Chapter 677: 283 Divination
In July, the peak of summer. The clear blue sky was dominated by a sun resembling a fiery ball. It seemed as if the clouds were melted by the sun, vanishing without a trace.
Ma Chengteng was covered in sweat. If not for Yueyao’s strong insistence, he really wouldn’t have wished to endure this hardship! One could almost be roasted alive in such weather, "Let’s take a break!" The group sought shade under a large tree.
Yueyao was sitting in the carriage, which had ice blocks to make it somewhat cooler. Yueyao had Xi Yu bring out chilled watermelon for Ma Chengteng to eat.
Ma Chengteng himself ate two slices of watermelon, and the rest he shared with his personal attendants. Just then, a breeze blew, the wind from the mountain fresh and cool, as if it could sweep away all the restlessness from one’s body.
Once they had enough rest, they resumed their journey. By the time they reached Zhaohua Temple, it was nearing midday, and the temple was not as crowded as usual.
After praying to the Bodhisattva, Yueyao went to draw a fortune stick and her heart nearly sank when she read the very inauspicious prediction. She would have felt much better if it had been a most auspicious one.
Ma Chengteng’s face fell when he heard the Monk interpreting the fortune as a bad omen. The fortune was for him, indicating that something was not going well for him.
After a moment of thought, Yueyao sought the Abbot, "Abbot, I’d like to meet with Master Xuan Tian. Would that be possible?"
The Abbot was quite familiar with Yueyao and fond of her devout nature, so he was quite accommodating, "I will have someone inform him."
Master Xuan Tian instructed the Little Novice Monk to invite her in. Ma Chengteng followed behind, but as they reached the entrance of the meditation hall, Ma Chengteng was stopped and only Yueyao was allowed to enter.
Yueyao was quite acquainted with Master Xuan Tian and precisely because of their familiarity, she immediately shared her concerns upon arriving at the meditation hall, "Master, having such ominous dreams suddenly, I’m really feeling uneasy. Moreover, I drew a most inauspicious fortune stick today. I beseech you to guide me through this maze of uncertainties."
Master Xuan Tian looked at Yueyao, having met her numerous times before for seeking Buddhist wisdom. This rare plea for help was quite unusual. The Master nodded, with a voice deep and resounding like a bell, "Ask Benefactor Ma to come in, please!"
Ma Chengteng did not expect to have the honor of meeting Master Xuan Tian through his niece’s good grace. He respectfully performed a bow, "Master, I wish you peace."
Master Xuan Tian looked intently at Ma Chengteng, nodded slightly at Yueyao, and said, "Benefactor Ma, your forehead is darkened, a sign of great misfortune. It’s tough for you, carrying such a kind and filial heart. The dreams you’ve had were surely a warning." Normally, Master Xuan Tian would neither read one’s fate nor perform divination.
Ma Chengteng’s face turned ashen. If Yueyao’s words still left him with a glimmer of hope, Master Xuan Tian’s words crushed even that last bit of it.
Anxious, Yueyao quickly asked, "Master, how can we avoid my uncle’s calamity?"
Master Xuan Tian’s demeanor was gentle, "With your warning, a chance at life has already been gained. As long as Benefactor Ma does not travel far in the next three months, he should safely pass this hardship." This was the Master’s method of resolution.
Yueyao’s mind was filled with doubts and confusion; her uncle had died of a serious illness, what did that have to do with traveling far? She was perplexed, but with the Master’s words, her heart was somewhat at ease. As long as she did not let her uncle travel far, everything else could be managed.
Ma Chengteng, of course, took this advice to heart. When he was about to go on duty the next day, upon hearing Shangguan’s orders for him to travel to Hengyang, he broke out in a cold sweat. The day before, he was said to be in great danger if he traveled far, and today, there appeared a long journey of duty.
This duty would have been a lucrative one, yet with Master Xuan Tian’s prior warning against traveling far, not even a promotion could tempt Ma Chengteng, let alone a lucrative assignment. Of course, he couldn’t use this warning as an excuse to decline duty, so Ma Chengteng simply claimed to be feeling unwell, suffering from frequent dizziness, which made it impossible for him to endure long travels. He even mentioned that he was planning to request a few days of sick leave to rest. Shangguan, seeing his pale complexion, believed him and appointed someone else for the task.
Meanwhile, Yueyao went to Prince Duan’s Mansion. Last time she had visited to see Princess Consort Duan, but this time it was to meet with Prince Duan himself, which felt different.
Yueyao had thought that Prince Duan would meet her in the inner courtyard, but to her surprise, she was led by a young servant straight to the front of the house and into Prince Duan’s study.
Yueyao performed a respectful greeting, "May Prince be blessed with peace and prosperity."
That day, Prince Duan was dressed in a Python Robe, his waist wrapped with a Jade Belt, head crowned with an Eight Treasures Purple Gold Crown. His gentle and monarchic appearance had a six in ten resemblance to Prince Duan.
Prince Duan also cast a casual glance at Yueyao and, smiling, unfurled a painting he had purchased on the table, "Come, take a look. What do you think of this painting?"
Yueyao’s gaze caught sight of her own painting. She felt somewhat embarrassed, as she had been unaware of the news that day—her teacher had informed her of it only afterward. Yueyao readily admitted, "My Lord shows great favor, but in truth, this painting still has many flaws."