69. The Fateful Destiny
The Heavenly Fortune Azure Dragon Stele!
Its appearance sent a shockwave through the hall.
This was a rare treasure left by the first emperor of the Heartflame Empire, Shangguan Shuo, used to determine if the reigning emperor still possessed the fortune to rule.
Yes, the ancestor of the Shangguan family had worried about future generations producing a tyrannical and licentious ruler, fearing the empire’s long history would be ruined by a single person.
Therefore, the Heavenly Fortune Azure Dragon Stele was like an ancestral executioner’s block, forcing an unworthy emperor to abdicate and allowing a more capable member of the Shangguan family to take the throne.
The process was simple.
Like a talent test for a child, one simply placed their hand on it, and the stele would provide a comprehensive judgment based on race, fortune, and talent.
Of course, those who had committed evil deeds, even if unseen by others, were seen by the heavens, and their fortune would be greatly diminished.
Whenever the Heavenly Fortune Azure Dragon Stele appeared, few who were judged escaped its verdict.
Now, the Grand Elder intended to use it to decide Shangguan Ziyuan’s fate, silencing all dissent.
“I have no objections,” the official said, returning to his seat, a confident glint in his eyes.
He remembered a similar incident.
Although the king at the time was morally upright, with great fortune, because he was also of mixed human and demon blood, the stele ultimately rejected him.
After this girl was impeached, the throne would likely pass to the third prince, whose abilities were second only to theirs.
And since he knew the Emperor disliked the First Prince and hadn’t considered the Fifth Princess from the beginning, he had already arranged a marriage between his daughter and the third prince.
As he was secretly rejoicing, the Grand Elder had the Heavenly Fortune Azure Dragon Stele brought out.
It was just a plain blue, obelisk-like stone.
But it was said to be made from a celestial meteorite, infused with dragon essence, and refined for forty-nine years to achieve its effect.
A plus-sized version of a talent testing stone.
When the stele was finally brought before Lu Xinyao, all eyes were drawn to it.
Including Gong Yiling and the Grand Elder.
However, while others were curious if the girl could pass the test, these two were simply waiting to see that astonishing scene again.
—Yes, since Miss Gong had anticipated someone would object, they had already tested it beforehand.
As for the result…
When Lu Xinyao placed her hand on the blue stele, it initially showed no reaction.
This meant the stele rejected her as a ruler. Most of the people present sighed in relief, while the military officials sighed in disappointment.
“Grand Elder,” the official smiled. “It seems this matter has been…”
Before he could finish, the blue stele suddenly jumped twice, letting out a fart-like “poot poot” sound.
What was that?
Then, the stele shot up into the sky like a rocket.
Everyone was stunned.
It had smashed through the palace roof, showering them with debris.
When it landed back in its original position, it unleashed a powerful shockwave, sending everyone reeling.
Then, a seven-colored light erupted from the stele, and the faint sound of a phoenix’s cry could be heard.
This magnificent sight was far more impressive than a simple blue glow.
“This… this is!?”
A few of the older officials, well-versed in such phenomena, immediately recognized its significance.
“The seven-colored heavenly glow, the cry of the divine phoenix… this is… this is the destiny of a phoenix empress, a sign of a prosperous era!”
Gong Yiling didn’t understand what they were saying, and probably most of the others didn’t either.
But they all understood what “prosperous era” meant. Such a destiny, such fortune…
Who cared about anything else? Even if the Fifth Princess wasn’t Shangguan Long’s daughter, even if she had no Shangguan blood, she was still worthy of the throne.
Well, this was just a fleeting thought.
Shangguan Ziyuan couldn’t possibly not be Shangguan Long’s daughter, right? Right? Right?
“Do you have any other questions?”
The Grand Elder looked at the dumbfounded official. “This is a destiny seen once in a millennium. If you don’t accept this, then what do you want?”
“This…” The official’s mouth hung open, speechless. He finally nodded. “Indeed… this is true. I have nothing more to say…”
“Then, are there any other objections?”
Who would dare object!?
This was clearly a sign of a prosperous future, a destiny that would lead the Heartflame Empire to greatness.
It was like the Heartflame Empire was a professional player playing against three amateurs in a four-way competition. She might even achieve what countless Shangguan heroes and heroines had failed to do.
If before they had doubts about her, now they would beg her to be their empress.
“Since there are no objections…”
Lu Xinyao sighed in relief. But just then, the cage holding Shangguan Long, perhaps loosened by the earlier shockwave, had a weak spot in its barrier.
Shangguan Long, noticing this, seized the opportunity and burst out.
“She… is not… she’s not!!!”
The enraged, dragon-like demon charged towards Lu Xinyao, reaching out with its claws.
The girl’s slender neck was just a step away. In a moment, he could snap it.
However…
That step seemed like an eternity.
A deafening dragon’s roar echoed as the roof, already damaged by the stele, completely collapsed, and the dragon-like Shangguan Long was stomped into the ground.
“Boom!!!!”
The powerful shockwave completely destroyed the main hall.
And amidst the ruins, the young Empress was safely protected in a dragon’s claw.
A dragon and a phoenix bringing prosperity. This was a true sign of prosperity!
Witnessing this, the officials all knelt down and bowed again. “Long live our Empress, may she live ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
