Chapter 567: Difficulty

Hearing the Emperor repeatedly utter that phrase, Du Changsheng felt both worried and relieved. He wasn't concerned about saying the wrong thing; from every perspective, his words were favorable to Prime Minister Yin. Speaking up for such a wise minister of ancient times couldn't possibly be considered wrong, could it?

Du Changsheng looked up at Yan Chang, who was beside Emperor Hongwu. The latter subtly shook his head, signaling him to say no more, and Du Changsheng certainly dared not speak further.

Yan Chang, also fearing the Emperor would continue questioning, bowed and whispered, seeing the Emperor's state, "Your Majesty, Celestial Master Du is a practitioner of cultivation; his perspective on court affairs differs slightly from ordinary people. Your Majesty need not mind."

Emperor Hongwu was somewhat dazed but slowly regained his composure upon hearing Yan Chang's voice. He glanced at Du Changsheng below, then at Yan Chang beside him. This official from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was truly capable; his primary duties were always performed flawlessly. His imperial father's genuine encounters with immortals seemed to be linked to the Bureau.

"Celestial Master Du, you may withdraw. Do not mention today's matters to outsiders."

Du Changsheng felt as if granted a grand pardon. He immediately affirmed, "Yes," and quickly retreated. After Du Changsheng left, only Emperor Yang Hao, Yan Chang, and an old eunuch remained in the Hall of Purple Splendor. Yang Hao then looked at Yan Chang.

"Yan Chang, what do you make of Celestial Master Du's words?"

Yan Chang frowned and bowed in response.

"Your Majesty, as I just stated, these are merely Celestial Master Du's one-sided views. Practitioners of cultivation do not comprehend state affairs and cannot make definitive judgments."

Yang Hao looked at Yan Chang's graying hair and suddenly asked, "My dear Yan, how old are you?"

Yan Chang was slightly startled but answered truthfully, "Your humble servant is sixty-eight this year."

"Haha, hahahaha…" Yang Hao laughed. "My dear Yan, you certainly don't look old…"

"Your Majesty flatters me. Since I am not involved in court disputes, I have few worries, which naturally keeps me from looking old. However, I still cannot compare to Your Majesty."

Yang Hao nodded, wanting to rise from his seat. Yan Chang and the old eunuch on either side quickly helped him up. As Yang Hao stood, he suddenly looked at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau official beside him.

"Yan Chang, I recall that you once presented my imperial father with a mooncake bestowed by an immortal. You ate some yourself, did you not?"

The question was so sudden that Yan Chang involuntarily trembled, immediately knelt down, and said in alarm, "Your humble servant has been wronged! How could I dare to secretly keep it? When I received the immortal mooncake, my first thought was to offer it to Your Majesty!"

Yang Hao calmly looked at him, then smiled faintly, and personally helped Yan Chang to his feet. "My dear Yan, please rise quickly; I was merely asking. I am leaving now, and you must not speak of today's matters either."

"Your servant obeys the imperial decree!"

Yan Chang rose and, having received the decree, followed Emperor Hongwu closely. As he escorted him to the entrance of the Hall of Purple Splendor, Yang Hao suddenly asked Yan Chang another question, "Did you truly not keep one?"

This question terrified Yan Chang, causing him to kneel again.

"Your Majesty!"

"Alright, alright, look how frightened you are. It was merely a jest. Rise, no need to see me off."

Only after seeing the Emperor off did Yan Chang, still shaken, dare to stand. He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead. This was one of the reasons he preferred studying celestial phenomena to participating in court politics.

The Emperor's carriage slowly proceeded towards the Imperial Palace, Yang Hao's thoughts racing. He considered the current state of court affairs, discerning who was loyal and who was treacherous. The Yin family was undeniably devoted, but the Xiao family was equally loyal. Frankly, officials suitable for the Imperial Censorate not only needed to be intelligent and decisive but also, in extreme cases, ruthless. Furthermore, the Xiao family was more convenient for certain tasks.

Among other "anti-Yin" bureaucratic factions, there were actually very few truly treacherous officials. At least from the Emperor's perspective, most were not villains and could be utilized. The true villains, as far as the Emperor was concerned, had long since been purged by the Yin family and other ministers over the years.

Mid-journey, Du Changsheng's words began to resurface in Emperor Hongwu's mind, and Yang Hao started muttering them again, "Evil grows, the Way wanes… Evil grows, the Way wanes…"

Recalling the wonder of Du Changsheng's spell demonstration, and then thinking of the words he was forced to utter after repeated questioning, the more he pondered, the more inexplicably panicked he became.

As he thought, Yang Hao suddenly pulled back the curtain on the side of the carriage and called out loudly, "Someone!"

The old eunuch accompanying the carriage quickly approached with small steps. "Your Majesty, how may I serve you?"

Yang Hao looked at him, then gazed back in the direction of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, which was now out of sight, and said, "Deliver my oral decree: Order Celestial Master Du Changsheng to immediately go to the Yin residence and find a way to cure my dear Yin's illness. If he succeeds, I will bestow upon him the title of Imperial Preceptor!"

The old eunuch immediately bowed and accepted the order. "Your old servant obeys the imperial decree!"

With that, the old eunuch quickly returned in the direction of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, his steps light and swift, moving much faster than an ordinary person running. He was, in fact, a grand master of the Innate Realm.

