At this point, Lady Yuan looked around, instructing all the servant girls in the private room to leave, before lowering her voice to speak.

"There’s another matter."

"I believe this Daoist has remarkable skills, so I introduced him to my sister-in-law."

"My sister-in-law’s family, the Wang Family, lost their daughter a month ago. You’ve met the child; she is quite extraordinary."

Mrs. Yang was shocked: "The Wang Family lost a daughter?"

She hadn’t heard of it.

Understandably so.

Though the Wang Family is not a prominent clan, they do have some repute.

When a family loses a daughter, it concerns the family’s reputation and the girl’s honor, so they naturally keep it tightly under wraps.

Lady Yuan nodded: "Originally, it was just a desperate attempt. But guess what? She was indeed found. A house full of children abducted from various places."

"Such a matter cannot be handled by the Astronomical Bureau."

The Yuan Family had a falling out with the Astronomical Bureau, so she seized the chance to insult them.

"I thought they were capable, but they just take the court’s salary and are utterly useless. How could they compare to Daoist Bao Pu?"

Mrs. Yang could no longer sit still.

Having just returned to the Capital City, although the servants had cleaned up, some rooms hadn’t been occupied for a long time and felt lifeless.

She had originally intended for Bao Pu to check the feng shui.

But it kept being delayed.

Later, she had some free time, but her husband had already asked someone from the Astronomical Bureau to look at it, claiming the Yang Family’s feng shui was already excellent.

She lost interest in pursuing the matter.

Was the feng shui really good?

The past few days, it felt as if her home was cursed.

Mrs. Yang stood up to take her leave.

"Where are you going?"

"To invite Daoist Bao Pu to check the feng shui at home."

Mrs. Yang: "But he’s hard to invite, and I’m not sure if..."

"That’s easy, just lower yourself a bit and prepare enough money."

Lady Yuan: "If these lofty people were really indifferent to wealth, they would have long disappeared into the city. In this aspect, they are all worldly."

Mrs. Yang laughed upon hearing this.

Bao Pu had been patiently waiting for a fish to bite.

But he hadn’t waited for Mrs. Yang; Yao Ru found him first.

Bao Pu didn’t recognize her.

But he recognized money.

Yao Ru didn’t say much, just threw two bags of money in front of him.

She pushed the first one his way: "These are for you, Daoist, to perform last rites for the departed, so they may have eternal joy in their next life."

Then she pushed the second portion.

"This..."

She handed over a piece of paper with a birth date: "Can you help me see if he is doing well now?"

Bao Pu took it.

Raised an eyebrow.

An acquaintance.

The one who clutched money tight.

Currently supposed to be doing hard labor in Lingnan.

He vaguely guessed Yao Ru’s identity.

Bao Pu truthfully said: "The body is already under great strain, afraid it’s not too satisfactory."

After leaving City Lane, Yao Ru’s face didn’t look right as the carriage headed straight to Changdu Temple.

Little did she know that less than half an incense stick after she left, Ying Fuyan’s Hidden Guard came and took the money away.

The Hidden Guard also advised: "Hard work, remember to deliver the last rites."

Bao Pu: ???

Shameless, really?!!

However, he couldn’t be bothered to argue.

After all, the last time they met, Ying Fuyan gave him a map to choose a site to build a new Xuanzhen Temple on the outskirts of the Capital City!

Ying Fuyan even announced.

The cost of building the temple would come from Emperor Qian’s private treasury.

Although it wasn’t Ying Fuyan’s money pouch.

But as long as the funds were in place, Bao Pu was quite satisfied.

He watched the Hidden Guard leave, sighing.

It’s just unfortunate in this world.

There are too many fools.

He glanced up at the sky, as clear as polished jade.

This Shangjing seemed all peaceful, yet beneath the surface, it was like water about to boil over, waiting for a chance to surge with waves and turmoil.

————

The flower arranging task frustrated Yu Tingwan greatly.

She secretly worked hard and tried, yet the finished product was simply unsightly.

Because of this, the past few days, Yu Tingwan had been looking for handcraft activities.

She tried origami.

Tan Jiang could fold rabbits and monkeys. Though she followed the steps, hers looked nothing like them. But when Yu Tingwan folded gold ingots for the departed, her hands were exceptionally skilled, and the chubby gold ingots turned out well.

