The elixir chamber of Yu Xuanji, the High Priest, was located in the Imperial Garden behind Emperor Jingxiao's residence Qianfu Palace.

After five hundred steps past Qianfu Palace and about a hundred meters southeast in the Imperial Garden, there stood a tower.

This three-floor building was made up of gold bricks and Nanmu wood pillars. Its outer layer was covered with green bamboo, and its roof was built with colored glazed tiles.

To see from a distance, the green building, surrounded by a long red wall, was partly hidden in trees and flowers. The exquisitely decorated spire shone in the first and last rays of the sun, displaying the royal family are solemn and magnificent in this quiet place.

On the gate of the first floor of the Elixir Chamber hung a cedarwood plaque, on which wrote striking two golden words: Sixiang Chamber.

Fine carving of Taoism immortals, birds, and flowers on the gate post looked sumptuous. After entering the tower, prayer flags, pictures and statues of gods, and incantations came into view. The smell of burning incense permeated the air.

Holding Gu Yunyao's hand, Emperor Jingxiao entered the Elixir Chamber and went into a room on the second floor just as he used to do.

Besides the red sandalwood dragon table, the smoke of the incense rose high from the bronze three-leg censer and permeated the air.

A golden line Nanmu altar stood out on the southeast side, above which there were several golden lined silk prayer flags in pink and purple.

What was enshrined on the altar was neither a statue nor a tablet, but a two-feet-high round gold cauldron with two handles. The cap of the cauldron was carved with eight diagrams of yin and yang. The cauldron's thick and smooth body was carved with Fu patterns and was inlaid with color gems including giant clam beads and lazuli.

Bronze lotus censer, gold bowl, wooden fish, gold gourd, and beeswax bracelet were positioned around the gold cauldron according to the geomantic omen.

In the south, there was a square table with a marble top engraved with cloud pattern and a couple of four-leg round chair.

Next to the square table was a paulownia Guqin (musical instrument) on a small long table. On the wall behind hung an artwork stamped with Emperor Jingxiao's seal.

On the north, there was a cabinet, separated from the outer room by a light yellow curtain with an Eight Trigrams pattern, used as a bedroom.

Emperor Jingxiao came in and sat on an oval-shaped cushion, leg-crossed, and started meditation. He took deep breaths of the full aroma of agarwood that calmed his impatience.

This is the first time for Gu Yunyao to the High Priest's Elixir Chamber. This place was strange to her.

Consider the scruple of courtesy, she just had a glance at the furnishings of this room and drew back her sight, standing by the Emperor in a graceful manner with her hands in the front.

Yu Xuanji asked the little monk to prepare Zhaoyi Yu a seat. Then he put the hot newly-made tea onto the table.

After fifteen minutes' meditation, Emperor Jingxiao asked with his eyes closed,

"Xuanji, have you prepared my elixir?"

Yu Xuanji was standing next to a Nanmu wood shelf against the western wall. He looked young and calm, staring at the Emperor Jingxiao in meditation on the cushion with his unfathomable and complex eyes.

He slightly tensed up as he heard Emperor Jiangxiao spoke. His complexion changed a little bit like a leave fell on the water and caused faint ripples.

"Please wait a minute. I'll get it for you."

His voice was clear as the sound of pearls falling on the jade plate, and his red robe billowed like flames. He turned his back to Emperor Jingxiao and Gu Yunyao to take a square box from the top left drawer of the shelf.

He lifted the knob on the cap, opened the box, took one of the yellow wax balls, and hid it in his palm.

In the shadow, a trace of ferocity appeared on his handsome face for a trice.

He remembered Leng Qingtang's order to keep it till the right time.

However, Leng Qingtang was on the verge of death, so this was the right time!

Yu Xuanji clenched the wax ball with his quivering hand. He narrowed his sharp and determined eyes.

As soon as Emperor Jingxiao opened his eyes, Gu Yunyao got down on two knees.

Emperor Jingxiao was surprised. He asked,

"What does this mean?"

He put forth his hands to support her, but Gu Yunyao insisted on kneeling. With a pair of red eyes and tears trickling down her cheeks, she said in sorrow,

"Your Majesty, the assassins on the Spring Banquet came from Youzhu Garden. I come from the Garden, too. So I'm still upset and fear..."

Yu Xuanji watched Gu Yunyao pretending to be pathetic and praised her secretly.

He and Gu Yunyao were both the informers of the Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot. Gu Yunyao didn't know Yu Xuanji was on her side, but Yu Xuanji knew her.

Looking at Gu Yunyao's sad complexion, Emperor Jingxiao was touched. As she was unwilling to stand up, he said, "My dear, can you support me up?"

Gu Yunyao was obedient. She put forth her hands to help him. The orchid fragrance lingering her delicate fingers reminded Emperor Jingxiao of something soft and tender that roped him in tightly.

He rose from the cushion and swang his arms inward. Gu Yunyao took this opportunity and fell forward. Her tender body fell into the Emperor's arms.

She trembled and bit her lower lip like she was hiding melancholy at the bottom of her heart, which made her fragile face look weak.

She was beautiful and adorable that her rosy face, although she was weeping, looked like a begonia flower with dew. Now with such a pretty face, she pretended to be grieved, raising her fine brows, as if she was deeply wronged. Emperor Jingxiao's heart melted.

"Your Majesty, I have a lonely and helpless childhood. I grew up in the Garden with many sisters, and I see the Garden as my home. Now thanks to Your Majesty's good grace, I'm invested as Zhaoyi to accompany you. I sincerely appreciate your mercy. Today, the Garden is involved in this accident, and I'm so anxious and panic."

Gu Yunyao leaned against Emperor Jingxiao's chest, pouring out her fear.

