The Zhou family member looked at him, thinking he was just a brainless playboy pretending to be someone he wasn't.

It's not necessarily an act. Being a playboy doesn't mean he's stupid. He's good at using the methods of a playboy to stir up trouble, use relationships, and extract confessions... trying to take me down.

And the aftermath of doing so is minimal. Although the Imperial Censorate is nearby, killing a lowly official or a county yamen constable cannot shake the Household Department's Assistant Minister, a third-rank official.

It's just that Zhou didn't expect that not only did I have a relationship with the Bureau of Astrology, but even the great scholar of the Yunlu Academy personally intervened... Thinking of this, Xu Qi'an felt a thrilling sense of walking on a tightrope.

"Since the day I broke the tax case, I've already offended the Household Department's Assistant Minister and was involuntarily dragged into it.

I thought of staying away from imperial power and becoming a wealthy man with many wives and living a simple life.

If it weren't for Erlang wanting to give a poem to the academy's elders, and if I hadn't suddenly had the inspiration to write some chemical knowledge based on my memory a few days ago... I might have been done for.

I don't even understand the real reason why I was killed, thinking it was because I offended a playboy second-generation."

A series of coincidences allowed me to survive this crisis... it was luck! Xu Qi'an took a breath of cold air and suddenly had a thought: "Miss Caiwei, can you divine?"

"Um." Chu Caiwei swallowed the food in her mouth, "An eighth-grade mage is called a diviner. Divination is the most basic ability of our mages. All subsequent supernatural abilities are based on divination."

She talked about her cultivation system, appearing talkative and excited, chattering, "But do you know why the ninth-grade mage is not a diviner but a healer?"

Xu Qi'an shook his head and asked like a sidekick, "It's not because all you mages have a heart to save the dying and heal the wounded, right?"

Chu Caiwei straightened her small waist, looking serious and seemed to enjoy the feeling of being a teacher, saying:

"All things in the world have fate, among which humans are the most important. The eight sufferings, seven emotions, and six desires in human life are all fate. Healers save lives and heal the wounded, inevitably getting involved in birth, aging, illness, and death. Over time, they will develop a pair of eyes that can see through fate."

I like this kind of girl who speaks her mind... Xu Qi'an said, "Can you see my fate?"

Chu Caiwei wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, scrutinizing him with her eyes, and bursts of clear energy burst out of her black and bright eyes, slowly occupying her pupils.

Under the clear light of her gaze, Xu Qi'an's spiritual awareness was touched, feeling uncomfortable like a thorn on his back.

Suddenly, the clear light in Chu Caiwei's eyes disappeared, and her face returned to normal: "Your fate is pale red mixed with black energy."

"What does that mean?"

"Red represents that you eat the emperor's food. But the pale color indicates that you are a lowly official. Black energy is a symbol of misfortune. I think you have experienced it deeply."

Xu Qi'an frowned and probed, "Are there no other colors? Like the color that represents the son of destiny."

"If you say that in front of me, it's fine. If it's heard by someone with malicious intent, it's a great disrespect. Except for the emperor, no one dares to call themselves the son of destiny." Chu Caiwei was surprised. It's one thing to be disrespectful, but where did this person get the confidence to think he's the son of destiny?

Dragon, dragon, open your eyes and take a closer look!!

She couldn't see it, maybe it's a ranking issue, or maybe my luck has nothing to do with my fate... Xu Qi'an's expression remained calm, but his thoughts were churning.

Smack!

Chu Caiwei slapped Xu Qi'an's hand holding the food, puffed up her cheeks, and expressed her displeasure: "Wait until I finish eating, then I'll give you some."Xu Qi'an glanced at the half-eaten food and secretly speculated how many months pregnant she was.

"By the way, how's the situation with the Ministry of Revenue's Assistant Minister?" Xu Qi'an sat upright, not looking at the food.

"The Ministry of Revenue's Investigating Censor accused Assistant Minister Zhou a few days ago, but the report was suppressed by the emperor." Chu Caiwei said, paused, and added:

"Both of them committed suicide out of fear."

So there's no evidence? But in this day and age, if the emperor really wants to kill someone, he doesn't need evidence, everyone just assumes it... It could also be related to political struggles... or the emperor has other ideas... I don't understand the court, after all, I haven't had any contact with it, I need to find someone experienced to inquire about it...

