Reborn, the daughter of the Marquisate went crazy

Dongling Palace, Imperial Study.

The room was quiet. The lazy afternoon sun shone through the exquisite window lattices, dappling onto the carpet with intricate and gorgeous patterns. Emperor Yingtian sat upright on the dragon throne, holding a memorial and gazing out the window, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence in the room. Eunuch Deshun ran in with an anxious look on his face and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is here. I see she's a little unhappy..."

Before he could finish his words, the Queen Mother hurried in, her face filled with anger. She asked coldly, "Qian'er, why did you order the Dali Temple to seal off Xuanjing Temple, and why did you place the Imperial Preceptor under house arrest?"

The emperor sat on the dragon throne with a complicated expression. He raised his hand gently and dismissed everyone in the room.

Eunuch Deshun slowly walked out of the imperial study. He gently closed the door of the imperial study and stood quietly outside the door.

His face remained calm, yet a storm surged within him. Since the Emperor ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager had rarely clashed with him, the only such occasion being the incident involving Empress Yao. But today, over the Imperial Preceptor and Xuan Jingguan, why was the Empress Dowager so furious?

Eunuch Deshun caught a glimpse of a strange figure out of the corner of his eye. It was a handsome middle-aged eunuch. He was standing at the forefront of the palace maids and eunuchs in the Cining Palace, staring at the direction of the imperial study without blinking, with an unfathomable light flashing in his eyes.

Eunuch Deshun frowned slightly. He might have some impression of the older eunuchs in the palace, but after looking at him carefully, he was sure that he had never seen this person before.

He called over a young eunuch to ask, and the young eunuch smiled and said, "Master, that's Eunuch Xing, the new favorite of the Empress Dowager. How could you not know him? I heard he used to be on duty in the cold palace, and I don't know how he got lucky enough to catch the Empress Dowager's eye."

Eunuch Deshun still felt a little strange. If this man had some ability, why did he have to wait until such an old age to be appreciated by his master? But if he was mediocre, how could he please the Empress Dowager?

Song Zhaoxing's eyes met Eunuch Deshun's unexpectedly. He hurriedly nodded respectfully with a flattering smile on his face.

But soon, his eyes involuntarily turned to the Imperial Study, which was the pinnacle of power in the entire Dongling. How great would it be if he could be transferred here to serve and accompany the emperor every day?

At that time, Concubine Nanjing Zhan saved him from danger. Not only did she seek medical treatment for him, but she also sent him back to his hometown in Dongling according to his wishes. He was extremely grateful.

Before leaving, Imperial Concubine Zhan had urged him to obey the orders of his master in Dongling and help her accomplish her great cause. Although he didn't yet know what this great cause was, he was full of confidence and ready to do something big.

However, he had never expected that the master of Dongling did not summon him at all, but directly arranged for him to enter the Dongling Palace, and secretly ordered him to find a way to get close to Queen Meng and monitor her and the Imperial Master's actions.

However, by some strange coincidence, he was chosen by the Empress Dowager and transferred to the Cining Palace. Although he became the Empress Dowager's new favorite and seemed to be in great glory, the Empress Dowager actually just treated him as a toy to entertain herself.

Song Zhaoxing stared at the door of the imperial study, his eyes flickering. He could not gather any useful information from the empress dowager, so he was of little use and would be disliked by his master sooner or later. But what if he was on duty in the imperial study?

While everyone outside the imperial study was thinking about their own things, the mother and son inside the study were having a tense conversation.

Emperor Yingtian's voice was deep and powerful, full of doubt and dissatisfaction. "Mother, why are you so protective of Xuan Jingguan and the Imperial Preceptor?"

The empress dowager's expression stiffened slightly, and she avoided Emperor Yingtian's gaze guiltily.

Emperor Yingtian frowned, his tone turning slightly colder. "Xuan Jingguan kidnapped a young girl, secretly stored gunpowder, and harbored evil intentions. His crimes are heinous. Imperial Master, I have merely ordered him to reflect on his mistakes in seclusion within the palace. Why is your Majesty so anxious?"

