Chapter 271: Young Master, Care for a Divination Fortune? (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 271. My Lord, Would You Like to Cast a Divination? (Pleading for Monthly Votes)

The man before them was Liu Hong, the Left Governor of Shuzhou's Colonial Administration Office, also known as Liu Gu.

When Chen Yi lifted the carriage curtain, he spotted the figure dismounting from the horse-drawn carriage.

Beside him stood a young scholar in a scholar's robe—Zhao Liu'an.

How fortuitous!

As Liu Hong turned, their eyes met. His stern expression melted into a smile in an instant.

The two exchanged greetings—one inclined his head gently, the other bowed respectfully.

The carriages passed each other.

Liu Hong watched the carriage turn into Tennan Street before lowering his gaze, then turned to the older man waiting to present his credentials.

He smoothed his sleeves thoughtfully, murmuring, "Chen Qinzou..."

Zhao Liu'an, having heard his voice, turned toward Tennan Street in sudden realization, and whispered softly, "My lord, was the gentleman seated in that carriage Chen Yi?"

Liu Hong nodded slightly, "It was he."

"Strange. Why would he choose to leave Hou's mansion at this time?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Liu'an lifted his head, glanced at him, and carefully replied, "Perhaps he has gone to Guiyun Academy to teach the Way?"

This was a most ordinary remark, yet Liu Hong immediately shook his head, "Not today."

Zhao Liu'an paused, his lips nearly parting with the question, "How do you know so precisely?"

Recovering quickly, he carefully said, "I do not know."

Liu Hong hummed in acknowledgment, turned his head toward the courtyard of the Xiao family, and softly instructed, "Chen Qinzou, you should keep an eye on this fellow in the future."

Before Zhao Liu'an could inquire further, Liu Hong continued, "The Chen family in Jiangnan Prefecture has long been favored by the Emperor. If Chen Xiangji and his brother Chen Xiang were not capable, how could they have stood firm in the court?"

"And with such two individuals, do you think they would allow their younger relative to marry into the Xiao family, or be sidelined by Liu's concubine with some tawdry excuse?"

Zhao Liu'an's eyes widened as he understood, "My lord, you mean... Chen... Qinzou has come here for..."

He pointed toward the northeast, "To meet an envoy?"

Liu Hong gave a noncommittal nod, "His recent conduct would confirm this."

"However..."

He noticed the head servant of Hou's mansion emerging from the courtyard, and hastened to finish, "However, what he has displayed lately seems rather deliberate, not at all in line with the interests of the Chen family in Jiangnan."

For a major clan of the realm, all matters were first and foremost about interest, about expanding and strengthening the family, about ensuring its continuation. Marriages and alliances, the pursuit of fame and wealth, even farming—all were for this purpose.

Thus, in Liu Hong's estimation, Chen Yi should have been entirely focused on climbing the ladder of advancement since coming to the Xiao family.

Yet the reality was—over the past six months, he had remained a peripheral figure in the Xiao household.

Even as a teacher at Guiyun Academy, he had made no mark.

Avoiding officialdom and military affairs, he seemed like a lone crane wandering through the wilderness.

Such a person—how could Liu Hong not think about him further?

Zhao Liu'an listened in silence, then nodded softly, following Liu Hong into the Xiao family's residence.

He silently recorded Chen Yi's affairs in his heart, then composed himself to prepare for his visit to the venerable Hou patriarch.

"The bandits who attacked Nanxi and Suotuo those days were at least somewhat manageable."

"But now, with the incident involving Aotu, I fear Your Lordship finds it difficult to persuade the old patriarch to remain unmoved..."

...

On the other side.

Liu Si'er drove the carriage, his tongue never still.

"That Liu the Governor came by yesterday, and here he is again today. Truly, he must be afraid the patriarch will petition the court to request imperial protection."

"Chen Qinzou, what do you think? Is he overstepping his bounds?"

Chen Yi merely nodded without answering, his eyes fixed on the pedestrians passing through the window, refusing to engage.

Liu Hong's intentions were known throughout the Xiao mansion.

There was no need for him to speak further.

Yet there was one matter he cared deeply about—

Would the old patriarch seize this opportunity to officially relocate the Duyuan Army?

It seemed unlikely...

Chen Yi let out a silent sigh in his heart.

The old patriarch cherished his feathers, bound by rules and regulations so tightly that unless forced by dire circumstances, he would find it hard to act boldly.

Just as when he had gone to Liu Hong to discuss the matter of "Liu Wen" before.

Liu Si'er noticed his silence and muttered under his breath, "Poor bird has grown more incomprehensible these days."

Once upon a time,

He saw "Poor bird" as clearly as a child without clothes, able to see through.

Now, when he looked at "Poor bird," there was a veil of gauze between them, making it difficult to perceive clearly.

