Chapter 201 The Third Day of Entering a Rebirth Novel

Chapter 201: The Third Day of Transmigrating into a Rebirth Novel

An Yi met the emperor's gaze, mingled with hope and anxiety, along with the varied looks of the princes, his expression unchanged.

He moved with composure, his demeanor elegant and ethereal. His strikingly handsome face, illuminated by the soft glow of the palace lanterns, seemed veiled in a hazy, sacred radiance, daring anyone to meet his gaze.

He looked at the emperor, the gentle, warm smile at the corners of his mouth, and spoke in a clear, calm voice: "Your Majesty, do not worry."

He continued slowly: "The stars move according to their own paths and orbits, cycling through the heavens without error. Your Majesty, as the true dragon and Son of Heaven, the health of your dragon person concerns the nation's fortune. A minor ailment is merely the natural cycle of yin and yang and the flow of the five elements, like solar and lunar eclipses or the regular tides—not an ill omen, but the balance of heaven and earth."

He paused slightly: "Your Majesty, with a sincere heart devoted to the Dao, touches the heavens, and the gods protect you from evil. You need only calm your mind and nurture your nature, following the way of heaven."

"As for the elixir..."

He shifted the topic: "It gathers the essence of heaven and earth, distills the essence of the sun and moon, and is refined through a thousand temperings. The timing and heat are crucial to its nature—neither can be rushed. Rushing for results makes the elixir harsh, harming the dragon's body; insufficient heat leaves the essence unrefined, failing its purpose. This is a painstaking process; haste makes waste."

He concluded: "Allow me to observe the celestial changes at the observatory in the coming days and examine the yin and yang of the furnace fire in the alchemy chamber. Maybe I'll gain new insights to benefit Your Majesty's health and peace of mind."

The elixirs the original An Yi gave the Old Emperor could invigorate him, but fortunately, the original was afraid of harming the emperor and used weak doses, and didn't add any heavy metals.

Otherwise... the Old Emperor might not have lasted this long.

Hearing this, the Old Emperor's brow, furrowed with anxiety, relaxed slightly, and a look of reassurance returned to his cloudy eyes.

He nodded, pleased by this mystical yet noncommittal explanation: "Then... I'll trouble the National Teacher to take extra care."

Seeming more at ease, he rose, supported by a eunuch, and departed.

The princes, seeing this, furrowed their brows almost imperceptibly before relaxing, their faces returning to a harmonious expression.

The Crown Prince stepped forward first, exchanging pleasantries with An Yi—nothing but routine phrases like "The National Teacher has worked hard" and "Please continue to look after the Emperor's health." The other princes echoed him before taking their leave.

With the emperor gone, the banquet's atmosphere relaxed entirely.

An Yi did not linger. He nodded slightly to the ceremonial official in charge and turned, walking along the palace path toward his carriage outside the palace.

As he passed, the civil and military officials, regardless of rank, involuntarily slowed their movements, their gazes complex—a mix of awe, fear, curiosity, and barely concealed disdain and calculation—fixed on his slender, upright figure in flowing black robes.

This young National Teacher, deeply trusted by His Majesty, might influence the court's direction with every word and action, so they couldn't afford not to pay attention.

But many knew he was merely a charlatan.

An Yi, seemingly oblivious to the gazes behind him, walked with composure and disappeared into the deep shadows of the palace as night gathered.

The next day dawned clear, with light just beginning to emerge.

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An Yi did not linger long at the National Teacher's mansion. After a simple breakfast of congee and pickled vegetables, he ordered the carriage prepared, announcing he would visit Huaming Temple in the western part of the city.

Huaming Temple, built in the previous dynasty, had thrived through generations, enjoying a thriving incense business and fame in the capital.

It was also a place the original An Yi occasionally visited to "contemplate the Dao" and "gather spiritual energy," serving as a public site for the National Teacher in the capital.

An Yi lowered his gaze. That was the old National Teacher's lair, now the original An Yi's territory.

The four-wheeled carriage, made of heavy, unadorned wood, appeared simple and even overly modest, with no trace of luxury. Only an inconspicuous cloud-pattern emblem, representing the National Teacher, hinted at the occupant's extraordinary status.

Inside, however, it was a different world—soft, thick cushions, a small rosewood table fixed in a corner with a complete tea set, and a faint, cool, elegant fragrance wafting up, calming the mind.

The carriage moved smoothly, almost without jolts, clearly specially modified.

The curtains, made of fine silk, were thick and hung straight, effectively blocking the outside noise and dust.

An Yi leaned back inside, relaxed, idly flipping through scrolls and books.

These were left by the old National Teacher.

The contents were miscellaneous, mostly covering astrology, divination, alchemy, talismans, and incantations.

The text was filled with esoteric terms and far-fetched diagrams.

He browsed casually, but as he read deeper, his fingers gradually slowed.

These books... were quite interesting.

One volume, titled *Annotations on the Constellations*, seemed to discuss the connection between star movements and human fortunes, but its descriptions of celestial trajectories and explanations of solar and lunar eclipses subtly aligned with the principles of astronomy he knew.

Though expressed obscurely and mixed with much superstitious dross, the core logic based on observation was faintly discernible.

Another book, *On Lead and Mercury and Fire and Water*, was also intriguing.

It used alchemical language to describe the combination and reactions of various "medicines," with terms like "dragon and tiger intersecting" and "kan and li merging," but An Yi saw clear traces of chemical experiments.

Records of color changes, gas production, and even small explosions from heating, cooling, and mixing substances, though given symbolic meanings like "elixir success" or "elixir failure," were essentially primitive chemical observation notes.

These books... couldn't make one immortal, but stripped of their mystical trappings, they were just basic scientific texts disguised as occult lore!

They covered fundamental astronomy and chemistry.

Interesting.

What a coincidence, right?

A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved at the corner of An Yi's lips.

Just then, the carriage left the heavily guarded, wide, and clean streets of the imperial city and entered the main thoroughfares of the outer city.

Instantly, a vibrant, restless, lively clamor of the marketplace surged into An Yi's ears, impossible to block even through the thick curtains.

Hawkers' drawn-out, piercing cries: "Crisp pears—sweet and juicy crisp pears—!"

"Flatbreads—!"

The murmur of women haggling fiercely over a few copper coins with vegetable vendors, mixed with occasional complaints.

Children's clear laughter and shouts as they chased and played, along with parents' scolding when they bumped into someone.

Mules and horses snorting impatiently, their hooves clacking on the bluestone path.

And the complex blend of food and spice aromas—the steaming aroma of freshly steamed meat buns, the crispy fragrance of fried pastries, the rich bone broth scent from a roadside noodle stall, and the spicy, exotic smell of Western Region spices drifting from somewhere...

All these sounds and scents together made up the most authentic, bustling, and down-to-earth character of this imperial capital.