Chapter Eight

'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.

***

Madam Zhang had sent more assassins to kill Tao Tu Yun because she didn't want Tao Tu Yun to escape again. So when Tao Tu Yun and Su Wu was halfway back to the Tao Manor, another assassin appeared in front of Tao Tu Yun.

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'Your life is over!' the assassin said to Tao Tu Yun.

Tao Tu Yun closed her eyes and accepted her fate.

Tao Fang Ao appeared at the critical moment. He checked Tao Tu Yun wasn't injured then he used his sword to fight with the assassin.

'Mistress, it's second young master!' Su Wu said.

Tao Tu Yun opened her eyes. She and Su Wu didn't expect someone like Tao Fang Ao who usually carried a fan was such a skilful swordsman.

Tao Fang Ao's merciless sword stabbed the assassin's chest. He withdrew the sword and the assassin fell on the ground.

'Second master Tao,' elder Jiang called.

Elder Jiang brought guards to help Tao Fang Ao. Elder Jiang was relieved to see Tao Fang Ao, Tao Tu Yun and Su Wu were unharmed.

'Interrogate the assassin and find out who sent the assassin to kill Tu Yun then take the assassin to the magistrate's court,' Tao Fang Ao instructed.

Tao Fang Ao turned around and hugged Tao Tu Yun tightly. She knew he was upset with her for putting her life in danger.

Tao Fang Ao silently took Tao Tu Yun back to the Tao Manor. In his calligraphy room, she sensed he was still upset with her.

Half a shichen hour later, Tao Fang Ao was still standing in front of the window of the calligraphy room. Tao Tu Yun was a little scared to say something to ease the tension between them.

Tao Tu Yun remembered seeing Tao Fang Ao's guards returning home injured. It meant there were many assassins sent to kill her. She felt guilty his guards were injured because of her.

'I'm sorry I went outside the Tao Manor on my own,' Tao Tu Yun said.

'You actually admit you did the wrong thing by going outside on your own?' Tao Fang Ao asked. 'Didn't you learn anything from your chest injury? If I didn't come in time to save you, do you think you'll return to the Tao Manor alive? How can you keep risking your life to save people? Tu Yun, I'm disappointed in you.'

It was the first time Tao Fang Ao looked coldly at Tao Tu Yun. His disappointment toward her felt like a stab to her heart.

'I can't do nothing and let people die,' Tao Tu Yun said and stood up from a chair.

Tao Tu Yun gripped her dress sleeves. She didn't want Tao Fang Ao to see her pain and tears.

'Tu Yun, even if you don't care about your safety, do you think about the people who worry about you?' Tao Fang Ao asked.

'It's not like that...' Tao Tu Yun said.

'You don't need to say anything else,' Tao Fang Ao said. 'Go rest in the bedchamber. I want to be alone.'

Tao Fang Ao turned around to face the window. If he kept looking at Tao Tu Yun's pale complexion, his heart would soften. He hard to be firm with her otherwise she would risk her life again.

Since Tao Fang Ao didn't want to see Tao Tu Yun, she ran outside the calligraphy room and silently cried.

Tao Fang Ao remembered how hurt Tao Tu Yun looked because of his harsh words. He picked up a chair and slammed it against the floor.

In the bedchamber, Su Wu opened the door for Tao Tu Yun. Su Wu didn't expect to see Tao Tu Yun crying.

'Mistress, what happened?' Su Wu asked. 'Why are you crying?'

Su Wu helped Tao Tu Yun to sit on a chair.

Su Wu knew Tao Tu Yun was gentle on the outside and a strong on the inside. The number of times Su Wu saw Tao Tu Yun cry was less than the fingers on one hand. Su Wu suspected Tao Fang Ao must have said something to upset Tao Tu Yun.

'Su Wu, am I wrong?' Tao Tu Yun asked. 'Is it wrong of me to care about helping people?'

Tao Tu Yun wiped the tears off her face and took a deep breath. She understood how much her parents and Su Wu worried about her for years.

'Mistress, it's not wrong of you to care about helping people,' Su Wu said. 'Yes, you make the people who care about you, worry about you. But we're proud of you. What did second master Tao say to you to upset you?'

'He said I'm a disappointment,' Tao Tu Yun said. 'It's good I disappointed him because we don't have a future together.'

'Mistress, don't say that,' Su Wu said. 'How can you live if you don't marry second master Tao?'

'Su Wu, don't mention me marrying him again,' Tao Tu Yun said. 'I've accepted my fate.'

Tao Tu Yun didn't expect when she was ready to accept Tao Fang Ao's love, he didn't love her anymore. Since nothing happened between them, it was better if she left the Tao Manor and returned home.

'Mistress, you can't do anything impulsive,' Su Wu said. 'I believe second master Tao must have said those hurtful words to you out of anger because you risked your life. Mistress, everyone can see how much second master Tao loves you. You should wait for him to calm down. I believe he'll forgive you.'

Su Wu didn't want Tao Tu Yun to die. Su Wu believed Tao Fang Ao and Tao Tu Yun loved each other, and Tao Fang Ao wouldn't let go of Tao Tu Yun.

'Su Wu, is that true?' Tao Tu Yun asked.

Tao Tu Yun wanted to believe Su Wu. Perhaps when Tao Fang Ao calmed down, he would listen to her explanation and she wouldn't feel it was hopeless between them.

Tao Tu Yun's heart constricted and her face turned white.

'Mistress!' Su Wu called.