Inside the imperial palace, after the morning court, the Emperor returned to the entrance of his sleeping quarters. He instructed Eunuch Li and the Commander of the Imperial Guard to guard the entrance, strictly forbidding anyone from entering his chambers.
Then, the Emperor walked behind his landscape painting screen, changed into simple clothing, and proceeded to the back of his dragon bed. He gently turned the dragon's eye on the wall. A door instantly opened in the wall, and the Emperor stepped inside. After he entered, the door immediately closed again.
In the secret chamber, the Emperor walked through an underground passage illuminated by many night-shining pearls. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he finally emerged from the passage through a cave opening.
Outside the cave opening was a scene of idyllic paradise. On the ground, a hundred flowers were vying for beauty. Beside a stream, willow branches swayed in the wind. In the clear, clean stream, a few small fish swam freely.
Above the stream was a low, small bridge. Crossing the bridge led to a simple thatched hut. A faint scent of herbs permeated the area around the thatched hut. At this moment, an old man, with his trouser legs rolled up and sleeves pushed high, was tending to his rare medicinal garden.
"What brings you to see this old man today?" the old man asked casually, without turning to look at the Emperor.
The Emperor dared not be angry and replied respectfully, "Your humble servant has come today to discuss some matters with the immortal elder."
"Go and wait in the thatched pavilion first. This old man will be there shortly," the immortal elder said, with his back to the Emperor.
"Then this servant thanks the immortal elder first," the Emperor said, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.
A moment later, the old man, holding a cup of herbal tea, slowly walked out of the medicinal garden and sat down by the stone table in his thatched pavilion.
"Speak, what is it?" the old man asked directly.
"Last time, the immortal elder told me that a Phoenix Star would descend upon the Tianwu Kingdom and instructed me to pay attention to the young ladies of the officials' families. However, I haven't found any abnormalities in any of the young ladies," the Emperor said, full of confusion.
"In the middle of last month, I observed the celestial phenomena at night, and a silver meteor fell in the northwest direction outside the capital. The Purple Star, which had been dim, has regained its brightness. I surmise that the Phoenix Star must have descended and saved the Purple Star," the old man said slowly.
"Are you saying the Phoenix Star descended and saved my Han'er."
The old man nodded.
The fact that Jun Mohan was the Purple Star was also revealed to the Emperor by the old man.
"Then who exactly is the Phoenix Star?" the Emperor asked anxiously.
The old man glared fiercely at him, "Guess yourself!"
With that, the old man stood up, picked up a gourd ladle, and went to the stream to scoop a ladle of water. He returned to the thatched pavilion, placed the water in a sand pot, and then put the sand pot on the stove to boil water.
He busied himself with his own tasks, completely disregarding the Emperor.
The Emperor glanced at the old man with a youthful face and white hair, not daring to speak further. He could only sit quietly on the stone stool.
Although he didn't know how long this old man had lived, legend had it that this old man had been living here since the time of his imperial grandfather. However, he understood the old man's temper very well; the old man disliked being disturbed when he was working.
Later, after the old man had boiled the water, he plucked a few leaves from the herbal tea and brewed a cup of herbal tea for both of them.
"See how the new herbal tea I've grown tastes," the old man snorted coldly.
The Emperor picked up the bamboo tea cup and took a sip with elegant gestures. A wave of bitterness instantly spread through his mouth, making him frown.
The old man's white eyebrows shot up, and he glared fiercely at him, scolding, "Don't spit it out, drink it down!"
The Emperor immediately felt how wronged he was as the emperor in front of this old man.
However, the Emperor did not dare to fly into a rage as he did with his officials, concubines, princes, and princesses.
Nevertheless, the Emperor followed the old man's instructions and swallowed the tea. His frown immediately relaxed. The herbal tea was indeed bitter upon entry, but after swallowing, his entire throat felt sweet, and his mind cleared significantly.
"How is it? After drinking my herbal tea, do you feel your mind has become much clearer?" the old man asked him with a mischievous smile.
The Emperor nodded.
"Then have you thought of who the Phoenix Star is now?"
The Emperor awkwardly touched his nose and shook his head.
Seeing the Emperor's expression, the old man became angry.
"Jun Can'ao, Jun Can'ao, look at your descendants; they are truly one more foolish than the last."
The Emperor: "..."
Jun Can'ao was his founding emperor. Could this old man be from his founding emperor's era?
My heavens, could the old man be over six hundred years old?
Just as the Emperor's thoughts were wandering, the old man picked up a pestle and gently tapped the Emperor's head.
"She has already appeared before you. Still haven't figured out who she is?" the old man prompted the Emperor.
At this moment, the Emperor's sharp eyes lit up, and he said thoughtfully, "Could it be her?"
"This woman has extraordinary medical skills, outstanding wisdom, and a kind heart," the old man continued.
"Oh~"
The Emperor slapped his forehead hard.
"So it was her. How could I not have thought of it?"
"Now you know who it is? Then hurry up and scram. Someone else is looking for you outside."
The old man immediately issued a dismissal order and walked towards his medicinal garden. He didn't have that much time to waste with the Emperor; he still had to tend to his medicinal garden.
"Uh..."
Afterward, the Emperor shook his head, turned, and returned the way he came through the cave opening.
---
The Emperor's Sleeping Quarters
Duke Lin stood at the entrance, having waited for a long time. "Eunuch Li, Commander Wei, please help this Duke get in to report to His Majesty. This Duke truly has urgent matters to discuss with His Majesty."
"Duke Lin, I apologize. His Majesty has ordered that no one is to enter his sleeping quarters, including us," Eunuch Li said in a sharp voice.
"What is His Majesty trying to do?"
He secretly thought: Could it be that he is favoring a concubine in broad daylight? Or perhaps...
Just as Duke Lin was lost in thought, a clear voice emanated from inside the sleeping quarters: "Duke Lin, what is it you need of me?"
The Emperor's voice sounded extremely impatient.
"My son had a minor altercation today with the eldest daughter of General Leng's mansion, Leng Ruo Li, and has been taken away by the Minister of Justice. I implore His Majesty to show mercy and release my son."
Upon hearing Duke Lin's words, the Emperor frowned. It was this person again.
"Eunuch Li, go summon Yan Song and the eldest daughter of the Leng family to the palace."
"Yes, your servant obeys."
After receiving the order, Eunuch Li hurried out of the palace.
Half an hour later, Leng Ruo Li, who had just returned to the General's mansion, had not even had time to warm the seat before she was summoned to the palace by Eunuch Li.
When Leng Ruo Li met the Emperor, Duke Lin and Yan Song were already standing before him.
"Your humble subject pays her respects to His Majesty. Long live His Majesty!" Leng Ruo Li performed a proper bow.
"Rise!" The Emperor looked Leng Ruo Li up and down and then said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Leng Ruo Li slowly stood up.
She cast a sideways glance at Duke Lin, thinking, this old fox has come to file a complaint, hasn't he.