Chapter 1 – Prologue
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The translation for 'Futile Calculations' is completed and posted on Foxaholic.  Please read it by clicking on the following link.

Futile Calculations

**If you have any questions, please post it on SH as I will only be managing all comments on SH. 

 

CHAPTER 01 - Prologue

In the Great Ye Kingdom, all boys who reach the age of five on their birthdays had to have their life fortunes read and the common people would look for a fortune teller on the streets to read their sons’ life fortunes. 

In Ye Kingdom, the families like the first-rank households, Zhennan Wang Residence would naturally invite the Guoshi to read the life fortune of their Young Master who has a prestigious status. 

 

On this day, early in the morning, the main gate of Zhennan Wang Residence opened wide and two groups of soldiers escorted a magnificent canopied carriage as it drove out.  The double-carriage decorated with mica had gold carvings and the carriage body was painted in multicolor gold.  It had the crest of Zhennan Wangfei*.  (Wangfei is the wife of a Prince.)

The horses galloped all the way out of the city gates and the carriage drove against the cold winter winds blowing in the suburbs of the imperial city.  A sichen* later, the carriage stopped in front of the entrance of the Guoshi’s Residence.

(Sichen is a time measure of two hours.)

The Guoshi’s Residence had already stationed their servants at the entrance to wait for the arrival of Zhennan Wangfei and the Heir of Zhennan Wang. As soon as the carriage stopped, Zhennan Wangfei led the pair of children down from the carriage. 

On her left hand, she was leading her only biological son – the five-year-old Heir of Zhennan Wang, Ji Nan, who has attractive features and surprisingly fine bone structure.  His blue robe was rich and elegant showing off his strong personality.  At such a young age, he already possessed an impressive aura. 

On her right hand, she was holding on to a little girl.  At a glance, the little girl seemed to be around the age of the Little Heir and she was wearing a red robe similar to the Little Heir.  The bright red color of her robe looked festive and lively.  Her round white face showed liveliness and when the little girl smiled, two shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks displaying a picture of cuteness.

Holding onto the pair of golden boy and jade maiden* the Wangfei slowly made her way into the residence.  The Guoshi was already waiting inside the residence and after the two adults have exchanged ceremonial greetings, the Guoshi studied Zhennan’s Little Heir, Ji Nan’s eyes that showed distinctive black pupils.  Although still a child, his eyes were clear and bright.  The Little Heir had vaguely inherited Zhennan Wang, Ji Ting’s prestige mightiness of a prince with added toughness and strength.  The Guoshi could not help but slowly nod and give praise.

“Good!”

(Golden boy and jade maiden mean a pair of lovely children consisting of a boy and a girl.)

When Zhennan Wangfei heard the Guoshi’s praise, she smiled and asked.  “Can the Guoshi give clarifications?  In what aspect is my child good?”

The Guoshi stroked his snow-white beard and his eyes were smiling.  As he looked at Ji Nan, he prophesied. 

“Heavenly star shines brilliantly in the night.” 

Of course, this life destiny is excellent for the young tiger, Ji Nan who is from a military family.

So when Zhennan Wangfei heard this, she felt very happy but her eyes dimmed once more when she thought of her only precious son going into battle on the battlefield.

While the two adults were conversing in the room, Ji Nan stood quietly and politely beside his mother while holding her hand.   But the little girl with snow-white skin did not have any interest in the words of ‘Outstanding military achievements’ and ‘Glorious meritorious deeds’ on the future spoken by the Guoshi

She pulled away from her nanny and ran around to play. 

She ran over to pull the sleeves of the boy standing behind the Guoshi, who was dressed in black and was referred to as the ‘the close-door disciple* of the Lord Guoshi’ just now.  She asked in a crisp voice. 

“Little Brother, other than being a disciple who closes the door for the Guoshi, do you know fortune-telling?”

( Close-door disciple means the last person that a Shifu takes in as his disciple.  It does not mean a disciple that closes the door for his Shifu as Ji Xiaoli had misunderstood.  During ancient times, a student refers to his Master or his Teacher of a School as Shifu.  Nowadays, it is common to address a person as Shifu if he is an expert in a certain field.)

This is the first time Chen Yubai meets Ji Xiaoli. 

It is a normal day and there is nothing special except that the weather is particularly good.

Boring people came to seek boring predictions of life destinies.  He had spent the whole night studying the stars and was feeling tired as he stood behind his Shifu greeting guests.  His cold handsome face that captivated thousands of young girls still had not completely lost it's baby fat.  Ordinary people would not have even dared to look at him but the fair chubby girl who looked like a lotus root that had emerged out of the water did not know where she found the guts to reach out her hand and grabbed his black ice silk robe that even the moonlight did not dare to touch. 

