What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 336 Caught in the act by the Empress Dowager!
As the Yellow Springs Secret Technique was activated, Su Mo was immediately shocked.

The medicinal spiritual energy that had been seeping into the body through the pores suddenly increased several times in speed!

It's like having a turbocharger installed inside your body!

It's really turbocharged!
Su Mo was surprised to find a powerful vortex of air within his body!

This Yellow Springs Secret Technique truly lives up to its reputation as a Golden Elixir Technique, and it is even more advanced than the Yangtian Technique, which is also a Golden Elixir Technique!

As a large amount of medicinal power surged into the body, it finally gathered at the waist, forming a vortex-like vortex at the spot where the wound was last inflicted!

The vortex continuously absorbed spiritual energy, as if something was being conceived within it!

In addition to the spiritual power of the medicinal herbs, the incense and prayer power accumulated by the demon-subduing pestle also suddenly and strangely increased.

Two different spiritual energies continuously flowed into his body!

Su Mo suddenly heard a cracking sound coming from inside her body...

The air mass underwent extremely mysterious changes in a way that Su Mo could hardly understand or describe.

Finally, it transformed into a golden phantom, hovering at Su Mo's waist.

"Is this the Yellow Springs External Elixir that Xiao Lizhuang mentioned?"

Su Mo was surprised!

With the appearance of the golden core phantom, the speed at which the Yellow Spring Guide absorbed spiritual power suddenly more than doubled!
The warm and spiritually rich Nine Spirits Return to One Soup had more than 70% of its medicinal power absorbed in just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and the soup cooled down!

Half of the incense and prayer power accumulated by the Demon-Subduing Pestle was consumed in a short period of time!
Although the body did not feel any changes, it was unable to draw upon the power of the Yellow Spring Golden Elixir.

However, Su Mo still keenly sensed that the Yellow Springs Outer Pill, which only appeared as a phantom, contained more than three times his current magical power!
If the external elixir truly takes shape, it can be refined into a natal magic weapon using the Yellow Springs Secret Method, thus gaining complete control over it.

The power it unleashed was probably ten times, or even dozens of times, greater than his own full-force attack!
However, when Huang Quan Yin was on Gu Feng Mountain, he frantically devoured countless incense offerings and prayers.

Now it has absorbed most of the medicinal power of Jiuling Guiyi Decoction.

It's not surprising that it possesses such power.

As Huang Quan transformed into the illusory image of the external elixir, Su Mo discovered that after being poisoned, the faint, gloomy, and negative aura that had been lingering around him completely detached from his body.

He felt a wave of relief wash over him and couldn't help but let out a comfortable moan.

Then I opened my eyes.

A familiar pretty face almost filled his entire field of vision!

Leng Liuxi had somehow appeared next to the bathtub, less than a foot away from Su Mo.

The Empress was staring at Su Mo with her eyebrows furrowed.

Su Mo was startled and quickly leaned back, blurting out, "Your Majesty... what do you want to do?"

Ignoring Su Mo, Leng Liuxi extended two jade-like fingers and swiftly placed them on Su Mo's neck.

A gentle yet exceptionally domineering magical power surged into Su Mo's body, instantly circulating through all the meridians of his body.

The Empress's expression grew increasingly suspicious.

Finally, she withdrew her jade-like finger, frowned, and asked, "What's going on?"

"Why did the effects of the Nine Spirits Returning to One Soup dissipate so quickly? I didn't even feel the Yellow Springs Poison in Su Lang's body?"

Su Mo was taken aback upon hearing this.

Could it be that even Leng Liuxi, a Celestial Infant True Person, didn't discover my Yellow Spring Outer Core?
He hesitated slightly, but finally said honestly, "Yesterday, Xiao Lizhuang gave me a secret technique for the Yellow Springs."

"According to her, this method can refine the Yellow Spring Essence into an external elixir of the Yellow Spring, just like a natal magic weapon."

Leng Liuxi frowned and said, "I have heard of the Yellow Springs Secret Technique. It can indeed be used to refine the Yellow Springs into an external golden elixir."

