The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror

When the Court was in an uproar over the establishment of the Military Affairs Office, the old Emperor did not reveal his stance on the matter. As the ultimate arbiter, he fundamentally refrained from entering the fray.

Even if he had already made up his mind, he would not directly facilitate the action.

The establishment of the Military Affairs Office was indeed a good idea.

However, for the old Emperor, it was nothing more than a means to further solidify his Imperial Power. Having ascended the throne for decades, his authority was already incredibly secure—with or without the Military Affairs Office, it did not affect the old Emperor's power.

On the other hand, Xu Qing truly was a prodigy, perfectly living up to the praise he had been given.

As for whether this matter would pose a great threat to Prince Yu, the old Emperor was indifferent.

If he were to succeed in attaining Longevity, his son would be his greatest enemy.

If unsuccessful, only then would he truly remove the hidden dangers to Prince Yu's ascension; it might be necessary to use Xu Qing to deal with some individuals at that time.

This sort of affair, he had done too many times before.

In fact, deep down, the old Emperor was quite displeased with Prince Yu.

But compared to Prince Yu, the other Princes were even less promising.

This was also because he had been too rigid with the Ministers in his youth.

He had no choice but to cede the educational rights of his Princes to soften the tension between monarch and Ministers.

Under the circumstances of the time, even he faced multiple assassination attempts, and the Crown Prince before Prince Yu died under very peculiar circumstances.

That was the successor he favored the most.

The Emperor knew that he had to compromise, and indeed, he had no choice but to.

The saying "Two Dragons never meet" was simply a concession for giving up his paternal education rights over the Princes.

Even so, he continually tested Prince Yu, hoping he would grow, but Prince Yu's capabilities were too limited.

The old Emperor was also rather helpless.

Because he had just these two sons, even though Prince Yu held no title as Crown Prince, the only opponent he faced was Prince Jing.

Compared to Prince Yu, Prince Jing was even less capable,

At least Prince Yu knew how to feign competence before him, while Prince Jing couldn't even fake it, rash and prone to anger, nothing but a brute.

And those in the Court were all the cleverest of the clever, having emerged victorious from among a host of brilliant people.

They were, naturally, exceptionally shrewd.

But he certainly couldn't pick a Crown Prince from among the Ministers?

The old Emperor had given up hope for both of his sons; his only hope now lay with his grandchildren.

But he felt that he was far from the point where he needed to consider his legacy.

Having a young Xu Qing to constrain Prince Yu was a good thing.

After all, the Ministers all thought he was old, and even the eunuchs by his side dared not offend Prince Yu. Therefore, the opposition between Xu Qing and Prince Yu was actually what the old Emperor was looking forward to in his heart.

Besides, Xu Qing was indeed very capable.

The old Emperor was well aware of the peasant issue; it was indeed a trouble, and Xu Qing helped him solve it, also using it to make a very profitable business deal for him.

In terms of making money, Xu Qing was irreplaceable in the old Emperor's heart.

Even if others possessed Xu Qing's financial acumen, they would not share as much money with the old Emperor.

Zhao Jinzhong and Marquis Wuding, those two sycophants, were far behind Xu Qing in this regard.

The old Emperor felt that human nature was unpredictable, hence the deeds done by an individual were the truest reflection of their character.

Regardless, in his view, Xu Qing was a good Minister.

Someone like Xu Qing who could solve problems for him and rake in money was worth his heavy reliance.

Moreover, the old Emperor was well aware that the more favor he bestowed upon Xu Qing, the less likely Xu Qing would be to rebel against him. He knew Xu Qing's background well: grateful and magnanimous in conduct, and someone who understood the importance of timing and situation.

Furthermore, Xu Qing dared to offend the nobles.

Of course, he appreciated even more the way Xu Qing handled the nobles.

These people were like dogs—beat them with a stick and give them a date, and they would become docile.

Xu Qing did just that.

In the old Emperor's view, nobles were like wild grass that couldn't be burned off; once the spring breeze blew, they sprouted anew. As long as the soil was there, new nobles would inevitably arise.

Rather than eliminating them, it's better to figure out how to use them.

In this regard, Xu Qing even outperformed him.

The old Emperor's interest in Xu Qing grew stronger, and so he summoned Xu Qing to the Longevity Palace once more.

This time, he wasn't playing any indirect games.

The old Emperor, dressed in a wide and light Daoist robe, received Xu Qing.

The beneath the hall's fire path, warmed by Immortal Coal.

He didn't believe in the advertised benefits of Immortal Coal.

Instead, Immortal Coal was now one of the Inner Treasury's revenue sources. By using Immortal Coal, others would follow suit. Consequently, the wealth he gained from Immortal Coal would naturally increase.

The Emperor's wealth encompasses the four seas, but the Court is always short on money.

Of course, the old Emperor hoped for more money.

After Xu Qing paid his respects, the old Emperor asked: "Xu Qing, compose a 'green poem' for Us to see."

The eunuchs and Palace Maids within the great hall all showed surprised expressions.

They understood the old Emperor's habits; he only asked for a 'green poem' when he truly appreciated someone, and if he particularly appreciated them, the old Emperor would bestow his personally made Immortal Pill.

The favor of the Immortal Pill was too weighty for mere mortals to bear, so the Ministers both desired and feared the old Emperor's special favor.

Xu Qing was not surprised the old Emperor commanded him to compose a 'green poem.' However, based on his understanding of the old Emperor's personality, Xu Qing still strived for caution, copying a 'green poem' that very much aligned with the old Emperor's Heart Intent.

This 'green poem' came from a TV series he had seen in his past life.

The Emperor character in the show resembled the old Emperor quite a bit.

Xu Qing was always adept at pleasing others; while composing the 'green poem,' he made a show of pondering long and hard.