Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

The room fell silent, then the charcoal fire crackled and popped.

Qin Ji emerged from behind the bamboo mat. Despite Liu Zhiwei pointing out that he was the one in charge, there was no surprise or embarrassment on his face.

Upon seeing His Majesty appear, Mooncake quickly stood up and stepped aside. The tension in her mind finally eased a bit, and she showed a relieved expression.

Qin Ji walked steadily and unhurriedly, lifting the hem of his robe as he sat down in the spot that Mooncake had offered.

Mooncake poured him another cup of tea.

Liu Zhiwei observed Yuebing's actions and the young man opposite her who looked no older than herself without making a sound.

Her sideburns were as if cut by a knife, her eyebrows as if painted with ink, and her eyes were like still waters in a deep abyss, unfathomable.

He was dressed as a guard, yet his imposing presence was undeniable. Just sitting there, he exuded an aura of authority, as if his place was the absolute center of attention.

Was that person really the Provincial Governor of Western Sichuan?

If that's true, who is it that calmly accepts the resignation of the Sichuan Provincial Governor and is greeted with tea by the regional officials?

If not, who is it that instigated someone to impersonate the Governor of Western Sichuan, showing no sign of guilt and remaining calm and composed?

Liu Zhiwei's hands, resting on her knees, curled slightly as she rubbed her sleeves. Her expression remained calm, and she smiled weakly, preemptively asking, "Why must you play these tricks on a young girl like me, sir?"

Qin Ji stroked the rim of his teacup and chuckled softly, "Since you figured out I'm the one in charge, have you figured out who I am and why I'm here?"

Liu Zhiwei paused, rubbing her sleeves, and slowly took a sip of tea, glancing at "Lord Bian" beside her out of the corner of her eye.

A few days ago, she sensed that her brother was restless and his tone was ominous, as if he had gotten involved in something very dangerous. When she asked him about it, he always gave her vague and evasive answers.

Until five days ago, her brother went out and never came back. Instead, a maid named Tangyuan appeared, saying that she was entrusted by her brother's classmate to take care of her.

The aroma of glutinous rice balls lingered and subtly emanated from her. Her steps were light and graceful as she went out to buy groceries and cook. Liu Zhiwei went to open the door for her.

On the stone-paved road in the alley, thickly covered with snow, Tangyuan's footprints were even shallower than those of the neighbor's child, who was not yet seven years old.

Her fish-killing technique was clean and efficient; she gutted and gutted the fish with ease, wielding the cleaver as if it were an extension of her own arm, and could even slice tofu as finely as a hair.

She asked Tangyuan if she had ever been a cook.

Tangyuan said so.

She pretended to apply ointment to Tangyuan's chapped hands, and upon closer inspection, found them covered in thick calluses.

Those calluses are not something that can be created by flipping a wok or holding a knife.

A maid with extraordinary skills and an unknown origin, who suddenly appeared after her brother went missing, claiming to have been a cook.

Liu Zhiwei seemed to accept the care calmly, continuing to do her own thing, observing Tangyuan, and also testing Tangyuan's attitude towards her.

The next day, she suggested going to the market to buy a new set of counting rods.

Tangyuan did not refuse.

She put down her snacks slightly.

Her actions were not restricted, and even if her brother got involved in some incident, at least the other party's methods were relatively mild.

Two days after his brother disappeared, the number of soldiers patrolling the market increased, and rumors spread like wildfire that the Sichuan Provincial Governor had lost the defense map.

She suggested that she have a divination performed on Tangyuan.

Tangyuan gave her birth date and time.

She tricked her, and just as she expected, just like Tangyuan's "maid" identity, the birth chart was also fake.

Tangyuan was exceptionally capable but not a deep-thinking person. So, the second time, Liu Zhiwei gambled that the birth chart she gave was genuine, added some guesses to what she had observed, and gave Tangyuan a divination.

Tangyuan's expression told Liu Zhiwei that she had won her bet.

She successfully imprinted the impression of "skilled in divination and knowledgeable of the heavens" into Tangyuan's mind.

On the third day, she took another gamble, betting that her brother's disappearance was related to the loss of the Sichuan-West Defense Map. So she asked Tangyuan to let her see the Sichuan-West Governor.

