The snow mountains bordering the Qi Kingdom were perpetually covered in snow at their peaks, yet at their foothills, spring bloomed with warmth and flowers.
Amidst the blossoms, a man in white stood out, his presence commanding admiration even from his back.
"Master," a voice called out as someone hurried forward.
The man in white, amidst the flowers, turned. For a moment, it seemed as though the world held nothing but his peerless elegance.
The light flickering in his eyes mirrored the beauty of the scenery, his every gesture exuding inherent wealth and rekindled grace.
"An Ying, you've become rather impatient," he said to An Ying with a cool tone.
Upon hearing this, An Ying replied, "I will be more mindful in the future, subordinate."
He nodded slightly, placing the medicinal herbs he held into a bamboo basket. An Ying, seeing this, expressed his discontent, "Master, the Empress may not even know of these efforts you've made. Is it truly worth it for you?"
He looked at An Ying, his dark eyes shining like crystals, "Didn't you tell the Empress everything? How could she not know?"
An Ying froze, then said cautiously, "Master, you already know?"
"Go back and receive your punishment!" With that, he turned and left.
An Ying's face fell. How could his master be like this? Using him and then casting him aside. Not only had he endured torment, but he was also facing punishment. Truly, he was the most miserable person. He felt indignant but dared not retort, so he obediently went to accept his fate.
"Here is your medicine." Wen Yu Zhi placed the bamboo basket on a stone table.
A person emerged from the house. He wore a simple cyan robe and possessed an utterly ordinary face, appearing to be of similar age to Wen Yu Zhi.
"Yu Ze, this is not right of you. You were the one who volunteered to be my test subject. Have you gone back on your word?" the man asked.
"If I had gone back on my word, would you still see me?" Wen Yu Zhi glanced at the man indifferently.
The man's eyes sparkled with a strange light, his face beaming with excitement. "Yu Ze, do you know what I've just researched?"
"No," Wen Yu Zhi replied directly.
The man's face fell. "Yu Ze, couldn't you offer me some praise? After all, I provided you with the antidote while under threat of my sect's annihilation. You have no idea, but my master was about to purge the sect because of that antidote."
"You are very capable," Wen Yu Zhi said faintly.
Hearing this, the man smiled. "Can't you praise me a little more properly?"
"Your master is already on his way," Wen Yu Zhi said slowly.
At this, the man seemed to face a formidable enemy. "You... what did you say? Yu Ze, don't scare me. Do you know I'm a coward? Master... is Master really coming?"
Wen Yu Zhi nodded. "Why would I lie to you?"
"Oh no, I need to hide for a while. Yu Ze, let's meet again when I have time." Before his words had finished, the man had vanished.
Wen Yu Zhi entered the bamboo house. It was empty, stripped clean of all medicinal herbs.
"Xue Ying."
"Subordinate is here. Master, what are your orders?"
"Let's go back," Wen Yu Zhi said.
"Yes, Master. The horses are already outside the gate," Xue Ying replied.
Wen Yu Zhi nodded and turned to leave. Xue Ying entered the bamboo house and kicked over the stove where some unknown medicinal herbs were still simmering. Instantly, the fire blazed fiercely, quickly engulfing the bamboo house.
At the foot of the snow mountains, a man in a Taoist robe halted. His voice held no discernible joy or sorrow. "This brat has escaped again."
"Master, it is this disciple's negligence," Qi Yu Yuan said.
"It's alright. That brat is cunning. We must catch him next time."
Qi Yu Yuan looked up at the mountain peak, now a blazing inferno, and felt an indescribable sensation, as if he had been played.
Upon his return, Qi Yu Yuan heard about the events that had transpired in the imperial palace. Regarding them, he could only remark that Emperor Qi was increasingly walking a path of self-destruction.
Although Qi Yu Yuan sensed something amiss, he did not delve deeper into it.
"Your Majesty," Qi Yu Yuan knelt before Emperor Qi.
Emperor Qi looked at Qi Yu Yuan kneeling before him. He felt a pang of annoyance because he suddenly realized that without Qi Yu Yuan, nothing seemed to go right for him. He felt like a jester, leaping about with abandon, yet never succeeding.
This made him anxious. Could he not secure his throne without Qi Yu Yuan? Once this thought took root, it began to grow insidiously. Now, seeing Qi Yu Yuan reminded him of Prince Xuan from years ago. Suddenly, Emperor Qi remembered that he had personally beheaded Prince Xuan when Qi Yu Yuan was only five years old. Even at five, he would have remembered things.
He recalled that when he was five, his mother had offended the Empress. To protect him, his mother had hidden him in a cabinet, and he had witnessed the entire process of her suffering.
When he was discovered, he had been catatonic. From then on, he began to feign foolishness. No matter what the princes and princesses did, he would act like a simpleton, doing what a simpleton would do. Over time, he almost believed he was foolish himself.
Meanwhile, his father's princes were locked in a bloody struggle for the throne. In the end, the sole remaining prince was severely weakened. It was then that he appeared, rightfully ascending to the throne.
"Your Majesty..." Qi Yu Yuan said.
"Has the medicine been found?" Emperor Qi asked.
"Your subject has fulfilled his mission and found the elixir of immortality," Qi Yu Yuan replied.
"Really?" Emperor Qi asked.
Qi Yu Yuan nodded, and then someone presented a brocade box. With a look from Emperor Qi, the eunuch Yu Sheng quickly took the box and opened it. Upon seeing a pill, he exclaimed, "Your Majesty, it is indeed a pill."