r18novel Chapter 127 Yan Song
Chapter 127 Yan Song
Outside the West Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, Huang Jin led Yan Song, who was dressed in a scarlet official robe, to walk briskly.
Yan Song glanced around, deliberately slowed his pace, and lowered his voice, saying, "Huang Daban, things have been peaceful in the palace lately, so why has the Emperor suddenly summoned me? I wonder what important matter it is?"
There was a hint of barely perceptible unease in his voice.
Although Zhu Houcong had not attended court for many years, he never relaxed his control over the court affairs, and his daily secret reports and memorials never stopped.
However, most of the memorials sent to the palace a few days ago have been kept in the dark and not issued. Even the message he, the Grand Secretary, submitted has disappeared without a trace.
The entire palace was in a state of panic, and no one could guess what had happened in the palace.
Now that he has been summoned so suddenly, even though he has held power for more than ten years, he can't help but feel uneasy.
Zhu Houcong had always been insecure, so the news of his illness was naturally kept strictly secret. Even his trusted confidant Yan Song was unaware of the details, which is why he asked the question with trepidation.
Upon hearing this, Huang Jin kept his gaze straight ahead, but with a swift movement of his left hand, he quietly slipped the silver note that Yan Song had handed him into his sleeve.
"Grand Secretary Yan need not worry. In fact, it's a good thing. As long as you can share the Emperor's burdens this time, your future favor will only surpass that of the past."
Yan Song's smile froze for a moment. These words sounded comforting, but they actually concealed a hidden meaning.
Those who can share the emperor's burdens will enjoy lasting favor; conversely, those who cannot handle the matter well...
He dared not think any further, and could only suppress his unease as he followed Huang Jin into the warm pavilion.
"Your subject Yan Song greets Your Majesty."
Yan Song lifted his robe and knelt down respectfully to pay his respects.
"Yan Qing is here, please get up and sit down."
Zhu Houcong's voice came from the inner room, carrying a hint of weariness that was hard to hide.
Yan Song thanked the emperor and stood up. He looked up and was taken aback.
Zhu Houcong was seen leaning against a soft couch, his face extremely pale, and the dark circles under his eyes were even more pronounced than usual. In just a few days, the emperor had become so haggard.
"Your Majesty!" Yan Song hurriedly inquired with concern, "Why has Your Majesty become so thin after only a few days? What did the imperial physicians say?"
Zhu Houcong scoffed and waved his hand: "A bunch of quacks. They can't even find the cause of the illness, so what are they talking about treating it for?"
He paused, then looked at Yan Song with a glimmer of hope: "However, I met a truly enlightened master the other day. He said that my illness is not a common cold, but rather has a cure. If this method works, I will recover quickly. I wonder if Minister Yan would be willing to lend me a hand?"
Yan Song's heart tightened, but his face immediately showed a passionate expression.
"Your Majesty is too kind. With the emperor and father ill, a subject should do everything in his power. No matter how rare or precious the medicine, I will search for it for Your Majesty, even if it means going bankrupt!"
"There's no need for that," Zhu Houcong forced a smile. "Master Qingxuan said that my illness is a warning from Heaven, caused by the people's grievances. He said that all I need to do is have the civil and military officials in the capital offer some grain according to their means, and he can set up an altar to pray to Heaven to dispel the grievances. My illness will then naturally heal without medicine."
Upon hearing this, Yan Song's first thought was: The Emperor has been deceived by a charlatan.
Who would get sick and not take medicine, but instead rely on officials donating grain and praying for blessings to get better? This is a trick that only desperate people would believe, how could it be something the emperor should do?
But the thought only flashed through his mind for a moment before Yan Song forcibly suppressed it.
He knew this emperor all too well; his obsession with cultivating immortality had reached a point of madness.
If he were to expose the deception now, the one who would suffer would not be the mysterious Qingxuan Zhenren, but rather him, the Grand Secretary.
It's just some grain.
Yan Song thought to himself, as long as he could maintain the emperor's trust, what did this loss matter?
"Your Majesty is the sovereign and father of all people. How can we not serve you with all our might when you are ill? Let alone some food, even if it costs me my life, I would not hesitate! I will go and make arrangements immediately, so that all the officials in the capital can provide for you according to their means, and no one will dare to shirk their responsibility in the slightest."
As expected, Zhu Houcong smiled with satisfaction: "Minister Yan is indeed my trusted minister. With Minister Yan by my side, I am very pleased."
"Your Majesty flatters me," Yan Song replied respectfully.
But then he changed the subject, cautiously probing, "May I ask Your Majesty, what is the background of this Qingxuan Zhenren, and which sect does he belong to? Has his method of praying for blessings been shown to the previous immortal masters in the palace? I am not questioning the Zhenren's abilities, but Your Majesty's health is a matter of national importance, and we cannot be careless."
"You're very kind, Yan Qing."
Zhu Houcong nodded, about to explain, when suddenly the voice of Eunuch Wang came from outside: "Your Majesty, Master Qingxuan has arrived at the gate and is awaiting Your Majesty's summons."
"Oh? You've come at the right time. Minister Yan, come with me to meet this master. Once you've seen his abilities, you'll understand."
After saying this, Zhu Houcong stood up and, supported by Huang Jin, slowly walked out of the warm pavilion.
Yan Song quickly followed, but his curiosity only grew stronger.
What abilities does this Master Qingxuan possess that make the Emperor trust him so much?
In the courtyard outside the warm pavilion, Zhao Yu was standing with his hands behind his back.
He was still wearing that blue Taoist robe, his long hair was tied up, his face was handsome, and his temperament was indifferent. When the sunlight shone on him, he really had a bit of an otherworldly air about him.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Upon seeing Zhu Houcong approach, Zhao Yu bowed slightly and gave a salute.
"No need for such formalities, Your Excellency." Zhu Houcong waved his hand with a smile, then introduced Zhao Yu, "Your Excellency, this is my Grand Secretary Yan Qing."
He then turned to Yan Song: "Minister Yan, this is the Qingxuan Zhenren I told you about."
"I have long heard of your profound Taoist teachings, and today I have finally met you. Indeed, you possess a lofty and extraordinary aura."
Yan Song cupped his hands in greeting to Zhao Yu, a warm smile on his face, but his eyes were subtly scrutinizing Zhao Yu.
too young.
This was Yan Song's first impression.
He looks to be only in his early twenties. Even if he started cultivating Taoism from the womb, how deep could his Taoist cultivation be?
He became increasingly suspicious that this was probably a swindler hired by some political enemy, who wanted to take advantage of the emperor's obsession with Taoist cultivation to interfere in politics.
"You're too kind, Grand Secretary Yan," Zhao Yu said with a faint smile, returning the greeting.
Looking at the notorious traitor in history before him, he thought to himself, "He is indeed cunning and treacherous; the scrutiny and suspicion in his eyes are perfectly concealed."
But it's okay, he'll soon believe in himself.
Zhu Houcong beckoned to the two men, saying, "Alright, don't just stand there, come with me."
He led the two men through the corridor to the back garden.
In the open space of the back garden, there was a small mountain of grain piled up.
The bags of rice and wheat were stacked neatly, some as tall as a person.
This was specially brought out from the Imperial Treasury by Zhu Houcong to demonstrate the method of praying for blessings to Zhao Yu.
"Master, look at this grain, is it enough?"
Zhao Yu stepped forward and circled the grain pile once: "That's enough. Your Majesty, please sit aside and watch me perform my magic."