Two months later, late at night in Jincheng.
A gentle breeze rustled, cicadas chirped, the trees cast green shadows, and the area around Mao'er Hutong was already covered in noise and clamor.
Outside Huamanlou, a place frequented by dignitaries, a sea of people had gathered.
"You smelly Taoist, how dare you try to skip out on your tab in front of me? I bet you don't want to do business anymore!" The madam of the brothel delivered a kick to a middle-aged man standing at the entrance, dressed in a yellowish-brown Taoist robe.
"Ouch!" The old Taoist slumped to the ground, clutching his chest where he'd been kicked, groaning repeatedly. "You shrew! I was just admiring your prosperous business and wanted to come in for good luck. It's a blessing I didn't ask for divination fees, and you dare to turn things around?"
"I turn things around?" The madam placed her hands on her hips, her eyes wide and bulging, sneering. "I don't know what kind of charlatan you are. You came to whore, but after telling fortunes for the girls in the house, you want to renege on your payment? Guards, get him!"
As the madam spoke, several thugs armed with sticks rushed out from behind her, raining blows upon the old Taoist.
Seeing the old Taoist's eyes roll back from the beating, several people burst out of a nearby restaurant. They pushed aside the thugs, and the shopkeeper, who was leading them, squatted down to examine the Taoist's face. "Oh no, it's him again."
The madam raised an eyebrow, looking at the shopkeeper. "What? You know him? If you know him, then pay up!"
The shopkeeper slapped his thigh. "Know him? That old rascal ate a free meal at my establishment a few days ago. I looked for him for ages, and now I've finally caught him. Today, I'll skin him alive!"
Saying this, the shopkeeper rolled up his sleeves, ready to strike.
Upon seeing this, the old Taoist forgot all about his cries of pain, waving his hands frantically. "Don't hit me, don't hit me! I am Tianji Daoren!"
"What Tianji Daoren? I think..."
"Esteemed shopkeeper, please don't disbelieve me. I really am Tianji Daoren. If you don't believe me, let me make a prophecy. Listen to this?" As the shopkeeper grabbed the Taoist's collar and raised his hand, the old Taoist quickly covered his head, saying.
The shopkeeper sneered. Just as his fist was about to swing down, a voice called out, "Stop!"
Everyone looked to see Tian Lianxue standing at the entrance, gazing at the Taoist on the ground.
"May I ask this old Taoist's surname?" she inquired.
The old Taoist cleared his throat and said, "Bai."
"You just told my sister's fortune, saying someone would redeem her. It was only the time it takes two incense sticks to burn, and indeed, someone was willing to redeem my sister. This proves what you said was true." Tian Lianxue said, looking at the madam beside her.
The madam's eyes darted away under Tian Lianxue's gaze, clearly indicating the truth of the matter.
Tian Lianxue took a silver ingot from her sleeve and placed it in the madam's hand. "Granny, this is just what Xiaohong asked me to reward this old Taoist with. Do you think this is enough to settle his romantic debts?"
The madam weighed the silver ingot in her hand and then turned, walking back into Huamanlou.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper's eyes flickered. He released the old Taoist's collar. "Can you really tell fortunes?"
"Of course!" The old Taoist tilted his head back, looking arrogant, but the blue and red marks on his face made him appear somewhat comical.
"Then tell me, how will my restaurant's business be this year?" the shopkeeper asked.
The old Taoist coughed lightly, glancing back at the restaurant, and began counting on his fingers in a practiced manner. "Tsk tsk... this year... it'll be a miracle if your restaurant doesn't go bankrupt!"
"What did you say?" The shopkeeper grabbed his collar again, preparing to swing.
The old Taoist said, "In a few days, the entire Nanyue Kingdom will change hands. Naturally, your restaurant will appear dilapidated. What's wrong with what I said?"
"What?" As his words fell, the shopkeeper and the surrounding onlookers were all terrified and stumbled backward.
"You... do you know what you're saying?" the shopkeeper stammered, his hands trembling.
Everyone knew that the current Emperor was most sensitive to rumors. Now, with such words, wasn't this inviting a beheading?
"I know!" The old Taoist's voice grew louder. "This humble Taoist says that in a few days, the Nanyue Kingdom will change hands!"
After speaking, he feigned dusting himself off, pushed through the crowd, and left Mao'er Hutong.
The next morning.
Zhong Li was flipping through old case files, processing some long-standing cases.
Lin Jin ran in quickly from outside. "Miss Zhong, something has happened."
Zhong Li's thoughts drifted from the case files in front of her. She looked up and asked, "What is it?"
"Someone outside is spreading rumors that the Nanyue Kingdom will change hands in a few days," Lin Jin said.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li immediately stood up. While such rumors might be harmless in modern times, merely entertainment for people's leisure, this was the ancient era. Everyone knew that Lu Jing'an was most concerned about public gossip. If this matter reached his ears, it could be a big deal or a small one.
"Who is spreading it?" she asked.
"They say it's an old Taoist who has been acting erratically, telling everyone this matter, even carrying a copper pot and proclaiming it on Wenchang Street." Lin Jin replied.
"Have the constables from Dali Temple arrest him and keep him for a few days," Zhong Li instructed.
Lin Jin shook his head. "He's at the entrance of Dali Temple right now, still shouting. A few of our brothers can't even move him."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li walked around her desk. "Let's go."
"In a few days, the world will change hands."
"In a few days, the world will change hands."
As Zhong Li reached the entrance of Dali Temple, she saw an old Taoist in a yellowish-brown Taoist robe sitting at the entrance, holding a pot of clear wine, drinking and shouting loudly.
By this time, nearby commoners had gathered, watching the spectacle with curiosity.
"Officer Zhong, after we brought this old Taoist to the entrance of Dali Temple, he suddenly sat down on the ground, took out a wine pot from his robe, and started drinking. He was also spouting nonsense while drinking. In broad daylight, we can't resort to torture, so what do you suggest..." A young constable with sharp eyes saw Zhong Li and quickly went forward to explain.
Zhong Li waved her hand, signaling him to retreat. While contemplating, she stepped forward to inquire about the old Taoist's intentions.
Unexpectedly, the old Taoist glanced behind him, his eyes darted, he stood up, glared at Zhong Li, smashed the wine pot on the ground, and as the aroma of wine spread around, he suddenly knelt down, facing east. He bowed and declared, "Xuanqingzi has appeared, and the Nanyue Kingdom will change hands in a few days. Xuanqingzi has appeared! The Nanyue Kingdom will change hands in a few days!!"
His voice grew louder and louder, and many of the surrounding commoners began to feel fear at his neurotic behavior.
"Lin Jin!" Zhong Li felt that something was amiss and turned to instruct Lin Jin to restrain the old Taoist.
However, as Lin Jin took a few steps toward the old Taoist, the Taoist suddenly drew a dagger from his waist. While the commoners were confused by his sudden action, the Taoist turned and looked at Zhong Li, then forcefully slashed his own throat.
In an instant, the surrounding commoners scattered in fear, screaming.
Blood splattered onto the stone lion at the entrance of Dali Temple. The old Taoist lay rigidly on the ground, his Taoist robe stained with blood.
Zhong Li's heart constricted. She quickly stepped forward to examine him. The ferocious eyes, filled with the gaze of death, met hers.