Having traveled extensively, Dai Zhan'an could tell at a glance that Yuan Qi was no ordinary girl. The girl was wearing a Taoist robe, had an amazing appearance at such a young age, and spoke to strangers without any hesitation. Most importantly, the young Taoist priest had come with the people who were inquiring about him, so they must have come with ill intentions.
He calmly said, "If the calculation is wrong, I won't give you the money."
Yuan Qi forced a smile that obscured his eyes, and said in a clear voice, "Then let me tell you what I can tell from your face."
Dai Zhan'an gestured with his hand, saying, "Please, young Taoist priest."
Yuan Qi poured himself a cup of Longjing tea without ceremony before saying, "You have few children, only one son, and you have many wives and concubines and a lot of wealth. You have always wanted to have more children, but you have not been able to."
Dai Zhan'an's face darkened, and he said sarcastically, "Isn't this what you just found out? Little Taoist priest, you're not going to get away with this charlatan in front of me."
Yuan Qi watched as the other side's guard took two steps forward and even drew his knife out a bit.
She wasn't afraid: "Then let me tell you something I can't find out: you are destined to have both a son and a daughter, and your wife is already pregnant. But you are also destined for imprisonment, and that imprisonment is imminent."
Dai Zhan'an snorted coldly and slammed his hand on the table: "Speaking such nonsense! Guards, take her to the authorities!"
The two guards immediately stepped forward to pull Yuan Qi away.
Qian Jin immediately stepped forward to protect Yuan Qi: "I am Qian Jin, the Marquis of Shouchang in the capital. She is my woman. Anyone who dares to touch her will be jailed for life!"
A servant boy ran up to him: "Master, master, something terrible has happened! The young master is in trouble!"
Yuan Qi smiled slightly and spread his hands: "I told you your imprisonment was just around the corner. See, here it is."
This servant boy usually stayed by his son's side, and it was always this servant boy who came back to report whenever his son got into trouble.
Dai Zhan'an stared sharply at Yuan Qi, not believing a word he said. He scolded the servant, "What's the panic? Speak slowly."
Qian Jin shielded Yuan Qi behind him and solemnly warned him: "Although this young Taoist priest is not old, she is very accurate. If she says you will be imprisoned, then you will be imprisoned. If you want to avoid disaster, you'd better listen to us."
Dai Zhan'an didn't believe Qian Jin's words. It was obvious that Qian Jin and Yuan Qi were in cahoots. The three of them looked more like a family of three. They were inquiring about his adopted son everywhere, so they must have ill intentions.
You can't believe a word they say.
He glanced warily at Qian Jin and Yuan Qi.
Yuan Qi raised an eyebrow slightly, tilted his chin up, and said confidently, "You may not believe me, but your imprisonment is imminent. Ask your servant what he wants from you."
Dai Zhan'an still didn't believe that even if something happened, it was probably just his son causing trouble again, which could be settled with money and had nothing to do with imprisonment.
The servant reported, "Master, the young master accidentally killed Prefect Feng's son, Feng Zhizhang. Now both the eldest and second young masters have been arrested and imprisoned by the authorities. Master, the young master sent me back to deliver this message, asking you to quickly find a way to save him."
Dai Zhan'an's first reaction was disbelief: "Although Yun Lei is a troublemaker, he never does anything to harm people. Tell me, what exactly is going on?"
The servant briefly recounted what had happened: "Master, today the eldest young master didn't want to listen to the teacher's lecture again, so while the teacher was in the outhouse, he secretly slipped out with the second young master, and even had me bring along the cricket we just got a couple of days ago. The eldest young master was strolling around the street when he ran into Feng Zhizhang, the son of Prefect Feng, who happened to be holding a very powerful cricket."
Dai Zhan'an had also seen his son's cricket. These past two days, his son had been playing cricket fighting with the servants in the mansion and had won some silver. So he wanted to find people everywhere to play cricket fighting with.
“This child, of all people to choose for cricket fighting, he had to go to Feng Zhizhang. Everyone knows he’s a walking pharmacy, taking medicine three times a day. Now tell me, how did cricket fighting lead to someone’s death?”
The servant continued, "It's like this: the eldest young master lost a cricket fight, and Feng Zhizhang asked him to pay up. The eldest young master refused, saying his cricket was invincible and insisted on fighting Feng Zhizhang again. Feng Zhizhang refused, and the two started fighting. The second young master and I went to help. Feng Zhizhang's guards came up and started hitting us. Later, Feng Zhizhang was punched by the eldest young master and fell to the ground, unable to get up."
"When the Feng family guards saw him, they found him dead. Prefect Feng then led his men to arrest both the eldest and second young masters. Master, what should we do?"
Dai Zhan'an felt like the sky had fallen. Although the little Taoist priest's prediction was inaccurate—it wasn't him who would be imprisoned, but his son—they were still pretty close to the truth.
Yuan Qi, always eager for drama, thoughtfully reminded her, "This isn't over yet; you also face jail time. Do you want to…"
Dai Zhan'an thought Yuan Qi was a jinx and hated her. He knew his son couldn't possibly have gone to such lengths: "There must be some misunderstanding here. I'll go see Prefect Feng myself."
Yuan Qi said sarcastically to his retreating figure, "Even if you are incredibly wealthy, you can't buy someone else's son's life."
Dai Zhan'an paused in his steps. He had intended to use all his wealth to save his son's life, but the young Taoist priest had easily seen through his intentions.
He refused to believe this superstition.
After he left, Qian Jincai asked worriedly, "Young Taoist priest, doesn't this mean that my son will also face imprisonment?"
Yuan Qi returned to his seat and said seriously, "So this matter is rather troublesome and difficult to handle. Your official rank is higher than Prefect Feng's, isn't it?"
Qian Jin nodded: "It is a bit high. You mean, you want me to put pressure on Prefect Feng?"
Yuan Qi shook his finger: "No, it's too early now. Let's go and inquire about the Feng family."
Qian Jin sat down, no longer flustered. Now that he knew where his son was, things were much better. However, Madam Qian was extremely worried when she heard that her son was in prison: "Will our son be beaten? Will he go hungry? My lord, you must think of something quickly!"
Qian Jin was a doting husband, and he and his wife had been very loving for many years, granting almost every request she made. He immediately reassured his wife, "Don't panic, madam. It wasn't our son who killed Prefect Feng's son, so our son should be fine."
“That’s still an accomplice. Prefect Feng’s son died, and it’s not impossible that he might punish the accomplices as well in a fit of anger. Lord Marquis, this matter cannot be delayed until tonight.”
Qian Jin quickly patted his wife's hand: "I know, I know, don't worry, madam. I'm just discussing a solution with the young Taoist priest. From what we can see, the young Taoist priest is right about everything. Let's see what he has to say."
Mrs. Qian immediately nodded: "Yes, yes, I got anxious again. Look at me, I promised I wouldn't be in a hurry..."
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