As she spoke, she suddenly realized something and looked at Su Mo in surprise: "She just gave you the secret technique yesterday, and you've already mastered it, Su Lang?"

Su Mo said awkwardly, "It seems I've got it..."

"Uh... that Yellow Spring Guide seems to have been separated from my body, turning into a phantom of a golden core..."

Leng Liuxi's expression instantly became incredibly interesting!
Staring at Su Mo in disbelief!

Seeing her expression, Su Mo was startled and quickly asked, "My lord, don't scare me!"

"Is my subordinate alright?"

Leng Liuxi was truly at a loss for words, feeling both amused and exasperated. Finally, she said speechlessly, "Su Lang's talent for cultivating immortality truly astonishes me!"

"Could this be due to the supreme cultivation secret method from your hometown, my lord?"

The Yellow Springs Secret Method is the Golden Elixir Method.

Even Leng Liuxi, a Heavenly Infant True Person, wasn't confident she could master it in a single day, let alone Su Mo, who was only at the Divine Transformation Realm!

In particular, Su Mo not only mastered the Yellow Spring Secret Technique within a day, but also easily refined the Yellow Spring into a nascent elixir!
Leng Liuxi really didn't know what to say.

How could she not be utterly astonished by such a bizarre event!
She took a soft breath and explained, "Su Lang is naturally unharmed."

"This is the most crucial and also the most dangerous step in refining the Yellow Spring Golden Elixir."

"If it is difficult to provide enough mana, essence, and blood for the Yellow Spring to absorb before it transforms into a nascent core, it will damage one's own foundation of cultivation, making it extremely difficult to refine an external core in the future..."

Su Mo was dumbfounded: "Why didn't Palace Master Xiao mention this to me?"

Leng Liuxi thought for a moment and said, "I can't say for sure about this, and I'm afraid she doesn't know either."

"Now that you have condensed your inner core and removed the poison from the Yellow Springs, you will be fine in the future."

"As long as we continue to provide mana and absorb the illusory core, one day we will be able to solidify the illusory core and condense a true external golden core!"

She paused slightly, then said, "My lord, absorb the remaining power of the medicine."

"Come to the Ziwei Palace in three days, and I will prepare the Nine Spirits Return to One Soup for Su Lang."

Su Mo's eyes lit up: "If we absorb all of the Nine Spirits Return to One Soup, we can refine the Yellow Springs External Elixir?"

Leng Liuxi was furious!
He said irritably, "How could condensing an external core be so simple!"

"Even if I can provide the Nine Spirits Return to One Soup multiple times, my lord still needs to diligently nurture and refine it. It will take at least ten years... or at least three years, to complete the external elixir!"

Su Mo was surprised: "Three years? That's a long time! Isn't this external core too troublesome?"

Leng Liuxi...

Originally, she thought that with Su Mo's aptitude, forming an external core within ten years wouldn't be a problem.

But considering that this bastard is secretive and has many hidden secrets, and may have other secret methods for refining the external elixir, he changed his mind and said three years.

This bastard actually thought three years was too long!
That's absolutely infuriating!
How many years did it take me to cultivate from the Divine Realm to the Golden Core Realm?

At nine years old, one departs from the spirit; at eleven years old, one returns to the body.

Then, at the age of twenty-three, he finally advanced to the Golden Core Realm!
Twelve years!
This is still thanks to the countless resources and cultivation assistance, as well as the meticulous guidance from An Wu, the Heavenly Infant True Person!

He felt that three years was too long to refine the external golden elixir!
This is not how you show off!
Leng Liuxi was fuming and didn't want to talk to this bastard anymore!
With a cold snort, he returned to the brocade bench to read Romance of the Three Kingdoms!

However, Leng Liuxi didn't know that she had really wronged Su Mo.

They genuinely believed that as long as one soaked in the Nine Spirits Return to One Soup two or three times, the outer elixir could be refined!

Since I started cultivating the Yangtian Technique, I have advanced to the Divine Departure Realm in just half a year.

Su Mo felt that cultivating immortality was quite simple.

The difference between the Divine Realm and the Golden Core Realm is only two realms.

