Chapter 675: Misfortune Diverted Eastward

The Emperor’s breathing grew heavier: “How many people are involved?”

“Of course, it’s three hundred twenty-seven people, each taking it only once.” She looked up at the Emperor. “If this list falls into the hands of the Celestial Gods, I’m afraid the Spirit Void Royal Court will crumble by half and chaos will ensue.”

An unstable court means an unstable throne for the Emperor.

The Emperor’s anger flared slightly: “Are you threatening me with this?”

“I wouldn’t dare. This is also why I rushed to Gan Quan Palace,” Grand Advisor Qingyang said, her expression unchanged. “If Commissioner Bai Ziqi had seized it, you would have been in deep trouble.”

The Emperor stared at the ledger, standing in silence.

Those who bought the medicine violated divine laws and should, by rights, be thoroughly investigated. But the number of people involved was simply too great.

Grand Advisor Qingyang’s elixir of immortality was, of course, not for sale to just anyone with money. Even if you were a wealthy merchant with vast influence, carrying banknotes to Qingfu Temple wouldn’t allow you to purchase this miraculous medicine.

Naturally, ninety-nine percent of people didn’t even know that Qingfu Temple sold elixirs of immortality. This was beyond their realm of understanding.

The names of the clients recorded in this ledger were undoubtedly prominent figures in Spirit Void City. Behind each person often stood several influential aristocratic families, so describing their power as “overwhelming” would be no exaggeration.

If the Celestial Gods obtained the ledger, they wouldn’t care about the consequences or the situation; they would only order widespread investigations and arrests to prove that divine authority could not be defied.

However, the epic shockwaves this would send through the Bega Royal Court would be a bitter pill for the Emperor to swallow.

Even as powerful as he was, he found it tricky.

Angry as he was, vexed as he was, he still didn’t want to wield the executioner’s blade against so many of his beloved ministers!

Fear of death is an instinct. Is it not human nature to try every possible means to prolong one’s life?

“How do you intend to resolve this problem for me?”

Grand Advisor Qingyang pleaded earnestly: “I beg Your Majesty to spare my life.”

True Lord Tongming’s plea alone was too weak. She needed to at least secure the Emperor’s mercy as well.

After all, no matter how much pressure the Celestial Gods exerted, the final decision and decree would still come from the Emperor.

If he didn’t want her dead, she should be able to live.

“You…”

Grand Advisor Qingyang quickly added, “This case, at its heart, only involves the deaths of a few common demons. I am willing to offer compensation. I beg Your Majesty to demote me to a common old woman, for… my remaining lifespan is not long anyway.”

Mortals rarely live past a hundred, and cultivators typically reach their limit around one hundred and forty. At nearly two hundred, she was already incredibly long-lived. If not for her anti-aging techniques, her hands and face would likely resemble dried orange peel.

Without elemental power, her remaining days would be clearly visible to their end.

The Emperor fell silent, moved by the weariness in her voice, and turned to pace into the garden.

Nearly two hundred years of acquaintance could warm even a stone, let alone a flesh-and-blood being.

Grand Advisor Qingyang silently pushed open the door and walked forward with him.

Since the Emperor had already dismissed everyone, the garden was empty and silent, with only green trees swaying in the wind and fragrant flowers, but not a single bird chirped—

With the Emperor’s pressure present, wouldn’t birds tremble with fear?

Deep in the garden, a Borneo camphor tree bloomed, its pinkish-white flowers emitting a unique, pervasive fragrance.

Grand Advisor Qingyang naturally walked over, plucked a small cluster of white flowers, and tucked them into her hair at her temple.

The Emperor stopped, looking down, as if seeing through nearly two centuries to a little girl plucking Borneo camphor flowers and wearing them in her hair, giggling at him—missing a front tooth.

Thereafter, whenever Grand Advisor Qingyang passed this garden, she would often come to pick and wear the flowers. Only, this Borneo camphor tree had grown larger and larger, from the solitary sapling it once was to the towering tree it was now!

