CHAPTER 487: CHAPTER 479: IT IS NONE OTHER THAN THE INSIGNIFICANT BUQIU

Ding Shouxin did inquire about the children in the family, but he only asked about the marital matters of Qin Liuxi; Mrs. Wang did not believe this man was simply concerned—he was clearly coming for Qin Liuxi.

Why?

Mrs. Wang lowered her gaze to hide the doubts in her eyes, momentarily unable to grasp Ding Shouxin’s intention.

Ding Shouxin smiled and said, "Our Liang’er has also reached the age to discuss marriage. I even had the audacity to mention to the teacher before about becoming in-laws."

Mrs. Ding’s heart skipped a beat, and she turned a shocked look towards her husband.

Has he gone mad?

Who would marry the daughter of a criminal official?

Mrs. Wang’s expression remained unchanged. At this moment, she did not think that Ding Shouxin’s words meant that there was a marriage agreement between the two families; she had never heard of it. Although Qin Liuxi had joined the Daoist sect, she was registered under her name as the legitimate daughter of the main branch. If there really were a marriage arrangement, she, as the legitimate mother and the madam, would certainly be aware.

So, what was Ding Shouxin aiming at by saying this? A marriage proposal?

Impossible. The Ding family, who wouldn’t get up early if there wasn’t profit to be gained, she had come to recognize clearly by now, would not marry the daughter of a criminal official at this time, even if it was to cleanse their reputation.

If it wasn’t any of these reasons, then what was he looking for Xixi for?

Before Mrs. Wang could reply, a person stepped out from the side room, and it was Qin Liuxi.

"Xixi." Mrs. Wang stepped forward.

Ding Shouxin looked at Qin Liuxi, who also looked back.

The girl in front of him wore a plain robe, slender and tall, her black hair combed into a Daoist bun and fastened with a jade hairpin. Her cheeks were slightly gaunt, giving off a somewhat stern air, and those eyes...

The moment Ding Shouxin’s gaze met those eyes, a chill ran up his back, along his spine, reaching the crown of his head.

Those eyes, deep as cold pools, bright as stars, one could even clearly see their own reflection within, a pair of extremely beautiful and clear eyes.

Yet inexplicably, Ding Shouxin felt danger, a sense of being completely exposed and wanting to evade.

His feet moved slightly, and his heart was secretly alarmed; the girl in front of him was evidently only fifteen or sixteen years of age, but he felt that she was terrifying.

It must be an illusion!

Indeed, Qin Liuxi had discerned quite a few things from Ding Shouxin’s facial features. The couple’s palace was cluttered and disordered, the chamber of deceit was flushed red—this man had a wife, concubines, and even illicit lovers; the children’s palace was plump, indicating many children, a prosperous family indeed.

Looking at the official’s palace, it was full and round, indicative of a career path that led to the position of Magistrate; alas, there was now a small mole on this palace. Damage or a mole on the official’s palace suggests disputes with superiors or even elders and obstacles on the career path.

Qin Liuxi slightly lowered her gaze, hiding the scorn in her eyes.

With her gaze lowered, she noticed Ding Shouxin’s jaw and cheekbones; the cheekbones were like an inverted triangle, akin to being sliced by a knife, yet lacking in cheekbones—such a person lacks responsibility and integrity, will shirk and evade matters at any opportunity, certainly the first to flee at any sign of trouble.

Considering all of the above, Ding Shouxin won’t have any great future prospects. He won’t rise to a high position.

"And who is this?" Mrs. Ding surveyed Qin Liuxi up and down; such attire, neither male nor female. It seems the Qin family truly lacks manners.

"Weren’t you looking for me?" Qin Liuxi said. "I am that girl raised in the old residence."

Ding Shouxin was internally alarmed by the girl’s presence, yet nothing showed on his face. He smiled and said, "The little girl from back then has already grown up; why does a young lady of good family dress so plainly?"

Mrs. Ding, recognizing the graceful intention, plucked the gold step-shake hairpin from her head and, with a smile, aimed to insert it into Qin Liuxi’s Daoist bun, saying, "Your great-uncle is right. A girl of this age should indeed dress up prettily."

Just when everyone thought that the gold hairpin would be inserted into Qin Liuxi’s hair, Qin Liuxi raised her hand to block it, saying, "Monks do not wear flamboyant jewelry."

