Longzang

Chapter 1117 The Return to Silence at Mount Ling
The King of Jin and Wei Yuan sat facing each other, remaining silent for a long time.

Finally, it was the Prince of Jin who spoke first, smiling bitterly: "Back then, I also fought my way through thorns and brambles, defeating many brothers and sisters along the way before finally ascending to the throne. I've always been fighting against heaven, against earth, and against fate. How did I suddenly end up like this?"

Wei Yuan asked, "What does Your Majesty think is the reason?"

The Prince of Jin sighed, “A person must stick to one path to the end and never waver. If you want to be a good person, be a good person to the end; if you want to be bad, be bad to the point of being hated by heaven and man. You must never be a bad person one moment and then want to be a good person the next. Otherwise, you will end up like me now, having accomplished nothing and just waiting to die.”

Wei Yuan seemed to understand something, and said, "What Your Majesty says is indeed reasonable. However, I have come here today to present you with a precious medicine for prolonging life."

The Prince of Jin sighed, pulled his robes tighter, and said, "Living like this, it's better not to live much longer."

Wei Yuan said, "Although the new elixir only extends life by three years, it does not use phoenix blood, so Your Majesty should be able to recover your youthful vigor."

A glint finally appeared in the eyes of the Prince of Jin. He leaned forward and said, "You've gotten your hands on some new medicine? But I've taken quite a bit of Soul-Sealing Jewelry myself."

"No, it's a new formula I developed. There are four or five similar medicines, and more will be developed in the future. So Your Majesty, please rest assured that there will be more in the future."

Prince Jin then accepted the pill from Wei Yuan, his hands trembling slightly. However, the method of taking the pill was rather strange; it required cutting open the blood vessels in his wrist to dissolve the pill into his bloodstream before ingesting it.

This method of taking the medicine is just a matter of lifting a finger for cultivators. Prince Jin simply opened his blood vessels, used his magic power to transform the pill into a fine liquid, dispersed it into his blood vessels, and then closed his eyes and remained still.

In a short while, the Prince of Jin's complexion became noticeably rosy, his wrinkles visibly smoothed out, his blood surged, and his heart pounded with a powerful drumbeat!
The Prince of Jin's momentum suddenly surged, then gradually receded like the tide. When he calmed down, he had transformed from an old man into a middle-aged man with a captivating gaze.

The Prince of Jin slowly opened his eyes and praised, "This medicine is truly miraculous. It is a mixture of more than ten common spiritual herbs, yet it has achieved the effects of a celestial medicine. Although its effects are not as strong as those of a celestial medicine, it has also avoided the drawbacks of a celestial medicine. This formula is the work of a master craftsman!"

Wei Yuan smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty's attainments in alchemy are truly beyond expectation. This formula is indeed a labor of love. With just a few adjustments, it can become a new formula, avoiding a significant reduction in efficacy when taken again."

At this moment, the Prince of Jin had a slight sweat on his forehead. He took off his thick fur coat, moved his body a bit, and his whole body actually made firecracker-like sounds. Then a layer of light black sludge appeared on his body.

"Wait a moment, I will go to bathe and change."

A moment later, Wei Yuan and Prince Jin sat down again in the imperial study. Prince Jin glanced at the mountain of memorials piled on the table and said self-deprecatingly, "I didn't expect I'd become so lazy about state affairs. Oh, by the way, there's another important matter. I had originally decided to pass the throne to Prince Chu next month, and the ceremony was already being prepared. But now, I suddenly feel a little reluctant to pass it on. What do you think?"

Wei Yuan said, "At this moment, the world is about to descend into chaos. Although the Western Jin Dynasty is not the first to be affected, it is still the target of everyone's attacks. At this time, there should be a pillar of strength to hold the central position and bring peace to the world. Therefore, Your Majesty should continue to be on the throne."

King Jin was surprised by Wei Yuan's clear stance. After pondering for a long time, he said, "But in that case, King Chu will probably have to wait another ten years."

Wei Yuan said, "The people are the most important, the world is the most important. It's not like we're going to cripple him. Let him wait."

The Prince of Jin gave Wei Yuan a deep look and said, "You didn't come to me this time just to offer medicine, did you?"

