"Find the person who is incompatible with you, and seek out the thing that is compatible with you." The white-eyed girl always faced Shen Tang, her tone carrying a convincing power. She said earnestly, "This humble subject knows that I cannot gain the trust of the king, but this matter is of great importance, so I urge the king to be cautious."
The white-eyed girl's grandfather couldn't help but chime in.
"The king should trust her."
My apprentice does indeed have some strange traits.
Shen Tang continued to ask, "Where are the people who are incompatible with you? And where are the things that are compatible with you? Since you can say these things, you must not be speaking without reason. After all, the price of fooling a king is not something you can afford to pay. Be careful not to be tricked and killed."
The white-eyed girl was not frightened by her words.
Shen Tang's words contained no murderous intent, but rather a hint of a smile, like a neighborly older sister teasing a mischievous child. The white-eyed girl said, "This humble one's cultivation is still shallow, and I can see very little, but I can be certain that there are at least two people who are incompatible with you, and your compatible counterparts are already nearby."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang fell silent.
It wasn't that the white-eyed girl was talking nonsense, but rather that some of what she said was actually quite correct. The scholarly ways of people like Qi Yuanliang were not a secret internally, but a closely guarded secret externally. This grandfather and granddaughter couldn't possibly know, and hadn't Shen Tang been being harassed by them all these years? Especially Xun Zhen, who had completely ruined her financial luck, yet she couldn't do anything about it and was forced to pay off her debts in misery.
It was not Xun Zhen's fault that he was in debt.
It was her fault; she was too poor and too weak.
The phrase "incompatible people" could be roughly matched with those scoundrels like Xun Zhenkang, but what about "mutually generating things"? Shen Tang went straight to the point and asked, "How do you find mutually generating things? Is there a way?"
The white-eyed girl shook her head: "I can't."
"Then what's the difference between saying it and not saying it at all?"
"Why doesn't Your Majesty ask who's interfering with you? I can find them myself!" The white-eyed girl pursed her lips, feeling uneasy as things unfolded differently than she had predicted.
"The Five Virtues cycle endlessly. All things in the world are divided into Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements generate and restrain each other. The one who restrains me may not be the one who will help me rise to prominence; it all depends on how the ruler uses people. Let's not mention this matter again." Shen Tang interrupted the white-eyed girl who was about to say something. The girl's grandfather, who was standing beside her, was already sweating profusely and trembling on the ground, occasionally tugging at the girl's sleeve.
Having traveled all over the country for many years, he has seen and experienced a great deal.
Although she had never dealt with high-ranking officials and nobles, she knew how to read people's hearts. Shen Tang's unspoken meaning was that she knew who the so-called "incompatible person" was, most likely one of her confidants. If the King of Shen didn't mind his disciple's recklessness, would his confidants also be so forgiving?
This is really going to be a disaster.
I only wanted to get a minor official position, but now it's all over.
The white-eyed girl opened her mouth: "But..."
How could someone knowingly ignore someone around them who is bringing them misfortune? This ruler clearly possesses the aura of an emperor, the strongest she has ever seen. Shouldn't she cherish her life even more? If she were to be killed by these petty people halfway through her life, wouldn't it all be for nothing?
However, Shen Tang had already forcibly changed the subject.
"Judging from the tone of you grandfather and grandson, you don't seem to be from Kangguo?"
"She is my apprentice, from the southwestern Lu Kingdom." Fearing that his apprentice might say something wrong again, the older man took the initiative to continue the conversation.
Shen Tang thought for a moment about where Lu State was, and asked the question that had been bothering her: "If I remember correctly, Lu State has been in a relatively good situation in recent years. Why would you and your master take such a risk and run to Kang State?"
It must be understood that the world was very unstable at the time, and transportation was inconvenient in various places. As long as ordinary people were not forced to the brink of starvation, as long as they had food to eat, they would not easily leave their homeland. This was because they would encounter bandits and face wild beasts and poisonous insects on their escape route.
There is no stable supply of food and water...
The chances of surviving an escape are very slim.
The man tried to make up an excuse, but his disciple blurted out the truth: "Because of the Eternal Life Cult."
The white-eyed girl added, "The Eternal Life Cult eliminates dissidents."
"The Cult of Immortality?"
The girl with white eyes nodded: "Mm."
Their departure to distant lands was out of necessity.
Seeing this, the man, having nothing better to do, said, "To be honest, my apprentice was born with heterochromia, five teeth, and can see both the living and the dead, and can predict good and bad fortune. The day before she was born, her mother dreamed of two ghosts, one black and one white, passing in front of the house. She didn't become able to speak human language until she was six years old..."
Overall, the white-eyed girl has a very interesting backstory.
She was born with white eyes and five teeth, and couldn't speak until she was six. Her parents were afraid and decided to sell her, but a man who made a living as acrobat unexpectedly bought her. On the day the man took the white-eyed girl away, she suddenly spoke, pointing at her father and saying that he would be cut in half at the waist in three days.
