Upon entering the residence, more than a dozen maids came forward to pay their respects. General Hua gestured toward the maids and laughed, “Master, are you satisfied?” Li Muzhan nodded.

“The General has gone to great trouble.” Each of these maids was fair-faced; though none were strikingly beautiful, they were pleasing to the eye, radiating a vibrant energy, and their composed bearing clearly indicated rigorous, formal training. True mastery is seen in the details.

Upon entering the manor, one could glimpse the profound foundation of this household through these maids alone—it was clearly not to be underestimated. These maids were likely taken in and meticulously trained by the Hua family from a young age.

…………………………………………………… He turned and said, “Yuyan, you will take charge of these matters.” Jiang Yuyan bowed her head. “Yes, Master.

Rest assured, I will handle everything immediately!” Her bright eyes swept over the maids, sharp as a blade. Her lovely face grew serious as she commanded, “All of you, return to your duties and busy yourselves.” General Hua smiled.

“With Miss Jiang here, I can finally be at ease. Gu Shu, you will hand everything over to Miss Jiang, and then you may return to your own residence.” “Yes, Young Master.” The middle-aged man nodded, his gaze lingering on Jiang Yuyan with a hint of suspicion, though he said no more.

Li Muzhan pressed his palms together to thank the mature Mr. Gu for his years of service, and followed General Hua into the main hall.

The hall was furnished with tasteful simplicity and immaculate cleanliness. Centered against the back wall was a high-backed armchair, above which hung a painting of a fierce tiger descending a mountain, radiating immense power.

Before the armchair stood two rows of chairs, five in each row, separated by low tea tables. The chairs were newly crafted, gleaming crimson, polished so highly they almost reflected a person’s image.

The two men sat down and talked for a while before Jiang Yuyan drifted in. “Master, there is a physician named Cui waiting outside.” General Hua stood up and smiled.

“He is someone I summoned. ‘...Master,’ please allow them to see if they can counteract the Xuexiang San; there is at least a sliver of hope, so we must try.” Li Muzhan lightly inclined his head, and Jiang Yuyan wisely withdrew, soon returning with a wizened old man whose face was ruddy despite his white hair, but whose figure was slender.

His face was unusually long, lending him an air of severity, yet three strands of clear beard below his chin softened the impression, lending a touch of scholarly grace that mitigated his sternness. “Master,” General Hua introduced with deference, “This is Physician Cui, a nationally renowned master practitioner from the capital.

Old Cui, this is Mingkong Dajing. Please employ your miraculous hands of rejuvenation to examine the Master.” Old Cui looked up, sizing Li Muzhan up.

His gaze, sharp as lightning, scrutinized him for a moment before he stroked his beard, frowned, and said slowly, “I am Cui Yigu... Master Mingkong has been poisoned, has he not?” Li Muzhan nodded.

“It is the Xuexiang San from Eastern Chu.” “The Xuexiang San from the Jade Cold Palace?” Cui Yigu’s brow furrowed deeply. General Hua explained, “When I was returning, Eastern Chu assassins attacked me using a desperate, mutually destructive technique...

Old Cui, do you have a remedy for this Xuexiang San?” Cui Yigu shook his head and let out a long sigh. ………………………………………… He sighed again.

“The Xuexiang San is the unique, potent poison of the Jade Cold Palace in Eastern Chu. No other medicine can cure it!” “Old Cui, your medical skill is unmatched, yet you have no recourse?” General Hua asked, unwilling to accept it.

Cui Yigu shook his head. “That Jade Cold Palace must be located in an environment of extreme Yin and cold, producing a singular, strange substance that is made into the Xuexiang San...

However, all things must have their countermeasures; creation and restraint are inseparable. The antidote should exist right beside the poison’s source, unique, and nowhere else to be found!” General Hua could only offer a bitter smile.

“To request the antidote from the Jade Cold Palace is highly improbable...” Cui Yigu sighed deeply. “Brother Feng lost his life over this Xuexiang San...

He tasted the medicine himself, trying to discern its components to formulate a counter-agent. The antidote pill he prepared proved useless against the Xuexiang San, and he perished before our eyes.

Alas...” General Hua shook his head with a wry smile, while Li Muzhan remained composed. He already had a method, though he was unsure if it would succeed.

It was at least a shred of hope; furthermore, even if the poison could not be removed, he still possessed the Guantian Ren Shen Zhao Jing to suppress it. Cui Yigu clasped his hands in a respectful bow.

“General, please forgive this old man for his incompetence. Please seek other opinions; perhaps someone else possesses a secret technique.

I shall take my leave!” He said no more, seemingly overcome with shame, and turned to depart. General Hua hurried to see him out personally.

When he returned a moment later, he was accompanied by another physician, also an old man with a youthful complexion despite his white hair. This elder was named He, and according to General Hua, he too was a master practitioner of national acclaim.

After examining Li Muzhan’s poison, he too shook his head repeatedly before leaving. Subsequently, three more renowned doctors visited.

Upon seeing the nature of Li Muzhan’s poison, each one shook their heads, utterly helpless. By then, Li Muzhan smiled.

“General, please stop exerting yourself. I am not in immediate danger.

I will look toward Eastern Chu in the future... Tomorrow you must face the Emperor; you should focus on preparing properly.” General Hua replied, “Master, you will also be seeing the Emperor.

I must explain some of the necessary etiquette to you.” He was not overly concerned, as Li Muzhan had shown no signs of relapse for over half a month, seemingly maintaining the same condition as when he was first poisoned. He inwardly surmised that the Master must possess some secret technique to halt the poison’s spread, and that they could simply force the Jade Cold Palace to hand over the counter-agent later.

