The following day, Prince Yinqi told Lady Jueluo that he wanted to go out for a day, taking only two guards and some silver with him, and rode away on three horses. He firmly believed that his fortune was being blocked by the Crown Prince. The fortune teller had told him that unless he could remove the Purple Star that had been blocking his way, he would be stuck in this position for the rest of his life. Since the Crown Prince was reinstated, Prince Yinqi felt as if he had been slapped hard in the face, and all his previous efforts seemed to have been in vain.
"I'm going to see a master today, you two keep up!" Yinti, dressed in casual clothes, said to his two guards.
Three horses galloped swiftly from the residence of the Prince of Heshuo, with Yinti leading the way, heading towards the teahouse from the previous day. It was early morning, and the street vendors had not yet set up their stalls; only a few pedestrians were seen.
All that could be heard was the neighing and panting of horses, and the clattering of their footsteps on the bluestone pavement, rushing past on the streets bathed in the morning light.
From afar, Yinti saw that the figure was indeed standing at the entrance of the teahouse where he had tea yesterday. He was overjoyed, reined in his horse, and stopped only two meters away from the person.
The horse neighed loudly and stopped.
"The master has arrived!" Yinti said to the man.
"This humble subject greets Your Highness!" The man was the same fortune teller from yesterday, now dressed in a brown robe, his eyes still closed.
"No need for formalities. You, quickly help the gentleman onto your horse, and you can carry him." Yinti instructed one of the guards behind him.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" the man said, bowing respectfully.
After the guard helped the fortune teller onto his horse, the three horses turned around and galloped off in the northwest. The two waiters who had been standing in front of the teahouse watched the three horses disappear without uttering a sound.
"Old Wei, isn't that the horse you mentioned yesterday? Now there are three of them," the young waiter said.
“Your eye for horses has improved. Those three fine horses aren’t something ordinary people can afford. Hey, that blind man from earlier doesn’t seem to be from around here. Do you know him?” Old Wei asked.
"I don't know him! But he's the one who went into the teahouse yesterday with that gentleman in the purple and gold robe!" the waiter said.
Yinti and his entourage galloped towards Fragrant Hills. After leaving the city, they clearly felt the temperature drop. The breath of the horses gradually turned white.
Guided by the fortune teller, Yinti ran all the way to the back of Fragrant Hills and finally found the entrance to a valley at a protruding rock.
"Your Highness, this is Emerald Peak Valley. The entrance is very well hidden; not many people have come here yet!" the fortune teller pointed out.
"Alright, let's enter the valley!" Yinti said to his two guards.
After the four of them dismounted, they walked across the protruding rocks, reaching a narrowest point where only one person could pass at a time. Because it was early spring, the mountain air was still quite cold.
"This place is so remote! I never imagined there was such a place behind Fragrant Hills!" Yinti exclaimed. Emperor Kangxi had once built a temple on Fragrant Hills, the Huangjue Temple. He and his brothers had visited before, but they had never known such a place existed.
"Yes, everyone goes to Huangjue Temple in front of Fragrant Hills, but no one thinks to come and see what's behind Fragrant Hills." The fortune teller held a bamboo stick in his hand, probing the ground as he walked.
"Sir, would you like my guards to help you?" Yinti asked, seeing that he had difficulty moving.
"No need," the fortune teller said. "I've been here countless times. I know every fork in the road and every stone here very well."
After walking for about fifteen minutes in the valley, they saw a place with a white ribbon hanging next to a wooden courtyard.
"We've arrived. Has Your Highness seen the waterfall?" The fortune teller had already heard the gurgling of the water.
"Yes, I see. Is this where your master lives?" Yinti asked.
"Exactly!" the fortune teller said.
“Tie your horses here. I brought some gifts for your master today,” Yinti said.
"My master is indifferent to fame and fortune. Every time I come here, I only bring some rice and flour. Your Highness, please do not give my master any gold or silver when you visit," the fortune teller said.
"Yes, I have brought the finest medicinal herbs and tonics. Your master has lived alone in this place for many years, and as he gets older, he is bound to develop some ailments. What he needs most is medicine," Yinti said.
"On behalf of my master, I thank Your Highness!" the fortune teller said.
"Of course. I have come here specifically to seek your guidance, so naturally I should prepare some gifts," Yinti said.
When they reached the entrance of the courtyard, the man called out "Master" a few times, then opened the wooden gate himself and led Yinti and the others inside.
"Master, Master!" the fortune teller called out to the inner room.
"I'm in the alchemy room. Now that you're here, could you please turn over those ginseng slices drying outside for me?" An old voice came from inside the room.
"Master, your disciple has brought you a distinguished guest today. Please come out quickly," the fortune teller said.
"No, no. You little brat, I told you, I won't see anyone." The old man still did not appear.
"Master, does the gentleman I've brought you today know what you want to know? Why don't you come out and make an exchange with him?" the fortune teller said patiently.
A moment later, Yinti saw an elderly man with white hair and beard emerge from a room. He looked to be over seventy years old. Yinti cupped his hands in greeting to the old man and said, "Sir, I apologize for disturbing you."
“You little brat, your master stopped telling fortunes for everyone a long time ago, and you’ve still brought it along. If you want your fortune told, go and see for yourself.” The old man said stubbornly to Yinti and the others.
“Master, please listen to me. I really couldn’t make a living in the city. Luckily, I met the prince, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to send you rice and vegetables twice a month.”
The old man then stopped walking and looked Prince Yinti up and down.
Seeing that the old man had finally looked at him, Yinti quickly said, "I pay my respects to the old man!"
"Since you're here, please come inside and sit down." The old man was clearly used to living alone, and he was a little unaccustomed to so many people coming all at once.
"You two, bring in all the gifts I gave to the old gentleman," Yinqi instructed his servants.
"Your Highness, my master has a rather eccentric temper, please don't take offense!" the man whispered to Yinti.
"It's alright, he's an old man, and he's used to living in such a quiet place. It's our intrusion that we came," Yinti said.
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. Please!" The fortune teller gestured for him to proceed.
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