Chapter 1103: Life-and-Death Calamity

It was the tenth year of Jing Tai, sixth month; the two young imperial princes had begun their studies, could recognize basic characters, and answered questions fluently, revealing their intelligence, while Zhu Jianji was already eight years old.

He led his two younger brothers before Pan Yun and bowed respectfully to her.

The Crown Prince, the empire's next successor, concerns the very foundation of the state.

Pan Yun stared steadily at the three brothers; qi surged, her talent activated, and when the Emperor looked up, he saw her eyes had changed color.

Seeing the luminous flow in her pupils, the Emperor sat up straight, his face filled with anticipation.

Pan Yun looked back and forth among the three, finally fixing her gaze on Zhu Jianji.

Zhu Jianji instinctively tensed his body, his face tight with nervousness.

Pan Yun showed no expression, saying to Zhu Qiyu: "Your Majesty, next year's Kaiyuan is an auspicious day; the heir's selection can be decided then."

Zhu Qiyu blinked in surprise: "Next year?"

Pan Yun nodded slightly, glancing again at Zhu Jianji: "Next October, he will face a calamity; if he survives it, all will be well."

Zhu Qiyu's fingers clenched tight, his voice strained: "What calamity?"

Pan Yun: "A life-and-death calamity."

Zhu Qiyu grew tense: "Can the State Master find a way to avoid it?"

Pan Yun shook her head slightly, thought for a moment, then pulled out a talisman of safety and gave it to Zhu Jianji, looking at him seriously: "Your Highness, not all calamities can be avoided; those that cannot be avoided must be crossed step by step—even if you must crawl over nails, once you pass the obstacle, the path ahead becomes a starlit road."

Zhu Jianji took the talisman, looked up blankly, gazing straight into Pan Yun's eyes—he seemed to stand suspended in the cosmos, all he saw was boundless void…

It lasted only an instant; Zhu Jianji's heart jolted, the vision vanished instantly, and when he came back to himself, only Pan Yun's faint smile remained before him.

Even after walking far away, Zhu Jianji kept turning back to look at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Zhu Qiyu turned back as well and saw that Pan Yun had somehow stood atop the high platform of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, staring steadily at them.

Zhu Qiyu knew that if Zhu Jianji survived the calamity of next October, he would be the Crown Prince.

Zhu Qiyu reached out and patted Zhu Jianji's head, whispering: "Take good care of yourself; avoid dangerous things."

Zhu Jianji obediently replied.

Pan Xiaohei leapt onto Pan Yun's shoulder in a few bounds, joining her as they watched the father and four sons walk away.

"Human fate is strange—just one choice leads to vastly different destinies; one turning point can be so crucial."

Pan Yun extended her hand; a cluster of golden merit surged in her palm: "Don't you find it miraculous? One person's fate changes, and the entire nation's fate shifts with it, altering the whole world's balance."

Pan Xiaohei grumbled: "That's because the person you chose to change is the ruler of a nation."

"So the Emperor matters greatly—having a cabinet to deliberate affairs doesn't mean the Emperor's selection can be treated lightly," Pan Yun said, her gaze deep.

Pan Xiaohei tilted his head at her: "What exactly did you see? Is Zhu Jianji truly suited to be Emperor?"

Pan Yun: "Great Ming will reach its peak under his rule."

Pan Xiaohei viewed things differently from ordinary people; he felt no excitement, only grim amusement: "Excess leads to decline."

Pan Yun glanced at him: "Historical law is unavoidable—but we can extend the peak, flatten the summit."

Pan Xiaohei perked up: "How?"

Pan Yun said nothing, only continued her cultivation.

Because of Zhu Jianji's life-and-death calamity, Pan Yun stopped leaving the capital after the sixth month of the following year and remained in the city to cultivate.

Zhu Qiyu assigned a guard unit to Zhu Jianji's side, personally inquired after his meals, and made him visit Pan Yun daily at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, euphemistically calling it "paying respects to the State Master on behalf of his father."

The court ministers were sharp—they saw the Emperor's favor toward the eldest prince and began to interpret his intentions.

The current Empress had only two daughters and no legitimate sons; by law, the eldest prince was the first candidate for Crown Prince.

Some ministers quietly aligned themselves with Zhu Jianji, but he was only nine and not involved in state affairs, so they could only contact his maternal family, the Hang clan.