lations, Mr. Wen! May love always conquer all!" The village head led the crowd in bowing and offering congratulations.This prompted Mr. Wen to quickly return the favor, "Thank you, sir, for all your...One hour passed. The emperor threw down his chess piece, stretched languidly, and asked the Marquis.

"Uncle, is this Fuhong Cream really so frighteningly effective Aren't you overreacting"

"You see, there have always been things like Wu Shi San, they should be similar to this Fu Rong Paste, just with some hallucinogenic effects."

The Lord shook his head, "Your Majesty, Five Stone Powder can also drive people mad, not just hallucination. But it's fine if you stop taking it!"

"This Fuhong ointment is addictive!"

Last night I received word and immediately brought people to Yaochi to investigate. With my own eyes, I saw over a hundred young masters from influential families and junior officials entering and leaving Yaochi. And it seemed like this was their daily routine.

"A man, perhaps not having enough silver, was denied entry by the Jade Pool. He knelt down at that moment and eventually offered his seal as collateral."

It can be said that in order to enter the Yaochi and to consume this Fusheng paste, those people have abandoned all dignity and rationality…

The Emperor frowned, about to say something more, when Yi, the chief eunuch, suddenly reported, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, it has begun!"

The Emperor and the Marquis immediately dismounted and gathered in front of the mechanism.

It's called a "mechanism," but it's really just a small peephole, allowing you to see into the house across from it. The house opposite wouldn't easily notice anyone here.

At this moment, Bao, the old master who was originally sitting and waiting, had already started yawning one after another. His snot and tears flowed incessantly, and he couldn't wipe them away with his handkerchief in time.

His servant was anxious, seeing that there was no one else in the room, he quickly stepped forward and said: "Master, hold on a little longer. This is the palace, it's not good to be seen by others."

The old master tried to hold on, but his body wouldn't obey. Soon, he slumped right over, sliding off the chair and onto the ground.

"Quick, get some burning opium smoke! I need a hit!" He gritted his teeth, trembling and convulsing as he desperately clutched the servant's tunic and ordered.

The maidservant was half frightened to death, hesitatingly looking towards the doorway.

This is the palace, someone could come at any time.

The master was smoking here, got caught and punished. When he returned to the Princess's mansion, he couldn't live there anymore.

But Master Bao had already reached his limit, lying on the ground curled up, shivering even worse.

"Come on, please, let me have just one puff! Please! Just one!"

A master, actually behaving like a dog and begging his servant.

The maid was terrified, kneeling beside her master and whispering, "Master, this is the palace. What if we're discovered The Emperor is in the next room! He is the Emperor!"

"Give me a drag!" Lord Bao roared, as if possessed, tugging at his shirt and about to crash into the nearby sandalwood chair. He hissed in a low voice, "Forget about the Emperor, quick, give me a drag, give me a drag! I'm dying, quick!"

The little servant was truly at his wit's end. He quickly took out a small lamp and firestarter from his bosom, and from his sleeve he produced a long pipe stem and jade box. With nimble fingers, he dug out the ointment, roasted it over the fire...

After a moment, the cigarette holder finally made its way into Bao Da Lao Ye's hands.

He fought to control the tremor in his hands, bringing the cigarette to his lips and taking a long drag. Then he fell silent, rolling his eyes and gaping with a strange smile playing on his lips.

After a few breaths, he took another deep drag. This time his expression had calmed down considerably...

In the next room, the Emperor retreated in silence.

Yi Zongtang carefully pushed up the dark window, bowing his head and not daring to look at the emperor's face, which was ashen.

After a long silence, the Emperor took off the gold plaque from his waist and said, "Brother, I entrust this matter to you. Investigate thoroughly. Anyone involved, no matter their rank, will be stripped of office, their homes searched and their property confiscated. They will all be exiled, not one spared."

"Be sure to eradicate this venomous thing from Heavenly Martial root and branch!"

