Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 351 Who else could be missing but the Crown Prince?

More than ten years ago, Lin Chi, a Taoist priest at Baiyun Temple, cured the emperor's migraines that had lasted for many years with a single elixir. Since then, the emperor has revered him as a celestial being and would choose a day each month to hold an altar for refining elixirs for the emperor. This practice has continued uninterrupted for many years, except for the days when the emperor was bedridden.

At this moment, the side hall was filled with smoke, and the emperor and Taoist priest Lin had already taken their places.

Suddenly, a young Taoist boy, led by a eunuch, entered, glanced at the emperor sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat, and then knelt down.

The emperor raised an eyebrow: "What is it?"

The eunuch said, "Master Chen Ji from the Taoist temple has something to ask Master Lin for instructions."

The emperor then gently raised his hand.

The young Taoist priest hurriedly said, "General Wu of the Dragon Tiger General's Mansion recently requested a talisman for his elderly mother who is about to celebrate her birthday. Master, you may have forgotten that on the day of the old lady's birthday, Uncle Chen from the Taoist temple sent a message asking Master to make a decision."

Lin Chi said, "I am currently busy. After I finish refining the pills for the Emperor, I will naturally do the same for the General."

The young Taoist priest went down.

The emperor said, "The Wu family lost two members in the Northwest. Madam Wu is the mother of a hero, and she won't take up much of your time. Let him paint her portrait."

Lin Chi quickly agreed, and then instructed the young Taoist priest to retrieve Madam Wu's birth date and time.

The young Taoist priest handed over the paper in his hand: "Uncle Chen has already instructed his disciple to bring it over."

Lin Chi took the paper, glanced at the words on it, and paused slightly in mid-air with his hand holding the peach wood sword. He glanced at the emperor, then thrust the birth date and time into the blade with a "plop," making a hand seal while chanting incantations.

After finishing the incantation and ritual, he brought the birth date and time close to the Samadhi Fire and set it ablaze.

The emperor said, "If it is for seeking a peace talisman, how can it be effective without the recipient's birth date and time?"

Lin Chi, holding a whisk, said, “The old lady’s birth chart clashes with the north this year, and the Forbidden City is located in the due north, where the imperial aura is strong. With the old lady’s fate, it may be difficult for her to bear it. The emperor has considered the Wu family’s merit in protecting the country, and I dare not make any mistakes. Therefore, I just informed the Heavenly Venerable to burn it to avoid the calamity.”

Upon hearing this, the emperor calmly replied, "After more than ten years of fierce fighting in the northwest, we have finally achieved a great victory. Indeed, it is only possible to achieve this through the flourishing of imperial power."

Lin Chi said, "Long live Your Majesty!"

The emperor loosened his crossed legs, stood up, and paced beside the furnace: "The northwest is largely pacified, but for over a year now, I have often felt tired. The elixirs I have made in previous years seem to be insufficient to sustain me."

Lin Chi bowed his head and remained silent.

The emperor glanced back at him, then waved his hand and said, "Very well. As a monk, you shouldn't be discussing court politics and military affairs."

Lin Chi stepped forward: "If Your Majesty feels that the previous elixirs are not effective enough, I have a prescription that Your Majesty may wish to try."

"What is the remedy?"

"The blood of someone whose zodiac sign is compatible with the medicine is used to draw out vital energy and strengthen the body's foundation."

"Compatible zodiac signs?" The emperor's gaze sharpened. "Who are they?"

Lin Chi calculated with his fingers: "Those born in the years of the Dog or Tiger are both suitable. As for the time of birth, the best is the hour of Zi (11 PM - 1 AM), followed by Chen (7 AM - 9 AM) and Wu (11 AM - 1 PM)."

Upon hearing this, the emperor looked around at the eunuchs, who exchanged bewildered glances.

Just as the emperor was about to speak, the chief eunuch on duty that day approached: "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince's zodiac sign is Tiger. Furthermore, His Highness was born at the beginning of midnight. However..."

