Chapter 63 The Empress's Fate

"Oh my! My precious apprentice is back!" Hearing that voice, the white-haired old man's mood suddenly improved. He reached out and pushed Su Wenzhen, who was blocking his way, and walked towards the door.

Ye Wanning was a little curious, so she followed the white-haired old man out. As soon as she stepped out the door, she saw a middle-aged man who looked like a Taoist priest carrying a jar of wine and several packets of food. Ye Wanning glanced at the Taoist priest and was stunned. Why did this person look so familiar?

The white-haired old man took the food from the Taoist-looking man, turned around and saw Ye Wanning following him out, so he said to her with a grin, "Little girl, you're in luck today. Every time this guy comes to see me, he brings me something delicious!"

The Taoist-looking man, seeing a stranger arrive at the white-haired old man's place, couldn't help but feel curious. He followed the old man's gaze and was startled. "Miss Ye... Miss Ye?"

"You know me?" Ye Wanning frowned, walked up to the Taoist-looking man, and examined him carefully. As she looked at him, a scene suddenly flashed into her mind. Ye Wanning was stunned, pointed at the man, and shouted, "It's you! The fortune teller who told my fortune the other day?"

The man paused, then smiled helplessly. "Miss Ye, I really am not a charlatan..."

Seeing the interaction between the two, the white-haired old man looked them over curiously. After a long while, he asked, "Do you know each other?"

Ye Wanning rolled her eyes and said somewhat irritably, "Of course, he's just a charlatan who scams people out of money!"

The white-haired old man choked, looking at Ye Wanning with a somewhat embarrassed expression, "Little girl, how do you know he's a charlatan?"

"I..." Ye Wanning wanted to say something, but suddenly remembered that the old man was the charlatan's master. So if she called him a charlatan, wouldn't that mean she was calling the old man a charlatan? Ye Wanning choked and couldn't speak.

The white-haired old man wasn't angry at all; he still had a smiling face. He looked at Ye Wanning and said with a smile, "Little girl, don't be afraid. Tell me how this guy tricked you! I won't let him get away with it!"

“Master…” Seeing his master so blatantly siding with outsiders, the Taoist-looking man couldn’t hold back any longer and said, “I am your disciple…”

The white-haired old man rolled his eyes at him. "Come on, with your skills, you can't even learn a tenth of mine. How could I have such a stupid apprentice like you!"

Seeing the conversation between the master and apprentice, Ye Wanning was both amused and exasperated. She coughed twice and said, "Just a few months ago, I went to his stall to have my fortune told. He said that I had the appearance of great wealth and honor and that I would have good news soon. Just those two sentences that any ordinary person would say, and he wanted money. What else is he but a charlatan?"

Upon hearing this, the white-haired old man flew into a rage, turned his head and glared fiercely at the man, "Is what the little brat said true!"

The man's face paled, and he said somewhat awkwardly, "Yes, yes, but..."

"But what?!" the white-haired old man roared, "What a disgrace! You'd better not leave this area again! Study for a few more years before you go out and embarrass yourself!"

"Master!" Seeing the white-haired old man's anger, the man gritted his teeth and hurriedly explained, "There was one more thing I didn't say to Miss Ye at that time..."

"What are you saying!" the white-haired old man sneered. "Speak!"

"I……"

"Still not talking!" The white-haired old man glared fiercely at the Taoist priest. "If you're not going to talk, then you're not going to talk at all!"

"Miss Ye is destined to be an empress!"

Ye Wanning was startled and could hardly believe what the person in front of her was saying. She unconsciously took a step back and looked towards the thatched hut. She saw that Su Wenzhen, who had been inside, was now standing at the door with an inscrutable expression.

The white-haired old man was clearly startled as well. He stiffened and looked at Ye Wanning. "No...didn't you say you were just ordinary merchants...?"

At this moment, Su Wenzhen, who was standing to the side, suddenly walked over. He put his arm around Ye Wanning, who was trembling all over, and said casually, "It was a lie I told. I hope you can understand, senior."

The white-haired old man's expression changed, and his voice turned sinister, "Who exactly are you?"

"I am Su Wenzhen, the second prince of Chu and the Prince of Jin." Su Wenzhen slowly bowed, his expression remaining calm, as if he had not heard anything at all.

