The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Chapter 394 The Fated One is Within Reach

The old man grew anxious.

"Taoist priest, please help me."

His hands were covered in calluses and cracks, making him look exceptionally miserable and weathered.

“My wife passed away early, and I raised my son alone. I helped him get married and have children, and just when things were looking up, he went to sea to do business and his ship was swallowed by the waves. His wife didn’t want to be a widow, so she ran off with the family’s money and her lover. I’m now raising my grandson alone.”

The most difficult disease to cure in this world is poverty.

He had to take care of the children and also find ways to earn money to support his family.

“After my child went missing, I searched for more than ten years, went to too many places, and walked too many roads. But I found nothing, only pairs of worn-out shoes.”

"But I'm old now, and I won't be able to walk for many more years."

He was about to kneel down when Baopu stopped him.

The old man held his hand tightly, as if grasping at the last straw.

"Even if I close my eyes, I won't have the face to see my wife and children below."

Local residents spoke up in support of them.

"Heaven have mercy, Taoist priest, please help him."

Some people, however, just pursed their lips.

"The child has been missing for so many years, and even the officials in the yamen can't do anything about it. Not to mention other places, how many children go missing in the capital every year? No matter how powerful the Taoist priest is, he doesn't have this ability."

A passerby saw this.

"This Taoist priest doesn't look very old, and I don't know how people outside have made him out to be half a god. I think it's unreliable, old man. You'd be better off going up the mountain to pray to Buddha."

Many people who came seeking his expertise began to doubt Baopu upon seeing his appearance.

At this moment, a horse-drawn carriage came along the official road.

It refers to the hooks of Baopu and others.

Baopu sat up slightly.

The pampered wife of the Minister of Rites, Madam Yang, was seen getting out of bed with the help of others.

A pretty girl stood beside him, holding his hand.

“Mother, shouldn’t we go back to the capital first? Since Grandfather passed away, our whole family has returned to our hometown to observe the mourning period. I really want to see my old friends. The Crown Prince has also passed away, and Father was summoned back by the Emperor for the funeral. It’s been more than a month since I last saw him.”

Madam Yang was dressed in gold and silver, looking very elegant.

She first rebuked him.

"What could be more important than kowtowing to Buddha? Even if it's not on my way, I'd still come."

"Once you're back in the capital, you'll have plenty of time to see your close friends."

Madam Yang was about to climb the mountain with her eyes straight ahead when she heard Bao Pu's voice coming from under the big tree.

Baopu remained calm and unhurried.

"I've looked at your grandson's birth chart."

"The five elements are out of balance, the favorable element is powerless, the unfavorable element is rampant, and the life chart is lifeless."

"Do you know what that means? He's dead."

"Judging from your face, you are destined to be alone, without brothers, without wife, and without offspring."

The old man seemed unable to accept it; his lips trembled violently.

"No...not possible."

Baopu: "Nothing is impossible."

Baopu did some quick calculations and said, "You received a windfall more than ten years ago."

He asked, "Are you sure it's lost? Or did you sell it because you couldn't afford to keep it?"

"Why bother bringing him back? You've squandered all your money, and life's not going well for you. Now you're remembering how good your grandson was, and you want him to take care of you in your old age and see you off in your final days?"

The old man eventually fled in panic.

Baopu glanced at the crowd and said arrogantly, "When you come here, you'd better not hide anything. If I want to do my calculations, I can strip you bare."

Madam Yang stopped walking at some point.

"Go and find out."

The old woman should leave.

He quickly returned and whispered in Madam Yang's ear.

Madam Yang, who believed in such things, was slightly taken aback: "Is it really that effective?"

"Keep an eye on it. If you really have the ability, please go home and check the feng shui."

Shen Zhiyi and the others arrived at this time.

Many people come to Changdu Temple, and many also take horse-drawn carriages.

There's nothing surprising about it.

But Madam Yang, with her sharp eyes, spotted Xiao Huaiyan riding slowly beside the carriage.

The old woman followed her gaze.

"Hey, that looks like the young master of the Xiao family."

Madam Yang, being the most adept at handling people, said: "I suppose he came to offer incense with his mother. The wife of the Marquis of Zhongyong is a straightforward person. Since we've met, it must be fate. Why don't we go up the mountain together?"

If it weren't for Xiao Huaiyan being too dissolute and unreliable.

Madam Yang even wanted him to be her son-in-law.

then……

The carriage stopped.

Next up is Shen Zhiyi.

Madam Yang's eyelids twitched.

