Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

When Emperor Huizong saw that Shen Daoyuan had finally arrived with Master Mingfang, he was overjoyed, as if he had seen a savior. He walked to the steps and told Shen Daoyuan and his entourage to dispense with the formalities. Master Mingfang, seeing that the elderly Mo Miaoming of the Imperial Observatory was still kneeling below the steps of the main hall, felt sorry for him and spoke up to Emperor Huizong: "Your Majesty, may I ask if Steward Mo has angered His Majesty?"

Emperor Huizong frowned and said to Master Mingfang, "Both Mo Miaoming and Xiao Minghao insist that my Consort Luo is destined to bring misfortune to her husbands. Do you think they are talking nonsense? They themselves knelt down to remonstrate, not because I punished them."

Upon seeing this, Master Mingfang quickly stepped forward to help Mo Miaoming up and gently advised him, "Lord Mo, you are getting on in years. This humble monk thinks you should take care of your health. If something happens to you while you are kneeling like this, wouldn't that put His Majesty in a difficult position?" Mo Miaoming slowly stood up after hearing this, and Xiao Minghao also took the opportunity to stand up and helped Mo Miaoming to stand aside.

Emperor Huizong witnessed this scene, snorted lightly, and then offered seats to Master Mingfang and Mo Miaoming. After they were seated, Emperor Huizong eagerly said to Master Mingfang, "Master, I invited you here today for no other reason than to have you calculate the fate of my Consort Luo. I don't believe in Mo Miaoming's talk of which stars counteract which stars."

Mo Miaoming and Xiao Minghao were both shocked to hear that Master Mingfang was going to tell Luo Pin's fortune. Fortune telling was traditionally the responsibility of the Imperial Observatory, and generally a specialty of Taoists. For Emperor Huizong to send a Buddhist monk to tell Luo Pin's fortune was utterly absurd—like Pigsy in a red coat.

So, Mo Miaoming said arrogantly to Emperor Huizong, "Your Majesty, I know that Master Mingfang is well-versed in Buddhist scriptures. But fortune-telling has always been the responsibility of the Imperial Observatory, and I do not believe that Master Mingfang can surpass me in this regard." After he finished speaking, he glanced at Master Mingfang, hoping that he would back down.

However, Master Mingfang, with his eyes half-closed, did not immediately refute Mo Miaoming's words. Instead, Chai Nianci, standing to the side, became somewhat impatient, forgetting her promise to Shen Daoyuan before entering the palace. She stepped forward, faced Mo Miaoming, and loudly proclaimed:

"Lord Mo, don't underestimate my master. Back then, Master Mingfang personally calculated our destiny charts for my marriage to Shen Lang. If my master didn't know how to calculate destiny charts, how could he have found such a wonderful husband as Shen Lang for me?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Daoyuan realized that his fiancée was indirectly praising him to the Emperor, so he couldn't very well remain silent. He walked over to Chai Nianci, glanced at her, and said to Emperor Huizong, "I truly must thank Master Mingfang. He calculated our destinies years ago, and found that our fates complement each other perfectly, a match made in heaven. This is why our parents arranged our marriage. I believe Master Mingfang's fortune-telling skills are no less than those of Lord Mo of the Imperial Observatory."

"Lord Shen, I've heard that you've considered breaking off your engagement many times, and even sought to become a nun under Master Mingfang to escape you. How come you're now saying that your marriage to Miss Chai is a match made in heaven, that your destinies are compatible?" Xiao Minghao questioned Shen Daoyuan, causing the latter to blush.

Upon hearing this, Chai Nianci immediately took Shen Daoyuan's hand, intertwined their fingers, and raised both hands to show off to Emperor Huizong, Xiao Minghao, and others. After gazing deeply into Shen Daoyuan's eyes, she said to Xiao Minghao, "Lord Xiao, what you just said clearly shows your jealousy of Shen Lang and me. Although we had some minor disagreements before, we are now deeply in love and our hearts are intertwined. Unlike you, Lord Xiao, who divorced your ex-wife and married a noble lady to gain something precious. I think your fate is more suited to a dog."

"How dare you insult me? This is outrageous!" Xiao Minghao was so angry that his face turned red, and he pointed at Chai Nianci and cursed loudly.

When Master Mingfang saw that Chai Nianci and Xiao Minghao were arguing, he quickly approached Xiao Minghao and said respectfully, "Lord Xiao, my disciple likes to joke around. Please don't take it to heart!"

Xiao Minghao glanced at Master Mingfang and Shen Daoyuan, whose face had darkened. He thought that if he were to speak up and scold Chai Nianci again, Shen Daoyuan would probably lose his temper, and he wouldn't get away with it. He might as well see what Master Mingfang was up to first.

"I will not stoop to the level of a young lady. Please, Master Mingfang, calculate Consort Luo's fate." Xiao Minghao feigned humility, bowing and gesturing for her to proceed.

