Greed
There is a Yuxiao Temple inside Shuntian Gate.
The gate of the temple is towering, reaching up to the sky, like ascending to heaven.
Chu Fanghua has been offering sacrifices here year-round, seeking only a peaceful and honorable life. He knows that there are immortals in the Nine Heavens, who can hear his wishes. But upon reaching this point, his money has been scattered, his incense has been increased...
Did the gods really hear her prayers?
A cup of tea sat warm in the small building outside the Lingguan Temple. Chu Fanghua could survey everything within and beyond the temple with a single glance. But now she sat on the ground, her clenched handkerchief clutched to her chest, the spring breeze furrowing her brows.
She had evil spirits in her heart and no face to be a god. So much so that when she entered the temple today, Chu Fanghua didn't even go to burn incense.
The threat from Baoci's rear guard was still fresh in her mind, but from the moment Chu Fanghua chose to obey the Empress Dowager and helped deliver the list of the Taishi family to Yu Yuelan, they were already pirates in the same boat. Empress Dowager Chu would not let go of anyone she could use, and would not abandon them until they were completely useless.
Even Chu Qiyu was the same in her eyes.
Everyone has their own greed and agenda. No one on this ship is truly innocent.
Chu Fanghua inexplicably raised her hand to press the boiling teapot. She recalled the humiliation the Second Branch had endured over the years, as well as the decisive actions of Qi Yijun and Zou Shuangtong. She knew they had no way out; waiting for the outcome of the family division would only lead to a miserable life.
But this was not the ending she wanted at all.
Chu Fanghua thought that since she couldn't get a happy ending either way, she might as well throw away her worthless conscience and use her growing ambition to fight for a happy ending for her own life.
This is her last chance.
The old woman who followed them stood by the railing and looked at them. She also understood that the master had made up his mind, so she reminded him in a deep voice: "Madam, the tea is served. People..."
"I'm here too."
Chu Fanghua hissed, covered his painful palm, and finally turned his head to look downstairs.
-
As Liu Yugeng entered the temple, he repeatedly asked the servant who had invited him. But the servant remained silent, his head bowed as he walked. Despite his doubts, Liu Yugeng still came.
The grandeur of the Lingguan Temple was reflected in his earthly eyes.
Gan Dao, who arrived with a whisk, stood before the temple, staring at him. The meaning in Gan Dao's eyes was beyond words. He watched for a long time, only to see Gan Dao finally, before Liu Yugeng could speak, silently fetch three incense sticks from within the temple and hand them to the visitor, "Believer, since you are new here, please offer a stick of incense to the deity."
Liu Yugeng looked at Gandao in confusion. He thought he was not here to burn incense.
However, there is nothing wrong with praying to the gods. He reached out to take the sandalwood, bowed and said, "Thank you."
The raging fire ignited the incense in his hand, and Liu Yugeng raised it high above his head, burning it in the service of the gods. Closing his eyes devoutly, he reflected on his decades of hard study, and it was not too much to wish for a meteoric rise to fame. He lowered his eyes and placed the incense stick firmly on the incense burner.
He stepped back and formed the Yin-Yang Seal, then Liu Yugeng bowed and worshipped him, and a plain robe fell to his feet.
He thought he would never be the same again.
Then, Liu Yugeng stood up and asked Gan Dao, "Excuse me..." But before he could finish his words, Gan Dao opened his palm and pointed to the small building of Lingguan Temple, respectfully guiding, "The person you are looking for is there. Just go up the building from here."
Liu Yugeng looked back, but could not see the man's appearance in the elegant little building.
He nodded goodbye and went away alone.
However… the moment Liu Yugeng turned to ascend the stairs, there was no wind in front of the hall, and the three incense sticks he had placed suddenly went out on the incense cauldron. The abbot stared intently at the sudden scattering of the incense, not the slightest bit surprised. Burning out incense was a sign of bad luck, and even the deity was unwilling to accept his request.
Looking back at the immortals in the palace, the spiritual official sentenced the disloyal and unfilial people in the world, and Gan Dao was certain that this person could not escape his fate.
-
The small building stood alone in the temple. When Liu Yugeng reached the top, the scenery was breathtaking. From this vantage point, the view of Shuntian Gate seemed neither too far nor too close, just the right distance. Liu Yugeng stood outside the simple partition of the building, not daring to enter without permission. He needed someone to invite him in.
He then introduced himself: "My name is Liu Yugeng, but Madam, did you ask me to come here?"
Liu Yugeng had been in Bianjing for many years, but the sound of his hometown could still be heard in his words. Chu Fanghua sat inside and waved her sleeves, signaling the old lady to go out and invite someone. The old lady obeyed the order, rolled up the curtain and came out, lowered her eyes and asked, "Mr. Liu, please come in."
Liu Yugeng didn't even glance at the old lady, he just stepped inside.
But after entering the partition, there was still a huge screen blocking his view, and Liu Yugeng still couldn't guess the reason. Chu Fanghua was sitting behind the screen, looking out through the screen, vaguely seeing Liu Yugeng's face, Chu Fanghua said: "Sit down."
Liu Yugeng nodded and sat on the other side of the screen. The old lady then came forward to serve tea.
Chu Fanghua lowered his eyes, picked up the teacup beside him, blew on it gently, and said casually, "If it weren't for the distinguished guests, the Yuxiao Temple's Maojian tea would not be available to ordinary people here. Mr. Liu, please try it."
Chu Fanghua spoke with a high attitude, but Liu Yugeng didn't know what she meant. Without touching the teacup, he just asked, "Madam, you definitely didn't invite me here for tea. I have the audacity to ask Madam, what exactly brings you here to meet me?"
Chu Fanghua sneered, he was quite straightforward.
