Old Madam Cui had always cherished Song Chuyi, treasuring her like her own eyeball, fearing she couldn’t give her the very best. She even dug out accumulated treasures of many years like green jade and other valuables. Because she feared Song Chuyi would be sad, she didn’t speak words like “there won’t be opportunities in the future,” but instead patted her hand consolingly. “When the time comes for your wedding, Grandmother will surely come to add to your dowry.”

These days she had observed coldly and knew that the Second Young Master Ye whom Old Madam Song had mentioned in her letter had no chance with Song Chuyi. On the contrary, it was His Highness the Grand Prince—at Yangquan he had risked his life to save her, and the two were so compatible. She vaguely discerned some clues. In her view, though Cui Hualuan’s character was decent and she could be considered well-bred, compared to Song Chuyi she truly fell somewhat short. Not short in status or position, nor short in terms of incompatibility, but short in not having as good a relationship with the Grand Prince.

Old Madam Cui felt there was nothing worth being sad about. There were so many fine young men in the world—if this one didn’t work out, there would be another. Why hang oneself on one tree? Moreover, why must marriage be determined by status? If one spoke that way, wouldn’t no one be worthy of these dragon sons and phoenix descendants? She wrote a letter to send to the capital, stating clearly to Old Madam Song—whatever Song Chuyi wanted would entirely depend on her own wishes. If she liked the Grand Prince, then taking risks didn’t matter. Fortune and honor were sought amid danger anyway. The Cui family’s previous thoughts were merely the same as Old Madam Song’s concerns—fearing that Song Chuyi would never have peaceful days after entering the imperial family. But if she had thought it through herself, naturally things should proceed as they should.

Old Madam Song’s reply arrived exactly one day before Old Madam Cui took Song Chuyi to visit Taixu Temple. When Old Madam Cui opened it and looked, her face showed some complexity—Her Majesty the Empress had actually revealed her intentions, already finding Song Chuyi quite suitable. This showed that what Madam Cui said about having long had an understanding with Her Majesty the Empress was baseless nonsense.

Princess Duanhui had been clever all her life, yet made mistakes regarding her children’s marriages. Without considering her daughter’s wishes, from childhood she had determined her daughter should marry the Grand Prince. This led to her granddaughter also becoming somewhat obsessive now. Old Madam Cui couldn’t help but feel a headache thinking of this matter. She least wanted to see discord arise between her granddaughter and great-granddaughter, especially over this matter. As Madam Qin said, those who didn’t know might think all the men in the world had died out, that they must fight to the death over one Grand Prince, sisters becoming enemies. Could there really be no other good men in this world?

She suppressed these worries. In any case, worrying about these matters was useless. She took Cui Hualuan and Song Chuyi together to Taixu Temple.

The Three Pure Ones Hall of Taixu Temple enshrined the statues of the Three Pure Ones. All eight round columns of the great hall bore couplets. Incense and candles burned on the platform. After Song Chuyi and Cui Hualuan followed Old Madam Cui in worship, they went to rest in the side rooms behind.

Master Taibai ordinarily did not receive guests. He had always been renowned for his eccentric temperament. Old Madam Cui had already prepared for a long wait. Who knew that after not much time at all, a young Daoist priest wearing an oversized robe and with his hair in the style of a child appeared, inviting their party to go to Master Taibai’s location.

Pine wind soughed through the corridors. Occasionally squirrels scampered up and down climbing among the treetops. Even Cui Hualuan’s heart calmed somewhat from this bit of mountain coolness. When the group had walked halfway, they suddenly encountered an old man past fifty with a grizzled beard, wearing a white Daoist robe. Old Madam Cui reacted in time, promptly looking back at everyone, first suppressing everyone’s surprise, before gently and respectfully calling the old man before them “Master.”

Though Master Taibai’s hair and beard were completely white, his pair of eyes was extremely bright. He responded faintly and looked behind Old Madam Cui. When his gaze touched upon Song Chuyi, his brow furrowed.

Song Chuyi was also calmly observing him. They all said Master Taibai possessed an immortal bearing and transcendent manner, and truly his reputation was well deserved. The Five Elders Crown on his head gathered up all his hair, leaving only two long eyebrows drooping down to mix with his beard.

“No mistake in judgment—this is the fate of the Heavenly Calamity Lone Star.” He looked at the top of Song Chuyi’s head, then placed his gaze on Old Madam Cui. “And indeed it portends bloody disaster.”

Before Song Chuyi came to Jinzhong, Cui Hualuan had heard her grandmother mention the matter of the great master from Huangjue Temple reading Song Chuyi’s fortune. Hearing it again now she was equally surprised, involuntarily turning to look at Song Chuyi.

Song Chuyi still showed little reaction, with no expression of alarm on her face, standing behind Old Madam Cui as immovable as a mountain.

Old Madam Cui’s face paled somewhat. After a moment she asked, “Might we request Master to erect an altar and perform a Great Peace Offering to dispel disaster and avert calamity?”

Master Taibai stepped back slightly, revealing his green cloth round-toed shoes, and shook his head expressionlessly. “The fasting and offering ceremonies of our Complete Reality sect are far inferior to those of the Celestial Masters sect. Why does Old Madam forsake what is near to seek what is far?”

Cui Hualuan then turned to look at Song Chuyi—Longhu Mountain was the representative of the Celestial Masters sect, and His Highness the Grand Prince had spent seven or eight years at Longhu Mountain. Now that Master Taibai said these words, had the Grand Prince said something before him?

Old Madam Cui’s voice even trembled slightly. Master Taibai had always held a revered position in the Jin region, and what he said had never failed to come true. Since he said this, Old Madam Cui firmly believed Song Chuyi’s disaster must be imminent. Both shocked and frightened, she repeatedly requested the Master to erect an altar and perform a ceremony to dispel disaster and avert misfortune for her.

Master Taibai glanced at Song Chuyi without responding to Old Madam Cui’s words, asking her, “Since you differ from others, you should know that Heaven has already treated you kindly. You really shouldn’t demand more.”

Song Chuyi understood this principle very well. That she could live again already counted as Heaven’s kind grace. To demand even more, Heaven itself might not tolerate her. She nodded quietly, with no particular expression on her face, gently consoling Old Madam Cui, “Grandmother, I’ve always believed matters depend on human effort. Previously Yuan Kong and Yuan Jue both said my bloody disaster was imminent, yet I still avoided it both times. This shows my fate is mine to control, not Heaven’s.”

Master Taibai suddenly smiled, his face full of wrinkles appearing. He nodded at Song Chuyi, “You, little lady, are rather interesting—you see things clearly.”

Song Chuyi respectfully bowed her head, full of sincerity without being perfunctory. “Just as Master said, Heaven has already treated me kindly. In all things one should know contentment. Having the opportunity to live again, this young woman is already very content and absolutely dares not crave more.”

Even if there truly were disasters, one should walk one’s own path and solve them oneself. Otherwise, how could Heaven manage to attend to everything?

Master Taibai nodded cheerfully, completely different from his previous cold demeanor. He stroked his long beard. “With such insight, Heaven has not been blind after all. From now on, conduct yourself well. The path is always walked by oneself.”