The Queen Mother's eyes flickered as she quietly defended herself, "I go to Xuanjing Temple every year for meditation. It's become a habit. Now that Qian'er has ordered the closure of Xuanjing Temple, where will I go next year?"

Emperor Yingtian sneered, "Your Majesty, why don't you tell the truth? I remember that you and the Imperial Preceptor have no connection. Why are you so worried about him?"

"Ai...Ai..." The Queen Mother stuttered, not knowing how to explain.

Emperor Yingtian stared at the Empress Dowager with a burning gaze, and said quietly, "Are the Imperial Preceptor and Xuan Jingguan related to the secret of the Empress Dowager's youthfulness? The Empress Dowager looks even younger now than the Empress..."

The empress dowager's heart trembled suddenly, and a trace of panic and guilt flashed in her eyes. Under the sharp gaze of Emperor Yingtian, she could no longer hide.

After a moment's silence, the Queen Mother slowly spoke, "Qian'er is indeed clever. It is indeed as Qian'er guessed. The Imperial Master gave me a secret technique for maintaining youthful appearance. Every year when I go to Xuanjing Temple for retreat, I practice this technique."

She gently stroked her delicate face and couldn't help but reveal a smug smile: "I never expected that the secret technique would be so magical, preserving my appearance to the way it was when I first performed the secret technique..."

Emperor Yingtian's eyes widened in shock. He had only intended to trick the Empress Dowager, but he hadn't expected to learn such a shocking secret—the secret to maintaining youthful appearance?!

Thinking of the Imperial Preceptor's unchanging appearance, Emperor Yingtian felt an indescribable excitement well up in his heart. Immortality—this was every emperor's ultimate dream. Now, this dream lay before him, within his grasp!

He stared at the Queen Mother and asked in a trembling voice, "Mother, how...how is the secret technique of maintaining youth performed?"

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother's face was filled with anger. "It's not difficult to say. I can use a fresh young girl's heart as a medicine guide, and then supplement it with elixirs. Now, Qian'er has sealed off Xuanjing Temple. From now on..."

Before the Queen Mother could finish her words, Emperor Yingtian's face instantly turned as pale as paper. His voice was filled with shock and grief. "Those kidnapped girls were actually used as medicine by Queen Mother? As the Queen Mother of a country, Queen Mother should be the mother of the country and a role model for all the people. How could she do such a heinous thing?"

The Queen Mother's face was filled with disapproval. She said calmly, "Every blade of grass, every grain of sand, every bit of soil in Dongling belongs to our Chu family. I have merely used a few insignificant people among them. They should feel honored to be chosen by me!"

"Mother, you..." Emperor Yingtian frowned, feeling that the woman in front of him was so unfamiliar.

The Queen Mother held onto Emperor Yingtian's hand and said earnestly, "Qian'er, when you reach my age, you'll understand how I feel. Who would be willing to grow old like this?"

She sighed softly and continued, "In a few years, when Qian'er is older, this technique can be used. By then, by sacrificing a few ant-like untouchables, we can continue the prosperity of Dongling under Qian'er's rule and extend the Chu family's rule. I think it's worth it!"

The Queen Mother's words touched Emperor Yingtian's heart, and he began to waver slightly.

He inadvertently lowered his head and his eyes fell on the two people's clasped hands. The Queen Mother's hands were white and tender, like young leaves in early spring, while his hands were dry and rough, showing the vicissitudes and fatigue of an old man.

This sharp contrast was like a heavy hammer, instantly convincing him. Yes, they were just a few ants, how could they be as important as the Chu Kingdom?

In this case, the matter of Xuan Jingguan should be handled quietly!

Without further ado, Emperor Yingtian shouted loudly towards the door: "De Shun!" Eunuch De Shun hurriedly pushed open the door and quickly walked into the room.

Emperor Yingtian said anxiously, "Quickly summon the Minister of Justice, Fan Yuan, to the palace! Quickly!" Eunuch Deshun took the order and left...