Wei Yuan said, “I intend to exercise the power of the King of Wei and seize control of all trade in the Western Jin territory, except for the northern border. I will control nineteen prefectures in the central and southern regions, with a total population of 330 million. I will give 10% of the proceeds to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty endures for three years and your soul is cleansed by the proceeds daily, the hidden ailments caused by the evil magic should be completely cured. At that time, the old story of the King of Zhao may well be repeated.”

The Prince of Jin stood up abruptly, then realized his rudeness and slowly sat down, leaning on the table for support, and asked, "How confident are you?"

Wei Yuan said, "It's higher than half a percent, but less than a ten percent."

The Prince of Jin's fingertips trembled slightly as he muttered to himself, "Not too low, not too low..."

The Prince of Jin, having long held a high position, quickly recovered from his lapse in composure and said, "The south is one thing, but the central region is the source of the kingdom's tax revenue. If we were to give it all to you, I fear the national treasury would be in dire straits. Not to mention, seventy percent of the Northern Army's pay comes from there. How should this matter be resolved?"

Wei Yuan said, "If Your Majesty grants me the power of life and death over the prefects and below, I can guarantee that this year's annual revenue from the nineteen prefectures will be double that of previous years, next year it will be triple, and then for the next ten years, it will increase by an average of three times per year."

The Prince of Jin's eyes flashed, and he immediately said, "Alright, I'll agree to a twelve-year term with you! But the appointment, dismissal, life and death of the prefect and other officials of the same rank shall be decided by me. Of course, the decision is still yours; I'm merely issuing a decree here."

“That’s as it should be.”

The Prince of Jin nodded and said, "Go to Chunhua Palace. It's been many years since you last went. As for the Prince of Chu, he has long since moved to another palace. If you want to see him, go; if you don't want to, don't go. This waist token allows you to move freely within the palace, except for my and the Queen's quarters. Go now, I need to pick up the court affairs that have been neglected for so long."

Wei Yuan accepted the waist token, thanked him, and left the Imperial Study, heading towards Chunhua Palace.

Chunhua Palace remains unchanged, with lush and verdant plants, and the palace is extremely tranquil. However, the palace servants, eunuchs, and maids have all been replaced with new faces.

A subtle fragrance filled the room, surrounding the figure by the window. Consort Yuan stood before the table by the window, painting. Her fingertips twirled the brush, making it move like a fish swimming. She lowered her head slightly, and the evening light danced on her eyelashes. Her long white dress was unadorned, yet naturally embellished by the sunlight, falling on her cascading hair, her ivory shoulders, and her bright, shimmering eyes.

Even after Wei Yuan came up behind her, she still didn't turn around, and simply said indifferently, "I thought you would never come again."

Although the voice was cold, a drop of water fell with a soft thud, wetting the drawing paper.

Wei Yuan had carefully considered what he was going to say before coming here, and said, "Now that we have a bond from back then, I will not forget it."

Consort Yuan slowly turned around and looked at the person in front of her. Years had passed since they parted, but their appearances remained unchanged; what had changed was the world and the seasons.

This time, before Consort Yuan could make a move, Wei Yuan reached out and picked her up, carrying her into the inner palace.

...Wei Yuanhuanghou retreated slightly.

……

Consort Yuan stood by the window, continuing her unfinished painting by the moonlight. The moonlight was like water, exceptionally bright, illuminating the entire room.

This was because Wei Yuan used the power of the Taiyin Cave Heaven to amplify the moonlight.

Consort Yuan's painting skills were also exceptional. Her painting of swallows returning south in late autumn conveyed a poignant sense of desolation. With a light touch of her brush, she added the last feathers to the migrating swallows.

Looking at the newly completed painting, she murmured, "Is it because the newcomer is so new and beautiful that they forgot about me?"

After giving birth to the Prince of Chu, Consort Yuan's cultivation advanced greatly, and she is now close to achieving the perfect Dharma Aspect.

In terms of a cultivator's lifespan, she is still in her prime, and will maintain her stunning beauty for at least another three or four hundred years. Moreover, with her talent, there is a high probability that she can advance to the Imperial Realm, which would allow her to bloom for over a thousand years. At this moment, she is exactly the same as when she first met Wei Yuan.

