Chapter 15: Holding Her Birth Chart

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Though Fu Heng’s invitation seemed polite, his unyielding demeanor left Chu Li frowning deeply. What was this man up to? He surely wasn’t the meddlesome type, was he? At this moment, Jiao Yan had completely taken Chu Li as an honored guest of their escort agency. Even if she was the Duchess You, no one could threaten the person he vowed to protect.

“Duchess You, Miss Chu is unwell and needs rest,” Jiao Yan said firmly.

Fu Heng was slightly surprised by Jiao Yan’s attitude. Had they just met? And yet Jiao Yan was already so protective? The members of the escort agency were also nervous for their chief escort. Facing the ruthless Duchess You, who wielded life and death without hesitation, their chief’s boldness was truly remarkable.

Duchess You had risen to fame at a young age, beginning to kill before she was ten years old. With her noble status, she was incomparable to ordinary escorts like them. Jiao Yan stood before Chu Li, as if ready to fight against tyranny for the sake of a woman.

Seeing Fu Heng’s gaze grow increasingly dangerous and the murderous aura slowly radiating from him, Chu Li quickly stood, gently tugging at Jiao Yan’s sleeve.

“Brother Yan, I’m no trouble,” Chu Li said, stepping past Jiao Yan to face Fu Heng directly. “Duchess You, please.”

Chu Li had ridden in Fu Heng’s carriage before; the interior remained unchanged. Upon entering, she instinctively tensed. No matter what, she needed to stay vigilant around Fu Heng. Though her disguise was solid, Fu Heng was a clever and calculating man—calm, wise, and strategic. It was wise to be cautious when confronting him.

Fu Heng’s sharp eyes fixed on the woman before him. Her head bowed, hands folded demurely on her lap, she appeared like a reserved and modest noble lady, faintly timid—completely at odds with the confident figure she’d shown earlier among the dead.

“What’s your name? Where are you from? Where are you headed?” His deep, slightly cold voice rang above her bowed head. She dared not meet his gaze.

“I am Chu Meng, a native of Rong City in Cangbei. I’m returning home to visit family,” she replied, a touch nervous. Chu Meng was the real identity of the original owner of this body—half-truth, half-falsehood. Being from Rong City was true and verifiable. But she had no ready excuse for why she was here now.

The original Chu Meng was an adopted daughter of the Chu family in Rong City, living a life of hardship and meekness. She would never have the ability to leave Rong City, let alone arrive in the capital city over a hundred thousand li away.

Fortunately, Fu Heng seemed unconcerned about her origins. After a moment’s thought, he said, “From Rong City... are you a sorcerer?”

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Chu Li was momentarily stunned, then nodded faintly.

“I once learned some fortune-telling and physiognomy from a wandering sorcerer. I suppose I can be called a sorcerer.”

Since Fu Heng already knew her name, he likely questioned the escort agency and learned she had helped them avoid peril earlier. In this era, sorcerers were equivalent to practitioners of arcane arts like Chu Li. Both among common folk and in the court, sorcerers were regarded with special respect—provided they truly possessed power.

The imperial court even had the Divine Petition Office, appointing sorcerers to official positions alongside other civil and military officials to assist the emperor in guarding the realm and its people.

Because sorcerers held such a status here, many frauds disguised themselves as itinerant sorcerers to deceive the gullible. Female sorcerers were even more frowned upon and considered inferior; they were extremely rare in Dong Cang. Chu Li dared to claim the title simply because she didn’t care.

Fu Heng was somewhat surprised by Chu Li’s fluent answers and her lack of shame regarding her identity as a sorcerer. But recalling what he saw in the forest earlier, he knew this young woman was skilled in disguise, so her words might not be entirely truthful.

Chu Li didn’t know why Fu Heng had summoned her. She kept her head lowered, watching his moves and responding accordingly, confident she wouldn’t slip up.

The carriage fell into an unusual silence.

Suddenly, Fu Heng moved closer and sat beside Chu Li. The man’s abrupt approach startled her, but the shock lasted only a moment before she composed herself, continuing to play the fragile little rabbit.

Fu Heng frowned at the frail woman before him and spoke coldly, “Are you afraid of me?”

Chu Li nodded, then shook her head, looking frightened and helpless. Timidly, she said, “You are the God of War, the Duchess You. I have never seen much of the world, so please, Your Grace, do not blame me.”

Her words were flawless, so Fu Heng ceased pressing.

He wasn’t sure why, but he felt the aura on this woman was strangely familiar. Yet her temperament, appearance, and bearing were very different from the person in his heart.

“I called you here to ask a favor,” Fu Heng said.

Before Chu Li could react, he handed her a piece of paper.

“I heard your kind have the ability to divine a person’s fortune or misfortune through their birth chart, and even use it to track someone.”

As the words fell, the paper reached Chu Li’s hand. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat. Opening it, she saw bold, vigorous handwriting—Fu Heng’s own.

On the paper was her exact birth chart.

He had never given up on finding her.

At that moment, Chu Li’s heart raced uncontrollably. Her trembling fingers pale as she clutched the paper.

Fu Heng noticed her change and looked at her inquisitively.

“Miss Chu, is there something wrong with your birth chart?”

Without suspicion, Fu Heng asked. Chu Li quickly regained her composure, forcing her emotions steady.

She shook her head. “There is nothing wrong with the birth chart. May I ask, Your Grace, who is the person you seek?”

Fu Heng’s expression grew cold. “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t. Just tell me whether the person is fortunate or doomed, and if you can help me find her.”

The princess had fled home without permission. On the surface, it seemed a private family matter, but it could be a life-threatening affair.

Ignorant or malicious people might fabricate lies to slander the princess, ruining her reputation.

Or if the matter leaked to the palace, it could be exploited by schemers.

Fu Heng didn’t want anyone else to know of Li’er’s disappearance. He had already silenced everyone in the mansion. The search for Chu Li had to be done in secret.

Chu Li did not think much of it. Though surprised Fu Heng had not given up, her resolve to leave remained unchanged.

The birth chart was indeed hers, and it seemed this man still remembered it well.

Their arcane sect had a secret technique to track a person’s general location through their birth chart. But she naturally would never help Fu Heng find herself.

So she returned the paper.

“Apologies, Your Grace, but I am unskilled and do not possess such abilities. You must seek someone more capable.”

That secret art was a high-level arcane technique, usable by few. She didn’t believe Fu Heng could find such a master.

Fu Heng’s brows furrowed slightly. His tone turned sharp.

“Chu Meng, you can’t hide from me. Weren’t you quite capable earlier by the corpse pile?”

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