Three days later, the man was climbing the cliff to collect herbs when the rope broke, and he fell off the cliff, hitting a knife-axe shaped rock right in his waist.
After that, the news spread.
The man simply stopped performing acrobatics, as those acts were merely tricks to deceive people. He devoted himself entirely to fortune-telling with the young girl. Anyone else who wanted to have their fortune told had to pay.
They should have been living a comfortable life, but they were unlucky. In the southwestern continent, from high-ranking officials to ordinary people, everyone worshipped the Eternal Life Cult, and all other sects were considered cults. They used to turn a blind eye, but in the last two years, they've gone mad.
Those who are cult members should be imprisoned.
The master and apprentice found survival increasingly difficult and had to hide from each other.
Finally, he hardened his heart and simply left the State of Lu.
They suffered a lot along the way.
The white-eyed girl planned to cheat, seeking out someone with the aura of an emperor. If she could gain the other person's trust, all the better, as they would enjoy endless wealth and honor. If not, she and her master could still earn a living under that person's tutelage. With their exceptional skills, they wouldn't have to worry about finding suitors.
But no one expected that this king would act unpredictably.
She doesn't care at all about the people around her who are incompatible with her.
Shen Tang understood the gist of it: "I see, but I have a question: how did you know your father would die by being cut in half at the waist?"
In this world where literary talent and martial prowess reign supreme, the white-eyed girl's abilities and experiences are not particularly extraordinary, and Jiang Sheng's scholarly path can also be used as a kind of charlatan skill. However, his scholarly path was also acquired by chance after he condensed his literary heart, while the white-eyed girl's abilities began to show their potential when she was six years old.
This goes against common sense.
The white-eyed girl remained silent for a moment, then slowly revealed the truth under her master's horrified gaze: "My mother had tampered with the hemp rope my father used to gather herbs. There are loose rocks below the cliff where he often gathered herbs; falling from that height would undoubtedly cut him in half. I said that only to cover for my mother and repay her for giving me life."
She wasn't mute until she was six years old when she could speak.
I already knew how to say it, but there was no need to say it.
Shen Tang was slightly surprised by this answer. She didn't ask why the white-eyed girl didn't remind her biological father or why she covered up for her mother: "So, when your mother said she dreamed of two ghosts, one black and one white, before you were born, it was actually because you were born with teeth?"
They fabricated such lies to shirk responsibility.
After all, she had given birth to a daughter who had five teeth at birth and was born with heterochromia. If she didn't try to fool her, not only would the child be killed, but the mother might also be burned as a monster.
It would be perfectly reasonable to fabricate the story of two ghosts entering a dream.
The white-eyed girl nodded and emphasized softly, "Yes, but my prophecies are accurate; I'm not just pretending."
She seems to have a natural talent for deceiving people.
Outsiders all thought she was blind, but she could actually see. When telling fortunes, she would say ambiguous and flattering things, which carried virtually no risk. A few years ago, this fake charlatan became a real charlatan; she could actually predict people's fortunes.
After the white-eyed girl finished speaking, her master looked like he had seen a ghost, his expression changing repeatedly, unable to say anything else for a long time.
Clearly, he was also kept in the dark.
Shen Tang said, "I believe that."
Instead of punishing the master and apprentice, she ordered them to be settled in and said to the white-eyed girl, "Besides predicting people's fortunes and deaths, do you have any other skills? For example, can you read the weather?"
The white-eyed girl said, "I know a little bit."
Shen Tang clapped her hands: "Very good, you can wait for news."
She wasn't sure if the girl's abilities came from the way of the literati or some other special system. Shen Tang adhered to one principle—it doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat! The white-eyed girl could determine good or bad fortune and predict life and death; what a promising talent for the Imperial Observatory!
He also has some knowledge of weather and feng shui, which is even better!
In some ways, it can be considered Qin Li 2.0.
This is a job I was born to do!
The white-eyed girl hadn't expected this outcome. She was so shocked she forgot to thank him until her teacher pressed down on the back of her neck, bringing her back to her senses. Before leaving, she hesitated and said, "There's one more thing, perhaps the King should know..."
Shen Tang gestured for the white-eyed girl to continue.
The white-eyed girl said, "My master and I came to Kang Kingdom by passing through Gao Kingdom. We met the worshippers of the Eternal Life Cult within the territory of Gao Kingdom."
The master and his disciple lingered in the capital of Gao Kingdom for a long time.
As a commoner, she naturally had no chance to meet the King of Gao, and could only judge the strength of the dragon aura by the clouds above the palace. This method was highly inaccurate, leaving her hesitant. Coincidentally, Gao was in mourning, and Wu Xian was escorting the coffin to the Queen's mausoleum for burial. The white-eyed girl saw Wu Xian from afar. This man also possessed a faint dragon aura, just like the other kings she had seen before.
