Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 30 Having it all figured out
"No! Absolutely not! Please, Duke Yi, reconsider!"

With these thoughts in mind, Yan Maoqing immediately jumped up and loudly objected.

"Why not?"

Guo Xun frowned upon hearing this, and looked at Yan Maoqing with a puzzled expression, thinking to himself, "Wasn't this kid quite cooperative just now?"
They've only been inside the house for a short while, why are they already acting so strangely again?

Doesn't he understand how much benefit I can bring him by doing this?

"Your Excellency Yiguo may not know this, but 'Xuanpo Cangqiong' is just a story I made up when I was bored. The content of the story is all fiction and is not worthy of being considered high art."

As Yan Maoqing thought of Tao Zhongwen, he also remembered an alchemist named Duan Chaoyong.

According to historical records, Duan Chaoyong was recommended to the palace by Guo Xun.

Although he couldn't remember the exact time, he knew that this person's deception was exposed by the Jiajing Emperor after only one year in the palace, and he was soon punished and executed.

As a result, Guo Xun's image in Yan Maoqing's mind instantly plummeted to that of a treacherous old man who was still alive but had become a thief.

In fact, Yan Maoqing did not have a good impression of him. Historical records show that he used his favor to seize power in the court, abused his authority, and plundered the people for personal gain. This was enough for Yan Maoqing to feel disgusted with him.

If it weren't for the fact that he would soon be imprisoned by the imperial court and that having some connection with this old man would be beneficial for his retirement and return to his hometown.

He probably wouldn't even bother to give him a pleasant look, let alone engage in this pretense of politeness.

Now, knowing full well the consequences of deceiving the Jiajing Emperor with his mystical cultivation methods and the consequences of being exposed, this old man still presents "Mysterious Breaking the Sky" to the palace, sending him like a lamb to the slaughter. This is enough to make him an enemy!

“Young friend, there is no need to worry about this matter. Over the years, countless letters have been presented to the palace, and no one has ever been punished for them.”

Guo Xun thought Yan Maoqing was just timid, and smiled,

"Besides, with my guarantee, how could your book not be worthy of being presented in a respectable setting?"

"As for the contents of that book, if you don't admit it, who can be sure that everything recorded in your book is fiction?"

This is the biggest problem!

Yan Maoqing felt that he should rush forward without hesitation and slap Guo Xun twice across the face.

Guo Xun has been offended so badly that he probably won't consider a "win-win" situation with me anymore... I just wonder if his servants will rush in and beat me to death.

"Young friend Jingqing, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You should think it over carefully."

Seeing Yan Maoqing's gaze darting around his face, Guo Xun assumed he was weighing the pros and cons, so he patiently coaxed him further.
"As long as I present this book to the palace for you, you will have the opportunity to enter the palace and meet the emperor before other Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). Not to mention your classmates who have not yet entered officialdom, even many third- or fourth-rank officials in the capital may not be able to get such an opportunity in their entire lives."

"I implore the Duke of Yi to reconsider, Your Excellency..."

Yan Maoqing was about to say something more.

"in addition!"

Guo Xun immediately raised his voice to interrupt him, a seductive glint in his old eyes.
"I joyfully hope that the compassionate light will reveal the Dharma body, and that the Dharma mind is neither false nor true."

"How many things in this world can be distinguished as true or false? As long as you can make your own story coherent, and with my full cooperation, how can you tell the difference between truth and falsehood?"

"I must also remind you that you are different from those alchemists in the palace!"

"Although some of those alchemists have been favored by the emperor for many years, they are ultimately just low-ranking officials who can never enter the court. No matter how hard they try, they can only obtain some gold and silver."

"And you are now a person with official rank and fame, an official, one of the highest classes."

"If you can gain the Emperor's favor through this, you will stand out from the crowd and rise rapidly in your career. One day you will be ennobled as a marquis and prime minister, wielding immense power and bringing glory to your ancestors!"

"Isn't this exactly what you've been studying so hard for all these years?"

"Now that such a shortcut is right in front of us, how can we not seize it and instead retreat at the last minute?"

"..."

Lao Deng!

You old scoundrel!

Old man!
Upon hearing this, Yan Maoqing felt even more resentful.