The young boy, Chen Yubai narrowed his phoenix eyes and instantly his body emitted an extreme coldness. 

However, the chubby lotus root who was ignorant in life looked up at his expression with a foolish expression. 

Immediately, Ji Nan walked over. 

Many years later, this young man would be a great general and a prince in the country of Zhou but at this time, he is still a handsome and gentle boy.  Ji Nan quickly caught hold of the chubby lotus root’s hand and he whispered in a low voice to Chen Yubai. 

“My little sister is young and naïve.  If she had offended your Lordship, we seek forgiveness.”

Ji Xiaoli, who was pulled away by Ji Nan, turned her head around curiously and asked.  “Is this little brother only in charge of closing the door?  Is he like Ah Xiang who specializes in lifting the curtains for the Princess?”

Unable to control himself, Chen Yubai’s mouth twitched.

The Princess mentioned naturally referred to the older twin sister of the present Emperor, Princess Yanyang.  The whole Ye Kingdom knew about the story of Princess Yanyang who married Zhennan Wang as a concubine. 

Of course, Chen Yubai also knew about the story and therefore he clearly understood he was being compared to a third-class maidservant whose duty was only to lift the curtains for a concubine.

Suddenly, the boy who had cold eyes and a cold expression smiled.

With this one faint smile, the coldness of his eyes and eyebrows which seemed like an ocean of ice, melted and his appearance became indescribably amazing like the flowers of a thousand pear trees in bloom.

“Tell me your 8-characters* and I will help you to read your destiny.”  The smiling Chen Yubai said to Ji Xiaoli.

(8-Characters is the set of time and date of a person’s birth that can determine his destiny in life.)

He will do a prediction and cut up this fresh juicy lotus root as a gift of death to her ! ! !

With the commotion created by the three children, even the Guoshi and Zhennan Wangfei both looked over.

Ji Xiaoli smiled and handed over a piece of paper hidden in her sleeves to Chen Yubai.  On the piece of paper was her 8-characters.......Mother had said that it was not proper for a girl to read her fortune but she really wanted to know when she would be able to cultivate successfully to become a fairy! !

Chen Yubai’s mouth was hooked into a cold smile.  He glanced at the 8-characters written on the paper and his fingers that were half-covered in his sleeves moved gently then paused......and then his smile disappeared. 

How can this be?   How is this possible? ! !

“You are very slow.  Is it that you don’t know how to do the calculation?”  Ji Xiaoli stared at him without blinking and she urged impatiently.

Ji Nan gave Ji Xiaoli a little nudge and whispered that she should not be so rude.  She let out a sigh, pursed her lips and forced out a few words.

“That’s alright.......it doesn’t matter.  Children are stupid and I also can’t memorize my books.  It’s fine.  When your beard has grown to the length of the Guoshis beard then you will be able to read fortunes.”

She was even touched by her own magnanimity.

But the person who was being comforted felt worse.......  Chen Yubai pressed his lips tightly together and he who always had good self-control could not help but reveal a look of confusion. 

It’s true!  Lotus root is not wrong, he is unable to do any calculations!

His family studied the origins* and since he came under Guoshi ‘s tutelage, he had been studying the techniques of numerology, day and night.   At present, in the Ye Kingdom, there are not more than 5 people who have this skill and in front of him is clearly a set of 8 characters.  As to this stupid white tender girl, he felt as if there was an invisible high wall that was blocking his access into the past and future details of her life.  Everything was in front of him but it was unreachable to him.

(Origins refers to the original source of things.)

He can’t read her past......he can’t read her life........he can’t read her future......he can’t even read a thing!

That pair of cold eyes like the icy ocean locked tightly on her and although Xiaoli was foolish, she still felt ill at ease.  Feeling scared, she backed away two steps then turned around to run towards Zhennan Wangfei and pounced into her nanny’s arms.

At this moment, the Guoshi s gentle voice sounded in an unhurried manner.  “Yubai, come over here.”

The young man withdrew his gaze, walked over with a blank expression and he silently knelt down.

Shifu......this disciple’s skill is unpolished.”

When the Guoshi heard his words, he could not control the smile appearing on his lips.  Stroking his long white beard, he smiled like the spring breeze but did not instruct his beloved little disciple to get up.  Instead, he turned around and spoke to Zhennan Wangfei.  