Her words ended in sobs, her shoulders shaking. The tassels of the hairpin also gently shook with her sobbing, glittering under the light.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about it, my dear. I didn't expect you to think so much about the accident at the banquet."

Emperor Jingxiao led her to the table and comforted her patiently after they both sat down,

"Rest assured. I'm not too old to see things clearly. I know the assassination has nothing to do with Leng Qingtang... as well as the Garden."

Gu Yunyao stopped in surprise. Her bright eyes opened wide with crystal tears. The movements of beauty were always attractive even she was crying.

Emperor Jingxiao recollected the progress of during and after the assassination, and let out a sigh,

"You think I don't know Leng Qingtang? He has taken the position of Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot for eleven years. As a thoughtful person, he will instruct men of sacrifice to conduct assassination or other things against me."

"Think about it. How could a man of sacrifice give away his master before he dies? That was an apparent set-up. The plotter doesn't want to kill me. He wants to remove Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot through me."

Gu Yunyao, who had been tensing up for a long while, relaxed a lot. It appeared that the Emperor wasn't muddleheaded enough to be easily misled by the frame-up.

Gu Yunyao pressed her hand on the chest and took a breath of relief. Then she grumbled to the Emperor,

"I thought you would give me the cold shoulder because I also come from the Garden. Just then, in Baohe Palace, Your Majesty was so strict that I was so scared."

Emperor Jingxiao patted her hand to comfort her, and then a shadow crossed his face. Angrily he complained,

"I was angry then. Because the one they were targeting was Leng Qingtang!"

Gu Yunyao got lots of hidden information from the Emperor's complaint.

She handed a cup of hot tea to the Emperor and carefully measured her wording,

"Your Majesty, I think what happened at the banquet was ridiculous, too. Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot went to Jiangan to inspect the snow disaster relief work and spent two months on this trip."

"The assassination is a complex matter that needs carefully scheming. Leng Qingtang has just returned to the capital. He won't have time to scheme this."

"What's more, I'm confused at what the assassin said before she suicided. In my opinion, it's a frame-up. The plotter asked the assassin to shout Leng Qingtang's name to leave everyone with a first impression, making them believe that Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot is the plotter. Then the assassins killed themselves to do away with the witnesses."

Emperor Jingxiao closed his eyes and nodded her opinion. Gu Yunyao put on a confused face,

"Your Majesty, since you know that Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot is framed, why still you put him in prison and want to kill him?"

"When did I say to kill him?"

Emperor Jingxiao looked up with a spurious smile, raising his brows,

"I aim at cutting Leng Qingtang down to side through this accident! He concealed too many things from me about his inspection in Jiangan! He killed the garrison colonel of Feng Yuan. Because of that, the Imperial Noble Concubine made trouble with me all the time! In Qiling, he caused two fires in the Prefect's Mansion and the post house. The prefect of Qiling's death is still a mystery, and he didn't even explain it well in his memorial to the throne! To flog him is to warn him!"

Emperor Jingxiao became excited as he uttered a long complaint about Leng Qingtang. After that, he took a sip of the tea and continued,

"I know the Eastern Depot's power grew fast in these years. Leng Qingtang has offended many officials. So, just let them attack each other. It does no good to me if they are inactive in political struggle. However, if anyone wants to use me as a guillotine to achieve his private goal, I won't let him get what he wants!"

Gu Yunyao was secretly pleased. Leng Qing's survival meant Yunxi's survival.

The Emperor's words were to be taken seriously. To confirm Emperor Jingxiao's mind, she asked again,

"So, you won't kill Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot?"

"Let him stay in the Royal Prison for days! The court will be in peace if he is in prison. Fortunately, Concubine Xu and the prince are safe. Otherwise, I'll let him rot in prison!"

"That's good, that's fine. After all, he was in charge of the Garden. I fear if he gets killed, I will live a hard life with the rumors and slanders in the imperial harem."

"I have been comforting you a lot, my dear. Don't overthink... Xuanji, have you got my elixir?"

Emperor Jingxiao hadn't thought of his elixir until now.

"It's on the way..."

Yu Xuanji organized his facial expression and put the wax ball in his clothes. He went to the altar, poured out an elixir pill from the gold gourd, put it in the jade plate, and turned around with a smile,

"I saw Your Majesty and Your Ladyship are deeply attached. I didn't want to be the third wheel but not knowing what to do. That embarrassment killed me."

"Haha, you are a sweet talker..."

Watching Emperor Jingxiao took the pill in a devout manner, Yu Xuanji's mouth corner twitch as if to reveal a disdainful sneer,

"So you're not that stupid after all. It's as easy as rolling off a log for Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot to rise in rebellion. He hasn't taken action because he is biding his time. He is waiting for the day when that case will be righted."

Thinking, he turned his eyes on Gu Yunyao and felt admire for her.

It was no doubt that, although she looked fragile and tender, she was a smart woman. It was quite bold and wise of her to show her weakness to Emperor Jingxiao when occupying the Emperor's favor, thus defusing his anger as well as confirming his decision of sparing the life of Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot. She was praiseworthy for her excellent conduct.

"Let me help you with your plan." Yun Xuanji thought.

Shortly after Emperor Jingxiao took the elixir, he felt hot and dry. An unbearable desire arose.

He had no concept that the elixir Yu Xuanji gave him was a kind of special elixir with a small amount of philter. He eagerly took Gu Yunyao to Xiaoye Chamber, and they spent lots of time between the sheets.

After sex and a four-hour sleep, it was already dawn.

Before he went to the court, Emperor Jingxiao consoled Gu Yunyao once more, swore terribly, and then headed for Qinming Hall with complacency.