Xiao Hanzheng and Shi Qingluo did not stay in the palace any longer.

They left after making an agreement with the emperor.

After they left, Liang Hengchen said while grinding the ink, “Father, do you think all these that Shi Qingluo knew are really left behind by the so-called old immortal master?”

He was partly convinced yet doubtful of the so-called old immortal master.

Even if the old Taoist master was really that powerful, would he give all of it to Shi Qingluo, a female disciple?

According to the information he found, a female disciple was not even considered a disciple.

She was just a Taoist child.

The key point was that she gave people a feeling that she was not simple.

She was the kind of woman who also had deep feelings in her heart.

The emperor played with the memorial in his hand. “I have checked. That old Taoist was indeed a little famous when he was alive, but it was all about alchemy and other aspects.”

“So how did he get these recipes? Why didn’t he take them out when he was alive?”

“Shi Qingluo said before that all the things in her head were either ideas or memories that came to her suddenly. Many of them were dreams that the old immortal master had given her.

“I was also partially doubtful, but whether I believe it or not is actually not important.”

He looked at the crown prince and said, “What is important is whether she is useful to me.”

He had previously thought of probing further into the things that Shi Qingluo knew.

But because she said that she would recall the recipe when she had an idea or felt that she should do something, he gave up doing so.

He was afraid that it would backfire and she would never think of anything good again.

As for whether it was the teachings of the old immortal, the dream, or what she knew, it was not important to him.

As long as she gave it to the country and the people, it would be fine.

Liang Hengchen was deep in thought.

After a moment, he nodded and smiled, “I understand.”

As long as Shi Qingluo was useful, it would benefit the emperor and the country.

This was enough.

If she was forced into a corner, it might not be a good thing.

He no longer struggled over whether these things were really passed down by the old immortal or if Shi Qingluo knew how to do it herself.

The emperor smiled. “It’s not a bad thing to play dumb occasionally. You should learn well.”

He was pleased with the crown prince, so he had always put him by his side.

Furthermore, he had experienced a situation of almost being forced to death by his illegitimate brother as the legitimate son.

He had also missed out on the throne.

He wanted to maintain the orthodoxy even more.

Unless the crown prince could not help himself, the future throne would not be given to his illegitimate sons.

Because of this, he was very disgusted with Xiao Yuanshi’s actions.

This was similar to how his father had pampered his concubines and killed his wife.

Xiao Hanzheng was even more outrageous.

For a woman, he even gave up on his legitimate children and schemed against them.

This was simply outrageous.

He suddenly asked, “What do you think about me transferring Xiao Yuanshi back to the northern border?”

The crown prince was stunned.

He did not answer immediately but thought for a moment.

After a long while, his thoughts changed and he asked, “Father, do you want to use Xiao Yuanshi as the bait?”

A satisfied smile appeared in the Emperor’s eyes. “That’s right.”

“I suspect that Xiao Yuanshi would not hand over the treasure map so willingly. There’s a high chance that he would still draw a copy of it and keep it.

“As for that good brother of mine, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t know that Xiao Yuanshi has the treasure map.

“Therefore, why don’t we let Xiao Yuanshi go to the northern border be the bait and see if they can work together to find the place where the treasure is.”

Liang Hengchen was startled. “Father, do you mean that Xiao Yuanshi might seek refuge with King Jin because of the treasure map?”

The emperor shook his head. “It’s not just the treasure map. His future isn’t as bright because of what happened recently.”

He did not like a senior official like him.

He was even so cold and heartless to his own children. Who knew if he would stab the emperor in the back one day.

Moreover, he found out that his younger brother was secretly trying to rope Xiao Yuanshi in.

Xiao Yuanshi had very secretly interacted with King Jin’s people, but he had not achieved anything for the time being.

This also meant that Xiao Yuanshi was leaving a way out for himself.

The emperor sneered.

Since it was very likely that Xiao Yuanshi had another motive, then he would grant him his wish.

