### Chapter 21: The Penniless True Monarch
"This is not divination at all; it's just a commercial tactic, a despicable act of cheating!"
Mona shivered with anger, almost feeling the urge to swing the wine pot at Gu Sanqiu's face.
"This is divination, just one of the possibilities, but I chose another way to achieve the result I wanted," Gu Sanqiu replied with a smile. "Perhaps you could call it a form of commercial divination?"
"There's no such thing as commercial divination!" Mona retorted.
"There is now. I just invented it," Gu Sanqiu said in a tone that made Mona's blood pressure skyrocket.
"Incredible, so this is the incense-bearer of the Gu family's current generation?" Mona remarked.
"Yes, this is the modern incense-bearer of the Gu family. You don't think we're just a bunch of old-fashioned weirdos, do you?" Gu Sanqiu laughed, pulling out another wine glass and placing it in front of Mona. "Let me offer you a drink."
"I don't drink alcohol. It affects my control over fate," Mona replied.
"This isn't alcohol; it's a beverage," Gu Sanqiu said, shaking the pot. "It's a double-potted flask. You can have either alcohol or a beverage from it."
Mona hesitated for a moment. "Alright, I hope you're not joking with me about something so trivial."
The flask tilted, and as the black liquid poured into the cup, it sizzled.
Mona stiffened, about to question what exactly Gu Sanqiu was giving her, when a sweet fragrance wafted into her nose.
"Such a sweet smell. How much sugar did you put in here?" Mona exclaimed after raising the cup to her nose. "This much sugar is enough to sustain an average person for a whole day. This isn't a drink; it's a precious energy supplement!"
"No, it's just a regular drink," Gu Sanqiu responded, feeling a bit sorry for Mona's evidently tough daily life. No wonder she was called the Penniless True Monarch—it seemed she had no money for food.
Had the flask been a normal purchase from Liyue Harbor, Gu Sanqiu might have suspected he'd stumbled upon some classic urban novel trope, where random items turn out to be extraordinary. However, the contents were indeed not ordinary.
Item: Cola Wine
Source: A mysterious realm where creatures brew cola as their sinew and fine wine as their flesh.
Note: The fiercer the creature, the richer the cola wine. Using a double-potted flask allows for separated drinking, although some appreciate the unique taste of cola wine in its entirety.
"Um, can I have more of this energy supplement? It's really important to me," Mona asked awkwardly. "I know it's overstepping to ask for something so valuable after just meeting you, but I—"
"Alright, enough," Gu Sanqiu interrupted, pulling out a full pot of cola and handing it to her. "This is pure beverage, just as you called it, an energy supplement. Take it, no strings attached."
Gu Sanqiu was worried that if things continued this way, he might end up in a bizarre situation where he'd be asked to accept something like "black silk as payment."
"Really? Thank you so much!" Mona happily accepted the cola pot, drawing a symbol in the air with her right hand. "Hmm, it's really just a drink. The incense-bearers of the Gu family truly are honorable people."
"Why are you so skilled at this? Don't tell me others have tried to take advantage of you this way before," Gu Sanqiu asked, surprised.
He had thought the stories of the Penniless True Monarch were just jokes, but it seemed people actually knew how to approach and even tempt this astrologer.
"Not skilled, just experienced. This is a necessary skill for a girl traveling the world," Mona replied confidently, giving Gu Sanqiu a look that said, "I've seen it all."
"Including often going without food?" Gu Sanqiu asked.
"Ah?" Mona exclaimed, shocked. "Do I make it that obvious?"
"It's not about being obvious," Gu Sanqiu said, considering his words. Although he was somewhat straightforward, he still had enough social awareness to not embarrass a girl he just met. "It's just written all over your face."
"Is that so?" Mona dejectedly drew circles with her fingers. "I don't want to use divination for profit, so my wallet is often empty, without any extra income."
Is this what it's like to be a wandering girl? Gu Sanqiu thought, taking a sip of his drink. If this were a game achievement, it would surely be one of those sarcastic ones designed to mess with players.
"By the way, since you're strong, why not take on tasks at the Adventurers' Guild?" Gu Sanqiu asked. "Even if you don't join a mercenary group to fight monsters, those collection or lost item tasks should be easy for you."
"I can't. If I go to the guild, many people will want me to divine this and that for them. In the end, I might not even get a task and would be harassed by a bunch of bored people," Mona said through gritted teeth. "Also, those ridiculously rich young masters in Liyue, they stake out places just to invite me for a meal. Do they think I don't know what they're after?"
Gu Sanqiu choked on his drink, looking at Mona speechlessly. "If you know what they're after, why not just enjoy the meal and then find a way to get back at them?"
"No way! An astrologer has their pride. I won't do something so low just for a meal!"
"Then how can you say such principled things on an empty stomach?" Gu Sanqiu shook his head. "Let me ask you a question, not related to divination."
"Sure, go ahead," Mona said.
"You asked about that stone earlier. Is it for your personal curiosity, or is someone behind this?"
"It's purely personal curiosity. The fate surrounding that object showed fluctuations, and I've seen too many stable fates. Observing those elusive and even bizarre fates helps improve my abilities," Mona explained.
"I see." Gu Sanqiu was satisfied with this answer. It matched Mona's character and wasn't some nonsense excuse. He then handed her a silver note.
"This is ten thousand Mora. Use it for your daily expenses, as a reward for answering my question."
Gu Sanqiu has tipped Mona ten thousand Mora.
"One—one—one thousand?!" Mona stammered.