"I didn't know that Young Master Xiao was engaged."

She glanced at Shen Zhiyi a few times.

"This looks familiar, which company is it from?"

The old woman reminded her, "Madam, she is a young lady from the Shen family, the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Household Department."

Upon hearing this, Madam Yang lost interest.

"The Marquis of Zhongyong's family is a prestigious family, and the Shen family is actually climbing the social ladder."

Miss Yang also scoffed, "I thought it was someone else. Xiao Huaiyan is a spoiled brat. No family of equal social standing would give their daughter to him."

"Shen Zhiyi is the most pretentious and her behavior is annoying. She and Xiao Huaiyan are a perfect match."

Madam Yang did not find these words inappropriate, but she said them anyway.

"Alright, it's not good to gossip in front of Buddha. Let's go, let's go up the mountain."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Huaiyan seemed to notice them looking at him and looked up to meet their gaze.

Seeing this, Madam Yang was about to put on a proper elder's smile.

According to the rules, Xiao Huaiyan should also come over and exchange pleasantries with her.

next moment.

Xiao Huaiyan looked away, completely ignoring her.

Madam Yang's expression was rather unpleasant.

I increasingly feel that Xiao Huaiyan has been spoiled.

She turned away with a cold expression and went to climb the mountain.

But I didn't forget to give them a word of advice.

"When we return to the capital, try to get close to the general's wife. If you can befriend her, our Yang family will be able to establish a connection with the Grand Tutor's Mansion and the Duke of Shun's Mansion."

Miss Yang readily agreed, even feeling relieved: "I always flattered Gu Wu, but she always treated me coldly. Turns out she's a fake."

"I might be hiding at home crying every day during this period."

She didn't even take it seriously: "The Gu family's own daughter comes from the countryside. If my daughter is willing to associate with her, I'm afraid she can be easily charmed by just a few nice words."

"Is she more difficult to deal with than Gu Wu?"

Shen Zhiyi didn't notice that side.

She went straight to Baopu.

"Taoist Master, I can tell you about your love life."

Baopu: "No, that doesn't count."

He's already counted three.

It's time to close up shop.

Shen Zhiyi smashed out a gold ingot.

Just kidding, Baopu didn't even blink.

He's working for Wei Zhao now! He's not short of money!
Shen Zhiyi smashed out another gold ingot.

I don't know who he was saying it to.

"That's right, Taoist priest. I have extremely high requirements for my future husband."

"Although I have no real ability, I'm just damn arrogant."

"I want to find someone who is good-looking, of good character, steady and reliable, hardworking and ambitious, who can compose a poem in seven steps, and who can also protect me with martial arts. If he can rise to a high position in the future, that would be even better."

She thought, "How harsh."

None of them fit the description of Xiao Huaiyan.

Hopefully, he'll back down and find someone else to cause trouble.

Xiao Huaiyan, who had just walked over, raised an eyebrow.

Isn't that referring to him?

Baopu: ...

He was about to say it didn't count.

Then I saw Xiao Huaiyan.

Baopu had already met him through Wei Zhao's arrangement.

Xiao Huaiyan had no other intentions, after all, it wouldn't be good to let this girl make a wasted trip: "Taoist Master, please help her with the divination."

Baopu: "Alright, since you two are destined to meet, I'll make an exception this time."

He asked Shen Zhiyi about her birth date and time.

truth.

"The peach blossoms are already on their way, young lady."

Shen Zhiyi was delighted: "Really?"

"I never speak falsehoods."

Baopu did some calculations with his fingers.

Oh, he also knows Xiao Huaiyan's birth date and time.

Bao Pu's brow twitched, and his tone became much more enthusiastic.

truth.

"Young lady, your destined one is far away, yet right before your eyes!"

Xiao Huaiyan was slightly taken aback, then smiled; he was in a really good mood.

Shen Zhiyi: ? ? ?

She's not feeling well.

She was especially struck by Bao Pu's winking and eye-rolling at Xiao Huaiyan.

I'm afraid they've already been bribed.

Shen Zhiyi slowly stood up.

She feigned ignorance: "Where?"

She looked around.

Goodness, the men are either too old or too young.

It was rare to see a few people of similar age, but they were all dressed in coarse linen clothes and didn't look good.

Xiao Huaiyan cleared his throat: "I..."

Shen Zhiyi said thoughtfully, "I understand."

Right under Xiao Huaiyan's nose, she grabbed the collar of the handsome Bao Pu.

"You."