He had absolute faith in Li Muzhan, believing that the trifling Xuexiang San could pose no real obstacle to him. Coming from a distinguished background, he was well-versed in courtly etiquette, and he meticulously explained the rites of audience to Li Muzhan, demonstrating them patiently.

Li Muzhan, in turn, learned with deep attention. He possessed the gift of instant recall; after one demonstration, he could grasp the essence, and after a second, he had fully mastered it, much like learning a martial art.

Though he learned quickly, it still required half an hour. General Hua settled back into his high-backed chair, took a sip of tea, and chuckled.

“Master, as a man of the cloth, some minor errors in etiquette are forgivable; His Majesty is quite lenient towards monks.” Li Muzhan smiled, “If I commit any rudeness, it would bring trouble upon the General, which would not be good...” General Hua laughed heartily. “Since we won this battle, many others harbor resentment toward us.

It is best to be cautious. Those Censors have their eyes wide open, looking for any fault in us.” …………………………………………………… The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, Li Muzhan rose.

General Hua was already waiting outside. After freshening up, he left the residence with General Hua, heading toward the Imperial Palace to the north.

The streets were quiet, with only soft sedan chairs gliding by. The chair bearers were all nimble and silent, as if sliding over the ground.

Chair bearers for major households often served as guards as well, acting as the final line of defense in critical moments, no different from close personal bodyguards. Most of them possessed good martial skills; not just anyone could be a sedan bearer.

In ordinary times, they were relatively free, concentrating on their cultivation. Li Muzhan and General Hua were military officials, and it was against court custom for them to travel by sedan chair; civil officials rode in chairs, while military officials rode horses—the customs differed and could not be mixed.

The air was fresh, and the surroundings utterly silent, broken only by the occasional, distinct clip-clop of horseshoes, which only emphasized the deep quietude. The common folk were still asleep; the entire capital seemed to be slumbering.

The capital was a city that never slept, but that applied to the markets and commoners—bustling, prosperous, and decadent. Near the Forbidden City, however, security was tight at night, and the area was still as stagnant water.

Along the way, when people met, they merely bowed their fists or nodded without speaking. Everyone adhered to this, as if it were an established, unspoken rule.

The two rode side-by-side until they reached the broad expanse outside the Southern Gate of the Forbidden City. The area before the South Gate was a vast, open space, like a martial arts field, offering clear visibility so that no one could approach unseen or sneak in unnoticed.

Towards the west of the field, several wooden stakes were planted upright, with fine steeds tethered beside them. To the east were rows of soft sedan chairs, with their bearers gathered nearby.

Many people were already standing outside the South Gate: civil officials on the left, military officials on the right—about two dozen in total, mostly elderly, with a handful of middle-aged men, but no youths. Li Muzhan and General Hua were conspicuously visible among the crowd.

They stood together, silent, observing the arrivals. Some familiar faces nodded to General Hua, but most eyes settled on Li Muzhan.

Clearly, General Hua and his group were well-known, but Li Muzhan was a stranger. They were curious but maintained their dignity, refraining from asking questions, content merely to examine him.

“Creeeeak...” A grating sound shattered the early morning silence, instantly sharpening everyone’s focus as they tidied their robes and court attire. General Hua adjusted his official robes and murmured, “Master, the morning session is about to begin...” ……………………………………”………………………… General Hua entered first, leaving Li Muzhan to wait outside.

Although he held the rank of General, his specific grade was insufficient for him to join the regular court assembly; he was unqualified for the early morning session and could only enter the hall to meet the Emperor if specifically summoned. After an hour, the civil and military officials began to emerge one by one.

Soon, a young, handsome eunuch hurried out and requested Li Muzhan to follow him inside. They passed through the South Gate, proceeding along a wide avenue paved with white stone.

The white stone resembled jade, flawlessly smooth, feeling almost soft beneath the feet. Lines of Imperial Guards, holding long halberds, stood like statues on either side of the avenue, motionless.

After walking about two hundred paces, they ascended more than a hundred steps of white jade to reach a flanking hall. Suddenly, they turned east into a side pavilion.

The handsome eunuch paused, raised his voice toward the bright yellow curtain, and announced, “Reporting to Your Majesty, Master Mingkong has arrived.” His voice was soft and melodious, flowing like music with a unique rhythm that was exceptionally pleasing to the ear. In later ages, people generally assumed the voices of eunuchs were sharp and thin, quite unpleasant, but listening now proved that notion utterly false; this voice possessed the beauty of a soprano.

“Enter,” came a deep, steady voice from within. The handsome eunuch stepped forward, lifted the yellow curtain, and gestured sideways.

“Master Mingkong, His Majesty is inside. Please enter...” “I trouble you...” Li Muzhan pressed his palms together in a bow, stepped across the threshold, and entered the great hall.

A warm, fragrant scent wafted toward him. He looked up to see a red carpet stretching from the doorway to the foot of the steps about ten meters away.

Two beast-shaped censers stood on either side of the steps, emitting wisps of fragrant smoke. Upon the steps was a writing desk, behind which sat a middle-aged man with a square face, prominent ears, a countenance like fine jade, eyebrows like silkworm cocoons, a firm mouth, and a straight nose—he looked solemn and imposing.

Beside the desk stood a stout, elderly man with white hair and frosty eyebrows, his face ruddy, holding a silver whisk—clearly a high-ranking eunuch. “Greetings to Your Majesty.” Li Muzhan stopped at the base of the steps and bowed, pressing his palms together.

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