The gleam in Immortal Liu’s eyes intensified. Whenever someone needed her services, there was an opportunity to see silver.

She had always felt that people should cultivate hobbies in life—some loved food, some loved beauty, some loved money. She loved money. If one loved nothing at all, how boring life would be.

“Miss Qin, please feel free to make any requests.”

Qin Yining withdrew two thousand taels in banknotes from her sleeve and stepped forward to place them in Immortal Liu’s hands with both hands. Watching Immortal Liu’s eyes instantly crinkle with smiles, she said:

“The Temple Master knows about my maternal family’s situation. Today I wish to trouble you once more to conduct a forty-nine-day ritual for resolving grievances for those who have passed on. Here are two thousand taels—I hope the Temple Master will give this matter special attention.”

“So that’s it.” Immortal Liu winked knowingly at Qin Yining, then counted the banknotes in her hands. “Miss Qin truly has excellent bearing and such generous gestures. Rest assured, this poor Taoist will certainly do her utmost for your request. The women of Duke Dingguo’s household can practice their devotions in our temple with complete peace of mind.”

“Then I entrust everything to the Temple Master.” Having achieved her purpose, Qin Yining smiled and retreated to stand behind the Duchess of Dingguo.

She could understand her grandmother’s wish to reduce contact with her.

But with a houseful of grief-stricken women and children out there, she couldn’t rest easy without spending some silver to ask Immortal Liu to look after them.

The Duchess also understood Qin Yining’s intentions. The soft places in her heart were touched, and she was quite moved as she took Qin Yining’s hand and patted it.

Sun Shi was surprised that Qin Yining had so much silver, but seeing her daughter’s filial understanding and willingness to provide for her maternal relatives brought her joy.

Just as Immortal Liu was smiling while counting the banknotes, a low, magnetic voice spoke unhurriedly: “This young lady—is she the miss from Grand Tutor Qin’s household?”

Finally willing to strike up a conversation!

Huzi looked at his master with excitement.

Both the Duchess and Sun Shi were somewhat surprised that an outside gentleman would address their group of women.

If he truly observed strict propriety, seeing women present, he should have withdrawn rather than brazenly observing like this gentleman.

However, since they were speaking in Immortal Liu’s room and she had allowed this person to remain, they couldn’t very well forbid him from speaking.

Qin Yining raised her eyes to look. Her beautiful gaze lingered on Pang Xiao’s face for only a moment before she curtsied.

“Indeed, that is this humble woman. This gentleman seems to have deep connections with Temple Master Liu, and we’ve now met twice. May I ask for your honored surname and native place?”

“My humble surname is Yao, from the north. I’ve come here on business.” Pang Xiao rose gracefully to return the courtesy, responding with his maternal family name.

“So it’s Young Master Yao.” Qin Yining nodded and lowered her eyes, saying nothing more.

Pang Xiao also returned to his seat. Having his first direct conversation with Qin Yining left him feeling slightly moved.

Just then, Song Lan entered from the outer room. She smiled and bowed to everyone, then approached Qin Yining’s ear to whisper a few words in barely audible tones.

Qin Yining’s expression remained unchanged. She nodded to indicate understanding, then whispered a few instructions in Song Lan’s ear before dismissing her.

Both the Duchess and Sun Shi noticed this but paid it no mind.

Immortal Liu began chatting idly with the Duchess, mostly about daily pleasantries and casual conversation.

Qin Yining joined in appropriately, but her attention was clearly not on their conversation. She kept unconsciously glancing toward the window frames and doorway.

Pang Xiao lowered his eyes without speaking, but his attention was focused on Qin Yining. Seeing her behavior, he guessed something must be happening and couldn’t help but smile with interest.

He knew Qin Yining was a clever woman and looked forward with anticipation to seeing what schemes she was employing.

Seeing that the hour was growing late, the Duchess smiled and said, “Time is getting on, we should—”

But Qin Yining placed her hand on the Duchess’s shoulder to stop her words, smiling as she continued: “But I find myself quite compatible with the Temple Master and can’t help wanting to chat a while longer. The Temple Master wouldn’t mind, would she?”

