Chapter 63: A Match Made in Heaven?

March 26th, Prince Lanyangs Estate.

Recently, Lin Hansu had been experiencing bouts of anxiety and restless sleep, plagued by unpleasant dreams.

This left her looking rather haggard.

One morning, Granny Zhang noticed her unease and suggested, “Your Highness, it has been nearly three months since you last went out. Why not take a stroll outside the estate? I’ve heard that the Yaoqing nunnery in the eastern part of the City has a nun named Master Yu Zhen who is renowned for her accurate fortune-telling. You could consult her about any worries you have.”

Ever since the Tiandao Palace was destroyed by heavenly thunder on January 17th, Lanyang Prefecture had become a battleground for various factions.

To avoid trouble, Lin Hansu had not ventured out.

Hearing Granny Zhangs suggestion, she was tempted and, after a moments thought, said, ” very well, have Uncle Zhang prepare the carriage. Make sure Wang Xigui and the others change into plain clothes.”

The Yaoqing nunnery is a place for female practitioners of the Dao.

Around 9 AM, Lin Hansu and her entourage, all dressed in plain clothes, arrived at their destination.

As Lin Hansu, wearing a veiled hat, stepped out of the carriage with Granny Zhangs help, she noticed the nunnerys gate was quiet and desolate, with few visitors. This reminded her of Ding Suian’s past speculations. She wondered who was behind the State Religion, was it the Buddhists or the Daoists?

Thinking of Ding Suian, Lin Hansu couldn’t help but sigh.

In the past, they were separated only by a wall, and her biggest worry was not being able to see him.

She had never imagined that after being apart for just three months, she would find herself so deeply concerned for a man that she couldn’t eat or sleep properly.

“Your Highness?”

“Your Highness.”

“Ah, what is it?”

“Let’s go inside.”

“Mm.”

Master Yu Zhen was a female Daoist in her late fifties.

Seeing the generous donation from Granny Zhang, she warmly invited them into the tea room.

After some small talk, Granny Zhang presented a piece of paper with a birthdate written on it. “Please, Master, tell us if this man will have good fortune.”

Master Yu Zhen took the paper, studied the birthdate, and began to silently calculate with her fingers. Her brow furrowed gradually.

Just as Lin Hansu started to feel anxious, Master Yu Zhen suddenly said, “This man will encounter danger but emerge unscathed. His fate aligns with the Great One Who Rescues from Suffering, a highly auspicious sign.”

Relieved, Lin Hansu blurted out, “Master, could you also help me check the fate of my younger sister?”

“Please provide her birthdate.”

“Very well.”

Lin Hansu agreed quickly, but when she picked up the pen, she hesitated for a moment.

Eventually, she wrote: Wuxu year, Wuwu month, Bingxu day.

This time, Master Yu Zhen took longer to calculate, about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, before putting down the paper, seeming to want to say something but hesitating.

Lin Hansu, knowing her own fate was problematic, braced herself. “Master, please speak freely.”

“Very well. Your sisters fate is that of a wounded officer, with the Lonely Phoenix Star and the Star of Death. I fear she will not meet a good end.”

“Is there a way to change this fate?”

“It will be difficult.”

Lin Hansu fell silent. Although fortune-telling couldn’t be entirely trusted, she remembered a similar reading from her youth that matched Master Yu Zhen’s words.

This was quite disheartening.

After a moment, Lin Hansu asked with a glimmer of hope, “Master, if my sister were to be with the man whose fate we just read, would it harm him?”

Master Yu Zhen placed the two papers side by side and noticed that the man and woman were six years apart in age, with the woman being older. She looked at Lin Hansu curiously, but the veiled hat concealed her face.

Lin Hansu, hidden behind the veil, felt uncomfortable under the gaze.

Master Yu Zhen then focused on the birthdates, calculating intently for a long time, occasionally looking surprised or thoughtful.

After a while, she suddenly exclaimed, “Marvelous! Marvelous!”

Lin Hansu was startled by the sudden outburst. Granny Zhang, knowing what Lin Hansu was most concerned about, quickly asked, “Master, what is so marvelous?”

Master Yu Zhen took up a pen and wrote down a series of notes, pointing to one line. “This man was born in the month of the Tiger, which hides the fire element, a noble sign. Born on a Bingwu day in spring, blessed by the Heavens; on the full moon of the first lunar month, bathed in moonlight.”

Lin Hansu listened, confused.

Granny Zhang, understanding Lin Hansu’s confusion, asked, “Master, what does this mean?”

“Look here! The woman’s fate is to harm her husband, leading to an unhappy marriage. But the man’s fate transforms this harm. Also, the woman’s Lonely Phoenix Star indicates a solitary love life, but the man’s birth month of the Tiger brings the Red Phoenix, guiding their fates together. Moreover, the woman’s Star of Death attracts trouble, but the man’s fate of Heavenly Pardon negates this misfortune. Most marvelously, the man’s time pillar of Gui Water nourishes the woman’s Xu Wood, and the woman’s Geng Metal refines the man’s water, creating a perfect harmony of ‘Gold White Water Clear, Kill Talisman Twin Birth’!”

Master Yu Zhen paused for breath and continued, “Marvelous! Truly marvelous! In my forty years of practice, I have never seen such a perfect match. This union is truly a match made in Heaven!”

After noon.

On the way back to the estate, Lin Hansu leaned against the carriage window, admiring the vibrant trees and flowers.

