Chapter 1

In the early morning, in the western suburbs of Jingcheng, inside a dilapidated old Taoist temple.

"Taoist Priest Grandpa, you're not lying to me, are you? Will my parents really come to pick me up today?"

An old Taoist faced the little child before him, so excited that tears were about to fall—he had finally waited for this day!

"Of course! Just rest assured!"

Beside her, the two young Taoists— the shorter one placed her small bundle on her back.

The taller one smoothed the little tuft of hair on her head: "Little Tuan Tuan, from now on, when you pick up something you like, put it in your bundle so no one sees you stealing it!"

Tuan Tuan wiped the smile from her face, looking serious: "Mm-hmm, I know! I can't let anyone know my junk is treasure!"

Tuan Tuan wore a pretty little floral dress, lifted her soft, round, chubby little face, tilted her head toward the old Taoist, and showed two small dimples: "I won't go anywhere—I'll just sit here and wait for them!"

The old Taoist's face twitched, "May the Three Pure Ones bless us! No matter what, we must bring this little ancestor's parents today!"

Five years ago, this little girl was still in swaddling clothes, left at the temple's gate.

In the swaddling clothes lay only a note: "Five years later, today."

Sigh, I don't know whose child this is—how pitiful.

Will your parents come to fetch you in five years? All right, then I, the poor Taoist, will raise you for five years.

He sighed, took the little girl into the temple, and seeing her helpless and alone, he named her Tuan Tuan, hoping that one day she could reunite with her family.

Who would have thought that after Tuan Tuan arrived, this remote, neglected little temple suddenly gained many worshippers, and even the wild beasts that used to frequent the surrounding mountains stopped coming.

At the time, everyone in the temple sighed, "What a lucky star!"

Who would have imagined that this little lucky star had a fatal flaw—she loves picking up junk!

She would take any chickens, ducks, geese, cattle, or sheep she saw unattended in the nearby village, even stealing stools and bowls from people's doorsteps, all quietly carried back.

Not only did she bring them back, she hid them everywhere so no one could find them; now whenever something went missing at a household, everyone would come to the temple to search, and only after much coaxing would she relinquish the items.

The temple was nearly turned into a junkyard by her collecting; the old Taoist could do nothing but wonder if her parents never came to take her away, the temple might have to be rebuilt.

It worried the old Taoist to death, counting the days on his fingers.

Finally enduring until this fifth-year anniversary, he looked up at the blue sky, "Heavens! Five years! How have I spent these five years!"

The old Taoist's eyes filled with hot tears as he sincerely told her, "You are the child of a wealthy family in Jingcheng; your household is plagued by misfortune, so they had no choice but to send you to the temple to be raised."

On that day, your parents left a note in the swaddling clothes: they would come to fetch you back today, five years later.

Wherever you go, good things happen; your family eagerly awaits your return to bring peace and fortune to the household!

Tuan Tuan believed him.

"Taoist Priest Grandpa, don't worry! Once my parents come to fetch me, I will surely rescue my family and then bring you to enjoy blessings!"

"And you too!" Tuan Tuan looked at the two young Taoists, "You'll both come to my house and eat lots and lots of delicious food!"

The two young Taoists smiled and nodded.

At the same time, in Jingcheng, the ancestral hall of the Ning Prince's Mansion.

Princess Consort Cheng Ru'an, dressed in plain clothes, knelt before the offering table.

Prince Ning, Xiao Yuanhang, over thirty years old, is a kinsman of a cadet branch of the current imperial house.

He once was a war general, fought on battlefields, earned great military merit, and was ennobled as Prince Ning.

After the wars finally ended, he ought to have enjoyed peace, but Prince Ning suddenly fell prey to a strange illness, lingering sick in bed for over two years.

When the imperial physicians heard that the Ning Prince's Mansion had summoned them, they all secretly shook their heads—this strange ailment of his was beyond treatment.

The emperor issued an edict posting notices to summon renowned physicians from all over the realm, yet they were all helpless.

Although the Princess Consort and Prince Ning are deeply affectionate, they have no offspring of their own; the mansion's three sons are all born of concubines, each suffering from some chronic ailment, and the Princess Consort spends her days in gloom, aside from burning incense and praying in the ancestral hall for the blessings of her forebears, she has long had no other recourse.

She pinched incense in her hand, her lips pallid, murmuring incessantly.

"The Prince has fought for the nation with iron resolve; he should not suffer this torment. I beg the ancestors to bless him, to take away his pain—even if it shortens my life, I would do so willingly."

She spoke on, her voice choking: "The three boys in the mansion, though not my own flesh, are still the Prince's bloodline; yet for some unknown reason, each suffers his own ailment. As their stepmother, I am powerless, and I am truly anxious."

She paused: "These years, the Ning Prince's Mansion has been storm-tossed, everything going awry, worsening day by day. I beg the ancestors to open their eyes, point the way, and give the mansion a path to survival…"

After praying, she most devoutly slipped the incense gently into the burner.

Just as she turned and reached the hall's door, she was so startled she stumbled back two steps.

She saw countless ants suddenly appear on the ground, vaguely forming nine characters.

Tuan Tuan, the ruined temple, western suburbs of Jingcheng.

A temple? Tuan Tuan? What is that?

Cheng Ru'an's face turned deathly pale; beside her, Lady Liu hurriedly supported her: "My lady! What is this?"

She froze for a moment, then sharply turned her head to glance at the countless spirit tablets on the offering table, gritted her teeth, and thought, "Whatever it is, treat a dead horse as if it were alive!"

She straightened her posture: "Hitch the carriage! To the western suburbs of Jingcheng, to find that ruined temple!"

Tuan Tuan waited and waited, waited and waited, yet today not a single stray worshipper appeared, unlike the usual few.

Unable to sit still, she sprang up and headed out: "Taoist Priest Grandpa, I'm going out to play! When my parents come, tell them to wait a moment for me!"

The old Taoist resigned: "Then come back early!"

Got it!

As the sky gradually darkened, a carriage stopped at the temple's gate.

Lady Liu helped Cheng Ru'an alight from the carriage: "My lady, this is already the third attempt; if we still cannot find Master Tuan Tuan, let's call it a day—you're exhausted."

Cheng Ru'an nodded, and the two entered the temple.

Seeing their fine attire, the old Taoist asked: "May I ask, honored guests, are you here to offer incense or to draw lots?"

Cheng Ru'an shook her head: "Thank you, Taoist Priest. May I ask whether there is a Master Tuan Tuan here?"

The old Taoist stared blankly: "We have Tuan Tuan, but no Master."