The emperor stared intently: "But what?!" The head eunuch lowered his head deeply: "His Highness fell on his way back from the Imperial Academy two days ago and injured his leg. He is currently recuperating."

The emperor looked at Lin Chi: "What does the immortal master think?"

Lin Chi nodded: "His Highness the Crown Prince is of the same lineage as the Emperor, so he is naturally more suitable."

The emperor immediately waved his sleeve and said, "Then bring him here!"

The head eunuch glanced at him and said, "Yes."

Lin Chi led the emperor back to the prayer mat, while on the other side he laid out paper, bowls and plates on the table again, and added cinnabar, dragon bone, moonstone and other substances in batches. After kneading them, a eunuch came to report that the crown prince had arrived.

The emperor issued an order to let him in, and a young man with a bent back came to the door, carrying his injured leg. He came to the front of the hall and said in a solemn voice, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Then he prostrated himself on the ground and dared not move.

The emperor gazed at the forest and pond: "Immortal, please." Then, frowning, he looked down at the ground: "Come closer!"

After he finished speaking, his gaze, which should have turned away, lingered on the Crown Prince again: "What kind of attire is this?"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince looked up and noticed that the Emperor's gaze was fixed on his sleeve. He quickly tucked his inner robe inside his sleeve and said, "Father, please forgive me!"

Autumn has arrived, and although it's not cold, it's past the time for wearing only light clothing. The sleeves peeking out from under his autumn clothes are clearly still summer clothes. Even the autumn robe he's wearing over it is only about 70-80% new, and if you look closely at the pattern, it's from last year.

The emperor slammed his fist on the table: "As the crown prince, what are you busy with all day? How can you be so careless and unkempt? What kind of decorum is this?!"

This anger aggravated his breathing, and he coughed again at the end.

The Crown Prince was flustered, but he had no choice but to respond: "It is not that I have been negligent, but that the robes for this autumn have not yet been made and sent over. I did not expect to have an audience with Your Majesty so suddenly, and I was caught off guard. I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness!"

The emperor angrily rebuked: "It is almost August now. According to custom, the seasonal robes should be ready by July. You say they are not ready yet. Are you trying to fool me, or are you admitting to poor management of the various departments under the Eastern Palace?"

"Father..." the Crown Prince blurted out, then silently looked down and said, "Father's reprimand is correct."

The emperor glared at him with disgust and ordered Lin Chi, "Hurry up."

Lin Chi agreed, took a silver needle, stepped forward, bowed to the Crown Prince, and when the Crown Prince extended his hand, he let out a soft cry.

The emperor asked, "So what?"

"Your Majesty, it's nothing. It's just that His Highness is a bit thin, so drawing blood will take a little longer."

"Thin and frail?" The emperor frowned again, scrutinizing the crown prince's gaunt face. "He may not be robust, but he eats well every day. What's wrong with that?"

"Your Majesty, I have not specialized in traditional Chinese medicine and dare not speak presumptuously. Perhaps we should invite the imperial physician to examine His Highness first? His Highness is still injured, and if we rashly draw blood now, I fear it may harm his health."

The emperor looked extremely impatient: "Summon the imperial physician!"

The eunuch hurriedly left, and in no time a royal physician arrived with medical instruments.

"Imperial Physician Sheng, please take the Crown Prince's pulse. If he is healthy, then help the Immortal Master obtain a cup of his blood."

Imperial Physician Sheng agreed and turned to take the Crown Prince's pulse. After a while, he reported back, "Your Majesty, His Highness is not particularly strong to begin with. Recently, he has been injured and there are no tonics to aid his treatment. I'm afraid it is not advisable to draw blood."

"Nonsense!" the emperor scoffed, then retorted, "He is the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, second only to me in every aspect of his life. What extraordinary tonics could he possibly have that my inner palace has ever lacked for him?!"