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As dusk settled, Liu Ying stepped out of the palace, feeling unsettled. Earlier, the Emperor had summoned her, but instead of inquiring about the strange phenomenon observed by Tai Bai, he focused on the divination related to the Qixi Festival. In front of the court, she dared not withhold any information and detailed the methods of calculation. To her surprise, after listening, the Emperor remarked meaningfully, "This matter is of great importance; Liu Qing must take it to heart."
"Miss, this way please; the carriage is waiting at the estate," A Fu said, leading the way.
Liu Ying waved her hand. "No need; let the carriage return first. I wish to walk through the streets and gather my thoughts."
"But... it's almost dark..." A Fu tried to persuade her, but Liu Ying had already taken a step forward.
The summer twilight lingered unusually long. The streets were still bustling with pedestrians, and distant shouts echoed in the air. As Liu Ying walked, she pondered the Emperor's words. She couldn't shake the feeling that this Qixi divination was more complicated than it seemed.
"With Tai Bai in the sky and Zi Wei losing its brilliance, benefactor fate encounters peach blossoms; this year there will surely be Serendipitous Encounter!"
A hoarse voice suddenly rang out from a street corner, causing Liu Ying to pause. Wasn't that precisely what she had observed? Looking up, she saw a ragged young man in front of a tea house, shaking his head and muttering to himself.
"Xu the Madman is at it again," scoffed a passing vendor.
The man known as Xu the Madman seemed oblivious to the mockery and continued waving his paper fan while reciting, "On July 7th, when the Milky Way opens, those destined will meet across a thousand miles..."
Liu Ying felt a stir in her heart. Though his words sounded mad, each one struck at something significant. Just as she hesitated whether to approach him, he turned around.
As the moonlight began to rise, it illuminated his seemingly disheveled yet handsome face. What stood out most were his eyes—unusually bright and devoid of any madness.
"May I ask if this esteemed young lady is master Liu from Qintian Observatory?" he suddenly spoke, his voice clear and distinct from moments before.
Liu Ying was taken aback and instinctively took half a step back. A Fu rushed forward. "You madman! How dare you be so rude!"
"Rude?" The man grinned widely and returned to his eccentric demeanor. "The stars have spoken; master Liu entered the palace today for an audience and must have passed by here!"
Liu Ying's heart skipped a beat. How could anyone outside Qintian Observatory know about her audience with the Emperor today?
"A Fu," she whispered urgently, "go find out how long this person has been selling fortunes here."
A Fu complied and hurried off. Meanwhile, the madman resumed his mutterings: "Venus is an interesting star. It says that this year in the capital city, there will be a Serendipitous Encounter that comes to fruition. master Liu should pay attention... pay attention..."
With that, he unsteadily got to his feet, brushed off some dust from his clothes, and turned to walk deeper into the Drunken Immortal Tavern. In the moonlight, his frail figure appeared somewhat desolate yet carried an inexplicable significance.
"Miss!" A Fu panted as he returned. "I found out! This man has been selling fortunes here for three years and is known as Xu the Madman. But..."
"But what?"
"But over these three years, he only appears on certain specific days. Moreover..." A Fu lowered his voice, "the locals say he predicts accurately but never accepts payment."
Liu Ying gazed thoughtfully in the direction where he had disappeared. In that fleeting moment earlier, she had clearly seen a glimmer of clarity in his eyes. He was no madman; he was clearly...
"Let's go," she said as she turned around.
On the way home, Liu Ying's mind was filled with the words of that person. Venus, Serendipitous Encounter, Qixi... everything seemed to point towards something, yet it remained elusive and unclear.
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