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He had been worried that Gu Youyou might meet with some mishap, and had never expected that upon entering Taihe Hall, he would witness such a scene.

Gu Youyou was kneeling opposite the Emperor, staring at a chessboard with a face full of worry, yet her mind didn’t seem to be on the game. Hearing the noise behind her, she immediately turned to look.

The moment she saw Jin Zijin, she was both shocked and overjoyed.

Shocked because he had actually come; elated because he had finally come to rescue her.

She really didn’t want to continue playing this inexplicable chess game with her so-called father.

After his initial surprise, Jin Zijin nonetheless bowed respectfully to the Emperor, but as the eldest disciple of Tianzong, he did not have to kneel like everyone else.

Finally, the Emperor stood up from beside the chessboard and walked toward Jin Zijin.

"Dispense with the formalities. What brings the Master here?"

Jin Zijin glanced at Gu Youyou and said, "I come on behalf of my master."

"Your master, the Heavenly Master Tian Jizi?" the Emperor asked, surprised.

"Indeed, my master is presently in Sanqing Temple."

Gu Youyou observed the two men from the side.

From their expressions, she couldn’t discern the abnormality she was hoping for.

He was a Taoist of Tianzong.

He was the supreme Emperor of Zhuzhao Country.

Their conversation seemed ordinary, like that between two strangers.

Seeing Jin Zijin’s anxious arrival, Gu Youyou even speculated that the strange Emperor had detained her to play chess simply to lure Jin Zijin here.

Perhaps he also knew that the daughter he doted on was not his own flesh and blood, but someone else.

Yet, the way the Emperor looked at Jin Zijin was like what she’d seen on television: a king meeting a somewhat skilled swindler Taoist, with a mix of reverence and caution.

Maybe Gu Youyou was overthinking it.

The Emperor had already ignored Gu Youyou, inviting Jin Zijin to sit aside, immediately instructing a palace maiden to serve tea.

The indifference on his face was gone, replaced by uncontrollable delight.

"The Heavenly Master actually came to Sanqing Temple? Alas, it must have been over a decade since the Heavenly Master last visited. Since the Heavenly Master has come, naturally, I must visit him personally. Master, how has the Heavenly Master been feeling lately?"

Jin Zijin cupped his hands and said, "Zijin is here precisely because of my master’s health!

My master has been feeling unwell recently, and my junior brother is not in the capital.

Knowing that Doctor Gu possesses remarkable medical skills, I rushed to Jisheng Hall to request Doctor Gu to treat my master.

Unexpectedly, the Shopkeeper informed me that Doctor Gu was not in Jisheng Hall, but at the Imperial Palace at this time. "

He looked at Gu Youyou and continued, "Zijin had no choice but to seek an audience with the Emperor, and I certainly didn’t expect such a coincidence – Doctor Gu just happens to be here with the Emperor."

The Emperor also followed Jin Zijin’s gaze toward Gu Youyou.

Gu Youyou pursed her lips, smiled bitterly, and her smile was full of woe.

The Emperor chuckled, "In that case, please take Doctor Gu with you as soon as possible to treat the Heavenly Master. The Heavenly Master is getting on in years and cannot afford to wait."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave," Jin Zijin stood, and bowed deeply to the Emperor.

He gave Gu Youyou a look and then followed an eunuch out.

Gu Youyou hurriedly stood up, asked to be excused from the Emperor, and quickly followed Jin Zijin.

The Emperor stroked his beard and gazed at the empty doorway for a long time without speaking.

The Emperor’s personal eunuch stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, seeing the bearing of this Master Jin, he seems somewhat better than Xuanzong’s Huo Li. Perhaps he could be the next State Preceptor..."

The Emperor raised his hand to stop him from continuing and said, "The affairs of the Dao Family must not be discussed rashly."

...