Even the dust, which she usually disliked, seemed romantic today.

How adorable is that wild dog by the roadside, enjoying its meal!

Although a part of her remained rational, knowing that most fortune-tellers were frauds, she couldn’t help but think, “What if Master Yu Zhen is truly skilled?”

The half-hour journey back to the estate passed in the blink of an eye. The eastern gate of Lanyang Prefecture was already in sight.

“Granny Zhang, let’s have some wine when we return to the estate.”

“Today, I will gladly accompany you for a few cups, Your Highness.”

Granny Zhang, usually stern, sensed Lin Hansu’s joy and smiled.

A moment later, they noticed a crowd on the official road to the left, mostly women, children, and the elderly.

Everyone looked anxious, and some children were crying.

Before them stood the barracks of the Xiaoyong Army of Lanyang Prefecture.

However, since the Xiaoyong Army left for Central Heaven and the southern campaign in January, the barracks had been quiet.

Lin Hansu frowned, feeling uneasy. She quickly called Uncle Zhang to find out what was happening.

Uncle Zhang hurried forward and soon returned.

“Uncle Zhang, what’s going on?”

Facing Lin Hansu’s question, Uncle Zhang’s lips trembled. He wanted to speak but hesitated, finally looking to his wife for help.

Granny Zhang, seeing his hesitation, urged, “Her Highness is asking you a question.”

“Alas!” Uncle Zhang sighed, his eyes reddening. “Your Highness, those people are families of the Xiaoyong Army. They’ve heard… they’ve heard that Great Wu has been defeated, with heavy losses.”

Lin Hansu felt dizzy and looked up at the sky.

The sun seemed to grow larger and brighter until everything went dark.

“Your Highness, don’t worry. It’s just a rumor; the news isn’t confirmed yet. It might be a mistake.”

Uncle Zhang’s last words of comfort went unheard by Lin Hansu.

“Your Highness! Let’s return to the estate and call for a doctor!”

Compared to the growing commotion in Lanyang Prefecture, the Yaoqing nunnery remained peaceful.

After seeing Lin Hansu and her entourage off, Master Yu Zhen went to a secret room at the back.

Her previously hunched figure straightened, and the wrinkles on her face smoothed out, disappearing like creases under an iron.

In an instant, the elderly Daoist nun transformed into a striking woman in her forties.

In the secret room, Master Yu Zhen approached an altar.

On the altar were several figurines. A male figurine had several red strings tied around its waist, each connected to different figurines: one to a female figurine, one to a small fox figurine, and one to a figurine dressed as a young Daoist nun.

Master Yu Zhen’s gaze lingered on the small fox figurine for a moment before taking a soft cloth to carefully wipe each figurine.

As she moved the figurines, she revealed characters written in cinnabar on their backs.

On the male figurine’s back: Jia Yin, Bing Yin, Bing Wu, Yi Hai.

On the female figurine’s back: Wuxu, Wuwu, Bingxu, Gengyin.

“A match made in Heaven,” she murmured.

April 3rd, evening.

In February, the confident army of 100,000 soldiers from Great Wu took twenty days to march from Central Heaven to the border of Southern Zhao.

Ding Suian and his companions took only seven days to return.

Around 7 PM, they entered the western gate of Central Heaven, the Gate of Ten Thousand Victories.

The group parted ways, agreeing to meet again the next day, and went their separate paths.

It was just after dusk, and the buildings on both sides of the street stretched out in a long line, their lights blending together as far as the eye could see.

Ding Suian could feel that the atmosphere in the City was not as joyful as before.

But compared to the bleakness outside Koujian Pass, it still felt like a heavenly realm.

Zhao Yan had never seen so many lights; she was both curious and frightened.

The two rode together on a horse, with Zhao Yan sitting in front. She twisted her waist and leaned to the side, holding onto Ding Suian tightly in an uncomfortable-looking position.

She pressed her small head against his chest, as if trying to hide herself.

Yet, she couldn’t help but curiously look around with her almond-shaped eyes.

Around 9 PM, Ding Suian returned to Chilao Alley.

The alley was dark, as the residents did not have the habit of burning oil for light at night.

Ding Suian did not knock on the door but nimbly climbed over the wall of his courtyard and opened the door from the inside.

“Come in.”

Ding Suian called out, and Zhao Yan cautiously entered, looking around curiously.

Suddenly, she noticed something and quickly hid behind Ding Suian, peeking out with half her head and both eyes.

Ding Suian knew who Zhao Yan had seen.

Turning around, he saw Old Ding standing in the doorway, wearing an outer garment.

It had been several months since they last saw each other, and Old Ding appeared to have lost weight, his beard unkempt.

Clearly, the news of the army’s defeat in Southern Zhao had taken a toll on him.

“Father.”

Ding Suian called out softly.

Old Ding seemed to have much to say but, noticing Zhao Yan behind Ding Suian, looked at his son questioningly.

“Zhao Yan, greet him.”

Ding Suian turned to Zhao Yan, who looked at him, then at Old Ding, hesitating before obediently saying, “Greetings.”

“Not ‘greetings.’ You should call him ‘Father.'”

“Father.”

Zhao Yan, not fully understanding, mimicked Ding Suian’s words.

Old Ding looked at her, speechless.

Ding Suian also fell silent.

Thank you to: Shangguan Mishui, Zongtao Jushi, for their support~