Eunuch Zhang knelt on the ground and remained silent for a long time.
Madam Chun spoke first.
"Master, if this gets out, Flower-Between Pavilion won't even have to wait until tomorrow; it'll be surrounded by the Imperial Guard tonight."
Liu Huaijin pushed the old books under the lamplight.
"So, this is only for you to hear."
The lamplight pressed down on the paper, making those old names look like rows of bones unearthed from the earth.
Eunuch Zhang looked up.
Why has His Majesty suddenly become interested in elixirs?
Liu Huaijin tapped his missing finger three times on the edge of the table.
"In the early years of his reign, he sought ways to prolong his life."
Eunuch Zhang whispered, "There's no record of it in the palace."
Liu Huaijin glanced at him.
"It's easier for an emperor to hide something than to hide a corpse in the harem."
Madam Chun frowned.
"But His Majesty has not outwardly shown any interest in elixirs in recent years."
Liu Huaijin speaks very slowly.
"A person who has just firmly established himself on the throne is most afraid of being called cruel, incompetent, and a believer in sorcerers. But just because he doesn't do it openly doesn't mean he hasn't sought them out in private."
Eunuch Zhang's left hand, hidden in his sleeve, made a loose clenching motion.
Liu Huaijin opened the register, his crippled hand pausing on a line of old names circled in red ink.
"The private furnaces in the suburbs of Beijing did not initially supply longevity elixirs."
Madam Chun asked, "What should we offer?"
"Awakens the mind, enhances male potency, relieves pain, and detects poison."
After he finished speaking, he pressed his fingertip against the line of names.
Tao Wujiu.
Madam Chun took half a step closer.
Liu Huaijin said, "Before and after the massacre of the Grand Tutor's family, he briefly visited a private furnace in the suburbs of the capital."
Eunuch Zhang's face darkened.
"If he had participated in the autopsy, he might have learned that Guard Chen died in place of the gentleman."
Liu Huaijin did not answer.
Madam Chun also lowered her eyes.
The name Guard Chen, was rarely mentioned in this secret room.
When the Grand Tutor's official robe was burned down to just the hem, everyone in the capital thought Liu Huaijin was dead.
Only a very few people knew that the one who died in the fire Guard Chen, whose physique was the same as the Grand Tutor's, and who had dressed his master to die in his place.
Liu Huaijin pressed down the old page of the book.
Madam Chun lowered her voice.
"Then let's cut off all the pill-making threads."
Liu Huaijin looked at her.
We broke up a long time ago.
Madam Chun bit her lip.
Flower-Between Pavilion produces information, not elixirs.
This is an ironclad rule personally established by the major shareholder.
Twelve years ago, Tao Wujiu suddenly appeared and used beggars as test subjects for medicine. Madam Chun originally intended to drown the beggars to silence them.
However, during the transport, the man was abducted, leaving behind only a charred corpse with half of its body burned.
It has no head.
The boss glanced at the corpse and said only one sentence, "Without a head, it's not dead."
This record was kept by the Flower-Between Pavilion for twelve years.
Madam Chun asked, "Then what should we do?"
The water in the teacup on the table rippled three times.
Liu Huaijin spoke.
"Shifting the blame eastward."
Madam Chun was stunned.
Whom will it lead to?
Liu Huaijin's finger paused on the edge of the old book.
"Alchemy furnace room."
Eunuch Zhang looked up.
"Sir, the alchemy workshop is now staffed by His Majesty's side. If we act too hastily, it might implicate the Empress."
"Therefore, the Hanzhang Hall was moved."
Madam Chun frowned.
"Then who will make the move?"
Liu Huaijin looked up.
"Let the person who most wants to prove their filial piety take the lead."
Eunuch Zhang's heart sank.
"The Crown Prince?"
Liu Huaijin shook his head.
"If the emperor dies, the crown prince will succeed to the throne normally. The fact that he doesn't wish for the emperor's death already shows his filial piety."
Madam Chun whispered, " The Second Prince's Residence."
Liu Huaijin said, "The Second Prince needs the Emperor to live. The longer the Emperor lives, the more time he will have to snatch things from the Crown Prince."
Madam Chun understood.
Liu Huaijin continued flipping through the book.
"Seven years ago, the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace bought information about a salt transport case in Jiangnan, and five years ago Second Prince's Residence bought information about Xu Wenli's old debts. Back then, they were still using the old hidden patterns."
Madam Chun chimed in.
