Chapter 35 Master, you died once, didn't you?
To reach the front hall of the Prince's mansion for receiving guests, one must first pass through the main courtyard. Before one's eyes, there is a landscape of pink walls and green tiles. Along the way, only maids hurry by, and apart from that, it is so quiet that only the sound of melting snow can be heard.
After passing through the ceremonial gate, a magnificent screen wall comes into view, carved with a dragon and phoenix design, its colors rich and vibrant. From afar, it appears to be the work of a master sculptor, but upon closer inspection, its naturally lustrous sheen reveals that it is actually cast entirely in enamel porcelain. The sheer size of this wall-like structure, without a single seamless piece, speaks volumes about its exorbitant cost.
Entering the front courtyard, rows of carved beams and painted pillars support a hipped roof covered with glazed tiles, with mythical beasts on the eaves, and purple and gold hues.
Yue Yining and Ye Miheng were settled by the maids in the waiting room in the front courtyard. As soon as they sat down, maids brought out tea and snacks on silver platters in a continuous stream, and soon there was no place to eat on the table. The maid who led them there bowed with her eyes lowered and said, "Please rest here for a while, gentlemen. Our master is still receiving guests in the council hall. I will go and ask him first."
Yue Yining nodded. After the maid walked out of the corridor, Ye Miheng, who was sitting next to her, started fidgeting as if he were rooted to the spot. He kept his mouth tightly shut as if he was holding his breath, and occasionally gave her a meaningful look. Yue Yining pretended not to see him and took the bowl of pine and chrysanthemum tea that Fu Yao had poured for her.
They thought they wouldn't have to wait long, but the maid never returned.
The incense burner had been lit again and again, and the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The servants standing at the threshold were like stone statues, bowing their heads respectfully.
After sitting for an hour, Ye Miheng finally couldn't hold back any longer and whispered to her across half of the wooden table, "Yue Yining."
Yue Yining gently brushed aside the tea leaves floating on the water, and looked up when she heard this: "Is Lord Ye calling me?"
"Why hasn't Lord Wang sent anyone to summon him yet? How long have the people who came to inquire been gone—"
Yue Yining looked away again: "Lord Wang is still discussing matters with others. Didn't you hear what she said just now?"
Ye Miheng looked around and lowered his voice: "We made an appointment in advance to come here. Is Vice Minister Wang just going to leave us here waiting for so long?"
Yue Yining glanced at the servant by the door, made a guess in her mind, and whispered, "He probably wants to test our sincerity."
Ye Miheng wasn't truly stupid; he just wasn't as astute as Yue Yining. After being left hanging for an hour, what was there left for him to misunderstand? But hearing Yue Yining's response to his conjecture still struck him as absurd: "We represent the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince. How dare a mere subject put on airs?"
"So what?" Yue Yining said, "Now we are the ones who need their help, so it's normal for us to adopt a humble attitude."
"Besides, the Wang family has the ability to make you show them their displeasure."
Among the four prominent families of Yanjing today, the Xie and Wang families are the most illustrious. Many members of the Xie family have held high-ranking official positions, possessing great power and influence. The Wang family has numerous descendants and branches, and most important government positions are held by members of the Wang family.
In today's world, where powerful families wield immense influence, the struggle for succession cannot bypass these two families.
Among the four powerful families, the Gu family, as the maternal family of Consort Li, has been implicitly accepted as supporting the Fourth Prince. The Xie, Wang, and Yuan families, however, have not yet publicly stated their positions and are considered neutral. Focusing on the major powers, the Yuan family, which has been declining in recent years, has also been temporarily excluded. The key to the open struggle between the Third and Fourth Princes now lies in the choices made by the Xie and Wang families.
Yue Yining wanted to visit Xie Zhi, but Xie Zhi seemed to be preoccupied with political affairs and was quite busy recently, so he refused many officials' visits. Yue Yining was not an unreasonable person. Knowing that the Xie family was still planning to wait and see, she decided to start with the Wang family first.
The current head of the Wang family is Wang Zhichang, who holds the official rank of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He is known for his cheerful and upright character and has more than a dozen children. His eldest daughter, Wang Wanruo, married Xie Zhi, the current head of the Xie family. Their marriage was a celebrated story during the Jiahe era.
