Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 349 This Person, Long Deserved to Die a Thousand Times Over

Chapter 349: Chapter 349 This Person, Long Deserved to Die a Thousand Times Over

The Emperor was still very displeased.

He wished for True Person Zi Chen to continue with alchemy, but the latter spoke:

"Your Majesty, I do not lack the desire to help such a Son of the Heavenly Dragon with alchemy. If you were to attain enlightenment and become an immortal, I would indeed accrue significant merit. However, I have forgotten my ancestral teachings and used human blood in my alchemy, a grave and unforgivable mistake. The explosion of the alchemy furnace today is a reminder from my master, showing that my moral integrity has been compromised. I dare not continue to use the furnace henceforth."

He chanted an ode to the boundless heavenly honor, revealing a look of regret.

Murong Jiu thought, no wonder Chen Yuzong could go around swindling everywhere, putting on such an air of transcendent virtue. His eloquence was indeed remarkable, able to come up with lies on the spot and suppress his inner fear even in front of the Emperor.

Of course, this might also be because he had a certain belief supporting him.

His belief was none other than the son Su Qiaoyun had given birth to for him, to carry on his family lineage, and the vast property of the Su Family.

Although the Emperor looked displeased, he did not insist further; he still believed that True Person Zi Chen’s master truly had attained immortality.

However, he was very unwilling, allowing True Person Zi Chen to leave the palace only after he handed over his master’s alchemical pill recipe to Murong Jiu.

True Person Zi Chen showed a hesitant look, then nodded: "Since Princess Consort Ling has a destiny with the Daoist traditions, and we hail from the same heritage, revealing the pill recipe does not count as a betrayal of my sect."

The Emperor’s face finally looked somewhat better, then he instructed Murong Jiu to take great care with the alchemy and report any needed ingredients.

Seeing the Emperor show signs of fatigue, about to take his leave, the Fourth Prince’s eyes flashed with a cold intent, and he signaled the eunuch behind him with his eyes.

The eunuch quickly stepped forward as soon as the Emperor turned around.

Jun Yuyan saw the movement and wanted to intervene but was caught by Murong Jiu, who shook her head slightly.

Distracted by this, the eunuch had already gone up and grabbed True Person Zi Chen’s beard. With a "hiss," accompanied by True Person Zi Chen’s cry, the Emperor and Consort Jing turned their heads abruptly, only to see True Person Zi Chen’s beard being completely pulled off.

The quick-handed little eunuch kneeled and loudly said:

"Your Majesty, there is something wrong with this True Person Zi Chen, his beard is fake! I noticed just now something was off! He is not a true immortal at all!"

The Fourth Prince also swiftly spoke up:

"Father Emperor, True Person Zi Chen is an imposter! He cannot be allowed to leave; he must be up to something! Perhaps he is being instructed by someone behind the scenes!"

After the initial shock, the Emperor was furious.

"Outrageous! Guards! Seize this trickster!"

Soon several guards came forward and pinned True Person Zi Chen to the ground.

Murong Jiu was not at all surprised.

She had stopped Jun Yuyan’s action as she didn’t want to bring disaster upon them, and moreover, she had no intention of saving Chen Yuzong.

This man had long deserved death.

Nevertheless, she also cooperatively showed a surprised expression.

It was only a matter of time before the Fourth Prince would start slinging mud at her.

"To think you dared to attach a fake beard and deceive Us, you have some nerve!"

The Emperor had once been deceived by a so-called "old immortal". He truly thought that the old Daoist had some abilities, only to find out later that the man had molested palace maids!

Now another impostor had appeared; how could the Emperor not be infuriated?

True Person Zi Chen was now thoroughly panicked, kneeling on the ground begging for mercy: "Your Majesty, please have mercy, Your Majesty, please have mercy! Although my beard is fake, I truly do possess genuine abilities!"

"If you truly possess such abilities, why would you deceive people with a fake beard? Father Emperor, this True Person Zi Chen must harbor some conspiracy, perhaps even intending to harm you!"

