Who says the prince is weak and can't take care of himself?

Chapter 113 Sirius Star Lord's Troubled Times and War

"Marquis Xun An sent you here because he wanted the Great Chen Dynasty to be as chaotic as possible. Why do you love me so much now? You don't want me to be involved in the undercurrent, and you're even willing to go against your father?"

Tang Ling was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head silently. Qi Xiao had asked tonight because he wanted an answer, but he had been trying to hide it. Thinking back, they had only known each other for three months. From the moment he had developed a liking for Qi Xiao until now, it had been Qi Xiao who had been gradually moving closer to him, gradually forcing him to accept and give himself to him. Now that Qi Xiao wanted him to be honest and open, Qi Xiao was as straightforward as ever.

Qi Xiao hugged him and sighed, "I'm sorry, I just said I wouldn't force you. It's my fault, please don't blame me, okay?"

The stars that Ning Wanxiao saw and the divinations he made might be indicating something. Tang Ling was suddenly willing to believe in those illusory things.

"Qi Xiao, do you want that position? Those things originally belonged to you."

"...Not interested." Qi Xiao propped up his head and looked at Tang Ling intently. Without any jokes, he said seriously, "I returned to Yuanjing for my mother, for Bai Liu, for the people I care about, and now for you. I'm not interested in anything else. But if you want it, and I can give it to you, I'll give it to you."

“…You…what are you talking about!?”

***

The Sitianjian came to the Immortal Terrace. Ning Wanxiao stood on the high altar, looking up at the misty clouds and the vast stars. He saw a bright moon in the sky, and the stars were as bright as the moon, falling on the boundless night sky, wrapping up all the mundane things in it.

Ning Wanxiao slowly raised his hand, as if he could touch the silky night, hold the moon as round as a jade plate, and pick a star and hold it in his palm.

"It's Tianlang and Taibai again... Senior brother, do you want to cast another hexagram? How can this be the Yu hexagram?" The little Taoist boy Wujing was puzzled. His Taoism was not good enough, but he had studied Fuxi's techniques and stargazing skills since childhood. According to common sense, if there was anything wrong with Tianlang and Taibai, there would be war in the world, but Ning Wanxiao actually cast the Yu hexagram yesterday!

Ning Wanxiao remained silent for a long while, his fingers tapping the stars in the night sky. He asked, "If it wasn't the Yu Gua, but something else, Wujing, would I still be able to be the Imperial Master?"

Ning Wanxiao lowered his head and looked at Wu Jing beside him with a smile in his eyes.

Wu Jing shuddered under Ning Wanxiao's gaze, suddenly feeling terrified. Ning Wanxiao was born with an eye condition, his pupils a different color than normal, a very light silver-gray. Folklore calls them "demon pupils," and they're considered ominous. Ning Wanxiao's veiled eyes during the day also served as a reminder of this.

Even people close to him, like Wu Jing, who has been by Ning Wanxiao's side for many years and has seen his eyes countless times, would still show a look of shock from time to time, especially when Ning Wanxiao stood under the starry sky and looked back with lowered eyes, which was colder than the moonlight and farther away than the stars. No one would think that he was a mortal. If he was not a god, then he must be a demon.

"Don't smile so sinisterly, I'm scared." Wu Jing shuddered, turned around and walked towards the main hall, "Let's do a divination. I still don't believe it can be Yu."

Ning Wanxiao smiled and said, "Okay, as you say."

Back in the main hall, Ning Wanxiao cast a fortune, and it was still the Yu hexagram.

"..." Wu Jing stared blankly for a long time before speaking with difficulty, "Is the chaos that began with the Eight-Nation War coming to an end? The peaceful and prosperous era that Master spoke of? Senior Brother, how was your meeting with King Qi Xiao of Chu today?"

"Heaven's secret." Ning Wanxiao yawned, "Go to bed. We'll be busy at the Moon Festival tomorrow."

Wu Jing caught up with Ning Wanxiao and continued to pester him, "Brother, you talked with the Ninth Prince for a long time today and even had dinner together. Why didn't you mention anything about it? Instead, you only asked what I talked about with that Bai Xiqiao?"

"Your Majesty doesn't ask, so don't worry about it."

"Back then, the hexagram of the Arc-Arrowed Heavenly Wolf Appearing and the Flute-Drumming Awakening the Prairie Fire was the last hexagram that Master-Uncle used before his tribulation. The safety of the entire world depended on him, and even Master was extremely concerned. If you didn't care, why would you have specially invited him here? Even His Majesty the Ninth Prince wouldn't believe such a lame excuse for teaching a ritual."

"Wars happen every year, and it's inappropriate to blame a child."

"But Master's divination words can't be wrong..."

Ning Wanxiao turned around and looked at Wu Jing, saying coldly, "It's just a prophecy. There's no precedent, no consequences, just ten words. If it's God's will, we should just go along with it."

Wu Jing pursed his lips: "Brother, you know that's not what I meant."

"I'm sleepy." Ning Wanxiao stepped into his room, closed the door, and blocked Wu Jing outside.

Wu Jing looked up at the sky and sighed, "I shouldn't have done that."

The arc, arrow, and celestial wolf appeared, and the flute and drums looked to set the prairie ablaze. Back then, the Si Tianjian interpreted these ten words as a sign of great misfortune. However, Wu Jing and Ning Wanxiao, both from the Yuanxing Temple, possessed unique techniques for observing the stars and divination. While the astrological signs that year seemed ominous, their uncle, Taoist Yi Zhen, had predicted otherwise.

Sirius represents war and disaster in troubled times, which means "invasion and attack".

The Arc and Arrow are located in the southeast of Sirius, while Sirius is in the northwest. The Arc and Arrow appear like a full bow and arrow about to leave the string, facing Sirius, and they fight each other. In the astrological sign of that year, the Arc and Arrow appeared, but Sirius was the only one shining. In this battle, Sirius was sure to win.

Qi was in the southeast, and Dachen was in the southwest. Far from being a disaster, Qi Xiao would be Dachen's god of war.

When the Sirius shines brightly, it will be the best time to attack Qi, and this battle will surely be a great victory.

But... where did Taibai come from to cause trouble? !

Taibai rises eastward, yet lies beside Sirius! Unheard of! Unseen! Yet, the same constellation has appeared two days in a row. Something must be amiss!

Wu Jing scratched his head, he couldn't figure it out!