First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

With the imperial physician keeping so many poisonous creatures, the very notion of a doctor's benevolence is seriously questionable.

Moreover, poisonous creatures harm people, and raising so many harmful things suggests a rebellious intent. Even if there is no rebellious intent, it is unlikely that there is any good intention behind it.

Mu Lingye returned to the Crown Prince's residence and discussed a plan with Murong Yuan overnight. The next morning, he instructed the court officials who supported him to file a complaint against Qingyanzi during the morning court session.

Given this situation, even if Emperor Sheng favored Qingyanzi, he couldn't help but harbor doubts.

They summoned Qingyanzi to the palace.

Inside the alchemy room, Emperor Sheng stood guard in front of the alchemy furnace, his back to the main entrance.

Upon hearing the summons, Qingyanzi entered the hall and bowed, saying, "Your humble servant Qingyanzi greets Your Majesty."

"Imperial Preceptor, I've heard that you're raising many poisonous creatures in your residence, intending to use them to harm me?" Emperor Sheng didn't turn around, but picked up a freshly refined pill.

Qingyanzi said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, I dare not. I have only one wish in this life, which is that Your Majesty may live to be a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand years old."

Qingyanzi's words pleased Emperor Sheng, whose current pursuit was nothing more than immortality; otherwise, he wouldn't have doted on Qingyanzi so much. Emperor Sheng's anger subsided somewhat, and he turned around. When he saw Qingyanzi's current appearance, he was almost startled.

His white hair was cut short, his white eyebrows were burned off, and his beard was also burned off. His white robes were now covered in dust. He no longer looked like the dignified and sage-like Imperial Preceptor, but rather like a disheveled beggar.

"Imperial Preceptor, what happened to you? You look like this."

Qingyanzi bowed apologetically: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for disturbing Your Majesty's countenance. Last night, a fire suddenly broke out in my residence, and all my belongings were destroyed. I now have no clothes to wear and no money to use... I had no choice but to move to the capital. Please allow me some time to recover."

"As for the five poisons, I can explain them."

Qingyanzi flipped his hand, and a pitch-black medicine bottle appeared in his hand.

He lowered his voice: "Although the Five Poisons are poisonous creatures, they can be refined into a powerful tonic pill after all things counteract each other. The reason why I raise a large number of poisonous creatures is to refine this pill. It is still in the experimental stage in the early stage, but now the medicine is almost complete. Your Majesty can take this medicine and find people to test it. After taking it, one can be rejuvenated and have the strength of an eighteen-year-old boy."

"Is it really that miraculous?" People are always like this: when they are young, they long to grow up quickly; when they are old, they hope to return to their childhood. Qingyanzi's words instantly struck Emperor Sheng's heart.

Qingyanzi nodded firmly: "Please ask Your Majesty to find someone to test the medicine."

"Good." Emperor Sheng personally took the medicine from Qingyanzi and ordered someone to find a sixty-year-old man from outside the palace to enter the palace. He watched as the old man took the pill, and then the old man actually moved a large stone in the imperial garden.

Then a woman was summoned to have sex with the old man, and the old man, who had long lost the ability to have sex, suddenly regained the ability.

Emperor Sheng did not draw a conclusion immediately, but instead allowed the old man who had finished his sexual intercourse to rest temporarily in the next hall.

Two hours passed, and the old man still showed no signs of discomfort.

Emperor Sheng was satisfied, holding the black porcelain bottle as if it were a priceless treasure.

His suspicions about Qingyanzi vanished completely, and he no longer had any intention of questioning him. Instead, he thought of bestowing something upon Qingyanzi: "Whatever the Imperial Preceptor wants, just say it, and I will grant it to you."

Qingyanzi clasped his hands together and shook his head without any desire or want: "This humble subject wants nothing. I am content to share Your Majesty's burdens. However, this humble subject is truly worried about Your Majesty's safety."

Emperor Sheng's face darkened: "What makes the Imperial Advisor say such a thing?"

Qingyanzi said, "Your Majesty, I live by your grace. If that villain dares to burn down the Imperial Preceptor's residence today, he will dare to burn down this imperial city tomorrow."

Emperor Sheng was furious, his grip on the porcelain bottle tightened: "How dare you, you traitor!"

Qingyanzi sighed, "That scoundrel might really dare to do it. To be frank, he's probably been wanting to take your place for a long time. However, he is indeed the rightful heir. It's understandable that a young man can't handle the pressure."

