Chapter 2: The Prince's Grand Wedding, the Princess Sets Up a Fortune-Telling Stall

Beside Chu Li, Qiu Yi, who had also been disguised from head to toe as a sixty-year-old woman, was trembling with anxiety.

"Master, shouldn't we leave the city before the Prince finds out? I’m terrified."

Chu Li, now appearing as a hunched little old man, had her once star-like eyes slightly altered, though a glimmer of confident light still shone through the murky irises. "What is there to fear? Doesn’t leaving the city require money? Just watch—today, we shall borrow some of the Prince's good fortune to add a little wealth to our own."

Even in leaving, Chu Li possessed pride; she had not taken a single item from the Prince’s estate that didn’t belong to her. Naturally, she did this to sever her karmic ties with Fu Heng, so as not to affect her future destiny. That man had an overwhelming abundance of fortune, and the contents of her private vault were all gifts from him—they were too steeped in his prosperity to carry away.

Qiu Yi wanted to flee, but upon catching sight of Chu Li’s calm and determined eyes, she inexplicably felt at ease. She had to trust her master. Given this incredible art of disguise, her master could never be an ordinary lady of the inner chambers; she was truly full of hidden depths. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes and experienced it herself, Qiu Yi would never have believed that a few strange potions and some markings on the face could turn two vibrant young women into an elderly couple, even altering their voices. Since leaving the Prince’s estate, the Princess seemed to have become remarkably capable.

By now, the crowd gathering near the estate was growing. Most were there hoping for a feast, though there were also bureaucrats eager to curry favor with the Prince of You, some even clutching congratulatory gifts. Chu Li scanned the crowd, searching for her first target, when she was suddenly drawn to a wooden box emitting a faint, golden glow.

A man with a shifty, rat-like appearance was casting frequent glances at the estate gates. Judging by his attire, he was a government official of some rank. To Chu Li’s eyes, however, his face betrayed a looming disaster—he was about to suffer a great misfortune. He was the one.

"That official there—yes, you, the one in the green, come here."

Chu Li waved him over with a smile. The middle-aged man in deep green, wide-sleeved brocade robes paused, looked left and right, and pointed to himself. "Are you calling me?"

Chu Li nodded calmly and gestured for Qiu Yi to pull out the small stool in front of their stall. Seeing it was a fortune-telling stand, the man, despite a moment’s hesitation, found himself inexplicably drawn to walk over. He tucked the wooden box into his wide sleeve, sat down, and stared directly at Chu Li.

Without waiting for him to speak, Chu Li stroked her fake beard and began. "In this vast sea of people, our meeting is destiny. I possess a small talent for glimpsing the secrets of heaven and would like to chat with you. It isn't expensive—one tael of silver."

Cao Ronghai’s expression, initially disdainful, shifted. He figured this charlatan must have spotted his wealth; there were so many people standing around, yet she singled him out. But hearing it was only one tael, it didn't seem expensive at all.

"Then tell me, what have you glimpsed? If you speak well, I certainly won't default on the payment."

Chu Li held up a finger and shook it. "The rules of the Mystic Gate: payment first."

"What kind of pathetic 'Mystic Gate' is this? I am a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. You dare to swindle me?" He must have been out of his mind to sit here.

Chu Li was slightly surprised. This disaster-prone man was from the Ministry of Revenue? No wonder he looked so worn out. "My apologies, my apologies. Since you are the Vice Minister, then... ten taels of silver."

Cao Ronghai: !

The surrounding townspeople gathered to watch the spectacle. Recognizing the man at the stall, many covered their mouths to hide their laughter. "So it’s Vice Minister Cao. I was wondering who would dare get their fortune told at that stall at a time like this. If it's Minister Cao, it's not surprising."

"Haha, he’s the most obsessed fortune-seeker in the capital I've ever seen. I often see him visiting Old Blind Man to have his luck read."

Hearing the whispers, Chu Li couldn't help but size up Minister Cao again. Could it be that this man was a closet fan of their Mystic Gate? Otherwise, who gets their fortune told every few days? Fortune-telling loses its accuracy when done too often.

Stung by the gossip, Cao Ronghai glared at the crowd. "Go on, go on! What’s there to watch?"

The next second, he tossed a silver ingot onto the table. Once he realized what he’d done, he wanted to chop off his own hand. Curse his damnable curiosity! He’d only just had his fortune read yesterday!

Qiu Yi, quick-witted, snatched the silver the moment it rolled onto the table and tucked it into her sleeve.

Chu Li’s casual demeanor vanished, and she began the reading in earnest. She tossed three copper coins onto the table, then, as still as a meditative monk, she stared at Cao Ronghai’s face, her expression growing increasingly grave. The coins were merely a distraction for others; she was accurate at face-reading and needed no tools. Especially with a first-time stranger, she could see things clearly—sometimes, for those with simple life paths, she could even see their death at a glance.

To her, Cao Ronghai’s face looked like a sieve—leaking wealth, leaking luck, leaking family, and leaking life. He was on the verge of losing everything, his family scattered, and his life at an end.

Seeing Chu Li’s expression, Cao Ronghai’s heart skipped a beat, and he became visibly terrified. He had visited the Old Blind Man just yesterday, and he had warned him that he was facing a "tribulation" and should keep his head down. This charlatan before him gave off a sense of mystery even deeper than the Old Blind Man’s. Was he really doomed?

Lately, the imperial court had been in a state of panic, stemming from the Great Diviner’s sudden proclamation that the frontier of Kuangbei was a place of great misfortune, potentially signaling the collapse of the dynasty. Was his own tribulation related to this?

After a long silence, Chu Li gathered the coins, her face unusually solemn, and waved her hand at Cao Ronghai. "Go. I cannot help you. Old woman, return the silver to him."

Qiu Yi hesitated for only half a second before pulling out the silver to return to the Minister.

Cao Ronghai grew frantic. "No, no! Master, please, help me! I will pay any amount!"

"This is not a matter of money. Your tribulation is quite fierce. It is better to go back, eat whatever you wish to eat, do whatever you wish to do, and leave no regrets." The subtext: his days were numbered.

Cao Ronghai: !! This was that serious? Was the "tribulation" the Old Blind Man spoke of actually a death sentence?

"Master, please, I'm scared! You must have a way to help me! Just give me some advice. If you help me pass this crisis, I, Cao Ronghai, will treat you as my own father!"

In the next second, Chu Li noticed a subtle change in Cao Ronghai’s physiognomy. She wanted to curse. Damn it! He was serious! He took his word that seriously! Chu Li clearly felt a karmic bond forming between them; this old fool really intended to become her son!

"Stop that, I don't want to be your father! If you must, just pay me. I find the item in that box of yours quite interesting. Give it to me, and I will point you toward a path of survival."

Without hesitation, Cao Ronghai pushed the wooden box toward Chu Li and pulled out a one-hundred-tael banknote. Seeing how much he trusted her, Chu Li spoke slowly.

"Head north. Petition the throne. Request to conduct a field inspection in Kuangbei, and you will know what to do next."

Cao Ronghai’s expression shifted instantly, his heart filled with terror. She had truly divined it! Kuangbei—it was indeed Kuangbei!