Checking In for Sixty Years, From Puppet Emperor to Heavenly Emperor – Chapter 9

Ch 9: The Turmoil Caused by a Pill

The next day, Shangguan Rong accompanied Zhou An to the Imperial Study. This area belonged to the main palace, where the Emperor read and worked. Previously, it was forbidden to step inside.

Entering here, checking in granted him a complete set of books on the art of being an emperor, which he immediately used, turning them into white light that flew into his brow.

Although he wasn’t interested in this, he at least understood the strategies of an emperor, which were very different from ordinary people. He no longer judged things simply by good and evil or profit, making him marvel that being an emperor was not something an ordinary person could do; it was too tiring.

After he sat down, he looked around and casually picked up some books to read. They were all books of little use, probably specially arranged by the Empress Dowager.

He didn’t plan to read anyway; he came here only to check in and light up the entire main palace map as soon as possible. At the same time, he was still savoring the night of passion with the Empress last night.

He discovered that the Empress was also an expert, probably at the Innate Sixth Level. Using the Yin-Yang Art with her allowed him to increase three years of Internal Force at once.

Shangguan Rong seemed quite familiar with this place. At Zhou An’s request, she took him around the main palace to check in. The rewards were much better than before, with many rare treasures and precious calligraphy and paintings appearing.

The Empress accompanied them the whole time, and the two chatted and laughed, feeling like a couple on vacation.

Of course, a group of palace maids and four Purple Guards followed behind, ostensibly to protect their safety but actually to monitor their every move.

With Shangguan Rong as a talisman, the Purple Guards couldn’t easily stop them from entering the various palaces. Zhou An finally walked through all the palaces in the main palace, adding to the several important places he had checked in on the wedding day.

This allowed him to obtain the Qianyuan Dragon Boots, Qianyuan Dragon Hand, and Qianyuan Dragon Helmet, adding to the Qianyuan Dragon Armor he had obtained before, completing the entire set of equipment.

After the entire main palace map was lit up, the system rewarded him with the Qianyang Heavenly Alignment Fist, a Sky-Rank Martial Skill of the royal family. It was a fist technique created by the Founding Emperor based on the Vast Universe Art, which could unleash amazing power when used together.

After the two had lunch together, the Empress went to Eternal Life Palace to see the Empress Dowager. Zhou An came to Changle Palace and summoned Sai Nai Mu to have fun.

As the singing and dancing began, Sai Nai Mu leaned into Zhou An’s arms and said coquettishly with a hint of jealousy, “The Emperor, now that you have the Empress, have you forgotten about me?”

Zhou An took a sip of wine and laughed, “You can be jealous too?”

“This servant is worried about the Emperor, afraid that you will be controlled by the Empress. After all, she is from the Shangguan Family,” Sai Nai Mu said, her fingers slowly sliding across Zhou An’s chest.

“Now the entire Imperial Palace is controlled by the Empress Dowager. The Shangguan Family doesn’t need to go to such lengths. How is your investigation of the poisoner going?” Zhou An asked, grabbing her playful hand.

“It’s Ma Kangbo of the Imperial Hospital. The toxicity of this poison is not particularly strong, but it is enough to be fatal to ordinary people, especially when the blood circulation is accelerated. The toxicity will quickly spread throughout the body, eventually making it difficult to breathe, leading to death.

There will be no traces even upon death, as if suffocated. Moreover, within half an hour after death, the toxicity will turn into water and dissolve into the blood, making it difficult to detect.

Emperor, do you need me to pay him back in his own coin?” Sai Nai Mu said, seeing her hand being held, she pressed her body closer.

“No, if you do it, the Purple Guards might find out about you. Is there a way to make people see this poison?” Zhou An wouldn’t refuse, taking the opportunity to take advantage of her.

“Simple, soak it in wine, and I’ll add something to make the poison appear,” Sai Nai Mu giggled flirtatiously, pulled out her hairpin, and stirred it in her wine glass.

Zhou An immediately called out, “Someone, have the Imperial Hospital send Yuan Yang Pills.”

Soon, the elixir was delivered. Zhou An opened the exquisite wooden box, which contained six red pills.

“Emperor, let me feed you,” Sai Nai Mu smelled the pills, picked up one, and prepared to put it into Zhou An’s mouth. As a result, her hand slipped, and the pill fell into the wine glass on the table.

Soon, the wine turned purple-red. Zhou An, seeing this, showed anger and pointed at the person who delivered the elixir from the Imperial Hospital, shouting, “Someone, take them down!”

The Purple Guards at the door immediately rushed in and subdued the two people who delivered the elixir.

“Emperor, spare us! We were just ordered to deliver the Yuan Yang Pills,” the two hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, looking terrified, not knowing what had happened.

“Purple Guard Seven, take the contents of the cup to be tested to see if there is a problem.”

As soon as Zhou An finished speaking, a person jumped out from the corner next to him, landed in front of Zhou An, glanced at the wine in the cup, and took it with both hands, saying, “Yes.”

