Chapter 4 Fortune Teller

"No, sir, is this really correct...?"

Ji Shi looked helplessly at the old man in front of him with a white beard and a face full of wrinkles, who was taking his pulse with a serious expression, occasionally letting out a sigh or two.

Although there's nothing wrong with it, but...

Aren't you a fortune teller?!

There's even a sign next to it saying "If the prediction is inaccurate, you don't have to pay!" So, your fortune-telling is based on taking pulses!

The old man coughed twice and withdrew his hand from taking his pulse.

"Young master, please don't be offended. I used to be a doctor. Just now, seeing your sallow complexion, I couldn't help but have my old ailment relapse."

"Oh..." Ji Shi pursed his lips.

"So, what did you calculate... oh no, what did you figure out?"

"You're feeling a bit feverish, drink more chrysanthemum tea."

"You!" Ji Shi was furious. "Then why were you sighing just now?! Anyone who didn't know better would think I had some serious illness."

Chu Jianshan chuckled softly behind him, and Ji Shi gave him a sharp look, and he knew it! This person definitely didn't have good intentions in sending him here!

Sure enough, you'll always dislike someone you hate at first sight!

"Let's go, let's go!" Ji Shi began to shoo people away, complaining to Chu Jianshan:

"What? You were right? Did you believe the fortune-telling I gave you before that predicted you would be rich and powerful?"

"Hey, you!"

Chu Jianshan wanted to refute but didn't know what to say, because this person had indeed predicted his great wealth and honor, and he had even praised the person for having good judgment.

"Wait, wait!"

The fortune teller stopped him: "I told you you were getting a sore throat, but you didn't believe me. Look how hot you are."

Seeing that Ji Shi was about to explode again, he quickly added, "I haven't even started calculating yet, how do you know my calculations are inaccurate?"

"Alright, then you do the math." Ji Shi gave him another chance; he wanted to see what kind of charlatan this was!

The old man's eyes were slightly closed, and his fingertips kept touching each other. After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly opened his eyes, startling Ji Shi.

"So, what did you figure out?"

The fortune teller spoke calmly: "Gentlemen... do you have something you wish to show this old man? I guess... it's a painting."

Ji Shi's eyes widened instantly, and he stammered, "You...how did you know?"

The old man stroked his beard with his hand, smiling but saying nothing.

Seeing this, Cheng Yuan gave him the painting he had hidden in his bundle and asked him to identify it.

"Hiss... This person..."

Seeing that he was only halfway through his sentence, Ji Shi became a little anxious and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Stop keeping me in suspense, do you know him or not?"

"We know each other, but..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence, which almost made Ji Shi furious. The old man was right; he was indeed a bit feverish lately. He should buy some chrysanthemum tea to drink later.

Chu Jianshan was the first to see through the man's intentions and said, "Sir, please name your price."

As soon as he finished speaking, the fortune teller smiled and slowly raised two fingers, placing them in front of the three people.

"Two taels of silver?! Why don't you just rob me?!"

Just as Ji Shi finished shouting, he saw Chu Jianshan throw the silver to him, his expression calm and composed, showing no reluctance whatsoever.

Ji Shi frowned, somewhat puzzled. He didn't even blink at the sight of two taels of silver. Could it be that he was really mistaken, or that he was truly a person of great wealth and status?

The old gentleman, beaming with delight, accepted the money and hurriedly said, "Actually, this man is from our Lian Shui Lane. His name is... oh right, Liang Shide! He passed the imperial examination a few years ago and has been showing off ever since. He also likes to seduce respectable women. He's really not a good person. What, do you three need him for something?"

"Does the gentleman know the exact address of this person?" Cheng Yuan asked.

"I know, but lately... I guess it's not going to work out?"

“What do you mean by ‘not doing so well lately’?” Ji Shi retorted. “Is this person some high-ranking official that we can’t even meet him?”

"Oh, you guys don't know, this guy has caught the eye of our richest man here, a guy surnamed Tang. That woman dotes on him like the apple of her eye."

Previously, this man had a brief affair with the courtesan of the Drunken Spring Pavilion, named Yueyan. There were even rumors that they were going to elope. When the richest man found out, the man made up some absurd reasons, saying that a fox spirit had bewitched him and wanted to harm him.

As it turned out, the woman not only believed it, but also sent 80% of the guards in her mansion to his home to protect him, and even declared that he would not be allowed to see anyone before the wedding.

But they're getting married tomorrow. Try to see them again after the wedding."

The old man shook his head, a puzzled expression on his face, as if to say, "What kind of world is this?"

Ji Shi was so engrossed in listening to the gossip that he didn't even realize when Cheng Yuan pulled him away from the stall.

"Chu Jianshan."

Hearing someone call his name, Chu Jianshan tilted his head slightly and gave Cheng Yuan a faint smile.

"What's wrong? Is there something you want to ask me?"

Cheng Yuan turned his head away from him and asked, "How do you know this old gentleman knows this person?"

Chu Jianshan slowly approached him, leaned close to his ear, and breathed on Cheng Yuan's ear as he spoke, causing Cheng Yuan's earlobe to turn slightly red in an instant.

"Actually, this person may seem like a fortune teller, but he's actually an informant. There's no one within a ten-mile radius who doesn't know him."

"More than that, I think." Cheng Yuan's voice was a little hoarse.

"Alright," Chu Jianshan said, seeing that he had figured it out. "Actually, about half a month ago, I saw someone ask this old gentleman about this painting."

"who?"

