Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 519 The Real Treasure, the Knot in the Heart
The treasures bestowed by Zhu Jinzhen are worth more than two princely titles, let alone one.

Any one of these treasures, if placed outside, could cause countless people to fight tooth and nail for them; if thrown into the martial arts world, they could stir up a bloodbath and disrupt the entire martial arts arena.

"The real surprises are actually these two things."

Zhu Youyun took out two small jade bottles and waved them at his princess.

"Could it be... Jiazi Dan and Longhu Da Dan?" Princess Yong's eyes lit up, revealing anticipation, shock, and disbelief.

"Ok!"

Zhu Youyun nodded with a complicated expression, sighing, "Though the sun sets late, its afterglow still fills the sky. I never imagined Your Majesty would even bring out something like this."

Jia Zidan's existence was no secret to any of the high-ranking officials in the Ming Dynasty.

After all, the Ministry of Rites' gift list was causing quite a stir in the capital, and it even had the potential to spread throughout the entire Ming Dynasty and even the whole country. It was impossible for Zhu Youyun and Princess Yong not to have heard about it at all.

"Legend has it that this is an elixir that His Majesty personally refined with great supernatural powers, capable of prolonging life. Just one pill can add sixty years to one's lifespan. Moreover... there are no restrictions."

One Jiazi pill adds sixty years to one's lifespan.

With two Jiazi Pills in front of me, wouldn't that add two Jiazi to my lifespan?
One hundred and twenty years!
The Ming Dynasty has only been around for about a decade since its founding.

Even with the jade bottle containing the Jiazi Dan in his hand, Zhu Youyun still couldn't believe that such a grand gesture had fallen into his hands. The lifespan that Emperor Taizu, Emperor Taizong, and all the previous emperors and generals of the Ming Dynasty could only dream of was now his.

All he needs to pay is a bit of infamy and a demotion?
Princess Yong also realized what was happening. As if she had thought of something, she said urgently, "Your Highness, please take it quickly. If outsiders find out about such a rare treasure, we may be guilty of possessing it!"

One pill can add 60 years to one's lifespan, and it is rumored that even celestial beings on land can take it without any restrictions, and it can still increase their lifespan.

Princess Yong dared not imagine how many people would take the risk if the news leaked out.
Normally, the power of a prince of the Ming Dynasty is immense. Not to mention ordinary martial arts practitioners, even highly skilled masters like the Finger-Pointing Grandmaster or the Celestial Phenomenon Grandmaster would not easily offend a prince.

But it's different now.

Not to mention that Zhu Youyun has already been demoted and is no longer a prince, and is also a criminal.

Even if he were a prince, once news of Jiazi Dan leaked out, all the martial arts masters in the Ming Dynasty, from notorious bandits to grandmasters of celestial phenomena and immortals, would not hesitate to transform into tigers, leopards, wolves, and jackals, becoming thieves or bandits.

"You!"

Zhu Youyun shook his head and chuckled. He opened the jade bottle, took out a pill, and without saying a word, stuffed it into his princess's mouth. Then he said with a smile, "Don't you even know where you are? Right under the emperor's nose. There are Tian Ce soldiers and Cang Yun guarding the outside, and the entire capital is under the surveillance of secret guards. Even the slightest disturbance can't be kept secret."

"Who would dare to lay a finger on what I own in the Imperial Clan Court?"

"Not to mention, this was bestowed by His Majesty. If the news had leaked out so easily, many more people would have died."

In the end, although Zhu Youyun was smiling, his smile was very cold.

Then, before his princess could speak, Zhu Youyun tilted his head back and swallowed the last Jiazi Pill.

"Your Majesty!"

Princess Yong cried out in a trembling voice, her body trembling as well. The effects of the Jiazi Pill had begun to take hold, and her appearance and body were constantly rejuvenating, showing signs of rejuvenation, with her white hair turning black.

Zhu Youyun knew what his princess consort wanted to say—that she was unworthy to enjoy the Jiazi Pill—so he quickly interrupted, "We've been husband and wife. This Jiazi Pill is indeed wonderful, but if no one is there to accompany me into old age, leaving me to watch you grow old alone, wouldn't life be tragic and meaningless?" "But Your Highness..."

"Alright." Zhu Youyun interrupted again, smiling as he said, "Since His Majesty has specially bestowed two pills, it is only natural that you and I, husband and wife, should share this joy of longevity. If I enjoy it alone, I'm afraid His Majesty will blame me."

These words effectively shut down any further discussion that Princess Yong might have had.

As for whether it's true or false...

Zhu Youyun and Princess Yong were actually aware of the situation.

You can tell from the Princess Consort's gentle eyes, as clear as spring water, and her expression of being so moved that she couldn't help but cover her mouth and burst into tears.

"Moreover, the real treasures that His Majesty has bestowed this time."

"Besides this Jiazi Pill, there is also this... Dragon Tiger Pill." Zhu Youyun spoke again, his smile even wider than when he heard Zhu Jinzhen bestow many treasures upon him.

"Dragon and Tiger Elixir?"

After reading Zhu Youyun's long passage, Princess Yong's curiosity was piqued, and she looked over.

"This is a pill made from the blood and flesh of a dragon, which is passed down within the Secret Guard. Dragons are inherently lustful, and dragons belong to the dragon family. Their blood and flesh have the effect of greatly strengthening the vital energy and blood. It is further refined with countless rare and precious medicinal herbs."

"Such a Dragon-Tiger Pill is enough to make a person's blood and qi surge to a level comparable to the Vajra Realm, and it will continuously temper the body, strengthen blood and qi, and enhance the essence of yang." Zhu Youyun's smile was very bright, and his eyes flashed with strong expectations. As he spoke, he swallowed a Dragon-Tiger Pill directly.

The life-extending effect of the Jiazi Dan caused Zhu Youyun's body to rejuvenate and his lifespan to continue to increase, showing signs of slight rejuvenation.

Now, after taking a Dragon-Tiger Pill, Zhu Youyun's qi and blood surged.

He suddenly hugged Princess Yong tightly and whispered in her ear, "The Dragon-Tiger Elixir has another special effect, which is... it has a miraculous effect on giving birth to offspring."

Zhu Youyun's biggest regret for half his life, no, for his entire life, was that he had no children.

The same goes for Princess Yong.

At first, Princess Yong thought it was her fault and kept persuading Zhu Youyun to take concubines, but even though there were many more concubines in the Prince Yong's mansion, the situation did not change.

Over the years, Zhu Youyun gave up hope.

Having children became the biggest worry for Zhu Youyun and Princess Yong.

"I see, Your Highness. Then let's retire for the night." Princess Yong would not resist at all. They were an old married couple, but that didn't seem right. After each of them had increased their lifespan by sixty years and slightly rejuvenated, they should be a young husband and a young wife.

At this moment, Princess Yong seemed to have finally "understood".

Why would her husband take such a risk, willingly bearing the infamy of treason, to participate in this?

Perhaps the most important reason is this... Dragon Tiger Elixir?

As for what Zhu Youyun mentioned twice before, such as "some things always have to be done by someone," Princess Yong didn't care and didn't want to pay attention to it. She only knew that she had never been so close to untying that knot in her heart in her entire life.

(End of this chapter)