Although the Purple Guards monitored Zhou An, they were also responsible for his safety. Zhou An could ask them to handle some minor matters.

Watching Purple Guard Seven take away the wine soaked with the pill and a box of Yuan Yang Pills, Zhou An sat down and said, “Continue.”

The dancers immediately started dancing, the music sounded, and he and Sai Nai Mu smiled at each other. This gave the Empress Dowager a chance to find trouble for the Left Prime Minister, and he believed that the Empress Dowager would never let go of such a good opportunity.

Inside Eternal Life Palace, the Empress Dowager was sitting cross-legged on a futon, practicing her skills. Purple Guard Seven’s voice came from outside the door, “Empress Dowager, Seven has something important to report.”

The Empress Dowager stopped her practice and exhaled, calmly saying, “Come in.”

Purple Guard Seven immediately knelt down and said, “A deadly toxin was found in the Yuan Yang Pills taken by the Emperor.”

The Empress Dowager showed surprise and suddenly stood up, asking angrily, “Have you found out who poisoned him?”

“This subordinate has already controlled everyone in the Imperial Hospital and is investigating. I believe there will be results soon.”

“How is Zhou An’s condition? Is his life in danger?” The Empress Dowager asked again.

“The Emperor is fine and is currently having fun in Changle Palace.”

“Report the results immediately and have the Right Prime Minister come to see me,” the Empress Dowager said as she walked out of the cultivation room and headed towards the hall.

“Yes,” Purple Guard Seven responded and got up to leave.

Half an hour later, Right Prime Minister Shangguan Yuchen hurriedly arrived at the Eternal Life Palace Hall. As soon as he entered, the Empress Dowager pointed to the box on the table and said, “Someone bribed the Imperial Hospital to poison the Emperor. I have blocked the news within the Imperial Palace, and the Dark Guard has already taken action. You must immediately delay the people of the Left Prime Minister’s faction and prevent them from destroying evidence.”

“These old foxes have finally revealed their flaws. I will take care of it immediately,” Shangguan Yuchen said happily and quickly got up to leave.

Inside the Left Prime Minister’s mansion, Jiang Xian frowned after hearing the secret agent’s report and immediately said, “Notify Tan Daren, Lord Wang, Lord Cheng, and Lord Zou to come over.”

“Yes,” the secret agent responded and left.

At this moment, a young man wearing a servant’s uniform walked out from behind the screen. Jiang Xian got up and bowed, saying, “Sixth Imperial Prince, the Dark Guard is mobilizing in large numbers. I’m afraid the Empress Dowager has some big plans.”

This person was Zhou An’s sixth brother, Zhou Di. Everyone thought that Zhou Di had fled the Qianyuan Empire when the Emperor was critically ill, but no one expected that he had been staying in the Left Prime Minister’s mansion as a servant.

“Left Prime Minister, did you take action against Ninth Brother?” Zhou Di asked with a frown.

“Please forgive me, Sixth Imperial Prince. This old minister knows that you value brotherly love and are unwilling to harm the Emperor, but given the current situation in the Imperial Court, the Empress Dowager’s influence is growing stronger. We have no other way to bring her down. The only loophole is the current Emperor’s death, after which we can select a member of the royal bloodline to ascend the throne.

Even if the Empress Dowager’s power is much greater than ours, she cannot become Emperor. She can only let the Sixth Imperial Prince ascend the throne. This is also why she would let an incompetent person like Zhou An become Emperor,” Jiang Xian bowed and apologized, but his expression and tone were very firm, as if he had done nothing wrong.

“Great Ancestor’s instruction, royal children are forbidden from fratricide, violators will be punished with death,” Zhou Di said with a frown.

“Sixth Imperial Prince, this matter concerns the safety of the country. If it were not absolutely necessary, we would not resort to such measures. The current Emperor has been completely tamed by the Empress Dowager. If we delay for a few more years, the opposing forces in the court will be eliminated one by one. By then, no one in the world will be able to stop the Empress Dowager from becoming Emperor. I implore the Sixth Imperial Prince to make a painful decision for the sake of the Qianyuan Empire,” Jiang Xian immediately knelt down and pleaded.

Zhou Di immediately helped the Left Prime Minister up and sighed, saying, “Ninth Brother is innocent. After quelling the Empress Dowager’s rebellion in the future, I will personally go to the Great Ancestor’s spirit tablet to apologize.”

Jiang Xian frowned but did not try to persuade him further. This was the royal family’s education from childhood, and he naturally understood it. Now, he would first solve the Empress Dowager’s faction, and other matters could be discussed later.

Half an hour later, several lords arrived at the Left Prime Minister’s mansion one after another. Lord Cheng was the first to arrive. As soon as he arrived, he had his guards stand outside and said anxiously, “Left Prime Minister, something bad has happened! Lord Miao and Lord Guan have been captured by the Dark Guard. They bribed Ma Kangbo of the Imperial Hospital. I had someone check on my way here, and Ma Kangbo has disappeared. I’m afraid this matter has been leaked.”