[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling":3,"chapter-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-20":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Top Scholar of Da Ling",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2288855,4475,"Chapter 20","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>Deep night, the Crane Chancellor, still disheveled from seeking immortality, stepped out of the Daoist temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The newly appointed chancellor’s steward, Liu Guodong, stood outside, visibly agitated, waiting for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong? You look like your soul’s been stolen—why so tense?” asked the Crane Chancellor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After stammering for a while, Liu Guodong finally dared to speak: “Your Excellency… the Lu family… something’s happened!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crane Chancellor snorted dismissively. “What could possibly happen to the Lu family? That’s a massive escort agency—who’d dare touch them? Did someone get killed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guodong: “No… not that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft… I thought it was something serious.” The Crane Chancellor relaxed now that no one had died. “Just spit it out—no beating around the bush!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guodong: “The Lu family’s escort was ‘cut’!” (Cut: underworld slang for theft.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cut?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crane Chancellor frowned. “Which escort was cut?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guodong: “The one returning from Huanxi Daoist—the newly forged One-Night-Seven-Times Pills, one hundred and eight in total—all stolen!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Crane Chancellor grew uneasy but forced calmness. “Go, summon Lu Xiongying to see me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, Lu Xiongying had come personally to report the incident and was already waiting inside the Crane Chancellor’s mansion; less than half a bell later, she arrived at the front reception hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing the Crane Chancellor, she said nothing, immediately knelt and prostrated herself, bowing her head repeatedly in apology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crane Chancellor suppressed his emotions and asked coolly: “Who did you send on this escort?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiongying: “Your Excellency, it was ‘Big Pen-Brush.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, the infamous ‘Pen-and-Sword Judge,’ Bi Cha the Big Pen-Brush.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After muttering, the Crane Chancellor added: “He’s a seasoned escort veteran, with a formidable reputation—who’d dare cut his escort?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiongying: “We’re still investigating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides the one hundred and eight One-Night-Seven-Times Pills, what else was stolen?” asked the Crane Chancellor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiongying: “Apart from the pills, all other gold, silver, treasures, and antiques remain intact.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Crane Chancellor felt considerably relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t care about the loss of the One-Night-Seven-Times Pills—he was furious and stunned that anyone had dared to cut the Lu family’s escort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Investigate this theft privately—do not report it to the authorities, or you’ll invite more trouble.” After giving these instructions, he dismissed Lu Xiongying and returned to the temple to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, the Crane Chancellor tossed and turned, unable to sleep—he couldn’t fathom why anyone would risk stealing the Lu family’s escort just for the One-Night-Seven-Times Pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the same night, a familiar visitor arrived at the Plum Chancellor’s mansion: the famed Jianghu  thief, the Formless Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Plum Chancellor was no stranger to the Formless Master. Years ago, the Formless Master had broken into his mansion, triggered a trap by accident, and been captured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impressed by his superb lightness skill, his ability to scale walls and vanish without a trace, the Plum Chancellor recruited him as a thief-agent to serve as his eyes and ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, the Formless Master came to the Plum Mansion claiming to have acquired a rare treasure to sell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Plum Chancellor saw a box filled entirely with One-Night-Seven-Times Pills, he grew impatient and tried to shoo him away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plum Chancellor: “I’m past that age—what do I need this for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, you don’t understand…” the Formless Master whispered slyly. “The Crane Chancellor uses this to stay erect all night long!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the Crane Chancellor—I don’t share his odd habit of hiding in temples playing immortal,” the Plum Chancellor said with disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Plum Chancellor wouldn’t buy, the Formless Master wisely took his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later, after court, the Crane Chancellor and the Plum Chancellor were summoned to the Imperial Study for a private audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After discussing state affairs, the Emperor suddenly changed the subject: his supply of One-Night-Seven-Times Pills had run out—he needed a new batch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crane Chancellor had already known this—his records of the Emperor’s stock were precise; that’s why he’d dispatched Lu Xiongying to escort the pills from Huanxi Daoist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, inexplicably, this seemingly ordinary escort had been cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crane Chancellor looked uneasy. “The new batch takes forty-nine days to brew—I cannot deliver immediately. Your Majesty, please wait a little longer—I will deliver the moment I obtain it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Plum Chancellor secretly rejoiced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, he summoned the Formless Master and bought twenty pills immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later, the Plum Chancellor received an imperial summons and entered the palace; this time, the Emperor received him in the Wenhua Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrying a brocade box containing the One-Night-Seven-Times Pills, the Plum Chancellor walked in with a spring in his step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead of being alone, he found the Crane Chancellor and the Rabbit Chancellor already inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could process his shock, he hurriedly apologized for his tardiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minister Mei, no need to apologize—rise, please…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor continued: “I was just discussing matters with the Crane and Rabbit Chancellors—it hasn’t ended yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then ordered his attendant, Ji Qiansui, to bring a seat for Minister Mei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Ji Qiansui wielded immense power, before the Emperor, he was merely a servant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Qiansui hurried across the hall, brought a purple sandalwood dragon-embroidered stool, and placed it respectfully behind Minister Mei, bowing as he invited him to sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, as the Crane Chancellor finished his report and rose to leave, the Emperor suddenly called out: “Crane Chancellor, stay a moment!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, is there something else you wish to command?” asked the Crane Chancellor respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing urgent,” the Emperor said hesitantly. “When can you deliver your One-Night-Seven-Times Pills?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the Crane Chancellor could answer, the Plum Chancellor immediately rose and bowed, exclaiming excitedly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, by chance, I happen to have a box right here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At once, the Crane Chancellor and the Emperor stared at the Plum Chancellor in shock; only the Rabbit Chancellor looked utterly bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor, thrilled, ordered the Plum Chancellor to produce the box immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Plum Chancellor opened the brocade box and presented it to the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor opened it—the scent, color, and quality were identical to the One-Night-Seven-Times Pills; he counted carefully: exactly twenty pills, no more, no less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor was delighted; the Crane Chancellor’s face twisted in fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew instantly—the twenty pills in the Plum Chancellor’s hands were stolen from the Lu family’s escort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t know how the Plum Chancellor had acquired them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crane Chancellor remained calm, saying nothing about the pills’ origin, and instead made a suggestion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: “These pills were not obtained directly from Huanxi Daoist. Your Majesty, please be cautious—have the Guanglu Temple test them for poison before consuming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At once, the Plum Chancellor panicked. “What do you mean, Old Weng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crane Chancellor: “Don’t misunderstand me, Minister Mei—I’m not accusing you. I’m merely advising Your Majesty to be cautious, just in case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Weng… you…” the Plum Chancellor fumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, enough…” the Emperor intervened. “Don’t worry, my ministers—I’ll handle these pills properly, according to protocol.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1155,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","93800bd5c8dc4a06579767dbfebfe541e5e9452bf62bd02a2f911eafc8c20991","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-21","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-19",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]