Chapter Thirty-One: Xu Fu Ascends to Immortality

Boom!

The alchemy furnace shuddered violently, spewing out wisps of black smoke.

Lu Sheng wiped the sweat from his forehead with his white sleeve and cursed angrily, "What are you shouting for? What are you shouting for!"

"My batch of snake pills is ruined again!"

Hou Sheng walked over holding a stone slab and said, "Senior brother, look at this!"

Lu Sheng finally glanced at the slab, slapped it away with a wave of his hand, and barked, "Why are you looking at that? It’s all fake!"

"I carved the characters myself, and I picked the slab up from a ditch!"

"What is there to make such a fuss about!"

Hou Sheng hurriedly picked up the slab and said, "Senior brother, we are facing a catastrophe."

At these words, Lu Sheng raised his hand and began to count on his fingers. Suddenly, his face turned pale as he looked into the distance. "Oh no, it really is a catastrophe."

Hou Sheng nodded immediately. "Senior brother, you felt it too?"

Lu Sheng pointed toward the small mountain path and watched the dozen Imperial Guards approaching. "No need to feel it anymore; they are already here."

Only then did Hou Sheng notice someone approaching. Seeing the guards, he wore an expression more miserable than if he were crying. "I told you it wasn't safe here, but you wouldn't listen! Now we've been found!"

...

Meanwhile, Chancellor Li Si, the Prefect of the Carriage Office Zhao Gao, and Prince Huhai all received the news immediately.

That day, Li Si did not eat and locked himself in his study, refusing to see anyone. Zhao Gao was distracted, making constant errors while arranging official matters, and eventually claimed he was ill and retired to rest. Prince Huhai flew into an inexplicable rage, completely deviating from the persona he usually maintained.

Just as the three of them were at their wits' end, watching their plans begin to unravel, Xu Fu, who had been consuming "immortal pills" for several days at Penglai Pavilion, was physically and mentally exhausted. He had not eaten or slept well for days, and his face had begun to swell.

Xu Fu dared not eat any more of them. He knew the pills he concocted better than anyone. They sounded grand, but in reality, who knew what the consequences would be? For the past few days, Xu Fu had been frequently drifting into a trance, experiencing a sensation of floating as if he were becoming an immortal.

At that moment, a disciple entered and handed him a piece of cloth. "Master, someone left this in the pavilion today."

Xu Fu took the cloth, glanced at it, and immediately held it to a candle, burning it to ashes.

His gaze was filled with deep hatred. "Fusu! It is all your fault!"

The next second, Xu Fu stood up and went to an altar, beginning to draw talismans and perform rituals. He intended to use the unique, deceptive arts of the sorcerers to transmit the recent events in the imperial court to fellow practitioners.

...

At Prince Fusu’s residence, Prince Fusu was fretting over a dense collection of seal script characters. These characters looked familiar, but if he examined them closely, he could not recognize a single one.

Meng Yi had sent a comprehensive guide to seal script some days ago. Although Fusu had a record of famous calligraphy masters, how could he match them if he could not recognize the script? Furthermore, these bamboo slips were truly difficult to use! It was such a struggle to write, yet they had not been replaced. With the complex strokes of seal script, anyone who could write beautifully on bamboo was truly a talent.

Fusu stared blankly at his desk. At that moment, the Imperial Guard Bai Shao entered and reported, "Your Highness, the craftsmen you arranged wish to see you."

"Hm?" Fusu was surprised. Hadn't he just arranged for them to begin papermaking yesterday? They had encountered a problem already? Fusu pondered for a moment and said, "Let them in."

A man covered in mud walked in, bowing low with an excited expression. "Your Highness, we have succeeded! We have succeeded!"

The man held a large roll of somewhat coarse paper and carefully placed it on the desk. Fusu’s eyes lit up. He had seen the paper as the man entered, but he had never expected them to produce it in such a short time.

Of course! With such detailed manufacturing techniques—progressing from simple to complex—provided to these experienced craftsmen, how could they not succeed? He had been overthinking it!

Fusu nodded and said, "Someone, reward them handsomely!"

The craftsman shook his head immediately. "Your Highness, no, there is no need! We have studied bamboo slips for over a decade, always searching for a breakthrough, but we could never find one. Now, your method has solved a problem that has plagued our Mohist school for hundreds of years. I, Gao Xing, am grateful enough to you; how could I accept your reward?"

Fusu took a long look at the man in his early thirties, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

The Mohist school! Mohist mechanical arts were truly remarkable! The various massive projects of the Qin Dynasty would not have progressed so smoothly without the help of the Mohists. These people were the predecessors of modern scientists! They valued practical work over empty talk. Though the Mohist school would eventually fade away, the various inventions they created and the pragmatic spirit they displayed would influence generations to come.

"Gao Xing, is it? I will remember you. Work hard. If you have fellow disciples or colleagues you know, you may bring them to the residence. You must continue to research the paper and strive to create a surface that is smoother, more durable, and better suited for writing."

Upon hearing this, Gao Xing nodded eagerly. "Your Highness, rest assured, this subordinate will do everything in his power to fulfill your requirements."

"By the way, this matter is of great importance. You must only bring people you can trust into the residence!"

Gao Xing nodded immediately, looking as though he understood perfectly.

As they spoke, under Gao Xing's star-struck gaze of pure admiration, Fusu explained the methods for making an even higher grade of paper. By the end, Gao Xing was so impressed he was ready to bow down, his last shred of doubt vanished.

After Gao Xing left, Fusu called for the commander of the Imperial Guards, Bai Shao, and asked, "If I wish to personally recruit some maids for the residence, is there a recommended place to do so?"

Just as Bai Shao was about to answer, the voice of Wang Ruonan rang out from outside the door. "I shall handle the selection of the maids for the residence! Your Highness need only select the guards."

Fusu looked up to see Wang Jian, accompanied by Wang Ben and Wang Ruonan’s mother, Lady Zheng, walking in.

Fusu immediately smiled and welcomed them. "Look at my memory! I was so busy, I forgot. The servants mentioned yesterday that you were coming to visit today; I should have been waiting at the entrance to greet you personally."

Wang Jian snorted, surveying the layout of the study. Wang Ben, who did not care for this style, looked out at the courtyard and said, "It is far too scholarly. Your Highness, you need to build a training arena; Nan’er prefers activity over stillness!"

Fusu felt his face darken as he looked at the Wang family. So this was why they were here—to inspect the wedding chambers! Had he known, he would have had the place thoroughly cleaned. He had already dismissed the original staff, and many areas were currently neglected.

Lady Zheng looked at Fusu, staring for quite a while before saying, "Your Highness is certainly a handsome man, but the things you have been doing are quite unbecoming of a gentleman!"