When the butler supported Shen Heqing to the front courtyard, they "happened" to see a monk enter the main courtyard one step ahead.
The monk was wearing a cassock, with a kind - looking face. At first glance, he seemed to be a highly - accomplished Buddhist master.
Seeing the monk, the butler's face lit up with surprise. He whispered to Shen Heqing, "Eldest Young Master, this is the venerable master Huijue. The county - magistrate's son - in - law managed to invite him with great difficulty. Later, we can ask the master to take a look at your fate."
Shen Heqing's heart skipped a beat. He was going to take the imperial examination next year. If he could get some advice from the venerable master, maybe his chances of passing would be higher?
With his future in mind, Shen Heqing gained a bit more strength.
All of Shen Heqing's faint thoughts were clearly seen by Shen Yunfeng through the window.
Shen Yunfeng knew his eldest son too well. Although Shen Heqing could compose poems at the age of eight and was favored by a great Confucian scholar at ten, he rarely came home since then and was well - protected by the Countess Jingning. He was simple - minded and easy to trust others.
The monk Huijue today was specially arranged by Shen Yunfeng for Shen Heqing.
Huijue would attribute all of Shen Heqing's physical discomfort to Shen Baozhu, saying that their fates clashed. If Shen Heqing wanted to succeed in the imperial examination, he needed to send Shen Baozhu to the countryside.
If spending a few months in the countryside could exchange for his own future, any person with a bit of sense would know what to choose.
However, Shen Baozhu had an accident a few days ago and the culprit was still at large. The Countess Jingning always doted on her youngest daughter, so she would surely not agree to this.
In Shen Heqing's eyes, it would seem that the Countess Jingning favored her youngest daughter and didn't care about his future.
When Shen Heqing quarreled with the Countess Jingning because of this, Shen Yunfeng would comfort his eldest son and win him over to his side.
The world has always been harsh on women. A mother who made her own son resent her would naturally be at a disadvantage.
When Shen Heqing entered the front courtyard, Shen Yunfeng was inviting the venerable master Huijue to drink tea in the study. "It's my great fortune to have the honor of inviting the master. I hope the master can take a look at my son and tell me how likely he is to succeed in the imperial examination next year?"
Shen Yunfeng's kind - father act made Shen Heqing's eyes moisten slightly.
The butler beside him added fuel to the fire, "The county - magistrate's son - in - law has been so worried about your imperial examination that he can't eat or sleep well. He finally managed to invite the venerable master Huijue."
Shen Heqing's heart was filled with emotions. He didn't expect his father to care so much about him.
After the butler finished speaking, Shen Yunfeng seemed to just notice Shen Heqing. He stood up in surprise, "Heqing, you're back?"
Shen Heqing tried to contain his excitement and bowed, "Father."
"You've come back at just the right time. The master is here. Come quickly and let the master take a look at you." Thanks to the butler's previous words, Shen Heqing not only didn't resist but was even a bit excited as he came to the venerable master Huijue.
Behind Shen Heqing's back, where he couldn't see, the butler secretly made a gesture to Huijue.
Huijue understood immediately and deliberately said, "Please leave first, County - magistrate's son - in - law. I need to be alone with the eldest young master."
Soon, Shen Yunfeng and the butler left together. Only Shen Heqing and Huijue were left in the room.
When leaving, the butler lit a refreshing spice.
As the spice was lit, the fragrance reached Shen Heqing's nose. His originally muddled mind became much clearer.
Huijue put his hands together, looking like a real Buddhist master. "Amitabha. The eldest young master was born with a noble fate and is assisted by the God of Literature. You're very talented in reading."
"However..."
Huijue deliberately paused. Under Shen Heqing's nervous gaze, he slowly said, "Have you been feeling dizzy and listless recently, even sleepy?"
"Yes, yes, yes! I even see double! You're truly a venerable master. You can tell all this!" Shen Heqing was shocked. His eyes were filled with trust as he looked at Huijue.
Seeing that Shen Heqing completely believed his identity as a venerable master, Huijue pretended to be hesitant, "Eldest Young Master, there's someone in the mansion whose fate clashes with yours!"
"Clash?" Shen Heqing held his breath.
He originally thought it was because he was too tired. He didn't expect that there was someone whose fate clashed with his. Thinking that the imperial examination was only a few months away, Shen Heqing couldn't help but ask, "Can the master tell who it is that clashes with me?"
Huijue shook his head silently and kept his mouth shut.