Yue Yining glanced at Ye Miheng, already realizing he knew very little about the relationship between them. "Didn't the Fourth Prince send someone to help you understand?"
Ye Miheng scoffed, "They all think I don't need to be taught. They believe I can figure out anything I want to know myself."
"Please, all five arts are extremely energy-consuming, especially fortune-telling! If someone relies on fortune-telling all day long, then don't expect them to accomplish anything."
Perhaps it was something Ye Miheng said that was funny, because Yue Yining couldn't help but chuckle. As the two were talking quietly, footsteps came from the outer corridor.
Yue Yining looked out and saw that the person who came was the same maid in the pink dress and jacket from before. She bowed slightly and said softly, "My master said that you should wait a little longer, Lord Yue. Lord Ye, please come with me."
Ye Miheng left first, leaving Yue Yining behind. Even though they arrived together, she had to wait much longer. Standing to the side, Fu Yao looked at the courtyard full of servants, wanting to complain but not daring to raise her voice too much, only muttering angrily in a low voice, "This is too much..."
It was unclear how much longer they would have to wait. Yue Yining naturally understood that this also represented Vice Minister Wang's attitude towards the forces behind the two of them. But rather than saying he favored the Fourth Prince more, it was more accurate to say that the Fourth Prince was more difficult to deal with. At least Yue Yining didn't sense that Vice Minister Wang intended to take sides with either side.
However, Wang's actions have somewhat exceeded Yue Yining's expectations.
Five-colored plum blossoms bloomed in the courtyard, vying for beauty, while lush grasses below sprouted spring buds. The chill of winter lingered, and snow-covered, icy white pebbles formed a path. Yue Yining sipped the last drop of tea, placing the teacup on the table with a dull thud.
She beckoned to the nearest servant. The servant approached with lowered eyes and bowed, saying, "This servant greets you, sir. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Yue Yining smiled gently: "How old are you? Are you a servant in this Prince's mansion?"
The servant was somewhat puzzled, but still answered respectfully, "Yes, sir, I am fourteen years old this year."
“I’m getting a little bored while I wait. I’d like to have my fortune told here to kill some time. Would you mind tossing this coin for me?” Yue Yining took out a smooth, shiny copper plate from her sleeve, placed it on her lap, and handed her a coin with a smile. “Just toss it into this plate.”
The servant carefully took the copper coin and tossed it into the plate.
"Clang!" The metal struck metal, producing a metallic sound. Yue Yining didn't look up, but she could sense several pairs of eyes peering into her from inside the hall.
To the other servants, the man in the moss-colored robe was clearly behaving strangely, but they did not verbally stop him, instead keeping an eye on the commotion out of the corner of their eyes.
Yue Yining gazed at the divination symbols on the plate, then spun the plate and tossed in two copper coins. The symbols shifted and changed several times before finally settling, each returning to its place.
"Alright, thank you." Yue Yining looked up and smiled at the servant. "The divination says I'm having pretty good luck today."
The servant bowed respectfully: "It is my honor to be able to help you, sir."
Yue Yining watched as the servant retreated to the corridor and continued to stand silently. Then she turned her gaze back to the divination plate in her hand.
Another hour passed, and when the maid in the pink dress and jacket came to summon her again, Yue Yining had already put away the bronze plate.
“Lord Yue,” the maid said, bowing. “Lord Wang requests your presence. Please follow me.”
Yue Yining straightened her robes and stood up. After catching up with the maid, Yue Yining asked casually, "Why haven't I seen Lord Ye?"
The maid replied, "Lord Ye has already left the manor."
The corridors meandered and the eaves soared high. Yue Yining passed through a grove of plum trees, around craggy artificial hills and strange rocks, and arrived at a hall. A maid opened the door for her, and Yue Yining stepped into the hall. Everywhere she looked, there were rare treasures, painted beams, and incense burners.
Sitting behind the desk was a middle-aged man with a large belly, wearing a crown, with a square face, big ears, and sharp eyes that looked like coiled snakes.
It was Vice Minister Wang.
Yue Yining bowed and greeted, "I am Yue Yining, greetings to Lord Wang."
