Ning Chen put his words in order in his head, then said, “Reporting to Your Majesty! Your subject has a thread on the immortal powder case.”

The Xuan Emperor was slightly taken aback. “Wasn’t the immortal powder case closed?”

Immortal powder had been Prince Fu’s and the Empress’s doing, and with both of them dead the case was naturally closed.

The Xuan Emperor had no wish to bring those two up. Every time he thought of what they had done, he wanted to dig them up and take a whip to their corpses.

Ning Chen said, perfectly serious, “Your Majesty! Prince Fu and the Empress are dead, but the source of the immortal powder has still not been found.”

“Has Your Majesty seen what a man who takes immortal powder looks like? The harm this thing does is enormous. The grass has to be cut and the root pulled with it, and the source cleared out.”

The Xuan Emperor knew perfectly well how terrible immortal powder was—how it could turn a person into neither man nor ghost.

More than thirty great officers of the court had been drawn into it, and thinking of that still left the Xuan Emperor shaken.

Fortunately Ning Chen had found it early. If the court officials had all come under the powder’s control, the consequences would not bear thinking of.

The Xuan Emperor asked, “You’ve traced the source?”

Ning Chen nodded. “According to the Inspectorate’s agents, the source of the immortal powder is in Xiuzhou.”

The Xuan Emperor frowned. “Xiuzhou?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty! Xiuzhou’s climate is damp and suits the growing of the immortals’ flower well.”

“The immortals’ flower?”

“Your Majesty, immortal powder is refined from the immortals’ flower.”

The Xuan Emperor nodded slightly. “The harm immortal powder does is enormous and it must be rooted out… very well. This emperor will issue an edict at once and have Prince Duan investigate it thoroughly.”

Ning Chen’s expression froze.

Fuck!!!

Have Prince Duan investigate?

Isn’t that handing the fish to the cat?

The reason he had not said outright that there was something wrong with Prince Duan was that Zisu had nothing but her word.

He believed what she said, but His Majesty might not, since it concerned a prince of the royal house.

So his plan was to get hold of the evidence against Prince Duan first, and report to His Majesty afterward.

On the face of it, the masterminds behind the immortal powder case were Prince Fu and the Empress.

But it was Prince Duan who had been growing the immortals’ flower. He was the one who might be the real mastermind.

Once it was proven, it would be a wonder if His Majesty didn’t put Prince Duan to a thousand cuts.

And then Zisu’s attempt on Prince Duan would stop being a matter at all. His Majesty might even ask why Zisu hadn’t shot the traitor dead while she had the chance.

And once Prince Duan’s treason was proven, Yudie’s father and Zisu’s could both be cleared.

By then His Majesty would know he had wronged honest officials, and would inevitably feel some guilt about it. The Yan family was down to Zisu alone, and asking His Majesty’s mercy at that point would have a very good chance of getting her out.

It might even get Yudie struck off the slave register.

Ning Chen bowed. “Your Majesty, Prince Duan’s standing is exalted and his name is well known in Xiuzhou. A great many people know him, and plenty of them are certainly watching everything he does.”

“Your subject believes this case should be investigated in secret. We must not beat the grass and startle the snake, and give the other side a chance to destroy the evidence.”

“Your subject is willing to go to Xiuzhou and investigate the case quietly. I ask Your Majesty’s leave!”

The Xuan Emperor looked at him. “You’ve only just come off a battlefield. Take a few days and rest properly… let someone else look into this.”

Ning Chen said, perfectly serious, “Your Majesty, your subject isn’t tired! Your subject’s nature can’t bear sitting idle, and the most, most, most, most important thing is that your subject wants to ease Your Majesty’s burdens!”

“The immortal powder case was your subject’s investigation from the beginning, and nobody else understands the situation… so I ask Your Majesty’s leave to go on with it.”

Eunuch Quan’s face was full of distaste. Look at you showing off. The most, most, most, most, is it? One day without flattering somebody and your whole body itches, doesn’t it?

The corner of the Xuan Emperor’s mouth lifted into a smile.

“This emperor meant to let you rest a while longer. Since you can’t sit idle, the case is yours to go on with… only don’t go saying this emperor treats you harshly.”

Ning Chen said quickly, “To be able to ease Your Majesty’s burdens—your subject can hardly contain his delight!”