After slowly drinking the tea, Chu Fanghua recited in a deep voice, "Liu Yugeng, 25 years old, from Xingren Prefecture, has been in Beijing for nearly ten years. He failed the imperial examination three times, but now ranks first in the second class of the new exam. It can be said that his hard work has paid off. I wonder what official position Mr. Liu holds at the Qionglin Feast today, where the emperor is distributing fiefs?"
How could the person in front of him know so much about him? Liu Yugeng was astonished. "Madam, are you investigating me?"
"It's not an investigation, it's an understanding. Mr. Liu, please relax and don't be wary of me. Today, at Yuxiao Temple, with the gods above us, we will definitely have something good to discuss." Chu Fanghua answered calmly. She wanted to get a clear answer before considering whether there was any need to continue.
She said, "Mr. Liu hasn't answered my question yet."
Good things? What kind of good things could possibly happen to him? It would be fine if he just told the person in front of him his official title. Liu Yugeng said, "I am a sixth-rank Imperial Censor, a lowly official with no reputation, not worth mentioning."
Assistant Censor.
Chu Fanghua was startled. This was indeed a great starting point. The Empress Dowager had pointed her to a bright path. Unable to resist a simmering joy, she wondered if her family, after half a lifetime of bad luck, was finally about to turn things around? Was the immortal she had been supporting for so many years about to manifest? Her expression immediately changed. "Then I must congratulate Mr. Liu. If you choose this path well and correctly, I believe you will be promoted soon."
"Thanks for your good wishes." Liu Yugeng let down his guard a little.
Chu Fanghua changed the subject and mentioned Liu Yugeng. Her words and deeds all meant that Liu Yugeng would find a support for her.
"But even so, I still can't help but worry about people like you from humble backgrounds. Although the government has recently reformed its system and is promoting the use of people from humble backgrounds, the court has been dominated by various aristocratic families for so many years. How can the situation be reversed overnight? I have been in the capital for many years and I know that without support, it is difficult to make a name for yourself. Although this is unfair, it is a fact that exists."
"In that case, I hope that you can be blessed by the gods and not end up in such a miserable state."
God’s blessing? If gods really existed, wouldn’t he have achieved great success long ago?
Liu Yugeng does not believe in gods, he only believes in himself.
Liu Yugeng gripped his teacup tightly, sensing the hidden meaning behind the words. However, he couldn't see the man's expression clearly through the screen, so he could only test his judgment. "Madam, I already know what you meant. What is the blessing of the gods? It's nothing compared to a noble family background."
During his years studying in Bianjing, Liu Yugeng had witnessed much injustice. He saw his classmates, who came from well-off families, enjoying easy lives, while his friends, who came from humbler backgrounds, were forced to leave. He was the only one who had persevered to this point.
Therefore, Liu Yugeng was proud and arrogant. He would never go back to the past.
He wants to gain a foothold in Bianjing...
Chu Fanghua had hit a sore spot for Liu Yugeng. She immediately pressed the issue, thinking it would take more effort to defeat him. "Since you understand, sir, why don't you change your mind? With such a good game, are you just going to let it go? If so, by the time you lose, it will be too late. All your years of hard work will be wasted. How can you accept that?"
"Change? Madam, if you have any advice, please speak directly. I came here today because I wanted to talk to you. There is no need for you to beat around the bush."
Liu Yugeng was eager for quick success and instant benefits, and everything played into his hands.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Chu Fanghua no longer concealed it, "Be my son-in-law, I have the Chu family behind me, and the Chu family will lend you a helping hand."
The Chu family! Liu Yugeng was shocked. The Empress Dowager Chu family was so prestigious that, apart from the Sikou family, the Chu family was the only one in the court. He had never expected the other party to be a member of the Chu family. However, since the other party had investigated his background so thoroughly, how could they not know that he already had a wife and children?
Liu Yugeng asked, "Become a son-in-law? But doesn't my wife know that I already have a wife and children at home? How can I be your son-in-law?"
Chu Fanghua answered nonchalantly: "Of course I know."
Liu Yugeng was surprised. The other party seemed to have come prepared. "So, Madam, you mean... that I should be unfaithful and unfilial? If that's the case, how dare you marry your daughter to someone like me?"
Chu Fanghua chuckled, she laughed at his youth.
"Playing chess requires taking risks; only by taking risks can you achieve victory. The more you want, the more you must give up. Indecision will only become a hindrance. However, all choices are left to you, sir. I will stop here. I will give you five days. After five days, if you have figured it out, it will not be too late to reply to me."
Chu Fanghua plays hard to get.
But at this point, it seemed as if all the benefits were shifting towards him, and Liu Yugeng felt something was wrong. He asked, "I don't understand. What do you want from me, Madam? I don't think I have anything to exchange with you, Madam."
Chu Fanghua turned his eyes to the top of the Lingguan Temple and said, "I want you, the Chu family, and me to be on the same boat."
After all, it was an exchange of interests, which made Liu Yugeng feel relieved.
He was in no hurry to reply to Chu Fanghua's words. Weighing the pros and cons, there were some things he still needed to carefully consider. Then, stroking his robe and rising, Liu Yugeng asked before saying goodbye, "I understand what Madam meant. May I ask Madam's name—"
As the words fell, a nameless evil wind blew over the vase on the small building. At this moment, the people inside and outside the screen were bewitched by the ghost and no one cared at all. Perhaps this was the final reminder from the gods. But as the vase fell to the ground with a thud, a voice behind the screen said: "The second wife of the Pingkang Marquis's Mansion, Chu Fanghua."
But Liu Yugeng was stunned. Pingkang Marquis Mansion...
It turned out to be the Cui family.
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