Chapter 43 Regardless of who the core is, he's determined to protect them.
Mu Cen lightly tapped the bronze cauldron on the altar, which was still emitting wisps of smoke, with the tip of his sword. His voice was as cold as a spring: "The Imperial Preceptor said that Miss Li Er was born with the destiny of a phoenix, which attracted the auspicious bird. Coincidentally, when I was conquering the Western Regions, I happened to recognize this object. The burning substance in this cauldron seems to be some other thing mixed with the datura from the Western Regions."
He suddenly leaned down, his slender fingers picking up a pinch of still-warm incense ash, which he held to his nose and sniffed lightly. Then, a cold, mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Not just datura. This 'Floating Life Intoxication,' a tribute from the Southern Frontier three years ago, burns silently, yet it can make people feel disoriented, creating illusions of floating on clouds and seeing and thinking whatever they want. Am I wrong, Grand Preceptor?"
The room erupted in an uproar!
"Your Highness, you are wise!" an official with quick reflexes exclaimed immediately. "No wonder we all seemed to see the phantom of a phoenix just now!"
"So that's how it is! It was caused by the medication!"
"We have never witnessed the Imperial Preceptor's divination skills firsthand. How can he possibly determine the fate of a person based on mere words? This is too childish!" Many scions of noble families who were already complaining about climbing the mountain seized the opportunity to loudly echo his sentiments and vent their dissatisfaction.
Some even directly pointed the finger at Li Yan's background: "If the eldest daughter of the Li family is said to have good fortune, we can believe it to some extent, after all, she is a noblewoman born of the legitimate wife! How could a concubine's daughter have any phoenix destiny? Could it be that the Li family's feng shui has all shifted to the concubine's courtyard?"
Li Yan's face was ashen, her meticulously manicured nails digging into her palms so hard they almost drew blood.
These idiots! Mediocre people! What do they know?! A bunch of useless good-for-nothings who only know how to rely on their background and look down on everyone!
She had thought that Fang Xu's display of that "miraculous" skill would be enough to intimidate these fickle people, but she never expected them to be so unyielding! Why?! Why should her background determine everything and negate all her efforts and sacrifices?!
She turned her head abruptly, her venomous gaze fixed on Li Bao'er, who had been sitting quietly at the table. Her voice was sickeningly sweet, yet every word was barbed: "Sister must be very happy right now, watching these people bark and howl at me like wild dogs in order to protect your so-called 'legitimate' status."
Li Bao'er: "...?"
Bao'er was puzzled, Bao'er was speechless, Bao'er rolled her eyes.
Honestly, she didn't say a single word from beginning to end, so how could the blame be so accurately shifted onto her?
On the high platform, Fang Xu's fingers, hidden beneath his veil, twitched almost imperceptibly. He took half a step forward, his voice low yet carrying a subtle warning that clearly reached Mu Cenlin's ears: "Your Highness, do not forget the true purpose of your visit to Longhua Temple. His Majesty's entrustment is of utmost importance; why fuss over trivial matters and disrupt the overall situation?"
A cold glint flashed in Mu Cenlin's eyes, but he did not immediately respond to Fang Xu. The reason he exposed Fang Xu so ruthlessly on the spot was certainly not because he was meddling in other people's business.
He already knew the general contents of the imperial edict through his spies in the palace, but he never expected that the so-called "person of destiny" would be Li Yan.
If she were to actually accept this title, the future dynamics of the Li family would change.
He had long heard of Li Xiangyuan's favoritism towards his concubine over his wife and his inability to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate children. If Li Yan were to gain the upper hand today by taking advantage of this illusory "phoenix destiny," then Li Bao'er's life in this mansion would likely become even more difficult after the imperial decree was read.
Although he was not entirely sure who Li Bao'er was at this moment, whether she was the original her or the "other soul" who had returned from the bottom of the cliff and become completely different, in any case, this body had been betrothed to him and was his queen. He would never allow the person with this face and these eyes to suffer any injustice from others.
"Oh? Are you threatening me?" Mu Cenlin stared at Fang Xu, and Fang Xu felt a chill run down his spine. He was shocked; this man's aura was incredibly powerful.
