The carriage rumbled along to Meihua Du, its wooden wheels clattering on the bluestone slabs.

Turning out of the alley, Fuyou Jie was particularly lively.

More than ten servants from the Chen family stood on the street, carrying bamboo baskets and distributing wedding cakes and red packets to passersby.

The wedding cakes were from the old and renowned Zhengxin Zhai, filled with red dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds.

The red packets contained five *wen* coins, wrapped in red paper, given to everyone who passed by. Some people, pretending, repeatedly walked through Fuyou Jie to collect red packets, but the Chen family’s servants didn’t get angry; they gave them out every time.

Two hundred round trips would amount to only one *liang* of silver, and the Chen family could easily afford it.

Chen Ji sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain to look out. He overheard a passerby curiously ask, “What’s the great celebration at the Chen family?”

A Chen family servant, all smiles, replied, “Today is the day our Chen family goes to the Qi family for the *Na Ji* ceremony. The South Geese have not yet returned north, so our Chen family has fashioned two golden geese as a small betrothal gift.”

The passerby was stunned: “Good heavens, pure gold geese? May I ask, which young master of the Chen family and which young lady of the Qi family are tying the knot?”

“Chen Ji of the Chen family, Qi Zhaoning of the Qi family!”

“Congratulations, congratulations! May you live a long and happy life together and have many children soon!”

Passersby offered auspicious words, received their red packets, and then discarded the red paper after taking out the copper coins, littering the street with red, giving it an air of universal joy and celebration. Chen Ji watched silently from the carriage, a mere observer.

Xiao Man, holding a small black cat, sat opposite him and also secretly lifted the curtain to peek out: “Young Master, with the Chen family making such a grand show of *Na Ji*, won’t everyone in the city know about your upcoming marriage? Then you…”

Xiao Man lowered her voice, “When do you plan to leave? Since you are still in mourning for a year, the wedding must be a year from now. But what if you can’t rescue the *Junzhu* before the wedding? Won’t you still have to marry Miss Qi San?”

Chen Ji calmly said, “A year is enough.”

As the *Taizi* had said, Renshou Gong and Liuchu Chang were no different; it wasn’t about grudges or favors. To get something, one only needed to offer an item of equal value in exchange.

Xiao Man tentatively whispered, “If you leave, then Miss Qi San…”

Chen Ji looked out the window.

Regardless of what kind of person Qi Zhaoning was, and whether he cared about her, his departure would ultimately hurt her deeply.

But Chen Ji was never a soft-hearted person, nor was he benevolent. If he had to choose someone to hurt, he would choose the one who would cause him the least guilt.

However, at this moment, through the gap in the curtain, Chen Ji saw a familiar figure standing among the pedestrians, coldly staring at his carriage.

The person wore a bamboo hat pulled low, straw sandals on their feet, always looking ready for a fight.

As fierce as the cold winds of Jingchao’s north, sweeping across the plains of Longhua Zhou in the north, and over the mountains of Fengsheng Zhou.

Si Cao Gui.

The person had returned to the capital, and no doubt had heard about his affairs. This time, it would probably not be as simple as a loyalty test.

Chen Ji pondered for a moment; what must come, will come, and what must be resolved, will be resolved.

He lifted the curtain and quietly instructed the coachman, “No longer going to Meihua Du. Go to Chongnan Fang Chenghuang Miao.”

There were a total of four Chenghuang Miao in the capital, located in the east, west, south, and north.

Each Chenghuang Miao was different, and the City God (Chenghuang Laoye) they worshipped also differed.

The North Chenghuang Miao was not far from Anding Men, and enshrined the former dynasty’s general Li Xian as its City God.

The West Chenghuang Miao was further west of Fuyou Jie, enshrining General Huo Guang of the Han Dynasty.

The South Chenghuang Miao was near Tianqiao, enshrining General Zhang Bian, the founding general of the Ning Dynasty.

The East Chenghuang Miao, also known as Chongnan Fang Chenghuang Miao, enshrined the sixth-generation *Tianshi* of Huangshan Daoting, Chaoyun Zi.

