The appearance of this hexagram was like cold water dropping into boiling oil, instantly stirring up tremendous waves in the hall.

That unknown young girl climbed onto the lotus seat to wipe tears from Guanyin, had her money pouch caught by the pure vase causing golden coins to fall, and formed a hexagram on the incense table – this scene was witnessed by nearly a thousand people in the hall and absolutely could not be faked. She had not participated in the initial selection for Guanyin servant, nor had she kowtowed and consulted Buddha with the others, yet under such coincidental circumstances she threw the sacred hexagram.

As if by heaven’s will – Guanyin had personally selected this year’s Guanyin servant.

Everyone saw her beautiful appearance, standing on the lotus platform, bearing some resemblance to the Guanyin statue beside her – truly an unquestionably suitable choice. The other candidates all showed regret and disappointment. Mi Falan had failed for three consecutive years and was now disheartened, tears welling in his eyes as he confessed to Yao Jiangthen: “Big sister, I drank wine last night and broke my vows, but the customer forced me to drink.”

Yao Jiangthen’s eyes reddened as she held him in her arms for comfort: “That wasn’t your fault. The Bodhisattva won’t blame you – we’re all at the mercy of circumstances…”

Since this woman was not selected according to established custom but had jumped out midway, Master Duanchen was half-believing and half-doubting. Frowning, she said to Cao Hong in a low voice: “Could she have used martial arts to deliberately throw that hexagram?”

Cao Hong watched the Blue-robed Guest help her down from the lotus platform, looking thoughtful as he said gravely: “What methods were used doesn’t matter – the result is already decided.”

Never expecting this year’s Guanyin servant to be chosen in such a fortuitously coincidental manner, Shen Dexian knew this could be greatly exploited. With exaggerated gestures he prostrated himself in worship, loudly proclaiming: “Golden sacred hexagram, responding to heaven’s mandate – we respectfully welcome the descent of Guanyin Bodhisattva!”

The devout faithful in the hall were stirred by his example and also prostrated themselves. Once the Guanyin servant was chosen, during the city procession she would be the Bodhisattva’s incarnation in the human world. Guild members brought out the lotus crown, brocade celestial robes, jade pure vase and other items that had been prepared long ago, placing them on red silk-covered trays and respectfully presenting them.

Baozhu hadn’t expected her momentary impulse to trigger such consequences and was stunned. Wei Xun picked up the gold coins from the incense table and returned them to her, thinking that he had been guarding beside her the whole time fearing she might slip, but hadn’t been able to leap up and catch the gold coins from the air, resulting in this public display of the hexagram – which was indeed somewhat troublesome.

He asked: “What do you think? If you’re unwilling to accept, we can just leave and no one will catch us.”

Baozhu didn’t answer. Seeing the faithful kneeling throughout the great hall and several people beside her holding jewelry and clothing with both hands, a strange excitement surged in her heart. Since wandering the jianghu, how long had it been since she’d seen such a scene of reverence and admiration? This had once been her daily life…

She steadied herself, trying hard to cast aside past memories, and walked to the tray to pick up the pure vase. From the porcelain quality, it was just an ordinary white ceramic product from common workshops. Looking inside, she found it completely empty.

Seeing her actions, Shen Dexian explained: “The vase will only be filled with water before mounting the treasure cart for the city procession.”

Baozhu asked: “Then the Guanyin servant will use willow branches dipped in water from the pure vase to bestow blessings on the crowd? Where does this sweet dew come from?”

Shen Dexian said: “That will be the moment when the Bodhisattva displays miracles. No matter whether the vase contains well water, river water, or rainwater, in Guanyin’s hands it will transform into sweet dew that heals all beings.”

He smiled and said: “This humble person is dull-witted. Yesterday at Jinbo Pavilion upon first meeting, I vaguely felt you looked familiar. Now standing before the Buddhist statue, I realize you resemble the Bodhisattva – such blessed appearance, isn’t this heaven’s will?”

Baozhu held the empty vase and played with it for a moment, thinking to herself that as the biological child of the Empress Mother, raised at her side, though far inferior to her brother, having two or three parts resemblance in appearance and bearing wasn’t strange.

Hearing her tone and attitude, Wei Xun sensed she was tempted and smiled: “It seems you still can’t forget about the lotus crown.”

Baozhu looked back at the other candidates, especially the utterly dejected Mi Falan, feeling somewhat conflicted. Yao Jiangthen patted his shoulder in comfort, her beautiful eyes gazing deeply at Baozhu with a complex expression – unclear whether it was sorrow or resentment. Perhaps not daring to offend the customers who came to feast at Jinbo Pavilion, she ultimately said nothing.

Baozhu’s gaze moved to Wei Xun’s pale face, recalling her purpose for coming to Changqiu Temple, and her resolve firmed once again. She beckoned to Shisan Lang, had the two senior and junior brothers take the jewelry and clothing for portraying Guanyin, then said to the City Patrol Guild people: “I’m staying temporarily at Cihui Ward. Send someone to follow and learn the location, set a time, and come fetch me on the day of the procession.”

After speaking, she raised her head and departed with composure. The crowded masses actually made way for her. Cao Hong, Master Duanchen and others recalled the absurd rumor about that Blue-robed Guest leading a donkey for someone. Seeing this young woman’s bearing today, she truly seemed like a sect leader, making it feel reasonable and proper.

Yang Xingjian followed along. Baozhu asked him curiously: “Why did you join the crowd in prostrating just now?”

Yang Xingjian’s old face reddened as he said: “Following the crowd…” But in his heart he thought that having falsely claimed to be a princess’s father along the way, not knowing how much lifespan he’d lost, finding an opportunity to kowtow to her once might recover some years.

