Longevity Pill!
This term struck everyone’s hearts like a thunderclap. Who wouldn’t want to live a few more years? Wasn’t longevity, in the end, what they had been desperately seeking?
Ling Xiao appeared to focus her attention on the pill in her hand, yet through the System, she could clearly see the desire and fervor in the eyes of those around her.
“Dear nephew, don’t say your aunt is biased against you. Come, open your mouth.”
Before Li Yue could react, he felt a sharp pain in his jaw, and his mouth involuntarily opened. The pill touched his lips and instantly transformed into a fragrant liquid that slid straight down his throat.
Gulp—it was swallowed.
“Your Majesty!” a sudden exclamation rang out, reminding everyone of the reality: the Longevity Pill, having just appeared, was now declared to belong to the Emperor.
In an instant, the fine lines at the corners of the Emperor’s eyes smoothed away. His cheeks became full and firm, his skin visibly fairer, glowing with a youthful radiance. His rosy lips parted slightly, revealing impeccably white teeth.
The Emperor’s lifespan had been extended!
Everyone held their breath, their eyes filled with shock.
This was a miracle—an unparalleled miracle.
If stripping away a person’s lifespan had made these elites of Great Jin fearful, then extending lifespan could make them worship in reverence, offering all the treasures of the world to please Ling Xiao.
Li Yue’s voice trembled as he touched his cheek with his fingertips, feeling the return of his lost youth. His heart surged with emotions too profound for words.
It must be known that although he had ascended the throne as a youth, Li Yue was now twenty-six years old, and his eldest child was already ten.
Not far from his feet, the Head of the Xie Family, reduced to a heap of mud, let out a mournful cry, his claw-like hands flailing in agony.
Watching his own lifespan slip away, unimaginable pain consumed him, forming a stark contrast with the spirited and triumphant Emperor.
Wang Yi didn’t know what he felt in his heart. There was joy for the Emperor, but more than that, a sense of bitterness.
Having struggled to reach the position of Prime Minister, he was certainly not the youthful chancellor often depicted in certain novels.
In reality, he was already fifty-eight! Unconcealable strands of white hair dotted his temples, and wrinkles had quietly crept onto cheeks once hailed as the Jade Gentleman of the Capital.
Most of those present were like Wang Yi—yearning for extended lifespan but not daring to speak up to the Emperor.
They could only resolve to thoroughly please Ling Xiao, after all, she seemed like a child at play, so surely it wouldn’t be difficult to win her favor.
“Hehe, this Longevity Pill can extend your lifespan by at least three years,” Ling Xiao said nonchalantly.
“Only three years?” Li Yue felt a tinge of regret, his youthful appearance now making him seem somewhat pitiable.
This display provoked resentment among the others. Was three years of lifespan not enough? They, who desperately needed it, had none at all.
“What, you think it’s still not enough? It’s not like there’s no way…”
The Ghost-God walked briskly to the center of the hall, her voice growing sweeter and more enticing as she slowly told them that as long as they provided enough “human material,” she could refine Longevity Pills.
“Think about it. All it takes are ordinary mortals, easily found everywhere, and you could extend your lifespan by ten years, twenty years, or even live forever.”
The temptation was too great. Every word Ling Xiao spoke fell into the ears of those present, slithering like little snakes into their hearts, where they took deep root.
Yes, it was just a matter of needing people. Great Jin permitted the ownership of servants, and a strong adult male servant could be bought on the market for just eight taels of silver.
Anyone could do it. Once they began to think this way, their hearts grew restless with desire.
“Sister, sister, I’ll give you as many people as you want. Ten—no, a hundred people—I only ask for one Longevity Pill in return.”
When Minister of State Xu Yan first heard that he could continuously obtain Longevity Pills, the elderly man felt a momentary surge of delight, but fear quickly followed.
If people were used as ingredients to refine Longevity Pills for the nobility, Great Jin could not possibly survive!
Though commoners are weak, they are like ants.
Yet throughout the millennia, which dynasty’s downfall was not caused by these seemingly lowly commoners trampling the once lofty nobles into the mud?
If you do not let them live, they naturally will not let you live either!
Just as Xu Yan was about to step forward to explain the stakes, he was caught off guard by a statement.
Turning to look, he saw it was the highly respected Prince of Chu from the imperial clan.
As the Emperor’s eldest uncle, Prince of Chu had always strictly adhered to laws and regulations, never flattering those above him while treating those below with kindness and courtesy—a virtuous prince even praised by officials.
Yet now, this very virtuous prince was offering living human lives, all for the sake of extending his own life by even just one year.
Absurd, utterly absurd!
Xu Yan grew increasingly fearful. If Prince of Chu harbored such intentions, could others be without them?
Scanning the hall, several heads of noble families had gleaming eyes, eager and ready. The imperial clan members and officials managed to restrain themselves, yet they too wore expressions of anticipation.
He could wait no longer. Xu Yan rose angrily, strode forward, and pulled Prince of Chu up, shouting, “Do you know what you are saying, Prince of Chu!”
Li Yue was also lost in thought when his beloved Minister Xu’s words snapped him back to reality. He instinctively looked at Ling Xiao.
Why look at me? Ling Xiao, immersed in such an atmosphere, felt almost ecstatic, especially seeing the distorted, frenzied, and desperate expressions of the elders craving the Longevity Pill.
Ah, so delightful.
Prince of Chu, in an undignified posture, lifted his head and forced a smile. “Minister Xu, you are only fifty this year, aren’t you?”
“What of it?” Xu Yan replied with a dark expression.
“Fifty is truly wonderful. You can still eat meat, enjoy women. I remember when I was fifty, I loved stewed lamb the most.”
Prince of Chu sighed softly, his cloudy gaze unfocused. “Now, I’ve almost forgotten the taste of lamb.”
As he spoke, he opened his mouth, revealing only a few remaining teeth.
An indescribable sorrow filled the hall. Prince of Chu widened his eyes, clutching a stray white lock of hair by his temple, and pleaded:
“I will treat their families well—not only with gold and silver compensation, but I can also ensure their children receive education and their elders receive care for illnesses.”
In a hoarse, loud voice, he cried out his final plea: “Just give me the Longevity Pill!”
For a moment, everyone fell silent. Ling Xiao seemed about to nod in agreement to this elder brother’s request, and Prince of Chu watched his younger sister’s every move with fervent hope.
“Ahem, Uncle Prince, please return to your seat,” Li Yue broke the silence in the hall, immediately instructing Prince of Chu to go back to his seat.
Seeing him first stunned and then bursting into tears, stumbling as if to kneel, Li Yue helplessly rubbed his forehead and turned to Ling Xiao, who seemed detached from the matter:
“Aunt, please stop toying with us.”