So Xu Qi'an tried to ask indirectly, but Chu Caiwei had no interest in court affairs and didn't provide any valuable information.

"Hey, you're so annoying, our Celestial Observation Court doesn't meddle in court affairs." She was annoyed by the question and her eyebrows furrowed, looking unhappy.

I seem to have hit her pride as a teacher... Xu Qi'an tactfully stopped asking.

.....

"How much did this table cost?" Xu Qi'an enjoyed the food.

After finishing the meal, Chu Caiwei counted on her fingers for a long time, but then didn't say anything.

"Hmm?" Xu Qi'an looked up.

"I gave the restaurant four liang of silver, and they returned one liang and sixty-three copper coins." Chu Caiwei said in distress, "So how much did I spend?"

Her frowning expression was very cute, reminding Xu Qi'an of a seven-year-old girl doing math problems.

"..." Xu Qi'an pondered, "I don't know either."

One liang of silver is equal to eight qian, and one qian is equal to one hundred wen. Because the ratio is not 10:1, it greatly increases the difficulty of calculation.

Seeing her, she probably only knows how to read, but hasn't learned arithmetic.

So Xu Qi'an didn't show off his skills.

When Chu Caiwei heard this, her eyebrows and eyes curved, feeling that Xu Qi'an was a kindred spirit.

"How did you calculate so well when solving cases?"

"I thought about it for a long time."

"Oh." Chu Caiwei stared at him, "You don't seem to be enjoying the food?"

"No, it's just average."

"Nonsense, Drunken Heart Residence is the best restaurant in the southern part of the city."

"I've had better food."

Chu Caiwei's eyes lit up.

Xu Qi'an continued, "If you have time, come to my house and I'll cook for you."

.....

Alchemy room.

A group of white-robed people surrounded the experimental apparatus, watching Song Qing's operation.

The porcelain cup as thin as an eggshell was roasted on the candle flame, steam rising, and the water in the cup evaporated almost completely, leaving behind crystals.

Song Qing flicked his finger, and a bunch of bright flames enveloped the crystals, slowly melting them.

"If I had this skill in my past life, snapping my fingers and lighting a cigarette would definitely be a great tool for picking up girls..." Xu Qi'an envied the flashy sorcerers.

When the sodium chloride crystals melted, Song Qing showed a solemn expression, as he had been stuck at the next step countless times:

Thunder strike!

Song Qing subconsciously looked at Xu Qi'an.

Including the big-eyed cute girl Chu Caiwei, the other white-robed people all looked at Xu Qi'an.

Xu Qi'an nodded expressionlessly.

He didn't even give any guidance... This means that all my steps so far are correct... Song Qing was greatly relieved and snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, everyone heard Xu Qi'an's voice, "Hold your breath."

To read the uncut version, go to [pawread.com].

Without hesitation, everyone immediately held their breath.Actually, even if you inhale toxic gas directly, you non-humans won't be affected.... Xu Qi'an, out of habit, just made everyone hold their breath.

The next moment, a shocking scene happened that made the white-robed members of the Sitian Monitorium stunned.

Irregular silver-white blocks formed in the porcelain cup, identical to silver, with the edges of the blocks sticking to the untransformed fine salt.

"It's done, we succeeded...."

"Senior Brother Song Qing, how did you do it?"

The white-robed members were amazed. They had failed many times before, but this time they had successfully made fake silver.

As expected, Miss Chu Caiwei could make fake silver in one go, not because of her luck.... No, it was because of my presence. Xu Qi'an silently watched and verified his guess.

Song Qing looked at the fake silver, then at the excited junior brothers, his face somewhat confused.

I haven't changed anything.... It was always like this before.... He subconsciously looked at Xu Qi'an and found that the little constable was not surprised at all, with a gloomy look in his eyes, as if he had expected it.

Song Qing's heart moved, "Xu Ningyan, do you know the reason?"

Chu Caiwei, who was thinking, immediately looked at Xu Qi'an.

The other white-robed members turned their heads one after another.

Xu Qi'an stood with his hands behind his back and smiled, "This question shouldn't be asked of me. A mature alchemist should learn to think independently."

"I think you should be aware of where the problem lies."