Chapter 249

Hebe's asking price is far too high.

The crowd hesitated at the door, craning their necks to look inside, but could only see blurry figures behind the beaded curtain.

Behind the curtain, Kama whispered to Hebe, "Will we really have business today?"

"Yes, sisters, yes."

Hebe tapped her finger on the round light and answered casually.

She came to Elephant City simply because it was the central stage of the epic.

Her current focus is still on hunting Krishna —buying off as much time as possible is worthwhile.

What was originally just a casual remark by Kama has now actually led some people to squeeze out of the crowd gathered at the entrance and bravely enter the newly opened astrology shop.

Hebe looked up and was slightly taken aback.

The visitor was none other than Karna's biological mother, Kunti.

Of course, she was also the mother of the Pandavas.

"Queen Kunti, please have a seat."

A gentle voice came from behind the beaded curtain.

However, when Kunti heard these words clearly, he shuddered violently.

For a moment, Kunti was even somewhat dazed—how long had it been? He hadn't heard that name since Bandhu died.

In this Elephant City, she felt like an outsider.

The Pandavas were not only her blood relatives but also her support.

'This astrologer is amazing!'

In an instant, only amazement remained in Kunti's mind.

She sat down with barely suppressed excitement, her fists unconsciously clenching on her knees.

"How... how do you know my name and identity?"

Kunti couldn't help but ask the question that was currently the deepest question in his mind.

Because I've been spying on you all... Hebe thought casually.

Of course, this cannot be said.

But then a gentle laugh came from behind the beaded curtain, "I observed the stars last night and foresaw your arrival."

Hearing Hebe's casual evasive words, Kunti was even more excited.

She was even more certain that the astrologer behind the beaded curtain was highly skilled.

Who knows, he might be a learned ascetic, or even an immortal!

"Time is money, Queen Kunti, have you decided what you want to ask?"

Through the slightly swaying beaded curtain, Kunti seemed to see a pair of deep, calm green eyes.

Her emotions gradually calmed down.

Kunti let out a long sigh, her head slightly bowed. "I... I want to ask my child."

"Oh?"

Hebe smiled meaningfully and placed his hand on the edge of the Great Radiant Light.

"Which child does the Queen wish to inquire about? Is it about their future, fortune, studies, or love?"

Do you know how many children I have?

As soon as Kunti spoke, he realized he had said something meaningless.

Sure enough, a gentle laugh came from behind the beaded curtain.

"That's not difficult at all; it all depends on your standards."

Wearing a veil, Kunti felt her heart seem to skip a beat.

Will this incredibly skilled astrologer know the whereabouts of the child he once abandoned?

The thought of the child she had given birth to, but who had to be abandoned in the river for various reasons, caused Kunti's heart to ache.

She hadn't named the child yet, only remembering that it was a girl—a baby girl wearing golden armor and adorned with golden earrings.

"I only have five children."

"Kunti said in a low voice."

The temperature seemed to drop several degrees for no apparent reason in the next instant.

The change came and went so quickly that Kunti thought it was just an illusion.

Behind the beaded curtain, Hebe reached out and pressed Kama's shoulder, shaking his head at her.

With a cold expression, Kama stared at Kunti's face, but in the end, he did not turn into flames and burn her alive.

"Okay, five children."

The voice coming from behind the beaded curtain remained calm, but it was no longer as gentle as before.

"So, which one would you like to ask about?"

"Can't I ask all of them?"

"Kunti asked."

"These are five questions."

Hebe answered.

"Then please predict whether my eldest son, Yudhishthira, will be able to achieve anything in the future?"

"This is a very broad question."

Hebe said, "Moreover, for a mother and a queen, 'achievement' should be quite different."

"What do you mean by that?"

"For a mother, would she rather see her son accomplish something extraordinary and then die young, or would she rather see her son live a peaceful and healthy life and build a harmonious and happy family?"

When Hebe's words reached Kunti's ears, her face turned pale.

"Could it be that he, Yudhishthira, will—"

"That's hard to say."

