Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

As a highly respected Taoist master with a lineage, Tao Zhongwen knew exactly what Duan Chaoyong was talking about.

This method is not new; it was used as early as the Han Dynasty.

In the fourth year of the Yuanding era of the Western Han Dynasty, Marquis Ding Yi of Lecheng recommended the alchemist Luan Da to Emperor Wu of Han.

Luan Da boasted to Emperor Wu of Han, "Gold can be made, rivers can be dammed, the elixir of immortality can be obtained, and immortals can be summoned."

Emperor Wu of Han believed it to be true and appointed him as the General of Five Benefits.

In the following months, Luan Da gained four more general seals: Tian Shi, Di Shi, Da Tong, and Tian Dao.

He was granted the title of Marquis of Letong, with a fief of two thousand households, a marquisate bestowed by the emperor, and a thousand servants.

Emperor Wu of Han even married his eldest daughter, Princess Wei Chang, born to Empress Wei Zifu, to Luan Da, enjoying unparalleled favor and privilege.

The following year, the time came for Luan Da to fulfill his promise.

Emperor Wu of Han sent Luan Da to the East Sea to seek immortality, but fearing that he might follow Xu Fu and never return, he secretly sent spies to follow and monitor him.

It turned out that Luan Da didn't dare to go into the sea at all. He only went to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices and then returned to Chang'an, falsely claiming that he had met the immortal master.

Emperor Wu of Han was furious and had Luan Da executed by being cut in half at the waist for the crime of deceiving the emperor.

Ding Yi, the Marquis of Lecheng who recommended Luan Da, was also beheaded and his marquisate was abolished.

Upon hearing Duan Chaoyong's words, the emperor immediately became interested and pressed him for details on how to do it.

Although the emperor was devoted to Taoist practices, he unfortunately lacked knowledge of the historical events of previous dynasties.

What Duan Chaoyong said to the emperor was just the same nonsense that Luan Da said to Emperor Wu of Han back then.

It was almost a direct copy!

Faced with the emperor's questioning, this audacious fellow actually dared to make a false guarantee!

It is claimed that as long as the emperor secludes himself in seclusion to cultivate himself sincerely and cuts off contact with his officials, he can refine "gold" and obtain the elixir of immortality in just one or two years.

This implies a firm belief that the emperor is unwilling to relinquish power and is simply incapable of doing so.

Unfortunately, they underestimated the emperor before them!

In order to cultivate immortality and achieve eternal life, what wouldn't an emperor dare to do?!

If he actually does it, and still fails to do so, Duan Chaoyong's true colors will be revealed!

Needless to say, this man died without a proper burial, and Guo Xun, who recommended him, will most likely suffer the same fate as Ding Yi back then!

But what about yourself?

I, like Guo Xun, was introduced by Duan Chaoyong!

Tao Zhongwen turned to look at Guo Xun.

If it was merely a matter of offering "celestial silver," then Guo Xun was most likely a fat sheep for Duan Chaoyong.

The situation is completely different now. They are trying to persuade the emperor to neglect state affairs and go into seclusion to cultivate himself!

This matter will not only be exposed, but will also bring eternal infamy!

Would Duan Chaoyong dare to do this?

Guo Xun might not have been deceived by him at all, but rather was an accomplice!

And I was the fat sheep who was tricked into becoming a guarantor by them with ten thousand taels of silver, and who conspired to deceive the emperor!

"If I were granted a year or two less of leave, I would live in seclusion in the Western Garden to cultivate myself."

Just as Tao Zhongwen was hesitating and racking his brains for a way out, the Jiajing Emperor suddenly spoke.

"Is Master Duan truly confident that he can refine 'gold' and obtain the elixir of immortality?"

"Your Majesty, the secrets of Heaven are mysterious and cannot be fully revealed."

I, this humble Taoist priest, am willing to guarantee with my life that if Your Majesty could grant me a year or two less, allowing me to detach myself from worldly affairs, then the "gold" can be produced, and the elixir of immortality will surely be obtained.

Duan Chaoyong looked confident.

"As for the art of alchemy, people generally believe that one must seek out the five metals and eight minerals."

That is merely a low-level form of external alchemy, costing enormous sums and difficult to achieve.