He still softened, letting out a long sigh: “I can spare your life.”

Grand Advisor Qingyang suddenly looked up, then fell to her knees with a thud, her voice slightly choked: “Your Majesty!”

“The deaths of those few common demons are not a major issue. The vassal demon states are merely using this as an opportunity to challenge Spirit Void City, and a large number of ignorant commoners are cheering them on,” the Emperor said with dignity. “The prohibition on selling the elixir of immortality is an ironclad rule set by the Celestial Gods. I can dismiss you from your post and confiscate your property, and that will be a sufficient explanation, but your subordinates cannot be saved.”

Grand Advisor Qingyang was overcome with gratitude: “Your Majesty is benevolent!”

The Celestial Gods’ wrath had to find an outlet.

On the matter of the elixir of immortality, she had lost. Rather than losing to Frostleaf, it was more accurate to say she had lost to Xi Yunhe’s more than a decade of forbearance and scheming.

This person truly understood her too well.

But she had saved her life; only by living could she hope to retaliate.

“Actually, what the Celestial Gods are most concerned about is the source of the divine blood used to refine the elixir of immortality,” the Emperor glanced at her. “Whether obtained from the mortal realm or the divine realm, you must explain it clearly.”

“Yes!” Grand Advisor Qingyang said gravely, “The source of the divine blood is the demon puppeteer, Dong Rui!”

“Who?” The Emperor, busy with countless affairs, found the name unfamiliar.

“Over a decade ago, he kidnapped the son of the Left Imperial Guard General and transformed him into a berserk giant ape that recognized no kin and obeyed only his commands. Spirit Void City issued a warrant for his arrest, but Dong Rui quickly escaped Bega and disappeared without a trace.”

“During the process of transforming these demon puppets, Dong Rui had to use divine blood to induce their mutations,” Grand Advisor Qingyang continued. “It was then that I contacted him and obtained a considerable amount of divine blood from him.”

“‘Considerable,’ how much is that?”

“A small jar.” The amount of medicinal primer needed to refine the elixir of immortality was very little. A single drop of divine blood, the size of a needle tip, could produce hundreds of elixirs after dilution—and that was accounting for the failure rate.

“Then, where did Dong Rui obtain his divine blood?”

“I don’t know,” Grand Advisor Qingyang said softly. “I wanted to extract the information, but Dong Rui escaped.”

The Emperor shook his head: “Pinning the source of divine blood on someone whose whereabouts are unknown is not a good solution.”

“Dong Rui has not vanished!” Grand Advisor Qingyang quickly interjected. “The monster ‘Wotchan’ that my ungrateful disciple Xi Yunhe uses for demon hunting is one of Dong Rui’s demon puppets!”

The Emperor’s gaze sharpened.

Dong Rui and Xi Yunhe are working together?

“Not long ago, Dong Rui even appeared in the Battle of Han River in Yuan State, cooperating with Hong Chenglüe to attack the Yuan State army,” Grand Advisor Qingyang glanced at him. “He dared to show himself publicly because he had obtained a special pardon from Bega. Do you know who proposed this pardon?”

The Emperor lowered his head until his immense eyes were close to hers: “You’re trying to say that Dong Rui possesses divine blood, and he found Grand Advisor Frostleaf as his backer?”

His eyes blazed with fierce light, his voice thundering: “So, Grand Advisor Frostleaf knows the whereabouts of the divine blood?”

The Emperor was furious, but Grand Advisor Qingyang’s expression was as calm as water. She lowered her gaze and said, “Precisely!”

“Your accusation…” the Emperor roared, “is baseless! Grand Advisor Frostleaf can refute it without any effort!”

As expected of Grand Advisor Qingyang, even in a desperate situation, she would cling fiercely to her opponent!

