Chapter 69: Each Other’s Guiding Light

It was as if Master Liao Chan could sense that Tang Mi was afraid of something, so he didn’t press further. Instead, he simply looked at the fortune slip she had drawn and recited softly:

“The phoenix returns to the wutong tree,
A cycle of rebirth begins anew.”

He lifted his gaze to Tang Mi and said,

“Miss, your destiny is beyond words noble and rare. Even if you seek rebirth to change your fate, I fear it cannot be altered. You possess the fate of the phoenix. Even in rebirth, the cycle repeats, unchanged and unending.”

Hearing this, Tang Mi’s face turned deathly pale. She understood what the slip meant.

Even after being reborn, she still couldn’t escape her destiny!

Why?

If fate couldn’t be changed, then why would heaven give her a second chance?

In that instant, a chilling darkness engulfed Tang Mi entirely. She seemed trapped in a pit of hatred and despair, unable to pull herself out.

Ye Chenxuan’s heart wrenched as he saw her like this.

What had she gone through? What did rebirth even mean?

And this so-called “noble phoenix fate”?

Then he thought of his own fortune, which read: “Peril at every step, little hope for success.” Rage surged within him.

She had the fate of a phoenix, while he was destined to be the true dragon emperor.

Liao Chan noticed both of their expressions and spoke again,

“Miss, do not despair. Like this gentleman’s fortune, yours also has a way to resolve the ill fate.”

Tang Mi snapped out of her trance and looked at the next line on the slip:

“The noble shall be guided by another noble. Misfortune fades, and fortune comes.”

Liao Chan nodded.

“Precisely. That is the solution. When you meet your guiding light, your bad luck will be swept away and good fortune will follow.”

Another “guiding light”?
Both Tang Mi and Ye Chenxuan furrowed their brows.

Tang Mi, determined to change her fate, asked,

“Master, has my guiding light already appeared?”

Liao Chan looked at both of them with a mysterious smile and replied,

“Indeed, both of your guiding lights have already appeared so close, and yet so far. Right before your eyes.”

Tang Mi and Ye Chenxuan were stunned. They looked at each other, then turned to Liao Chan in disbelief.

“Master, are you saying… we are each other’s guiding light?”

Their voices overlapped, drawing a chuckle from Liao Chan.

“Exactly. One noble guides another. He is your guiding light, and you are his. You are destined to help one another.”

The two stood in stunned silence, their emotions a complicated tangle.

Ye Chenxuan did believe Tang Mi was his guiding light, but this was not what he had wanted. That role could have belonged to anyone, but he hadn’t wished for it to be her.

Tang Mi could indeed help him seize power, but he didn’t want to use her as Ye Junyu had. He didn’t want her to think he was the same as that man.

If he were to marry her, it would be out of genuine love, not for the throne.

At the same time, Tang Mi was pondering the meaning behind he is my guiding light.

She knew well that in the current situation, she could indeed help Ye Chenxuan more specifically, the military power in her maternal grandfather’s hands could be a decisive advantage for both him and Ye Junyu.

But what did it mean for him to be her guiding light?

Was she supposed to win him over to fight Ye Junyu?

But how realistic was that? As far as she knew, his relationship with Ye Junyu wasn’t exactly strained. Could he really be turned against him?

“The fortunes have been interpreted. You two may leave,” Liao Chan said, seeing them both deep in thought.

Tang Mi snapped out of her daze, quickly got up, and bowed.

“Thank you for your guidance, Master.”

Ye Chenxuan also rose and gave a respectful nod.

The two left the private chamber, one after the other.

Ye Chenxuan quickly caught up with Tang Mi.

“Don’t let the Master’s words burden you. The path one walks must be their own. I, for one, have never sought shortcuts.”

Tang Mi paused, surprised that he would come talk to her.

She looked into his eyes deep, still, like a bottomless lake. Yet, within them, she saw sincerity.

Maybe… he really wasn’t like Ye Junyu. At least in her past life, he’d never done anything cruel to her.

“If Your Highness is truly my guiding light,” Tang Mi said with a soft smile, “then I shall remember those words.”

She gave him a graceful curtsy and walked away.

Ye Chenxuan stood still, her radiant smile etched in his mind. Only after she had gone far did he finally come back to himself and let out a bitter laugh.

She was more composed than he was.

She wasn’t just his guiding light. He was hers, too.

Perhaps this bond would change things between them. He was caught between hope and hesitation.

Ever since meeting her, it had always been a mix of pain and joy.

Back in their room, Ban Xia couldn’t hold back her excitement.

“Miss! If His Highness Prince Xuan is your guiding light, then doesn’t that mean you’ll become his Princess?!”

She was practically clapping with joy.

Prince Xuan wasn’t just handsome word was, he hadn’t taken a single concubine yet. Not even a consort. No one. All of the capital’s noble daughters were dying to marry him.

People said that a man like him, once in love, would be utterly devoted.

If he liked her lady, it would be a dream come true.

And with her lady’s beauty, they were a match made in heaven!

Ban Xia had already started imagining their wedding.

But Tang Mi gave her a light knock on the head.

“Miss~” Ban Xia pouted in protest.

“Stop daydreaming. I will never marry into the royal family again.” Tang Mi reminded her and reminded herself as well.

She would never step into the palace again. She’d rather die.

But thinking of that line on the slip “a cycle of rebirth begins anew”, her expression darkened again.

If she’d truly been given a second life, she would never repeat her past mistakes. Even if it meant defying fate itself, she would never surrender.

Ban Xia could feel the icy aura emanating from her lady and instantly shut her mouth.

Did Miss really hate Prince Xuan that much?

It seemed she’d have to avoid mentioning him from now on. Even if she thought they were perfect for each other, if Miss didn’t like him, there was nothing to be done.

That night, seeing Tang Mi preparing to go out again, Ban Xia looked utterly dismayed.

“Miss… you’re going out again?”

“It should be the last time,” Tang Mi said, gently pinching her round cheek. “Hold down the fort. I’ll be back before sunrise.”

Without another word, she picked up her food box, tightened her cloak, and headed down the mountain.

The day after tomorrow would be the memorial for her father, and there would be many preparations tomorrow. She wouldn’t have time to leave again, so tonight would likely be the last time.

At the foot of the mountain, she entered the old ruined temple once more.

“Girl! I knew you’d come!” the old ghost Qi giggled as he ran up excitedly. “What goodies did you bring this time?”

He’d been waiting here all day!