Now I really have to marry the princess.

Upon hearing the name "Yuan Tiangang," both Li Ke and Yang Zhengdao were taken aback.

Yuan Tiangang was already famous at the end of the Sui Dynasty. Official history records that his physiognomy skills were renowned in Luoyang, and folk tales even more exaggeratedly claimed that he could predict people's life, death, nobility, and lowliness.

I never expected that this great master was actually the senior apprentice of another great master, Li Chunfeng.

"Your Highness, please." Yuan Tiangang invited again.

After weighing the options for a moment, Li Ke finally succumbed to the temptation of the name "Yuan Tiangang" and agreed.

Yuan Tiangang extended two fingers and gently placed them on Li Ke's forehead.

He closed his eyes and focused intently, his fingertips slowly moving along the contours of his skull, from his temples to the back of his head, his expression focused.

A moment later, his brows furrowed, forming a deep "川" (river) character.

He finally opened his eyes and withdrew his hand, but his face was full of confusion. He couldn't help but say, "Strange..."

"Taoist Master?" Li Ke looked surprised and doubtful.

Yuan Tiangang then realized what was happening and quickly composed himself, saying, "Your Highness need not worry. I have not come here to predict your fortune, but to find someone who can break this predicament. Your Highness is not the person I am looking for, hence my sigh."

Li Ke was skeptical, but ultimately said nothing.

Just as everyone was preparing to say goodbye and leave, Yuan Tiangang suddenly called out to Yang Zhengdao.

"Young man, if it's convenient for you..."

"inconvenient."

Yang Zhengdao resolutely refused. Not to mention that he did not want to become the person Yuan Tiangang was looking for, just the thought of the old man touching his face made him feel goosebumps all over.

After a moment's thought, Yuan Tiangang smiled and said, "If I'm not mistaken, young man, you must be a descendant of the Sui Dynasty prince."

Yang Zhengdao didn't respond, waiting for Yuan Tiangang to continue.

If Yuan Tiangang learned of Li Er's decree from Li Chunfeng, it wouldn't be surprising if he could guess Li Er's identity.

Yuan Tiangang's smile widened: "If Young Master Yang allows me to feel his bones, I will bestow upon him a valiant retainer capable of defeating ten thousand men. How about that?"

Yang Zhengdao's heart tightened. Regardless of whether Yuan Tiangang truly possessed miraculous metaphysical methods, his ability to read people's minds was already extraordinary.

Although Li Er allowed him to recruit retainers, he had neither reputation nor title, so where would it be easy to recruit them?

The vassals entrust their future, wealth, and even their lives to their master. They are not the protagonists of wish-fulfillment novels, where a mere tremor of their bodies will cause others to bow down in worship.

Therefore, Yuan Tiangang's words hit the nail on the head, striking at Yang Zhengdao's sore spot, making it impossible for Yang Zhengdao to refuse.

"Tell me then?"

"Young Master Yang, you only need to visit Baojian Temple when you pass through Huayuan County."

Yang Zhengdao originally planned to go to Huayuan County after leaving Gaoling County, so this would be conveniently on the way.

Regardless of whether Yuan Tiangang calculated it or heard it from elsewhere, it must be true, and such a charlatan would not dare to ruin his reputation.

Yang Zhengdao then sat down at Yuan Tiangang's direction.

Watching Yuan Tiangang begin to examine Yang Zhengdao's bones, Li Ke suddenly regretted agreeing too quickly.

After examining the bones, all I got was a baffling answer. Wasn't that a complete waste of time?

We should learn from my cousin Zhengdao; before agreeing, we should ask for some benefits.

"Absolutely!" Yuan Tiangang suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

He immediately withdrew his hand, unable to hide his joy, and bowed to Yang Zhengdao.

"Young Master Yang, would you mind visiting Louguantai for a chat after this trip?"

"I'm not going!" Yang Zhengdao refused decisively once again.

But Yuan Tiangang did not offer any more benefits, instead giving a mysterious smile.

He picked up a pen, used his wide robe sleeves to shield everyone's view, scribbled a few lines on the paper, then folded the paper and handed it to Yang Zhengdao.

"When Young Master Yang returns, we will reopen the gates. This humble Taoist priest will await your arrival at Louguantai."

Looking at Yuan Tiangang's confident face, Yang Zhengdao couldn't help but sneer.

They want me to go without offering any benefits? I'm not going.

College students are primarily characterized by rebellion.

Unless your note says: "Bo Bo Chicken, one yuan a skewer!"

Just as Yang Zhengdao was about to open the note, he caught a glimpse of Yuan Tiangang's confident smile.

This guy seems to have guessed that I don't believe in superstitions and that I'll open it in person.

As expected, he's a master at understanding people's hearts...

this!?

Yang Zhengdao immediately stood there, stunned!

So those legends were true!

He then smiled and returned the note to Yuan Tiangang.

"Although Zhengdao could not understand the Taoist priest's profound meaning, he had made an appointment with Immortal Sun and was originally going to Louguantai."

