“The capital truly gathers the spiritual energy of the realm. To randomly encounter a young lady of such extraordinary beauty!” A scholar sighed, unable to shake from his mind the image and voice of the donkey-riding maiden.

“Brother Chen, what are you thinking? Even in the capital, such beauties are rarely seen.” The one speaking was clearly a native of the capital.

Another person couldn’t help but add, “I wonder which family’s precious daughter that young lady is. She’s truly kindhearted.”

Nearly struck by a falling flower pot, yet not only did she not make a fuss, she even gave the fresh flower she wore to that little girl—clearly a person of gentle and kind nature.

This remark drew considerable agreement.

A beauty gifting flowers, more delicate than the blossoms themselves—watching such a beautiful scene at the time, they had wished they could compose a poem.

A well-dressed scholar snapped open his folding fan. “You’re all mistaken. That young lady is no common daughter from a modest family—she must be a noble lady from a distinguished household.”

“How did Brother Han discern this?” Everyone pressed with curiosity.

The scholar waved his folding fan with a slight smile. “Her clothing and adornment are secondary. That young lady’s bearing simply cannot be cultivated by a household of modest means.”

“Indeed, you make sense.”

No matter how composed and upright young men might be, when they suddenly have an encounter with a peerlessly beautiful young lady, their hearts will inevitably flutter.

This has nothing to do with character, but everything to do with youth.

Amidst their laughing discussion, someone noticed something different.

“Why has Brother Wen remained silent this whole time?”

The young man surnamed Han also looked with a smile toward a handsome youth with refined features. “Provincial Graduate Yang has been quite silent as well.”

It turned out the refined youth was none other than Yang Zhe, the top-ranked candidate from this year’s provincial examination, the Provincial Graduate.

Yang Zhe smiled. “We merely crossed paths with that young lady by chance. There’s nothing to discuss.”

The young man surnamed Han patted the person beside him. “Brother Wen, your complexion doesn’t look good. Are you feeling unwell?”

Someone teased, “I think Brother Wen isn’t unwell—he’s still thinking about that young lady—”

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

The room fell silent as everyone looked in surprise at their fellow graduate whose reaction had been so intense.

They were all familiar with each other, and there were no outsiders present—such jokes weren’t considered excessive.

Wen Feng’s face turned bright red as he said awkwardly, “I’m not accustomed to such jokes…”

Being teased about his cousin—naturally he couldn’t tolerate it.

He hadn’t expected that his cousin had truly severed all ties with the Wen family completely, just now treating him as if he were completely invisible.

If he explained that she was his cousin, he would certainly gain everyone’s understanding, but it wouldn’t be appropriate for so many men to know his cousin’s identity.

Those who could socialize together all had decent relationships, and moreover, the bond of being fellow graduates often accompanied many people throughout their official careers. Seeing Wen Feng’s distress, someone immediately smoothed things over and changed the subject.

However, after everyone finished their tea and dispersed, Provincial Graduate Yang Zhe walked alongside Wen Feng and said in a low voice, “Brother Wen is acquainted with that young lady, aren’t you?”

Wen Feng’s eyes tightened, but Yang Zhe had already walked ahead with a smile.

Lin Hao had no idea she had become a topic of discussion among a group of newly graduated scholars. Even if she had known, she wouldn’t have cared.

She rode her donkey with frequent stops along the way, appearing leisurely and carefree, but in reality, as she drew closer to her destination, she grew increasingly anxious.

Had the person she wanted to see come to the capital at this time?

The person Lin Hao wanted to see was her lifesaver from her previous life, the teacher in her heart.

When she had discovered her father’s intentions and escaped from the Wen family, fleeing south from the capital on Lin Xiaohua, she had encountered bandits. Due to the effects of the drug, she had little strength. Despite fighting desperately, it was all in vain. Lin Xiaohua had died under the bandits’ blades at that time.

Even now, she still remembered the despair and fury of that moment.

