Chapter Nine: The Path to Immortality
“Dou Yuan holds the rank of First-Rank Military Marquis, his military achievements intimidating across the land,” Chu Yunyan said, feigning calm.
“Dou Yuan has a younger sister married to the Duke of Ningguo, and the Duke’s own sister is wed to the Divine Martial Emperor.”
“The young Crown Prince Gao Changling’s consort has been titled Lady Xian, a noble concubine.”
“In other words, Dou Yuan shares a close relationship with the Crown Prince.”
“But for some reason, Dou Yuan has grown quite close to the Second and Third Princes.”
“According to military reports from the Ministry of War three years ago, Dou Yuan and these two princes once led an army together to repel the Northern Qi.”
“Since then, Dou Yuan’s ties with the two princes have deepened, repeatedly causing displeasure to the Crown Prince.”
“As for what transpired during this time—what could have compelled such a decorated general to neglect the Crown Prince in favor of the princes—remains unknown.”
“However, Your Highness, if you wish to investigate, I could leverage the Ministry of War’s resources to inquire further.”
Chu Yunyan spoke softly and smoothly.
Her knowledge of the Ministry of War was so thorough she seemed to know their military reports by heart.
It appeared Chu Jiangnian had entrusted much of his work to his daughter over the years.
“Not only is that old Chu Jiangnian slick and smooth, but he’s also skilled at shirking duties,” Gao Changsheng muttered to himself.
Still, Dou Yuan’s connections were indeed complex.
By rights, he could have relied on the Duke of Ningguo’s family ties to secure the Crown Prince’s favor.
Yet, he abandoned the Crown Prince and instead aligned himself with the Second and Third Princes.
If the Crown Prince’s power had waned, Dou Yuan’s choice would be understandable.
But the Crown Prince was currently at his peak.
He controlled at least four of the six ministries in the court.
Though the remaining two were held by the two princes, after all, they were brothers.
Who could guarantee there were no rifts between them?
Thus, Dou Yuan’s choice to forsake the thriving Crown Prince and befriend the princes was truly perplexing.
Something suspicious must lie beneath it.
“In that case, I’ll trouble you,” Gao Changsheng said.
“Father has only granted three days to handle military affairs.”
“If we can establish contact with Dou Yuan sooner, the military matters could be managed under his lead, leaving the Crown Prince uninvolved.”
Chu Yunyan nodded.
Even without Gao Changsheng’s words, one could guess Dou Yuan’s role.
Yet, even if they uncovered the secret dealings between Dou Yuan and the princes, it might not be of practical use.
In short, the current situation was heavily unfavorable to Gao Changsheng.
“Miss, it’s getting late.”
“Before we left, the head of the household specifically instructed that the Ministry of War is busy today, and you must help ease their burden,” Zhu’er reminded.
Upon hearing this, even if Gao Changsheng wanted to persuade Chu Yunyan to stay, he lacked the nerve.
The two then rose, bowed to each other, and left the side chamber.
As Gao Changsheng and the others descended from the second floor, the main hall erupted with noisy voices.
“Go away! You’re just a poor fortune-teller; what right do you have to drink tea here? Can you even afford tea?”
At the entrance, a waiter was chasing away a man dressed in a Taoist robe.
The man’s robe was worn and old, but his face was clean and adorned with a confident smile, unbothered by the waiter’s rudeness.
“That’s not so,” the man said calmly.
“My Taoist name is Miaofa, or you may call me Immortal Miaofa.”
“I am no fortune-teller.”
Miaofa explained serenely.
“Whatever you are, Taoist or fortune-teller, looking at your tattered clothes, you have no money.”
“Our Wenxiang Pavilion only serves distinguished officials and nobles.”
“A pot of tea costs fifty wen; if you can pay that, I’ll let you in immediately!”
The waiter snapped impatiently.
“Fifty wen?”
“That’s truly the decadence of the wealthy,” Miaofa said lightly.
“Though I have no money, rest assured, someone will cover my tea fee.”
He glanced toward the staircase.
By chance, his eyes met Gao Changsheng’s, and Miaofa’s smile widened.
“See that person? This noble will pay for my tea.”
With that, Miaofa clasped his hands and bowed deeply to Gao Changsheng.
Such a profound bow was reserved for juniors to elders or officials to superiors, showing utmost respect.
This move startled the waiter.
Unaware of Gao Changsheng’s identity but unwilling to offend him, the waiter froze in place.
“How interesting,” Gao Changsheng thought, having observed Miaofa for some time.
The man’s most striking feature was the unwavering confidence on his face.
Though Miaofa insisted he was not a fortune-teller, he seemed to know as much as one.
Such a pretentious figure inevitably aroused curiosity.
“Bring a pot of Maofeng tea for this Immortal,” Gao Changsheng ordered calmly.
Then, with a glance, he gestured for Miaofa to sit at the table near the stairs.
“Miss?” Zhu’er sought Chu Yunyan’s opinion.
“It wouldn’t hurt to watch,” Chu Yunyan said, evidently curious about Miaofa.
As a proper lady, it was inappropriate for her to sit with a stranger, so she stood behind Gao Changsheng.
Thus, Zhu’er and she appeared as members of Gao Changsheng’s household.
“Immortal, do you know the grades of tea sold at Wenxiang Pavilion—medium, superior, and exquisite?”
“A pot of superior Maofeng costs eight hundred wen.”
“Your words must be worth this eight hundred wen!”
Gao Changsheng placed his coin purse on the table.
“Eight hundred wen is a fair price to save Your Highness’s life!” Miaofa spoke astonishingly.
In that brief statement lay two crucial revelations.
Miaofa knew Gao Changsheng’s princely identity.
He also knew someone sought to harm Gao Changsheng.
Before Gao Changsheng could question further, Miaofa grabbed the coin purse and, from a distance, tossed it to the waiter at the door.
“Remember, superior Maofeng. I cannot discern the quality of the tea, but this noble can.”
“Offend him, and your Wenxiang Pavilion will not survive!”
Miaofa sneered, issuing a veiled threat.
The waiter’s face turned pale.
He regretted his earlier rude words toward Miaofa and wished he could slap himself.
“Your aggressive demeanor hardly fits a Taoist,” Zhu’er muttered with a grin.
Unfortunately, Miaofa overheard her.
“Heh.”
“Taoists revere the natural laws. Nature includes humans.”
“Humans have anger, desire, greed.”
“Suppressing anger harms the liver.”
“Unrelieved desire wounds the heart.”
“Unfulfilled greed leads to wrongdoing.”
“My path is the Way of Immortality, not the Way of the Saints. I see no need to feign virtue.”
Miaofa spoke disdainfully.
Such words would surely enrage many Taoist priests in the temples.
Yet, since he had set his sights on Gao Changsheng, the path he sought was unlikely one those priests could comprehend.
“Tell me, who wishes to harm me?” Gao Changsheng asked.