[{"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-21":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},2288856,4475,"Chapter 21: Testing the Pill","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>After the Emperor obtained the One Night Seven Times Pill from Minister Mei, he became utterly cheerful and full of vigor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having lost all interest in state affairs, he had not yet finished reviewing today’s memorials when he urgently instructed Ninth Thousand Years to arrange for two concubines to attend him tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Thousand Years dared not defy the imperial order, yet still felt uneasy and dared to warn the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed respectfully and said: “But… Minister Mei’s pills have not yet been tested for poison. Should we really take them tonight without verification? Isn’t that too hasty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then have the Court of Light and Heat test the poison immediately!” the Emperor snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Thousand Years: “Your servant obeys.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor: “Wait…” Just as Ninth Thousand Years turned to leave after receiving the order, the Emperor called him back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Thousand Years: “What further instruction does His Majesty have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This batch contains only twenty pills…” the Emperor said meaningfully: “Have the Court of Light and Heat test just one. Don’t waste three at once! I don’t even have enough for myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After agreeing, Ninth Thousand Years went to the Court of Light and Heat to arrange the poison test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That evening, at the third watch of You hour, after dining at the Wenhua Palace, the Emperor boarded a sixteen-man golden dragon palanquin and proceeded to Lingxia Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden dragon palanquin was pulled by eight steeds, all imported from the Western Regions—sturdy, covered in golden armor, their hooves adorned with golden bells that jingled as they galloped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage body was lacquered black and glossy, entirely inlaid with gold decorations; at the front stood a carved stone flying dragon, its eyes woven from gemstones and gold, lifelike beyond compare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, the floor was lined with golden silk velvet, the beams and rafters carved and painted, with auspicious beasts like lions and falcons hanging from the walls; the ceiling was semi-transparent, painted with landscapes, birds, and flowers, allowing a view of the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside were cooling ice-pure jade dew, imperial snacks, and a lacquered table with ivory-carved picture panels, complete with brushes, ink, and rice paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, imperial guards in full armor stood watch, holding swords and bows, imposing and majestic; noble-blooded imperial horses accompanied the procession, making the entourage grand and splendid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Lingxia Palace was destroyed by lightning eighteen years ago; the current Lingxia Palace was only completed earlier this year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spanning vast grounds, it was built in an octagonal shape, with three towering pagodas piercing the clouds, eaves adorned with painted rafters and glittering glazed tiles; statues of mythical beasts flanked the palace gates, lifelike and fierce. Inside, gold and jade shimmered, dragons and phoenixes symbolized good fortune, and its opulence rivaled any other palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the palace’s center stood a circular sunken bath, eighty-one feet in diameter, where the Emperor would bathe during summer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pool’s edges were inlaid with jade and precious gems, beautiful and highly slip-resistant; the bottom was paved with beige pebbles, perfect for massaging the Emperor’s soles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight, the bathwater was clear emerald green, cool enough to dispel the summer heat, its surface floating with five-colored petals and fragrant herbs—a specially prepared bathing formula for the Emperor’s delicate skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight, the bathwater was grass-green, lush as jade broth, cool enough to relieve the heat; floating on its surface were multicolored petals and potent medicinal herbs from the five continents, a specially formulated bath remedy crafted by imperial physicians for the Emperor’s sensitive skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just this one bath cost the Emperor three hundred and twenty taels of silver—roughly the annual income of ten ordinary households!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a glance, it was extravagance personified—seductive, dazzling, and mesmerizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the care of over a dozen palace maids, the Emperor undressed slowly and stepped into the pool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Thousand Years brought forward a rosewood tray bearing eighteen jade tablets, arranged neatly in three rows of nine. The Emperor glanced at them, pondered briefly, then waved his hand and said: “These won’t do. Bring another set.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Ninth Thousand Years ordered another tray brought forth—again, eighteen jade tablets, nine on top, nine below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Emperor looked again and remained unsatisfied; after removing them, he demanded yet another tray—and this cycle repeated six times!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, with no more trays left, the Emperor reluctantly selected two jade tablets from the six trays, totaling one hundred and eight concubines, and ordered Ninth Thousand Years to summon them for the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Ninth Thousand Years left than the Emperor could no longer contain himself!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For days, due to the shortage of One Night Seven Times Pills, the Emperor had been suppressing his burning desires, his body aching with unfulfilled need!