Over three hundred years, Daoting and Fo Men debated scriptures, losing nine out of ten times, and were suppressed for over three hundred years by Fo Men’s “Laozi Hua Hu Shuo” (Laozi Converting Barbarians).

Daoting’s properties in the capital region were all lost, leaving only these four Chenghuang Miao struggling to survive. Even many believers had left, and the temples were deserted.

Thanks to Zhang Li, an unorthodox *Daoist* from Huangshan Daoting, who used the folk tale “Bianliang Si Meng” to captivate young people, some incense offerings were rekindled.

Now, “Bianliang Si Meng” has spread to Nan Jiao Fang Si in Jinling, becoming popular there as well.

The carriage stopped steadily in front of the Chenghuang Miao. Chen Ji jumped out and saw a wooden sign erected at the entrance, grandly inscribed with “The place where Patriarch Chaoyun Zi transmitted the Dao to Li Changge.”

Good men and women streamed in through the gate, all coming to pay respects to Li Changge’s master, Chaoyun Zi.

Chen Ji was momentarily stunned before remembering that “Bianliang Si Meng” indeed had such a plot point.

Li Changge had idled away twelve years in the capital’s prosperity, then left the capital in sorrow after a separation from the *Junzhu*. Passing by a Chenghuang Miao, he met Chaoyun Zi, who was traveling the human world transmitting the Dao and conferring *lu*. Li Changge then tied his hair and began cultivating the Dao.

He walked into the Chenghuang Miao. In the courtyard, the bronze cauldron’s incense burned brightly, with white smoke rising.

He saw Zhang Li’s large black ox, untethered, guarding the cauldron. The white smoke cascaded like a waterfall, occasionally swirling back into the ox’s nostrils.

The good men and women marvelled at the ox. Chen Ji narrowed his eyes slightly, “Shanjun Menjing?”

No, that’s not right.

He recalled the beginning of his acquaintance with Zhang Li, and indeed he had never felt any palpitations… He wondered if this spiritual ox could also cultivate, or if this large black ox simply liked the smell of the smoke.

At this moment, a voice came from the main hall in the distance: “Heaven and Earth open to make good緣, auspicious day and time for all things to be complete. If one draws this lot, it is no small matter; if a person acts with integrity, the emperor will declare it. Oh, my dear young lady, that you could draw this lot, truly you are a person of deep fortune…”

Chen Ji looked up, his gaze passing over the bronze cauldron, and saw Zhang Li setting up a table outside the hall, interpreting fortunes for people.

The young woman opposite the table listened in a daze: “Daozhang, what do you mean?”

Zhang Li smiled mysteriously: “Draw this lot, and your fame will be achieved, your blessings complete. Lawsuits will be won, illnesses cured. Hemp and mulberry will ripen, marriages will be harmonious. A pregnant woman will bear a son, and travelers will return. This is the best of all lots!”

The young woman exclaimed in delight, “Really? Then I want to meet Li Changge.”

“Ah, this…” Zhang Li was speechless, his gaze wandering until it passed through the white smoke above the bronze cauldron and landed on Chen Ji.

His eyes lit up: “Look, isn’t Li Changge here?”

The woman turned her head, her face full of displeasure: “What Li Changge? Li Changge is much more handsome than him.”

Chen Ji walked around the bronze cauldron and said to the woman with a smile, “You are right. This *Daoist* is talking nonsense; don’t believe a word he says.”

He pulled Zhang Li up from the table: “Daozhang, let’s go to the back and settle some accounts properly.”

Zhang Li was dragged towards the back hall, feeling guilty: “What accounts are we settling?”

Chen Ji stopped in the back courtyard, released his hand, and stared directly at Zhang Li: “Has Daozhang written any new stories recently?”

Zhang Li quickly said, “No, no. Recently, I’ve been busy looking for the person who leaked my Daoting’s Wan Shen Lin She Menjing.”

Chen Ji smiled: “Does Daozhang truly believe I was drunk yesterday? The Prince Fu led his horse through the bustling market, amidst the crowds, and you were diligently writing beside him. You couldn’t possibly have been writing *Daoist* scriptures, could you?”

