Chapter 103 Variables

As he spoke, he became more and more excited. Xuan Qing paused slightly and said apologetically, "Please forgive me, I was too excited."

After calming down for a moment, he continued, "That Lady Lan is destined to die in two days. I tried to help her break free, but I failed. If it is said that I am ignorant of the art of Gu and therefore did not remove the Gu, Lady Lan will eventually die from the Gu's activation... I cannot change her fate, so I foresaw that you would come to my door today, so I let you give it a try."

"As expected, the face of certain death that we cannot unravel, you can unravel, and only you can unravel."

"His Highness mentioned to me that you seem to have the ability to foresee the future. You should understand what I mean—the lives of the dying in this mansion have been extended, their broken fates have been altered, and their desolate end will be transformed. You are the reason for all of this, my lord."

"The universe guides people toward their predetermined destiny. It's like a person who indulges in eating, drinking, and having fun bumps their head one day, wakes up, and suddenly becomes enlightened, striving to become a great talent. Great talent is their predetermined destiny, while the bumping of their head and sudden enlightenment is the universe correcting the course of their destiny."

To set things right and get everything back on track.

"My lord, in the future you foresee, what will be the fate of the Princess's residence?"

Shang Yuji remained silent; both he and she knew what kind of ending it would be.

The eldest princess, the Cui siblings, the staff members purged from the household... Even though the eldest princess dismissed many people before her death, many skeletons still became stepping stones for the throne.

After that, natural disasters occurred frequently, the government did nothing, the world was in turmoil, and the people were so poor that only one in ten survived.

Xuanqing was also apprehensive when he decided to go down the mountain. Could this fleeting glimmer of hope save the collapsing building and save Da'an from the crisis?

Having witnessed firsthand the alteration of many people's predetermined fates, he finally let go of his deep-seated anxiety and even, with a sense of luck and relief, stayed to maintain the fragile situation that had just been corrected.

Xuanqing lowered his head, his mind a jumble of emotions, and said, "My lord... because you are someone outside of Heaven and Earth, you are a variable, and also a glimmer of hope for Da'an."

Only variables outside of the universe can reverse the predetermined fate.

Not bound by the universe, her every move influences her surroundings. What began as small changes gradually spread outwards like ripples on a lake, eventually becoming a raging torrent that shakes everything.

Hearing his explanation, Shang Yuji was taken aback. She knew she was powerful, but she never imagined she was this powerful. She then asked, "What does 'beyond the universe' mean?"

Does that refer to her being from outer space? He could even tell that?

After a moment of contemplation, Xuan Qing explained, "I can't see clearly. I can calculate the fate of everyone else, but yours is like being shrouded in mist, unclear and unfathomable, as if it is outside the universe, influencing the fate of others."

“Master Xuan once said that my future will be filled with all my wishes and everything will go smoothly…” She was puzzled. Wasn’t this a clear understanding of her future?

Unexpectedly, Xuan Qing laughed out loud. This time, his smile was different from his usual stiff one. He smiled sincerely and said, "The abundance of luck surrounding you is enough to tell you that you are a person favored by heaven. Since you are loved by heaven and earth, you will have a smooth life and no worries in the future."

In response, she asked a question she had long been curious about: "What exactly do you mean by 'wishes come true'?"

She had suspected that this "wish fulfillment" meant that she foresaw the disaster and wanted to reduce its impact on the people. To this end, she devoted her efforts and took action to reduce casualties, thus achieving "wish fulfillment." However, according to Xuanming and Xuanqing, it seemed to have another meaning.

"It means exactly what it says. As long as what you think or desire, even if it is too bizarre, it will eventually happen in an unexpected way."

"..." Shang Yuji was not only speechless, but completely dumbfounded. She hesitated and thought: As he said, if she wanted to avoid natural disasters, would the natural disasters not come?

As time went on, the frequent disasters in Da'an became the main reason for the country's downfall. If the disasters could be eliminated as she wished, even reducing their severity would be good.

