There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 121 The Descent of the Eastern Star

Gu Ziying: "I'm going to Ruyi Temple later."

Li Shuchen smiled upon hearing this, relieved to have someone to accompany her, and said, "What a coincidence, I'm also going to Ruyi Temple."

Upon hearing that the two of them were going, Princess Changning, thinking that she also had nothing to do, said, "I want to go to Ruyi Temple too."

Li Shuchen: "We're going there to do serious business, not to play around."

Princess Changning snorted lightly: "Is it a proper thing for me to go and pray for the soldiers of the Purple Star Dynasty?"

Li Shuchen nodded: "Okay, let's go together."

Princess Changning asked as they walked, "Li Shuchen, what important business do you have at Ruyi Temple?"

Li Shuchen replied, "I'll get a peace charm for Yuying, just to keep her safe."

Princess Changning nodded: "We should ask for one for her. What about Ziying?"

Gu Ziying smiled and said, "I pray that the natural disasters will dissipate as soon as possible, and that the Purple Star Dynasty will enjoy favorable weather and abundant harvests."

Princess Changning nodded again: "We should pray."

The three of them boarded a carriage and arrived at Ruyi Temple together.

As always, Ruyi Temple was crowded. Li Shuchen and her two companions each knelt on a prayer mat, with each holding three sticks of incense.

Together, they knelt and bowed three times, with utmost sincerity, praying that their wishes would be fulfilled.

After Li Shuchen finished kneeling, he asked the young monk beside him...

"Young master, I'd like to ask for a peace charm."

The young monk looked at Li Shuchen and said, "Amitabha, please follow me, female benefactor."

After hearing this, Li Shuchen asked, "Hmm? Do you need to use a peace charm elsewhere?"

I figured that since I'm in such a respectable place, I couldn't possibly do anything improper.

He hesitated for a moment, then followed.

The young monk followed him into a room.

The young monk stepped forward and said, "Abbot, Benefactor Li has arrived."

The abbot opened his eyes and glanced at Li Shuchen.

"Um"

Li Shuchen looked at the abbot sitting cross-legged on the futon, feeling that his whole body was radiating purple light, his face was serene, and his white beard was flowing.

Her demeanor was devoid of all emotions and desires, as if she were about to ascend to immortality at any moment.

Li Shuchen was very impressed and bowed respectfully.

"Abbot, I would like to request a peace charm."

Upon hearing this, the abbot took a fortune-telling container and handed it to Li Shuchen.

"Please, Benefactor Li."

Li Shuchen knelt on the prayer mat, closed his eyes, and began to sway.

"Thump, thump, thump, snap," a bamboo skewer fell out.

Li Shuchen picked it up and examined it.

'The worst possible outcome'

Ugh, that's terrible.

Li Shuchen didn't even glance at the explanation; he quickly put the bamboo skewer back into the bamboo tube, closed his eyes, and shook it again.

"Thump, thump, thump, snap," another one fell out.

Pick it up and check, 'won the lottery'

If the lottery result wasn't good, he put the bamboo stick back into the bamboo tube, closed his eyes, and shook it again.

"Thump, thump, thump, snap," another one fell out.

Pick it up and examine it; it's a 'lucky draw'.

The fortune slip wasn't quite good enough, so he put the bamboo stick back into the bamboo tube, closed his eyes, and shook it again.

"Thump, thump, thump, snap," another one fell out. I picked it up and looked at it.

'Auspicious sign'

Li Shuchen nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, this is good."

He then handed it to the abbot for analysis.

The abbot only said one sentence

"The Eastern Star descends upon the world, and all beings are equal."

Li Shuchen pondered the sentence, "With the arrival of the Eastern Star, all beings are equal?"

That's right, Yu-ying is Tung-sing; all beings will ultimately be equal.

The abbot took a yellow talisman from the offering table and handed it to Li Shuchen.

Li Shuchen took the amulet and said happily to the abbot.

Goodbye, Abbot.

Abbot: "Please take care, Benefactor Li."

Li Shuchen carefully held the peace charm and the protective amulet together in his palm before entering the main hall.

I bowed three more times to the Buddha statue.

