During the reign of Emperor Xiaozong of Song, there was a scholar named Mo Qiushi in Lingnan. He was born with a clear and handsome appearance, and was well read in poetry and literature, with quick thinking. Although his family background is not very wealthy or noble, they are also affluent and can be considered a well-off family in the local area. In theory, such conditions should be quite popular in the marriage market, but for some reason, Mo Qiushi has already reached the age of marriage, and his family has entrusted matchmakers to travel around to propose marriage, but it has been like a stone sinking into the sea, with no results. My parents sighed and often said, “Son, you said your conditions are not bad, why can’t you say you can have a marriage? I don’t know where the old moon has led your marriage red line.” Mo Qiushi himself was also quite worried, as this marriage was like a dark cloud, always shrouded in his heart. So he decided to take the bookboy out for a trip, hoping to use the beauty of the mountains and rivers to dispel the gloom in his heart.
On this day, he arrived at an ancient temple. This ancient temple is hidden among the mountains and forests, surrounded by lush green trees and murmuring streams. The environment is tranquil and elegant, and the temple is also peaceful and tranquil. Upon seeing it, Mo Qiushi was overjoyed and decided to stay here to study with peace of mind. The senior nun of Gu’an is a white haired old nun with a kind face and a transcendent tranquility in her gaze, indicating that she has a certain level of cultivation. When Mo Qiushi started talking to her, he found that the words of his master were like clear springs in the mountains, nourishing his heart, and often containing Zen thoughts and wisdom, making Mo Qiushi feel inferior.
The two of them often chatted while playing chess. Whenever Mo Qiushi heard the words of his master, he would sigh: “As the ancients said, listening to your words is better than studying for ten years. The master’s words always make me feel suddenly enlightened. Many things that were tangled in my heart disappeared all at once. I really didn’t come here for nothing!” One day, sunlight shone through the cracks in the leaves and fell on the stone table in the temple, and the two of them were immersed in the game of chess. At this moment, the servants rushed over dusty and dusty, holding letters from their parents. Mo Qiushi quickly took it and opened the letter to read carefully.
His parents mentioned his marriage again in the letter, with worries and expectations in every word. The letter said that it is hoped that when he is traveling outside, he must pay attention to whether there are suitable girls around him and not miss the opportunity, so as not to delay the lifelong event. After reading the letter, Mo Qiushi let out a heavy sigh, furrowed his brow tightly, and his worries surged back into his heart. Upon seeing the situation, the senior teacher softly asked him why things were adding to his troubles.
Mo Qiushi told his master in detail about his marriage. After hearing this, the senior teacher smiled slightly and said, “Marriage is predetermined by heaven, just like the streams in the mountains, which have their own flow. Don’t add to your troubles. Your marriage will only come true in thirteen years, and it’s useless to worry now.” Mo Qiushi was greatly surprised when he heard this. He widened his eyes and asked, “In thirteen years, won’t I be nearly forty? Why did my marriage move so late?” The senior teacher smiled and said, “My friend, if I explain this to you, you won’t believe it. You should go ask the person involved, Yue Lao.” Mo Qiushi was startled again, half believing in his heart. Doubtful, he asked, “Is there really an old moon? How can I see it?” The senior teacher said calmly, “Tomorrow is fifteen. When the moon rises in mid air, you can bring wine and food to the mountaintop. There is a huge rock called Feilaishi on the mountaintop, and there is a person sleeping in on it, which means the moon is old. However, whether or not you can meet him depends on your timing Upon hearing this, Mo Qiushi was both curious and hopeful. He quickly stood up and bowed to Shi Taihang, thanking her for her guidance.
The next evening, Mo Qiushi ordered the bookboy to go to the largest tavern in the nearby market and order a sumptuous feast. The innkeeper heard that it was prepared for the guests of the ancient temple on the mountain, and he was particularly attentive, carefully selecting high-quality ingredients to cook delicious dishes one after another. The bookboy carefully packed the food and drinks in a food box, tightly wrapping them to ensure that the aroma would not leak out.
As the moon slowly rose into the air and the silver moonlight fell on the earth, Mo Qiushi, with a nervous heart, carried his food box alone and stepped onto the path leading to the mountaintop. The mountain road was rugged, but Mo Qiushi was determined to see Yue Lao soon, and his steps became even more firm.
Finally, he climbed to the top of the mountain and indeed saw an old man with white hair and beard lying on Feilaishi. The old man lay on his side on the stone, seeming to be sleeping soundly. The moonlight shone on him, as if draped in a silver veil. Mo Qiushi walked up to the old man with ease and respectfully bent down to ask, “Excuse me, is the old man Mr. Yue?” The old man was startled by his voice and slowly opened his eyes, frowning and scolding, “Where did you come from? The smell is so bad, hurry up and go. Mr. Yue is just Mr. Yue, why add a gentleman? I’m not a pedantic teacher
Mo Qiushi quickly opened the food box and smiled, saying, “I’m here specifically to pay tribute to the elderly.” In an instant, the aroma of wine and food filled the air. Yue Lao smelled the tempting aroma and immediately regained his energy. He jumped up and grabbed the wine and food from the food box to eat.