After all, it had only been a couple of months since "Poor bird" had no discernible cultivation.

Upon reflection, Liu Si'er could only blame it on "Poor bird's" spiritual growth following his mastery of the Way.

After all, the mysteries of the universe and the subtleties of spirit and matter were inscrutable; it was natural he could not see through completely.

Liu Si'er pondered these things, glanced at the passersby, and with a casual remark, said, "Master, the people on the street today seem more numerous than usual."

Chen Yi replied offhand, "Probably buying grain in a hurry."

He hadn't been listening carefully, though. The conversations around him all concerned Nanxi, Suotuo, and the left king of the barbarian tribes.

Some were shocked, some excited, some fearful.

Yet most were preparing for the worst.

To ordinary people, when war approached, they still thought of first living a stable life.

Lines like "falling dead on the battlefield" or "wrapping one's corpse in a horse's hide" are the imaginings of scholars or those versed in martial arts.

What truly concerns them is always sustenance—food, clothing, medicine, and other necessities of life.

"Damn corrupt merchants!"

"By a single stone, the price of millet has soared to ten taels! They’re literally looting the people while the city burns!"

"Come, let’s go to the magistrate’s office and file a complaint!"

"These dogs won’t let us live in peace, and we can’t let them terrorize the land!"

As the cart approached the East Market, Chen Yi could barely make out the din from that direction.

Some people were chatting, bowing apologies, muttering about how helpless things were in Shu Province.

Others ignored these voices, haggling with the grain merchants, calculating how much grain their silver could buy.

The whole place was a jumble.

From far away, Chen Yi spotted the crowd swelling outside the East Market gate.

The throng was so packed, even Liu Si Er’s cart struggled to squeeze through, leaving him flustered.

"Liu family’s carriage—make way!"

"Move aside!"

After being blocked repeatedly, Liu Si Er’s face reddened, and he cracked his whip toward the horse’s flank.

Chen Yi stepped in, saying calmly, "Stop, Fourth Brother."

Liu Si Er paused, hesitating. "Master, we’re only a few steps from Jishi Pharmacy—if you’d like, perhaps you should wait a bit longer?"

"What if danger arises in this crowded place?"

Before he could finish, Chen Yi lifted the curtain and dismounted, smiling. "It’s fine."

He glanced at the approaching people, noticing their fearful expressions, and gestured forward:

"Go ahead, return to your homes. I’ll return to the mansion on my own."

Liu Si Er blinked, but seeing Chen Yi’s resolute demeanor, he grudgingly said,

"Master, mind your step. If anything happens to you, our family won’t escape blame."

Chen Yi nodded, then gently motioned for the frightened crowd to part, stepping into the throng.

It took him ten minutes to reach Jishi Pharmacy.

By then, the gate was swarming with people too.

Most weren’t ill—many came to stock up on medicines for their homes.

Others came just to brew tea.

The pharmacy’s staff poured out in full force, yet order at the gate remained unmanageable.

The treasurer, Liu Quan, stood at the entrance, shouting angrily:

"Everyone, everyone—our pharmacy has little medicine left. Please go to other shops."

"Wanyan Pharmacy, Fang family’s shop…"

Even so, the crowd surged.

Chen Yi watched the scene, feeling a strange unease.

He’d anticipated some impact on Shu’s people, but not this widespread chaos.

Or perhaps he’d underestimated the effect of the left general of the barbarians, Mahan Woodha, on Shu’s populace.

After all, the news of the Peach Blossom Princess’s death hadn’t caused such panic yesterday.

Still, thinking it through, it made sense.

Even Xiao Wanyan had nearly fainted upon hearing Woodha’s name.

These ordinary people’s reactions were only natural.

As he mused, Chen Yi sighed.

"I spared their lives, yet they died because of me."

This time, he’d have to make the people of Shu suffer for a while longer.

To achieve his goal permanently, he had to press on.

"Better to endure short pain than long—later, I’ll find a way to compensate them."

Chen Yi scanned the area, his gaze settling on a pharmacy farther from the East Market gate—a place called Xinglin Pavilion.

Like the one on Nan Street, its signboard bore the words "Small Literary Script" in calligraphy.

Amidst the swirling crowd, the characters "Xinglin Pavilion" stood clear as day, reflected in the people flowing beneath.

Through the haze, Chen Yi spotted a familiar figure inside—Liu Zhaoxue.

Behind her, a few attendants bustled about.

One young, pretty maid caught his eye.

"Wudou Sect’s Ling’er, Liu Zhaoxue?"

"They’re here too, after all."

Instinctively, Chen Yi cast an eye-pressure technique, scanning the group.

Their auras materialized before him:

"Martial Way strength—fifth rank, upper tier; fifth rank, middle tier; sixth rank, middle tier; fourth rank, fourth rank… upper tier?"

His eyes landed on a middle-aged swordsman in Xinglin Pavilion’s gate, dressed as a guard.

