Druid Fairy

Chapter 199 Testing
The Fifth Prince's smile was gentle and kind, his eyes filled with just the right amount of amazement and appreciation, like a true scholar who was deeply immersed in nature.

"Patriarch Li, there's no need for such formalities. I've come here on my father's orders to thank you for raising three pillars of our Great Yu Dynasty. My father often says that the foundation of a nation lies in its people. The Li family has produced three outstanding individuals, all of whom are auspicious omens for the country. You deserve this honor."

His posture was extremely humble, and his words were full of gentle warmth, instantly dispelling the oppressive feeling brought by the royal procession.

Li Pingcan knew perfectly well that this seemingly unassuming fifth prince was far more cunning and shrewd than his more outspoken elder brothers.

"Your Highness flatters me. My son is unruly, but it is their blessing that he can serve the dynasty, and it is also an honor for my family."

Li Pingcan stepped aside to lead the way, his movements natural and fluid, showing no sign of awkwardness in the face of imperial authority. "This is a humble and unrefined place, I hope Your Highness will not find it offensive. Please."

The two walked side by side, with Sun Zheng and the imperial guards commanders three steps behind them, clearly separated yet forming a subtle confrontation.

As the fifth prince walked, he looked around with great interest.

He saw farmers working on the ridges of the fields. Although they were simply dressed, they were all energetic and full of vitality. Their every move carried a hint of the composure of a martial artist.

He saw the children playing in the village, climbing trees and catching fish; their agility far surpassed that of the pampered young masters in the capital.

What alarmed him even more was that he could clearly feel the rich, lingering scent of grass and trees in the air. Taking a deep breath, he felt refreshed and his fatigue from the past few days of travel had dissipated considerably.

"Patriarch Li," the Fifth Prince couldn't help but exclaim, "Your Peach Blossom Mountain is truly a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. I have traveled all over the famous mountains and rivers of the Great Yu, and I have never seen any place with such vitality as this."

"Your Highness flatters me." Li Pingcan smiled slightly, his smile gentle and peaceful. "This humble subject is merely following the way of nature, daring not to interfere too much, letting the spirits, plants, birds and beasts of the mountains and fields grow on their own."

This answer attributes everything to "feng shui" and "nature," without mentioning any human factors, perfectly matching his identity as a "recluse in the mountains."

The Fifth Prince smiled noncommittally, but his hand, hidden in his sleeve, quietly aimed the "Sky-Gazing Mirror" at Li Pingcan's back.

There was no sign of Li Pingcan on the mirror; it remained an empty void.

However, at the edge of the mirror, the azure-gold halo representing the fortune of the entire Peach Blossom Mountain underwent a subtle, almost imperceptible change while the Fifth Prince was talking with Li Pingcan.

A wisp of golden, imperial dragon aura, carrying the majestic power of the dynasty, was emanating from the Fifth Prince, while the boundless azure vitality of Peach Blossom Mountain, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, willingly and gently merged with this dragon aura.

On the mirror, a perfectly harmonious scene slowly unfolds.

A golden dragon is coiled across the territory of the Great Yu Dynasty, and in the area of ​​Yunshui County, a verdant mountain phantom is continuously supplying the golden dragon with pure vitality and spiritual energy.

The mountain's aura did not conflict with the dynasty's dragon aura in the slightest. Instead, it was like a huge piece of nourishing warm jade, making the dragon vein in that area appear more solid and stable than elsewhere!
"This is... the master's destiny, giving back to the imperial court!"

The Fifth Prince was overwhelmed with emotion, and his breath caught in his throat for a moment!
He originally thought that the Li family was a hidden dragon in the abyss, and must have ulterior motives.

However, the feedback from the Heavenly Mirror was completely the opposite!

The Li family's fortune not only lacks the ambition to form its own lineage, but is also closely linked to the fortune of the Great Yu Dynasty, making it an ideal and auspicious omen that can strengthen the nation's destiny!
No wonder!
No wonder the Li family has produced three outstanding talents!

It turns out that their foundation was originally part of the Great Yu Dynasty!

Their strength is the strength of the dynasty!
At this moment, the last trace of doubt in the Fifth Prince's heart completely vanished.

The way he looked at Li Pingcan changed from initial probing and apprehension to genuine appreciation.

"Master Li, you are a master!" he exclaimed sincerely.

All of this was naturally Li Pingcan's doing.

The moment he advanced to the ninth level of Qi Refining and the [Return of All Trees to Spring] domain unfolded, he sensed the Fifth Prince's magical artifact prying into his sleeve.

