Star Sky Professional

"Especially Prince Tai! Prince Kang and other princes have already accepted their fate, but I see that Prince Tai appears to submit while indulging in wine and beauties daily, yet he still seems to want to make a move."

Yuan Zhao shook his head: "Such actions will eventually lead to his downfall... To plot against those in power, at the very least, requires cooperation from those above... The one currently above us is simply impeccable."

As he spoke, he felt a bit melancholy: "Moreover, we cannot allow chaos to reign again!"

Those who have not experienced chaos do not know its terrifying nature.

Better to be a peaceful dog than a man of chaos!

Although Yuan Zhao understood that not all the meritorious old ministers shared his mindset.

But with such a ruler maintaining stability, doing nothing at least won't be wrong; without major mistakes, Daqian's size is enough to last another two or three hundred years.

…

In the third year of Long Chang, Prime Minister of the Cabinet Yuan Zhao retired.

That same year, Emperor Long Chang held a selection of beauties; dozens of outstanding and pure young women were chosen from various states, most sent into the harem, the rest rewarded to the princes.

Fang Xing, as emperor, always focused on the big picture and left daily affairs to the cabinet, making his life simple and easy.

On this day.

After leaving a concubine's palace, Fang Xing stretched leisurely.

This test for him was also a rare leisurely journey.

While thinking casually, he strolled into the Imperial Garden.

It must be said that everyone in the Imperial Palace put effort into catering to his lifestyle, which was quite enjoyable.

Would today have an unexpected encounter or little surprise?

"Oh?"

He stopped before a flower bed and smiled: "These flowers are as radiant as gold; I wonder what variety they are?"

"Your Majesty, this is the 'Golden Wave Flower' tribute from Yunzhou. Its fragrance helps with sleep and calming the mind, and the Imperial Physicians have already examined it."

A eunuch promptly bowed and spoke.

It had been checked by the Imperial Hospital, confirming no issues.

"Golden Wave Flower?"

Fang Xing stepped forward, sniffing the fragrance, feeling an internal change, and couldn't help but smile slightly.

He had just sensed his body suffering a bit of damage.

Although not much, the poison was quickly dissolved by inner strength, but it was indeed poison!

The scary part is that if accumulated over time, when it erupts, it might be untreatable.

"Is this... the way of mutual annihilation?"

Fang Xing's heart stirred: "Golden Wave Flower is naturally non-toxic, but it seems to mix with a fragrance I smelled earlier, turning into a toxin that harms the body discreetly..."

"It's a pity, without considering dosage, discussing the harm of any poison is disingenuous... To poison through inhalation naturally requires a large amount; otherwise, it would become a state of chronic poisoning."

He shook his head: "Xiao Zhang..."

"At your service."

Eunuch Zhang immediately stepped forward and knelt.

"Thoroughly investigate the people behind this Golden Wave Flower, and also the source of the Benzoin from Consort Mei's palace just now. Do not let a single one go..."

Although Fang Xing was almost certain Consort Mei was merely an innocent scapegoat.

However, the emperor, in such matters, never needs evidence!

He directly employs a dragnet and then conducts interrogations slowly.

"Yes!"

Eunuch Zhang's forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat, knowing something major had happened.

After Fang Xing gave the order, he continued to enjoy the flowers in the Imperial Garden, seemingly unaffected emotionally.

'I never care for evidence; I only watch who gains...'

'Currently, several princes are still young; my death would not benefit them at all... Therefore, it isn't the consorts or princes; the Empress Dowager is increasingly frail, bedridden now, and I never intended to act against her family, so it isn't her...'

'The meritorious or some civil minister? Absolutely no benefit...'

'So, it's still my good brothers.'

Fang Xing chuckled coldly to himself: 'Or those uncles and cousins? In any case, once we find out this time, they will be publicly executed...'

The emperor's wrath is as fierce as blood flowing and drenching the fields!

Even though Fang Xing was unwilling to stir up a major case, a normal investigation would result in many deaths.

'And the civil ministers should likewise be admonished... Mathematics should be included in the imperial exams, with an increased weightage…'

…

Months later, shocking news spread in Daqian's Imperial City and quickly expanded in all directions.

Prince Tai, Li Ruzhang, rebelled and was given death directly!

It's said after Prince Tai's suicide, his birth mother, Concubine Shu, also hung herself, following her son.

Amidst such upheaval, the Capital soon returned to calm after a brief uproar.

The hidden forces within made all ambitious people fall silent and retreat into hiding…

…

Time flows like water, fleeting as a shuttle.

Spring goes, autumn comes.

In the blink of an eye, it was already the sixtieth year of Long Chang!

In recent years, Daqian has not experienced every year with favorable weather, but Emperor Long Chang vigorously managed water resources and developed production. The people lived in peace and worked happily, with the population surpassing five million households, according to the latest statistics.

Some enthusiasts were already calling it the 'Prosperous Age of Long Chang.'

Imperial Palace.

Fang Xing was now an eighty-seven-year-old elder.

However, although his hair and beard were all white, his complexion was rosy, coinciding with his birthday during the Longevity Festival, with ministers, princes, and grandsons all gathered together.