Inside a residence near the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Du Changsheng was meditating in his practice room within his courtyard. His three disciples were also cultivating there. A stick of sandalwood incense burned inside, helping all four to focus and calm their minds. Only now did Du Changsheng finally regain his composure.

"Master Celestial! Master Celestial!"

A junior official from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau called from outside, interrupting Du Changsheng's practice. All four inside awoke and went out with Du Changsheng. As soon as they reached the courtyard, before Du Changsheng could speak, he saw an old eunuch standing there. His heart fluttered slightly; wasn't this the one who stayed by the Emperor's side?

Du Changsheng was well aware that this old eunuch's martial arts were unfathomable, and his vital energy was blindingly robust. Even with his current cultivation, he dared not claim to be able to defeat a martial arts grandmaster of the Innate Realm.

"Du Changsheng, heed the imperial decree!"

Du Changsheng quickly bowed and waited. Only then did the old eunuch's slightly shrill voice ring out, "By imperial oral decree, Celestial Master Du Changsheng is ordered to immediately proceed to the Yin residence to treat Prime Minister Yin's illness. If he succeeds, Celestial Master Du will be granted the title of Imperial Preceptor. There must be no delay!"

"Your humble servant, Du Changsheng, receives the decree!"

Seeing Du Changsheng accept the decree, the old eunuch smiled. "Celestial Master Du, please go quickly. With your abilities, there will surely be no problem. When the time comes, please remember to promote me a little. I shall return to report now!"

"Yes, yes, venerable eunuch, please take care…"

"Hmm!"

Only after the old eunuch departed with his light footwork did Du Changsheng reveal a bitter smile. How in the world could he cure Yin Zhaoxian's illness? He had already said that a wise minister possessing such formidable righteous energy was immune to all diseases and protected by gods and spirits. Reaching this point was simply fate.

While the promise of the Imperial Preceptor position was very tempting, the oral decree did not mention any corresponding punishment, which was equally terrifying. Moreover, Imperial Preceptor was just a title; there had never been such an official post in the Great Zhen Dynasty. Its rank, authority, and salary were all empty. It was a promise that tasted good but carried a very real, extremely uncomfortable danger.

"Oh, Mr. Ji, Mr. Ji, when you advised me to be a good Celestial Master, this turned out to be a truly life-threatening job…"

"Master, Master!" Seeing Du Changsheng lost in thought, his disciple couldn't help but call out to him.

"Huh?"

"Shall we go to the Yin residence?"

"Sigh… at this point, we have no choice but to go…"

Du Changsheng sighed, rubbed his temples, and could only go back into one of the rooms to gather some things. Then he took his eldest disciple and headed for the Yin residence on Rong'an Street. Being a Celestial Master was truly tough!

Not long after, the old eunuch had already caught up with the Emperor's carriage, slowly approached its side, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Celestial Master Du has received the decree."

"Mm."

Yang Hao felt a slight easing in his heart. At least he was certain that Du Changsheng possessed true abilities. Having him examine Yin Zhaoxian, while not guaranteeing a cure, should be more useful than relying on those quacks.

Inside the imperial palace, Yang Sheng, having just finished greeting his imperial mother, walked along a path, accompanied by only two guards. Yang Sheng had grown up with Yin Chong, and just as Yin Chong excelled in martial arts, Yang Sheng, having sparred with him since childhood, was certainly no slouch either. He was the type of emperor among many throughout history who could dominate in battle.

Passing an intersection, he saw the imperial carriage returning from outside the palace in the distance, then slowly disappearing from sight. Yang Sheng thought for a moment but decided not to approach to offer greetings. He merely stared in the direction the carriage had left and muttered, "Imperial Father, your son also has a heartfelt thought to share: Looking at the rise and fall of dynasties throughout history, though the causes are many, they are all ultimately related to the monarch. If one day our Yang dynasty were to fall, it would be the fault of the ruler. Governing with incompetence is a sign of inability, raising dull heirs is a sign of inability, failing to win the loyalty of both loyal and treacherous officials is also a sign of inability. If the offspring are incapable, how can an imperial dynasty prosper? How can an imperial dynasty survive?"

Saying this, Yang Sheng glanced at the two confidantes beside him, "What do you two say?"

Both answered in unison, "Your Highness is wise!"

"Haha, wise my foot! I don't even dare to say that to Imperial Father myself! Let's go…"

At the Xiao residence, guests were currently being entertained in one of the reception halls. At the head seat was Xiao Du, the Censor-in-Chief, with ministers who had come to the capital to report from outside the city seated below him.

"Lord Xiao, it is said that Prime Minister Yin's health is deteriorating. Can we perhaps loosen our restraints a little?"

Xiao Du stroked his long white beard and shook his head. "No! As long as Yin Zhaoxian is not dead, we must not act rashly. Even if he is only breathing out and not in, as long as he hasn't truly drawn his last breath, we cannot underestimate him. The Emperor can protect us once or twice, but not every single time. Keep your family members in check; do not commit any crimes or illegal acts, otherwise, my Imperial Censorate will be the first to arrest them!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" "Lord Xiao is absolutely right!"

As one of the officials nodded, he couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. "Alas, if Prime Minister Yin could simply pass away from this illness, it would be most fitting. As scholars, who truly wishes to be an enemy of Prime Minister Yin…"

To be honest, as scholars, even his political rivals, very few did not admire Yin Zhaoxian. Even Xiao Du couldn't help but nod at these words, having to admit that among wise ministers throughout history, Yin Zhaoxian would undoubtedly be one whose name would be etched in history.