Chapter 4: Old Master, is this lucky star returned?
On the first day, Ah Jiu felt the flowers and plants in the garden weren't growing vigorously enough, so he poured a bucket of homemade "super nutrient solution"—said to be a fermented mixture of fish intestines, rotten vegetable leaves, and some unknown herb, with a flavor comparable to that of a biological weapon—into the garden. As a result, the next day, the leaves of the Imperial Master's favorite peonies had completely yellowed, and they were drooping, looking as if they were about to die.
Chu Xuanyi rushed over after hearing the news. He looked at the pots of peonies, then looked at Ajiu who was standing next to them with a look of "I'm doing this for their own good". He was so angry that he almost used thunder magic on the spot.
The next day, Ah Jiu observed the palace guards practicing and, feeling they lacked strength and might, enthusiastically taught them a set of "Vajra Strength Techniques" she had created. As a result, several guards sprained their ankles and twisted their backs after the practice. One even threw a stone lock used in practice, exerting too much force, into the lotus pond at the Shangshu Mansion next door. The splash sent water over a meter high, nearly sparking a diplomatic row between the two palaces.
When Chu Xuanyi received the "friendly greetings" and "compensation list" sent by the Shangshu, the veins on his forehead beat faster than his heartbeat.
On the third day, Ah Jiu noticed the plaque at the Imperial Master's Mansion was slightly crooked. She felt it was "unsightly and negatively impacting the feng shui," so she took advantage of the dark and windy night to climb a ladder and attempt to straighten it. She succeeded, but she slipped and fell, both herself and the ladder, knocking off one ear of the pair of majestic stone lions at the gate.
When Chu Xuanyi stood in front of the stone lion with missing ears and listened to Ajiu explain how she "used the principle of leverage" and "made a great move with a little effort", he deeply experienced for the first time what it meant to "want to cry but have no tears, and have no desire to live".
The entire Imperial Master's Mansion, from the housekeeper to the floor-sweeping servant, now took a detour when they saw Ah Jiu, like mice seeing a cat. They privately nicknamed her "Demolition Lucky Star."
I haven't seen any blessings, but I see demolition every day.
Lin Feng’s most important job every day now is no longer to serve the imperial master, but to follow behind Ajiu and be ready to deal with various “emergencies” and “aftermaths” at any time.
Finally, when the Imperial Master's Mansion was on the verge of "disintegration", the old master of the Observatory, Xuanxu Zhenren, arrived.
Xuanxu Zhenren has an immortal appearance, white hair and a youthful face. He holds a whisk in his hand, looking like a hermit.
When he saw Chu Xuanyi's face, which was blacker than the bottom of a pot, and the mess in the National Master's Mansion (although it had been repaired as much as possible, the traces were still obvious), even though he was an old immortal who had practiced for many years, the corners of his mouth could not help but twitch slightly.
"Wulian Tianzun," Xuanxu Zhenren bowed, "Master Chu, how are you?"
Chu Xuanyi replied with a forced smile, "Thanks to the Master, I am perfectly fine. It's just that the mansion is in trouble."
He led the old abbot directly to the wall where Ah Jiu had "opened a window," then pointed to the dying peonies in the garden, and then to the stone lion at the door with a missing ear. His tone was calm, yet it revealed a sense of impending doom and gloom: "Master, is this what you call a 'lucky star from heaven'? Is this what you call an 'unexpected help'? This is truly 'unexpected' for me right now. I never thought she could turn my Imperial Master's Mansion into this state!"
Xuanxu Zhenren looked at the "masterpiece" before him, counted on his fingers, stroked his beard, and said thoughtfully: "Hmm... Ah Jiu's 'hands-on ability' has really improved recently..."
Chu Xuanyi: "..." Is this old charlatan playing dumb with him? !
"Master!" Chu Xuanyi emphasized his tone. "I didn't invite you here today to hear your evaluation of her 'hands-on ability'! I just want to know, this child... where did you find her? Is her unique way of thinking innate, or... did you 'cultivate' her?"
