Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Divide into two, hang one, divide into four, and return to the odd.

Liu Zhiwei watched as the emperor in front of her skillfully manipulated the counting rods on the wooden table.

My heart is ice-cold.

You can't fool anyone, this guy really knows how to do it...

The counting rods clashed and fell between Qin Ji's fingers, producing a crisp, clear sound that rang out distinctly in the quiet private room.

Liu Zhiwei nervously drew the complete hexagram in her mind from bottom to top, her heart sinking lower and lower.

Seeing that the omen of certain death was about to be formed, the composure on Liu Zhiwei's face, which was not commensurate with her age, finally vanished. She bit her lip, her face was pale, and her hands on her knees were clenched into fists.

She has her own leverage, but this divination indicates His Majesty's attitude.

If His Majesty is determined to kill her brother, no amount of bargaining chips will help.

But in any case, she couldn't just sit and wait to die.

"His Majesty……"

Before he could finish speaking, the king pressed his finger on the core counting rod that symbolized the Yin Extinction Death Qi hexagram, causing Liu Zhiwei's heart to tremble.

The hexagrams are random, but the hexagrams are determined by human actions. Why should Qin Ji ask Heaven for what he wants?

With a gentle fold, he split the counting rod in two, reversing the hexagram.

"Although I was trapped in a dangerous place, I was blessed by the heavens and escaped from a desperate situation by meeting a benefactor." A flush of excitement appeared on Liu Zhiwei's pale face, and her eyes flashed with the relief of surviving a disaster, which revealed a bit of the childishness that was appropriate for her age.

She pushed her wheelchair, unable to kneel, so she bowed deeply to Qin Ji, bending her waist at a ninety-degree angle, and said, "On behalf of my brother, I thank Your Majesty for the grace of changing my fate."

Qin Ji casually tossed the counting rods on the wooden table aside, exempting her from the formalities, saying, "No need for such formalities."

Liu Zhiwei straightened up.

Qin Ji tapped his fingers on the table and said teasingly, "It seems Master Liu is quite satisfied with my divination?"

Upon hearing the title "Master Liu," a hint of embarrassment flashed across Liu Zhiwei's face, but her mind was racing with calculations.

His Majesty's seemingly joking remark instantly humbled him, lowering his aloof imperial stance and bringing the two closer together.

He came to see her in person, disguised himself as a guard, and reversed the divination to forgive her brother. He didn't seem to care about her crime of deceiving the emperor, and even joked with her in an approachable manner.

Surely it couldn't be out of pity for this disabled girl that she suddenly became kind-hearted?

Is there anything we can do to help her?

Isn't what she's demonstrating just... divination techniques?

But there are countless officials in the Imperial Observatory skilled in divination. If they wanted to obtain a divination result, would they need an unknown little girl to help them?

With a hint of doubt, a calm smile returned to Liu Zhiwei's face.

Her voice was clear and melodious, like a spring. "Your Majesty flatters me. I dare not accept the title of 'Master.' Your Majesty's divination is divine. My skills are meager. I am ashamed to show off my limited abilities before an expert."

"If there is anything Your Majesty may do to help me, please just ask, and I will repay you with my life."

This little girl is indeed clever.

Before he could even speak, they had already guessed his intentions and were quite pragmatic.

There were indeed people in the Imperial Observatory who were skilled in divination, but being skilled in divination alone, being rigid and inflexible in doing things, could be quite a headache.

A charlatan who only knows how to perform rituals is not a good charlatan.

A good charlatan is one who can perform divination, understand the will of the ruler, be flexible, and provide appropriate divination interpretations.

Not to mention that this charlatan is very clever and insightful, so he must be able to learn calendars and mathematics very quickly and easily.

Qin Ji was very satisfied.

Unexpectedly, taking Bian Yushu to climb the city wall in the middle of the night to celebrate his birthday not only served as bait by showing the defense map and checking the weak points of the garrison, but also yielded a master of wall climbing, a great swindler... a promising talent from the Imperial Observatory.

What a lucky disciple!

It's much more effective than the dyed deer in the Beast Taming game.

His Majesty stared at her for a long time without saying a word. Liu Zhiwei felt like a rare and precious treasure waiting to be sold, her quality and purpose being repeatedly weighed by the buyer.

What exactly does His Majesty intend for her to do?

Is it something that involves risking one's life, shedding blood, or committing a life-threatening act?

Liu Zhiwei lowered her eyes and pretended to tidy up the counting rods on the table.

Just as the last counting rod was about to be placed into the counting bag, His Majesty spoke.

"How did you originally plan to persuade Bian Hongzhen to release your brother?"

Liu Zhiwei paused, her hand holding the counting rods still.

His Majesty's words are law; he has already said that there is a way out of a desperate situation. Her original plan is now completely unnecessary.

That was a gamble with one's life on the line; if things went wrong, it could really be considered "spreading rumors and misleading the public."

The girl's pupils contracted slightly, quickly concealing a hint of unease. She put the broken counting rod into her counting bag, tied it with a rope, and joked with Qin Ji, "I know divination, and I demonstrated my skills through Sister Tangyuan. So I plan to use the interpretation of divination to persuade Lord Bian, telling him that my brother cannot be killed, as killing him would bring bad luck."

Qin Ji raised an eyelid. "Is that all?"

His Majesty's eyes were as deep as a well, unfathomable, as if they could see right through her thoughts.

Liu Zhiwei's heart skipped a beat, and she added, "I've heard that Lord Bian loves the people like his own children and is approachable. If he doesn't believe in divination, a helpless and destitute girl like me might still evoke a bit of pity in him. If my brother's crime is minor or serious, he might be spared because of this bit of pity."

Qin Ji lowered his eyes and fiddled with the teacup on the table. "Think it over before you speak."

The young king uttered only five words, yet suddenly pushed back the distance that had been narrowed.

The imposing aura of the emperor caused Liu Zhiwei's palms to sweat, and she felt immense pressure.

The saying "Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger" is indeed true.

Liu Zhiwei's expression remained relatively "calm," but the fingers gripping the abacus bag turned slightly white.

She was once again at a point where she had to take a gamble.

To be honest, I might put myself in a position of spreading alarmist rumors and misleading the public.

It is also possible that His Majesty will accept his advice and grant him merit.

Continuing to spout nonsense might anger His Majesty, and the hard-won situation might be broken again.

It's also possible that His Majesty will not hold a grudge against this young girl and will let her off the hook.

Liu Zhiwei slowly loosened her grip on the abacus bag and finally made her decision.

"On the thirteenth day of the seventh month next year, at the second quarter of the hour of Si (9-11 AM), a solar eclipse will occur in thirteen prefectures including western Sichuan, Longyou, and Hedong, as well as the capital region."

"I intend to use this as leverage to persuade Lord Bian to release my brother."

...

The second update for today is here, goal achieved. Double update tomorrow.

The event continues! Read GG, get double updates! Love you all, *kissing emoji*