He then reminded her in a low voice in his capacity as advisor: “Given the previous incident with Dou Jingzhi, someone might recognize your appearance…”

Baozhu said: “I’ve already thought of that. That female knight I met in Jade City knew disguise techniques – I learned a few things from her. Wanting to use makeup to resemble someone is very difficult and requires years of practice. But making yourself not resemble yourself is quite easy.”

Yang Xingjian said with feeling: “I wonder if she can successfully deliver the fish-scale letter. When your brother receives the news, he’ll surely be greatly encouraged.”

Hearing this, Wei Xun couldn’t help but snicker, thinking it was fortunate he’d driven that troublesome fellow off to Youzhou to plague others. Otherwise, clinging and refusing to leave, that broken mouth alone would be infuriating.

After spending half the day squeezed in Changqiu Temple, mouth dry and tongue parched, Baozhu sighed and recalled the richly ingredient Moon-Gazing Soup from the palace, loudly complaining to Shisan Lang: “It’s all your fault for asking this and that, stirring up my cravings – I really want to eat cherries!”

Shisan Lang was also hungry and sighed along: “If it were spring and we were willing to spend money, we could buy cherry cakes in the markets. But where can we find them now!”

The group had their evening meal outside. Along the way they smelled the sweet fragrance of osmanthus – the city’s osmanthus flowers had begun blooming. In just two or three short days, what had originally been ancient temple specialties offered to nobles had become fresh flowers any woman in Luoyang could wear.

Returning to the residence in Cihui Ward, Baozhu tried on the Guanyin servant’s clothing and ornaments. The crown, necklaces, arm rings and other jewelry seemed to gleam with precious light but were actually vulgar gilt copper items, incomparable to the valuable jewels she’d once possessed. But rarely having the chance to dress up magnificently, she still felt joyful and excited.

After finishing her attire, she walked gracefully down from the second-floor bedroom. The brocade celestial robes differed from ordinary men’s and women’s clothing – the kasaya draped diagonally over the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder bare, exposing her round, full arm. The sash flowed elegantly, the long skirt trailed on the ground, and the lotus crown sat atop her high coiffure, making her appear solemn as a deity.

This outfit was like an image stepped out from Buddhist temple murals. Shisan Lang was startled and sprang up from his stool, pressing his palms together and respectfully calling out: “Bodhisattva!”

Yang Xingjian was even more eloquent, showering praise: “Princess, your wondrous appearance is dignified, with elegant bones and full flesh – truly ‘bright as the morning sun rising through rosy clouds, radiant as lotus emerging from the Luo River!’ Besides you, what other person in Luoyang would be qualified to stand on the treasure cart for the procession?”

The two of them praised her endlessly with their back-and-forth compliments. Only Wei Xun remained silent, as if under a silencing spell, staring blankly with glazed eyes. He heard neither Yang Xingjian’s nor Shisan Lang’s voices, seeing only a bright moon slowly descending from heaven with radiance, his soul completely captured.

It wasn’t until Baozhu walked before him and asked with a smile: “Have you gone mute?”

Wei Xun stammered bashfully, ultimately unable to think of a proper sentence to praise her. After hesitating for a moment, seeing her clutching a copper arm ring without wearing it, he quickly asked: “Don’t you like this?”

Baozhu showed a hint of grievance and disappointment, pouting as she sighed: “The food on the road wasn’t good – my arms aren’t as plump as before, so it would slide down if I wore it.”

Wei Xun took the arm ring from her hand, grasped her wrist, slipped the copper ring on, and slowly pushed it up to her round upper arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. The arm ring was pinched by his strong fingers into an oval shape, thus fitting neither too tight nor too loose.

“If it slides down, it’s the item that’s inadequate, not the person. You are… are… are the best in the world, absolutely perfect.”

Though these words were simple, they were spoken with complete sincerity and pure truth. Baozhu smiled bashfully, feeling quite pleased for a while before saying: “Actually, I didn’t coin that phrase.”

She glanced at Yang Xingjian, who quickly explained: “This phrase comes from the Analects, ‘Eight Rows’ chapter. The Master said of the Shao music: ‘It is perfectly beautiful and also perfectly good.’ In the palace it was used to describe Prince Shao.”

Wei Xun found him a spoilsport and snorted disdainfully.

Shisan Lang pondered for a while, thinking to himself: If Jiu Niang’s brother is this good-looking, when Seventh Senior Brother goes there, he’ll probably be in grave danger.

The silk-robed young master had never seen anything through to completion. In previous years, jianghu people feared Master Chen Shigu’s methods and no one dared challenge him at Canyang Academy. But many lovesick fools who loved to the point of hatred and feared no death came to seek revenge on Huo Qi. Not knowing what the situation would be like when they reached Youzhou, Canyang Academy’s reputation would probably rot from Guanzhong all the way to the northern frontier.

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, people from the City Patrol Guild arrived early at the small courtyard, instructing Baozhu where she could lightly sprinkle water and where she needed to generously scatter sweet dew – there were indeed various secret arrangements. Baozhu agreed to everything but actually paid no attention at all. A profit-seeking merchant like Shen Dexian had no ability to command her.

By evening, the guild’s cart drivers brought two majestic white oxen to pull a treasure cart two zhang high, decorated with colorful silk and fresh flowers, requesting Guanyin to mount the cart for the city procession.

Baozhu braided part of her hair into double loops to cover both ears, then used heavy makeup to modify her eyebrow and eye contours. When night fell, even from the high platform, familiar people would have difficulty recognizing her face. She filled the pure vase with clear water, held a fresh willow branch, and after all preparations were complete, turned to instruct Wei Xun once more: “Stay close, follow beside the cart shaft, where I can see you.”