He walked straight toward Qi Yuan, his expression solemn, the pressure of his presence immense.
The Eldest Princess instinctively stepped forward to shield Qi Yuan, her face dark as she glared at Li Changqing: “Daoist Li, what exactly do you mean by that?”
The Eldest Princess certainly knew this Daoist. At his words, even she couldn’t help but feel a jolt of unease in her heart.
Qi Yuan, however, looked at Li Changqing with interest.
It wasn’t a secret that she accompanied the Eldest Princess to Baiyun Temple on the first and fifteenth of every month—anyone keeping an eye on Yongping Marquis’s household would know that.
So this Daoist was clearly here for her.
Liu Wangfei was momentarily dazed as well. She quickly sensed something was wrong and frowned at Li Changqing.
Emperor Yongchang had been checking on Xiao Mo when he heard the statement. He immediately looked up at Qi Yuan, then turned to ask Li Changqing, “White Tiger Calamity Star? Who are you referring to?”
Li Changqing pointed directly at Qi Yuan, who stood behind the Eldest Princess, his brows tightly knit: “This young lady bears an ominous fate. She is the reincarnation of the White Tiger Calamity Star—one of the Six Dire Stars. Opposed in alignment to the Qianyang Star, and with the Destruction Star entering the twelfth house, it marks a Nine Star Reversal—a harbinger of great misfortune!”
Everyone present turned pale.
Especially the Eldest Princess—her scalp went numb, and for a moment, she stood frozen, utterly stunned.
In the past, all Li Changqing had said about the Crown Prince was that his and the Emperor’s astrological signs were incompatible—and even that had led to Emperor Yongchang discarding the Crown Prince like worn-out shoes.
And now…
What grudge does he have against Qi Yuan?!
This wasn’t just condemning her—this was a declaration that Qi Yuan must never rise again!
Liu Wangfei immediately spoke up in rebuttal: “Daoist, your words are too severe! She’s just a young girl—how can a child carry such a fate?”
Of course, she hoped Xiao Mo could be cured, but not at the cost of harming Qi Yuan.
From the moment they returned to the capital, Qi Yuan had gone out of her way to help her. The fact that she could finally avenge her past was entirely due to Qi Yuan’s role in resolving the Duke Chu household and Noble Consort Xiao Liu.
She could hear the venom in Li Changqing’s words.
Emperor Yongchang also spoke mildly: “Indeed, just a young girl. Daoist, are you perhaps exaggerating a bit?”
Li Changqing chuckled: “Not at all, not at all.” He raised his eyebrows and continued, “This young lady is no ordinary girl. Her fate is so hard and cursed that in all my years of cultivation, I’ve never seen its like. If my calculations are correct, she is shrouded in bloodlust. Her destiny is one of an early, violent death.”
The Eldest Princess was trembling with rage. “Li Changqing! What nonsense are you spouting?!”
But Li Changqing remained solemn and composed, his expression full of pity for the world: “I do not speak lightly. Wherever she goes, blood follows. She brings disaster to parents, misfortune to siblings—anyone who gets close to her ends up suffering a tragic fate.”
The Eldest Princess had never imagined that a simple outing with Qi Yuan would lead to hearing something so absurd.
This wasn’t fortune-telling. This was a death sentence.
Li Changqing was trusted even more than the official Celestial Masters by Emperor Yongchang. Countless people placed their faith in him.
Now that he’d said this—who in the capital would dare associate with Qi Yuan anymore?
And not just association—even her own family, the Qi household, might refuse to keep her.
Such a malicious curse!
Emperor Yongchang’s expression flickered unpredictably as he asked in a low voice: “Daoist, are you certain you haven’t made a mistake?”
Li Changqing shook his head and sighed deeply: “Your Majesty, you know me—I never speak without certainty.”
Qi Yuan gave a cold, mocking laugh.
The Eldest Princess clutched her hand tightly and shook her head at her, silently urging her to remain silent—for now. Li Changqing was not someone to provoke lightly.
Li Changqing, however, turned to look at Qi Yuan, his tone gentle but pitying: “Eldest Miss Qi, I imagine you don’t accept this, do you?”
Qi Yuan looked at him calmly: “You’re right—I’ve never believed in things like ‘heaven-sent calamity stars.’”
Li Changqing sighed and shook his head: “But you should believe. You must know why you’re the reincarnation of the White Tiger Calamity Star. I can’t even read your fate—meaning you were never meant to exist in this world.”
Liu Wangfei’s limbs turned cold. She immediately snapped: “Enough!” Her voice turned harsh, full of fury: “You alarmist charlatan!”
But Li Changqing answered easily, smiling as he shook his head: “That is a title I dare not accept. If you don’t believe me, you can investigate the people around Lady Qi—see if what I say holds true. Isn’t it so, that wherever she appears, there are always bloodstained disasters?”
He smiled serenely, radiating that mysterious aura of the unknowable: “Heaven cannot be deceived. A person who was never meant to be—her presence will be reflected in the stars. Everything leaves a trace.”
The Eldest Princess felt her heart sink.
She understood now—Li Changqing had come fully prepared.
He had already thoroughly investigated Qi Yuan.
And unfortunately… Qi Yuan had left behind a trail of blood wherever she went.
Li Changqing had seized this as a weapon to destroy her.
Even someone as composed as the Eldest Princess broke out in a cold sweat. She turned urgently toward Emperor Yongchang: “Imperial Brother! You can’t—just based on one Daoist’s words—”
Emperor Yongchang smiled faintly: “Can’t what? Did I say I was going to do anything to her?”
The Eldest Princess froze. Only then did she realize her palms were drenched with sweat.
She stared nervously at the emperor. “Then…”
“Enough,” Emperor Yongchang waved a hand. “It was just a private reading. Take Lady Qi and return for now. I’ll have the Daoist focus on treating Mo’er.” He didn’t look at Qi Yuan again.
The Eldest Princess breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She hurriedly pulled Qi Yuan away, her gaze complicated as she looked at her.
“Ah Yuan…”
She stared at her deeply and couldn’t help but sigh: “Don’t take it too much to heart…”
But she knew full well—this wouldn’t stay a secret for long. Soon everyone would know Qi Yuan was a “Calamity Star.”
How many people in this world aren’t afraid of death?
Especially such ominous labels—they held immense sway over people’s minds.
From now on, whenever people in the capital heard Qi Yuan’s name, they would avoid her. No one would ever consider her for marriage again.
Just a few words from Li Changqing—and he could destroy a girl’s entire life.
The Eldest Princess looked at Qi Yuan, lips pressed tightly together.
The days ahead would be hard for her. She whispered, “We’ll take it step by step. Don’t worry for now.”
