Zhang Shufang discovered his master, Zhang Pingsheng, and was about to speak when Zhang Pingsheng raised his hand to stop him.
Xu Qing, who was using his invisibility technique, stepped forward, and Zhang Pingsheng, who controlled the surrounding people's spirits through illusion technique, also followed suit.
Upon seeing the old Emperor's appearance on the dragon bed, Zhang Pingsheng's face was full of astonishment.
"With delicate features, yet a broken mountain root, like a solitary boat without an anchor; a broad forehead like a field but a narrow earth pavilion, like a light boat overturned in water. This is a carrier of objects pattern, yet it's not a true carrier, but rather a light boat unable to bear heavy weight."
As Zhang Pingsheng examined further, he became increasingly alarmed: "Though there is purple Qi surrounding him, the horse position is crossed by black Qi over the heavens, this is a sign of prosperity's fire burning the body. Those with this sign, if gaining three parts benefit can extend life, but receiving seven parts prosperity will surely shorten their lifespan, and if achieving perfect ten wealth... it is like snow falling on coal, melting instantly."
"This is a doomed dragon... no, this is clearly a sign of excess fortune leading to early death!"
Xu Qing nodded, saying, "He originally lacked the Emperor's fate, but for the sake of his father, I forcibly altered his fate. Unfortunately, he couldn't manage the fortune of being a monarch."
In the secular world, it's often said about someone 'fortune is thin, can't bear the burden', referring to people like Emperor Hongcheng.
It's like a poor person earning money to buy large fish and meat, but by the time he's old and weak, he's lost his teeth.
If you forcibly fit him with false teeth, little do you know he lacks not only teeth but also appetite.
Trying to force feed him would lead to harm, at best; at worst, it could be fatal.
The current Emperor's situation is just like this.
Had Xu Qing not gifted five parts of the Emperor's Purple Qi to him, Emperor Hongcheng might have died abruptly on the eve of his enthronement.
Later, Xu Qing forcibly bestowed upon him the Emperor's fate, which could certainly stimulate Emperor Hongcheng's potential, but it also compromised his lifespan.
Zhu Huai'an knew this, and Emperor Hongcheng was aware at that time too, yet neither father nor son chose to change the Crown Prince's selection for the throne.
Because when Xu Qing pointed out the issue to the still Crown Prince Emperor Hongcheng, Zhu Huai'an was too late to cultivate another Crown Prince.
Meanwhile, as the two chatted idly, a transparent phantom ghost image silently arose on the dragon bed.
After listening to the 'old physician's consultation' for an extended time, patient Emperor Hongcheng finally couldn't hold back and sat up.
Only it was not the flesh that sat up but rather the Emperor's soul spirit.
"With you gentlemen present, though I am truly a person without fortune, I possess an unwavering heart to govern and strengthen the state. I beg you gentlemen to lend your hand to save my Great Yan kingdom..."
As he spoke, the monarch kneeled down.
Xu Qing looked down, wielded his divine "Words and Laws Follow" technique, and commanded, 'Rise'.
In the next moment, Emperor Hongcheng, who was kneeling on the ground, indeed stood up uncontrollably!
Xu Qing gazed at the Emperor before him and said, "Take a good look at me, who am I?"
Emperor Hongcheng observed carefully and suddenly remembered: "You are a close friend of my father, Mr. Xu Qing of the Jin Sect!"
Xu Qing chuckled, just about to say something, but then noticed chaos around the dragon bed, with several Imperial Physicians fussing about the Emperor, only to ultimately shake their heads in defeat.
Instantly, Yangxin Hall was filled with cries, and the news of the Emperor's death quickly spread outside the hall.
Xu Qing shook his head slightly, then turned to Emperor Hongcheng and said, "The mortal lifespan may be fifty, eighty, or even in white-haired old age, but your fate was just under thirty. After becoming a monarch, your lifespan declined another ten to twenty years, you think I didn't help you, yet you don't realize I have helped you greatly."
Emperor Hongcheng's face was filled with shame, his words mostly expressing gratitude.
Yet the other party's soul body remained, not dispersing.
Xu Qing knew that the Emperor before him still had lingering desires; if he didn't help resolve those desires, the only choice was to forcibly transcend him.
After contemplating briefly, Xu Qing eventually sighed.
After all, the other was his old friend's son, and he treated him with some respect, having chosen to help, might as well help thoroughly, as a way to fulfill past bonds.
