Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

"Third Young Master, the ginseng slices have been purchased."

The servant handed a small paper bag into the carriage.

Guo Shoulu immediately opened the box, took out a few slices of sun-dried ginseng, put them in his mouth, and without waiting to slowly swallow them, chewed them directly with his teeth.

The ginseng slices were indeed quite effective; by the time the carriage arrived at the Marquis of Wuding's residence, my drowsiness had largely subsided.

"Father, are you going to the Fifth Army Camp drill ground?"

As soon as Guo Shoulu stepped down from the carriage, he saw Duke Guo Xun, fully armed, standing at the door.

"My son has something important to ask you."

"What urgent matter could you possibly have to discuss?"

Guo Xun turned to look at Guo Shoulu. Of his four sons, he was the most useless, spending his days either frequenting brothels and gambling dens or engaging in cockfighting and horse racing.

"Never mind, let's talk in the car."

After a moment's hesitation, Guo Xun still beckoned Guo Shoulu to get into his carriage. After all, he was his own son, and a father couldn't ignore anything that might happen.

"Father, I have two questions for you."

As the carriage moved forward, Guo Shoulu also spoke up and asked.

Did Father experience any discomfort after taking the "red lead" elixir refined by Duan Chao?

For example, after the effects of the medication wear off, there may be a sudden onset of drowsiness, a strong sense of emptiness, and a feeling that one has lost interest in everything.

I have this inexplicable urge to get angry, yell at people, or even burst into tears.

Besides that, do you also experience muscle soreness and weakness throughout your body?

How did you know?

Guo Xun's eyes widened suddenly.

It seems it's true!

Guo Shoulu kept his eyes fixed on Guo Xun's face, and he already had a good grasp of the situation.

"Father, I'll tell you where I found out later."

You have been taking this "miracle drug" for several months now. Please tell your child whether the symptoms are the same each time, or whether they change.

"These discomforts are indeed present, but they will subside soon."

After taking the "red lead" elixir, I felt like I had returned to my youthful days when my body was at its best. But after the effects wore off, I returned to my old age, and some disappointment was inevitable.

Seeing that his son was concerned about his health, Guo Xun felt a warmth in his heart.

"As for muscle soreness and weakness, that depends on what you did during the few hours when the medicine took effect."

When the medication takes effect, you have a lot of energy. No matter what you do, you don't feel tired at all, and even the pain is much less than usual. It's easy to accidentally overexert yourself.

Once the effects of the medication wear off, the muscles will naturally feel sore and weak.

When I first took this "elixir," I was also tempted by the feeling of youth and overworked myself. I had that feeling before.

However, if you don't do any strenuous exercise while the medication is in effect, your muscles won't be too sore.

Don't worry, I know my old bones can't take this much. Except for the first few times, I've never summoned multiple concubines to my bedchamber in one night."

"However, after the effects of the medication wore off, young people in their twenties experienced not only muscle soreness and weakness, but also a strong sense of emptiness and loss."

Hearing Guo Xun's words, Guo Shoulu felt slightly relieved. At least his father was still relatively lucid and hadn't overexerted himself due to the temporary surge of energy he experienced after taking the "elixir."

"Father, I sincerely hope that you will take as little as possible."

"Shoulu, do you think your father didn't think of this?"

Guo Xun looked at his son's concerned eyes,

"When I first started taking this 'elixir,' I was too greedy for the feeling of regaining my youth and vitality it brought, even if it was just an illusion for a few hours."

As the frequency of administration increases, the intervals between doses also become shorter.

Each time the effects of the medicine wore off, the sense of loss grew stronger. If there was no other way to obtain it, I was confident that I could just endure it and it would pass.

Even though it was readily available, the stark contrast in state before and after consuming the "elixir" always made me, as the father, unable to resist taking it again.

"It seems that Duan Chaoyong's ambitions are quite significant!"

If one day he were to cut off his father's "elixir of immortality" and make any request of his father, could his father refuse?!

Guo Shoulu looked at his father.

"Unfortunately, it is too late now. Father and Master Tao have already recommended this person to His Majesty."

This person even persuaded His Majesty to go into seclusion to cultivate immortality and summoned the Prince of Ying to the capital to assist the five-year-old Crown Prince in overseeing the country.

Although his son has not entered the court, he has heard that His Majesty is intelligent and quick-witted, and that no ordinary person can compare to him.

One day, His Majesty will realize that Duan Chaoyong is deceiving the Emperor!

If that day truly comes, the entire Marquis of Wuding's family will be a catastrophe!

"Do you think I haven't thought about this?"

Guo Xun was quite surprised that his son, whom he considered the most useless, could think of this.

"This 'red lead' elixir is incredibly effective."

Even if that day comes, His Majesty will not be willing to kill Duan Chaoyong.

If even Duan Chaoyong wasn't killed, then naturally my Guo family won't be implicated.

Shoulu, you still haven't told me how you knew about the reactions after taking this "Red Lead" elixir.

"Yesterday, my son visited a brothel and met a young man who was quite eloquent."

Guo Shoulu began to speak.

"This person looks to be in his early twenties, but he is quite insightful and has a wide range of knowledge."

I even secretly tested him with my second brother's Jinyiwei centurion's waist tag, and the man recognized me at a glance, but he showed no fear whatsoever.

The son thought that this person must be a son of some high-ranking official or noble family in the capital.

He and I got along very well, and before leaving, he gave his son a pill.

I recognized it immediately—it was the "red lead" elixir that Duan Chaoyong had given to my father!

"How is that possible?!"

Upon hearing Guo Shoulu's words, Guo Xun was greatly surprised.

"Now, this 'red lead' elixir is a tribute exclusively for His Majesty."

The "red lead" needed to refine this elixir was prepared under the supervision of Duan Chaoyong and Tao Zhongwen. Who else could obtain this "elixir" besides them?

Tao Zhongwen wouldn't even try a single pill himself, let alone secretly give it away.

Duan Chaoyong has told me many times that, apart from His Majesty, he has only ever given it to me.

Shoulu, since you were able to accurately describe the discomfort you felt after the effects of the medicine wore off, you must have already taken that "Red Lead" elixir.

Where did that young master who gave you the elixir get it?

"If Duan Chaoyong wasn't lying, then there's only one possible source for the 'Red Lead' elixir here."

Guo Shoulu pondered for a moment,

"A gift from His Majesty!"

I've long heard that His Majesty occasionally bestows "elixirs of immortality." Father, do you know who this "red lead" elixir has been given to?

"As far as I know, among the officials, only Yan Song, the Minister of Rites, has been granted three of these gifts."

By the way, Duan Chaoyong told me that after yesterday's morning court session, His Majesty ordered someone to send a few coins from the West Garden to His Highness Prince Ying.

Guo Xun thought for a moment,

"A young man in his twenties?"

Yan Song's son, Yan Shifan, is twenty-seven years old this year. Although he entered officialdom as a student of the Imperial Academy through his father's influence, he is said to be quite intelligent and talkative.

I've long heard that this person frequented brothels during his time studying at the Imperial Academy. Could it be him?