Xiao Shan understood.
It seemed his birthdate was indeed incorrect, born in August instead of September.
Someone had altered his birth chart, along with the child born that year.
He just wondered who the monk his aunt mentioned was.
After leaving Chang Sheng’s home, he went back to find Ling Yao. As soon as he entered, he saw Xiao Da Ming and his wife solicitously attending to Xue Niang, offering water and pastries.
What were they doing?
Seeing Xiao Shan, Ling Yao put down the pastries held between her two sticky hands, swallowed what was in her mouth, and said guiltily, "I didn't eat too much."
"Mm, gradually reduce, but don't eat too little all at once."
Xiao Shan stroked her head, his eyes filled with concern.
If he could, he truly wished he could take her place.
"What's wrong, child... the child is hungry, why aren't you letting her eat? You're too heartless as a father!"
Xiao Da Ming felt pained seeing it. The little divine maiden was too pitiful, being so strictly controlled even when eating. In wealthy families, they didn't let them eat much to maintain their slender figures; it seemed what people said was true.
Poor families had no food, but wealthy families had food, yet they weren't allowed to eat much!
No wonder the little divine maiden had eaten a whole roasted chicken so quickly yesterday. She must have been starving for days!
Xiao Shan glanced at him impatiently, "Come here, I have something to tell you!"
Xiao Da Ming was startled. Right, this was the Divine Martial Great General. He had been too glib just now.
He obediently followed, only to see Xiao Shan take out several bank notes from his embrace.
"Distribute this to the villagers. Manage the village well, tidy up the surrounding empty land. Bai Yang Village will surely prosper further."
"Look after Frost Flower's family. Also, for my three graves, help burn paper and maintain them during festivals."
"Be a good village chief," Xiao Shan said, patting his shoulder heavily.
"You... you're leaving?" Xiao Da Ming held the bank notes, feeling the weight on his shoulder.
"I'm leaving!"
Xiao Shan waved his hand and walked towards Ling Yao.
"Did you ask? What year was Chen Da Li's wife missing?" Ling Yao asked, sitting on a stool, swinging her legs, her eyes wide.
"I asked. The Jia Zi year."
Jia Zi year! That matches with Wen Tang Ge Ge!
"Was she good-looking?"
This... I didn't ask! Xiao Shan was speechless.
"Yes, she was beautiful. She was the belle of Bai Yang Village," Xiao Da Ming's wife interjected.
Ling Yao asked, "How do you know?"
Hadn't she gone missing long ago?
"My mother-in-law told me when she was alive. Back then, the village chief of Bai Yang Village wasn't my husband, but a scoundrel who always wanted to take advantage of Chen's wife. When Chen Da Li was away, she was so scared that she stayed at her parents' home and didn't dare to come back."
"And another time, if it weren't for Uncle Ying Tian, that village chief's brother would have succeeded. His wife cried incessantly, saying she didn't want to be with Chen Da Li anymore."
"Anything else?" Ling Yao was very interested.
Xiao Da Ming's wife saw that she enjoyed listening and thought hard again.
"Also, a few days before she ran off with someone, she told my mother-in-law that she was going to be a wet nurse for a wealthy family. They promised she could nurse her own son along with theirs. So, my mother-in-law doesn't believe she ran off with someone; she's sure she went to be a wet nurse."
That was all. When her mother-in-law talked about these things, she didn't like listening and didn't chat much.
Ling Yao and Xiao Shan exchanged a glance.
Now, it all depended on whether the Left Prime Minister had ever been here.
But Chen Da Li was already dead. Did it still matter to figure out Wen Tang Ge Ge's background?
When Xiao Shan and Ling Yao were leaving, Xiao Da Ming called everyone to see them off.
Ling Yao waved goodbye to them from the back of the carriage. Frost Flower stood at her doorstep with tears in her eyes. Hu Zi suddenly ran out of the house.
"Hu Zi, you're still sick!" Frost Flower called out urgently.
"Xue Mei Mei, where do you live? Can I come find you?"
Hu Zi clung to the carriage, his pale little face filled with urgency. "Can I come find you when I grow up?"
Probably not. This was the little divine maiden, and their statuses were worlds apart. Xiao Da Ming sighed and went to stop Hu Zi.
The carriage suddenly lurched forward, and Hu Zi fell to the ground, but he quickly got up and chased again.
"Don't chase anymore, hurry back!" Ling Yao waved.
