Capítulo 742: Chapter 726: Please Help, Junior Temple Master

Qin Liuxi looked at one of the plump and round noble ladies, revealing a slight smile, and the woman also paused upon seeing her, quickly approaching.

“Junior Temple Master, didn’t expect to see you here. When we arrived, Master Qingyuan mentioned that you were not at the temple.”

This person was none other than Mrs. Yu Qiucai. Seeing Qin Liuxi, her face lit up with joy and excitement.

“I just came up the mountain.” Qin Liuxi smiled and performed a Taoist ceremony. “It’s been a while, Mrs. Yu, you seem to have prospered quite a bit.”

Mrs. Yu’s cheeks blushed slightly as she giggled, “It’s just because I gave birth to my second child, I’ve been nourished a bit too well.”

“Your complexion is rosy, you have both sons and daughters, and you and your husband are loving. Such blessings are rare. Mrs. Yu, no need to rush to slim down, you look very good as it is.” Qin Liuxi continued with a few flattering remarks and looked toward another lady next to her, slightly unfamiliar but also dignified and prosperous, seeming kind-hearted.

Everyone likes to hear praises, and Mrs. Yu smiled even more brightly, quickly pulling the person next to her and introducing her: “This is the wife of the newly appointed Deputy Magistrate Cheng of Li City. She just arrived with Mr. Cheng two months ago.”

Qin Liuxi also performed a Taoist ceremony: “Mrs. Cheng.”

Qin Liuxi already knew last year that Zhao Tong, who was under the Meng Family, would be removed, and indeed he was replaced.

Mrs. Cheng had heard from Mrs. Yu about the impressive young Junior Temple Master and was sizing her up out of amazement at her appearance and stature. Just now, watching her carefree demeanor, she thought inwardly that her attire and posture were like that of a young man.

She had also been immersed in the inner quarters for many years, skilled in social interactions to her bones. She smiled and said, “I’ve often heard from Mrs. Yu about the elegance of the Junior Temple Master. Seeing you today is indeed like seeing an Exiled Immortal, exceptional in style.”

Qin Liuxi humbly exchanged a few pleasantries.

“You all should stop exaggerating each other’s virtues, good people. The birthdate you brought isn’t correct,” Master Qingyuan spoke up, growing impatient with their back-and-forth praise.

Mrs. Cheng paused in her smile.

The birthdate is incorrect?

Her expression changed several times as she looked at Master Qingyuan, quickly inquiring, “What exactly is wrong with it? Are there conflicts?”

The real reason for visiting Qingping Temple today was to match the birthdates between her daughter and a talented young man they were considering for marriage. If it was a heavenly match, the marriage would be set.

Indeed, as soon as the news of the selections broke out, even the Cheng family couldn’t stay calm. They genuinely loved their daughter and did not want to send her to the palace to participate in the selections, already having a favored young man in mind, just cautiously testing the waters. But once the selection’s news emerged, they wanted to quickly secure the engagement to avoid sending their daughter to participate.

Although they were not sure she would be chosen, what if?

The Deputy Magistrate and his wife cherished their daughter enormously and didn’t wish to take any risks.

But now, Master Qingyuan stated that the birthdate was incorrect, could the marriage not proceed?

Master Qingyuan hesitated, looking at Qin Liuxi.

Qin Liuxi asked, “Is this birthdate for the young man being considered for marriage with Miss Cheng’s daughter?”

She took another birthdate, calculated it, and found that this girl’s marriage prospects were not smooth. If married young, her early married life would be troubled, with frequent quarrels with her husband, though her later years would be peaceful, surrounded by children and grandchildren.

But this was quite sad. At a woman’s prime age of just over ten or twenty years old, to spend half her life in arguments just to enjoy peace in old age? By then, frail and nearing death, how many years would there be left to enjoy?

Mrs. Yu felt a twinge in her heart and asked, “Is there something wrong with this young man?”

“This person’s birthdate indicates he is already deceased.”

“What?”

“Impossible!”

Both Mrs. Yu and Mrs. Cheng were shocked. The latter even more angrily, how could she possibly use a dead man’s birthdate for her daughter’s marriage matching? Wasn’t that like arranging a match with a ghost?

Mrs. Cheng’s expression turned sour, speaking up, “Junior Temple Master, are you sure you didn’t make a mistake? This person is very much alive and currently studying at the Prefecture School.”

Her tone held a touch of disbelief, inwardly cursing the ill fortune.

Anyone hearing such a thing would feel a bit cursed, especially when it involved the person whose birthdate was supposed to match their daughter’s.

Mrs. Yu gently tugged at Mrs. Cheng’s sleeve, explaining, “Indeed, he is a student at the Prefecture School, and he’s a scholar as well. Actually, he’s also here in the temple now, probably in the back mountain.”

Not only was that person present, but Mrs. Cheng’s daughter, Cheng Ruolian, was also there—it was meant for them to ‘meet’ again.

Qin Liuxi wasn’t annoyed, saying, “One error could be a mistake, but could two also be wrong? My senior brother and I have both calculated, and this person is no longer among the living. If you say he is alive, then only it can be said that the birthdate isn’t his.”

Mrs. Cheng paused, stunned.

This wasn’t impossible – why then would Qiu Zibai deceive them with a fake birthdate?

“Is this person really dead?” Mrs Cheng persisted.

Qin Liuxi nodded, “I swear by the Grandmaster.”

The matter had now turned quite serious.

Mrs. Cheng’s frown deepened. If the man was alive but the birthdate was fake, that indicated major character flaws.

But it didn’t make sense. Although Qiu Zibai’s family had declined, a decrepit boat still had three pounds of nails; he came from an esteemed background. Furthermore, according to his teachers and peers, he was humble and courteous, talented in literature, and had passed the scholar examination before reaching twenty. If not for breaking his hand suddenly during this year’s Imperial Examination season, he would have gone to the capital to take the exams, missing it due to misfortune.

Why would such a person trick them with a fake birthdate? What was his motive?

Mrs. Yu, however, thought of Qin Liuxi’s enigmatic skills, suggesting, “Junior Temple Master, the birthdate is fixed, but the person is alive. Since he’s right here in the Daoist Temple, could you possibly discern the truth?”

Mrs. Cheng paused.

Mrs. Yu said to her, “Dear sister, this concerns Lian’er’s lifelong matter; we cannot afford any negligence. Since it has come to this, yet a fake birthdate was used, what does that mean? The Junior Temple Master has an eye of golden clarity and can definitely discern if he is human or a ghost.”

Mrs Cheng looked at Qin Liuxi with hopeful eyes.

Qin Liuxi smiled and said, “Since it’s a request from good people, I shall certainly comply.”

Both women sighed with relief.

They left the rear hall, just stepping onto the back mountain stairs when they saw an exceptionally beautiful and elegant lady, flanked by maids and matrons, descending.

Following about ten steps behind her was a fair-faced young man in a dark green robe.

“Lian’er.” Mrs. Cheng was a bit excited upon seeing her daughter.

Qin Liuxi looked at the young man, her gaze deep.

“That’s Qiu Zibai.” Mrs. Yu whispered to Qin Liuxi.

Qin Liuxi scoffed lightly, “Report to the authorities.”

Mrs. Yu, “?”

Mrs. Cheng turned back in astonishment.

Qin Liuxi, watching the dark shadow behind the man, declared, “He’s not the real Qiu Zibai.”