Lately, she had become enamored with crafting clay figures.

Yu Tingwan hadn’t received news about Shen Zhiyi entering the palace.

She wasn’t in a rush; she went out to buy some snacks again in her free time.

The little teahouse wasn’t much to look at, but the sweet scent of milk and the rich taste of the snacks were surprisingly good.

When Yu Tingwan was paying, she casually said to the shopkeeper, "This street doesn’t have many passers-by. I noticed the teahouse business is quiet. Why not specifically focus on selling snacks?"

The shopkeeper, upon taking the money, froze slightly, moving a bit unnaturally: "The owner hasn’t given any instructions... It’s not up to me to decide."

Initially, Yu Tingwan didn’t think much of it and prepared to leave.

But after a few steps, she thought of something and turned back to see the shopkeeper sighing with relief and wiping his sweat.

Yu Tingwan narrowed her eyes.

The sense of oddity deepened.

Even if it’s just a teahouse, with excellent wine, it wouldn’t matter if it was tucked away. With these snacks, there should still be more customers.

She made her way out.

Once out of the teahouse, she instructed Tan Jiang: "Investigate."

Tan Jiang: "Yes."

Back at the Wei Family, Yu Tingwan leisurely lounged on a pure gold rocking chair, basking in the sunlight.

A few days ago, the Fifth Prince Ying Yin received the imperial decree to bring over some rare medicinal herbs. Who could blame him when Wei Zhao complained about poverty in the Yangxin Hall? Even if Emperor Qian was angry, he was adept at maintaining appearances.

When Ying Yin came, he brought Ying Fuyan with him.

At that time, Ying Fuyan’s eyes lit up when he saw her golden rocking chair.

Yu Tingwan still remembers him, as a grown man, promptly turning to Ying Yin for the same request.

——"Master, I want that chair too."

However, as far as she knew, Ying Fuyan lay on the golden rocking chair for a while, found it too hard, and when the gold price increased again, sold it off.

He even thanked Ying Yin and invited him for a cup of tea.

Yes.

Just a cup of tea.

And the tea leaves were those Ying Yin had previously sent over.

Ying Yin had no objection; Ying Fuyan used his skills as an adviser to firmly grasp Ying Yin’s heart!

Good thing Ying Fuyan was a man. Had he been a woman, Ying Yin would be utterly smitten.

Yu Tingwan was drowsy, having already eaten most of the snacks in her hands.

Until a figure hovered in front of her.

Wei Zhao had just come from the ancestral hall, intending to carry her inside to sleep, but before he could touch her, the girl woke up.

Wei Zhao decided to lie down too.

The rocking chair barely fit them both, so he let Yu Tingwan rest on his chest.

Gentle kisses fell, their lips and teeth touching, with a faint taste of milk. The girl, still in a daze, was obedient, letting him take what he wanted, the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye resembling crushed begonia dyed in blush.

Wei Zhao gently caressed her back, letting her catch her breath: "Ten days from now, there will be a night market in Shangjing City, quite lively. I’ll take you for a walk then."

The night market sold masks. When out, he wouldn’t need to use a wheelchair.

At that time, creating some events would be fun.

Yu Tingwan was preoccupied with reaching behind the rocking chair, half-listening to him, absent-mindedly responding.

She handed the clay figure she’d shaped to Wei Zhao.

Now more awake, with eyes sparkling, she told him.

"This is you, does it look alike?"

Wei Zhao:...

This time, he was silent for quite a while!

"This... is actually a person?"

Yu Tingwan: ???

"The Jade Crown on your head is so similar to it!"

She really put a lot of effort into that Jade Crown!

Wei Zhao couldn’t see it.

But he remembered last time he said something wrong about her flower arrangement, and Yu Tingwan moved the entire table away and discarded it.

Wei Zhao felt quite regretful.

So, this time, he had a very good attitude.

Humbly seeking guidance.

"What’s this?"

Yu Tingwan found a comfortable position, continuing to lean on him: "Your legs."

She showed him.

"Two of them, isn’t that obvious?"

Wei Zhao: "Why are they so thick?"

They’re even thicker than the body.

Yu Tingwan’s patience had been nurtured by him, her face expressionless: "Oh."

She gave him a death stare: "Are you jealous?"

Wei Zhao: ?

"Don’t use foul language."