Chapter 19: What Exactly Is the Medicine in the Porcelain Bottle?

"Your Majesty, the Marquis of Weinan… are you so afraid of death?"

Watching Chen Yan's back as he left with Qing'er, Li Chunfeng seemed somewhat puzzled.

Li Shimin scowled and said irritably, "He's not afraid of death at all; he wants the Death‑exemption Gold Medal just to strike my Princess Gao Yang!"

Li Chunfeng was startled; he knew Chen Yan and Princess Gao Yang had fought twice, but he didn't know how they fought.

He had previously assumed it was only with fists, or with slaps.

In any case, he could not have imagined that Chen Yan actually used the Death‑exemption Gold Medal to strike.

Across the whole world, probably only Chen Yan could do that.

Li Chunfeng was at a loss for words for a moment, stammered for a while, then said awkwardly, "Marquis of Weinan… acts in an unconventional way, huh."

Princess Gao Yang stared softly at Li Shimin, "Father Emperor, since you know he intends to use the Death‑exemption Gold Medal to strike a minister, why did you still give it to him?"

Facing his daughter's soft gaze, Li Shimin awkwardly explained, "Zi An was meritorious for rescuing Sizi, so he was to receive a Death‑exemption Gold Medal; how could I deny him?"

"Besides, didn't you just not stop him?"

Princess Gao Yang fell silent, her pretty cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.

After hastily bowing, she left with Xiang Lan, fleeing as if.

Li Shimin clicked his tongue in amazement, "I truly did not expect Zi An could actually restrain Princess Gao Yang; indeed, one thing subdues another."

"If Princess Gao Yang could temper her arrogant nature, those two fights wouldn't have been in vain."

Empress Changsun shook her head, "I think it's not that easy; I suspect the matter between Zi An and Princess Gao Yang is not yet over."

"In the future, who knows how many more incidents will arise."

Li Shimin's mouth twitched at the words, recalling the previous two incidents, and he suddenly felt a headache.

Li Chunfeng smiled lightly, "Your Majesty and Her Majesty need not worry; is it certain that whatever the Marquis of Weinan and Princess Gao Yang cause is a misfortune?"

He hinted, "Perhaps within seemingly absurd and helpless situations, unexpected opportunities are hidden."

Li Shimin and his wife were startled, recalled the matter of Xiao Sizi, and then nodded in sincere agreement.

Li Chunfeng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I dare to be bold; I have an unseemly request, and I hope Your Majesty can grant it."

"Oh?" Li Shimin was somewhat surprised.

Previously, Grand Historian Li Chunfeng had always adhered to Daoist tranquility and non‑action, neither coveting wealth nor desiring rank.

For many years, few had asked anything of him.

His sudden request today truly surprised Li Shimin.

"Grand Historian, what do you seek? Feel free to speak."

Li Chunfeng said cheerfully, "It's not a big matter; when Your Majesty and Her Majesty go to the Marquis of Weinan's residence, may I accompany you?"

"I wish to visit the Marquis of Weinan's home to see it for myself."

"Just that?" Li Shimin was even more surprised.

Even Empress Changsun cast an inquisitive glance.

Li Chunfeng previously would not interact with anyone in court unless summoned or there was an urgent matter to report before entering the palace.

Even when entering the palace, he would not meet outsiders.

Now he proposes to go to Chen Yan's home to look around; how could that not pique Li Shimin and Empress Changsun's curiosity?

Li Chunfeng sighed lightly, "I know Your Majesty and Her Majesty are puzzled, so I will not withhold the matter."

"Besides those indirectly connected to the Marquis of Weinan—people and items—I can derive a partial result."

"If I calculate the Marquis of Weinan directly, I cannot see even a single thread, nor can I compute it."

"It's as if this person never existed in the world; no trace of origin can be found, not even a hint of a trace."

