The old man was desperate.

"Daoist priest, please help me."

His hands were full of calluses and cracks, and he looked particularly sorrowful and worn.

"My wife passed early, and I raised my son alone. I saw him marry and have children, and life seemed to get better, but then he had an accident while doing business at sea, the whole ship swallowed by the waves. My daughter-in-law refused to keep widowhood, took the family money, and ran off with her lover. I was left to raise my little grandson alone."

The hardest sickness to cure in this world is poverty.

He had to look after the child and find ways to earn enough for the household’s basic needs.

"After the child was lost, I’ve searched for over ten years, been to many places, walked countless roads. But there was nothing, only pairs upon pairs of worn-out shoes."

"But I’m old now, and I can’t walk for many more years."

As he spoke, he was about to kneel on the ground but was stopped by Bao Pu.

The old man tightly grasped his hand as if clutching the last straw of hope.

"Even if I close my eyes, I would have no face to meet my wife and son down there."

People around began to speak up for him.

"Heavens take pity, Daoist, please help him."

However, someone pursed their lips.

"The child has been missing for so many years, even the officials at the Government Office could do nothing. Not to mention other places, aren’t there many children who go missing in Shangjing every year? No matter how capable the Daoist is, he can’t do what they can’t."

A passerby noticed the scene.

"This Daoist looks young, yet outside they have touted him as almost a demigod. I find it unreliable. Old man, you’d be better off going up the mountain to pray to Buddha."

Many who came because of his fame began to doubt Bao Pu upon witnessing this.

At this moment, a carriage approached along the official road.

It was the hook Bao Pu had been waiting for.

Bao Pu slightly straightened up.

What came into view was the wife of the Minister, Mrs. Yang, alighting with support from others.

A pretty young girl stood by her side, holding her hand.

"Mother, shouldn’t we first return to Shangjing? Since grandfather passed, our whole family has returned home for mourning. I really wish to see old friends. The Crown Prince passed away, and father was summoned by the Holy Emperor to the funeral, so it’s been several months since I’ve seen him."

Mrs. Yang was lavishly adorned in gold and silver, making quite an imposing figure.

She first scolded.

"What could be more important than bowing to Buddha? Even if it weren’t on the way, we must come."

"Once we’re back in Shangjing, you’ll have plenty of time to meet those handkerchief friends of yours."

Mrs. Yang prepared to climb the mountain with a steady gaze, but then she heard Bao Pu’s voice from under the big tree.

Bao Pu remained calm and unhurried.

"I’ve seen your grandson’s eight characters."

"The five elements are imbalanced, the useful god is weak, the opposing gods rampant, the life chart is lifeless."

"Do you know what this means? He’s dead."

"Observing your face, you are destined to be solitary, without brothers, without wife, without heirs."

The old man seemed unable to accept it, his lips trembling violently.

"No... impossible."

Bao Pu replied, "What’s impossible."

Bao Pu calculated with his fingers, "You received a windfall over ten years ago."

He asked, "Are you certain he got lost? Not sold because you couldn’t afford to raise him?"

"Why look for him now? The money ran out, life became unsatisfactory, and now you remember your grandson was good, and want him to support you in your old age?"

The old man ended up fleeing in panic.

Bao Pu glanced at the crowd and arrogantly said, "When you come to me, it’s best not to hide anything. If I want to calculate, I can strip you to your underwear."

Mrs. Yang paused at some point.

"Go find out more."

The maid acknowledged and left,

Quickly returning, whispering by Mrs. Yang’s ear.

Mrs. Yang already believed in such matters, and was slightly taken aback, "Is it truly so accurate?"

"Keep an eye on him, if he’s really capable. We’ll invite him home to look at the feng shui later."

It was at this time that Shen Zhiyi and the others arrived.

A lot of people came to Changdu Temple, and there were quite a few carriages as well.

Nothing particularly unusual.

But Mrs. Yang had sharp eyes and spotted Xiao Huaian riding slowly on horseback beside a carriage.

The maid followed her gaze.

"Ah, that looks like Heir Xiao from the Xiao Family."

Mrs. Yang, ever social, said, "I suppose he’s accompanying his mother to pray. Marchioness Zhongyong is a straightforward person, since we’ve met here by fate, why not go up the mountain together."

Were it not for Xiao Huaian being too much of a playboy, too unreliable.

Mrs. Yang would have considered him for a son-in-law.

Then...

The carriage stopped.

Out came Shen Zhiyi.