"They've all seen the old markings."
"Therefore, if the old markings appear on the imperial elixir, both the Imperial Household Departments can find them and will consider them as leverage against the other side."
Liu Huaijin tapped the paper with his missing finger.
The Crown Prince will investigate why the Second Prince got involved in the alchemy workshop.
The Second Prince will investigate why the Crown Prince allowed Consort An to enter the Hall of Supreme Ultimate.
Eunuch Zhang felt a tightness in his throat.
"Sir, you should have them check each other's work."
Liu Huaijin said, "They were already investigating each other."
After he finished speaking, he turned to the second half of the old book and pressed down a line of small print with his remaining finger.
" Pan Qing, the junior supervisor of the alchemy workshop, received a sum of money from the Second Prince's Residence three years ago."
Madam Chun's eyes turned cold.
"I remember this person. His sister married the steward of Xu Wenli's household."
Eunuch Zhang said, " Xu Wenli is the Second Prince's man."
Liu Huaijin nodded.
"Go further ahead."
Madam Chun turned two pages, then stopped.
" Chen Dehai is the eunuch on duty at the Hall of Supreme Ultimate; his nephew works in the Eastern Palace stables."
Eunuch Zhang said in a deep voice, " Chen Dehai is His Majesty's close attendant."
Even close attendants have relatives.
Liu Huaijin's voice was flat.
"Have the Crown Prince's men obtain Pan Qing's old ledgers for collecting money. They should be incomplete, missing two sections; let them fill in the gaps themselves."
Madam Chun agreed.
"I understand. If it's delivered too cleanly, it's like someone else feeding them. Only when there's a cut do they feel like they dug it out themselves."
Liu Huaijin added, "Report the matter of Chen Dehai's nephew's work at the Eastern Palace stables to the Second Prince's Residence."
Eunuch Zhang looked at the two lines of names under the lamplight.
"The Crown Prince is investigating Pan Qing, and the Second Prince is investigating Chen Dehai. The deeper their investigations go, the more chaotic the alchemy workshop becomes."
Madam Chun said, "If the alchemy furnace room is in chaos, Tao Wujiu really hiding inside, he will make a move."
Liu Huaijin did not deny it.
Just as Madam Chun's smile was about to ease, Liu Huaijin said, "Not enough."
Eunuch Zhang asked, "What else does the gentleman need?"
The room fell silent for a moment.
Liu Huaijin turned to the last page of the old book.
The last page is not a roster.
It was a thin, folded piece of paper, yellowed at the edges, with only a few words on it.
Formula for Harvesting Yin to Replenish Lifespan.
Madam Chun's expression changed drastically.
How come this thing is still here?
Liu Huaijin said, "It was left behind by Tao Wujiu back then."
Eunuch Zhang stared at those words, his face even more grim than before.
"Sir, if this kind of filth gets out, it will damage His Majesty's reputation."
"Does a man like him, who betrays his promises, harms loyal officials, and disregards even his own mother and brothers for the throne, deserve to be called shameful?"
"My only regret is that by helping him ascend the throne and stabilize the court, I ended up costing my entire family their lives!"
Liu Huaijin pushed the paper in front of Madam Chun.
"We must save both children, no matter what it takes."
"We must not let them harbor resentment until everything is ready."
"Especially Ran'er, I'm afraid he won't be able to face the truth."
Inside the martial arts training hall of the Grand Commandant's Residence.
Lin Qingdai stood in the center, sword in hand.
"Father, I have a feeling Prince Yi's Residence. Gu Moran has been staying up late in the study lately."
Lin Zhenshan stared at his daughter.
What does this have to do with me?
"He is my husband, so the Grand Commandant's Residence must protect him."
"You've only been married for a short time."
"The imperial decree for this marriage is known throughout the capital. Father, stop your nagging and quickly bring me the martial arts secrets of our Grand Commandant's Residence."
Lin Zhenshan stood up and slammed his teacup on the table.
"Nonsense."
"Do you know that giving him martial arts skills from the Grand Commandant's Residence is tantamount to putting one foot in the quagmire of the struggle for the throne?"
Lin Qingdai looked up.
" The Grand Commandant's Residence has been tainted for a long time, ever since the day I got married."
Lin Zhenshan angrily retorted, "How dare you! You haven't even consummated your marriage yet, why are you doing this?"
Upon hearing this...
Lin Qingdai gave a cold laugh.
He suddenly drew his sword and held it to his neck.