My Lady Always Lacks Ambition-Chapter 987 - 960: Don’t Go Against That Ancestor

Upon learning that Qin Meiniang hadn’t returned to the capital, Qin Liuxi went to see her. When Qin Meiniang saw her, she was so excited that her eyes turned red and repeatedly asked where she had been all these years.

"Your sisters have been worrying about you terribly. Now that you’re back, have you sent them a letter?"

Qin Liuxi shook her head and said, "I’ll make a trip to the capital in a few days."

"That sounds good. They have missed you very much over the years." Qin Meiniang said, "I’ve been managing the candied fruit shop for you. Wait a moment, I’ll have the shopkeeper send over the account books for you to review."

"No need. I never planned to take the shop back. If it’s yielding good profits, please either give the silver to Chief Li or exchange it for stored rice and grains for me." Qin Liuxi stopped her.

Qin Meiniang agreed and added, "About your master, I’m truly sorry for what happened."

Qin Liuxi smiled, "It’s fine, birth, aging, illness, and death are all part of life. Has Yu Yan gotten married?"

Qin Meiniang nodded. "Mrs. Yu arranged the match. She married into a family in the Prefecture City that values farming and studying. Their surname is Miao. Though they’re a bit poor, the family is simple. Her parents-in-law are easygoing, and there’s a younger sister-in-law. Her husband is also a scholar, quite decent, and diligent in his studies. I prepared a fairly generous dowry for her, and their life is going well. If her husband has luck and passes the exams to become a scholar, then I can be at ease."

"And Yuqing?" Qin Liuxi looked at Qin Yuqing, who stood to the side, and said, "She must have reached the coming of age this year, right?"

Qin Yuqing nodded. "Elder cousin, I’ve already come of age."

"I’ve no intention to remarry and have already established a female household. With Yu Yan married off, Qing’er will stay at home and bring a husband in. The future children will carry the Qin surname." Qin Meiniang was already planning ahead.

Qin Liuxi looked at Qin Yuqing, who blushed furiously and lowered her head, and said, "The Red Bird Star hasn’t moved yet, so there’s no rush. Marrying later, when she’s older and stronger, will make childbearing easier."

"Elder cousin!" Qin Yuqing was so embarrassed that she buried her head in her chest.

Although Qin Meiniang felt a little regret about her younger daughter’s marriage not being imminent, she wasn’t very upset. After all, she was only coming of age this year, and her eldest daughter married somewhat late as well. It’s like Qin Liuxi said, having children later isn’t bad either.

Short on time, Qin Liuxi reached an agreement with Qin Meiniang about the shop and left. She didn’t linger in the city since she still had to serve as the temple priest at the City God Temple. However, before heading back to South County, she visited the Daoist Temple.

"Over the past three years, the peace charms needed by the Daoist Temple and the talismans needed for the grand Daoist rituals have been crafted well by you. You’re qualified to hold the position of Junior Temple Master." Qin Liuxi brought Teng Zhao to a secret room known only to successors and spoke, "This place enshrines the tablets of past masters and life plates. As the next successor, you need to be aware of this."

Teng Zhao nodded, took an incense stick, offered a few bows, and inserted it into the incense burner.

"Life plates are made using heart blood and birth dates through a spell, representing each person’s fate. Like a soul lamp, when the lamp goes out, the person dies, and the life plate shatters." Qin Liuxi looked at the few remaining life plates and said, "The purpose of life plates is to inform the living of the fate of those connected to them. If there’s a crack, it indicates danger. Hopefully, we can act in time to avoid regrets."

Teng Zhao took a glance and saw that Chi Yuan Master’s life plate had already been put away.

Qin Liuxi then led him to a stone table etched with the Eight Diagram and said, "Da Yan Divination requires a lot of spirit and spiritual power. You’re young and shouldn’t use this magic lightly. Firmly consolidating your foundation and cultivation is the correct path. Otherwise, without sufficient cultivation, your spiritual power would be inadequate to complete a Da Yan Divination, and the backlash would be severe."

"I understand, Master." Teng Zhao said sheepishly, "I’m not yet skilled enough to use the Da Yan Skill for divination."

Qin Liuxi curved her lips, "Don’t underestimate yourself. Your talent is excellent. You just need perseverance and cultivation, and your skills will gradually improve. The process of cultivation is destined to be long and tedious, but if you find joy in it, you’ll discover its deeper meanings and pleasures."

Teng Zhao nodded, pursed his lips, and asked, "Are you telling me all this because you plan to leave again?"

"Why do you think that?"

Teng Zhao lowered his head.

"I’m just saying whatever comes to mind. Don’t worry, I won’t leave secretly. If you want to come along, you can join me on a trip to Shengjing." Qin Liuxi said, "After all, it’s been years since you last saw your father."

Teng Zhao frowned, "I want to go just because you’re going. I only want to follow you and learn. As for my family, I have no desire to visit them."

Born with indifferent emotions, he wasn’t close to his family. After Enlightenment, he became even more emotionally distant. To him, the Teng family was just a shared bloodline; their paths were not the same.

Over the years, he hadn’t thought much about them.

Qin Liuxi didn’t persuade him. She simply tousled his hair and said, "When the incense at the City God Temple is stable, I’ll come to fetch you."

"Alright."

Leaving the secret room, Qin Liuxi told Qing Yuan she wanted to take Sha Yuanzi away.

Qing Yuan was taken aback and asked cautiously, "He has nowhere else to go and is quite clueless. It’s not ideal for him to become a beggar."

Qin Liuxi’s face turned green, thinking that Qing Yuan believed she was cruel enough to throw the fool away.

"The City God Temple in South County needs someone. I can’t always be there as a full-time priest. It would be good for him to guard it." Qin Liuxi said irritably, "He’s a bit slow, but he’s not completely ignorant. With his innate talent, he can use the skills he’s learned. Guarding a City God Temple will be enough."

All she did to him was a Soul Search, which affected his mind but didn’t render him completely foolish. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have managed to find Heavenly Mountain that day.

Qing Yuan awkwardly said, "Master had once specifically brought him back to the temple. I just fear you might unintentionally go against his wishes."

"Stop pretending. I know you thought I was going to discard him." Qin Liuxi snorted.

Qing Yuan defended, "That’s not the case."

Qin Liuxi glanced at Sha Yuanzi squatting in the corner, "If I really intended to harm him, no one could stop me, not even our old master. He’s fortunate that our master saved him."

Otherwise, Sha Yuanzi would already be accompanying Chi Zhenzi, would he still be squatting here drawing circles?

Since the old master saved him, it’s only right for Sha Yuanzi to stay at the master’s territory and guard it.

If he’s lucky, he might even gain some divine light. She was paving a beautiful path for him, but he didn’t realize it.

Feeling guilty, Qing Yuan dared not face the increasingly assertive Qin Liuxi. He walked over to Sha Yuanzi, stood at his side, and earnestly instructed him to be obedient and not confront the ancestor. Otherwise, even if he begged, he’d be powerless.