"Moreover…" Li Chunfeng pointed at the white porcelain bottle in Empress Changsun's hand, "the Marquis of Weinan possesses the ability to alter fate."

"Earlier, I clearly saw Her Majesty faintly bearing the sign of 'flower withered, leaves falling,' but since she took this bottle of medicine, she has become the matriarch who governs the world, with abundant blessings and longevity. Moreover, the 'Fude Palace' overflows with auspicious qi, showing Six Palaces Harmony and prosperous offspring."

"I, the humble servant, am truly curious!"

In Li Chunfeng's view, destiny is ordained by Heaven; altering fate is equivalent to defying Heaven.

Mere mortals who defy Heaven must incur Heaven's wrath!

Chen Yan, however, used only a bottle of medicine to change Empress Changsun's fate, yet he appeared lively and as if nothing had happened.

How could Li Chunfeng not be curious about Chen Yan?

"Grand Historian, what exactly did you mean by 'flower withered, leaves falling'?" Li Shimin's expression was extremely grim, his grip on Empress Changsun's hand beginning to tremble.

The phrase 'flower withered, leaves falling' applied to Empress Changsun suggests she will wither like a dead flower and return to the earth like fallen leaves, doesn't it?

Li Shimin could not accept this outcome under any circumstance.

He dared not imagine what would happen if he lost Empress Changsun.

"Er Lang, stay calm." Empress Changsun gently comforted, "Grand Historian has already said my destiny has changed, becoming Six Palaces Harmony and prosperous offspring."

"Your Majesty should be pleased."

Indeed, upon hearing this, Li Shimin's worry turned to joy, yet he couldn't help but confirm once more, "Grand Historian, has Guanyin Maid's destiny truly changed?"

"I dare not deceive the Son of Heaven," Li Chunfeng replied solemnly.

"Very well, very well!" Li Shimin exclaimed joyfully, shaking Empress Changsun's hand, "Guanyin Maid, did you hear? You're safe now; I no longer have to worry about losing you!"

Empress Changsun was also helpless.

Li Shimin was fine in every way, except that he could be somewhat childish in private.

Sometimes, when he saw Xiao Sizi's toys, he would devise every trick to obtain them, then delight in playing with them himself.

Now it's the same; the Grand Historian is still in front of him, yet behaves like a child?

Empress Changsun found it both amusing and heartwarming.

In any case, Li Shimin's love for her was genuine.

She pinched Li Shimin's palm lightly without changing expression, then turned to Li Chunfeng and asked, "Grand Historian, aside from Zi An, this bottle of medicine is probably not simple either, right?"

"Do you know what this medicine actually is?"

This move was just right.

It both secretly reminded Li Shimin of an outsider's presence, naturally diverted the topic, and voiced her inner doubt.

Li Shimin understood his wife's meaning, his expression gradually returned to normal, and he likewise looked curiously at the porcelain bottle in her hand.

He had never seen such a peculiar medicine before, which is actually taken by the drop.

It looks nothing like medicine at all; rather, it resembles poison.

Li Chunfeng pondered for a moment, shook his head, and said, "Your Majesty, I likewise do not know what the medicine in this porcelain bottle is."

"However... in my view, the bottle is surrounded by accumulating merit, and auspicious signs almost surge to the heavens. In terms of importance, it is probably only slightly inferior to the object in Your Majesty's bosom."

"Is this medicine really that important?" Li Shimin and his wife were somewhat startled.

What Li Chunfeng said turned out to be the salt-making method that Chen Yan had previously presented.

The importance of salt needs no further emphasis.

The medicine in this bottle is actually only slightly inferior to the salt-making method?

Li Chunfeng stated firmly: "This bottle of medicine is just that important; it can be called a supreme treasure, or even a divine medicine, without exaggeration."

After hearing this, Li Shimin and his wife felt shaken inside, exchanged a glance, and both saw doubt in each other's eyes.

What exactly is the medicine in this bottle?

"......"