Chapter 84 Master's Fortune Telling, Imperial Star in Charge

Ji Qingwu knew perfectly well that Qiuqiu was faking her tears, but seeing her cute appearance, he couldn't bring himself to harden his heart.

Seeing that time was running out, she sighed and picked up the little girl.

"You're coming with your mother, but you can't cry or run around, understand?"

The little girl immediately stopped pretending to cry, cupped her face, smacked her cheeks a few times, and said with a grin, "Chiu Chiu will definitely be good and stay by Mother's side!"

Hanshan Temple has always been a popular place of worship, but recently, the number of people has been increasing.

The carriages of noble ladies and young women from various families had completely blocked the main road leading into the temple, and pilgrims coming to offer incense and oil lamps were also arriving in an endless stream.

The carriages of the Marquis of Zhongyong could only stop about half a mile from Hanshan Temple.

Ji Qingwu had never seen a temple so bustling with activity.

She asked curiously, "Big sister, why does Hanshan Temple attract so many people?"

"Hanshan Temple was founded by the eminent monk Hanshanzi. It has been a thousand years since then. Through many dynastic changes, only this temple has remained prosperous. Buddhist treasures such as the Dragon Canon and Vajra are also located here."

Ji Qingrong, holding Chunxing's hand, gracefully stepped down from the carriage.

She continued, "People who come here on ordinary days are all hoping for the prosperity of their families. Recently, there have been more people coming to worship Buddha because Master Liaoran has returned from his travels."

Ji Qingwu, holding Qiuqiu in one arm, nimbly jumped off the carriage, leaving Chunxing, who was supporting the young master's wife, stunned.

Ji Qingren couldn't help but laugh and said, "I remember that Fifth Sister wasn't born in the Year of the Monkey either."

Ji Qingwu pointed to the little girl in her arms and said with a smile, "It's Qiuqiu." She then asked, "Is Master Liaoran a very powerful monk?"

The name Liaoran sounds like the image of a monk who is untainted by worldly desires and dedicated to saving all sentient beings.

Ji Qingrong nodded: "Master Liaoran's meditation is profound, and his fortune telling is the most accurate. Many people come here specifically to have the master personally calculate their destiny."

Looking at the sea of ​​people in front of them, Ji Qingwu exclaimed, "But with so many people, even if Master Liaoran calculated from morning till night without sleep, he still couldn't count them all."

"Buddha only saves those who are destined to be saved. No more than three people can have their destiny analyzed by a master each year."

Three a year? Ji Qingwu really didn't understand why so many people would wait for this opportunity that was practically nonexistent.

Ji Qingrong covered her lips with her hand and whispered in her ear, "When His Majesty was still the heir of the Marquis of Yong'an, Master Liaoran had already calculated his destiny. Later, when His Majesty raised an army, Master Liaoran even accurately predicted that His Majesty could dominate the imperial cause."

"That sounds so mysterious," Ji Qingwu nodded with a mixture of belief and doubt.

Ji Qingrong and Princess Yong agreed to meet at Shuangzhong Pavilion in the southeast corner of Hanshan Temple.

The appointed time has arrived, but Princess Yong has not yet appeared. Perhaps the traffic is too bad and she is late.

Since they were already there, they should offer incense to express their gratitude. Ji Qingwu followed Ji Qingrong to the main hall to kneel and worship.

Facing the hall full of gods and Buddhas, Ji Qingwu clasped his hands together.

He silently prayed: "It's our first meeting. Greetings to all the gods and Buddhas. We don't visit the temple unless we have a reason. I hope her journey goes smoothly and that she can achieve her heart's desire."

Chiu Chiu followed their example, closing her eyes and rubbing her little hands together. She seemed to be making a wish and offered a devout prayer.

Ji Qingwu slowly stood up, took the little girl's hand, and a young novice monk wearing a gray, knee-length robe appeared in front of him.

“Esteemed benefactor, your master requests your presence.”

The worshippers in the main hall all looked over, their eyes filled with shock, envy, or jealousy.

Looking at the expressions of these people, Ji Qingwu guessed who the young novice monk was referring to as his master.

