Chapter 82

The days passed slowly and leisurely for half a month. With Auntie Lan’s company, Yu Qingniang’s mood improved significantly, and Su Mi temporarily set aside her worries. However, when Auntie Lan mentioned the incident on the street that day, Su Mi secretly went to Qingzhou to investigate Liu Wenpo’s whereabouts without Yu Qingniang’s knowledge.

“Miss, the letter I received stated that the neighbors don’t remember the events from over a decade ago clearly, but it seems that no infants were brought back,” Auntie Lan informed her.

“Alright, I understand,” Su Mi replied.

Speaking of it, Su Mi wanted to investigate further based on her instincts. After all, if Aunt Zhao had really done such a thing for Su Qi to inherit the family business, she, like Auntie Lan, couldn’t believe Aunt Zhao would spare her brother’s life.

But because it involved her own close relatives, Su Mi always wanted to find out the truth, or even just have a little hope.

She had asked Mrs.Yu before. Shortly after Mrs.Yu gave birth to her, Liu Wenpo left Jiangling City and returned with her family to their hometown in Qingzhou.

Therefore, Su Mi believed that if her brother hadn’t died, Liu Wenpo, wanting to find someone to adopt, wouldn’t have dared to stay in Jiangling City and would certainly have returned to her familiar hometown. As for other places along the way, how would Liu Wenpo know where to find the black market for such transactions?

“Miss, don’t worry. This must be fabricated by Aunt Zhao to exploit Madam’s weakness. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have the audacity to expose her evil deeds like this,” Chun Mei reassured her.

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On the evening of the sixth day of the second lunar month, with the permission of his employer, shopkeeper Li closed the bookstore and set off for Ban Shan Temple on the outskirts of the capital with his prepared belongings.

This time, shopkeeper Li took a five-day leave. Firstly, it was to get a lucky talisman for Yujue, and secondly, the imperial examination was divided into three parts, each lasting three days. The first part would start on the ninth day of the month. Aunt Jian is getting older and couldn’t accompany Yujue, so shopkeeper Li decided to take on this task. At least for the first part, he wanted to boost Yujue’s morale outside.

Ban Shan Temple is located on a mountainside on the southeastern outskirts of the capital city. The most famous rumor about it is that a scholar once obtained a lucky talisman here and later passed the imperial examination. As the examination approached, families with candidates had the same intention as shopkeeper Li. Even though the mountain road was difficult, the temple remained bustling with incense for the past few months.

The crowd was crowded, and shopkeeper Li finally managed to get the lucky talisman and also drew a divination stick for Jian Yujue. It turned out to be a very auspicious one. He happily jogged all the way to the altar of the temple, but when he looked around, there was no one.

“Master, the temple keeper isn’t here. Could you please interpret the divination stick for me?” Shopkeeper Li respectfully asked a young monk passing by. He thought that people in this temple would understand divination texts, which is why he asked the monk.

The monk was young but looked ethereal and spiritual. He took a look at the divination stick and said, “Hmm, it’s a good divination stick, but it’s a bit convoluted.”

Shopkeeper Li was surprised to hear that and worried that something might be wrong. “Master, where is it convoluted? Does it have a significant impact?”

The monk chuckled and said, “My friend, if there were a significant impact, how could it still be an auspicious divination stick? Besides, didn’t you already get a lucky talisman? Let the young master carry it, and it will naturally turn misfortune into fortune.”

After saying that, the monk turned and left. Shopkeeper Li stood there for a while, thinking it actually sounded like a good divination stick. However, he decided not to tell Yujue about it so as not to affect his state of mind.

…

Having set off for the outskirts of the capital city in the evening, by the time he left Ban Shan Temple, it was already dark. Therefore, shopkeeper Li stayed overnight at the foot of the mountain and only hailed a mule cart the next day, heading directly to the Imperial College. It was past noon when he arrived at Ji Xian Men.

Ji Xian Men was the main gate of the Imperial College in the capital. Beneath the yellow glazed tiles were lacquered columns. After several decades, shopkeeper Li still felt excited when he saw it.