Vice Minister Wang chuckled and rose to his feet, gesturing for her to sit down: "Your Excellency, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."
"Someone, pour tea for Lord Yue."
...
Several miles away in Jinling City, Qingyun Temple rises amidst the clouds and mist, its verdant greenery shimmering with the sound of pine trees rustling in the wind.
People only know that the Tian Guan Temple is located atop a towering peak, but they are unaware that behind the enormous statue of the Heavenly Ancestor, there is often a secluded courtyard in a dense forest. This place is a consultation hall reserved for nobles and diviners, where the revered master sits and interprets divinations; it is not a place accessible to ordinary people.
In the simple wooden house, only the sounds of the water clock and the flowing water could be heard.
This wasn't Wei Yihua's first visit to Qingyun Temple. Consort Li had mentioned that she was brought to Qingyun Temple at birth, where Venerable Hua had calculated her destiny. Venerable Hua declared her to have a noble destiny, a person of great fortune, capable of protecting the peace and prosperity of the Eastern Xi Kingdom. Upon hearing this, the Emperor was overjoyed and generously rewarded Qingyun Temple with thousands of gold and silver jewels.
Qingyun Temple is the closest of the three major temples to the capital. Therefore, every year at the beginning of the year, the emperor would bring his favorite concubines and children to the temple to pray for blessings and fortune.
When Wei Yihua was young, she would come every year. However, after starting her studies, she gradually became averse to matters of gods, Buddhas, and ancestral temples. Consort Li, understanding her feelings, would use the excuse of her being unwell to allow her to stay in the palace. The Emperor was well aware of this, but chose to indulge her because of his affection for his eldest daughter.
Now, such memories are like a distant past. Perhaps it was because Wei Yihua took the initiative to go to Tian Guan last year that Consort Li mistakenly thought that she no longer abhorred matters of gods and ghosts, and the Eldest Princess was also among the group going to Tian Guan to pray for blessings this time.
Her resistance was indeed lessened because of Yue Yining, but Wei Yihua always believed that the so-called Heavenly Way was just a self-deceiving illusion.
Wei Yihua had never believed in fate before, and after her near-death experience, she believed even less. Everyone said that the Venerable One was a great being who could glimpse the workings of the Heavenly Dao, but when Venerable One Hua predicted her fate, what aspect of it was actually proven true?
If she was blessed with great fortune, how could she have been ill for so long and died in her prime? If she could protect the people of Dongxi, why could she only watch helplessly as the dynasty collapsed and the people suffered in her previous life?
In the group, the eldest princess, dressed in a wide-sleeved robe of cloud-patterned silver and crimson silk, lowered her eyes and was deep in thought.
Due to the Emperor's illness, only the imperial concubines were present on this trip. Wei Yihua followed behind Consort Li, step by step entering the courtyard. Spring snow was falling heavily, and the magnolias were in bloom, their pale pink and white buds clustered on the branches, delicate and graceful. Several magnolias dotted the foliage among the pale green buds, like vibrant touches of pink and white embellishing a spring landscape painting.
Among the bamboo, rocks, pines, and cypresses, Wei Yihua spotted the Flower Venerable, Hua Siren, whom she hadn't seen for several years. Her long skirt, a shade of pink reminiscent of Yang Guifei, was paired with a crimson upper garment, her willow branches swaying in the misty air, her face radiant with orchid fragrance, and her cheeks as white as jade and as lovely as peach blossoms.
She looked so young, her face overlapping with the vaguely discernible features of her memory. To Wei Yihua's surprise, after so many years, Hua Siren seemed to have not aged at all. There were no traces of time on her face, and when her peach blossom eyes smiled, she was as innocent and bright as a child.
Consort Li and her entourage were ushered into the hall. A servant brought out piping hot tea, glistening pastries, and calligraphy. Wei Yihua sat down beside Consort Li, who nodded and said respectfully, "It's been a long time. How has Venerable Hua been lately?"
"May Your Highness be well. Thanks to Your Highness's blessing, I am doing well." Hua Siren personally greeted them at the table, her eyes sparkling with smiles. "Your Highness is still as beautiful and charming as ever."
Consort Li smiled gently: "His Majesty is unwell and unable to come, which he greatly regrets. I wonder if I could draw the fortune slip on his behalf?"