This old man is so vicious! Not only does he want to push him into a pit of fire, but he also wants to forever sever his hopes of retiring and returning to his hometown. His heart deserves to be punished! Yan Maoqing's eyes were almost spitting fire, and his tone became much harsher. He decided to directly slap Guo Xun's face:
"In short, I thank you for your kindness, Duke Yi, but I am a junior..."

"Very good! This is exactly the kind of momentum I've been looking for!"

Guo Xun, however, seemed to completely misunderstand his increasingly intense gaze, and his face instantly lit up with joy. He slapped the table and stood up.

"I had already sent someone to present 'The Mysterious Breaker of the Azure Sky' to the palace a long time ago. Although only the third issue has been published so far, its content is already enough to arouse the Emperor's interest. He should issue an edict to summon you in a few days."

"What you need to do now is to think of what you will say when you meet the Emperor."

"Don't exaggerate too much, lest you be unable to justify it later."

"You should not be too modest, lest the Emperor be disappointed in you."

"If you need anything, just ask Manager Liu. Whether it's something that flies in the sky or swims in the sea, or gold, silver, jewels, coral, or jade, as long as I can do it, I will do my best to support you!"

"..."

After hearing these words, Yan Maoqing was stunned once again.

It turns out that this old man had already figured him out. He came here today not to discuss things with him, but to give him a preemptive notice.

good good!
Excellent, very good!
Yan Maoqing was so angry that he laughed, and evil thoughts arose in his heart.

"You old man, Deng!"

"I originally only intended to 'respect the fate of others and set aside my desire to help others' for you. But since you treat me this way, don't blame me for lending you a hand!"

"It's just going to the palace to meet the emperor, so it's fine!"

"Now that I have been selected as a probationary official in a muddled way, if I rely on those court officials to quietly exile me, I'm afraid both I and those court officials will have to put in much more effort. Perhaps we will continue to be hindered by this unseen and intangible mysterious force, and I don't know when I will be able to realize my ideals."

"In that case, why not cut out the middlemen and cut the price, and go straight to the point to cultivate a deep understanding of Zhu Houcong, the ultimate boss?"

As for Guo Xun...

Looking at the old man in front of him who was pushing him further into the abyss.

Yan Maoqing gritted his teeth inwardly, determined that no matter whether this old Deng would be thrown into prison in four or five months, he had to give him a good beating, otherwise he would not be able to vent his hatred!

The burning anger in Yan Maoqing's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a smiling, bowing respectfully.

"I am honored by the Duke of Yi's high regard, so I will not stand on ceremony."

"Before entering the palace, I would like to refine a few pills of the Qi Gathering Powder mentioned in the book. If I am fortunate enough to succeed in refining them and present them to the Emperor, I am sure to win his favor."

"The Black Leaf Lotus and Snake Saliva Fruit needed to refine the Qi Gathering Powder are quite valuable. I have roughly calculated that it will cost about five hundred taels of silver. I beg the Duke of Yi to grant my request."

This time, it was Guo Xun's turn to be stunned, his smile completely frozen on his face:
"Young friend Jingqing, didn't you just say that the contents of the book are all fiction?"

"As the Duke of Yi just said, he hopes that the compassionate light will reveal the Dharma body, and that the Dharma mind is neither false nor true."

Yan Maoqing glanced sideways at the road.

"If I remember correctly, the Duke of Yi just said that no matter what flies in the sky or swims in the sea, whether it is gold, silver, jewels, coral, or jade, as long as the Duke of Yi can do it, he will definitely support me with all his might."

"If the Duke of Yi cannot even provide the five hundred taels of silver needed for this mere medicine, I fear I will find it hard to believe that the Duke of Yi will be able to keep his promise in the future."

"In that case, the Duke of Yi cannot blame me for backing down or even talking nonsense when I was in front of the Emperor."

Guo Xun, of course, had no idea that Yan Maoqing had already guessed that he was now in a predicament.

Having witnessed Guo Xun's relentless attempts to lure him into a trap, Yan Maoqing became even more certain of his suspicions.

So when Guo Xun thought he had Yan Maoqing completely under his control.

Yan Maoqing was also quite confident in Guo Xun's abilities.

Yan Maoqing simply hadn't been forced into this situation before, and he didn't want to get involved in this karma for no reason.

(End of this chapter)