His fourth-rank upper-tier cultivation surpassed Yan Fushan by two levels.

"Is he a Wudou Sect elder? Or the so-called Patriarch I heard of earlier?"

Chen Yi realized now wasn’t the time to probe further.

After observing all, he pushed through the chaos into Jishi Pharmacy.

Liu Quan had just begun to shout, but upon seeing Chen Yi, he quickly hushed himself.

"Master, you’ve arrived."

"Please tell them—our pharmacy has no medicine left."

"Have those merchants gone mad? They’ve taken all our supplies to Xinglin Pavilion."

Chen Yi waved a hand, signaling quiet. Then he called out from the doorway:

"Friends, friends—our remaining medicine is few. If you’re not ill, please wait outside."

Seeing some hesitate, he smiled and pointed toward Xinglin Pavilion:

"Only Xinglin Pavilion has sufficient supplies in the whole city. You may go there to check."

"Moreover, I've heard that the physician stationed at Xinglin Zhai is a true master of medicine, a rare find indeed."

"Whether you're here to treat illnesses or to purchase medicinal herbs, you may all go ahead."

As soon as his words had faded, a murmur rippled through the crowd, voices hushed and conspiratorial.

"Who isn't aware there are herbs available here? Though the prices are exorbitant."

"Lord Qinzhou, those from Xinglin Zhai arriving in Jingzhou are quite the scamps, aren't they?"

"The herbs sold by Xinglin Zhai cost a full ten percent more than those at the Biji Pharmacy. We can't afford such prices, not in this lifetime."

Chen Yi, upon hearing this, fell silent for a moment, then offered a gentle smile, his patience worn thin.

"Today it's a ten percent markup, but tomorrow it might well be twenty."

"Even if we ignore the distant places, the grain prices in the eastern market..."

He stopped him there.

Those who had the foresight to stock up on herbs in advance were no fools.

Almost as soon as Chen Yi finished speaking, the people in the queue began moving toward Xinglin Zhai.

"Indeed, the grain prices have skyrocketed by more than tenfold. If the herbs were priced the same, we'd be finished."

"Come on, all of you—come!"

Within a short time, the crowd of herb-buyers had dispersed.

What remained were the sick and a few wanderers seeking tea.

Chen Yi said no more, entrusted Liu Quan with keeping watch, and made his way to the inner chamber.

Yet the physicians inside were all busy.

Especially Ma Liang, whose skills had grown even more refined.

He was surrounded by three or four people—one receiving treatment, two waiting, with an apprentice directing others to hold their horses.

At first glance, there was order amid the chaos.

Chen Yi listened to the commotion outside and sat calmly on his chair.

This turn of events had roused a warning within him.

"Enemies are enemies. If their actions drag innocent souls into the fray, it would be a grave sin against Heaven and Humanity."

Fortunately, he conducted his affairs in secrecy.

Beyond him and a handful of others like Liu Liang, the common folk remained unaware of his hand in it all.

Thus, only his conscience bore the stain.

Enough.

...

As noon passed, the chaotic throng in the eastern market finally dispersed.

Though those who had failed to secure grain nursed grudges, by this point, they were resigned, with no better recourse.

The pharmacy's shelves were bare.

The granaries of the grain trade were stocked yet restricted in sale.

Other goods, too, had seen prices rise and quantities dwindle.

Yet Chen Yi, after half a day's observation, acted precisely as he had planned.

His sword was already drawn, leaving no room for hesitation.

But there was a more urgent matter to attend to.

Calculating the hour, he calmly exited the chamber, instructing Liu Quan and the others to prepare the noon meal.

He then approached the eastern market gate, scanning the area with his gaze.

Most of those before him were the poor and destitute.

Even some in fine robes rode by on horseback like the wind.

The artisans who had once eked out a living here now stood at their stalls.

Performers hawked their wares, vendors called out their wares.

As he swept his eyes across the scene, Chen Yi paused, wondering about the whereabouts of the legendary Bai Da Xian, when a voice with a hint of mirth reached his ear.

"Sir, would you care for a fortune-telling reading?"

Chen Yi startled, turning to the figure beside him.

The man was elderly, his face white as paper, his features strikingly handsome yet otherworldly, dressed in a tattered Daoist robe with patches, holding a bamboo scepter. He smiled warmly.

When did he arrive... he...

Bai Da Xian?

Why?

Even though the young man before him bore little resemblance to the legendary Bai Da Xian, Chen Yi was certain—this was indeed the venerable immortal.

The elderly Daoist noticed his bewildered expression, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes, and continued, "Sir, would you care for a fortune-telling reading?"

Chen Yi regained his composure, parted his lips slightly, then turned toward the Biji Pharmacy.

A fortune-telling reading?

A barking dog's fortune-telling!

(Chapter Complete)