Murong Xiao could still laugh: "Uncle Pei, I'm as strong as a rock."
"Who is that little brat Tuoba?" he glared and asked in a high-pitched voice. "He got my second brother drunk so much last time that he was still sober when he got home. Today, I'm going to get my revenge!"
"Alright!" Tuoba Yuanxun and he hit it off immediately, thumping his chest loudly. "Don't deny you're getting old!"
"Oh? You're not convinced! Pei Sheng, prepare some wine, I'll have a match with these young men now!"
A myriad of affairs, an ever-growing number of guests, and all sorts of unpredictable dangers... none of this concerned Pei Fuchong; he was not one to worry or exert himself.
With Xiao Juyuan's cunning and the evidence from the Heavenly Sparrow Sword, deceiving him was... a piece of cake. His hasty and careless recognition inadvertently helped Xiao Juyuan!
Pei Sheng looked at Pei Junwu, seeking his young master's permission. Pei Junwu pursed his lips and nodded, then whispered, "Prepare wine and dishes, and come to my study."
Chapter 22 of "The Smile of the Flower": The Spell of Marriage
All the men went to help with the preparations for the birthday banquet, and even Tuoba Yuanxun was so busy that he was nowhere to be seen. Yi Chunjun was practically the backbone of the Pei family; he also had many businesses in Chengdu and contributed a lot to the banquet. The servants coming and going were always talking about finding Young Master Pei or Young Master Yi, while Pei Fuchong and Gui Datong were the two most leisurely people.
Needless to say, Xiao Juyuan was always surrounded by a group of handsome men wherever she went.
Yan Minyu ate her fruit and glanced sideways at Xiao Juyuan, who was getting along well with everyone under the tree in the distance, feeling quite resentful.
"Xiao Yuan, Xiao Yuan, stop wearing that mask! Show your face, and you'll steal Xiao Juyuan's thunder!"
Xiao Yuan smiled and shook her head. Indeed, seeing Xiao Juyuan becoming more and more intoxicated by this false prosperity, she was in a very good mood.
Murong Hui and Hang Yisu walked over and greeted them with smiles.
"Why didn't you go over there?" Yan Minyu looked at Hang Yisu with a hint of sarcasm. Wasn't he also there for Xiao Juyuan?
Hang Yisu glanced at her. "Why should I go over there? I'm here because I can't disobey my father's orders."
"That sounds nice, but I guess he knew he had no chance and gave up," Yan Minyu said, rolling her eyes.
"Hmph." Hang Yisu glared at her with his sharp phoenix eyes. "Say what you will!" He got up and left without looking back.
Murong Hui smiled and shook her head, "Sister Yan, why did you drive my cousin away?"
"Your cousin? I didn't upset him!"
Pei Fuchong and a Taoist priest walked and talked as they approached, and Pei Fuchong's expression showed great respect for the Taoist priest.
Xiao Juyuan saw the Taoist priest and quickly walked over, bowing gracefully to him and calling him "Taoist Master Tian".
Murong Hui looked delighted. "Master Tian? Is that Tian Qingyan, the Celestial Master Tian?"
Master Tian bowed and said, "Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable, it is indeed I, this humble Taoist."
"Who is it?" Yan Minyu asked, completely bewildered.
Murong Hui lowered her voice and told them, "This is the living immortal Tian Tianshi. It is said that his fortune telling is very accurate."
"Oh?" Yan Minyu became interested and squeezed through, shouting, "Taoist Master, Taoist Master, please tell my fortune, please tell my fortune."
Pei Fuchong, still full of conviction, chimed in, "Niece Yan, let him calculate, let him calculate, and he's incredibly accurate!"
As he and Yan Minyu started shouting, the maids and servants working around them peered out and slowly approached, curiously gathering around to watch the spectacle.
Li Yuan'er stood aside and sneered. Pei Fuchong was the kind of person who believed in these tricks the most, and she didn't believe it at all.
Master Tian smiled kindly, "I wonder what the young lady wishes to ask?"
Yan Minyu gave him a very honest look and said, "Let's ask about marriage."
Seeing that she asked the question directly, no one felt that it was impolite. Murong Hui also blushed and said, "Daoist, I also want to ask this."
Master Tian smiled and nodded, looked at them carefully, and then looked up and stared at Xiao Yuan, who was furthest away from him, for a long time.
"This young lady..." He looked at Murong Hui, "Her life has been smooth sailing, everything has fallen into place naturally, congratulations." He then looked at Yan Minyu, his smile fading for a long time without speaking, making Yan Minyu feel uneasy under his gaze. "This young lady... I'm afraid things won't be so smooth for her, she's cursed with bad luck in love, destined to be together but not to stay together." He shook his head and sighed.
"What do you mean 'destined to meet but not to be together'?!" Yan Minyu glared, clearly displeased.
Tian Tianshi did not answer her again, but looked at Yuan'er and smiled leisurely, saying, "Girl, I know you don't believe me, but you, I predict that you will marry a noble man."
Yuan'er sneered, "A noble son-in-law? How many people in the world can be called 'noble'? Royal family? Nonsense!"
She raised an eyebrow. "Taoist Master, tell me about Miss Xiao's marriage prospects. If you can tell me accurately, I'll believe you."
Xiao Juyuan smiled and said, "Okay, I'd like to hear it too."
Master Tian gave a profound, wry smile. "Hard to say, hard to say."
Yan Minyu snorted coldly, clearly annoyed by the old Taoist's comment about her unfortunate marriage prospects. "What's so hard to say? That's just wishful thinking. My husband was arranged ten years ago, what's so hard to say?! Are you even sure?!"
Seeing that things were not going well, Master Tian said to the maids and servants around him who were listening intently, "I understand that all of you ladies want to know about your marriage prospects. I have a little trick for you. Those who believe me may wish to try it. On the night of the full moon, write the name of the man you admire and your own birth date and time on yellow paper, bury it under the laurel tree, and those who are destined to be together will naturally find happiness. Those who are not destined to be together will meet a man who is similar to or close to this person."
"Oh?" Yan Minyu forgot to ask him any further questions, her mind preoccupied with the spell he had mentioned.
Yuan'er smiled. This wasn't a little trick to seek marriage, but a little trick to divert attention! It was just the tactic of a con artist.
"Xiao Yuan, do you believe it?" Yan Minyu asked doubtfully, watching Tian Tianshi's hurried departure.
Xiao Yuan sneered, "If he can tell I can marry a rich man through a mask, do you think I'd still believe him? If he were truly so, he should have first figured out that this isn't my real face."
"Exactly!" Yan Minyu breathed a sigh of relief. That damned old Taoist priest, what nonsense about being destined to meet but not to be together!