Immortal Liu blinked her small eyes, clearly not understanding how she had become compatible with this wealthy young lady. But this person had given her four thousand taels in total—a veritable patron. In the future, with the Duchess living at the Immortal Maiden Temple, she would undoubtedly be able to extract more silver from her.

With money to be made, naturally whatever the patron said was correct.

“Of course I don’t mind. To tell the truth, this poor Taoist also feels quite compatible with Miss Qin.”

“Yes, indeed. I feel the same way—seeing the Temple Master feels so familiar, clearly showing our predestined connection.” Qin Yining’s bright, beautiful eyes sparkled as she smiled. “Has the Temple Master always resided here? I only recently returned to the capital and don’t understand many things.”

The Duchess felt Qin Yining’s slender hands pressing gently but firmly on her shoulders. Though she didn’t understand why she had interrupted the farewell, she cooperated: “This old woman remembers the Immortal coming to the Immortal Maiden Temple some four or five years ago?”

Immortal Liu nodded with a smile: “Yes, indeed. Speaking of it, this poor Taoist has quite deep connections with the capital, though with my shallow learning and many areas needing improvement, I haven’t been able to do much for those with whom I share connections. I’m truly ashamed.”

Qin Yining quickly responded: “The Temple Master is too modest. Not to mention other things, your ability for infallible predictions rivals that of ‘Tianji Zi.'”

During her time living among the common people, Qin Yining had long heard of a wandering monk in Great Zhou’s north with divine predictive abilities, bearing the dharma name “Tianji Zi.”

“Tianji Zi” specialized in reading celestial signs and judging worldly affairs. Several years ago, he had even read the destinies of the then-uncrowned Great Zhou Emperor and two famous Great Zhou generals.

It was said that Emperor Zhou Li Qitian, Marquis Dingbei Ji Zeyu, and Prince Zhongshun Pang Xiao had sworn brotherhood and formed an iron triangle in rebellion against Northern Ji’s tyranny. According to “Tianji Zi’s” calculations, these three men occupied the “Seven Kills” and “Army Breaker” stars, with one of them said to be “of unspeakable nobility.”

Later, Li Qitian ascended the throne, making him naturally the one of “unspeakable nobility,” while folk legends claimed that Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu were reincarnations of the “Seven Kills Star” and “Army Breaker Star.”

By comparing Immortal Liu to “Tianji Zi,” Qin Yining was offering her quite high praise.

Though Immortal Liu smiled with apparent pleasure on the surface, inwardly she began to worry.

Huzi beside her was even less able to contain himself, repeatedly glancing at Immortal Liu.

Pang Xiao raised his eyes, quietly studying Qin Yining.

Was this intentional or unintentional? Did she know Immortal Liu’s true identity before making such remarks?

Immortal Liu smiled: “Infinite Celestial Worthy! This poor Taoist dares not accept Miss Qin’s generous praise. Moreover, though I may have some small cleverness, I lack the ability to dispel disasters and remove misfortunes for everyone. What use is accuracy in predictions alone?”

“The Temple Master is too modest. Prevention is always better than being completely unprepared.”

Qin Yining began chatting idly with Immortal Liu about Taoist practices, asking where she had lived when not at the Immortal Maiden Temple and about local customs and conditions.

Their casual conversation unconsciously stretched on for a full hour.

Both the Duchess and Sun Shi were growing weary.

After all, they had been sitting in Immortal Liu’s room for two full hours, and their backs were beginning to ache.

The Duchess again attempted to take her leave.

But before she could speak, Qin Yining smilingly pressed down on her.

“It’s rare to have such leisure today—what harm is there in chatting a while longer?”

This time everyone clearly noticed her unusual behavior.

Sun Shi couldn’t contain herself and frowned as she scolded: “Yi Jie’er, what are you trying to do? Don’t forget there are matters to handle at our mansion today!”