RFF - Chapter Eight (Part 1)

'Give me your hand,' the fortune teller said.

The fortune teller's reaction surprised Tao Tu Yun. She gave her hand to the fortune teller.

'Lady Tao, you have a rare gift and a kind heart,' the fortune teller said. 'Did you know if you warn people about their deaths, the heavens will punish you?'

'Yes elder,' Tao Tu Yun said.

'Lady Tao, because you helped people avoid their deaths the heavens' punishment is that you won't live past nineteen,' the fortune teller said.

The fortune teller sighed. It was a pity someone with a kind heart like Tao Tu Yun was fated to die young.

The fortune teller confirmed what Tao Tu Yun knew. Tao Tu Yun had three months left until her nineteenth birthday, which was why she wanted to end her engagement with Tao Fang Ao and didn't want him to grow attached to her.

'Elder, can you help mistress live past nineteen?' Su Wu asked.

'The truth is when I adopted Dou Dou, I knew she is meant to die this year,' the fortune teller said. 'But I didn't know Dou Dou is going to die in two days. Thank you for risking your life to save Dou Dou's life. I'm sorry I don't know how to help you live past nineteen.'

'Elder, you don't need to be sorry toward me,' Tao Tu Yun said. 'It's my fate to die soon.'

'Mistress, you can't give up,' Su Wu said. 'Mistress, you can't leave me and second master Tao.'

'Su Wu, don't cry,' Tao Tu Yun said.

Tao Tu Yun didn't want to leave Su Wu and Tao Fang Ao.

'Wait!' the fortune teller said. 'Su Wu did you say that lady Tao is related to second master Tao from the Tao Manor?'

'Yes elder,' Su Wu said. 'Mistress is second master Tao's fiance.'

'If lady Tao is second master Tao's fiance then there is a chance she can live past nineteen,' the fortune teller said.

'Elder is it true?' Su Wu asked. 'Earlier didn't elder say that you can't help mistress?'

'If lady Tao is second master Tao's real fiance then I can help her,' the fortune teller said.

'Elder, are you saying my life is connected to being Tao Fang Ao's fiance?' Tao Tu Yun asked.

'Perhaps the heavens doesn't want someone with a kind heart like yours to die young,' the fortune teller said.

'Elder, tell me how you can help mistress?' Su Wu asked impatiently.

'Su Wu, you should learn how to be patient like your mistress,' the fortune teller said. 'Lady Tao, have you heard of a proverb, a charitable household always has excess warmth?'

'Elder, you can call me Tu Yun,' Tao Tu Yun said. 'Elder, I have heard a charitable household is a happy household.'

'The Tao Household has always been a charitable household and they have helped many poor people,' the fortune teller said and coughed. 'Tu Yun, you're born with a kind heart. You used your gift to save lives even though you know the heavens will punish you. Because of your kindness and the Tao Household's generosity, there is a way to save you. You need one thousand finger prints from people who you and the Tao Household have helped. After you have one thousand finger prints, at the critical time, burn the papers and the heavens will hear their pleas to save you.'

'Elder, are you certain mistress' life can be saved this way?' Su Wu asked.

'Of course it's not enough to save Tu Yun's life,' the fortune teller said. 'Su Wu, come with me to my bedchamber and I'll give you further instructions to save Tu Yun's life.'

'Mistress, stay here while elder gives me instructions,' Su Wu said.

'Tu Yun isn't a child, you don't need to worry Tu Yun will run wild outside,' the fortune teller said.

Tao Tu Yun smiled because the fortune teller read her mind.

Su Wu helped the fortune teller walk to the bedchamber.

'Su Wu, the instructions I'm about to give you is vital,' the fortune teller said. 'Whether Tu Yun lives or dies will depend on you.'

'Elder, I promise I'll remember the instructions you'll give me,' Su Wu said.

'When I read Tu Yun's palm, she only has one month left to live,' the fortune teller said.

'What?' Su Wu asked.

'Stay calm and don't interrupt me,' the fortune teller said. 'When you return to the Tao Manor, you need to tell Tao Fang Ao what I've told you. He'll help prepare one thousand finger prints for Tu Yun. It's vital that you watch over Tu Yun closely. If Tu Yun coughs blood, you need to tell Tao Fang Ao that he needs to marry Tu Yun straight away. On their wedding day, you need to embroider Tu Yun's name and date of birth on a fabric, and put the fabric on top of the Tao Household's ancestors' altar. The Tao Household's ancestors will ask the heavens to save Tu Yun's life. On their wedding night, you need to make certain their bedchamber door is open, you can't let them close the door. On their wedding night at the hour of the ox (i.e. 1am to 3am), burn the papers of the finger prints and have everyone from the Tao Household pray in front of their bedchamber. To know when Ox-Head or Horse-Face comes to escort Tu Yun's soul, pour rice grains on the bedchamber floor. At the hour of the dragon (i.e. 7am to 9am) if Ox-Head or Horse-Face didn't come to escort Tu Yun's soul then Tu Yun's life is saved. Su Wu, did you remember the instructions I gave you?'

'Yes elder,' Su Wu said and knelt in front of the fortune teller. 'Thank you elder, you're mistress' savior.'

'Su Wu, stand up,' the fortune teller said. 'The real savior is Tu Yun. If Tu Yun didn't risk her life to save Dou Dou then Tu Yun wouldn't have met me.'

'Elder, I still want to thank you for saving mistress' life,' Su Wu said.

'Su Wu, you're lucky to have a good mistress and Tu Yun is lucky to have a loyal maid,' the fortune teller said.

'Thank you elder,' Su Wu said and stood.

Later on the way back to the Tao Manor, madam Zhang's assassin appeared in front of Tao Tu Yun and Su Wu.

'Mistress, what should we do?' Su Wu said.

'Su Wu, don't be scared,' Tao Tu Yun said.

Suddenly Tao Fang Ao's secret guards sent to protect Tao Tu Yun surrounded the assassin.

'Lady Tao, go back to the Tao Manor with Su Wu,' a guard said. 'Leave this assassin to us.'

'Thank you for saving me and Su Wu,' Tao Tu Yun said to the guards.

***

End of Chapter Eight (Part 1)