Even with the Demon-Subduing Pestle and the Empress's resources, and still refining an external elixir, it would still take three years.

He genuinely felt it was taking a long time!

Seeing that the Empress seemed very angry as she went back to reading, Su Mo dared not speak again and could only obediently absorb the remaining medicinal power.

The Nine Spirits Return to One Soup, worth 100,000 taels of silver, cannot be wasted! Even if only one percent of its medicinal power remains unabsorbed, it is still worth thousands of taels of silver, and it will take half a day to earn it back.

The illusory core transformed from Huang Quan Yin is indeed domineering; it truly lives up to its reputation as a poison specifically designed to counter Golden Core cultivators!
The remaining medicinal power of the spiritual soup was completely devoured by the illusory pill in a short period of time!

The illusory core seemed unsatisfied, and it showed signs of devouring Su Mo's own magical power and essence.

Su Mo hurriedly activated the Yellow Springs Secret Technique, which finally suppressed the nascent core!

He then glanced at the Empress.

He discovered that Leng Liuxi was engrossed in reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and it seemed she wasn't actually lusting after his body.

Su Mo was about to get out of the bathtub and put her robe back on.

Suddenly, An Wu's deep voice rang in their ears: "The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

"This old servant, Anwu, greets the Empress Dowager!"

Su Mo suddenly perked up her ears!

Empress Zhang?
Leng Liuxi also looked surprised, then her eyebrows furrowed.

Then Anwu said, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment, I will go and inform His Majesty immediately..."

A faint voice reached Su Mo's ears: "No need!"

"You stay outside the palace and keep watch. I will go see the Emperor myself!"

Su Mo subconsciously looked at Leng Liuxi.

I felt somewhat alarmed.

What if Empress Dowager Zhang discovers that I am in the Ziwei Palace looking like this?

That's something you can't clear your name even if you jump into the Yellow River—not to mention there's no Yellow River in the world, so there's nowhere to jump!
The one outside the palace who referred to herself as "I" was none other than the Empress Dowager, the mother of the Empress!
Historically, the terms "Aijia" and "Bengong" used to refer to themselves were fabricated.

In formal settings, the Empress Dowager often referred to herself as "I" or "I"; if she was old, she would also refer to herself as "this old woman".

Upon hearing that Empress Dowager Zhang was going to enter the Ziwei Palace, Leng Liuxi was not as alarmed as Su Mo. Instead, she looked puzzled and frowned before whispering to Su Mo, "I wonder why Mother has suddenly come to the Ziwei Palace!"

"My lord, please stay in the bathhouse. I will go see my mother first."

Su Mo quickly said, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment."

Leng Liuxi was taken aback, but she stopped in her tracks.

Su Mo didn't care about anything else and stepped directly out of the bathtub.

Standing at 1.8 meters tall, his well-developed muscles, honed through regular exercise, don't appear exaggerated, yet possess a rock-like, clearly defined outline.

Especially the soaked boxer shorts, clinging tightly to the skin, dripping water droplets—the scene was simply breathtaking…

Leng Liuxi saw it clearly in an instant!

Her pretty face suddenly flushed red, and she quickly turned her head away, not daring to look any longer. Biting her lip, she whispered, "Su Lang... quickly put on your robes!"

Su Mo didn't care about anything else. He gritted his teeth, changed out of his wet boxer shorts, and put on his undergarments and robes. As he dressed, he lowered his voice and quickly explained, "The Empress Dowager must have come here this time because of the matter of Zhang Guojiu!"

"This humble servant has just raided two shops owned by Zhang Guojiu in Qinghefang and executed the ship's manager..."

Upon hearing this, Leng Liuxi frowned even more deeply!

She didn't have much affection for Zhang Shouning.

Last time at the Jade Sound Pavilion, Su Mo was even encouraged to go and beat up Zhang Shouning.

However, Empress Dowager Zhang treated her younger brother Zhang Shouning very well, and even if the Empress disliked Zhang Shouning, she had to take Empress Dowager Zhang's feelings into consideration!
Seeing the Empress's furrowed brows and hesitant expression, Su Mo's heart tightened, and he quickly said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty must not be merciful!"