Mrs. Yang’s eyes twitched.

"I didn’t know that Heir Xiao was betrothed."

She looked at Shen Zhiyi a few times.

"She looks somewhat familiar, from which family?"

The maid reminded, "Madam, she’s from the Ministry of the Imperial Household, the Shen family."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Yang lost interest.

"The Marquis Zhongyong Mansion is a prestigious family, the Shen family is quite the climb."

Miss Yang followed with disdain, "I wondered who it was."

"Xiao Huaian is a wastrel, no family of equal standing would marry their daughter to him."

"Shen Zhiyi is the most pretentious, her actions are also irritating. She’s a perfect match for Xiao Huaian."

Mrs. Yang did not find these words inappropriate, but she still said,

"Alright, it’s not good to gossip in front of Buddha. Let’s go, up the mountain."

As soon as these words fell, Xiao Huaian seemed to notice their gaze and looked up, meeting their eyes.

Seeing this, Mrs. Yang was about to put on a dignified elder’s smile.

According to etiquette, Xiao Huaian should come over and exchange pleasantries with her.

In the next moment.

Xiao Huaian averted his gaze, not taking her seriously at all.

Mrs. Yang’s expression turned a bit unpleasant.

She increasingly felt that Xiao Huaian was spoiled beyond redemption.

She turned her head away with a cold face to climb the mountain.

But she didn’t forget to remind,

"When we return to Shangjing, you should spend more time in front of the General’s wife. If we make good connections with her, our Yang family can establish ties with the Grand Tutor Mansion and Duke Shun Mansion."

Miss Yang readily agreed, feeling vindicated, "That Gu Wu, every time I held her in high regard, she always treated me coldly. Turns out she’s a fraud."

"These days, she might be hiding at home crying every day."

She even didn’t take it seriously, "That Gu family’s real daughter from the countryside, if I willingly mingle with her, just a few kind words would turn her head."

"Can she be harder to deal with than Gu Wu?"

Shen Zhiyi wasn’t paying attention over there.

She went straight to Bao Pu.

"Daoist, I want a peach blossom reading."

Bao Pu: "No reading."

He had already done three.

He was about to pack up.

Shen Zhiyi tossed out a gold ingot.

Kidding me? Bao Pu didn’t even blink.

He’s working for Wei Zhao now! He doesn’t lack money!

Shen Zhiyi tossed out another gold ingot.

No one knew who she was speaking to,

"It’s like this, Daoist. I have very high standards for my future husband."

"Although I don’t have any special skills myself, I just have ridiculously high standards."

"I want someone handsome, with good character, steady and reliable, diligent and ambitious, who can compose a poem in seven steps, and can protect me. If he could one day rise to a high official rank, that would be even better."

She thought. How demanding.

There isn’t a single Xiao Huaian who fits the bill.

Hopefully, he would give up and find someone else to bother.

Xiao Huaian, who had just walked over, raised an eyebrow.

Isn’t she describing him?

Bao Pu: ...

He was just about to say no reading.

Then he saw Xiao Huaian.

Bao Pu had already met him under Wei Zhao’s arrangements.

Xiao Huaian didn’t have any other motive, really not wanting the young lady to have come for nothing: "Daoist, why don’t you help her with a reading."

Bao Pu: "Alright, seeing as you’re fated, this poor Daoist will make an exception."

He asked for Shen Zhiyi’s birth date.

Honestly speaking,

"Miss, your peach blossom is already on its way."

Shen Zhiyi was delighted, "Really?"

"This poor Daoist never lies."

Bao Pu calculated with his fingers.

Oh, he also knew Xiao Huaian’s birth date.

Bao Pu’s brow twitched, his tone became rather excited.

Honestly speaking,

"Miss, your destined one is far away but right in front of you!"

Xiao Huaian was slightly taken aback, then he laughed, his mood really brightened up.

Shen Zhiyi: ???

She felt a bit off.

Especially seeing Bao Pu winking at Xiao Huaian.

Afraid he had been bribed long ago.

Shen Zhiyi slowly stood up.

She played dumb, "Where?"

She looked around.

Well, there were men, but they were either too old or too young.

Seldom did she see a few of similar age, but they were all dressed in coarse linen clothes, unremarkable in appearance.

Xiao Huaian cleared his throat, "I..."

Shen Zhiyi seemed to be in thought, "I see."

Right under Xiao Huaian’s nose, she grabbed the collar of the handsome Bao Pu.

"You, huh."