It wasn't until Shen Heqing was extremely anxious that Huijue slowly said, "It should be a blood relative of the eldest young master, in the southeast. This person has great fortune and is loved by their parents and elder brother. Because of this, their fate clashes with the eldest young master's God of Literature."
"If you want to avoid the clash, the eldest young master needs to separate from this person and be thousands of miles apart."
Shen Heqing thought to himself. A blood relative who was loved by their parents and elder brother and had great fortune... There was probably only one person, his younger sister Baozhu.
His heart skipped a beat. "What will happen if our fates clash?"
"Of course, it will affect the eldest young master's future..." Huijue didn't expect things to go so smoothly. He was faintly excited.
Shen Heqing frowned. "I'm asking what will happen to the other person! Forget it. I can't talk to you."
Ignoring Huijue in front of him, Shen Heqing stood up directly, bowed to Shen Yunfeng and then left the front courtyard. He was going to ask others. If his fate clashed with Baozhu's, it would be terrible.
Shen Heqing strode forward when suddenly someone grabbed the corner of his clothes. He looked down and saw that it was Shen Baozhu.
Shen Baozhu looked up at him with worried eyes. "Brother, are you okay?"
"Does your head still hurt? Baozhu will support you."
"Brother should walk slowly. If you fall, Baozhu will be sad."
The little girl walked up to her elder brother and tightly grabbed Shen Heqing's hand, afraid that if she let go, her brother would fall.
Shen Heqing felt a warm feeling in his heart. He held Shen Baozhu's hand and comforted her, "It's okay. You wait here. Brother will go back to the front courtyard to get something."
When Shen Heqing returned to the front courtyard, his first words were, "Father, I've made up my mind. I'm going on a study tour."
These words surprised Shen Yunfeng, the butler and Huijue.
Shen Yunfeng's face turned ashen. "We've already discussed with your teacher about you taking the imperial examination next year. Going on a study tour at this time is just nonsense!"
"Just now, the venerable master Huijue said that I clash with Baozhu. We need to be thousands of miles apart to be safe. Baozhu is still young and can't leave her parents. Going on a study tour is the best choice for me." Shen Heqing's words were reasonable, but they made Shen Yunfeng so angry that he couldn't speak.
In a fit of anger, Shen Yunfeng blurted out what was on his mind, "Then send Baozhu away. You don't need to leave!"
Shen Heqing didn't agree with this proposal. He refused, "Father, you're being unreasonable. Baozhu is only five years old, at an innocent and carefree age when she should be cared for by her parents. It's too cruel to make her leave her loved ones. Moreover, the venerable master Huijue also said that Baozhu has great fortune. It should mean that I should stay away from her."
Hearing the determination in Shen Heqing's words, Shen Yunfeng's face became even darker.
But Shen Heqing misunderstood this as Shen Yunfeng being worried about him. He comforted him, "The venerable master Huijue has some skills. I've only been with him for a short while, and my mind has become much clearer. He said that I'm assisted by the God of Literature. When I return from my study tour, I'm sure to pass the imperial examination..."
Shen Yunfeng couldn't listen anymore. He interrupted Shen Heqing and said bluntly, "Since it's Baozhu whose fate clashes with yours, just send Baozhu away. You're going to take the imperial examination next year!"
Among the younger generation of the Shen family, Shen Heqing was the most talented in reading. The Shen family was counting on him to pass the imperial examination and set a good example for his peers.
At this critical moment, Shen Yunfeng didn't dare to let him go on a study tour.
But Shen Heqing's attitude was also very firm. "We can't send Baozhu away. She's only five years old. How can we send her away?"
Shen Yunfeng looked at his eldest son in frustration. "The venerable master Huijue said that Baozhu's fate clashes with yours. Do you choose your sister or your future? Moreover, we're just sending Baozhu away for a while. We can pick her up after your imperial examination."
Shen Heqing was very dissatisfied. "Father makes it sound so easy. It's just for a while. Baozhu is my own sister, my flesh and blood. Just because of a casual word from that bald monk, we're going to make Baozhu leave. It's simply absurd!"
At first, he kept calling Huijue "Venerable Master". But seeing that Shen Yunfeng wanted to send Shen Baozhu away because of a single word, Shen Heqing immediately changed his tune and wished he could kick Huijue out right away.
The father and son parted on bad terms.
Shen Yunfeng looked at Shen Heqing's departing back in disbelief. He didn't expect that his eldest son was such a fool who would abandon his future.
The butler asked小心翼翼, "Sir, what should we do now?"
"What do you mean what should we do? You're asking me. Who should I ask?"
Shen Yunfeng angrily threw out these words and then left with a flick of his sleeve.