Huarong

Cheng Yuan immediately raised his eyes and asked, "So that's why you took this painting?"

Chu Jianshan nodded and said, "She placed this painting in the most conspicuous place in the building, obviously wanting us to see it."

Moreover, he noticed that Hua Rong was different from the group of men in black. She valued her life very much. So, is it possible that they weren't actually together, and that Hua Rong might have been forced into this situation?

"What do you think about this?" Cheng Yuan asked again.

Chu Jianshan didn't answer, but instead asked, "You seem to trust me a lot?"

His question made Cheng Yuan realize why he had subconsciously asked this person.

He pursed his lips slightly, turned his head away from him, and said stubbornly, "Now you have the most clues, so I have no choice but to believe you."

Chu Jianshan raised an eyebrow: "Really? Aren't you afraid I'll take this opportunity to do something underhanded?"

Cheng Yuan smiled without saying a word, but glanced in the direction of his hand.

Chu Jianshan frowned slightly, raised his fingers to take a look, and found that almost every fingernail had a black line appear out of nowhere, and the fingertips were purplish, which was obviously a sign of poisoning.

"You poisoned me!"

Chu Jianshan was furious. When did this person poison him? He hadn't even noticed! He felt so guilty towards this disciple, and yet his disciple tried to poison him!?

Cheng Yuan's lips curled up: "Just in case. I never thought that the poison skills that Senior Brother Bai taught me would be used here."

Chu Jianshan sneered and deliberately distanced himself from Cheng Yuan as if in a fit of pique.

At this moment, Ji Shi, who was standing nearby, finally came to his senses and turned to the two of them, asking, "So what do we do now? Are we really going to wait until they get married before going to see them? What if they still won't let us see them?"

Chu Jianshan twirled the sword in his hand twice and said casually, "If they won't let us see them, then let them come to see us."

Cheng Yuan glanced at him and instantly understood what he meant. He had to admit that this person's thoughts were sometimes surprisingly similar to his own.

Only Ji Shi was still confused about Chu Jianshan's intentions, and said, "Come on, why would someone come to see you in person? Who are you?"

Chu Jianshan sighed. This child was truly pitifully foolish.

"I mean, aren't they getting married tomorrow? And the old gentleman just said that there are only 20% of the guards left in the Tang residence, so it's much easier than going to the Liang residence, isn't it?"

"So what? Are you going to steal the bride?"

Seeing that he still didn't understand, Chu Jianshan couldn't help but pick up his sword sheath and tap him on the head.

"Are you stupid? Why would I steal a bride? Am I desperate for money?"

Ji Shi rubbed his head and muttered, "Who knows how much of that two taels of silver you'll have left after throwing it away?"

Chu Jianshan gave him a malicious smile: "Who said that silver is mine?"

"If it's not yours, then who is it..."

He immediately realized what was happening, reached out and touched his purse, and sure enough, two taels were missing.

"Chu, Jian, Shan!!"

Ji Shi shouted angrily and drew his sword to kill him, but Chu Jianshan dodged and avoided his attack. He had no spiritual power, but with his strange moves, escaping was not a problem.

The two of them kept circling around Cheng Yuan.

"alright"

Cheng Yuan sighed and reached out to stop Ji Shi.

"He's not your junior brother, so why are you protecting him too?"

"We still need his help."

Chu Jianshan raised his eyebrows at Ji Shi, as if to say, "Did you hear that? You still need me!"

Ji Shi rolled his eyes at him and ignored him, gripping the scabbard tightly, suppressing his anger, and secretly vowing to make him return the two taels of silver!

Cheng Yuan continued, "What Chu Jianshan meant just now was that the Tang family only has 20% of its guards left. It would be easy for us to infiltrate. If she insists on not letting us see Liang Shide, as long as we control Miss Tang and choose someone to pretend to be the bride, she can be directly married into the Liang family tomorrow. With our cooperation from the inside and outside, it will be much easier for us to see Liang Shide."

"Then who should be the bride?"

Chu Jianshan asked the most meaningful question, only to see Ji Shi and Cheng Yuan slowly turn their heads towards him.

Chu Jianshan: "..."

"No, I think..." Chu Jianshan wanted to argue a bit more, but Ji Shi slapped him down.

"You're the one, Brother Chu! Look at the two of us, we don't look like brides at all. Unlike you, with your well-proportioned figure and handsome face, you'd be unrecognizable without the veil on!"

Cheng Yuan didn't speak, but he nodded in agreement.

Chu Jianshan: Thank you all... consider it a compliment...

However, Ji Shi was not wrong. Chu Jianshan was born with a handsome face, both dashing and heroic. Moreover, his skin was delicate, and with just a little rouge, he could surpass many women.

Beneath his worn-out clothes was a well-proportioned waist, its outline visible even in a gentle breeze. He wasn't broad-shouldered, so he was sure he could fit into the bride's wedding dress.

Forced by the two, Chu Jianshan finally agreed.

Ji Shi finally vented his anger and slapped his thigh with joy, laughing heartily.

"Hahaha, Chu Jianshan, I really can't wait to see you in your wedding dress!"

Chu Jianshan rolled his eyes at him and remained silent.

"Well, speaking of which, this fortune teller was really accurate. He knew right away that we were looking for the person in the painting. I can ask him to tell my fortune a couple more times next time and see if I can become famous in the future!"

"Fool" Chu Jianshan couldn't help but expose his blunder.

"He was right because your painting wasn't placed properly; half of it was showing, and he saw it."

Ji Shi: "..."

This person is as annoying as ever!