But she didn't ask aloud; it was just her guess, and if it didn't come true, it would be a false hope.

With his doubts resolved, Xuan Qing still couldn't explain the rest. Shang Yuji bid him farewell and took Jiang Xi back to the council hall.

It was confirmed that Granny Cheng had secretly gone to the manor in the suburbs of Beijing, but the official story was that she stayed at the Princess's residence so that when Jiang Xi pretended to be coerced by Tian Mu, Shang Yuji would come to the residence for help and ask the Princess to quickly rescue Cheng Dacai's relatives.

Cheng Xiao held Jiang Xi's hand, looked back at her grandmother several times, and asked softly, "Mother, when can Xiao Xiao see Grandma?"

Shang Yuji fanned herself: "I'll bring you over when things are settled and I have time."

Lan Yuanzhi will return to the mansion tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, she will set fire to her residence and then bring her to the Princess's mansion to feign death.

Let Jiang Xi seduce him for a few more days, then trick Tian Mu into making a move, and we can arrest him. They won't be involved in the subsequent interrogation and punishment, and we can take Cheng Xiao to see Granny Cheng.

After analyzing everything, I'll be busy these next few days.

The three of them went to the West Market to buy new clothes for Cheng Xiao and Mo Xin, and also bought some snacks before returning to the Jia Mansion.

Just as Tian Mu was about to finish his shift, the three of them "coincidentally" bumped into him in front of the mansion.

The family of three was very happy. After traveling together for more than half a month, Cheng Xiao's face had become a little fleshy. His thin body was hidden in the brocade robe he bought in the West Market, making him look like a rather thin child. He held Madam Zhen's hand in one hand and a round candied hawthorn in the other, hiding shyly between Madam Zhen and Lord Jia.

Seeing Tian Mu standing in front of the mansion gate, Shang Yuji closed her fan and greeted him with a smile.

Madam Zhen, standing beside her, softly replied with "Greetings, Your Excellency," and then remained still, waiting for her husband to chat with others while she gazed intently at Jia Changtian with tender affection.

After exchanging pleasantries, Shang Yuji led the group into the mansion, seemingly unaware of Tian Mu's friendly farewell.

After entering the house, she caught her breath and handed the new clothes to Mo Xin to change into. After sharing the snacks in her hands, Mo Xin also changed her clothes. The dark green floral dress swayed as she ran. Shang Yuji handed her the snacks she had left for her, helped her tidy her slightly messy hair, combed it out, and tied it into a simple double bun with a hair ribbon of the same color as her clothes.

Clothes make the man. She doesn't look like a young female knight-errant ready to charge into battle; she looks more like a pampered young lady from a wealthy family.

With the life lock pressing against her neck and fine jade bracelets adorning her wrists, Mo Xin said somewhat uncomfortably, "Father, these bracelets are too precious. Perhaps I shouldn't wear them anymore?"

She had only ever seen such precious jade pendants in the hands of wealthy families, and never imagined that one day she would wear one herself. She was afraid that she might accidentally bump into it and break it.

"You are my daughter, Jia Changtian's daughter. A happy family is judged by the kindness of the father and the beauty of the daughter. Take what is given to you. By the way, come to me to comb your hair these few days. Father will tie a pretty hair bun for Xin'er!" Shang Yuji said, rubbing her head.

Before, when Mo Xin's mother was alive, she was a well-behaved girl who went out to practice martial arts with her master. After a month of traveling to the capital, she casually tied her hair in a high ponytail, making it easy to draw her sword, full of youthful recklessness. But now, her persona is that of a noble young lady from the Jia family, and she can't be treated as casually as before. Shang Yuji simply took over her hair styling for the past few days, while also showing off the "deep father-daughter relationship" between them.

Xiang Fei stood to the side, biting his handkerchief and weeping: "My dear disciple, your master can also learn how to tie many beautiful hair buns for young ladies..."