What I offer to Your Majesty is the "Primordial True Essence".

Does Your Majesty know what "red lead" is?

This refers to a virgin who is not yet 14 years old and has just started menstruating.

This object is formed from pure Yang energy and contains primordial water and fire; it is the purest and most Yin essence of heaven and earth.

Your Majesty may take "red lead," add morning dew, cinnabar, and poria, and refine it using a secret method in a quiet room.

This "red lead" is extremely delicate and requires absolute purity during its refining process.

If Your Majesty continues to rule from behind the curtain, the imperial aura will be scattered and distracting thoughts will arise, causing the fire in the alchemical furnace to become unstable and the elixir to be destroyed.

Only when Your Majesty secludes yourself in seclusion, cutting off all external influences, and keeps your mind and body as clear as a still mirror, can you resonate with Heaven and Earth, allowing this elixir of immortality to manifest.

What is this person's intention in presenting such evil magic to the king?!

Just as Tao Zhongwen was wavering between immediately exposing this person or waiting to see how things would develop, the Jiajing Emperor's voice reached his ears.

"I am the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty, possessing the wealth of the four seas. What difficulty is there in obtaining this 'red lead'?"

"Please have Master Tao and Master Duan jointly oversee this matter."

. . .

The capital city, the Northern Garrison Command.

"Yang Zui is dead."

Lu Wei walked over to Lu Bing and whispered,

"After all, he was a 68-year-old man; he didn't even last half of those hundred strokes."

"Of all the civil and military officials, only this old man has the toughest backbone."

Lu Bing shook his head.

"As the emperor's personal guards, the imperial decree stipulates that we shall be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane, and we shall not be spared even one stroke."

His Majesty's decree is a warning to others; Yang Zui is doomed to die.

To be frank, His Majesty did indeed act without sufficient consideration in this matter.

No wonder the entire court, including that fellow Yan Song, dared not agree with him.

"Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince is only five years old. How can he truly oversee the country?"

Lu Wei sighed.

"Although His Highness the Crown Prince had already served as regent once last year when he made his southern tour to Chengtian Prefecture."

But everyone knows that it's just a formality. When the emperor leaves the capital, it is customary for a prince to oversee the country.

However, matters of importance were still sent to the emperor's residence for his personal decision.

This time was different. His Majesty actually announced during the grand court session that "I wish to retire to the Western Garden to devote myself to Taoist cultivation, and appoint the Crown Prince to oversee the country for one or two years, after which I will resume personal rule as before."

This means I'll be living in seclusion for one or two years, isolating myself from the outside world in Xiyuan for closed-door cultivation!

Yang Zui's "Memorial to the Emperor on the Advice to Xixian" actually makes a lot of sense.

Immortals are people who live in seclusion in the mountains, abstaining from grains and eating the clouds, far removed from worldly affairs.

How could someone live in the imperial palace, wear a dragon robe, enjoy delicacies from land and sea, and still ascend to heaven in broad daylight?

Throughout history, many emperors have sought immortality. Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han spent their entire lives seeking immortality and visiting Taoist masters, but in the end, they all turned to dust.

Now Your Majesty has actually believed the sorcerer's false words, saying that as long as one stays in seclusion and does not contact outsiders, one can refine some kind of "gold" and obtain the elixir of immortality.

They also wanted to have the young crown prince act as regent.

Who among the court officials dared to agree?

It's just that most people are unwilling to be the first to speak out.

Only Yang was the boldest, daring to step forward and directly advise His Majesty.

"I have been by Your Majesty's side since childhood and I know Your Majesty's obsession with achieving immortality through Taoist cultivation."

Lu Bing pondered for a moment,

"This alchemist, Duan Chaoyong, was jointly recommended by Duke Guo Xun of Yiguo and Tao Zhongwen, the immortal master most trusted by His Majesty."

Unlike those who only knew how to feign mystery in the past, this person presented His Majesty with a detailed cultivation method and even dared to guarantee with his life that he could refine the elixir of immortality in just one or two years.

In His Majesty's view, this is the closest he has ever come to cultivating the immortal body of a celestial being since he began his cultivation.

Knowing His Majesty as I do, he will definitely not give up!