zChapter 1121 - Great Misfortune, Death Divination

The Seventh Prince Xuan Tianhua walked over leisurely, it was as if he carried a gust of spring wind with him during these autumn days, brushing over gently, it was comfortable.

Xiangrong really enjoyed watching Xuan Tianhua walk, or rather, she was willing to watch Xuan Tianhua in whatever he did, just like admiring a painting, that painting was really a masterpiece.

But she did not understand what Xuan Tianhua said today, so she asked: “What do you mean by so what if a lot of people or a few people know? Those are different.”

“What’s the difference?” He sat on the chair next to Xiangrong’s bed. The servant sensibly left the room and she heard Xuan Tianhua ask her: “You’re worried that too many people will know that you had been abducted and will make nonsense guesses, ruining your reputation?”

Xiangrong nodded, “The most important thing in life to a woman is reputation, if they do not have a good reputation, this life is ruined.”

“The most important thing in life is reputation?” Xuan Tianhua did not understand, “I thought that regardless of man or woman, the most important thing in life is following one’s heart.”

“But I cannot only care about myself.” Xiangrong said, “I am living at Chun Palace now, my reputation will be tied to the reputation of Chun Palace, so I cannot only think about myself, I still need to think of…… Your Highness the Seventh Prince.”

“But I had never cared about these.” Xuan Tianhua told her, “Not to mention when we searched for you, it was all done in secret, and the information was always sealed and was not spread. Even if everyone knows, so what? Your life is our own, people cannot live and die for you, so they naturally should not control your life. I said before, the best way to live is to follow your heart. Do not think of those unnecessary things, we should just act the same as before, treating as if this incident had never happened, returning to how things should be.”

Xiangrong listened to this, agitation rising in her heart, wanting to ask what he meant by returning to how things should be? Their marriage engagement was still valid? But she did not ask in the end, in this matter, she was the passive party from the start to the end. Xuan Tianhua marrying her would be her fortune, a great benefit. Xuan Tianhua not marrying her, that would be her fate, the fate she should have had. She was just a concubine’s daughter, how could she talk about get married to such an outstanding prince?

“I……” Xiangrong changed the topic, but she spoke about another scary matter instead, she said: “I saw His Highness the Eighth Prince at the place with the people of Zong Sui, it was very scary, can you imagine what happened to this face? That was because the people of Zong Sui pulled off all the skin off his face when he was still alive. I do not know why this was done, I heard that it was to make a mask, but that is too cruel. His Highness the Eighth Prince was locked together with me, moaning and howling all day like a beast, it was very terrifying.”

Xiangrong trembled as she spoke, the terror during those days caused her to feel that it was a nightmare when she thought about them now, and it was not that easy to wake up from this nightmare. Sometimes, as long as she closed her eyes, she would think of that monster the Eight Prince had become, covered in blood, that was the scariest thing she had never seen in her whole life of more than 10 years.

Xuan Tianhua knew she was afraid. For Old Eighth’s appearance, even he had a lingering fear after seeing that, not to mention someone like Feng Xiangrong. He reached out to lightly stroke her hair, saying softly: “Don’t be afraid, it is all in the past.”

But Xiangrong asked him in return: “Your Highness the Seventh Prince, say, the kinship between brothers, the kinship between sisters, must it really turn out like this? It is like this between the princes and also like this within the small Feng manor. They told me that Feng Fendai betrayed me in order to save her younger brother Xiao Bao. I do not hate Fendai. After all, she had no other choice, but I am thinking, could it be that the days I spent growing up together with her were all fake? She has feelings for Xiao Bao, and to me, she can betray me without caring about my life and death. Is this because she is too heartless, or because I am too much of a failure as an older sister?”

She said these things but did not expect Xuan Tianhua to reply. In fact, she continued to speak without waiting: “Perhaps this is kinship which is weaker than individual interests! So small that it is pitiful. But I know, no matter what, my Second Sister will be on my side and will definitely not abandon me, therefore, I am still fortunate.” She mentioned Feng Yuheng and smiled, her small pale face finally gaining some colour, Xuan Tianhua also felt reassured at this.

He told Xiangrong: “Some people are living, but their lives are worse than death, I personally sent Old Eighth on his final journey, if we can be brothers again in our next life, I hope we can all live good lives. Xiangrong……” He paused for a while, suddenly asking a strange question: “Do you believe in reincarnation?”

Xiangrong was a little stunned, shaking her immediately, not knowing if she was saying that she did not believe in it, or she did not know.

But Xuan Tianhua said: “I believe in it.” But he did not say why he believed in it, it was just that every time this topic was mentioned, he would naturally think of Feng Yuheng, and also thought about how she said that she saw Bu Cong when she was dealing with Yu Qianyin, then showed a panic-stricken expression. He knew that she definitely saw something else, but did she see a person, or a thing?

Leaving Xiangrong’s room, Xuan Tianhua headed straight to the study, then pushed open a bookshelf in the study, there was actually a door hidden inside. He turned a button mechanism next to the door and that door opened soundlessly, a small dim path was inside, heading to a secret room which Chun Palace designed for him.

Xuan Tianhua rarely came to this secret room, it was only when a decision needed to be made on important matters would he lock himself in here until he thought of an answer.

And he came today not to think, but to carry out a divination.

Very few people knew that Xuan Tianhua had profound skills in divination, such that his accomplishments in divination were more accurate than the celestial readings by the imperial astronomers. Including Xuan Tianming encountering trouble in the Northwest, including the descent of the phoenix star that night, it had already been shown in his divination readings early on. It was just that this was the job of the imperial astronomers, so he had no intentions to talk about them first.