Upon hearing this, Xuanxu sighed, a mysterious smile appearing on his face. "Your Excellency, the Imperial Master, may not know this, but this girl, Ah Jiu, is truly extraordinary. Her destiny is 'destruction precedes construction, without destruction, without construction.' Everything she touches may appear to be destruction, but in reality, it holds hidden promise for life!"
Chu Xuanyi sneered: "Life? I only see devastation and a mess! My life is almost destroyed by her!"
At this moment, Ajiu came running over with a brisk pace, holding something in his hand... something black and emitting a strange burnt smell.
"Master! Master!" Ajiu handed something to them like he was presenting a treasure. "Look! I just found a wounded bird in the backyard. I applied my newly developed 'Hundred Herbs Life-Sustaining Ointment' to it! I guarantee it'll be full of life tomorrow!"
Chu Xuanyi and Xuanxu Zhenren looked down at the same time.
The poor little bird was covered with black paste, its feathers were stuck together, and only its two small eyes were rolling around in fear. Its mouth was slightly open, but it couldn't make any sound. It looked... a million miles away from being "alive and well", but it was not far from "dying west on a crane".
Chu Xuanyi: "..."
Xuanxu Zhenren: “…”
The old abbot silently took the "blood and tears accusation letter" from Chu Xuanyi, then silently looked at the little bird covered with the "Hundred Herbs Life-Renewing Cream", and then silently looked at his own "lucky star from heaven", and sighed deeply.
"Master State Master," Xuanxu Zhenren spoke in a heavy voice, "I feel that regarding the issue of Ah Jiu's 'cultivation and placement,' we really need to... have a thorough discussion. I've observed that the feng shui of the State Master's Mansion seems... to be a little... slightly... incompatible with Ah Jiu's destiny."
Chu Xuanyi deeply agreed with this. It was not just incompatible, but their horoscopes were in conflict, like water and fire cannot coexist!
"What do you think, Master Yi?" Chu Xuanyi raised his eyebrows.
Xuanxu Zhenren pondered for a moment, a sly glint in his eyes. "How about...letting her follow me back to the observatory for a while? I've recently discovered a new method for 'clearing the mind, calming the spirit, strengthening the foundation, and nourishing the essence', so it's a good opportunity for her to try it out?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Xuanyi's eyes suddenly lit up with hope: "Really?!"
He is willing to pay any price to get rid of this giant Buddha, even if it is only temporarily!
When Jiu heard they were going back to the observatory, his face immediately fell. "Ah? Back to the observatory? But it's more fun here, sir! And I haven't helped sir straighten all the crooked things in the mansion yet!"
Chu Xuanyi was frightened when he heard this and said quickly: "No need! Everything is fine in my mansion! Ajiu, the Observatory is beautiful with mountains and waters, which is more suitable for your meditation, right, Master?" He winked at Master Xuanxu frantically.
Xuanxu Zhenren understood, stroked his beard and smiled, "That's right, that's right. Ah Jiu, the scenery up there is much more interesting than this Imperial Master's Mansion, and there are many new and exotic herbs waiting for you to study!"
Ajiu thought about it and it seemed so.
Chu Xuanyi looked at Master Xuanxu and for the first time felt that this old charlatan was much more pleasing to the eye.
However, just when Chu Xuanyi thought he could finally get rid of this "nightmare" temporarily, a sharp eagle cry pierced the sky.
A secret guard descended from the sky with a solemn expression and knelt on one knee. "Your Excellency, Imperial Master! Urgent news from the northern border! The barbarian army is making unusual movements, possibly a sign of a surprise attack!"
Chu Xuanyi's expression changed, and all his ease and calculation disappeared in an instant, replaced by solemnity and sharpness.
National affairs are more important, and these "little quarrels" at home were instantly forgotten.
Master Xuanxu also put away his joking expression and frowned slightly.
Ah Jiu looked at the secret guard curiously, then at Chu Xuanyi, muttering softly, "Northern Territory? Barbarians? Are we going to have a war? Is fighting fun?"
Chu Xuanyi: "..." He knew that he couldn't have any unrealistic fantasies about her.
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