Slender willows sway in the breeze

Chapter 82 They really dare to ask for a price.
Liu Sijun lowered her eyelids. Bei Chenyao's pulse was shallow and weak, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, accompanied by agitation. It was not a sign of long-term problems.

In other words, his time is up.

How could she possibly explain that?

“Master Liu, please speak freely. I want to hear the truth.”

Every emperor said that.

But how many people actually listen? Because the truth is harsh, and those who have long held the throne will feel that their subjects are being disobedient.

Liu Sijun wasn't sure if Bei Chenyao was one of those extremely rare individuals.

Gu Changzhou then spoke up: "His Majesty is a wise ruler throughout the ages, Alchemist Liu need not hold back."

When one's time is near, everyone has a sense of impending doom. And when someone has a sense of impending doom, they might do something unusual. As a favored close advisor, did Gu Changzhou sense this?
"Your Majesty, your pulse does not look good."

How bad is it?

Liu Sijun clenched his fist and then released it: "If Your Majesty cooperates with me, I can save your life by one year."

Bei Chenyao has been feeling weak lately, and he knows that his days are numbered. However, the resident alchemist he met last time only said nice things to appease him.

One year...

enough!

"Very well, then I entrust my body to you. The Longevity Palace has been prepared, and Alchemist Liu can move in today."

As soon as Bei Chenyao finished speaking, a person walked out from behind the landscape screen. He was wearing a dark brown robe with a wide belt around his waist and a black hat with a round bead inlaid in the front. His black shoes were clean and he walked over silently.

Gu Changzhou: "This is Eunuch Cao, a close attendant of the Emperor."

He held a golden tray in his hands, on which was a golden jade pendant carved with a dragon's head.

"This is a jade pendant that can represent me. Seeing this jade pendant is as if I am here in person."

Not only Liu Sijun, but even Gu Changzhou did not expect that Bei Chenyao would bestow such an important jade pendant upon her after just one meeting.

"Cao De, take Master Liu to the Longevity Palace."

"Yes."

"Changzhou, come with me."

Liu Sijun and Cao De left the main hall. Bei Chenyao slowly got up and went to the left. Gu Changzhou followed. There was an oval archway there. Going out of the archway, there was a long corridor.

Bei Chenyao, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped, turned around, and said, "Gu Changzhou, what is your crime?"

"I do not know what crime I have committed."

Bei Chenyao: "Still dare to argue? How powerful can a pill refiner at the early stage of the Golden Core realm be? Can't Yougu Palace find any other pill refiners who can refine fifth-grade pills?"

"Of course she can, but she is the most suitable."

Bei Chenyao narrowed his eyes: "Tell me about it."

"Firstly, Master Liu is from our Great Yu Kingdom; secondly, she grew up in a remote town and has no connection with any power in the court, so we can trust her to be employed; thirdly, although her cultivation level is low, she can still refine fifth-grade pills because she has a very rare five-elemental-root physique."

"Based on these three points, she is the most suitable alchemist for His Majesty."

Bei Chenyao smiled: "So, you think you're right?"

"Yes."

Gu Changzhou said, "Therefore, I believe His Majesty will agree to the request of 80,000 high-grade crystals from Master Liu."

"How many?"

Even the mighty Emperor Bei Chenyao couldn't help but raise his voice as he glanced at Gu Changzhou.

Gu Changzhou remained as steady as an old dog.

Bei Chenyao laughed again, exasperated: "She really dares to ask for a high price."

Gu Changzhou continued: "She also suggested that she could enter and leave the holy land for cultivation at any time when needed."

"Even the previous alchemist, Master Wu, wouldn't dare to make such outrageous demands."

“But His Majesty is not satisfied with Alchemist Wu’s performance.” Bei Chenyao looked at Gu Changzhou: “So, you think highly of Alchemist Liu.”

"Is Your Majesty not satisfied?"

If he wasn't satisfied, he wouldn't have bestowed such an important token upon her so readily.

Bei Chenyao gave a haughty snort: "Fine, I can agree to all the conditions she has set. Let's see what she has the ability to make me live for another year."

His time was up, and Master Wu Dan was afraid that something might happen to him, so he used various excuses to return to Yougu Palace before the agreed time.

He was too lazy to keep him, so he let Gu Changzhou choose a pill refiner in advance.

He didn't have any particular expectations for the alchemist who came, nor did he expect any elixir to allow him to live for another eight or ten years. But he needed an alchemist who could speak the truth to him.

Being in this position, it's too difficult to hear the truth.

It's even more difficult to clearly understand the state of your body.

"Master Liu, we've arrived."

Eunuch Cao carried her down slowly, stopping directly in the square outside the palace. Eunuch Cao had carried her on his sword for less than a quarter of an hour. Liu Sijun estimated that, given her cultivation level, it would take her several dozen breaths to get from the Longevity Palace to the main hall.

The Longevity Palace is located on a high mountain peak in the northwest corner of the main hall. The area is rich in spiritual energy, and the entire palace is enveloped in a dense spiritual atmosphere.

The palace gates are tall and imposing, and the doors are made of millennia-old cold iron, with qilin (mythical creatures) shaped like door knockers.

"This is the main hall of the Longevity Palace."

Take a few steps forward and look up to see the four large, gilded black characters "Linglu Baoque" hanging high above the main hall.

Pushing open the door, one finds the interior to be very tall and spacious. In the very center stands a pill-refining furnace about two people tall, its body entirely purple-gold, inlaid with various treasures, and surrounded by intricate arrays and talismans, all used for gathering spiritual energy.

In layman's terms, it's an aid in alchemy.

The palace was lined with shelves on both sides; the left side was filled with various medicinal herbs, while the right side contained the tools needed for alchemy and all sorts of precious pill bottles.

"Master Liu, your residence is right next door. We have already selected a group of people to serve you; you can stay if you find someone suitable."

"it is good."

Liu Sijun was very satisfied with this arrangement.

Soon, spiritual energy fluctuated outside the hall, and then dozens of palace maids and guards entered the hall.

"This is the newly arrived Alchemist Liu. From now on, she will be a resident alchemist in the palace. Hurry up and pay your respects."

"This servant greets Master Liu Dan."

Cao De turned to Liu Sijun with a smile: "Master Liu, please."

How many can I choose?

Cao De: "There were eight before. If Master Liu has any other needs, it's fine to keep them all."

"Let's go with eight then."

Liu Sijun selected four palace maids and four guards.

After the others left, Liu Sijun said, "Eunuch Cao, I have two more people with me who came with me. May they stay at the Longevity Palace?"

"Of course, with this token, Master Liu can bring them into the palace at any time."

After settling in, Liu Sijun went to the Marquis of Molin's residence to pick up the people in the afternoon.

They had just arrived when they ran into Biqing, who was returning home.

She gave an arrogant snort, and without saying hello, lifted her skirt and walked in first.

The people in the manor treated this young lady with great respect, all bowing respectfully.

Upon receiving the letter, Master Lu brought Li Qing from Jiuhua Pavilion and witnessed the scene just now.

"Let's go, let's go."

This morning, the old lady of the Marquis's mansion came to Jiuhua Pavilion to cause trouble again.

They kept insisting that Mo Linhou bring Bi Qing back immediately, but they didn't look like mother and son at all; they were more like enemies.