"If we want to collect 500,000 taels of silver within ten days, we need to find someone of sufficient influence to take action and intimidate the merchants. No one is more suitable than Zhang Guojiu!"

"I believe that we can only ask the Imperial Brother-in-law to make do for now!"

"If Your Majesty is afraid of the Empress Dowager's wrath, you can simply put all the blame on me... At worst, I can make amends to the Imperial Brother-in-law later..."

Before he could finish speaking, Leng Liuxi suddenly turned around and saw Su Mo still frantically putting on his robe.

I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

His expression immediately turned serious. He waved his hand gently, his voice low but undeniable: "Su Lang is working for me and for the Great Wu!"

"How could I possibly shift the blame onto you, my lord, and cause you such heartache!"

He paused, then said solemnly, "My lord, please go ahead and do it!"

"As for other matters, I will handle them!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guards were indeed used as scapegoats, but her own man was certainly not an ordinary Embroidered Uniform Guard.

You absolutely cannot take the blame for this!

Otherwise, how can you expect your subjects to trust you in the future!

As she was speaking, a figure appeared behind the screen outside the hot spring room.

Empress Dowager Zhang went straight to the outside of the bathhouse!
This really startled Su Mo, and he broke out in a cold sweat!

The Empress Dowager's voice sounded unusually cold: "Is His Majesty in the bathhouse?"

Clearly, in the main hall of Ziwei Palace, the Empress Dowager, unable to find the Empress, also followed the smell of the medicine to the bath room.

The Empress gave Su Mo a look, then said calmly, "Your Majesty, I have just bathed and changed, and am preparing to rest for a while."

"Does Your Majesty have something to discuss with me?"

Empress Dowager Zhang said coldly, "Your Majesty, please come out. I have something to say to you!"

"Please wait a moment, Your Majesty, I will be right out!" Leng Liuxi straightened her gauze dress, nodded to Su Mo, and stepped around the screen.

"Your Majesty, it's not convenient to talk here. Please come with me..."

Empress Dowager Zhang waved her hand and said calmly, "No need."

"I only have a few questions I'd like to ask His Majesty. I'll be leaving after I've finished!"

She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Why is the smell of medicine so strong in the hot spring room?"

"Is His Majesty unwell?"

Leng Liuxi quickly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Mother!"

"Your Majesty, I have been busy with state affairs recently, and with the recent earthquake in the south, I feel somewhat tired. So I asked the imperial physician to prepare some medicine."

Empress Dowager Zhang nodded slightly, then said calmly, "Your uncle just came to me crying, saying that the Embroidered Uniform Guard disregards the law and acts recklessly. Not only did they shut down his shop without cause, but they also killed people from the Imperial Uncle's residence."

"May I ask Your Majesty, is this true?"

Su Mo's heart tightened instantly!
However, he dared not make a sound, or even move a muscle!
If you can see your own shadow behind the screen, it's hard to guarantee that the other person can't see what's happening inside the soup room!
Even if it's blurry, the slightest movement could alert Empress Dowager Zhang.

Judging from Empress Zhang's aura, which was deep and resonant, she was clearly no ordinary person and had most likely cultivated martial arts or immortal techniques.

However, the Empress did not disappoint Su Mo.

He then heard the Empress say, "Your Majesty, this is indeed true."

Empress Dowager Zhang gave a light snort: "So, the Emperor knew about this?"

Leng Liuxi said in a deep voice, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard that Mother Empress spoke of is acting on my orders."

"They are not as the Empress Dowager says, disregarding the law and acting recklessly."

Empress Dowager Zhang's voice deepened slightly: "Judging from Your Majesty's words, is there some hidden reason behind this?"

"Seizing the Zhang family's property and arbitrarily killing the people from the Imperial Uncle's residence—in the Emperor's eyes, this doesn't count as disregarding the law and acting recklessly?"

As she spoke, she took a deep breath, her tone suddenly turning cold and sharp: "I'm curious, what kind of trouble could the Emperor possibly have that would warrant calling upon the Embroidered Uniform Guard to treat his own uncle in this way?"

(End of this chapter)