The Lord knelt on one knee, received the golden plaque, and replied, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will do my utmost."

The Emperor helped the Marquis up and sat back down on the low stool, still somewhat dazed.

"Cousin, when you previously recruited sons of noble families into the army, it was a fortunate accident that turned out to be a brilliant move. Otherwise, if this had continued, the young men of Tianwu would have been ruined."

"That dog-loving neighbor of mine, knowing full well this is the palace and that I may summon him at any moment, yet he still couldn't resist the allure of his smoke. Truly, it fills me with alarm."

"If military commanders at every border post become addicted to smoking, if high-ranking officials in the court…the consequences would be simply unimaginable!"

The Marquis nodded, but still spoke to persuade him: "Your Majesty need not worry too much. Fortunately, it was discovered early, and not too many people have contracted this smoking habit yet!"

"Once the Yaochi is under strict surveillance and we have a list of those who enter and exit, we can find the mastermind behind this and cut it off at the source."

"Of course, if it involves foreigners, there might be even more conspiracies behind the scenes. It wouldn't be something that could be figured out in a day or two, one would need more patience."

The emperor frowned, truly unwilling to believe that Tianwu would be betrayed...

If you need manpower, feel free to mobilize the Dark Guards. Be sure to investigate thoroughly.

The Lord agreed, said a few more words, and then secretly left the palace.

And then, the old master Bao from the next room finally saw the Emperor.

He racked his brains and came up with a splendid compliment for the golden birdcage, ultimately receiving some rewards from the Emperor. With an air of triumph, he returned to the princess's manor.

The Princess longed to have her feet nailed to the door, just waiting for her son to come back.

Finally, when her son got home, she saw him walking with his chin held high and a smile on his face. Her heart instantly went back to where it belonged - in her stomach.

The old master told in detail how the Emperor had praised him and showered him with rewards.

The Princess was pleased and proud.

Finally, the Master Bao picked a jade pendant from among the rewards and gave the rest to his mother. Then he was going back to rest.

The Crown Princess endured for a while longer, but still whispered in a small voice, “Have you fallen ill in the palace”

The old master understood, but where would he dare to speak the truth He immediately replied, "Mother, please rest assured, I wouldn't dare delay when the emperor summons me."

"Everything went well, the Emperor said he'd like to invite me for another appraisal next time."

The elder princess was finally at ease, and she sent her son back. Then, she happily rummaged through the gifts...

In the Li family courtyard at Suijin Beach, Li Lao Si was at home, keeping to himself and pondering over his situation, awaiting news of the investigation results.

Also with Li Lao Si returning home, everyone learned about this.

Li Lao Si felt very guilty, knelt before his mother and kowtowed, saying: "Mother, I've worried you again, son is unfilial!"

Li Lao grabbed her son's arm and asked, "Lao Si, tell your mother, that soldier who died, is it related to you Did you kill him"

"No, Mother! I have nothing to do with it!" Li Laosi quickly replied.

Li Laotai let out a sigh of relief, bending down to brush the dust off her son's knees. "Why are you kneeling My son suffered grievances and wrongs, I only help to vent my anger, how could I blame him!"

Just remember, anytime, as long as you haven't done wrong, as long as you can face your conscience, then there is no need to bow down to anyone!

"Mother, I hear you!" Li Lao Si choked back tears and nodded heavily.

Ever since Chen He's sudden death, he never defended himself, whether in the barracks or in front of outsiders. This doesn't mean he wasn't wronged.

And his grievance, he just wanted, and could only let his mother see it!

Before his wife and daughter, he was an unyielding mountain.

In the presence of his elder brother, he was a comrade-in-arms who fought side by side.

Only in front of his mother could he be a pitiful child.s good to be back!"Tao Hongying turned around and wiped a tear from her eye before turning back, her eyes red as she glared at her husband. "You went out and couldn't even catch a glimpse of him! He d...