He didn't choose to forcibly block it, as that would only make it seem like he was trying to cover it up.

He turned the tables on the plan, activating the Druid's dojo to create a "resonance" between the earth's veins and vitality of the entire Peach Blossom Mountain and the faint yet pure imperial dragon energy on the Fifth Prince's body.

He deliberately disguised himself as one of the most loyal subjects.

The illusion he created was more convincing than any words.

Inside the pavilion, Li Pingcan personally poured a cup of tea for the Fifth Prince.

The tea was a jade-green color, and as the steam rose, one could vaguely imagine a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix.

“Good tea!”

The Fifth Prince took a sip and felt a warm current instantly flow into his limbs and bones, making his mind and soul clearer. "The wonder of this tea is no less than that of the tribute teas in the palace."

"These are just wild things from the mountains; Your Highness, please forgive my poor appearance."

The two chatted over tea, discussing everything from poetry and songs to strange tales, and the Fifth Prince became increasingly alarmed as they talked.

The man before me, seemingly detached from worldly affairs, actually possesses a wealth of knowledge about the general trend of the world, local customs, and even some extremely secret sect rumors. He has unique insights, yet he always manages to feign ignorance at the most crucial moments, attributing everything to "accidentally seeing it in ancient books."

This sense of propriety is absolutely impeccable.

"Patriarch Li," the Fifth Prince put down his teacup, finally revealing his true intentions, "Mengze, Mengjin, and Mengyue are all exceptional individuals. I am truly curious, how exactly did you educate them to cultivate such outstanding children?"

Upon hearing this, Li Pingcan gave a wry smile and shook his head: "Your Highness really thinks too highly of me. What teaching methods do I have? I just let them grow freely."

"The alchemy of Mengze and the swordsmanship of Mengjin couldn't have appeared out of thin air, could they?"

"To my shame," Li Pingcan sighed, "that child Mengze has been interested in flowers and plants since he was little. He spends all day either fiddling with herbs or looking through strange prescriptions that I can't understand, so I just let him be. As for Mengjin, that child is cold and doesn't like to talk. He's only fond of swords and spends all day staring blankly at a wooden stick. I've tried to persuade him to learn some skills to make a living, but alas... alas, a son is no longer under his father's control once he grows up."

His words were filled with a sense of helplessness, as if he were talking about his own sons, one a drug addict who was "not doing his proper job" and the other a sword fanatic who was "obsessed with violence".

The Fifth Prince was both amused and exasperated. If this was considered neglecting one's duties, then wouldn't all the talented men in the world be considered useless?
"As for Yueya'er," Li Pingcan finally showed a hint of affection when he mentioned his youngest daughter, "that girl is frail. I only hoped that she could live a peaceful and happy life, and I would be content. Who would have thought that she would be some kind of 'Taiyin Holy Body' and be dragged into this court strife? This is not what I wanted."

His words were filled with worry for his children's future and the helplessness of a father who only wanted to protect his family. The Fifth Prince couldn't help but believe him somewhat.

This is a truly detached and blessed person, whose children are all exceptionally talented.

Such people are best befriended, not made enemies!

"I admire the noble character of Patriarch Li." The Fifth Prince stood up and bowed solemnly to Li Pingcan. "I have troubled you for a long time, and I should return to the palace to report. These are some small gifts from my father, and I hope you will not refuse them."

Behind him, the commander of the Imperial Guard immediately presented a gift box made of millennium-old cold jade.

Li Pingcan opened it and found a bright red fruit inside, exuding a powerful life force. It was the longevity fruit treasured by the royal family—the "Crimson Fruit".

"This……"

"The head of the family educates his sons for the country, which is a great contribution to the nation. This mere Crimson Fruit is not enough to express our respect."

Li Pingcan did not refuse again. He turned around, picked the biggest and reddest peach from the peach tree behind him, and handed it over.

"We are a humble family living in the mountains and have nothing to repay you with. This peach grows by the spring in the back mountain and has some medicinal properties, so we present it to Your Highness as a token of our gratitude."

The Fifth Prince took the seemingly ordinary peach. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and a refreshing fragrance wafted from it. He knew that this was no ordinary peach.

Reciprocity is key; not a single detail should be overlooked.

The fifth prince left satisfied with the answer.

…………

In the depths of the imperial palace of the Great Yu Dynasty, in the Imperial Study.

The wisps of ambergris smoke cast a majestic yet hazy hue over the bright yellow candlelight.