He came here today again to start a divination reading because of the matter of Xuan Tianming taking the initiative to request for a military assignment to deploy troops towards Zong Sui on 16th August. This matter kept bothering him, ever since the first time Xuan Tianming expressed that he wanted to personally lead the troops to attack Zong Sui, he had a vague bad feeling about it. He could not describe what the feeling was, it was not that obvious, but there was a worry of danger.

Laying out the divination tools, a few small flags were stuck in the surroundings, forming a Fengshui formation which could not be understood by outsiders, there was a huge Bagua picture hung over his head, forming a shadow on the divination tools with the help of the candle light, vaguely forming a few spots of light.

The divination pieces used by Xuan Tianhua were made from crystal, they looked like bronze coins in three colours, white, purple and yellow, as he scattered them in one motion on the divination cloth, he started to scrutinise them in detail.

During this period, the divination pieces would shift slightly, but it was not known why they moved. There was no wind in the secret room, Xuan Tianhua did not use any inner energy, but the crystal pieces on the divination cloth moved a few times irregularly, and until they finally fell and found the positions they should have, they quietened down, not moving anymore.

Xuan Tianhua’s expression as he looked at the divination cloth turned heavy, his one hand which was holding on to the candle stand actually begin to tremble slightly. A huge drop of sweat fell from his brow with a “Pa”, falling on one of the crystal pieces, quickly sliding onto the cloth and smudging.

He sighed deeply, shaking his head helplessly.

With this divination, it was divining Xuan Tianming’s battle on Zong Sui, great misfortune.

He put down the candle stand, quickly collecting the crystal pieces on the divination cloth and holding them in his hand. Finally, when the crystal pieces were scattered on the divination cloth, he expression changed again and again, becoming even heavier compared to just now.

This divination was for himself, a death divination.

He laughed bitterly, mumbling: “So what if I die? I am alone, but you still have her!” As he spoke, Feng Xiangrong’s face appeared in his mind, as if he was intentionally being reminded, you are not alone, you have a lady who you made a promise to and who was waiting for you to fulfil it.

But Xuan Tianhua laughed again, only saying: “In the end, that is just a child, it is just her thoughts had become demons and she does not know who treasures her the most in the end. Forget it, in the end, I do not have a destiny where I can grow old together with someone. Imperial Concubine Mother raised me, so even if it is a death ending, I cannot allow anything to happen to her only blood related son. Ah-Heng, I could not be your partner when I am alive, but I am willing to use this death to protect him until the end.”

After saying this, he stood up lightly and exited the secret room without delay. After closing the door and the bookshelf, he walked to the study desk, took the brush and starting writing a letter, sealing it when he was done, then he summoned a hidden guard, instructing him: “Go to Ji An Prefecture quickly, you must personally deliver this letter to the hands of the Fourth Prince, no mistakes are allowed.”

The hidden guard took the letter and with a sound of acknowledgement, he disappeared in a flash.

Xuan Tianhua breathed a sigh of relief, this was the last arrangements he could make for Xiangrong.

For dinner that night, he did not leave the palace, pushing all matters aside just to accompany Imperial Concubine Yun for dinner. Imperial Concubine Yun still felt rather guilty over what happened to Xiangrong and constantly told Xuan Tianhua: “Ah-Heng had checked, Third girl was not violated at all, she is still a clean and innocent lady. Hua-er, we cannot reject the girl because of whatever reputation or not, that girl is rather good.”

Xuan Tianhua put down his bowl and chopsticks, telling Imperial Concubine Yun: “Do not worry, Imperial Concubine Mother, This Son never had such thoughts, that girl will be happy.” It was just that this happiness, would not be given by me. “That’s right.” He said again: “On the 16th of the month, Ming-er is going to lead troops to the eastern border to prepare for the attack on Zong Sui, before that, there is something I wish for him to do for me. Of course, Imperial Concubine Mother needs to help for it to end well.”

Imperial Concubine Yun was curious what it was, because Xuan Tianhua never asked for help on anything, ever since young until now, even though she believed that she treated this child as her own son, but Xuan Tianhua was clearly much more sensible than Xuan Tianming, not asking for anything, not wanting anything, taking anything he was given, and would not fight with Xuan Tianming over anything. She always felt that she owed him something on these small matters and with Xuan Tianhua speaking up today, she thought, regardless of what this son asked for, she had to settle it properly!

Therefore, Imperial Concubine Yun spoke happily, asking him: “Speak quickly, what is it?” And immediately added on: “Anything is alright, as long as you’re willing to say it, I can do anything, Ming-er will do anything as well!”

Xuan Tianhua smiled faintly, telling Imperial Concubine Yun: “It is about what was mentioned before, that is heading to Ji An Prefecture before Mid-Autumn festival to propose the marriage. By my calculations, that day is near, with there being a few days of delay on the road, there is a need to set off three days from now at the latest to be able to make it in time. Marriage has always been decided by the parents and matchmaker, but it is not convenient for me to be there personally. Earlier, Imperial Concubine Mother said that you will go personally, but I am still worried, so I thought if it would be possible for Ming-er to go in my place. For the soldiers here, I will help him inspect them and lead them partway towards the eastern border, he just needs to send Imperial Concubine Mother to Ji An Prefecture safely, then head towards the east to catch up after. What does Imperial Concubine Mother think?”