“No, I have evidence!” Grand Advisor Qingyang said gravely. “I just received a report that abnormalities have appeared in the main urban area of Spirit Void’s lower city: large trees suddenly growing grotesque branches, and docile sheep demons suddenly transforming and devouring living beings. These are likely mutations caused by contact with divine blood, similar to Dong Rui’s demon puppets. Unfortunately, I had just received this lead when Commissioner Bai led his people to besiege Qing Palace, so I didn’t have time to investigate further. Therefore—”

She articulated each word: “Dong Rui is very likely nearby!”

“Dong Rui’s special pardon was issued by Grand Advisor Frostleaf, and Hong Chenglüe was the last to see him. I believe that as long as the abnormalities in the lower city are confirmed to be related to divine blood, you can question Grand Advisor Frostleaf.”

Everyone in Spirit Void City knew that Hong Chenglüe had been brought back by Grand Advisor Frostleaf, making him one of Frostleaf’s faction.

Dong Rui, Hong Chenglüe, Grand Advisor Frostleaf. The Emperor sneered. Grand Advisor Qingyang wanted to link them all together? “Hong Chenglüe has already departed for the eastern front.”

“It doesn’t matter if Grand Advisor Frostleaf can’t be implicated. If he also falls under suspicion, he won’t be able to deputize in elemental power, and then, in order, the most likely successor would be the Master of Xia Palace,” Grand Advisor Qingyang said faintly. “Like me, he is completely loyal to you.”

“Is that all?” the Emperor said coldly. “The Dong Rui you accuse, his whereabouts are unknown. Capturing him and bringing him to justice is a distant prospect. For you, this matter will not simply pass.”

“No matter, I can wait.” Grand Advisor Qingyang knelt before the Emperor again. “After I am gone, Grand Advisor Frostleaf and the Celestial Gods will certainly seize the opportunity to exert their influence and regain dominance in the Royal Court.”

The Emperor remained silent.

In the court, Grand Advisor Qingyang was one of his most crucial supporters, even managing relationships, winning over hearts, and integrating various affairs for him. Her role was akin to a stabilizing anchor.

In truth, the Emperor understood why she sold the elixir of immortality.

Was it not to win over people and coordinate various factions?

Simply put, it was about control.

Setting aside some personal motives, at its core, it was still for the Emperor’s benefit.

He never doubted Qingyang’s loyalty to him.

Now that the major scandal of her position as Grand Advisor being compromised had erupted, the Celestial Gods and Grand Advisor Frostleaf would likely seize the chance to suppress her remaining influence in the court and eliminate their rivals.

The struggle between royal and divine authority had never ceased.

It was precisely for this reason that the Emperor was unwilling for the ledger in Grand Advisor Qingyang’s hands to be exposed. For the entire Royal Court, her downfall was already like an earthquake; if the elixir of immortality case further implicated numerous high officials, then the fragmentation of the court and the hollowing out of imperial power would be imminent.

The storm brewing over the Spirit Void City Royal Court was on the verge of taking shape.

Even for the Emperor, a mishandling of the situation would lead to immense trouble.

“For the position of Grand Advisor of Qing Palace, I recommend Nie Xiaolou, the dean of Tongshan Academy. His cultivation is outstanding, he is astute, and he possesses a rare understanding of propriety and a broad perspective. You already know him, and his age is also suitable, only in his forties,” Grand Advisor Qingyang said earnestly. “Most importantly, he and I are only nodding acquaintances, with no usual interaction, so the Celestial Gods will find no fault with him.”

By settling on a successor for the head of Qing Palace first, it would prevent the Celestial Gods from later offering suggestions or inserting their own candidates, which would put the Emperor in a passive position.

The Emperor sneered slightly: “Does he truly have no connection to you?”

“Yes.”

Whether it was true or not, it no longer mattered. His gaze fell upon the ledger in Grand Advisor Qingyang’s arms.

Grand Advisor Qingyang understood. She subtly channeled her elemental power, and flames erupted from the ledger.

In short order, this great worry of the Emperor’s was reduced to ashes.

She also knew what the Emperor was concerned about: “This is the only copy; there are no duplicates.”