Chapter 253: Entering the Palace

"What is it, then? And why like this?" Li Daozong was frantic.

"Alright, I'm begging you, can you cooperate? Stop beating around the bush; what exactly is the calamity that Yu Wan faces?"

"Can you explain it more clearly to me?"

"Prince, don't be anxious!" Li Chunfeng comforted: "Let's not say that the young princess's calamity is still many years away; just say that at this moment her calamity already has a turning point, a possibility of being overcome. You really need not be so impatient."

"I've had many matters to arrange these past few days, preparing for a long residence in Weinan County later, so let the Prince Consort explain to you."

"What can be said, the Prince Consort already knows; what cannot be said, even if you ask me, I cannot tell you."

Li Daozong wanted to speak but stopped; seeing Li Chunfeng already bow to him, the words he wanted to say remained unsaid.

As for Li Chunfeng the Daoist, not a single civil or military official dared to offend him; even Li Shimin respected him, let alone anyone else.

Moreover, he had already warned us and provided much help, so Li Daozong could only feel gratitude toward him.

Now he wants to leave; could we possibly forcefully block him?

Watching Li Chunfeng's silhouette fade away, Li Daozong let out a heavy sigh, turned his head to see his wife wearing a sorrowful expression, and a flood of emotions rose within him.

Who can understand this feeling?

After laboring in war for so long, earning great battle merits, upon returning I was told that my most beloved, smartest, clever daughter faces a great calamity in the future, to be entangled by the so‑called fate.

Although Li Daozong doesn't know what "fate's entanglement" means, any calamity is certainly not a good thing.

"Madam, what's the matter? Now you can finally explain it clearly to me, right?"

Back home, Li Daozong could no longer hold back.

The Prince Consort said bitterly, "It's not that I don't want to tell you; it's just that I don't know much either."

"That day you were fighting abroad, the day before Empress Changsun's birthday banquet, the Grand Historian suddenly came to the door, telling me that Yu Wan will face a calamity in the future, but the heavenly mechanism is shrouded in mist, making the road ahead unclear."

"I was very anxious then, asked the Grand Historian if there was any way, and he told me to sit at the second‑to‑last seat at the bottom of the banquet before Empress Changsun's birthday banquet began; there might be a glimmer of hope."

"Following the Grand Historian's instructions, before the banquet began I brought Yu Wan to sit at the second‑to‑last seat; shortly after, a handsome young lord came over and sat beside me, and Yu Wan was immediately curious about this young lord."

"Later, through conversation I learned that this young lord was the Marquis of Weinan, Chen Yan, who had caused a storm of trouble during that period."

"He seemed equally curious about Yu Wan; upon learning that Yu Wan was our daughter, his emotions were quite complex."

"Immediately after, the Grand Historian arrived, and kept talking with the young Chen lord about fate, about this being Yu Wan's destiny, and about some business matters; I couldn't understand any of it."

"The day after the banquet, I found the Grand Historian; he told me not to spread this matter. Until yesterday, the Grand Historian came again, and the remaining details you should already know."

Li Daozong listened patiently; after the Prince Consort finished, he mused, "So, the Grand Historian means that the Marquis of Weinan is Yu Wan's glimmer of hope?"

"That should be correct," the Prince Consort nodded hesitantly.

"At the banquet, I heard things in a fog, but from their conversation I roughly understood that the Grand Historian was testing the Marquis of Weinan's thoughts."

"And the Marquis of Weinan wanted to help Yu Wan, saying that she would be safe and joyful in the future, living a life without illness or disaster."

Li Daozong heard this, and countless thoughts swirled in his mind.

After a half‑minute of silence, he let out a slight sigh, "The Grand Historian and the Marquis of Weinan are not simple figures."

"Especially the Marquis of Weinan; His Majesty and Her Majesty seem to have an unusually strong trust in him. Since he says so, we will listen accordingly."

"From now on, regarding matters of the Marquis of Weinan, we can pay more attention; we will help where we can, just hoping he can lend Yu Wan a hand in the future."

"That's all we can do," Prince Consort Pei said helplessly.

In the afternoon, Gao Yang took a nap, then went with Chen Yan and Sizi, carrying some gifts, to the Imperial Palace.

Apparently knowing they were coming, as soon as they reached Cheng Tian Men, Chen Yan saw a familiar figure.

"Yo, Master Wushe, long time no see, your bearing is still the same ha," Chen Yan, in an overly familiar manner, clutched Wushe's shoulder, making it seem their relationship was very close.

"Ah, indeed it's been a long time, Lord Bo does seem more vigorous," Wushe noticed the guards' occasional glances behind him, gave a wry smile, already resigned, too lazy to struggle free.

Chen Yan had done this many times before; each time he acted as if they were very familiar, and he couldn't avoid it.

One should know that although Wushe is merely a eunuch, he is Li Shimin's personal eunuch, sometimes representing part of Li Shimin's will, even influencing his decisions to some extent.

Everything about him comes from Li Shimin and is constrained by Li Shimin.

He appears infinitely glorious, respected wherever he goes, but in reality he's just an old dog of the Li family.

Someone like him cannot get close to any officials, otherwise there would be suspicions of collusion or bribery.

At that time, Li Shimin could at any moment replace him with a more obedient dog.

However, Wushe couldn't refuse Chen Yan, nor did he really want to refuse.

After many years at court, eunuchs like them have endured cold stares; even those outside may respect him because of his position, but their eyes still hide contempt.

But Wushe felt that equal gaze from Chen Yan.

Chen Yan did not look down on him because of his eunuch status, nor did he despise him for it.

Chen Yan truly regarded him as a person, as an equal friend.

That is why Wushe was willing to risk his life back then to help Chen Yan exchange the Crown Prince's congratulatory gift.

"My vigor comes from my youthful mindset, which makes me appear outwardly energetic," Chen Yan's hand, still gripping his shoulder, gently pressed, straightening his habitually hunched back, then patted his chest and said:

"Look at yourself, sighing day after day, with a heart like that of a seventy‑ or eighty‑year‑old old man; an old heart makes the exterior old, how can you be energetic?"

"You should learn from me: relax your mindset, see everything openly, maintain a good attitude; it not only revitalizes you but also prolongs life."

Wushe, after hearing the end, was stunned for a moment, "Really?"

"How could it be false?" Chen Yan laughed, "Sun Simiao knows, right?"

"Look at him, at such an advanced age his body is still robust; what does he rely on?"

"Isn't it a good mindset?"