Hua Siren: "Of course."
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Consort Li glanced at the woman sitting behind a table not far away and asked meaningfully, "Venerable Flower, may I ask who that is...?"
After Wei Yihua followed her mother into the inner hall, she also noticed the woman sitting alone under the eaves, interpreting a divination. Although her clothes were simple, her temperament was outstanding, which made people turn their heads; her posture was elegant and graceful, like a lone cloud in the blue sky, a pale moon in the cold sky, detached from the dust of the world.
Hua Siren exclaimed, "Ah!" "That is my old friend. He came from afar to visit me. He was supposed to leave yesterday, but when he heard that I was entertaining guests today, he said he would stay until this afternoon to have a simple meal with me before leaving."
"The Imperial Concubine should have heard of her; she is the Venerable Qiu Wuzhu of the Zijin Temple."
Wei Yihua paused in her act of picking up the tea, surprised. Looking up again, she found herself staring directly into Qiu Wuzhu's eyes.
She was exceptionally beautiful, yet cold and devoid of any human warmth. Her eyes, when looking at someone, were utterly dark and still, without a trace of emotion.
Wei Yihua felt a pang of sympathy and lowered her eyes to look away first.
Hua Siren: "Perfect timing. My old friend can interpret the fortune slip for Her Highness, so Her Highness won't have to wait too long."
Consort Li: "Would this trouble Venerable Qiu?"
"No, no, she's just sitting there doing nothing." Hua Siren got up and walked to Qiu Wuzhu's side. She said something, and Qiu Wuzhu nodded slightly, as if in agreement.
Consort Li's face immediately lit up with joy. She placed her hand on Wei Yihua's shoulder blade and whispered, "Hua'er, go ahead. Your mother will come to find you later."
After responding, Wei Yihua got up and walked out of the hall to the corridor.
Wei Yihua felt a strange sensation. Ever since Qiu Wuzhu saw her, he had been staring at her intently, and his overly direct gaze made her feel somewhat offended. However, she knew that he meant no harm, and besides, she was Yue Yining's master.
Wei Yihua silently endured it.
"Greetings, Venerable Qiu."
Qiu Wuzhu then withdrew her gaze, her drooping eyelashes lightly brushing under her eyes, and spoke in a clear and melodious voice: "Your Highness, please tell me any three numbers. After I perform a divination for Your Highness, I will draw a fortune slip for Your Highness that predicts your fortune for this year, based on the guidance of the divination."
Wei Yihua casually gave three numbers. She really had no interest in fortune telling. Her demeanor and tone were somewhat casual. It was unclear whether Qiu Wuzhu noticed.
Wei Yihua looked at Qiu Wuzhu, whose snow-white neck was exposed when she lowered her head. The thin mica-patterned robe she wore gave her an ethereal air. It is said that a person's age can be seen from their neck. Even if a woman is as beautiful as a young girl, as she gets older, the skin on her neck will sag and wrinkle like old skin.
Since Qiu Wuzhu is Yue Yining's teacher, it means she is at least fifteen years older than Yue Yining, possibly more. However, her appearance is completely unrecognizable as that of a thirty-five-year-old woman. Even her mother, who was extremely meticulous about her appearance, wouldn't be without a single fine line on her neck.
"Your Highness."
Qiu Wuzhu's voice pulled Wei Yihua back from her wandering thoughts, and she met Qiu Wuzhu's dark eyes again.
Qiu Wuzhu looked at her, his thin lips parting slightly: "Your Highness, are you someone who has been brought back from the dead?"
Thump!
Wei Yihua's pupils constricted, and her mind went blank.
She felt her lips trembling uncontrollably: "...What did you say?"
Qiu Wuzhu then repeated, "Is Your Highness someone who has died and been brought back to life?"
Wei Yihua's jaw trembled, her face filled with fear, and the words that escaped her lips cracked, "...I don't understand what you're saying."
“Your Highness understands,” Qiu Wuzhu said calmly. “I have already drawn a divination slip for Your Highness. Both the divination result and the content of the slip point to this point.”
“Your Highness, you died once before. Due to some unknown coincidence, you were miraculously resurrected. At the same time, you also retained all the memories of your previous life.”
