During the Crown Prince Zhang Yutao's regency, he had infiltrated the palace extensively. Even after Emperor Pingzhao's previous purge, many spies remained, capable of relaying messages.
Therefore, the moment Ding Yun handed the pills to Emperor Pingzhao and explained their effects, a palace servant rushed to pass on fragments of their conversation to the Crown Prince, Zhang Yutao.
This news could no longer allow him to sit still.
He immediately summoned the officials and nobles who were irrevocably tied to his cause, unable to escape even if they wished, to secretly discuss their next course of action.
"News just arrived from the palace. My elder sister has given another batch of pills to Father Emperor. She even claimed these pills not only completely cure Father Emperor's illness but can also make him revert to youth and prolong his life. What should we do if this is true? Should I continue to endure?"
Just a few days ago, Zhang Yutao had been consoling himself with the idea that perhaps his father was merely experiencing a final burst of energy before death. But in these recent days, his father's appetite had grown better, and he appeared energetic during court sessions. All these signs made it impossible for him to deceive himself any longer. Everything clearly indicated that his father's condition was significantly improving.
Now, his elder sister claimed she could cure him, even reverse his aging. He found it hard not to believe. But if it were true, wouldn't he have to remain Crown Prince for another thirty to forty years? Was there ever a Crown Prince who held the position for fifty years? What if he, rather than his father, passed away first? Moreover, considering his father's current profound dissatisfaction with him, constantly suppressing him, his position as Crown Prince was already precarious. These converging circumstances fueled his anxiety and made him restless.
His current questioning was not truly seeking advice but rather testing the waters.
"Your Highness, please do not be overly anxious. If we examine the historical records of past dynasties, which emperor has ever achieved rejuvenation and longevity through pills? Most would die soon after taking them. Therefore, I believe Your Highness has no need to worry and should simply wait patiently. Perhaps the Eldest Princess coincidentally had a medicine that could cure His Majesty's illness, and it was a fluke. Even if His Majesty's illness is cured, he is already over sixty, while Your Highness is in your prime. How can you not endure? Throughout history, few Crown Princes who attempted to usurp the throne have succeeded. Furthermore, His Majesty is likely paying close attention to Your Highness. Any action you take might be discovered immediately. Thus, our most pressing task is to consolidate our forces, appear obedient, and show filial piety. We must absolutely not contend with His Majesty. As long as you do not make any mistakes yourself, your position as Crown Prince will not be shaken."
"Indeed. Although you are not the eldest son of the Empress, you are the son of the Empress. This alone puts you ahead of all other princes. As long as you commit no errors, even if His Majesty has other intentions, the court officials will surely oppose them."
"Our most crucial need now is stability."
"I implore Your Highness to be patient and not to panic. Regardless of the circumstances, you still hold the advantage. However, if you make any move, all your advantages will vanish. Please, Your Highness, reconsider, and reconsider again!"
Needless to say, none of the officials and nobles present agreed with Zhang Yutao's desire to stop enduring. They universally believed that continued patience was the better course. Firstly, they did not want to take the risk. Secondly, usurpation carried a poor reputation. Most importantly, they did not believe Ding Yun could truly make Emperor Pingzhao revert to youth or achieve anything similar. Many of them suspected that Ding Yun had only cured Emperor Pingzhao by chance. Rather than attempting a coup now, they reasoned it would be more opportune to wait until the Eldest Princess's questionable pills poisoned Emperor Pingzhao, allowing him to ascend the throne naturally.
Persuaded by their arguments, Zhang Yutao began to wonder if he was indeed being too anxious, if he had truly believed his elder sister could make Emperor Pingzhao young again through pills. Even the Celestial Masters, with their generations of inherited knowledge, did not possess such abilities. If she, a self-taught dabbler, had such power, wouldn't the Celestial Masters' thousand-year legacy be rendered useless, mere garbage? It was an impossible notion.
After a moment of contemplation, he conceded to their reasoning and began discussing how to conceal their forces, minimize their losses, and how to respond if Emperor Pingzhao continued his suppression. They deliberated for a long time before dispersing and carrying out their plans.
From that day forward, the Crown Prince's faction fell silent. Not only did they consolidate their own forces, but they also voluntarily abandoned some factions that might arouse Emperor Pingzhao's suspicion. They also collected various Daoist scriptures and alchemical texts, which they presented to Emperor Pingzhao. This relieved Emperor Pingzhao, who had been highly wary of Zhang Yutao and had even prepared for his potential coup. A hint of relief and satisfaction arose within him. It seemed his ability to educate his children was not entirely lacking; his daughter was both filial and capable, and his son was not irredeemably bad. At least he had not acted like those princes in history who attempted rebellion. Consequently, he naturally eased his suppression of the Crown Prince, and the court seemed to regain its calm.
This shift led Zhang Yutao and the Crown Prince's faction to believe their suspicions were correct and their plan flawless. As long as he did not step out of line, his position as Crown Prince would remain secure. Thus, Zhang Yutao became even more docile. Compared to the other princes who frequently sent gifts to the Eldest Princess's manor, he was almost excessively quiescent, as if transforming from the regent Crown Prince into someone detached and unwilling to contend.
This relative balance persisted for nearly three months, until Emperor Pingzhao, after consistently taking the pills Ding Yun had given him for eighty-one days, experienced a new change. Ding Yun had given him nine bottles, each containing nine pills, instructing him to take one a day in order. On the eighty-first day, he finished the last pill. As the final pill was consumed, the accumulated medicinal effects within his body, combined with the last set of body-conditioning exercises Ding Yun had taught him, finally took full effect, commencing the final stage of rejuvenation.
In reality, the previous pills had already restored his internal organs and physical constitution to that of a robust thirty-year-old. However, the internal youthfulness was not externally apparent, making the effect seem insufficient. This was why Ding Yun had specifically prepared the last type of medicine for him: a pill for reversing aging.
After finishing the last pill and absorbing its effects through the final set of body-conditioning exercises, Emperor Pingzhao quickly transformed from his fifty to sixty-year-old appearance into that of a thirty-year-old. His hair turned black, his complexion firm with few wrinkles, embodying the vigor of a man in his prime. That very day, after expressing his delight with a hearty laugh, he ascended the throne with his rejuvenated appearance.