Faced with this question, Wei Yuan had already prepared an answer, and said with a wry smile, "We've already paid off all the old debts, so where would we find new talent?"

Consort Yuan rolled her eyes at Wei Yuan and said, "If they are related to me, it wouldn't be a problem to take in a couple more."

Wei Yuan didn't respond to that.

Emerging from Chunhua Palace, Wei Yuan strolled towards the palace gates, taking in the scenery along the way. Fallen leaves crunched crisply on the ground, the moonlight illuminating the rooftops as if covered in frost, and a few crows flew across the horizon, their mournful cries tearing through the silence of the night like sharp blades.

Early autumn is the season of decline after a period of prosperity, a time of utter desolation.

As Wei Yuan was walking, a tall, richly dressed young man suddenly rushed out from the side and blocked his path. At this moment, the deep palace was deserted, with not a single eunuch or palace maid in sight.

The young man looked at Wei Yuan, then suddenly stepped forward, prostrated himself on the ground, and said excitedly, "...Your son greets Father!"

Wei Yuan stood motionless, not looking at the kneeling King of Chu, but instead gazing ahead.

A bald woman with blue eyes emerged from the alley ahead, walking gracefully past the King of Chu and arriving before Wei Yuan.

When the King of Chu received no response, he quietly looked up and saw Wei Yuan standing there, looking steadily ahead. So he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say again, "Your son greets Father."

King Chu had only just reached the peak of his Dao Foundation, so his every move was naturally visible to Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan knew that he couldn't see the blue-eyed woman in front of him at all.

Wei Yuan asked calmly, "Who taught you to call me that?"

The question was asked in a calm tone and with a gentle voice, but the King of Chu felt a chill run down his spine and his teeth chattered as he said, "...Listen, I heard it from the servants who are close to my mother."

Wei Yuan said calmly, "No matter who said it, they will be beaten to death. Get it done before dawn."

Wei Yuan then walked past the King of Chu and continued towards the outside of the palace.

The King of Chu lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to move, his clothes already soaked with sweat. Only when the footsteps faded into the distance did he dare to stand up, as if he were about to collapse, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

When he turned around, Wei Yuan was already gone. At this point, how could he dare to ask about Prince Yanshou of Jin? He could only hastily flee.

Wei Yuan was actually not far away, walking side by side with the woman with blue eyes under the moonlight. The woman with blue eyes looked at the moonlight around them and said, "Your mastery of the Yin Dao has reached such a level. Now, competing with you under the moon, I'm not so sure I can win."

Wei Yuan smiled faintly and said, "Not very confident? How confident are you now? Nine out of ten or eight out of ten?"

The woman with blue eyes didn't answer but instead asked, "He is both your child and the reincarnation of an Arhat. You've kept him in the position of crown prince for over a decade, and he's already thirty years old. How many more years do you plan to keep him in that position?"

Wei Yuan said calmly, "Since he is a reincarnated body, his temperament must be excellent. History books say that there is no crown prince who lasts for a hundred years. He is far from a hundred years old, so he can continue to be one."

Qing Tong said, "It's clearly beneficial to you in every way, so why are you doing this?"

Wei Yuan said, "The greatest harm is that which is beneficial without causing harm. However, I don't quite understand what brings you here, Master?"

The woman with blue eyes said, "Can't you see that? I protected the Prince of Jin and resisted Lü Changhe's open and covert attacks. My reward was to take a small bite of the Western Jin Dynasty's national fortune. Ever since the Prince of Jin shared a portion of the national fortune with you, I haven't taken much. If I take any more, there will surely be natural disasters, and then I might become your enemy."

Wei Yuan said, "When I was stranded in the desolate realm, the master did not harm me, but instead offered me help, which I found very puzzling."

The woman with blue eyes said, "It's very simple. The path you've chosen is unprecedented. Before this path existed, what I did was right. But since you've opened up a new path, I have another option. So I'm helping you out to see how far this path you've opened can go."

Which path is the master referring to?

"The sacred mountain has returned to silence."

(End of this chapter)