Chapter 35: The Fall of the Prime Minister

That night, Tu Tu Kesiluo lay in the guest room bed, his heart complex.

Facing Hai Hai Li Zi's high spirits, he felt exhausted and helpless!

Tu Tu Kesiluo felt like a sesame seed trapped in a cauldron, squeezed by high heat and pressure to extract oil—juice not exhausted, not allowed to stop.

Tu Tu Kesiluo was a Wu Zhiren; although his physical constitution was tough, and he had eaten Hai Hai Li Zi's special medicinal diet, after several rounds of fierce battle, he inevitably became physically and mentally drained; yet even so, as the medicinal effect had not yet faded, he could only constantly evade and then face it again.

Helpless, Tu Tu Kesiluo could only hold tears in his eyes while Hai Hai Li Zi playfully rode back and forth, whipping the reins in a cycle. He wanted to break free, but could muster no strength; as time passed, he felt his body growing weaker and weaker, like a drunkard, completely powerless, until he blacked out!

The heavy and long night finally passed; Hai Hai Li Zi changed clothes and left with a satisfied flick of his sleeve, leaving Tu Tu Kesiluo alone in the room to rest.

Tu Tu Kesiluo lay on the bed, exhausted, but his mind was in chaos.

The various events of the night quickly became a blurred dream.

The sensation of being half-real and half-illusion lingered in his heart.

He knew only that he needed a long sleep to stir up this wave of complex emotions.

And Hai Hai Li Zi's simple image, like a dream, was elusive yet entangled in his heart.

Tu Tu Kesiluo sank into chaos...

Early the next morning, Li Li Xuanren brought Jiang Jiang Mingyu to the guest room at the back mountain to inquire about Tu Tu Kesiluo, who had been "harvesting Yang to supplement Yin"; when the two entered the room and approached the bedside, they were immediately frightened by the scene before them!

Tu Tu Kesiluo, in the prime of his life, had overnight transformed his once black and lustrous long hair into entirely silver-white.

His eyebrows and beard were equally streaked with white.

Besides that,

His eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, unable even to blink.

The whites of his eyes had turned pale, and the whole person looked listless.

His originally robust body was now nothing but skin and bone; he couldn't even exert force at the base of his fingers.

Even his originally developed pectoral and abdominal muscles had become loose and powerless, rising and falling with his breath.

His originally confident expression had now become blank and bewildered, not knowing where he was.

Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu arrive, Tu Tu Kesiluo tried to rise and offer greetings, but his spine ached as if pierced by needles.

Tu Tu Kesiluo tried to speak, but his throat seemed devoid of moisture, unable to produce any sound.

His limbs had not a shred of strength, as weak as if mixed with water.

He lay on the bed like a rag doll, unable to move freely.

Tu Tu Kesiluo couldn't even lift his neck; he could only twist his head slightly, using his eyes to signal Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Li Li Xuanren.

He involuntarily twitched at the corners of his mouth, unsure whether he wanted to laugh or cry.

Tu Tu Kesiluo now had no strength left; he couldn't even force out a simple smile.

His appearance was pitiful, like a puppet whose energy had been completely drained.

Seeing Tu Tu Kesiluo so weak, Li Li Xuanren quickly grabbed his wrist and began carefully examining his pulse.

Moments later, Li Li Xuanren slapped the table and exclaimed: "Qi is weak, kidneys deficient, liver fire raging!"

After taking Tu Tu Kesiluo's pulse, Li Li Xuanren continued: "I will go find Fan Fan Qici to prepare medicine to help my lord Tu Ke regulate his body."

No sooner had the words left his lips than Hai Hai Li Zi arrived with Fan Fan Qici; at that moment, Fan Fan Qici was holding a bowl of freshly decocted black medicinal soup.

Thin white smoke rose from the cracks in the bowl, emitting the fresh scent unique to herbal medicines.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine..." Li Zhenren sat by the bedside and ordered Fan Fan Qici to help Tu Tu Kesiluo sit up.

Li Zhenren brought the medicinal soup, blew on it twice, and said: "If you rest and nurture yourself well for a few days, you will recover to your former self, full of vitality, and undergo a complete transformation!"

"A... a complete transformation?" Tu Tu Kesiluo asked with a suspicious look, his voice as faint as a dying breath.

"The method of harvesting Yang to supplement Yin is a technique for balancing Yin and Yang..." Li Zhenren explained: "My lord Tu Ke has now acquired thirty percent of my internal strength! Once your physical strength recovers, you will surely undergo a complete transformation and be reborn!"

As she spoke, she slowly poured the medicinal soup into Tu Tu Kesiluo's mouth.

The medicinal power circulated within his body; gradually, Tu Tu Kesiluo's spirit improved.