The reigning emperor, the Great Yu Emperor, stood by the window, hands behind his back, gazing at the deep night outside, his figure as imposing as a still pool and a towering mountain. The Fifth Prince stood respectfully behind him, giving a detailed account of what he had seen and heard during his trip to Peach Blossom Mountain.

"...Li Pingcan was composed and spoke with restraint. He possessed the carefree spirit of a man from the mountains and countryside, as well as insight into the general trend of the world. Yet he always adhered to his duty and attributed everything to the right time and place. He truly had the demeanor of a great man."

"A master?" The emperor turned around, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger. "Masters in this world either live in seclusion or have grand ambitions. Which one do you think he is?"

“Your Majesty,” the Fifth Prince replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, “I am foolish and dare not presume to know the hearts of men. But I have observed their fortunes with the Mirror of Heaven, and what I have seen is undeniable.”

He described in detail the harmonious scene in the Mirror of Heaven where the azure energy of Peach Blossom Mountain actively merged with the dragon energy of the dynasty, nourishing and enriching each other.

"The emperor's fortunes follow the emperor's, and his influence feeds the court..." The emperor tapped lightly on the window frame with his knuckles, a strange light flashing in his eyes. "How interesting. Bring that peach of longevity to me."

Sun Zheng immediately bowed and presented the peach that had been carefully preserved in the cold jade box.

The moment the box was opened, a surge of life essence and spiritual energy, so rich it was almost tangible, rushed out. Even the few imperial orchids in the study that never bloomed began to sprout new green shoots at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The emperor's gaze lingered on the peach, unmoved for a long time. As the supreme ruler, imbued with the aura of a dragon, his sensitivity to such spiritual objects far surpassed that of ordinary people. He could sense that the peach contained a pure and pristine life force, devoid of any sinister or impure energy.

"What a fine spiritual peach." The emperor finally spoke, his tone carrying a hint of approval. "It seems that the Li family, or rather, this Peach Blossom Mountain, is indeed a blessed land for our Great Yu."

"Father is wise." The Fifth Prince lowered his head.

"But have you ever considered," the emperor's tone shifted, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, "that what the Heavenly Mirror reflects may not be nothing but illusion. If one person's methods can deceive the heavens and even simulate the will of Heaven, then how terrifying must their schemes be?"

The fifth prince's heart tightened, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He knew that this was his father's final test of him.

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Your subject has thought about it. But there is a fundamental difference between simulating fortune and true fusion. The imperial dragon's aura, the majestic power of heaven, how can it be desecrated by ordinary magic? If the fortune of Peach Blossom Mountain is really fake, it will be exposed the moment it comes into contact with the dragon's aura, like ice and snow meeting the scorching sun. But what your subject saw was a harmonious fusion, an active affinity and nourishment."

He paused, his voice growing firmer: "Father, I believe that Li Pingcan may be hiding his strength, but he has no intention of rebelling against the dynasty. He is more like a hermit blessed by heaven, following the way of nature, who unintentionally created a blessed land for our Great Yu. His children are the 'fruits' of this blessed land, and their fortune is already intertwined with that of our Great Yu."

A long silence fell over the Imperial Study.

After a long while, the emperor slowly reached out, picked up the peach, and gently sniffed it.

“You’re right,” he said calmly. “A person’s words and actions can be faked, but their aura cannot. Being born here proves that this land has indeed been blessed by heaven.”

He looked at his son, and a hint of satisfaction finally appeared in his eyes.

“You did a great job on this trip. A family with no great ambitions but abundant blessings is an auspicious sign for the dynasty. Since it is an auspicious sign, it should be put to good use.”

The emperor handed the longevity peach to the chief eunuch beside him, then strolled to the huge geomantic map, his gaze falling on the border line where the Great Yu and the Great Qian dynasties met.

A meaningful smile curved at the corner of his mouth.

“The Third Prince of Daqian has suffered such a great loss, he will probably not let this go easily. You will be in charge of this matter from now on.”

"Yes." The Fifth Prince replied excitedly. As the son of a palace maid, this was one of the few opportunities he had to show himself in front of his father. Only with power could he successfully withdraw from the struggle between the First Prince and the Crown Prince and avoid being used as cannon fodder.

After the fifth prince left, the emperor remained silent for a long time.

Did he believe it?

maybe.

But an emperor will never completely trust anyone.

He merely shifted his attention away from Peach Blossom Mountain, this "auspicious" chess piece.

(End of this chapter)