Adhering to the principle that since she was already there, she couldn't refuse such an opportunity. Besides, regardless of whether fortune telling or divination was accurate, she would only accept the ones that sounded good.

Seeing Ji Qingwu turn to look at her, Ji Qingrong nodded repeatedly and waved her hand, urging her to hurry up: "Don't keep Master Liaoran waiting."

Ji Qingwu asked, "May I bring my daughter with me?"

The young novice bowed his head and said, "Of course, please follow me, benefactor."

The meditation room where Master Liaoran resided was nestled among several towering Bodhi trees. All that could be seen was the apricot-yellow beam, and a mottled ancient temple bell stood at the entrance.

After Ji Qingwu entered the room, he could see the back of a man sitting on the futon in the center. He was wearing a beige crepe robe with wide sleeves and a dignified and composed demeanor.

However, she wondered why he wasn't bald.

Master Liaoran, who had his back to her, said, "Please sit down, benefactor."

Ji Qingwu led Qiuqiu to the opposite side of him and sat cross-legged on the futon.

Upon seeing the master's face, she was even more surprised. Why wasn't he a kind-looking old man?

Master Liaoran opened his eyes, his voice deep and resonant like a bell, and said, "This old monk has invited you here because you are a person with a karmic connection to the Buddha, and I wish to interpret your fortune."

This old monk.....

This eminent monk looked to be only in his thirties.

Ji Qingwu said respectfully, "Thank you for your trouble, Master."

“However, both of you are destined to be with Buddha, but I can only give you a reading once,” Master Liaoran said.

Without a second thought, Ji Qingwu pointed to the young girl beside him and said, "Then please have the master interpret this young benefactor's fortune."

She was well aware of her own ill-fated destiny, so there was no need to consult a master for a fortune telling.

Why not calculate her fate?

Seeing that she did not hesitate, Master Liaoran chanted Amitabha and said, "Please place your palms facing upwards on your knees, young benefactor."

Ji Qingwu said softly, "Chirp chirp, do as the master says." The little girl obediently did as she was told.

Master Liaoran closed his eyes, but his eyeballs under his eyelids kept moving.

The time it takes for half an incense stick to burn.

When Master Liaoran opened his eyes again, the blood vessels in his eyes were obvious. He said, "The Direct Officer is revealed in the Heavenly Stem, is in season and rooted, brings great fortune and prosperity, and the Wealth Star is strong."

These all sounded auspicious, and Ji Qingwu nodded in satisfaction, patting the back of Qiuqiu's head. He was a child with great fortune.

This master's calculations are excellent, very accurate!

But before Master Liaoran could finish speaking, his eyes gleamed, and he continued, "The Emperor Star sits guarding, auspicious stars shine upon him, he sits gazing at the Purple Pole, and stands looking towards the Dark Heaven."

Ji Qingwu wasn't very familiar with classical Chinese, but he could sense that something was wrong.

Imperial Star, Purple Pole... these have always been terms used to describe the destiny of emperors.

Her eyes were filled with shock: "Master, would you like to recalculate?"

Master Liaoran did not answer her, and closed his eyes again.

The young novice monk beside her said, "Benefactor, after your master has given his instructions, he needs to meditate. Please move outside."

Ji Qingwu picked up the little girl and left the meditation room, still wondering about the fate predicted by the master. Was the master's prediction accurate or not?

She walked towards Shuangzhong Pavilion in the southeast direction and encountered Chunxing, who had come looking for her.

"Fifth Miss, Princess Yong has arrived."

Ji Qingwu quickened his pace. Whether this fate prediction was accurate or not was another matter; one's destiny was something one had to take control of to be reliable.

Inside the Frost Bell Pavilion, two figures sat on futons.

One is Ji Qingrong, and the other, dressed in crimson satin with dark floral patterns, should be Princess Yong.

Ji Qingwu walked over slowly, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Princess Consort Yong."

Tao Wanyin looked up and said, "Qingwu, there's no need for formalities. Sit down and let's talk."

Ji Qingwu sat down next to her elder sister, exchanged a glance with the Princess Consort of Yong, and then frowned...