Hai Hai Li Zi comforted him: "You are like a newly hatched bird; take your time, and results will surely come."

Fan Fan Qici sat quietly nearby, watching Tu Tu Kesiluo intently.

In her gaze, Tu Tu Kesiluo felt the hope of rebirth.

After learning that Tu Tu Kesiluo's body was fine, Jiang Jiang Mingyu began to inquire about the pills.

According to Li Zhenren's estimation, analyzing the composition of the "Seven Times a Night Pill" would require forty-nine days; if one wished to recreate it, it would likely require another forty-nine days; adding both together, it would take at least ninety-eight days!

Facing a nearly hundred-day research timeline, time was not short for Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Before Tu Tu Kesiluo's physical strength recovered, Jiang Jiang Mingyu temporarily stayed in the Taoist temple; being eager to learn, he also took the opportunity to seek guidance from Li Zhenren and Li Li Xuanren on matters of pharmacology and Taoist studies.

Li Zhenren would take him to tour the alchemy hall, explaining the effects of various natural herbs.

At the same time, she explained the fundamental theories of Taoism to him.

She even taught Jiang Jiang Mingyu several basic cultivation postures.

Although Jiang Jiang Mingyu was a man long accustomed to the mortal world, he held a deep interest and sincerity toward the principles of cultivating the mysterious Dao.

He always followed behind Li Zhenren, asking questions as they walked.

Even after Li Zhenren had walked far ahead, he would remain in place, pondering silently.

Fifteen days later, Tu Tu Kesiluo's physical strength had fully recovered.

Having acquired thirty percent of Li Zhenren's internal strength, he was full of energy and walked with the speed of flight.

With a slight effort, he could easily lift heavy objects that were previously impossible to raise.

Even movements that were previously strenuous now seemed effortless.

He displayed his prowess in the Taoist temple; his punches and palm strikes were ten times more powerful, and even Fan Fan Qici could not overcome him.

Tu Tu Kesiluo performed several of the most difficult Wu Gong sets, calm and composed, without a single flaw.

He suddenly smiled and said: "I feel as if I have become ten years younger."

Master Li walked over and smiled gently, "Is this not precisely the saying of 'rebirth and bone-replacement'?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu gazed at Tu Tu Kesiluo with a look of admiration, indicating he had grasped the subtleties of "rebirth and bone-replacement."

On the twentieth day after Jiang Jiang Mingyu arrived at the observatory, Lord Murong Murong Yunhai came to visit.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "How does Lord Lord Murong have the leisure and elegance to climb the mountain?"

"Shangmu County lacks a county deputy, and the new county magistrate has yet to arrive..." Lord Murong Murong Yunhai said earnestly, "Official business in the county has gone unattended for over twenty days. I fear that if this continues, a major disaster will occur!"

"I wonder, Lord Lord Murong, what is your high opinion?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked.

Lord Murong Murong Yunhai: "I wish to... invite Lord Jiang down the mountain to temporarily serve as county magistrate, at least to stabilize the situation.."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "Lord Lord Murong's words are reasonable. Master Li stated that the heavy production of the medicine research requires up to three months; I cannot return to Jingcheng in the short term.

Lord Murong Murong Yunhai said joyfully, "Since Lord Jiang is willing to temporarily serve as county magistrate, this humble official will certainly assist you in shouldering this great responsibility!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said to Lord Murong Murong Yunhai, "Lord Lord Murong and I do not share a deep friendship, yet you are willing to lend me a hand. I admire Lord Lord Murong's spirit of justice and open-mindedness; I am determined to achieve results."

Lord Murong Murong Yunhai smiled, "Lord Jiang, your words are too heavy. As long as the common people can live in peace and happiness, the days ahead are long; the merit will be undeniable!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "I act merely on a momentary good intention, governing the county affairs with diligence. I hope not to disappoint Lord Lord Murong's expectations."

Lord Murong Murong Yunhai: "Lord Jiang is being modest. This humble official only seeks to stabilize the situation; in the future, a new county magistrate will naturally handle matters."

Having spoken, the two exchanged a smile.

Thus, that afternoon, after bidding farewell to Master Li, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, accompanied by Tu Tu Kesiluo, descended the mountain with Lord Murong Murong Yunhai and returned to Shangmu County.

Meanwhile, Li Li Xuanren remained on the mountain to assist his master in making medicine.

After Jiang Jiang Mingyu left Jingcheng, Steward Zhang was not idle either.

He invited Tie Zhang Ba Ji and Lu Lu Xiongying to activate the intelligence network of Zui Zui Baxian and the escort corps of the Lu Family Escort Agency respectively, searching the entire city for Mr. Wuxing!

