The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 633 A Real Man Can't Live Without Power

Imperial Palace, Xiyuan.

Several young eunuchs pulled the rope, causing the fan blades to spin whirring, blowing the cool air from the ice jar toward the retired emperor who was reclining on the dragon throne.

Emperor Wanlong, standing in front of the dragon throne, bowed and asked, "How does your father feel?"

"Not bad! It's much more comfortable than fanning yourself. You and Tianxiang are both thoughtful!"

Actually, the courtesy name "Tianxiang" was given to him by Emperor Zhengqing.

However, nowadays, there are only a handful of people who can call Zhang Yunyi by his courtesy name. Apart from the emperor emeritus, few people call him that.

The emperor had been taking elixirs all year round and was weak and afraid of heat, so he found it very difficult to endure the summer.

Although Zhang Yun逸 could not make a proper electric fan, the emperor had no shortage of people to order him around, so he could use human power to achieve the same effect as an electric fan.

Taking into account that there are two days in a day, in order to avoid displeasing Emperor Wanlong, he did not come in person to show his courtesy, but gave it to Emperor Wanlong, asking him to show his filial piety, which was killing two birds with one stone.

Speaking of Zhang Yun逸, the emperor couldn't help but think of his own merits and asked, "By the way! How is the progress of the Beijing-Tianjin Railway?"

"Replying to Father! It will be almost done in about a year!"

"Hmm!" Emperor Zhengqing hummed, not knowing whether it was because of the cool air or to indicate that he understood. Then he said in a deep voice, "Hurry up Tianxiang. It would be best if the road is opened in time for the Wanshou Festival next year."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanlong, who was about to stand up, paused slightly.

The retired emperor wanted to increase his own merits with the Beijing-Tianjin Railway, but Emperor Wanlong hoped to add a political achievement to himself so that he could have a prominent place in the history books.

Although the father and son had different original intentions, they both came up with the same idea.

Zhang Yun逸 had previously pledged that this would be a gift for his third year on the throne, which would make Emperor Wanlong deeply pleased.

However, filial piety is the most important virtue, and since the Supreme Emperor has spoken, Emperor Wanlong has no reason to refuse.

However, before he could agree, Emperor Zhengqing sighed again: "I'm afraid my body can't hold on for too much longer!"

Emperor Wanlong was shocked, and lowered his head deeply, choking with sobs, "May your father live a long and blessed life..."

The Emperor Taishang waved his hand and interrupted, "I know my own health. Please urge him!"

"Don't worry, Father. I will make sure he works faster!"

This time, Emperor Wanlong agreed without any hesitation.

However, it is not known whether he accepted the order out of filial piety or out of surprise.

Although he had been on the throne for more than half a year and had taken control of the government, he had never been able to take control of the military power.

Although he was the emperor, he lacked military power and was inevitably restrained in doing things.

Among these, the main problem lies with the emperor emeritus.

The reason why Emperor Zhengqing abdicated was, on the one hand, that he had neglected state affairs, and whether he abdicated or not actually had little impact; on the other hand, he believed Zhang Yun逸's lies and was worried that if there were any more omissions in the court, he would be retaliated against, and letting Emperor Wanlong succeed to the throne would be like taking the blame for himself.

However, a real man cannot be without power for a day, let alone an abdicated emperor?

When he just abdicated, he didn't feel much, but after he really stepped down, he became more and more reluctant to give up power.

Therefore, not only did he never give up the military power, but even Prince Ning, who had made a serious mistake, was held high and let go for the sake of containment, which ultimately led to nothing being done.

Even Emperor Wanlong wanted to replace the nobles and generals of Prince Ning's faction several times, but was rejected one by one by the retired emperor.

After hearing such important information, Emperor Wanlong was afraid of being exposed, so he bowed and said, "If your Majesty has no other instructions, I will withdraw first!"

"That's enough! I'm a little tired too, you go down first!"

"My son, please retire!"

After walking out of the Xiyuan Hall, Emperor Wanlong stopped and looked up at the sun in the sky.

