "choke": "I beg Your Majesty to retract the order and bestow this treasure upon the virtuous and refined civil officials in the court; only then can one live up to the divine nature of this pill!"

Eating and living with the soldiers during campaigns was true...

But the "first to charge" stuff was all propaganda!

What commander has nothing better to do than go charging into battle!

Chen Yan learned for the first time what it felt like to lift a rock only to drop it on his own feet...

Yuwen Yong raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a touch of feigned displeasure and reproach, yet he could not hide the persistence in his eyes: "Duke, your words are wrong! You are belittling yourself!"

He raised his hand and patted Chen Yan's shoulder heavily, the force of his palm heavier than before, carrying an unquestionable certainty: "The Duke has performed miraculous feats for Great Zhou and for me!"

His words were resonant, and the water ripples outside the pavilion seemed to sway slightly from the momentum. "I have long wanted to reward you with something decent. You lack no gold, silver, or jewels, and your title and salary have already reached the peak. Today, it is fitting to bestow this precious pill upon you!"

The moment Chen Yan raised his eyes, a trace of imperceptible bitterness flashed in his pupils, as fleeting as foam on the water's surface, instantly masked by submissiveness.

He slowly straightened his body, but the moment his knees touched the ground, he knelt heavily, his voice carrying three parts choking and seven parts sincerity: "Your Majesty! I do not insist on defying the imperial will, it is just..."

He paused, looking at Yuwen Yong with burning eyes, his tone growing more earnest, "Your Majesty's healthy dragon body and long life are the true blessing of our Great Zhou's state and the fortune of all the people!"

His forehead tapped lightly against the ground, raising fine dust: "Such a miraculous pill is unique in the world; only a true dragon emperor like Your Majesty is worthy of enjoying it alone."

"I am but a subject; to be able to serve Your Majesty and Great Zhou as a dog or horse is already the greatest glory of this life. How could I dare to covet such a treasure?"

Immediately, he kowtowed again, his voice sounding muffled due to his posture, yet every word was resonant: "I beg Your Majesty to retract the order and keep this precious pill to protect yourself. I am willing to use my meager body to continue guarding the frontiers for Your Majesty, until death!"

Yuwen Yong slowly stood up, the smile on his face growing kinder. He raised his hand and pressed it onto Chen Yan's shoulder, his tone suddenly turning solemn: "I know the Duke's sincere heart, but if you decline again, I shall be displeased..."

Mother of Li! Chen Yan cursed inwardly, bowing deeply, his forehead almost level with his chest, his voice carrying perfectly measured respect and "gratitude," resonant: "Imperial grace is vast! I... thank Your Majesty!"

Since things had reached this point, refusal was impossible...

Having achieved his goal, the smile in Yuwen Yong's eyes instantly spread, and even the fine lines at the corners of his eyes revealed satisfaction. He used both hands to firmly help Chen Yan up, his tone intimate: "The ground is cold, Duke, please rise quickly!"

Chen Yan lowered his eyes and replied: "Yes."

His voice was low and submissive, revealing nothing unusual.

Borrowing the strength of the young emperor's support, he slowly straightened up, turned with steady movements, and paced back to his seat to sit down.

"Come!"

Yuwen Yong pinched his fingertips, having already picked up a lustrous white pill from the brocade box. The pill radiated a warm, gentle glow, and the crisp, exotic fragrance grew even richer. He handed it toward Chen Yan and said loudly and solemnly: "Consume the precious pill with me!"

Chen Yan stood up to receive the pill and replied: "I obey the imperial decree!"

After Yuwen Yong tilted his head back and swallowed the other pill, he immediately raised his hand to cover his mouth with his wide sleeve and swallowed the pill.

The next moment, a look of unbelievable shock suddenly blossomed on Chen Yan's face. His eyes widened slightly, his pupils seeming to hold starlight, and even his breathing carried a touch of hurried joy.

He subconsciously raised his hand to press against his chest, feeling the "warm current surging," his voice full of undisguised wonder: "A fairy pill indeed!"

Immediately, he deliberately straightened his back and stretched his shoulders and arms, his movements carrying a perfectly measured sense of relaxation and satisfaction, his tone growing more impassioned: "Just after consuming it, I feel refreshed and clear-headed; my limbs and bones are filled with a warm current, as if my hands and feet have endless strength!"

A low "Hmm" spilled from Yuwen Yong's throat, the tail end dragged out perfectly, carrying both the nobility of an emperor and an irrepressible triumph.

His fingertips tapped lightly against the desk, his gaze sweeping over Chen Yan's face full of "conviction." The smile at the corners of his mouth almost overflowed, yet he feigned a light, airy wave of his hand: "The miraculous nature of the fairy pill is more than just this."

He paused, deliberately keeping them in suspense, his tone carrying a touch of unfathomable depth: "This pill can not only resolve old ailments and increase strength, but long-term consumption can also calm the spirit and prolong life. After the Duke returns to the mansion, you can slowly feel it in detail, and you will know that what I said is not false."

Having said this, he picked up the teacup on the desk and took a shallow sip.

Feel your mother's leg! Chen Yan sneered inwardly, yet his face grew even more respectful. He bowed and replied: "I thank Your Majesty for bestowing the pill!"

"I have the ambition to join hands with the Grand Tutor and the Duke to pacify Qi, destroy Liang, and unify the world!"

Yuwen Yong stood up abruptly, gripping Chen Yan's hand without question. His palm was scorching and powerful, his eyes brimming with the ambition to swallow the heavens and earth, his voice resonant and full of soaring ambition: "In the future, you and I, ruler and subject, must work together with one heart to accomplish this great undertaking!"

"I will surely be the vanguard, charging into battle for Your Majesty and the Grand Tutor!"

Chen Yan rose accordingly, gripping the emperor's hand in return. His force was steady yet respectful, his face full of determination: "To repay the great kindness!"

At this very moment, Chen Yan felt as if he were a heartless machine for saying polite things...

Yet, not saying them wouldn't do.

Yuwen Yong released his hand and pointed vaguely at the seat beside him: "Sit, sit!"

Chen Yan bowed and replied: "Yes."

Immediately, he turned and sat down.

After Yuwen Yong sat back in his original position, his previous soaring ambition subsided slightly, replaced by a solemn, scrutinizing gravity. His gaze fell on Chen Yan like a torch, and he slowly asked: "Great Zhou and Gao Qi are mortal enemies. The Duke is an expert in using troops; I wonder if you have any insights on the strategy to pacify Qi?" ===== CHAPTER 482 =====