My Lady Always Lacks Ambition-Chapter 959 - 938: Someone Trying to Scam?

It’s not that Nian Youwei is deliberately flattering Qin Liuxi, but from the heart, he feels admiration for her. She’s not yet twenty but already has such an understanding, showing that her perspective is broad.

Consider this: every field has its own path, officialdom has its rules, and it’s mostly about connections. Whereas temples and Daoist Temples focus on their efficacy and the abundance of incense offerings. After all, their existence relies on incense oil offerings; without them, how can a temple continue to operate?

People say temples communicate with the gods, monks transcend the mundane, but they are deeply connected with the secular world and cannot sever ties.

Flourishing incense means a thriving temple.

However, those in office and with a grand perspective know that large-scale construction of temples and palatial structures have harmful impacts on the livelihood of the people and even an entire Dynasty. Historical records aren’t scarce with tales of certain Emperors pursuing immortality by constructing grandiose temples and towers for the State Preceptor, exploiting people’s wealth. The more lavish and unreachable they are, the more human and financial resources are drained, causing real hardship predominantly for the common people.

Even though Qin Liuxi herself is a Xuanmen Taoist, she does not support the grand construction of temples, understanding that their proliferation is not a blessing. In the Mystic Sect’s Taoist Temple context, it might seem like undermining, but isn’t her heart good?

This is why Nian Youwei respects her—she also enjoys prosperous incense, but she has principles.

Qin Liu Xi laughed, "Don’t bother with all that. Since you believe in the Dao, you should adhere to the Dao Heart, petition for the people, be a good official, then the people will support you, and you will have boundless merit."

Nian Youwei then gave another bow, indicating he was taught.

The next day was auspicious and suitable for ceremonies of enlightenment.

Qin Liuxi woke up early and, with two younger ones, meditated, performed a Grand Circulation, and then together prepared the items and simple ceremony for enlightenment.

The news of renovations and the invitation to the gods for the City God Temple in South County had spread earlier. The City God Temple here wasn’t large, located in West City. At the second quarter of the hour of Mao, it was already crowded, requiring government guards to maintain order.

Everyone was curious: would a newly reopened City God Temple be efficacious? Which Divine Descent would they be inviting? Would it bless South County, which holds the reputation of being the poorest? Previous County Magistrates rarely dared approach Lord Prefect because they had little to proudly present due to poverty.

Hence, amidst curiosity, people anticipated, craned their necks to look, some carrying baskets with candles and incense, already planning to offer incense for blessings.

Qin Liuxi arrived together with Nian Youwei, first meeting Song Youzi, the temple priest managing the City God Temple, and then inspecting the temple inside and out before preparing for the enlightenment ceremony.

The Grandmaster’s statue had been placed on the consecration table of the City God Temple. The wooden offering table was adorned with fresh fruits, flowers, and other offerings.

Noticing it was getting late and the sunlight was about to cast over here, Qin Liuxi donned her vestment robe and hat, instructing Sanyuan and Teng Zhao to prepare for enlightenment.

Few South County residents had seen enlightenment rituals, initially surprised by Qin Liuxi and her group’s youth, wondering if the true master would grandly appear at the end. Until she wore the vestment robe and hosted the ceremony, the whole crowd was astounded.

Such a young master, is she spiritual?

Nian Youwei had already placed some insiders in the crowd to spread Qin Liuxi’s identity, boasting to almost god-like prowess. If not for Qin Liuxi solemnly officiating the ritual, she might cheekily engage, letting the bragging go sky-high.

He had no choice. It was his proposal to renovate the City God Temple. If it didn’t attract a single incense offering afterward, he’d be quite embarrassed.

Hence, he had to promote externally about the revered status of the City’s Grandmaster and that the Master presiding over the enlightenment was equally prestigious, thus attracting incense offerings.

So, the residents learned that there was a very spiritually efficacious Junior Temple Master in Qingping Temple in Li City, where the earth spirit was vibrant. Her Daoist name was Buqiu. Erecting her living shrine or a longevity plaque would bless the family.

They also learned that this Junior Temple Master was very skilled in medical skills, meticulous in thought, prompting families with sick members to rush over. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Some simply enjoyed watching Qin Liuxi perform Gang Step, ignite talismans and offer them to heaven. Her solemn yet flowing movements astonished spectators. Some unmarried young women blushed directly.

This Taoist defied their usual image of a master with immortal essence, too charming, aspiring to marry.

"Wow, the Divine Descent!"

Suddenly, there was a commotion, and people knelt and bowed.

It turned out the morning light reflected off the mirror held by Teng Zhao onto the Grandmaster’s statue, emitting a golden light, making the statue appear slightly different than before.

This was openinglight to invite the Divine Descent.

After the ceremony, Qin Liuxi instructed Sanyuan to distribute a basket of medicine bags that had basked in the golden light before the Grandmaster. This had been prepared after yesterday’s meal, aiming to bring some incense offerings to the City God Temple.

She then took three incense sticks, offered them mentally, and placed them in the incense burner, fixedly gazing at the Grandmaster’s statue and the space beside it.

Regarding dream invocation, she was somewhat curious about who had sent the dream to Nian Youwei—was it truly to protect the land?

Why did she feel the temple was prepared for a City God?

Could it be that a living soul was destined to become the local City God?

A sense of palpitation arose spontaneously.

"Master, Master, show your spirit, save my young lady at home." Someone yelled loudly outside.

Qin Liuxi turned around. Nian Youwei signaled to his secretary, who immediately went outside and quickly returned, saying, "It’s the notorious troublemaker Lai San in town, asking the Junior Temple Master for medical help for his wife. Probably one of our insides... just now the public passed comments about the Junior Temple Master’s medical skills, so he came."

Nian Youwei’s mouth twitched, his face darkened, saying, "Rascal, is he trying to pull a stunt again?"

"Shall we let him go?" Steward Zhong didn’t want this troublemaker to ruin such a good day.

Nian Youwei nodded, saying, "Be careful..."

"Wait a minute, what’s with this person? You look helpless, wanting to hit him but can’t do anything," Qin Liuxi chuckled.

Nian Youwei sighed in frustration, explaining, "This Lai San is just a troublemaker. After I took office, just because of him, I’ve held court sessions six times. Each time it’s because of his wife’s illness, causing disputes with the medical hall. Besides, he uses his father’s reputation to leverage things whenever fined. His late father was a Scholar Shan, respected for kindness, yet he has a rascal son bringing shame to that reputation. It’s as if Scholar Shan’s lifetime of good name was squandered by this rascal son, so much so that Scholar Shan was too weary to leap from his coffin to deal with it, too exhausted to jump! As for his wife’s illness, nearly every doctor he has tried to extract compensation from in South County ended up empty-handed. Now, it’s your turn."

Qin Liuxi: "..."

Are you possibly casting shade somewhere?