After finishing his prayers, he stood up and said, "Alright, let's go."

Princess Changning: "Did you get the peace charm?"

Li Shuchen smiled smugly: "Of course, I even drew the best fortune stick! Don't worry, everything will be alright."

Gu Ziying couldn't contain her joy and said, "This is truly a joyous occasion!"

Princess Changning smiled happily: "Li Shuchen, you're amazing!"

Li Shuchen, with an air of superiority, said: "Hey~, keep it low-key."

The three parted ways at the foot of Ruyi Temple Mountain

Li Shuchen returned to the Happiness Inn, ran upstairs excitedly, and shouted...

"Yuying, look what I got for you at Ruyi Temple!"

Liang Yuying quickly stood up: "What did you ask for?"

Li Shuchen spread his hands: "Look, a peace charm and a protective amulet. I even drew a very auspicious fortune stick; you will definitely return safely from this journey."

Liang Yuying was overjoyed and accepted the amulet and talisman: "Shuchen, thank you."

Li Shuchen waved his hand and said, "No need to thank me. You must wear these amulets and talismans day and night, and never take them off for a moment."

Liang Yuying directly put the two talismans into her bosom, guaranteeing...

"Don't worry, no matter what happens, I won't take it off."

Li Shuchen nodded in satisfaction: "Hmm"

I had just sat down and taken a sip of tea when I heard a sound outside.

"Shu Chen, is it convenient for you to come in?"

Li Shuchen put down his teacup: "It's Ziying. What brings you here now?"

"You can come in."

Gu Ziying walked in first, followed by Xiao Xiuyuan.

Xiao Xiuyuan entered and bowed first.

"Miss Li, I apologize for disturbing you, as you have intimidated the General."

Li Shuchen returned the greeting: "Young Master Xiao, please have a seat. What brings you here, Young Master Xiao?"

Xiao Xiuyuan: "I have come today to discuss something. The Emperor has ordered me to investigate the attack on General Zhenshe yesterday."

Last night, Bai Wuxin's (Young Master Bai's) residence was sealed off, and over one million taels of gold were seized, all of which have been handed over to the Ministry of Revenue.

Upon hearing the amount of money, Li Shuchen's eyes widened: "Over a million taels of gold?"

Xiao Xiuyuan: Yes

That's over ten million taels of silver!

Li Shuchen broke down: "I worked hard for three months and only earned 10,000 taels of silver."

He was in his twenties, yet he already possessed wealth that I didn't have until I was over forty.

No wonder he agreed so easily when I asked him for 100,000 taels of gold.

Liang Yuying: "Presumably, Young Master Xiao has some questions that led him here."

Xiao Xiuyuan: "Yes, Bai Wuxin doesn't own many shops, nor does he have any business dealings."

It's impossible for someone so young to possess such a vast fortune, and among the men in black who attacked the general yesterday were people from the Laji Kingdom.

Liang Yuying: "Laji people. Among the men in black who attacked me last month, there were also Laji people."

Li Shuchen: "No wonder, when I fought the man in black, I smelled a strong fishy odor."

I thought they just didn't like to bathe, and it was because of the hot weather, but it turns out they're from Laji!

Gu Ziying: "It seems that Bai Wuxin has close ties with the people of Laji."

Li Shuchen thought for a moment and replied, "It might not be Bai Wuxin."

Xiao Xiuyuan: "Miss Li, what do you mean by that?"

Li Shuchen: "Bai Wuxin has no status or position, so why do the people of Laji have close ties with him?"

Ziying, Yuying, do you remember Lord Bai who appeared on the day Yuying was appointed as the Great General of Deterrence?

Liang Yuying: "I was deeply impressed. He strongly recommended Bai Wuxin back then. If it weren't for you guys, I would have had to work much harder to become a general."

Gu Ziying: "What could be the relationship between Bai Wuxin and Lord Bai?"

Xiao Xiuyuan: "Lord Bai has only one daughter and no sons."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen began to ponder. Lord Bai looked to be at least sixty years old, and only had one daughter. Given his status and position, that seemed unlikely. Therefore, there was only one truth.