Chapter 75: Who dared to scold Little Sister Mu Yuanzhi with such offensive words?

The National Teacher only smiled, saying nothing, and drank tea by himself.

Mu Yuanzhi set down her teacup and said, "I have bothered the National Teacher for so long; I should also leave now. Please, National Teacher, divine a hexagram for me—am I fit to be a bride‑escort?"

She came this time precisely for this; although she knows that no matter the outcome, she is destined to be the bride‑escort, because the emperor could not possibly reject such a request from the Princess of Lanting.

The National Teacher nodded, leaned forward to fetch the tortoise shell used for divination.

Mu Yuanzhi also couldn't say whether she believed in these things; if she didn't, how could she explain her rebirth? If she did, then is her fate in this life already predetermined?

Is what she is doing now futile?

Just as Mu Yuanzhi was thinking this and that, the National Teacher had finished the divination and said, "Princess, you are fit to be the bride‑escort."

Mu Yuanzhi nodded, thanked the National Teacher, and left.

She had wanted to ask a few more questions, but she also didn't want to know, or rather feared knowing, fearing what else the National Teacher might divine.

After walking a few steps, Mu Yuanzhi stopped, turned back, and asked him, "National Teacher, can you divine the fate of a person for me?"

"Certainly, Princess, how far ahead would you like your fortune told?"

"The ending." Mu Yuanzhi said.

"The ending?" the National Teacher frowned, looking into Mu Yuanzhi's eyes, "The ending is not set in stone."

"I understand, but I still want to divine it; no matter what, I want to know." Seeing the National Teacher's smile fade, Mu Yuanzhi said, "If it's inconvenient for you, National Teacher, just pretend I didn't ask."

She knew that heavenly secrets must not be leaked, and that she and the National Teacher were not on good terms, so it was a bit of imposing on him.

But she truly feared that the Qilin would die for her again this time, unable to bear that an important person would die for her once more.

"Princess, give me your birth characters, and I will divine for you; but you have made up your mind—having glimpsed the heavenly secrets, perhaps it is not a good thing."

"I have decided." Mu Yuanzhi nodded solemnly, picked up her brush, wrote the Qilin's birth characters on the paper, and watched the National Teacher's movements nervously.

Until the National Teacher also took up his brush and, on that paper of birth characters, wrote a single word: "Ominous."

Ominous?!

Mu Yuanzhi nearly lost her footing.

Ominous!

Qilin…

The National Teacher reached out to steady Mu Yuanzhi, but saw she had already steadied herself, her gaze shifting from fear to resolve in an instant.

Is it the effect of the Tibetan incense?

The National Teacher went to inspect the burnt‑out incense, then smiled again.

It seems he underestimated her.

Ordinary people would panic at the sight of his "ominous" mark, yet she calmed herself in such a short time—truly rare.

This birth‑character sheet is not the heir apparent's, nor any prince or princess's, nor her own—whose could it be? That she cares so much about it makes him curious.

Moreover, the ending is a single "ominous" character.

"Princess, don't worry too much; I just said the ending can change."

"I know, thank you, National Teacher, and please keep this confidential." Mu Yuanzhi slipped the paper into the newly lit incense burner and burned it.

The National Teacher nodded and saw her out.

She had just left when the Imperial Observatory received another distinguished guest—Pei Shangyan.

"What auspicious day is today? Not only has His Majesty come to visit me, but even Princess Mu Yuanzhi and the Crown Prince have come as well."

The National Teacher had already changed to a fresh pot of tea; he did not use the earlier Kunlun Mountain winter snow water to greet Pei Shangyan, but instead used spring water from Shu.

"Has Little Sister Mu Yuanzhi been here?" Pei Shangyan's eyes lit up at the words.

"She just left."

Hearing that, Pei Shangyan sighed, absentmindedly took the tea the National Teacher offered, then remembered he had brought a gift and handed over the brocade box: "This is a rare treasure our palace recently obtained—a Wander‑Immortal Pillow—specially presented to you, National Teacher."

"A Wander‑Immortal Pillow?" the National Teacher raised his brows, "Isn't that the Wander‑Immortal Pillow mentioned in *Remnants of the Kaiyuan Tianbao Era* and *In Response to the Younger Brother's Rhyme*?"

He took the box, opened it, and saw a crystal‑clear jade pillow that warmed to the touch.

Pei Shangyan nodded: "Exactly; this item is an ancient treasure our palace sought for a long time. Knowing you like such things, we sent it to you, hoping you'll enjoy it."

The National Teacher smiled: "Crown Prince, with such a grand gesture—is there something you need me to help with?"

"To be frank, National Teacher, you also know my two sisters are about to marry—one has an excellent match, the other……" Pei Shangyan sighed, "National Teacher, you should understand what our palace means."

The National Teacher's smile unchanged, he took the Wander‑Immortal Pillow from the box and said to Pei Shangyan, "Crown Prince, you've been overthinking lately—why not keep this pillow for your own use?"

"What do you mean, National Teacher? Are you unwilling to help? As an elder brother, how can our palace stand by and watch our sisters jump into a pit of fire?!" Pei Shangyan said, growing agitated, his voice rising.

"I have lit calming Tibetan incense; the setting is tranquil. Your Highness, why not rest awhile?" the National Teacher said, propping his chin and smiling.

Pei Shangyan sometimes truly doesn't know how to communicate with this National Teacher—he seems easy to get along with, but actually isn't.

But today he has a request, so he can only follow the other's pace.

"All right, our palace will first test this pillow for you, National Teacher."

Pei Shangyan puts great stock in such things; in the founding era, one of the three founding heroes was a shaman‑physician, who left myriad strategies and contributed greatly to the empire's establishment.

Who knows whether the legendary Wander‑Immortal Pillow on the cushion can truly let one ascend to the immortal realm?

The National Teacher added a few medicinal ingredients to the incense burner, then turned to see Pei Shangyan already fallen into deep sleep.

"National Teacher!"

Pei Shangling burst in in a fluster, the National Teacher felt a headache coming on, and the newly arrived junior supervisor seemed unable to stop this Fourth Prince.

"Shh." the National Teacher made a silencing gesture.

Only then did Pei Shangling notice Pei Shangyan lying on the imperial concubine's chair, asleep with a peculiar jade stone as a pillow; having swallowed his words, he clutched a brocade box, saw another box on the desk, and realized his elder brother shared the same aim—seeking the National Teacher's help to prevent Mu Yuanzhi from marrying Gu Rongjin.

At that moment, the hitherto peacefully sleeping Pei Shangyan's forehead began to bead with cold sweat: "Little Sister Mu Yuanzhi…"

Hearing Pei Shangyan's sleep‑talk, both turned toward him, who seemed to be having a nightmare.

"Crown Prince Brother!" Pei Shangling tried to wake Pei Shangyan, but the National Teacher stopped him: "It would be improper to rouse the Crown Prince abruptly."

Pei Shangling could only give up for now; it was just a nightmare, surely nothing serious?

Who would have thought Pei Shangyan's expression seemed to grow more and more painful, constantly murmuring "Zhi little sister, Zhi little sister".

Pei Shangling didn't realize that Pei Shangyan had already sunk into a multi-layered dream within his sea of consciousness.

"Mu Yuanzhi! You don't deserve to call me brother! I don't have a vicious sister like you who constantly schemes against my younger sister!" A surging wave of anger washed over.

Who? Who dared to insult Zhi little sister so horribly?

Zhi little sister is not that kind of person!