Mrs. Ding’s hand froze mid-air, irritation flickering across her face—some boldly insolent, others even more arrogant. Truly, it was giving face to the undeserving.

"A monk, you say?"

Helping Mrs. Wang to sit down, Qin Liuxi said, "I did mention it to your family’s Old Lady when I was young. How is it, she didn’t tell you?"

Ding Shouxin lightly smiled, "Of course, she mentioned that you were of delicate health and were raised in a Daoist Temple, yet who would have thought, you actually took the monk’s vows?"

A youthful woman becoming a monk was considered in noble families either a consequence of wrongdoing or a scandal that destroyed one’s reputation, acquiring the label of an ascetic adorned in blue. Could it be that she, right here, also took the vow and became a monk?

What is the Qin family thinking, letting a fine young lady become a monk?

"So to become a monk means you have joined the Taoist Sect? Does Madam truly have the heart to let go?" Mrs. Ding glanced at Mrs. Wang, implying the difference in treatment for one’s own children.

Mrs. Wang lowered her eyes: "As long as it’s for the child’s well-being and safety, one must let go even if reluctant."

Disdain flashed in Mrs. Ding’s eyes. Looking back at Qin Liuxi, her gaze held more inquisitiveness. Having joined the Taoist Sect, was she from the same sect as that Taoist named Buqiu?

No wonder she could have that man stand up for her.

"I’ve heard that Qingping Temple’s incense is prosperous and they perform charitable deeds yearly, earning the praise of the common folk," said Ding Shouxin. "Yet the Magistrate of Li City never acknowledged Qingping Temple’s merit. I should have a good chat with him about this."

Qin Liuxi replied, "Qingping Temple performs acts of charity solely for cultivation and virtue accumulation, without concern for any laudation."

"From what I hear, Qingping Temple indeed has the Dao Heart of wholeheartedly aiding the people and supporting the Righteous Path..."

"One can hardly claim to be wholehearted about the people. We merely do good and accumulate virtue when it’s within our power. After all, even Daoists these days are mortals who consume the five grains. No matter how righteous the Dao Heart, it’s not like we are Buddha who cut flesh to feed eagles. Concern for the people should be the duty of officials like you. With active officials, the common people naturally live in plenty and peace," Qin Liuxi interjected, cutting off his flattery.

Ding Shouxin choked on his words, looking at Qin Liuxi, whose sharp words matched the piercing look in her eyes, tinged with unmistakable satire.

He stopped beating around the bush and asked directly, "I hear Qingping Temple’s incense is thriving and the Daoists quite capable. Do they know how to read a household’s Feng Shui?"

Qin Liuxi laughed, "What, is misfortune befalling the gentleman’s residence? No wonder, looking at you, your Yintang is darkening with looming bad luck, signaling a downturn in fortune."

Both Ding Shouxin and Mrs. Ding darkened their faces, expressionless, and asked, "Can you, too, perform face reading? Is there a remedy for this bad luck?"

Qin Liuxi’s eyes lowered to fondle her nails, saying, "There’s a saying: spending wealth can ward off disasters. If the gentleman sincerely turns to goodness and accumulates yin de, the bad luck will naturally resolve."

Such arrogance, such derision.

Ding Shouxin rose to his feet, no longer probing. Since she had become a monk and was with Qingping Temple, the implications were clear enough. Certainly, it was this girl who had that Taoist Buqiu from the temple cast a dark spell on his family.

"Indeed, spending wealth to ward off disasters," said Ding Shouxin, his expression indifferent. "I’ve heard that Qingping Temple has a master adept in the Dao with the Daoist name of Wei Buqiu. I wonder if my world niece could introduce us. I’d like to ask him how exactly to spend wealth to ward off disaster."

Qin Liuxi burst into laughter, "I have already told you!"

"What?" Ding Shouxin looked at her, his spine turning cold with an ominous premonition.

Qin Liuxi’s eyes gleamed maliciously, "Sincerely turn to goodness, do good and accumulate virtue." She paused, then added, "Oh, by the way, my Daoist name is indeed the humble Buqiu. Apologies for making the gentleman laugh."

Ding Shouxin: "..."