When Yang Zhengdao returned the note, he deliberately displayed it in front of everyone.

It wasn't that he was being overly cautious, but rather that the matter was far too dangerous.

He had to use the words of the Hundred Cavalry Commander and the eunuch Jian to prove that he had nothing to do with the matter.

Because the note only had the character "武" (wu, meaning martial arts) written on it.

Wu Zetian's martial prowess.

Everyone was completely baffled, except for Yuan Tiangang, who smiled without saying a word.

So the group said goodbye and left the fortune-telling stall.

Next, everyone had their own thoughts.

Only Nazha, dressed in new clothes, and Aba, eating candy, were beaming with joy.

After purchasing supplies in Gaoling County, the group left the city and headed to Luyuan Temple on the banks of the Wei River.

That night, the group stayed at Rokuon-ji Temple.

Naza offered to serve Yang Zhengdao, but he refused with tears in his eyes.

With so many eyes watching him, and him on imperial orders to cultivate, how could he dare to get close to women?

Thinking of Nazha's alluring yet resentful gaze, Yang Zhengdao could only ask Tan Feng for the lance again and brandish it in front of the meditation room.

Half an hour later, he rested, leaning on the handle of his spear, only to find that Li Ke and the eunuch Jian had already left the meditation room and were watching from the side.

Seeing that Yang Zhengdao had finished practicing, Li Ke stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Cousin, do you know the meaning behind the character that Master Yuan wrote?"

Yang Zhengdao guessed that the reason his younger cousin asked the question was probably because he had received a hint from the eunuch Jian beside him.

Sigh, transmigrating into the body of a remnant of the previous dynasty is really troublesome.

Yang Zhengdao had no choice but to take up the post and begin performing.

He feigned disdain: "Sanlang, so-called metaphysics is nothing more than being good at guessing people's hearts. I suppose Master Yuan knew that I had the ambition to make meritorious contributions on the frontier, which is why he wrote the character 'Wu' (武, meaning martial arts). As for the so-called person who breaks the deadlock, I suppose that's just a pretentious way of putting it."

As he spoke, Yang Zhengdao suddenly turned around: "Eunuch Jian, I think we should submit a memorial to His Majesty, ordering Yuan and Li to be imprisoned and to find out the reason. Their charade is really intriguing."

The eunuch Jian, who had been frowning in thought, was startled and laughed awkwardly, "Young master, you really are a man of few words. Such jokes are not to be made."

Yang Zhengdao was not worried about this, thinking that Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng would have their own explanations when facing Li Er.

Although not recorded in official history, their prophecy about "a female ruler prospering after three generations" was extensively documented in unofficial histories.

But Li Er didn't do anything to Yuan and Li either.

What truly alarmed Yang Zhengdao was the person Yuan Tiangang had mentioned who could break the deadlock.

Perhaps Li Chunfeng really saw something in the stars, which is why he asked Yuan Tiangang to find the person who could break the deadlock.

This so-called breakthrough is nothing short of changing history.

Yang Zhengdao felt the March night breeze was very cool; he had indeed changed history.

The fact that the immortal Sun advised against marriage between close relatives suggests that the marriage between Chang Le and Changsun Chong is likely off.

If Li Chengqian hadn't broken his leg in a horse-riding accident, and if he had successfully ascended the throne, the Wu Zhou dynasty would most likely not have replaced the Tang dynasty.

Li Zhi was still a baby, and Wu Erniangzi was still a snotty-nosed child.

……

Chang'an City, Imperial Observatory.

The night was as dark as ink, with only the lights of the stargazing platform shining brightly.

Under the lamplight, a figure stood tall and slender.

It was Li Chunfeng, the youngest director of the Imperial Observatory. He was dressed in a black Taoist robe, his hair was not tied up with a crown, and he casually tied it into a Taoist bun with a wooden hairpin.

The boy was still somewhat immature, but his eyes, gazing at the starry sky, were clear and profound.

On the observatory, various astronomical instruments were displayed, with gnomons and armillary spheres arranged in order, and the bronze instruments gleaming coldly under the lamplight.

A night breeze swept by, causing the robes to flutter and rustle.

Li Chunfeng, however, was completely unaware, his gaze fixed on the strange starry sky, as if he were a statue.

As the constellations changed, his brows furrowed slightly, surprise flashed across his eyes, then turned to shock, and finally he suddenly burst into laughter.

"It's done, Uncle-Master has succeeded."

After a moment, he suppressed his youthful elation and regained his calm, composed expression.

Spread out the paper, grind the ink, and begin writing.

Observing the celestial phenomena, we see that the star Ketu suddenly invades the celestial pivot, Rahu dims the radiance of the moon, and the celestial axe shifts position, disrupting the moon's tendency to overshadow the sun and disturbing the radiance of the female ruler.

When Mars recedes and the Moon returns to its original position, the meridians and celestial bodies will be re-established, and the ancestral lineage may be free from misfortune.