Even if she guesses wrong, there's not much to lose. It'll just slightly damage her image as someone who's good at calculations. She can easily blame it on the new counting rods not being properly broken in yet, since she's already laid the groundwork with Tangyuan.

But if she guesses correctly, she can not only create psychological intimidation for the other party, but she might also be able to meet the Governor of Sichuan and get news of her brother.

She was confident that she could rescue her brother if she could meet the Provincial Governor of Western Sichuan.

He did see the person in charge, but he wasn't the one in charge.

Even whether this person is the Provincial Governor of Western Sichuan is questionable.

Looking at the tea leaves floating and sinking in the cup, Liu Zhiwei knew that it was time to take a gamble again.

The man in blue had long, slender hands, with calluses on his fingertips and palms from years of holding a pen; he was indeed a scholar.

She had heard that the governor of western Sichuan was a kind, approachable, and gentle man who loved the people like his own children, which matched the image of the man in blue.

However, the way he poured tea for the boy was too natural and respectful, lacking the awkwardness one would expect from someone who has been in a high position for many years and rarely does such things.

But what if he just loves drinking tea and enjoys inviting people to enjoy it together?

Liu Zhiwei pondered in her heart:

If the Governor of Sichuan is indeed the real one, then this young man before me must be of extremely high status.

If the Provincial Governor of Sichuan is a fake, then this young master in front of me is no ordinary person either.

The loss of the defense map is of great importance, and it's not impossible... First possibility.

The scales in her heart tipped, Liu Zhiwei's pupils trembled uncontrollably, her hands gripped the dress on her knees tightly, her fingertips were icy cold, and her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would jump out of her chest.

She threw all the weights on the table, bowed to Qin Ji again, and wore a smile that was neither humble nor arrogant, displaying the demeanor of a "reclusive master." "Just now, this humble woman quietly observed your fortune and silently cast a divination in my heart."

After a brief pause, she slowly said, "Qian represents Heaven, and the ninth line of the fifth position is in motion. This signifies... being in the center and ruling over the four poles."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

The mooncake lowers its head and looks down, its eyes focused on its nose, and its nose on its heart.

Hongdou, who was standing behind the bamboo mat on the other side, quietly rubbed the goosebumps on her body.

Qin Ji gently blew on the tea in his cup, took a sip, and said, "Liu Zhiwei, 'seeing the small to know the great,' your name is quite fitting, you are as your name suggests."

The bet was won.

They really won the bet.

She actually met the emperor...

Instead of feeling relieved, Liu Zhiwei's heart started beating even faster.

For a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, the position of Provincial Governor of Western Sichuan was already an unattainable dream.

She had rehearsed this meeting countless times in her mind, all to maintain the air of someone skilled in divination and able to see the secrets of heaven.

The situation was held up.

Who would have thought that on his first outing to swindle, he would manage to fool even the emperor himself?

Besides, the phrase "a person's name reflects their character, and one can see the big picture from small details" doesn't sound like someone who believed her explanation at all...

Criminals deceive the emperor and spread falsehoods to mislead the public.

Good heavens, could she have done something even worse than her brother?

Liu Zhiwei smiled calmly and said, "Your Majesty flatters me. Please forgive my physical limitations; I am unable to perform the kowtow."

Qin Ji looked at the girl in front of him, who was trying to remain calm, and praised her without reservation, "You calculated it well."

Liu Zhiwei pursed her lips. Was His Majesty being sarcastic or praising her?

Qin Ji took out one counting rod from his counting rods and placed it horizontally on the wooden table. Then he divided the remaining forty-nine rods into two piles and looked at the "little charlatan" in front of him with a half-smile.

"I have also read the Book of Changes and seen the Imperial Observatory use the Great Derivation Number to calculate celestial secrets. I understand a little bit about it, so I will also cast a divination for your brother. What do you think?"

Liu Zhiwei: "..." Not good.

It seems like my brother and I are beyond saving.

...

This is the first update today, a little late. The second update should be at midnight.

The event continues, with only four hours left. GG is still short by more than 500. Oh dear, it's up to everyone!