Jiang Yuxin gave Li Chonglou a string of blessed wooden beads, each carved with scriptures, said to ward off evil and bring good luck.
Li Chonglou was touched and said, "I will treasure these lucky beads well. When our child is born, I'll leave them for him for protection."
Jiang Yuxin immediately rolled her eyes, then took the box, took out the bead bracelet, and personally helped Li Chonglou put it on.
"When the child is born, they will have their own things. This is for you. You can't take it off anymore."
Li Chonglou chuckled and said contentedly, "As expected, I'm still the first."
"You're so glib, so childish." Jiang Yuxin said helplessly, then took Li Chonglou's hand.
"How long will you be gone this time?"
Li Chonglou thought for a moment and shook his head, "I don't know, but if things go smoothly, I should be back soon."
"And if they don't go smoothly?"
Li Chonglou was stunned. He looked at Jiang Yuxin and realized her mood had become low, whether from worry or from the impending separation.
Li Chonglou quickly took Jiang Yuxin's hands and said sincerely, "I promise you, even if things don't go smoothly, I'll be back before our child is born."
Jiang Yuxin nodded and said softly, "I don't need you to promise when you'll be back, but I want you to promise to come back safely."
"Naturally," Li Chonglou patted his chest to assure Jiang Yuxin.
Afterward, the two returned to the city.
Li Chonglou also wanted to pick out a gift for Jiang Yuxin, but he couldn't think of anything suitable. As they strolled after dinner, Jiang Yuxin stopped by a jewelry store.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing. Let's go."
Jiang Yuxin remembered she had already bought many things yesterday and suppressed her thoughts. However, as they were about to leave, Li Chonglou suddenly said.
"Wait for me here for a moment, I need to go to the restroom."
Jiang Yuxin didn't think much of it. She sat in the car and took out her phone to browse videos.
After a while, Jiang Yuxin saw Li Chonglou get into the car.
"Alright, let's go back. I haven't told Mom and the others about going to Shangjing yet."
"Mmhmm."
When they returned home, Li Chonglou's mother, Zheng Xiumei, was preparing dinner. Seeing them return, she immediately asked if they had eaten.
Just then, Li Chonglou's mother-in-law also came out and said to Jiang Yuxin, "You too. You went out early this morning and only just got back. Your body isn't suited for running around, don't you understand?"
Jiang Yuxin immediately went forward and acted spoiled, "I know, Mom. By the way, Mom, what are we having for dinner tonight?"
Jiang Yuxin's latter sentence was directed at Zheng Xiumei. Zheng Xiumei smiled and replied, "Everything you and Chonglou love to eat."
Upon hearing this, Li Chonglou immediately went to wash his hands and help. His conscientious actions made Zheng Xiumei's words get stuck in her throat.
On the other hand, Jiang Yuxin's mother, Liu Zhiru, admonished her, "All day long, you only know how to eat and play. When have I ever seen you help out?"
"Mom!"
Jiang Yuxin felt wronged. It wasn't that she didn't want to help, but Li Chonglou simply wouldn't let her. At this moment, Li Chonglou quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
Liu Zhiru was actually just speaking in jest. She took Li Chonglou's cue and came down from her high horse, then joined in.
"I'll help too."
Jiang Yuxin also wanted to get closer, but Li Chonglou stopped her directly, then led her to sit on the sofa, turned on the TV, and said, "Your task is to help us eat the dishes later, so watch TV for a while. It'll be ready soon."
Jiang Yuxin said aggrievedly, "I want to help too."
Li Chonglou quickly comforted her, "Good girl, your mom was just joking. Be good, it'll be ready soon."
Seeing Li Chonglou's insistence, Jiang Yuxin had no choice but to comply.
While cooking, Li Chonglou took the opportunity to tell them about his trip to Shangjing.
They only knew that Shangjing was far away, so they weren't too worried. They just told Li Chonglou not to stay too long, as it was best to have someone around during the pregnancy.
That someone, of course, referred to Li Chonglou.
So Li Chonglou promised again that he would return as soon as possible, and the matter was finally completely settled.
During dinner, they laughed and talked, significantly dispelling the gloom of the impending separation.
However, at night, Jiang Yuxin still held Li Chonglou tightly.
The next morning, Li Chonglou had packed his things. Jiang Yuxin originally wanted to see him off, but Li Chonglou refused.
"You sleep in a little longer. I have to go see Master, and then I'll leave directly."
After a long kiss, they bid farewell. Not long after Li Chonglou left, Jiang Yuxin, who had just lain down, suddenly felt something hard on the bed.
Jiang Yuxin reached out and took it out. She found a delicate box. When she opened it, she saw the piece of jewelry she had liked yesterday but hadn't mentioned was lying inside.
Jiang Yuxin's heart instantly warmed. She tightly held the box and fell asleep again with a smile.
Meanwhile, Li Chonglou arrived at Lin Zhendong's place and was taken to the backyard by Lin Zhendong.
"Shangjing is a place of mixed characters. Let me cast a divination for you first."
Lin Zhendong took out two ancient wooden boxes and had Li Chonglou stand in a specific direction.
Lin Zhendong pondered for a moment, as if preparing something. After a while, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and he opened one of the ancient boxes, taking out several small items.
"This is the Plum Blossom I Ching. I'm using your hexagram now, don't move."
Lin Zhendong spoke and quickly and accurately threw the small items in his hand towards the Xun position, Kan position, and Gen position.
Li Chonglou could see something at this point. He was currently in the Qian position, which was the upper hexagram, while the Xun position was the lower hexagram. The Kan position belonged to water, and the Gen position belonged to mountains. He was calculating the travel hexagram.
But Lin Zhendong's actions were not finished. He opened another box. Inside were beads. He took out a handful and placed them in the remaining positions.
As time slowly passed, the divination array Lin Zhendong was setting up became increasingly complex. During the process, he also asked Li Chonglou for some personal items as further divination objects.
It was clear that Lin Zhendong intended to set up multiple divinations simultaneously and then glimpse the heavenly secrets. Although this sounded simple, very few people in the world could achieve it.
Suddenly, a gust of strong wind blew. Li Chonglou knew that the divination Lin Zhendong had set up had been completed.
However, this was just the beginning. The weather, which had been sunny moments ago, suddenly darkened. Lin Zhendong muttered rapidly in a low voice. At this moment, the small item in the Gen position suddenly trembled.
Li Chonglou suddenly heard a tiger's roar. Not only him, but Lin Zhendong also heard it.
But Lin Zhendong did not stop. Instead, he asked Li Chonglou to close his eyes.
Li Chonglou obeyed. After a while, he heard a dragon's roar, followed by periods of silence and then raging winds. There were dragon roars and tiger roars. After a long time, Li Chonglou finally heard Lin Zhendong say breathlessly.
"Alright, you can open your eyes now."
Li Chonglou quickly asked, "Master, how is it?"
Lin Zhendong frowned and said, "The heavenly secrets are unclear. Your trip to Shangjing is fated to be uncertain."
Li Chonglou also frowned slightly, not expecting such a result.
But he had to go to Shangjing. Li Chonglou could not change his mind. Lin Zhendong also understood this and could only repeatedly caution him.
"Shangjing is a place where dragons and tigers hide. You must be extremely careful."