A four-year-old medical prodigy descended to the mortal realm, and the entire capital sought her tre

It was nearly noon, and Zhao Jinzhong was also hungry.

He led Zhou Ruo, following the smell of food, to the cafeteria, where four or five tables were set up.

Only half of the seats at each table were occupied, presumably people were taking turns eating.

Zhao Jinzhong's stomach was rumbling, so he led Zhou Ruo into the cafeteria.

I found one of the tables and sat down at random.

Someone stood next to Zhao Jinzhong with a bowl and chopsticks, and Zhao Jinzhong subconsciously moved aside to make room for them.

However, as soon as Zhao Jinzhong moved the chair, the person next to him fell heavily to the ground.

"Oh my god! What the hell? How did this chair end up on the side?"

Zhao Jinzhong quickly got up and sat down in another seat.

The man's fall caused a brief commotion, but after he got up, picked up a chair, and sat down again, everyone calmed down.

It was a false alarm.

However, the strange things continued.

At the table where Zhao Jinzhong was sitting, the people next to him initially saw that there was still meat in their bowls.

But when I looked down to eat and then looked up again, half the meat was gone.

Looking down again and then looking up again, half the vegetables were gone.

The people nearby looked at each other, wondering who had acted so quickly.

A fat man, seeing that he hadn't eaten much yet and the food had already decreased so much, became agitated and said:

"Share your food, don't try to finish it all yourself. If you're really too hungry, go eat at another table!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jinzhong felt it made sense.

He got up and took Zhou Ruo to the next table.

The people at the next table experienced the same thing; the meat and vegetables on their tables disappeared without them even noticing.

By the time the next group of people sat down to eat, two tables had already finished all the food.

"Damn it! What day is it today? There's so little food served!"

Later generations cursed.

Those who couldn't get their food went to argue with the kitchen staff.

Some people from the previous group hadn't finished eating and were still sitting in their seats, so they helped the kitchen staff out of the predicament:

"It's not that there was too little food; the portions looked about the same as usual. We just don't know who had such a big appetite today, finishing all the food!"

A commotion broke out in the canteen, with curses and swears echoing through the main room.

After finishing their meal, Zhao Jinzhong and Zhou Ruo sat under a big tree to rest. Zhao Jinzhong was feeling a bit sleepy because he had eaten too much.

Zhou Ruo said to him, "Brother, why are you eating so much? You didn't even leave any for others."

Zhao Jinzhong does not deny that his appetite has increased recently, perhaps because he is growing.

"And you're the one talking? You ate all the fruit, and the Duke of Ling and his companion even fought over it, have you forgotten?"

Zhou Ruo was a little embarrassed. "Oh dear, I'm still growing!"

Who knew those two old folks were so petty, fighting over a few pieces of fruit? It's truly shameful.

......

An Chang rode his swift horse and returned to the capital in less than an hour.

He recounted to the Dowager Consort the whole story of the child's disappearance from the orphanage, as well as the conspiracy between Duke Ling and Lü Qingchen.

The Empress Dowager was furious upon hearing this. In all her years, this was the first time she had ever been so angry.

An Chang comforted her, "Grandmother, please calm down. None of those children are missing, and Ruoruo can be saved."

"How could the Duke of Ling be so cruel to so many young children? His entire family deserves to be exterminated!"

"I'll go to the palace right now to see the Emperor. I want to know if he can drink that 'elixir of immortality' he requested."

In the Imperial Palace, in the Imperial Study, the Emperor was already quite surprised to see the Dowager Consort appear there.

After hearing what the Dowager Consort said about the Duke of Ling, she was even more shocked.

"I heard from Consort Ling a few days ago that the Imperial Uncle was able to obtain a longevity potion from a master that was even more potent than the elixir of immortality from the former Imperial Preceptor."

Unexpectedly, this elixir of immortality was obtained at the cost of forty-nine children's lives!

The Dowager Consort said, "The Duke of Ling and that Taoist priest have ulterior motives. They are using the pretense of concocting an elixir of immortality for the Emperor..."

They treat the lives of so many children as worthless.

If this matter were to reach the ears of the people, how would they view the emperor?

"The Duke of Ling and that Taoist priest are trying to frame the Emperor as an unjust and tyrannical ruler!"

The Empress Dowager's use of the word "tyrant" pierced the Emperor's heart; he couldn't bear to hear those two words.

After the Dowager Consort finished recounting how Duke Ling had colluded with the Taoist priest to harm children, she remembered that there was still a score to settle with Duke Ling.

Now that the time seemed ripe, she reported to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, you may not know this, but half a year ago..."

To save his good-for-nothing son, Ling Yu, the Duke of Ling brought Princess Anning to his mansion.

They then pressured An Ning to treat Ling Yu. After An Ning confessed that she was unable to cure Ling Yu,

Duke Ling simply placed An Ning and Zhao Jinzhong under house arrest.

Later, the Duke of Zhao came to me for help, and I went to the Duke's mansion in person to bring back the two children, Anning and Jinzhong.

This shows that Duke Ling was a vicious and wicked man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals!

Your Majesty, please investigate this matter thoroughly!

"There's such a thing?" The Emperor was shocked once again.

He never imagined that the brother of his most beloved Consort Ling would be such a person.

The Duke of Ling has put the Emperor in a dilemma.

If the Duke of Ling is severely punished, his entire clan could be exterminated, but Consort Ling is also among his nine clans, which the Emperor cannot bear to do.

If he is not severely punished, not only will he be unable to explain himself to the Empress Dowager, but he will also be unable to defend himself in front of the common people.

The Empress Dowager noticed the Emperor's hesitation and questioned him: "Your Majesty, are you still caught in a dilemma because of Consort Ling?"

Are you really not afraid that the people of the world will curse you as a tyrant?

Again, the words "tyrant" were used. The emperor could not allow the people of the world to curse him like that.

The Emperor is determined to be a wise and benevolent ruler!

"Guards, issue the imperial decree!"

Finally, the Emperor ordered Prince An to lead troops to besiege Lü Qingchen's "base" and capture both Duke Ling and Lü Qingchen alive.

Zhao Jinzhong's imperial sword can be used to execute those who refuse to submit to the law on the spot!

After receiving the imperial decree, Prince An led his troops to the border of Tonggu County, with An Chang accompanying him.

Meanwhile, the alchemy sect in the cultivation world was in an uproar.

After waiting for three days, there was still no movement from Xianbao Pavilion, and the accounting office was also quiet.

Occasionally, they might produce some pills, but compared to the ten thousand spirit stones from the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, it's utterly insignificant.

The next day, the chief began to doubt himself, thinking that his price of one thousand spirit stones per pill must be too expensive.

The demand from Xianbaoge has always been there; it's likely that the deal fell through because of price issues.

"Someone, send a message to the Immortal Treasure Pavilion: set the price of the Pure Yang Pill at eight hundred spirit stones per pill!"

However, after a day, and then on the third day, there was still no movement from the Immortal Treasure Pavilion.

At this moment, Zhou Ruozheng and Zhao Jinzhong were hiding in Lü Qingchen's alchemy room, watching Lü Qingchen refine "Short-lived Water".

The head of the Alchemy Sect began to doubt himself again, so he sent another message to the Immortal Treasure Pavilion: "Reduce the price to five hundred spirit stones per stone!"