Chapter 394: The Handsome Governor Aggressively Flirts 17

Since Jin Chen doesn't care, what do I have to worry about?

Xuan Che thought that way, and indeed he did not loosen his grip, letting Jin Chen hold his hand without letting go, his heart feeling as sweet as honey.

Sure enough, Emperor Qianyong sat up straight, began to speak the polite words of mutual blessings for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and quickly steered the topic to the three princes who had been recalled to the palace.

First, the Eldest Prince, who had grown up in the capital since childhood and often went in and out of the palace.

Originally, everyone thought he was the undisputed choice for the throne.

After all, compared to poor and remote places, growing up in the capital is naturally better; moreover, the Eldest Prince's maternal family is a lineage of prime ministers, whose connections and wealth he could receive are beyond what anyone dare imagine.

But since Xuan Che took office, swiftly replacing nearly half of the officials promoted by the prime minister, everyone knows that if the Eldest Prince does not overthrow the Governor, he will likely have no chance at the throne thereafter.

Most of the officials present today were also Xuan Che's people, so when Emperor Qianyong introduced them, there was not much enthusiastic response; only the prime minister's faction echoed him, making the scene rather awkward.

Jin Hua Xuan had been feeling stifled lately; seeing this, he directly darkened his face, and if he weren't afraid of Emperor Qianyong's blame, he would have wanted to swing his sleeve and leave straight away.

He followed protocol, raising his cup to toast the officials, then after finishing the formalities he simply sat down, not wanting to pretend at all.

Jin Chen found it quite novel.

How exactly did this idiot contend with Xuan Che in the original plot? It feels like he doesn't even need to lift a finger—he could just bring about his own downfall and lose his status.

Just as this thought arose, a clue seemed to flash through his mind, but before he could grasp it, Emperor Qianyong called him over.

He could only relent for now, releasing his wife's hand and standing up.

"Chen'er, you grew up in the Jiangnan region, your nature is the gentlest; from now on you should learn more from your elder brother, don't be too indecisive."

When Emperor Qianyong faced him, he seemed to always recall an old acquaintance; his attitude was passable, but it still couldn't compare to his warmth toward Jin Hua Xuan.

After all, one had practically grown up alongside him since childhood, the other wasn't even born of a favored consort; being able to give a pleasant expression was already not bad.

Jin Chen also didn't care about his attitude; but with so many officials present, he still had to put on the act of filial piety.

He performed a respectful bow, then waved his hand toward Feng Zhu behind him.

"Your Majesty, although I have been far away for thousands of li, every Mid-Autumn Festival reunion day I often think of you, hoping to serve at your side."

"Now that my wish has finally been fulfilled, I am overjoyed and have specially prepared a modest gift to present to Your Majesty, wishing you may soon realize your own aspiration."

Feng Zhu handed the item to the eunuch beside Emperor Qianyong.

Emperor Qianyong's mood improved after hearing those words, after all no one supports his cultivation to become an immortal, not even his most beloved eldest son, but Jin Chen can wish him to fulfill his wish, making this sentiment rare.

He happily opened the box, saw the contents wrapped layer upon layer, and couldn't help asking curiously.

"What gift did Chen'er send?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, I heard you like cultivating Dao and refining elixirs, so I specially invited an unnamed wandering Daoist who has traveled the four seas to concoct this elixir; you may ask your attendant Daoist to examine it."

"Good, good, good, you all come take a look!"

Emperor Qianyong took out the elixir, and immediately smelled an exceptionally fresh elixir fragrance, truly refreshing to the heart and spleen.

He had never smelled such a pleasant fragrance before!

Several Daoist priests knelt in the middle, receiving the elixir to examine it carefully.

They went from initially being indifferent to shock and disbelief.

They were all retained in the palace with generous pay, and had even received instructions from the Governor regarding the elixir for Emperor Qianyong; they all knew deep down whether it contained genuine ingredients.

As for this elixir of the Third Prince, not to mention Emperor Qianyong, even these old bones of theirs, who have lived for decades, have never seen anything like it!

The leading Daoist priest furtively glanced at Xuan Che, saw him nod, then put his mind at ease, kneeling and shouting congratulations to the Holy Sovereign.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this elixir truly is a miracle, refined without any impurity; likely there is only one in the world, we cannot hope to attain it."

The other two Daoist priests also immediately lavished praise, and praised Jin Chen's filial devotion as abundant as a spring.

This made Emperor Qianyong burst into smiles, his face full of wrinkles from laughing.

"Great! Quickly present it to me!"

Emperor Qianyong seemed to have encountered a treasure, hurriedly ordering the eunuch beside him to put it away; the smile on his face grew more evident, and he even hated to end the banquet right away just to go eat it.

Thinking this way, he became increasingly restless; when introducing the Fifth Prince Jin Changyou, his mind inevitably wandered, and he even almost miscalled the name several times.

Jin Changyou saw his expression growing uglier, yet he was far better than Jin Hua Xuan—at least he wouldn't show his displeasure to his face, but instead forced a smile while presenting the gift he had carefully prepared.

If it weren't for Jin Chen's pearls and jade setting the standard, the South Sea pearls he presented would also be considered a rare curiosity; but Emperor Qianyong's thoughts are no longer here, and unless Jin Changyou produces an even scarcer elixir, he won't give it a second glance.

The gift-giving segment proceeded item by item; the officials' offerings were all about playing it safe—neither outstanding nor lacking.

In the end, among everyone seated in the hall, the only one who had not yet presented a gift was Xuan Che.

Seeing the gazes of the crowd, intentional or not, turning toward him, Xuan Che leisurely adjusted his cloak, stood up, and bowed to Emperor Qianyong.

"Your Majesty, this year the gift I present to you is somewhat similar to that of the Third Prince."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianyong's eyes lit up: "Could it be that the gift my beloved minister presents is also a scarce elixir?"

"No, it is incense burner material to facilitate your cultivation."

Xuan Che slightly raised his hand, and Yan An behind him immediately had the guards bring it forward.

It is an exquisitely luxurious, pure gold-crafted Nine-Dragon Incense Burner Cauldron, which under the hall's candlelight appears even more brilliantly dazzling.

"Earlier I heard the Daoist attendant by your side say that, Your Majesty, although the summer heat has clearly passed, you still cannot calm your mind to cultivate, so I specially placed many tranquilizing and spirit-nourishing ingredients inside; you place it in your bedroom and smell it day and night, ensuring your cultivation will advance to the next level."

His tone was unhurried, devoid of any respect, as if he were merely describing a trivial matter.

"Good, good, good! My beloved minister, you have good intentions!"

Emperor Qianyong grew even happier, waving his hand to accept it.

His appearance, utterly entranced and intoxicated, was not that of a supreme sovereign, but rather like an addict trapped in the mundane world, unable to free himself.

Many ministers seeing this scene shook their heads and sighed, lamenting inwardly that heaven does not aid the Jin State, yet such an emperor has appeared!

The gifts having been presented, Jin Chen sat feeling bored, secretly shook the hand he was holding, leaned over and whispered: "Let's go out for a walk, we'll spend Mid-Autumn on our own."

How could Xuan Che be unwilling?

The couple's departure caused little disturbance, but to those who paid attention, it was all too obvious.

Not long after, the hall actually had several fewer people.