“Of course, if he still chose not to betray me in the end, I will also give him good rewards for all the contributions he has made over the years.”

He was different from his father.

For senior officials who had made contributions, he would not kill them out of fear or displeasure.

If Xiao Yuanshi returned to the northern border, he would be able to tolerate it as long as he did not betray him, even if he had something to do with King Jin.

If Xiao Yuanshi came to report it to him after finding the treasure map, he would not omit his contributions.

Even if he wasn’t that useful, he would not mind giving him a noble title to recognize his efforts.

However, if Xiao Yuanshi dared to betray him, the consequences would be very serious.

Liang Hengchen could hear the hidden meaning in his father’s words.

This was also the last chance his father gave Xiao Yuanshi.

Whether Xiao Yuanshi could have a good ending and whether he could seize the opportunity depended on himself.

Regarding this, he actually wasn’t optimistic about the situation.

After all, he knew that Xiao Yuanshi was a person who valued power very much.

Now that he was being stripped of his position in the Ministry of War and returned to the northern border to take up a post, would he not have any resentment in his heart?

Moreover, if he was really that loyal, would he copy the treasure map and keep it in his hands?

What was he going to do? Was he going to find it himself, or was he going to surrender it to King Jin?

Of course, this was only father’s guess, so he had to verify it.

“But father, if Xiao Yuanshi really defected to King Jin and their kingdom rebelled, what should we do?”

Wouldn’t this be a great threat?

The emperor’s face revealed a hint of coldness. “What we want is for him to rebel.”

He had given King Jin a chance, and he had also given Xiao Yuanshi a chance. It all depended on what they chose.

King Jin was like a thorn in his heart.

It would be uncomfortable if he did not pull it out.

Rather than continuing to ignore the endless trouble, it would be better for him to take the initiative to push him.

Liang Hengchen was shocked, but he quickly guessed his father’s thoughts.

He said from the bottom of his heart, “My father is wise!”

This was the essence of being an emperor.

It seemed that he still had a lot to learn from his father.

As expected, life experience made one wiser.

On the other hand, after Xiao Hanzheng and his wife returned, everyone was paying attention to the news in the palace.

On that day, other than sending a few teams to a few different places, the emperor did not send anyone else.

Those who were watching the show could not help but feel disappointed.

Xiao Yuanshi heaved a sigh of relief, but he was still on tenterhooks.

It was as if there was a knife hanging above his head.

In the next few days, he still reported being sick and did not go to court.

Only when no one mentioned the previous matter in court did Xiao Yuanshi go to court.

However, what he did not expect was that the group of yushi who had just gone to court raised the matter again.

They wanted nothing more than to beat him up.

Therefore, the emperor had a troubled expression on his face.

He dismissed his position in the ministry of war that he had fought so hard for, and let him reflect on his actions at home for three months.

Afterwards, he would be allowed to return to the northern border to take up a post.

This was a bolt from the blue for Xiao Yuanshi.

He had worked so hard for so many years, and was transferred from the northern border to the capital.

Now, he was going back?

Moreover, the emperor’s intention was very obvious.

He said that he would go to the northern border after three months of reflection.

It was clearly intentional.

Did he want him to see with his own eyes his son’s achievements in the enke, who he had given up?

He suspected that this was very likely.

This was the request that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife had made to the emperor.

Why did the emperor decide to demote him back to the northern border?

He felt that it was most likely something “good” that his son and his daughter-in-law had done. He was furious.

Xiao Yuanshi was not the only one who thought this way. Many people in the imperial court had similar thoughts.

At the same time, they were also shocked by Shi Qingluo’s influence on the emperor.

What recipe did she offer this time?

She actually made the emperor banish Xiao Yuanshi directly.

When Shi Qingluo heard the guesses of the officials in the imperial court, she rolled her eyes.

This time, she was the scapegoat, alright?

She reflected on herself.

Was it because she had made her master take too much blame previously? So now it was her turn to be the scapegoat…