At this moment, the National Master was no longer counting on his fingers; instead, he had switched to divining by casting copper coins.
He couldnât shake off a feeling of unrest today, unsure if it signified impending misfortune for Great Han, or for himself!
He reached up to rub his right eyelid, which was twitching nonstop.
Feeling agitated, he cast down three copper coins. The resulting hexagram was peculiarâdeath followed by life!
Whose fate does this represent?
At this, the National Master finally relaxed. Judging from the hexagram, it seemed Great Han was not in peril.
As long as Great Han was safe, then in his view, everything was fine.
But why wouldnât his eyelid stop twitching?
As the National Master was mulling this over, someone knocked on his door.
He gathered the copper coins and sat up straight. "Come in!"
Magistrate Wu stumbled into the room, trembling, and immediately knelt before the National Master. "Venerable National Master! National Master, save me!"
The National Master raised an eyebrow.
Could the hexagram just now have referred to this muddle-headed County Magistrate? But looking at his physiognomy, this man wasnât facing a major life-or-death crisis!
As the National Master was thinking this, he heard Magistrate Wu say, "I beg you, National Master, to save Little Lucky Starâs mother!"
The National Masterâs eyelid twitched again.
Save Little Lucky Starâs mother... the hexagram from before...?
While the National Master was speaking with Magistrate Wu inside the room, neither of them noticed that a person, previously unconscious, was now walking into the National Masterâs residence and had suddenly stopped!
"Little Lucky Starâs mother? What happened? Speak quickly!"
Magistrate Wu kowtowed, his head hitting the ground. "It was the Princess! Little Lucky Starâs mother offended her, and then the Princess dug a pit next to the toilet in the backyard and buried her alive!"
"What did you say?"
The National Masterâs heart lurched.
The Princess whom His Majesty had just ennobledâso murderous?
He had seen that child from a distance a few times. He actually couldnât discern her physiognomy. He had tried several times to get a clear look, but perhaps the scar on her face affected his ability, so he couldnât see it clearly at all.
"Your Excellency," Magistrate Wu stammered, "Little Lucky Starâs mother just bumped into the Princess, and the Princess buried her alive for it! National Master, this person... should we save her or not?"
Just as the National Master was about to speak, he suddenly sensed something. He looked up towards the doorway and saw a small figure frantically rushing outside.
The National Master sighed.
So the hexagram from earlier was indeed about his future little disciple and her mother.
He rose and followed Magistrate Wu to the backyard.
The stench here was truly indescribable. A life was at stake! That Princess was too willful and reckless. She had actually killed someoneâdid His Majesty know? After they rescued the woman, he would definitely go to His Majesty and have a serious talk. For a young girl to be so murderous at such a tender age was no blessing for Great Han!
He recalled the title he had bestowed upon her: Chang Rongshun. It was intended not only for Great Hanâs prosperity and for events to proceed smoothly, but also to imply she should be gentle and obedient, right?
The National Master was thinking this as he saw Magistrate Wu arrive with several bailiffs to rescue the woman.
When Zhao Chunxiang was finally dug out, everyone gasped.
This woman hadnât been buried alive for long. It was uncertain if she still had any Qi left, but they all knew very well that when the Princess buried her, her eyes were fine. Yet now that she was dug out, both her eyes were gushing blood.
Her eyeballs were gone.
"Mother..."
Li Yanyan cradled Zhao Chunxiangâs body, her cries heart-wrenching.
"Mother, wake up! Whatâs wrong? Mother, what happened to your eyes? Mother..."
Staring at her motherâs eyes, Li Yanyan was frantic, so distraught she didnât even know if her hands could touch Zhao Chunxiangâs face.