What attracted her attention most were the people around Wu Xian.
It contains offerings from the Eternal Life Cult.
She had seen this offering before.
The girl with white eyes whispered, "Be careful of this person."
Shen Tang asked, "Is this person very strong?"
The white-eyed girl shook her head: "I don't know how strong he is, but his aura is strange, with yin and yang reversed and the universe turned upside down... In short, we must kill him if we have the chance, to avoid endless troubles in the future."
Shen Tang nodded in agreement: "I will pay attention to what you said."
The master and apprentice were placed in a small courtyard.
Though small, the sparrow has all the vital organs.
The master bowed and scraped as he saw off the messenger who had brought them. After watching the person walk away, he covered his neck in lingering fear and said, "You little brat, are you really courting death? How could you say such things?"
The white-eyed girl said, "The road to success is right beneath your feet."
It was worth risking her life for.
The master muttered to himself, but didn't say anything more.
After taking a sip of the iced tea, his head cooled down considerably, and he became restless, saying, "I always felt that this Queen of Shen was not easy to fool. We've raised you for so many years, and this is the first time we've found out that you lied when you were six years old, but she saw through it at a glance! Tsk tsk, what an intelligent and wise woman she is, no wonder she can become a queen... No, should we run away?"
If they find out they're from the Eternal Life Cult...
How will I cover up this lie later?
The Eternal Life Cult was large and bloated. The master and his disciples joined because they couldn't defeat them, but later they ran away for some reason.
What I just told Shen Tang...
Nine parts true, one part false.
The white-eyed girl said calmly, "Is it possible that it's not that the king is too intelligent, but that you, Master, are too dull?"
man:"……"
White-eyed girl: "Don't worry, nothing will happen."
The amount they concealed wasn't much, and it didn't matter. The most crucial information had already been given to King Shen. Even if their lies were exposed later, they could still atone for their mistakes. The man sighed and nodded, barely managing to calm himself down before managing to get a decent night's sleep.
The next day.
Shen Tang set off for the main camp before dawn.
She had investigated the battles that had taken place in this region over the past century. After weighing the pros and cons, she decided to take the initiative in this battle against the Gao Kingdom, aiming to seize control and ideally locate the battlefield within Gao Kingdom's territory. The number and strength of the heroic spirits summoned by the border barrier depended on the number of people who died on this battlefield. The more battles fought, the more people who died, and the stronger their obsessions in life, the more likely they were to be influenced by the border barrier and become heroic spirits, protecting the safety of the border barrier.
There were very few border battles between Gao and Kang.
Whether it was Shen Tang's attack or Wu Xian's attack, the border barrier summoned only a small army of heroic spirits; a response of three to five hundred was considered good. Unlike the Northern Desert battlefield, where the number of heroic spirits was in the tens of thousands, and even if one batch was wiped out, another would emerge.
In this situation, the defensive pressure is relatively heavy.
Shen Tang sat in the tent waiting for someone, pondering in his heart.
A short while later, the tent curtain was lifted, letting in the light from outside. Shen Tang looked up and met Gu Chi's slightly haggard face, then suddenly stood up: "Why is Wang Chao still so weak?"
Didn't you say you were almost fully recovered from your injury?
Shen Tang grasped his wrist; it was ice-cold.
Gu Chi smiled, his eyes crinkling: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I am much better. It's just that the weather has turned cooler recently, so my complexion looks rather poor..."
Shen Tang looked at him, who was bundled up in layers of clothing, and sighed, "I don't know when you'll recover from this. I remember there are two fine tiger skins in the storeroom; I'll make you a cloak."
Gu Chi's eyes lit up, and he bowed to express his gratitude.
Shen Tang helped him up.
I noticed a red mark on his collar.
What happened to your neck?
Gu Chi remained expressionless: "It must have been an insect bite."
There are also many poisonous insects near the camp.
Shen Tang didn't suspect anything: "I'll have someone prepare some insect repellent pouches for you later. Hang a few more in the tent. Your blood and qi are already in poor condition. If you let insects suck your blood a few more times, how can you withstand it?"
Gu Chi smiled and agreed to each one.
Shen Tang caught a faint whiff of sandalwood.
Not quite sure, I smelled it again.
"Shao Xuan has been here before?"
Gu Chi said, "General Bai is reorganizing the troops."
Shen Tang murmured, "That's strange."
How could she smell the fragrance that Bai Su usually used?
This incense was personally blended by Shen Zhi, and it is said to be made with seven or eight kinds of precious wood fragrances, exclusively for Bai Su.
︿(￣︶￣)︿
The Grand Master of the Eternal Life Cult has rather unique skills, and this is probably the only time in the entire story that Tang Mei is forced to play a support role, hehe.
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