"Second Prince?" The white-haired old man lowered his head, as if thinking about something. "Isn't the Second Prince a fool...?" He glanced up at Su Wenzhen, and unlike the legend, he suddenly realized something. The white-haired old man snorted coldly, "No wonder I felt a murderous aura emanating from you the first time I saw you. So that's the reason."

As he spoke, he looked at Ye Wanning with some pity, "Girl, what a pity for you."

Ye Wanning was still reeling from the shock. The charlatan had just said she was destined to be an empress, so… Ye Wanning looked up at Su Wenzhen. Did that mean Su Wenzhen would become emperor in the future? But… Ye Wanning gritted her teeth. She suddenly felt that things had taken an unexpected turn… What should she do?

After a long silence, Su Wenzhen spoke up, "Senior, you said before that once your disciple arrived, he could take Wan Ning and me out. I wonder if that's possible now?" The old man's identity was mysterious, and he didn't want to speculate any further. Also, regarding what that Taoist-looking man had just said, Su Wenzhen glanced at him with a somewhat unfathomable look in his eyes. He had a feeling that if he stayed any longer, something bad might happen.

"What's the rush?" The white-haired old man glanced at Su Wenzhen indifferently. "Are you afraid that if you go back too late, the throne won't be yours anymore?" As he spoke, he pulled Ye Wanning to his side. "I haven't seen such a well-behaved girl like you in a long time. Why don't you have a meal with your grandfather today, rest for the night, and leave tomorrow?" He smiled at Ye Wanning.

Ye Wanning smiled, glanced at Su Wenzhen, and saw that he was frowning. Not wanting to disappoint the old man's kindness, she hesitated for a while before saying to the white-haired old man, "Alright, then let's leave tomorrow."

As she spoke, she glanced at Su Wenzhen discreetly. Seeing that there was no change in his expression, she felt relieved.

After the meal, it was time to arrange accommodations.

The white-haired old man stood at the door of the thatched hut, looking at Su Wenzhen with reluctance. He pointed to the room next to him and said, "You and the little kid can sleep in this room." As he spoke, he looked at Su Wenzhen with some disdain, "If it weren't for the fact that I don't have many people here, and only my apprentice comes usually, and there are only two rooms, I wouldn't let you sleep with the little kid!"

Su Wenzhen smiled helplessly, "What you say is true, senior. I am not worthy of Wan Ning."

"Good to know!" The white-haired old man rolled his eyes at Su Wenzhen, then turned to Ye Wanning with concern and said, "Little girl, you must not let this brat take advantage of you! If you can't get along with him one day, come to Grandpa, and Grandpa will find you a man a million times better than him!"

"I know!" Ye Wanning looked at the white-haired old man and found it a little funny. She looked around and then said sweetly to the old man, "Grandpa, you should go to sleep too. It's getting late, so it's good for your health to rest early."

Seeing how concerned Ye Wanning was about him, the white-haired old man was very pleased. He nodded, his face full of a kind smile. "Then I'll go back to my room first." As he spoke, he turned back and glared fiercely at Su Wenzhen. "Don't you dare touch the little brat, do you hear me!"

Su Wenzhen was taken aback, his lips twitched helplessly, and after a long while he reluctantly replied, "I understand, senior, please go and rest."

"Hmph!" The white-haired old man gave Su Wenzhen a haughty look, then turned and left.

Watching his retreating figure, Ye Wanning couldn't help but chuckle, "This old man really is like a child."

“Yes.” Su Wenzhen glanced at Ye Wanning with a strange look in his eyes. “My wife is popular with all ages!” With that, he turned and walked into the house without looking back.

After a moment, Ye Wanning realized what Su Wenzhen meant, but felt that there was something more to Su Wenzhen's words. She quickly got up and chased after Su Wenzhen, calling out to his back, "Wenzhen, are you jealous?"

Suddenly, Su Wenzhen stopped. Ye Wanning was a step too slow and bumped into him. Before she could even regain her balance, she suddenly felt dizzy as Su Wenzhen swept her up in his arms. Startled, she cried out, "Ah! Su Wenzhen, what are you doing! Let me go!"