Emperor Sheng understood: "You're saying the person who burned down the Imperial Preceptor's residence was the Crown Prince?"

Qingyanzi neither nodded nor shook his head, still maintaining his innocent demeanor: "Your Majesty, I have no evidence, but the figure of the thief seen by my disciple last night does indeed resemble His Highness the Crown Prince."

Qingyanzi was a fabricated "disciple." He was certain that Emperor Sheng disliked Mu Lingye. As long as he mentioned it, Emperor Sheng would not confront Mu Lingye at all, but would convict Mu Lingye.

"That wretched child."

As expected, Emperor Sheng was furious. He paced back and forth in the hall, ready to summon someone to punish Mu Lingye, but Qingyanzi stopped him: "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is not what he used to be. He now has prestige in the court. Holding him accountable without sufficient evidence may displease the ministers and cause you trouble."

The thing an emperor fears most is that his ministers are disloyal and pledge allegiance to others.

Emperor Sheng was even more furious: "Then what should I do? Should I just let that wicked child be so smug? And wait for him to come and take my throne?"

Qingyanzi immediately bowed and begged Emperor Sheng to calm his anger, then offered his loyal advice: "Your Majesty, isn't the eldest prince of Yan still eyeing His Highness the Crown Prince? Why don't you send His Highness the Crown Prince to Yan and forge a new century-long alliance with Yan?"

Jealousy can cloud a person's judgment, especially since Emperor Sheng was never a wise ruler.

After being brainwashed by Qingyanzi, he began to be tempted.

Only a sliver of conscience remained in my heart.

"But he is, after all, my son."

Qingyanzi lowered his eyes, concealing the mockery in them, and continued to persuade, "His Highness the Crown Prince has been in Yan for so many years. Yan is like a second home to him. The Crown Prince of Yan is not going to take His Highness's life. He won't suffer in Yan."

"You're doing this for His Highness's own good, to prevent father and son from turning against each other."

"Yes, he already harbored rebellious intentions. I have already shown mercy by not killing him." The last vestiges of Emperor Sheng's conscience were completely erased.

The imperial family is inherently weak in kinship, especially since Mu Lingye has always been a thorn in the side of Emperor Sheng.

Emperor Sheng wearily rubbed his temples: "I'm tired. How about this... I'll give it to the Crown Prince of Yan. You can discuss this matter with him. As for the losses suffered by the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion last night, I will have the Imperial Household Department compensate you."

"Yes," Qingyanzi replied.

Emperor Sheng left with the black porcelain bottle. He wasn't truly tired; rather, he couldn't wait to take a pill and head to the harem to tease his concubines, proving that he was still as vigorous as ever.

Qingyanzi entered the palace by playing the victim, returned with a full load of spoils, and after leaving the palace, he glanced provocatively in the direction of the Crown Prince's residence.

Then he immediately ordered someone to take him to the post station to meet Leng Xuanjue.

Leng Xuanjue received Qingyanzi, leaning casually in his chair, his blue eyes flashing with a strange light: "Is there any significance to the Grand Preceptor's attire today? Could it be a popular style in the capital?"

Qingyanzi tugged at his dusty robe and sat down, saying, "Your Highness, please stop mocking me. I'm here to make a deal with you."

"Oh?" Leng Xuanjue became interested: "What I like most is making deals with people. Why don't you tell me, Imperial Advisor, what kind of deal do you want to make with me?"

Qingyanzi stared directly at Leng Xuanjue: "Stop plotting against Sheng Kingdom and bring Mu Lingye back to Yan Kingdom. Now that Gu Junxi is staying in Prince Su's mansion and not showing herself, your game can't continue, right? I have a way to help you finish the game."

Leng Xuanjue sat up straighter.

He was able to control Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye through a deal with Mu Lingxuan. He believed that Mu Lingxuan wouldn't be foolish enough to tell a second person about this. However, Qingyanzi not only found out, but also knew about the plan he wanted to carry out.

This made him sense a hint of danger.

This feeling of being out of control made him irritable.

Qingyanzi smiled calmly, as if everything was under control, and picked up the teacup on the table beside him.

"Your Highness wants to know how I knew your secret, right? To be honest, the drug you gave Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye was actually made by me, and it wasn't a drug at all, but a Gu poison."