“Your Highness, the daughter of Wangfei is precious and therefore it is not easy to read her 8-characters.  If Wangfei is agreeable, please allow this old one to have a look.”    

Naturally, the Wangfei agreed and called her adopted daughter over.  “Xiaoli, come over to Mother.”

With a bitter face, the little girl climbed down from the nanny’s arms and Wangfei helped to adjust the little girl’s clothes.  Then she said softly to the child.  “Be good, don’t be scared.  Go forward to let Grandfather have a look at you.”

Even though Xiaoli is stubborn, she is not a timid girl.  After getting encouragement from her Mother, the Wangfei, she bravely walked up to the Guoshi and formally greeted him.     

The little girl was dressed in the festive color of red.  Her cheeks were white and tender and she had a pair of clear black eyes.  With smiling eyes, the Guoshi looked gently at her for a long time.

“When the flower blooms, auspicious celebrations will follow.  When the Luan* and Phoenix unite, Prosperity and Longevity are complete.  This is a good child.”  The Guoshi said kindly.

(Luan is the mythical male phoenix in ancient Chinese mythology.)

From his sleeve, he magically pulled out a brocade bag and put it into the hands of the dazed little girl. 

“This is for you but you can’t open it now.  You can only open it 10 years later when you have your coming-of-age ceremony*.”

(Coming-of-age ceremony is the hair-combing ceremony when the girl can wear a hairpin in her hair to symbolize that she has reached adulthood at the age of 15.)

The little girl took the black brocade bag that was embroidered with auspicious cloud designs using gold threads and she nodded happily as she promised. 

Since both children of the Wangfei received good predictions, she felt very happy.  She repeatedly thanked the Guoshi and everyone in the hall felt extremely happy.  Only Chen Yubai who was still kneeling on the ground felt otherwise and he was drenched in sweat.

Of course, he knew that his failure was not due to his lack of skills.

Naturally, he understood.  With his skilled knowledge in reading destinies, the reason he could not come up with a prediction was that.........he has the ability to read the destiny of others but not his own.

The stupid and foolish girl has a deep entanglement with him in life and therefore, he is unable to read her destiny! 

The young man dressed in a black robe placed his forehead on the cool white jade floor tiles and his heart turned colder.

He knew what was kept in that black brocade sachet.

It was his........Chen Yubai’s predestined fate.

 

**8**8**8**8**

 

Catmeme6’s Notes:

國師大人 – The word Guoshi Daren means ‘Lord National Teacher’ but it does not reflect the role of Chen Yubai in this story.  Lord Guoshi can also mean ‘Lord National Soothsayer’ or “Lord National Predictor’ but the English terms do not seem to fit Chen Yubai who is an expert in Astrology and Fengshui.  He has the ability to predict the future by reason, intuition, calculation or magic for the Imperial Family and his primary duty is an Advisor to the Emperor.  He is able to make predictions, foresee the future to guard against calamities, propose counter-measures as protection and give guidance in Fengshui matters.  Since an appropriate word cannot be found to translate the title ‘Guoshi’ so the title ‘Lord Guoshi’ will be used to refer to Chen Yubai.

I would like to share my thoughts with you on the title of Guoshi.  Whenever this title is mentioned, I always think of a conman or a swindler with the prestigious title and status of the Grand Advisor to the Emperor.  It is because the Guoshi has the skills to read the stars, foretell the future and is an expert in Fengshui.  Therefore, whatever stories he weaves, the trusting Emperor and the ignorant people will believe in him and give him absolute obedience.  If the Guoshi is an evil man who is greedy for wealth and power, he is even able to con the Emperor of his throne!

仙人 – Xian Ren – I have used the word ‘Fairy’ as the translated word for Xian Ren so that readers will find it easier to read and remember.  Actually, a fairy is a mythical spirit with wings but a Xian Ren in Chinese mythology is a celestial being with magical powers.  An example is the famous legendary Eight-Immortals of Chinese mythology.  According to the legendary stories, this group of eight people with magical powers descended from Heaven to the mortal world to help the common people fight against evil.

謫仙 – Zhe Xian – The words describe a person who is highly intelligent and is blessed with heavenly abilities like Chen Yubai, who has the ability to see into the future and predict future events.  In ancient times, people regarded a ‘Zhe Xian’ as an immortal that had settled into the mortal world and lived as a human, concealing his magical powers. 

The original words ‘Zhe Xian’ will be used in this story as no appropriate words can be used to translate them. Just think of Zhe Xian as a genius with outstanding abilities.

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