The Fourth Prince said in a grave tone.

"Father Emperor, look at his clean-shaven face, he looks just like those rootless eunuchs in the palace, nothing like a real sage!"

This remark reminded the Emperor, who angrily ordered that True Person Zi Chen’s trousers be stripped down.

Jun Yuyan stepped to the side to shield Murong Jiu, and Murong Jiu also immediately averted her gaze.

Consort Jing exclaimed in shock and turned away.

The guard acted swiftly, and upon pulling down the trousers, it became clear that something was not right with True Person Zi Chen; he could not be counted as a complete man.

Now the Emperor was utterly convinced that he was an outright charlatan. What kind of self-realized true person would be a eunuch? Clearly, someone had severed his "root," and that’s why he looked like this!

"Who exactly sent you to deceive us? Confess everything to us!"

Humiliated in such a manner, True Person Zi Chen, filled with hatred towards the Fourth Prince for exposing him, bit out through gritted teeth:

"Your Majesty, I am innocent. I truly possess the art of alchemy. It was the Fourth Prince, the Fourth Prince who threatened me to show my skills in front of you, to enter the palace and concoct elixirs for you!"

The Fourth Prince showed a look of shock and kneeled down towards the Emperor: "Father Emperor! How could your son possibly do such a thing? Before today, when I went to receive the Western Region Prince, I had never even met this so-called true person! He must be resentful that my eunuch exposed his identity and is now falsely accusing me. Please, Father Emperor, see through his deception!"

The Emperor also felt that his seemingly inconspicuous and timid fourth son couldn’t possibly have had such intentions.

Moreover, it was indeed Laosi who had exposed the other party.

Clearly, True Person Zi Chen was simply lashing out at Laosi!

"Beat him! Beat him severely until he tells the truth!"

At the Emperor’s command, True Person Zi Chen was subjected to a beating, and he let out scream after scream.

He hadn’t experienced such pain for a long time, and the guards were going at him with full force. After just a dozen or so blows, he could barely bear it. At first, he was still crying innocence, but as he couldn’t endure the pain, he shouted loudly towards Murong Jiu:

"Princess Consort Ling! Save me! You and the Prince promised to get me out of the palace! Princess Consort Ling!"

The Emperor’s fierce gaze turned towards Murong Jiu and Jun Yuyan, and he bellowed angrily:

"What is the meaning of this! Did the two of you arrange for him to appear before us?"

Jun Yuyan calmly responded, "Father Emperor, please calm your anger. If he were arranged by Ah Jiu and me, then why would Ah Jiu expose his lack of real skills and force him out of the palace? We feared he might concoct some elixir that would affect your health, and that’s why we had a dispute with him. We were only concerned about Your Majesty’s well-being."

Murong Jiu also said, "Father Emperor, I feel wronged as well. This True Person Zi Chen clearly doesn’t know a thing about alchemy. After I exposed him, he even told me to leave. Later, when the alchemy furnace exploded, he finally tucked his tail between his legs. I told him just now that if he doesn’t leave the Imperial Palace voluntarily, I will watch him every day to see what nefarious plans he has. It was his fear that made him admit his lack of ability."

Listening to this, the Emperor felt that their account seemed plausible.

If it were a scheme orchestrated by the two of them, why would they drive the man away?

Moreover, Murong Jiu was indeed very concerned about his health, even taking the initiative to call for a physician to check his pulse.

"Nonsense! They’re spouting nonsense! They promised me that if I went to find my son, they would let me leave! Your Majesty, I beg you, I am also helpless. I haven’t done anything to betray you. The elixirs I’ve concocted have revitalized you, haven’t they? That’s all my doing!"

True Person Zi Chen, beaten to tears and snot, couldn’t understand how things had turned out this way.

He realized that the Fourth Prince, Prince Ling, and Princess Consort Ling were all deceivers and that no one cared for his life!

The Fourth Prince said, "True Person Zi Chen, are you claiming that Eldest Imperial Brother and the Eldest Imperial Sister-in-law recognize you and know about your son?"

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