"Speak freely if you have any words."
Emperor Hongcheng was overwhelmed with emotion, attempting to kneel again, but was still stopped by Xu Qing.
"I... I would like to ask the gentleman to look at the Crown Prince's fate, if you could offer some guidance, I would be most grateful."
Xu Qing nodded but upon looking at the Crown Prince who rushed into the hall, he found this child even lacked fortune more than Emperor Hongcheng!
Zhang Pingsheng looked at the slender Crown Prince, looking like a lone leaf boat, with accumulated fortune totaling less than two liang, and was speechless for a while.
Xu Qing likewise remained silent; he could almost foresee that even if this Crown Prince miraculously ascended, he would not last long; unless another Emperor was established, otherwise, with this Crown Prince's physique, he would surely be unable to withstand the heavy pressure of the Great Yan's fortune.
Seeing Xu Qing and Zhang Pingsheng's silence, Emperor Hongcheng still boasted, saying: "Mian'er recognized characters at three, wrote poetry at seven, with the ability to remember anything he saw, and by eleven or twelve, he had read extensively in classics. Most commendably, Mian'er has strong filial piety. Since he was seven, he could understand our earnest efforts, resolving to make Great Yan a celestial court above..."
As Emperor Hongcheng continued speaking, Xu Qing and Zhang Pingsheng became increasingly silent.
Gradually, Emperor Hongcheng's voice grew softer, until finally, he cautiously inquired, "Mr. Xu, why have you not spoken, is there a problem?"
Not just a problem!
Xu Qing withdrew his gaze from Crown Prince Zhu Mian and calmly said: "With benevolence and righteousness, loyalty and piety, and early wisdom with a clear mind. Except for a short life, nothing is wrong!"
Emperor Hongcheng, hearing Xu Qing's praise from various directions, initially smiled but as soon as he heard the three words 'life is short', the old Emperor was immediately unsettled!
Facing Emperor Hongcheng's pleading, Xu Qing shook his head and said:
"Things in the world, too much is as bad as too little. It's not that I won't save him, even if I do, it can only give him three to five extra years."
Zhu Mian's fate was none other than emotional depth not conducive to longevity, and extreme wisdom vulnerable to harm.
This feeling is not merely about romantic sentiment, but also excessive affection for children, obsession with fame and fortune, or unwavering loyalty to the country, all fall under this category.
If both are possessed, it truly spells out destiny as extremely frail, a life destined to be filled with regrets.
Like Zhuge Wuhou was a man of deep emotion and extreme wisdom.
This is the theory of destiny; to change it, one must enter the Xuan Sect, cultivate life and nature, attain lightness of body, naturally breaking away from shackles, reaching a transcendental state.
However, those of extreme wisdom with frail destinies prefer to plunge into the muddy world of mortals, ending up muddy and weighed down like a mountain, even immortals cannot carry or lift it.
Indeed, what is carried here is not the physical weight of mortal flesh but one's destiny.
The principle of destiny lies entirely within oneself; barring self-rescue, there's no other way.
All Xu Qing could do, as he did back then, was to transfer the remaining Emperor's Purple Qi from Emperor Hongcheng onto Zhu Mian.
Yet because Zhu Mian's mind had matured, he was destined not to abandon familial duties and choose self-rescue, this was a self-binding of destiny, a set predicament, and even if Daluo Immortals intervened, they couldn't shake it.
Xu Qing carried Emperor Hongcheng's soul away from Yangxin Hall, headed to a place free from disturbance.
Now the Sutra of Salvation was no longer limited to contact with bodies, as long as there was a soul, it could directly transcend.
As Emperor Hongcheng's life review began to manifest, the Emperor's soul before Xu Qing slowly began to fade.
Emperor Hongcheng sensed the anomaly, which was a sensation akin to liberation and lightness.
As his body was about to completely dissipate, he exerted his last bit of strength, gratefully bowing deeply to Xu Qing.
"A Wise Emperor may not have long to live nor avert heaven's fall. Yet how can a successor in a chaotic world reverse the tides?"
"Five years as Emperor, ultimately too brief..."
Xu Qing cast five parts of the Emperor's Purple Qi onto Zhu Mian, who had ascended at the spirit ceremony.
Meanwhile, his final sigh also fell upon Zhu Mian's ears.
The new Emperor, astutely brilliant, upon hearing Xu Qing's sigh, paused momentarily, then promptly resumed his composure, continuing to receive the court officials' homage.