He happily said while eating, “Good boy, you know I like to eat alcohol. It’s a good idea.” Yue Lao swept away all the food and drinks like a gust of wind. After eating and drinking, he patted his belly contentedly and said, “Tell me, what do you want from me?” Mo Qiushi took a deep breath, said his name, and cautiously asked about his marriage. After hearing this, Yue Lao calmly took out a thick booklet from his arms.
That booklet looks old, with yellowed paper and some worn edges. Yue Lao opened the booklet and began to search. Mo Qiushi curiously leaned over to watch, only to see that the booklet was filled with tadpole like words, which seemed to have life and were wriggling on the paper. He couldn’t understand them at all. Yue Lao’s fingers slowly slid on the booklet and finally retrieved Mo Qiushi’s name. He glanced at it and suddenly remembered something unpleasant. He closed the book abruptly and awkwardly smiled, saying, “Hehe, I’m sorry, I completely delayed your marriage. Drinking was a mistake, and that’s not true at all
Yue Lao continued to explain that as soon as everyone is born, he will tie a red line on their ankle, and the other end of the red line will be tied to a woman’s ankle. These two are destined to be husband and wife. When Mo Qiushi was born, Yue Lao happened to attend the Peach Blossom Festival and got very drunk. With a surge of alcohol and drowsiness, he groggily threw the other end of Mo Qiushi’s red thread and fell asleep. By the time Yue Lao discovered this mistake, it was already mid year of last year. At that time, he panicked and searched for suitable candidates everywhere. In the end, in his panic, he tied the red thread to a little girl.
That is to say, Mo Qiushi’s destined wife is only over two years old at present. As the master said, she will not have a marriage until thirteen years later. After Mo Qiushi learned the truth, he was at a loss for words, with mixed emotions in his heart. However, at this point, he had no choice but to comfort himself. Although it was a bit late, at least he had a wife waiting for him ahead. After a moment of silence, Mo Qiushi suddenly felt a hint of curiosity in his heart and asked, “My wife who should have belonged to me before, how is she now?” Yue Lao’s face showed a hint of apology and said, “She became a mistress of the wealthy man, and because of my mistake, she couldn’t become a legitimate wife
Yue Lao sighed and continued to explain that not everyone in this world has a predetermined fate for marriage. Couples who can marry with a clear matchmaker and spend their whole lives together are all great blessings cultivated in their previous lives. Those who have not been tied to the red line by the Moon Elder, men either see through the mundane world and become monks, or live a lonely life, while women mostly become illegitimate concubines with a very bumpy fate. Speaking of which, Yue Lao said indignantly, “It’s despicable that people don’t know the secrets behind this and don’t cherish this hard-earned marriage. If a couple were to separate and find another marriage, it wouldn’t be designated by Yue Lao, and it would consume their own blessings, ultimately leading to a tragic ending
Upon hearing Yue Lao’s words, Mo Qiushi felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning, and his heart suddenly brightened. He stood up to bid farewell. Yue Lao suddenly reached out to stop him and said, “Wait a minute, your wife is currently facing a disaster. Come with me to rescue her quickly.” With that, a red thread appeared out of thin air in Yue Lao’s hand, and with a gentle flick, it wrapped around Mo Qiushi’s wrist. Immediately after, Yue Lao pulled Mo Qiushi onto a cloud. The clouds were soft and fluffy, like cotton, yet they steadily lifted them up into the sky.
After flying for a while, they arrived above a forest. Looking down, I saw flames soaring into the sky below, thick smoke billowing, and a group of bandits wielding swords, burning, killing, and looting in the forest. The cries of women, the cries of infants, and the wild laughter of robbers intertwined, creating a chaotic scene. I saw a woman holding a baby and stumbling out of the forest. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes were torn in several places, and her eyes were filled with fear. A robber had sharp eyes and saw them, with a fierce smile on his face. He waved his big knife and chased after them, then swung it towards the baby.
Speaking in a hurry, Yue Lao quickly pushed Mo Qiushi down. Mo Qiushi only felt the wind whistling in his ear and his body rapidly falling, coincidentally hitting the robber. The robber was thrown backwards by the sudden impact, and the big knife in his hand also slipped out. With a loud bang, it fell to the ground, and he himself died on the spot.
Mo Qiushi ignored the pain in his body, quickly got up, protected the woman and baby, and ran towards the small town ahead. They ran wildly all the way, and the flames and cries of killing behind them gradually faded away.
Finally, they escaped to the small town ahead and settled in an inn. At this moment, Mo Qiushi was panting heavily and his clothes were disheveled. After questioning, Mo Qiushi found out that the woman was a wet nurse and the baby was a girl. Her owner is an official who took his family to the post. Due to the long journey, he missed the accommodation and had no choice but to set up a tent in the forest for the night. Unexpectedly, he was killed by bandits.