In just five days, Lu Lu Xiongying actually found twenty-three thieves who claimed to be Mr. Wuxing!

Steward Zhang arrived at the main hall of the Lu Family Escort Agency and was dumbfounded!

Facing twenty-three Mr. Wuxings of varying ages and skin tones, Steward Zhang immediately fell silent with a laugh.

But he quickly put away his smile and seriously examined every suspect.

He asked various details, such as the layout, traffic flow, and movement patterns of Prime Minister Mei's residence.

However, everyone seemed able to answer the questions accurately and in detail, and the "Seven Times a Night Pills" each produced were indeed correct.

This became increasingly bizarre, leaving Steward Zhang only able to shake his head in confusion.

He instructed the servants to conduct a comprehensive investigation of these twenty-three people, while he himself returned to his guest room to ponder. The matter was far more complex than he had imagined...

Steward Zhang left the main hall and went to the front courtyard garden with Lu Lu Xiongying.

"How did you find these Mr. Wuxings?" Steward Zhang asked.

"What's so hard about that..." Lu Lu Xiongying said smugly, "Tie Zhang Ba Ji issued a notice: 'The Lu Family Escort Agency offers a heavy reward for the return of the recently stolen Seven Times a Night Pills, with no past grievances!' Within a few days, these people came to us one by one."

Steward Zhang: "The master thief Mr. Wuxing, few on the road have seen his true face. Among these people... who knows which one is the real deal!"

"Who is real and who is fake, I truly have no idea!" Lu Lu Xiongying spread his hands and said, "The matter of distinguishing truth from falsehood requires your lordship to take extra care."

With no solution in sight, Steward Zhang pondered for the entire morning at the Lu Family Escort Agency. Finally, he devised a plan; using the title of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's advisor, he went to the Imperial Prison, found the Prime Minister Mei's steward "Ximen Ximen Jiajun" Mr. detained there, and borrowed him out under the pretext of assisting with the investigation.

That night, Steward Zhang brought Ximen Ximen Jiajun back to the Lu Family Escort Agency and asked him to identify which of the twenty-three was the true Mr. Wuxing.

Ximen Ximen Jiajun glanced casually and immediately said, "Don't bother; none of them are!"

"None of them!?" Steward Zhang, his face full of confusion, thought the candlelight at night was not bright enough to see clearly. So he advised, "Mr., since you have come out with such difficulty, why not take this opportunity... to look carefully? Perhaps it could help reduce some of your punishment."

"No need to look... Mr. Wuxing is a woman!" Ximen Ximen Jiajun waved his hand, snorted, and said mockingly, "I don't even know where you found such a group of big men to impersonate Mr. Wuxing, and you want me to identify them? I really can't." Having spoken, Steward Zhang finally understood!

After obtaining the crucial information about Mr. Wuxing's gender from Ximen Ximen Jiajun, Steward Zhang immediately invited Lu Lu Xiongying and Tie Zhang Ba Ji again to find new suspects.

Unexpectedly, just as the second search for Mr. Wuxing was about to begin, Prime Minister Mei in the Imperial Prison, unable to endure the severe torture, started acting like a mad dog and biting indiscriminately!

All officials bitten by Prime Minister Mei were arrested and imprisoned!

On the night when Jiang Jiang Mingyu and his group were caught by General Xia Duo and taken to the Shangmu County Yamen, General Du Gu Qiubai led six hundred men of the Longlong Army to surround Prime Minister He's residence!

Under the protection of General Du Gu Qiubai, Eunuch Feng held the Imperial Edict and came before Prime Minister He to read it aloud.

Eunuch Feng opened the Imperial Edict and read the contents: "Respecting Heaven's mandate, the Emperor decrees: 'It has been learned that Lord Weng once presented the Seven Times a Night Pill to the late Emperor for many years; this matter may be related to the cause of the late Emperor's death and requires clarification; therefore, before the truth of the case is revealed, all official positions of Lord Weng are hereby dismissed!' Thus decreed."

Prime Minister He's heart sank, yet his expression remained unchanged. He thought to himself with self-mockery, decades of achievement, suddenly crumbling to dust in a single morning.

After Eunuch Feng finished reading the Imperial Edict, he immediately orally conveyed the Emperor's decree: "I, the Emperor, considering that Mr. Weng has reached the highest rank among ministers and has worked tirelessly with great merit, specially permit Mr. Weng to be placed under house arrest and not to leave Jingcheng without authorization!"

"Your subject receives the edict and thanks for the grace." Prime Minister He, kneeling to hear the edict, after three bows, raised both hands to receive the Imperial Edict, and at the same time cried out, "Long live His Majesty the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years."