Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

The side hall next to the temporary medical office in the Crown Prince's residence.

Just as Li Chengqian finished discussing the poisoning incident with Sun Simiao, Yang Nannan's voice came from outside the door, announcing that she wanted to see him.

He composed himself and said in a deep voice, "Let her in."

The curtain was lifted, and the first person to step in was Yang Nannan, still dressed in her smart Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) uniform.

With her usual slightly cynical smile on her face, her gaze swept across the somewhat somber atmosphere in the hall before finally settling on Li Chengqian.

Behind her followed another figure.

When the figure came into full view, Li Chengqian's gaze paused slightly.

That was Hua Gu, and also Wu Zetian.

Unlike the somewhat naive and reserved young woman in my memory, the woman before me was noticeably taller and wore a well-fitting Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) centurion's uniform. Although it was the lowest-ranking military officer's robe, it could not hide her increasingly exquisite figure.

Her dark hair was still neatly tied up, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck.

Her appearance seemed to have matured, shedding some of her childishness and gaining more composure and competence.

The sharpness in her eyes and brows did not diminish with the change of her status. On the contrary, it was accentuated by the flying fish robe that represented discipline and strength, revealing a unique style that blended gentleness and heroism.

She stood there quietly, without saying a word, yet she seemed to possess an aura that could not be ignored.

A slight tremor ran through Li Chengqian's heart, a complex mix of unfamiliarity and familiarity washing over him.

He had indeed...never paid attention to this 'Empress' who had voluntarily taken the exam to join the Embroidered Uniform Guard for a while.

Unexpectedly, she has changed so much.

"cough."

Yang Nannan, who was standing to the side, took in Li Chengqian's momentary lapse in concentration. Her amused smile deepened, and she deliberately drew out her words, adding a touch of teasing:
"Your Highness, so... you also like women? This humble servant thought you..."

"Cough! Hmm!"

Li Chengqian suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing his lapse in composure, and immediately interrupted Yang Nannan's potentially even more outrageous words with an even louder cough.

His face quickly regained its usual coldness, and his gaze shifted from Wu Meiniang to Yang Nannan, carrying a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment and warning:
"Commander Yang, what business do you have with me?"

Yang Nannan knew when to stop and stopped teasing, but the smile on her lips lingered.

She cupped her hands in a respectful gesture and said:

"Your Highness, I heard that something happened at your residence, so I came to see if there is anything I can do to help. Sometimes the Embroidered Uniform Guard needs to use unconventional methods when investigating cases, and perhaps I can offer some different ideas."

As she spoke, she glanced at the sealed tea and snacks beside her, her meaning clear.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly: "Pei Xingjian is doing his best to investigate. You're very thoughtful."

"in addition."

Yang Nannan paused, the playful look on her face fading, and her tone became more serious: "There is one more thing to report to Your Highness. We have some leads regarding Yuan Tiangang's whereabouts."

"Oh?" Li Chengqian's eyes narrowed. "Where is he?"

"According to reports from our informants in various places, someone has seen traces of a Taoist priest resembling Yuan Tiangang in the miasma-ridden lands of southern Xinjiang. He seems to be... deep in the heart of Miao territory, and his movements are quite mysterious."

"Southern Border?"

Li Chengqian frowned slightly: "What is he going to that desolate and pestilential land for? To find medicine? Or... to avoid trouble?"

Yang Nannan hesitated for a moment, her gaze unconsciously glancing at Sun Simiao beside her, before lowering her voice and saying:

"Based on some fragmented information, it is speculated that his purpose in going to the southern border may be... related to 'immortality'."

"Immortality?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian was first taken aback, then scoffed, his tone carrying an undisguised sense of absurdity:

"How could that be? Is there really such a thing as immortality? It's nothing but the delusions of alchemists who fool emperors and deceive themselves!"

Sun Simiao, standing to the side, stroked his beard and slowly spoke:

“Your Highness, the mysteries of the world are endless. When I was young, I traveled the world seeking medicine, and in the Southern Frontier, I did hear some legends about mysterious Gu techniques and longevity secrets.” “Although most of them are absurd, there are also some strange and bizarre aspects that are difficult to explain by common sense.”

After speaking, he paused, then gave Li Chengqian a meaningful look:
"Especially after witnessing His Highness's... life-saving medical skills, this old Daoist feels that some things may not be entirely false."

He was naturally referring to Li Chengqian's advanced medical skills and miraculous items like the "resurrection pill."

Li Chengqian understood that Sun Simiao had connected the 'Resurrection Pill' awarded by the system with the legend of immortality in reality.

But he knew very well that the system was a special existence, completely different from the fantasy of immortality in reality.

"Dr. Sun, my methods are merely... special techniques obtained by chance, which cannot be compared with the elusive and illusory path to immortality."

Li Chengqian offered a vague explanation, still unconvinced.

However, Yang Nannan's next words caused his expression to change slightly.

"Your Highness, there is one more thing."

Yang Nannan lowered her voice even further, with a hint of solemnity: "Our people have discovered that, in addition to Yuan Tiangang, it seems... His Majesty is also secretly sending people to the Southern Frontier."

Li Chengqian's pupils suddenly contracted: "Father? He also sent people to the Southern Frontier? What for?"

Yang Nannan took a deep breath and uttered two words: "Find medicine."

boom!
These two words were like a thunderclap in Li Chengqian's ears!

Was Li Shimin also seeking the elixir of immortality?!
Indeed... Throughout history, how many emperors, after achieving great success, were truly able to escape the shackles of their fear of death?

Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han were no exception.

He just didn't expect that Li Shimin would also start...

Could it be that Li Shimin's death was truly related to poisoning from taking elixirs?
If Yuan Tiangang went to the Southern Frontier to search for clues to immortality, and Li Shimin was doing the same thing... then the information hidden behind this becomes extremely complex and dangerous!

Did Yuan Tiangang collude with Li Shimin to curry favor with the emperor? Or was Li Shimin using Yuan Tiangang? Or are these two parallel and complementary lines of reasoning?

Li Chengqian's brows furrowed tightly, and his fingers tapped unconsciously on the table.

The poisoning case at the Crown Prince's residence has yet to be solved, and the mystery of immortality in the southern borderlands has quietly resurfaced.

The waters of Chang'an were deeper and more murky than he had imagined.

He glanced at Wu Meiniang, who stood quietly to the side, then at Yang Nannan, whose eyes were playful yet equally solemn, before finally fixing his gaze on Sun Simiao, whose hair and beard were completely white.

"Southern Xinjiang... Longevity..."

Li Chengqian muttered to himself, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Commander Yang".

"The humble position is here."

"Send more manpower to keep a close watch on the movements in the southern border region. Whether it's Yuan Tiangang or the people sent by the Emperor, try to ascertain their whereabouts and objectives as much as possible. But be careful not to alert them."

"Yes!"

Li Chengqian then looked at Sun Simiao:

"Dr. Sun, if you know anything about the legends of Gu techniques and secret medicines in the Southern Frontier, please don't hesitate to share your knowledge and compile it into a book. Perhaps... it will be useful in the future."

"I obey your command."

Sun Simiao bowed and accepted.

After giving these instructions, Li Chengqian turned his gaze back to the window. The chaos in the Crown Prince's residence seemed to have been temporarily suppressed, but an even larger, invisible storm was quietly sweeping towards Chang'an from the distant southern border.

He felt that this poisoning incident seemed to be related to his high and mighty father, the emperor.

[Yes, it seems Emperor Taizong of Tang was also poisoned back then.]

A cold smile involuntarily curved Li Chengqian's lips. (End of Chapter)