"Xue Mei Mei, I'll grow up and earn money. When I have enough money, I'll come find you. I will definitely find you!"
The small figure was held back by Xiao Da Ming and Frost Flower. He struggled and shouted sharply.
The carriage sped up. Ling Yao sighed and pulled the rear door shut.
As the carriage gradually became invisible, Hu Zi, with tears in his eyes, threw himself into Frost Flower's arms. "Mother..."
Frost Flower hugged him tightly. It was the first time her son had acted so impulsively, but...
All she could do was help him forget...
After the carriage had traveled some distance and Bai Yang Village was no longer visible, it gradually stabilized.
Xiao Shan looked back and saw the little girl lying in the carriage, motionless. He couldn't help but hum.
This was his hometown, yet why was she getting sentimental?
"What are you thinking about?" she was so quiet.
"Thinking about chicken legs, thinking about steamed buns..." she mumbled, opening her water pouch and drinking water greedily. She was hungry, but she couldn't eat much.
But she was really hungry and had no strength.
"My birth chart is indeed incorrect."
Xiao Shan thought for a moment and told her what he had heard.
Monk... monk. Ling Yao scanned her mind. She seemed to know who it was.
In Jing Kingdom, who else had the ability to calculate the Great Yao Divine Lord? It must be him.
Dusheng Pagoda, Master Kong Ji, who had been traveling the world, left Dusheng Pagoda after the divine maiden was born and never returned to the capital.
She had known since childhood that before she was born, Master Kong Ji held a transcendent position in Jing Kingdom; he was a truly enlightened monk.
After she was born, he disappeared and had been traveling outside ever since; no one had seen him again.
Before, she hadn't met him and didn't know his disappearance was related to her.
But after recovering her memories from her past life, she understood.
In her past life, Master Liao Wu of Dusheng Pagoda was also her enemy.
It was he who had made her eyes red in the imperial palace, leading the royal family to deem her a demon, and she was humiliated and whipped.
Even Feng Cheng Ye at that time did not know about this.
Later, when she gained divine power, she stood in the Spirit Locking Array, condensed auspicious clouds, and summoned divine birds. The royal family was shocked. Liao Wu knew he was wrong and knelt before her, begging for punishment.
She told him to get out of Dusheng Pagoda, out of the capital.
Then, he left. During the time she was there, only the divine maiden existed; the Buddha was merely a figurehead.
The Great Witch's Mansion's handbook recorded that after the divine maiden and the Regent King retired to seclusion, Liao Wu returned to Dusheng Pagoda, led the monks in establishing longevity tablets for the divine maiden and the Great Yao Divine Lord, and fasted for forty-nine days, reciting scriptures and praying.
She guessed that perhaps Liao Wu had left something behind that caused Kong Ji to leave the capital from the moment she was born?
When the divine maiden is present, the Buddha is silent.
In any case, looking at it now, his changing the birth charts of all children born in the Ji Wei year in Bai Yang Village was to protect Xiao Shan.
Because at that time, Ma Yi Bu had already awakened and was also searching for the Great Yao Divine Lord.
Xiao Shan didn't hear any movement for a long time. He looked back and saw the little girl pretending to sleep, as obedient as a rabbit.
She was too quiet, and he was unaccustomed to it.
Why was she becoming more and more obedient?
Xiao Shan frowned and stopped the carriage, poking her tender cheek.
It was like raising a hamster. A few days ago, it was lively and active, but now it was quiet and silent. He was definitely worried if it was sick.
Ling Yao opened her eyes. They were soft, not as bright as a few days ago.
She wasn't really sick, was she?
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"No."
Ling Yao turned her head away. She was just hungry, very hungry. Pressing her stomach made it feel a little better.
Xiao Shan turned her head back again, his brow furrowed with worry. "Xue Niang, tell me the truth, don't make me worry."
Not to make you worry.
"When the carriage shakes, I feel like sleeping. I'm sleepy."
If she slept, she wouldn't be hungry.
"If you feel unwell, you must tell me."
"Mm, I know." Ling Yao smiled at him and closed her eyes again.
Xiao Shan touched her forehead and listened to her breathing for a while before going out to continue driving the carriage, but his brow remained tightly furrowed.
After a while, his voice came from outside again, "Xue Niang, some people are just passersby. Don't care too much, it will make you very tired."
"...Mm..."
"Bai Yang Village, I don't plan to return."
...
There was complete silence.