The scorching sun burned the rows of glazed tiles in the imperial city, and also made Emperor Wanlong's heart more burning. He took a deep breath, and then took Xia Shouzhong and stepped steadily onto the corridor of the West Garden.

But an old Taoist came up from the end of the corridor and bowed down from a distance: "I, Chongxu, pay my respects to the emperor. Long live the emperor!"

"Be flat!"

Emperor Wanlong's heart moved, and he raised his hand and asked, "Is your father feeling unwell recently? Have you taken any medicine?"

"Your Majesty, the weather is extremely hot and the Emperor is not in good spirits. I refined a batch of pills to remind the God's Brain, and now he is feeling a little better!"

"You are so thoughtful! Take good care of father's health and don't use the pills recklessly!"

"It's your Majesty!"

The old Taoist agreed, and took out a sandalwood box from his arms, held it up with both hands and said: "I am good at refining elixirs that nourish yin and replenish qi, and I specially refined a furnace for your majesty. I guarantee that after your majesty takes it, you will be full of energy and vitality!"

Although the monks and Taoists in ancient times pretended to be gods and ghosts, they had to use some auxiliary means.

For example, putting some medicines for treating headaches and fevers in incense ashes and pills has achieved the purpose of gaining people's trust.

Although it cannot be generalized, it is not surprising that someone who was summoned by the emperor to his side would know some knowledge of pharmacology.

Because of this, the Taoists would go to the Imperial Medical Bureau from time to time to get some medicine, and over time, they became familiar with the doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau.

As the retired emperor was old, the Taoists inevitably set their sights on Emperor Wanlong.

However, Emperor Wanlong was not interested in seeking immortality and had always been troubled by the lack of a way to do so.

Emperor Wanlong repeatedly urged the Imperial Medical Bureau to prepare new medicines, which gave the Taoist priest hope.

It doesn't matter if you mention nourishing yin, but the so-called replenishing qi means replenishing the yang energy in the body.

Although the Taoist's words were quite obscure, Emperor Wanlong understood the implication.

There is no private matter in the royal family, and the emperor's health is even more related to the country.

Although medication must be recorded in a book, the Imperial Medical Bureau should know what to say and what not to say. Emperor Wanlong never expected that even the Taoist priest around the retired emperor knew about it.

He was immediately furious, but then he pouted at Xia Shouzhong. When Xia Shouzhong took the sandalwood box, he said in a friendly manner, "You are so thoughtful! Take good care of father's health."

The Taoist priest just said that he had refined a batch of elixirs for the retired emperor, but he did not comment.

Let's not talk about whether the Taoist priest's sudden offering of the elixir was at the instruction of the retired emperor. Even if it was not, if the retired emperor knew about it, the contrast between his actions before and after would inevitably cause trouble.

In addition, the new medicine from the Imperial Hospital had begun to develop drug resistance, and he was also somewhat curious about the elixir offered by the Taoist priest.

As the saying goes, when one is desperate, one will try anything. Although Emperor Wanlong was not really ill, after feeling the surging power, he could no longer endure the feeling of a small horse pulling a big cart.

Although he scoffed at the pursuit of immortality, Emperor Zhengqing had been taking elixirs for more than twenty years. Although he did not become an immortal, there was nothing wrong with it.

He thought to himself, if it really is effective, what would be wrong with taking one pill occasionally?

However, he was somewhat worried when the Taoist priest suddenly offered him the elixir, and he did not dare to take it easily.

After leaving the West Garden, he instructed Xia Shouzhong: "Take this pill outside and find a few more doctors to test it. Then find a... brothel to spend more money to get connections and ask the madam to find someone to try it. Remember, don't reveal your identity. If there is no problem, bring it to me!"

"Old slave obeys!"

Originally, this kind of medicine testing should have been the responsibility of the Imperial Hospital.

But we just found out that they leaked the medication, so naturally we don’t want to let the Imperial Hospital know about it.

At this point, he ordered, "In addition, all the doctors in the Imperial Hospital who reported me for taking medicine will be dragged to the Ministry of Punishment and each of them will be beaten with thirty sticks, so that they will remember what to say and what not to say!"

……

(End of this chapter)