At this moment, the young eunuch led Chen Jinhuan into the main hall. Today, Chen Jinhuan was dressed in an incomparably magnificent imperial concubine's attire. The dress was made of exquisite silk, embroidered with intricate and delicate patterns, like clusters of blooming flowers exuding a captivating fragrance. As the robes fluttered, they shimmered with a faint pearly light, like stars fallen from the night sky to earth.

She wore a dazzling phoenix crown, inlaid with countless sparkling gems and pearls, each one shimmering with brilliant light, making her face even more beautiful and charming. A few strands of jet-black hair gently fell beside her fair, jade-like cheeks, adding a touch of alluring charm.

A jewel-encrusted belt cinched her waist, accentuating her slender figure. It swayed gently with her steps, producing a clear and melodious sound. Her skirt trailed on the ground like flowing clouds, adorned with patterns woven from gold and silver threads, resembling a magnificent and colorful painting.

When Emperor Huizong saw the beauty arrive, he quickly approached the steps and helped Chen Jinhuan to the front. Without any hesitation, he embraced her, and the two sat together on the dragon throne. This scene was witnessed by Xiao Minghao, Ning Weizhi, and others. Not just any concubine could sit on the dragon throne with the emperor, which showed that Emperor Huizong's doting on Consort Luo was beyond measure.

"Goddess, you've arrived. Quickly extend your hand for Master Mingfang to examine; he will tell your fortune. I don't believe that old man Mo Miaoming's calculations; he must have wronged you." Emperor Huizong of Song pulled Chen Jinhuan's fair wrist, making her extend her palm for Master Mingfang to calculate her fortune.

Master Mingfang ascended the steps, not daring to look directly at Chen Jinhuan. He had only caught a fleeting glimpse of her earlier, yet he was already astonished by her beauty; she truly was like a celestial being, otherworldly and ethereal. No wonder she had aroused the jealousy of the other concubines in the palace, who used the theory of destiny to prevent her from receiving the Emperor's favor. Mingfang didn't dare to pick up Chen Jinhuan's hand to examine it, but instead twisted his neck a few times to carefully observe the lines on her palm.

This woman's palm lines are indeed complex, with too many branches, and the middle palm line is cut off by another palm line, which should mean that she is destined to have a life-or-death calamity. However, the cut palm line will form independently afterward, and the trend is to flow towards the center of the palm, indicating that after she overcomes the calamity, she should have a wealthy and worry-free life in the second half of her life.

Ming Fang knew that Emperor Huizong had summoned him not to hear his true prediction of Consort Luo's fate, but to refute Mo Miaoming's claim that Chen Jinhuan was destined to bring misfortune to her husband. So, he frowned, a plan forming in his mind. He stepped back down the steps and respectfully addressed Emperor Huizong:

“Your Majesty, this humble monk has just examined Consort Luo’s palm and calculated her destiny. Although Consort Luo was not born into a high-ranking family and her early life was full of hardships, she will have a life of wealth and comfort in the second half of her life. Moreover, she will not be a threat to Your Majesty’s empire; on the contrary, she will bring good fortune to her husband.”

Emperor Huizong was delighted with Master Mingfang's words and waved his hand, saying to Master Mingfang below the steps, "I knew Master Mingfang's divination of fate was the most accurate! I want to reward you handsomely, but since you are a monk, I will reward you with one million taels of silver to expand Xiangshan Temple. If the silver is not enough, you can apply to Minister Xiao of the Ministry of Revenue for more without my approval. What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, Master Mingfang, Xiao Minghao, and the others all felt that the Emperor was spoiling Consort Luo too much. Just having someone's fortune told cost one million taels of silver. Was the national treasury built from the Milky Way in the sky? Otherwise, how could it withstand their Emperor spending money like water every day?

Mo Miaoming was the first to stand up and refute Master Mingfang. He glared at him angrily and then said to Emperor Huizong, "Your Majesty, what kind of fate is this bald monk Mingfang calculating? He's completely distorting the truth! I disagree and beg Your Majesty to reconsider. Here is the record of the fate calculation when Chen Jinhuan entered the palace. It clearly states that Consort Luo was destined to bring misfortune to her husbands. Please take a look, Your Majesty!"

Liu Guangyu, with keen insight, stepped forward and took the record book from Mo Miaoming, handing it to Emperor Huizong of Song. Emperor Huizong didn't even bother to look at it, throwing the book down the steps and pointing at Mo Miaoming's nose, yelling, "What makes you think this is the record of the imperial concubine selection from back then? This is definitely fabricated!"

Before Mo Miaoming could explain, Ning Weizhi, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, saw that the time was ripe and stepped forward before Xiao Minghao, approaching the steps and loudly proclaiming to Emperor Huizong, "Your Majesty is wise! The records of the previous year's selection of imperial concubines are indeed fabricated."