"This humble monk dares not..."
Li Yan's face turned pale. She looked at Fang Xu for help, but Fang Xu calmed himself and said, "This incense can indeed help people communicate with the spirits, but the Second Miss's destiny cannot be faked."
After saying that, he disregarded Li Yan's wishes and grabbed her by the back of her collar in front of everyone, revealing the birthmark on the back of her neck, which looked like a peony flower.
Li Yan's face turned deathly pale instantly, and a shiver ran through her as the skin on the back of her neck, exposed to everyone's view, was revealed.
She instinctively tried to break free from Fang Xu's hand, but he held her wrist firmly. She was not even married yet, and Fang Xu dared to do such a frivolous thing!
Unable to break free from her restraints, the vermilion peony birthmark was completely exposed to the sunlight, its petal-shaped patterns lifelike, even faintly tinged with blood with her breath.
The room fell silent for a moment, then erupted in gasps of surprise.
"It's a peony mark!"
"Master Huixin's prophecy before his passing was actually true!"
Li Yan's ears were ringing, and shame and ecstasy clashed violently in her chest.
Of course she remembered the prophecy that had circulated in Da Lin for ten years: "When the peony appears in the world, the phoenix perches on the parasol tree, this woman will be the mother of the world."
But she knew even better that the birthmark had been pricked into her skin three days ago by Qian Xu using a silver needle dipped in cinnabar.
She was in so much pain back then that she almost fainted, but now...
Seeing the shocked looks in the eyes of the noble ladies who had once looked down on her, she suddenly straightened her back. Pain turned into pleasure, and even the force with which Fang Xu pinched her wrist became a sweet torment.
"Does Your Highness have anything else to say?" Fang Xu's voice carried a hint of annoyance, and even through the veil, Li Bao'er could sense his exasperation.
Mu Cenlin did not refute upon hearing this. Instead, he slightly curved his lips, calmly sat back down, and lightly tapped the table with his fingertips. His wide, crimson sleeves hung down, as if he were observing the situation calmly.
Li Bao'er glanced at Li Zhou out of the corner of her eye. This usually composed half-brother was now ashen-faced, his knuckles white from clenching his fists. He was clearly unaware of Li Yan's "phoenix destiny".
Li Bao'er's voice was so soft that only the two of them could hear it, "Li Zhou, when did my second sister receive such good fortune? How could you, as her older brother, not hear a word about it?"
Li Zhou's Adam's apple bobbed, and a sinister glint flashed in his eyes: "You're joking. When have I ever been able to control her?"
“That’s true.” Bao’er nodded silently.
Li Zhou: "..." I'm so angry.
He stared intently at Li Yan, who was shining brightly on the altar, and cursed her inwardly as an idiot. Did she think this was something wonderful?
How exactly did Li Yan get involved with the Imperial Advisor?
Li Yan has always been a strong-willed person, but I never expected that she would do so many things behind his back! She will definitely become the target of everyone's criticism this time!
The crowd at the table was already in an uproar.
The echo between the peony birthmark and the master's prophecy made it clear to everyone that this banquet was clearly for Li Yan to marry the Crown Prince legitimately.
I'm afraid that after today, this illegitimate daughter will rise to prominence and become the crown princess!
Fang Xu's voice carried a barely perceptible hint of anxiety, and the veil of his hat fluttered even without wind. "Is there anyone else here with objections?"
Li Bao'er almost burst out laughing. She had only intended to use the mountain climbing banquet to mess with Li Zhou today, but she never expected to witness such a grand show.
Moreover, judging from the current situation, it seems that her fellow villager is not on the same side as her.
She might be a formidable opponent; her mission stakes are her life, so what are Fang Xu's stakes?
Just when she thought no one had any objections, Li Yan stared straight at Li Bao'er, who seemed a little distracted. She wondered why Li Bao'er looked so calm.
Even though she was very likely to become the Crown Princess and surpass her, she didn't feel jealousy or anger at all.
Li Yan said, "Sister, why don't you test your luck?"
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