But today, he came to find Yujue. Shopkeeper Li dismissed irrelevant thoughts, held the silk bag containing the lucky talisman tightly in his hand, and leaned against the wall, waiting in the corridor.

Someone passing by outside the gate shouted, “Jian Yujue, there’s someone looking for you at the gate of Ji Xian Men.”

Hearing the voice, Yujue had some guesses in his mind. He finished glancing at the page of the book he was reading and then put it down. Sure enough, when he walked out, he saw shopkeeper Li smiling and standing there with his hands behind his back.

“Uncle Li.”

“Ah.” Shopkeeper Li didn’t want to waste time. He directly stuffed the silk bag into Yujue’s hand. “I got this from Ban Shan Temple. You must bring it with you during the examination.”

Yujue furrowed his brows slightly and was about to speak, but shopkeeper Li immediately said, “Yujue, don’t doubt it. You’re still young. Just put it in your pocket. Rest assured, you can bring this inside.”

Yujue originally wanted to say that the essence of learning lies in oneself, and these things are not essential. However, the warmth coming from the silk bag in his hand and shopkeeper Li’s thoughtfulness made him reluctant to refuse. “Alright.”

In two days, the first part of the examination would begin. Shopkeeper Li didn’t want to disturb Yujue too much, so after a brief chat, he left.

When Yujue returned to his seat at the Wenzhi pavillion, he didn’t hide the object in his hand. Therefore, anyone who passed by could see it if they paid attention.

Song Chenjiu was one of those who had ill feelings towards Jian Yujue. He had witnessed the incident where Song Chenjiu extorted Shangguan Yan in a small alley, and he resented and envied him. Now that he had finally found an opportunity, he mocked, “So even great talent needs to rely on external forces. In the past, you appeared calm and indifferent, but deep down, you also desired fame and fortune.”

Knowing Jian Yujue’s temperament, he naturally ignored Song Chenjiu and remained unaffected. He simply sat down, flipped to the next page of his book, and continued reading.

The lucky talisman was also left exposed on his desk, quietly and unabashedly. Its red color seemed to emit a warm light that was inexplicably comforting.

Shangguan Yan sat on the other side of the aisle from Jian Yujue. Upon hearing the words, he twirled his folding fan and looked at Song Chenjiu, speaking up, “External forces are just icing on the cake. I’m afraid some people, even with the help of external forces, still can’t reach the door of fame and fortune. That’s quite pitiful, don’t you think so, Mr. Song?”

“Hmph.”

Jian Yu Jue ignored him, and Song Chenjiu didn’t want to engage with Shangguan Yan either. He could only hold his breath. Coincidentally, at this moment, Lu Guanlin entered. Song Chenjiu’s eyes brightened, as if he had found support.

“Master Lu, you’ve come at the right time. Someone specifically obtained a talisman for the upcoming examination.”

Song Chenjiu knew that Lu Guanlin and Jian Yujue were at odds, and it was common for Lu Guanlin to make a few sarcastic remarks. However, to his surprise, Lu Guanlin didn’t even look at Jian Yujue this time. Instead, he reprimanded Song Chenjiu, saying, “What does it have to do with you regarding Mr. Jian’s matters? The preliminary examination is in two days. Don’t disturb him and go study more.”

Song Chenjiu was dumbfounded as Lu Guanlin pulled him out of the Wenzhi pavillion, as if genuinely afraid that Jian Yujue would be affected.

When Jian Yujue heard the words “Mr. Jian,” a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. However, as soon as he looked back at his book, he immediately dismissed any stray thoughts and didn’t dwell on them.

Shangguan Yan watched Lu Guanlin’s departing figure. He had previously thought that as the examination approached, Lu Guanlin wouldn’t have time to pick on Jian Yujue. But now it seemed that Lu Guanlin’s attitude was clearly protective of Jian Yujue, which was quite strange.

He didn’t believe that Lu Guanlin had such good intentions. But what could be the reason behind it?

Shangguan Yan closed his folding fan, his eyes flickering. Perhaps he should send someone to investigate…