Was escaping misfortune truly so difficult? Why did heaven allow her to be favored by misfortune time and time again?

It was then that her teacher appeared.

He saved her from her desperate situation and brought her to a place where entry was permitted but exit was not.

In that place, she stayed for three years, until her teacher’s tragic death, when she finally escaped back to the capital.

As if sensing her master’s distraction, Lin Xiaohua turned her head and twitched her ears.

Lin Hao rubbed Lin Xiaohua’s head and gazed ahead.

Ahead was an arched bridge. If it was truly as her teacher had said—that he entered the capital in the early summer of Tai’an Year Eight—then at this moment he should be on the other side of the bridge, setting up a fortune-telling stall.

The bridge drew near.

Lin Hao dismounted and led Lin Xiaohua onto the bridge.

People came and went on the bridge, blocking her view.

Lin Hao walked step by step toward the other side of the bridge.

At the bridgehead were various vendors—those blowing sugar figurines, selling cold noodles and steamed cakes, trimming feet and cleaning ears… a dazzling variety, quite lively.

Amidst such liveliness, a lean elderly man with completely white hair and beard sat with eyes slightly closed, serene and composed, presenting quite the appearance of an immortal sage. Beside him stood a signboard simply inscribed with three large characters: “Divine Calculator.”

Lin Hao’s eyes stung with tears, but she suppressed them.

Teacher was really here!

Actually, calling him “teacher” was Lin Hao’s wishful thinking.

The old man had never said he would take her as a disciple.

The place she had been brought to was the hiding place of Emperor Pingle, who had gone missing during the upheaval nine years ago. And the old man was True Master Mingxin, the Imperial Preceptor deeply valued by Emperor Pingle.

Such a place would never normally allow outsiders to enter. That she could enter was partly due to her teacher’s kindness, but the main reason was that she couldn’t speak.

Her misfortune had, at that time, become her fortune.

Because she couldn’t speak, the people there were far less guarded against her, and her teacher would teach her things. At first only occasionally, but gradually more and more.

In Lin Hao’s view, although they didn’t have the formal title of master and disciple, the old man was truly her teacher in every meaningful sense.

Lin Hao stood there so long that she drew the attention of the vendors.

“Young miss, would you like to buy a sugar figurine?” the sugar vendor asked with a cheerful smile.

The old man opened his eyes and looked toward Lin Hao.

Those eyes were bright and penetrating, as if they could see through one’s heart.

But Lin Hao wasn’t afraid.

Having been a mute who could peer into people’s hearts for so many years, what she was best at was concealing her thoughts.

“I don’t want a sugar figurine.” Lin Hao replied with a beaming smile, then looked at the old man. “I want my fortune told.”

As she spoke, she approached the old man and sat down on the stool in front of his stall.

True Master Mingxin scrutinized Lin Hao carefully, a flash of surprise passing through his eyes.

“Sir, do you read characters or read faces?”

“I’m not doing readings.”

“What?”

True Master Mingxin waved his hand impatiently. “What does a young girl like you need her fortune told for? Go on now, don’t interfere with this old man’s business.”

Lin Hao was stunned.

She had wanted to approach her teacher naturally, but she hadn’t expected her teacher to completely disregard convention.

How could a fortune teller refuse to tell fortunes?

So unprofessional.

“Sir, please read my fortune. This young lady has truly encountered difficulties and wishes to ask you to point out a clear path.”

Fearing True Master Mingxin wouldn’t relent, the young lady put on a pitiful appearance. “I’ve been riding my donkey around for so long and finally found a fortune teller.”

True Master Mingxin stroked his beard, unmoved. “Young lady, you must not go out often. Actually, there are fortune tellers everywhere. Look over there.”

Lin Hao looked in the direction True Master Mingxin pointed. Not far below the bridge was indeed another fortune-telling stall, with all manner of implements far more complete than what True Master Mingxin had here.

Lin Hao fell into silence.

Was he actually engaging in cutthroat competition?