“Very well. This emperor will issue an edict for Prince Duan to assist you!”

Fuck!!!

Prince Duan again?

One of these days he’ll carry off your throne, and then we’ll see how much of a prince he is, Ning Chen grumbled privately.

“Your Majesty! The immortal powder is a matter of the first importance. Your subject wants to investigate in secret, to give the enemy no chance to react, and to take it, the whole pot at once.”

“Prince Duan’s position is far too prominent. He isn’t suited to appearing in this.”

The Xuan Emperor inclined his head slightly. “Good! It shall be as you say. This case is yours, with full authority… how you investigate it is for you to decide. Immortal powder is a matter of the empire itself, and this emperor waits on good news from you!”

“Many thanks, Your Majesty! Your subject will give it everything he has and not fail Your Majesty’s trust.”

Having said it, Ning Chen thought for a moment and went on, “Your Majesty, your subject has one more thing to ask?”

“Speak. What is it?”

Ning Chen said, “Your subject would ask Your Majesty to issue an edict sending your subject to the frontier on military business.”

The Xuan Emperor started, but understood a moment later. “You want to cover people’s eyes and ears—go to the frontier in appearance, and to Xiuzhou in fact?”

“Yes!”

The Xuan Emperor inclined his head slightly. “Good. The edict will go to the Inspectorate tomorrow.”

“Many thanks, Your Majesty! It’s late. Your Majesty should rest early, your dragon body is what matters. Your subject will withdraw.”

“Wait a moment!” the Xuan Emperor said, then looked at Eunuch Quan. “Fetch the imperial sword.”

“Yes!”

Eunuch Quan went off with small quick steps, lifted the imperial sword down from its stand in both hands, and came back.

The Xuan Emperor pointed his chin at Ning Chen. “Give it to him!”

Eunuch Quan brought the imperial sword over to Ning Chen.

The Xuan Emperor looked at him. “For the immortal powder investigation, this emperor will issue no open edict… take the imperial sword. This emperor grants you the right to execute first and report afterward.”

“But bear this in mind. It is not to be abused.”

Ning Chen said quickly, “Thank you, Your Majesty! Your subject obeys the edict!”

The Xuan Emperor nodded and waved a hand.

“Your subject withdraws!”

Ning Chen stepped back several paces, turned, and left.

The Xuan Emperor narrowed his eyes, and there was a flicker in them. “Quan Sheng, don’t you think that boy Ning Chen has something he’s keeping from this emperor?”

“This emperor keeps feeling the boy knows more than he’s saying. He hasn’t told this emperor the truth… I hope it isn’t what this emperor is guessing.”

Eunuch Quan said, without thinking, “Then that would be the crime of deceiving the sovereign. He should be brought back and given thirty strokes for it.”

The Xuan Emperor glanced at him. “Still holding it against him for making you withdraw just now?”

Eunuch Quan realized he had misspoken. Cold sweat broke out on him and he went into fear and trembling. “Your Majesty, forgive me. This old servant deserves to die!”

The Xuan Emperor waved a hand. “There is no great harm in it. This emperor didn’t blame you!”

“Though speaking of it—in this whole court, civil and military, which of them has never committed the crime of deceiving the sovereign? Never mind that in front of this emperor they’d tear out their own hearts to show you. Every one of them has his own little sums running inside, and there’s no shortage of obeying in the open and defying in private. Do they really think this emperor doesn’t know?”

“So long as they don’t go too far, this emperor can’t be bothered to take it up.”

As he spoke the Xuan Emperor stood and stretched his frame a little. “This emperor is somewhat tired too… hm? Quan Sheng, have I forgotten something?”

Eunuch Quan looked at the Xuan Emperor and put on a foolish face… he had no idea what His Majesty meant, and he did not dare guess rashly at the imperial mind.

“This emperor has it! This emperor told Ning Chen to talk about the frontier, and the boy sidetracked him and this emperor forgot the whole of it… never mind. This emperor will have him tell it another time.”

“Quan Sheng, this emperor will rest at Noble Lady Wan’s tonight!”

Ever since he had taken the medicine Ning Chen gave him, the Xuan Emperor had felt as though he were back in his twenties.

Eunuch Quan said quickly, “Yes, this servant will send word at once!”

(End of Chapter 298)