"Greetings to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty's longevity be boundless!"

An emperor who wielded power for sixty years, with authority that was unfathomable.

Not to mention, this Long Chang Emperor was exceedingly capable, weakening the nobility with each generation, while the civil officials were likewise obedient, not daring to rebel.

As for the royal family, they were handled into complete submission.

"At ease, rise."

Fang Xing waved his hand, glanced around, feeling somewhat contemplative.

'Time, indeed, is the most terrifying force.'

'Over the long course of time, each generation of nobility is weaker than the last, after all, humans are inherently lazy. Nobility's offspring are born into wealth and luxury, how many are still willing to strive and even go to the barracks to live and eat with the stinking soldiers?'

Military prestige is difficult to establish without crawling and rolling together and emerging from piles of corpses.

However, if a general leads his subordinates from victory to victory, the consolidated prestige is unparalleled, not even an emperor will hesitate, let alone declaring war on deities.

'The nobility weakens, the civil officials slightly rise, but were divided and suppressed by me through several subjects…'

'In ancient times, being an emperor was indeed delightful.'

Fang Xing's gaze swept over his sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, and great-great-grandsons… and suddenly sighed.

Time is always ruthless.

His empress, and even the two children from Li Rubi and the empress, had all died of old age and illness.

After all, in this ancient world devoid of magic, farmers over thirty were considered to have entered old age, living past forty was counted as long-lived.

Even dignitaries found it difficult to live much longer.

The Empress naturally died of old age in the forty-seventh year of Long Chang.

And some princes even died before this time.

'My inner strength can only sustain myself, it's hard to support the longevity demands of others…'

Fang Xing sighed, silently drinking wine.

At this moment, one performance after another was being staged.

Suddenly, amid drums and music, a troupe of girls in dance skirts gracefully entered the hall, singing and dancing lightly.

Among them, the leader had brows like autumn water, a lithe figure, as if she could dance in the air.

"Oh?"

Fang Xing put down his wine cup.

This scene did not go unnoticed by many with intentions, all were astonished.

The emperor had always not shown much interest in beauty, how come today…

Moreover, he was already eighty-seven…

'This…'

Fang Xing looked at the lead dancer, a glimmer of deep light flashed in his eyes: 'This is a fellow traveler… which Dao Lord?'

'However, the other side should have sealed memories and cultivation… Is it because of my intrusion that the Transcendence Secret Realm opened early?'

'Or is the secret realm left by the Dao Venerate about to come forth early?'

The Dao Venerate evidently prepared something before transcending, leaving behind a secret realm that Fang Xing glimpsed.

But the Dao Venerate did not lay hope in the present, instead betting on the future.

Yet in that secret realm, there's an eighty percent chance of containing the means and token to open the Transcendence Secret Realm!

Fang Xing felt that he probably caused some sort of butterfly effect when he entered the Transcendence Secret Realm.

Resulting in a certain Three Steps Dao Lord entering the Transcendence Secret Realm, receiving inheritance.

'Only… is the Realm Spirit of the secret realm so stingy?'

'Only a single world of trials?'

He internally complained, but his face showed a slight smile: "What is this girl's name?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this girl is named Han Yu, it is said at her birth, there was a strange fragrance on her body, and she held a piece of Ancient Jade in her hand…"

The elderly eunuch attending nearby replied respectfully.

"Oh? Ancient Jade? Bring it for me to see!"

Fang Xing casually commanded, watching as Han Yu, with a slightly shy expression, approached to kneel and pulled out a jade pendant from her collar.

This jade pendant had the shape of a curved jade, with eyes like yin-yang fish and a red string threaded through the middle.

When Fang Xing picked up this curved jade, it still carried body warmth and a hint of fragrance.

"Commoner Han Yu, pays respect to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty's longevity be boundless."

Han Yu's voice was clear and crisp.

'Truly stimulating… a Three Steps Dao Lord kneels just like this.'

'Hope she doesn't think of chopping me to death after getting out…'

Fang Xing internally grumbled, still quite interested in this female Dao Lord: "Haha… truly an interesting person, bestow the title of 'Curved Jade Lady'… This is indeed a blessed gift from the heavens to me."

Fang Xing, what ill intentions could he have? He just wanted to increase the difficulty for this lady Dao Lord a bit.

Anyway, this trial won't be fatal, if she doesn't meet the standards, he might even attempt to let her score high, scheming for an Innate Spiritual Treasure from her…

The princes and grandsons below were all dumbfounded at this point.

Unexpectedly their imperial grandfather, ancestor… still so vigorous?

Many men secretly envied, while some later-born princes gritted their teeth in anger.

Having an emperor live too long tends to invite resentment as well.

Thinking of the princes and even grandsons who had perished before, several people bowed their heads to drink, hiding the dark flames in their eyes.

Eleven months later.

From the 'Cheng'en Palace' where Curved Jade Lady resided, suddenly came the loud cries of an infant.

Since entering the palace, Curved Jade Lady was favored by His Majesty, became pregnant, and after ten months, gave birth to a boy.

The Long Chang Emperor was overjoyed and bestowed the name — Cheng Qian!