Zhang Li’s eyes darted around: “You brat, you need something, don’t you? This humble *Daoist* saved Xiao Man and that young monk last time, so I don’t owe you any favors.”

Xiao Man, holding the little black cat, retorted from the side: “No, *I* owe Daozhang a favor, but you still owe my Young Master a favor.”

Zhang Li said in anguish, “What good is your favor to me!”

Xiao Man pouted: “Don’t speak too soon. I’m quite capable.”

Zhang Li found a step and sat down, looking up at Chen Ji: “Tell me, what is it exactly? Consider it me repaying you a favor.”

Chen Ji pondered for a moment: “I need to go and handle a few matters. Xiao Man and Luo Zhui Sajia will need to stay at the Chenghuang Miao for a few days.”

Zhang Li stroked his chin: “Encountered a difficulty? What kind of difficulty would make you entrust these two to Daoting’s care?”

Chen Ji shook his head: “Daozhang need not ask further, just say if it’s possible or not.”

Zhang Li considered for a long time: “Yes, but one favor can only cover one person. If you want both of them to stay at the Chenghuang Miao, you’ll have to promise me one more thing.”

Xiao Man said angrily, “How can you be so shrewd with your calculations, *Daoist*? Young Master, don’t mind him. What difficulty have you encountered? Xiao He Shang and I will go with you…”

Chen Ji turned and looked at her quietly: “Don’t be silly.”

Xiao Man sullenly shut up.

Chen Ji turned back to Zhang Li: “It’s more than just this. If I return safely in a few days, I will come to pick them up. But if something happens to me, I trouble Daoting to send Xiao Man to the Longmen Kezhan in Guyuan. I will meet her there.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Man realized the gravity of the situation.

The Longmen Kezhan was a route out of the Ning Dynasty. Unless it was something truly significant, her young master would never choose this escape route.

Chen Ji continued: “As a condition, Daozhang can write about me however you wish in your next story. Additionally, if I return safely, I can help Daoting debate with Fo Men one more time.”

“Is that true!” Zhang Li sat on the stone steps, calculating: “Could it be that the imperial court is going to issue another wanted poster for you? Otherwise, why would you flee to a desolate place like Guyuan? This is no small matter; crossing the Taihang Shan, passing through Taiyuan Fu, it’s a long journey with many checkpoints…”

Chen Ji said solemnly: “What does Daozhang want?”

Zhang Li smiled freely: “It’s easy to talk to clever people.”

He pulled out the wordless Heavenly Book from his怀, and then took out the writing brush he used as a hairpin from his hair bun: “How about you write the three characters Li Changge on this book cover?”

The front courtyard buzzed with the chatter of good men and women, while the back courtyard fell silent.

Chen Ji looked at the wordless Heavenly Book, certain that simply writing a name would not be so simple.

At this moment, Zhang Li’s expression was exceptionally serious, just like the day he gambled with the golden pig… The other party seemed to be taking a risk.

But as the chief disciple of Huangshan Daoting, Zhang Li clearly didn’t need to cultivate the *Yaguan Menjing*. What was he gambling on?

Zhang Li stared fixedly at Chen Ji: “What, you don’t dare to write? It seems that little girl’s life isn’t very important to you.”

Chen Ji smiled, taking the brush: “Daozhang need not provoke me.”

Just as he was about to put the brush to paper, Zhang Li suddenly said: “This humble *Daoist* won’t take advantage of you. If you sign your name, there will be benefits for you, and this humble *Daoist* can also give you another divination.”

“What divination?”

Zhang Li countered with a smile: “That depends on what you want to divine.”

Chen Ji thoughtfully said: “I’m looking for someone. Daozhang, please tell me if he’s still in the capital and where I should look for him.”

Zhang Li asked: “What is his surname?”

Chen Ji firmly replied: “Wang.”

Zhang Li pressed his thumb on his knuckles: “He’s still here. Look in the outer city.”

“Thank you,” Chen Ji said no more, picked up the brush, and carefully wrote the three characters, Li Changge, on the blue cover of the wordless Heavenly Book.