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought: These concubines still need to bathe, change clothes, and be transported—this will take time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor raised his eyes and saw palace maids lined up beside the pool—five on the left, seven on the right, twelve young girls, all beautiful and youthful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, he hesitated no longer—he acted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor pointed to the maid who looked most pleasing to him and summoned her; without even asking her name or surname, he relieved his inner torment right there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, the Emperor’s expression finally relaxed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eunuchs standing by, as per custom, immediately led the maid away after the Emperor’s pleasure, to be properly cared for in hopes she would conceive an imperial heir; if she menstruated again within a month, she would be returned to her original post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, Ninth Thousand Years arrived at Lingxia Palace with the previously selected “Lady Li” and “Lady Xiang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unfortunately, the Emperor was still in his sage-like state, lost in reverie, not yet fully returned from his momentary bliss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the two concubines cooed sweetly, their delicate hands unfurling silken pouches of allure, the Emperor remained unaroused, feeling only a lingering fatigue, nothing like his former fervor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor grew anxious—he was over sixty, and instinctively realized he needed the One Night Seven Times Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called Ninth Thousand Years and ordered: “Xiao Jiu, hurry to the Court of Light and Heat and bring me that box of One Night Seven Times Pills—I must take them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Thousand Years agreed and immediately turned to run toward the Court of Light and Heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, in the Court of Light and Heat, Eunuch Ming was overseeing the poison test; the tester was the Mongolian imperial guard, Tukesiluo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had ingested one pill half an hour ago, and now the drug’s effects were surging—he was drenched in sweat, his desire burning uncontrollably, utterly tormented!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surrounded by multiple eunuchs, had he not been a stoic straight man, he would have long since pounced on someone, grabbing whomever he could to relieve his torment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you suffering?” Eunuch Ming asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s… truly unbearable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo answered with a pained expression: “Your Excellency, please have mercy—send me a woman to relieve this fire! There are so many palace maids… any one will do—even a washerwoman from the Laundry Bureau would suffice!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Ming sneered: “Every woman here belongs to His Majesty. If any maid dares to bear a bastard child, both of us will lose our heads!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo said: “I understand… but I’m in unbearable agony!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Endure a little longer. Warriors endure such minor torments easily.” Eunuch Ming said, pulling two taels of silver from his sleeve and handing it to Tukesiluo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added: “Once I’ve recorded everything, you may leave the palace and find a woman outside to relieve yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo took the silver, weighed it in his hand, and said awkwardly: “Your Excellency, you don’t understand—two taels won’t even buy a courtesan’s services!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Ming snorted and laughed: “Oh? Then tell me—how many taels would be enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo: “At least ten taels!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Ninth Thousand Years burst in, breathless, and demanded: “Where’s the One Night Seven Times Pill? Has the poison test been completed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Eunuch Ming could answer, Ninth Thousand Years turned to the only man present—Tukesiluo—and asked: “Are you suffering?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same question Eunuch Ming had just asked. Tukesiluo still grimaced and replied: “It’s unbearable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Thousand Years: “Where exactly? Stomach? Head?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo: “Your Excellency, after taking the stimulant, I’m overstimulated—I urgently need release!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then take off your clothes and let me see,” Ninth Thousand Years ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo immediately removed his lower garments, unable to conceal his condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the eunuchs present stared with envy; Eunuch Ming even swallowed hard and sighed: “Ah… if only I were still a man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming the drug’s potency, Ninth Thousand Years carefully examined the man’s tongue coating, breath, gaze, and pulse, checking for any abnormal signs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He applied every bit of medical knowledge he’d learned from imperial physicians, confirmed no other toxic reactions, then rewarded Tukesiluo with another ten taels of silver and permitted him to leave the palace temporarily to relieve himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bathing, the Emperor, dressed in a light summer robe, sat in a side hall of Lingxia Palace, making awkward small talk with the arriving “Lady Li” and “Lady Xiang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About half an hour passed before Ninth Thousand Years finally arrived, sprinting forward with the box of One Night Seven Times Pills in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor took the brocade box, opened it, and immediately swallowed one pill—but fifteen minutes passed and no effect appeared!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Jiu, did you personally witness the poison test?” the Emperor asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, I did observe it myself…” Ninth Thousand Years replied: “The reaction was unmistakable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why… after I took it, nothing happened?” the Emperor asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Thousand Years glanced at the box and suggested: “Perhaps… Your Majesty should wait a little longer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve been waiting for you for half an hour!” the Emperor snapped: “I’ve waited until the flowers have withered!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Li and Lady Xiang, seeing the Emperor’s smile turn to anger, exchanged uneasy glances and dared not speak a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the Emperor picked up another One Night Seven Times Pill and muttered: “Could it be… that after years of use, this single pill is no longer potent enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, this is a fierce, dangerous drug! You must not take too much!” Ninth Thousand Years pleaded in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Emperor ignored the warning, took a teacup, and swallowed a second One Night Seven Times Pill! Within less than half a minute, his vigor returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Emperor had returned from sage mode to warrior mode, Ninth Thousand Years left a few maids to attend him and quietly withdrew the other eunuchs from the side hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They waited outside, ready for further orders…\u003C\u002Fp>",1761,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b8559198943eb4ce84cc089b452a144bd00e3f2176722bf49cc91c7f4b8c55b5","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-22","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-20",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]