After daybreak, Mo Qiushi didn’t take a break and immediately went to report to the official. The constables quickly rushed to the forest to investigate, only to see the officials and their families lying on the ground in a state of chaos and devastation. The local officials looked serious and immediately reported the matter to their superiors in writing. Mo Qiushi couldn’t bear it and wanted to help the wet nurse and the baby, so he suggested letting them stay at his house. The wet nurse was grateful, but she still refused. She firmly said, “I appreciate the young master’s kindness, but I want to take the young master and seek refuge with his uncle. Uncle is an official in the capital, and the young master will receive better care there. He rented a carriage and took out a few pieces of silver and a valuable jade pendant from himself, handing them to the wet nurse. He said, “You can use these money and things on the road. I hope you have a safe journey.” After thanking the wet nurse a thousand times, he took the baby into the carriage and set off for the capital city.
Mo Qiushi watched as the carriage departed, silently praying for them in his heart. Afterwards, Mo Qiushi continued his academic career. He knew that his marriage still needed to wait, so he studied even harder. During this period, he experienced many setbacks, including academic difficulties and hardships in life. However, every time he wanted to give up, he would think of Yue Lao’s words and a woman waiting for him in the distance, which reignited his fighting spirit.
More than a decade has passed quickly, and Mo Qiushi finally passed the imperial examination, and this news spread throughout Lingnan. He was assigned to the Ministry of Revenue as the lowest ranking official. The chief official of the Ministry of Revenue is a person named Mr. Lin, who is upright and has a unique vision. Mr. Lin has been in the officialdom for many years and has seen officials of all kinds. At a glance, he can see the extraordinary qualities in Mo Qiushi. Although Mo Qiushi held a low official position, he handled affairs in an orderly manner and was extremely meticulous in dealing with financial and accounting matters. Moreover, the refined temperament cultivated by his extensive reading of poetry and books also stood out among the officials.
Mr. Lin has a daughter under the age of seventeen named Wanqing. Wanqing was born with beautiful eyebrows and eyes, gentle and charming, and received a good education from a young age. She is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Mr. Lin regards his daughter as the apple of his eye, and naturally he is particularly concerned about her lifelong life. He saw that Mo Qiushi had a good character and outstanding talent, so he had the idea of betraying his daughter to him. One day, Mr. Lin specially called Mo Qiushi to the study, exchanged pleasantries, and then got to the point. Mr. Lin said, “My nephew Mo Xian, I see that you are loyal and talented, and you are also a rare talent in this household department. There is a young girl in my family who is seventeen years old and has not yet been married. I think you two are very compatible. I wonder what your nephew thinks.” Upon hearing this, Mr. Mo Qiushi was surprised. He did not expect Mr. Lin to have such thoughts. He quickly bowed and said, “Your Excellency is very kind, and I am extremely grateful. However, how could I have received such favor from you?” Lord Lin waved his hand and smiled, saying, “There is no need for you to be too modest, I believe in your own judgment.” Mo Qiushi pondered in his heart that since his marriage was predetermined, perhaps this was fate’s arrangement when Lord Lin brought up this matter. So he respectfully agreed to the marriage.
Soon, the marriage of Mo Qiushi and Wanqing was put on the agenda. On the wedding day, the lights and decorations were set up, creating a lively atmosphere. Guests came to congratulate and praise the union of a talented and beautiful couple. Mo Qiushi was dressed in wedding attire, feeling both nervous and hopeful. As he gently lifted the gentle red veil, the bride looked at Mo Qiushi with surprise in her eyes. She exclaimed in astonishment, “So it’s Duke En
Originally, Wanqing was the baby girl that Mo Qiushi had rescued. At that time, the wet nurse took her to seek refuge with her uncle who was an official in the capital city, that is, Mr. Lin. Mr. Lin treated her like his own daughter and raised her in the mansion. Wanqing recognized her wet nurse as her godmother and they have been living together ever since.
The wet nurse never forgot the life-saving grace of Mo Qiushi. Based on her memory, she had the painter paint a portrait of Mo Qiushi and stick it on Wanqing’s bedside. She educated Wanqing from a young age that she was their lifesaver and should be remembered in her heart. So Wanqing recognized Mo Qiushi at a glance. At this moment, Mo Qiushi suddenly realized the wonder of fate. He tightly held Wanqing’s hand and said, ‘So all of this is fate’s arrangement. Madam, we are really destined.’ Wanqing shyly lowered her head, with a happy smile on her face.
After marriage, Mo Qiushi and Wan Qing’en are deeply in love. Mo Qiushi works hard in the officialdom, while Wan Qing manages household chores at home and keeps the house in order. They support each other, whether it’s Mo Qiushi facing difficulties in his career or Wan Qing facing troubles in life, both of them will face them together. They remained faithful throughout their lives and became a couple envied by everyone. Their stories spread locally, and people lamented that marriage is predetermined and cannot be forced, and cherishing the person in front of them is the secret to happiness.
