Scientific Travel

The Imperial Preceptor's Residence, this solemn and majestic mansion, holds countless memories for Chi Lin from childhood to adulthood. Although time has passed and the position of Imperial Preceptor has changed hands twice, the courtyard where he resides has remained unchanged.

After arranging for Mei Shengke to stay in a quiet and elegant guest room, Chi Lin hurried to the old national teacher's courtyard.

Speaking of this old national advisor, although everyone respectfully calls him "old national advisor," he is actually not yet forty years old and is in his prime, showing no signs of aging.

When Chi Lin appeared before the old Grand Preceptor, the latter was slightly taken aback, his gaze instantly focusing on Chi Lin's slightly disheveled hair. "Your hair... what's going on?" the old Grand Preceptor asked, his face full of astonishment.

Upon hearing the question, Chi Lin subconsciously lowered his head, as if this would allow him to avoid the old Grand Preceptor's sharp, knife-like gaze. After a moment of silence, he slowly raised his head and softly replied, "It's nothing serious."

Immediately afterward, Chi Lin took a deep breath, composed himself, and then solemnly said to the old Grand Preceptor, "I have returned this time because I have a favor to ask of you. I hope you can help me find some people who are willing to have their fortunes told. I will charge ten million gold coins for each person, and I need to find a total of eight clients." After saying this, he gazed quietly at the old Grand Preceptor, waiting for his response.

"Are you insane?" The old Grand Tutor strode forward, grabbing a lock of Chi Lin's hair. "Look at yourself now! You've gone out for a while, and your white hairs outnumber your black ones. Have you forgotten that when your hair turns completely white, that will be the day you die?"

"I haven't forgotten." Chi Lin tried to remain calm, but faced with death, he found himself unable to stay composed.

"Didn't you always tell me that I was born to be ready to sacrifice myself for the sake of all living beings? Now that I'm ready, you're telling me to cherish my life, is that it?" Chi Lin retorted.

"But are you sacrificing yourself for the sake of all living beings?" the old national advisor said. "When have I ever mistreated you financially? Now you're willing to use your own life to calculate the fates of mortals for money. When have I ever taught you such things?"

"Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I'm the kind of person who values ​​money more than life itself?" Chi Lin's eyes reddened, perhaps because his death was imminent, and the grievances he had suppressed for many years burst forth like a dam breaking.

Seeing this, the old imperial advisor said, "Then tell me! Tell me what you need the money for, and I can work with you to find a solution."

Chi Lin replied, "No need. You just need to help me find people. As for how to raise the money... I have my own way."

The old imperial advisor had always disliked Deng Yin, considering her nothing more than a charlatan. However, the new emperor was utterly foolish and trusted Deng Yin implicitly.

The old Grand Preceptor was aware of Chi Lin's trip with the Emperor, and knew that they were going to find Deng Yin. Chi Lin had only told the old Grand Preceptor that he was just passing by and happened to want to visit Xiye City.

The rain was too heavy at the time, and the old national teacher was worried about Chi Lin going alone, so he finally agreed to let him go with Cui Wuji. If Chi Lin were to reveal now that his purpose in asking for money was to get Deng Yin to help him, the old national teacher would not only refuse to help him find guests, but might even lock him up at home.

Although the old imperial advisor wasn't particularly talented in fortune-telling, his current status was not only due to having Chi Lin, who could predict fate, by his side, but also to his own intelligence.

Chi Lin was gone for half a year, and only one letter came back during that time—the one he had sent before his return. The letter contained the same message as the purpose of his trip: to ask the old Grand Tutor to find someone.

The winds are currently raging, and their strength is astonishing. Even people who are outdoors are in danger of being blown away by the wind, let alone those small carrier pigeons.

When the carrier pigeon arrived at its destination, it looked utterly disheveled, covered in dust and even with bloodstains on its legs. Yet, despite these hardships, it successfully delivered the letter, fulfilling its mission.

Ordinary homing pigeons can't do this...

The leg band on the homing pigeon's leg, used to carry messages, also proves this point. The leg bands on ordinary homing pigeons are mostly made of bamboo, but the leg band on this homing pigeon is made of aluminum.

Aluminum anklets were mostly used in the military or the palace.

This time, Chi Lin did not return alone; he brought back a woman. It seems the key to the problem lies with this woman. Just then, the man sent to investigate the woman returned, and he leaned close to the old Grand Tutor's ear and whispered something.

“Mei Shengke…” the old imperial advisor murmured to himself.

"If you have something to do, you can go ahead and do it. I'll be leaving now." Although Chi Lin didn't hear what that person said to the old national advisor, it must have been related to him, since the old national advisor had just glanced at him. Rather than staying here and watching them chat amongst themselves, he decided to leave first.

The old imperial advisor didn't try to stop him: "Alright, you can go back and wait. I need to think about this matter some more." Chi Lin didn't reply. He was wondering who else he could ask to introduce him...

After Chi Lin left, the old Grand Preceptor dismissed the servants and stayed alone in his room.

He wondered how Chi Lin could be involved with Mei Shengke.

Mei Shengke's mother was a courageous person, but unfortunately, she made a wrong step and lost everything.

Falling in love with the wrong person will never end well.

What about Chi Lin? This is the first time he's brought a girl home. At this age, it's the time when a child's heart is just beginning to open to love.

Mei Shengke, like her mother, was a good person, but good people often don't have good endings.

The emperor was wary of the Mei family, which is why Mei Shengke, despite all these years, had only managed to rise to the rank of deputy general. If Chi Lin were to be with her, it would inevitably intensify the emperor's fear of the Mei family.

After all, the emperor knew Chi Lin's identity, and behind Chi Lin... was the entire Imperial Preceptor's Mansion.

He had no apprentices or children, and in the Emperor's eyes, the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion would inevitably fall into Chi Lin's hands after his death. But if Chi Lin truly ended up with Mei Shengke, the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion would likely suffer the same fate as the Mei family...

No! Everything he did was to uphold the honor of the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion, and he would never allow that honor to be extinguished in his hands!

Although the Mei family had declined, Mei Shengke's father had been a businessman, and the family was quite wealthy, comparable to ordinary aristocratic families. It seems this young man's sudden desire for so much money is to save up for his bride price…

In that case, he won't get a single penny!

The old national advisor analyzed a lot of things, and although the process was somewhat flawed, the result was correct.

If he knew that Chi Lin wanted the money to bribe Deng Yin, he wouldn't let Chi Lin get a single penny.

Once you know the reason behind the matter, it becomes much easier to handle.

Since Chi Lin is now an orphan, such an important matter as marriage naturally falls to his senior brother, the old Imperial Advisor.

As long as he doesn't give in, then these two can forget about being together!

Chi Lin returned empty-handed and went to Mei Shengke.

He rarely interacts with people outside of the Imperial Preceptor's residence.

Mei Shengke holds an official position, so he must know many wealthy people, right?