"Your Highness, am I correct?"
How could she know? No, was she bluffing her? How could an ordinary person associate such an absurd thing as possession by another body, especially since they had only just met and hadn't even exchanged a few words? Wei Yihua's expression stiffened, and she suddenly realized how wrong she was.
The woman before her was no ordinary person, but Yue Yining's renowned master, the most prestigious Celestial Master in the world, Qiu Wuzhu. She had heard tales of this exceptionally gifted master, who was said to have reached the realm of a demigod, able to discern a person's three souls and seven spirits with a single glance, and to calculate a person's past and present lives with a single calculation. She had once thought it was just gossip circulating in the neighborhood.
The exaggerated, almost sorcery-like abilities were actually real.
Her thoughts were muddled, her vision blurred, and all she could hear was her own trembling, terrified voice: "No...don't tell anyone..."
If her mother and father knew, she would have no way to explain. The past, long since turned to dust and scattered, that tragic end for everyone—she couldn't explain it clearly. How could she possibly explain it?
Qiu Wuzhu's voice seemed to fade into the distance: "Your Highness, please do not panic. I will keep this matter a secret for the princess and will not tell anyone else. Please rest assured, Princess."
“However, I must remind the Princess of one thing,” Qiu Wuzhu’s face cleared from its distorted expression as she stared at her, her voice calm and distant, “Don’t do anything unnecessary.”
"A superfluous thing? What do you mean by 'a superfluous thing'?" Wei Yihua belatedly realized the look in Qiu Wuzhu's eyes and the deeper meaning in her words. She seemed to be admonishing her that she shouldn't try to interfere in or change other people's fates.
Having been given a second chance at life, she thought she could reverse her fate, but that was nothing more than a Zhuangzi-esque delusion, and it was time to shatter it.
"Hua'er?"
Consort Li's voice, so close to her, jolted Wei Yihua awake. She turned her head and found that Consort Li had somehow come to her side, looking down at her with a strange expression: "Why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Why are you holding the fortune slip and not opening it? Let your mother help you."
The fortune slip that should have been with Qiu Wuzhu had somehow ended up in Wei Yihua's hands. Startled, she didn't have time to stop her, as Consort Li had already unfolded the slip in her hand—
Consort Li read out the divination slip: "Abundant blessings and prosperity abound, the family hall shines brightly day after day. The gate of accumulated virtue brings great fortune, and all wishes are fulfilled without worry."
"Judging from the meaning of the divination slip, it seems to be extremely auspicious!" Consort Li beamed with joy. "Venerable Qiu, could you please take a look at this for Hua'er? Does this divination slip signify great fortune?"
Qiu Wuzhu took the fortune slip and nodded: "It is indeed an auspicious sign of great fortune and peace. Your Highness need not worry. According to the fortune slip, all your wishes will come true. You only need to do good deeds to receive abundant blessings."
Consort Li received an excellent fortune slip and a very auspicious divination result, so when she left, she had a noticeably more genuine smile than when she arrived.
Before leaving, Qiu Wuzhu handed another fortune slip to Consort Li, unnoticed, and said in a calm voice, "Just now, when I saw Consort Li approaching, I gave Your Highness a fake fortune slip."
"I understand that Your Highness does not wish to reveal the matter of your resurrection, so I have covered it up for you. This is the fortune slip that Your Highness just drew according to the guidance of the divination. Please take it carefully."
"Your Highness may look at it after you descend the mountain. I hope Your Highness will not be offended if I cannot interpret the divination for you."
Holding the fortune slip, Wei Yihua descended the mountain in a cold sweat, and it wasn't until she was sitting in the car that her hands and feet finally relaxed from the deep numbness.
The sound of imperial horses came from outside the carriage; the steeds neighed, and the wheels began to turn.
With trembling hands, she slowly unfolded the slip of paper, which was almost soaked with sweat.
The Xuan paper is as thin as a cicada's wing, yet the characters are jet black:
Observing a game of chess without speaking ensures one's safety; those who try to reverse the situation often make a grave mistake.
Delusional thoughts disturb the mind, causing the boat to sink into the sea; building a wall by carrying mud requires hard work and effort.
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