Chapter 5: 005 Mr. Divine Calculator

The streets were unusually deserted. Liu Qian'er and Hanyu walked side by side along the roadside. A slight chill seeped into Liu Qian'er's heart, and she unconsciously wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

"Gongzi, are you cold?" Hanyu stopped and took off her outer coat. "Gongzi, please put this on quickly. It wouldn't be good if you caught a cold."

"Hanyu, I'm not cold. You put it on quickly; what if you catch a cold?" Liu Qian'er felt a flicker of emotion in her heart; Hanyu noticed even the smallest of details.

Instead of putting it on, Hanyu draped the clothes over Liu Qian'er and smiled faintly. "How could Hanyu compare to Gongzi? Gongzi has the body of a noble lady, while Hanyu is merely a servant."

Hearing Hanyu say this, Liu Qian'er felt a bit angry. "Hanyu, I am a person, and you are a person. How can we not be comparable? Remember this: I am not some 'noble body,' and you are not some 'servant.' You and I will always be equals. Do you understand?" Having said that, she pulled the coat off and put it back on Hanyu.

"Gongzi!" Hanyu's eyes reddened slightly as she whispered, "Thank you!"

"Silly girl!" Liu Qian'er gave a bright smile and lightly patted Hanyu's head. "Stop being so moved; you get so emotional over such a small thing. You're so silly!"

Hanyu rubbed her eyes and smiled. "Yes, Gongzi! Let's hurry along then."

Just as Liu Qian'er and Hanyu were about to leave, a fortune teller holding a divination fan blocked Liu Qian'er's path, sizing her up from head to toe.

"You—what are you doing?" Hanyu hurriedly stepped in front of Liu Qian'er to shield her.

"Miss, I mean no harm. Might this old man perform a divination for you both?" The fortune teller smoothed his pale beard and spoke slowly.

Liu Qian'er froze slightly. They were clearly dressed as men! How did the fortune teller know they were women?

"Old gentleman, you are mistaken. We are not misses," Hanyu explained hurriedly. She didn't understand how the fortune teller could tell they were women.

"Haha, how could this old man be mistaken? You are indeed two young ladies!" The fortune teller walked leisurely to Liu Qian'er's side and smiled. "You are the master, aren't you?"

"Old gentleman, how can you tell we are women, and how can you tell I am the master?" Liu Qian'er smiled faintly at the fortune teller. She wanted to know exactly what kind of ability this man possessed.

"Heaven's secrets must not be revealed. However, since you wish to know, follow me." Having said that, the fortune teller turned and walked away.

Liu Qian'er and Hanyu looked at each other in confusion, unsure if they had encountered a divine calculator or a swindler.

"Hanyu, let's follow him quickly. I want to see what kind of fortune-telling tricks he's playing." Liu Qian'er closed her fan, tucked it into her sleeve, and quickly caught up.

The fortune teller walked with light, swift steps, not at all like an elderly man. After several turns and bends, the fortune teller finally stopped in front of a dilapidated thatched hut and slowly stepped inside.

"Gongzi, are we going in?" Hanyu looked at the thatched hut, speaking with some concern. "We don't know this person, nor do we know if he is a good man. What if he has ill intentions?"

Liu Qian'er smiled faintly. "Don't worry! He has no grudge against us, so he won't harm us. Let's go!" Since the fortune teller was so mysterious, she believed they would surely gain something today.

The thatched hut was not large; it was a very simple, dilapidated little room. To the left of the entrance was a large window, but it was full of holes and likely couldn't keep out the wind and rain. At the very back was a pile of straw, and beside the straw sat a worn-out small stove. Faint sparks were still rising from beneath the stove, as if a fire had just been used for cooking.

"Old gentleman, you live here?" Seeing this scene, Liu Qian'er felt a pang of heartache. "Is it even habitable in such a dilapidated place?"

The fortune teller sat on the straw and said with a half-smile, "There is no choice. I have many enemies, so I can only find a remote place. That is why I chose this spot!"

"Enemies?" Liu Qian'er was puzzled. Where would a fortune teller get enemies? "Because of what?"

The fortune teller gave a bitter smile. "It is because this old man knows everything. In my youth, I was too outspoken, which resulted in many enemies. Now, I can only occasionally go out to perform divinations to make a living. But I never dare to stay long."

Liu Qian'er walked over and sat down by the straw, saying softly, "So that's how it is. Is that why you asked us to follow you?"

The fortune teller nodded. "Miss, you will encounter a disaster. You must be careful!"

"A disaster?" Liu Qian'er was skeptical. "Old gentleman, you only looked at me once and you know I will have a disaster?" She didn't quite believe him.

"Miss, write a character. This old man will perform a divination for you." The fortune teller pulled a piece of paper and a brush from his bag. "Any character will do; just write one at random!"

Liu Qian'er quickly wrote the character 'Liu' (柳) on the paper. Fortunately, she had practiced calligraphy in the past, otherwise, she would have been quite embarrassed today. "Alright, old gentleman, please take a look."

The fortune teller stared at the character for a long time, his face flashing with surprise from time to time. After a long while, he spoke slowly, "Miss, this old man was indeed not mistaken!"

"I don't understand!" Liu Qian'er had no idea what he was playing at.

As the fortune teller tore the character into pieces, he said, "Miss, you should be 'Liu yet not Liu,' right? Or should I call you Consort Liu? Some things are truly predestined; no one can force them!"

Liu Qian'er was completely stunned. To be "Liu yet not Liu" meant she was Liu Qian'er but not Liu Qian'er—she wasn't the real Liu Qian'er, yet she was. And she was indeed Consort Liu! She truly believed the fortune teller before her now. "Old gentleman, please advise me!"

"Consort Liu, this old man only knows that you will face a disaster—a great one. However, I do not know if it is a disaster of fate, so I can only ask you to be extra cautious!" The fortune teller looked at Liu Qian'er with a very serious expression. "If you encounter disaster, you can only rely on yourself. Remember this!"

"Thank you, old gentleman. I will be very careful!" Liu Qian'er felt uneasy in her heart. What kind of disaster was waiting for her? "Please take this silver. You can go out again after a while." Liu Qian'er took the silver from Hanyu and handed it to the fortune teller.

The fortune teller looked troubled, shaking his head and waving his hands in refusal. "No, no. I cannot accept this. I haven't been able to help you; perhaps I might even be the one to harm you!"

"Old gentleman, how can you say such a thing? Your warning alone is a great help to me." Liu Qian'er forced the silver into the fortune teller's hand. "I will leave now. I will come to see you again in the future. Please take care of your health."

"Thank you for your concern, Consort Liu! I will."

Watching Liu Qian'er gradually walk away, the fortune teller felt a sense of guilt. It was merely because of a single sentence he had said to the Empress Dowager that Liu Qian'er had become trapped in the deep palace. He sighed softly, "Consort Liu, I hope you can overcome all your hardships!"