Hebe said calmly, "I can tell you that the future king will be the one who Yudhishthira."

Even through the beaded curtain, Hebe could see Kunti's lips curling into a smile that was harder to suppress than a spring.

A sudden surge of ecstasy overwhelmed Kunti.

If Yudhishthira can become king, then wouldn't I become the Empress Dowager?

Who doesn't love power? Besides, there are precedents for this.

Isn't Empress Dowager Zhenxin, who passed away many years ago, a living example?

While she was alive, even the Tianshi would consult her on everything.

The lifeline of the entire Kuru Dynasty was in the hands of Empress Dowager Zhenxin.

Could it be that...

Can I become that kind of person?

Kunti covered her mouth with her hand to prevent herself from bursting out laughing.

She began to fantasize—to become the Empress Dowager and, through ruling from behind the curtain, to make the Kuru Dynasty great again...

"What's wrong with this crazy woman?"

Kama's Commentary.

"Now is the time for fantasy."

Hebe smiled mischievously.

It took a good thirty or fifty seconds for Kunti to wake up from the Empress Dowager's sweet dream.

To Hebe's surprise, Kunti did not press for details of his Yudhishthira, but instead changed the subject and asked Hebe if she could ask another question.

"Can."

Hebe replied, "But the same question cannot be calculated again."

Whether it's astrology or other forms of divination, there are similar taboos.

Kunti was clearly sensible, and even more surprisingly, she did not ask about her second son, Bhima, or Arjuna.

She was asking about her recent fortune.

Once upon a time, there were Pandavas of Pandu living in the palace. Although Kunti was in an awkward situation, he at least had someone to rely on.

Arjuna only needs to contend with Karna, while the helpless Kunti has many more things to consider.

But then they heard the sound of a pen nib scratching behind the beaded curtain. A short while later, a piece of palm-leaf paper was handed out from behind the curtain.

Kunti took it and saw that it had a few words written in Sanskrit.

"When the moon is full in the sky, drink several dozen cups of wine. Gold and silver are exchanged, but one gains first and then loses. If one knows when to advance and when to retreat, one can gain a small profit. The more intense one's desires, the more one loses. One can gain a hundred coins and lose sixty gold pieces."

Kunti looked at the paper, but was somewhat puzzled.

This seems to imply that someone will be scammed out of money after a night of heavy drinking.

Although she drinks alcohol, her tolerance is far from good, let alone her enthusiasm for it.

When you're sober, how could you let someone cheat you out of your money?

The interpretation of this divination is so enigmatic that it defies easy comprehension.

Kunti was about to pay when Hebe stopped him. "You don't need to pay all the money now. You can come back after everything has come true."

That's a good thing, Kunti thought.

I asked two questions but only spent a hundred dollars, it was a steal!

Kunti happily went home.

Outside the astrology hall, everyone stared at her with different expressions—she was definitely being taken advantage of.

As Kunti left, the crowd gradually dispersed.

It's very simple. Someone has already stepped into this trap for them, so now they just need to wait—wait for Kunti's reaction.

Inside the astrology hall, behind the beaded curtain.

Kama coldly cast a disdainful glance in the direction Kunti had left.

She had assumed that Kunti still felt guilty towards Karna and might ask Hebe about Karna.

However, Kunti's behavior still shows that she agrees with her past actions.

But Kama still had some doubts. "World Honored One, if Kunti doesn't drink alcohol or gamble, she won't lose money. In that case, wouldn't your divination be in vain?"

"Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune is a common sense principle in the world."

Hebe poured herself a cup of tea. "But for Kunti, if it doesn't come true, it would make me look incompetent."

Kama nodded repeatedly; this was exactly what she was worried about.

"So it's very simple."

Hebe put down her teacup and smiled slightly.

"If no one gambles with her, I'll just use illusion magic to swindle her money."

If a prophecy cannot be fulfilled, then use power to ensure its fulfillment.

Kama was speechless.

Kunti returned to the palace, her expression somewhat uneasy.

She felt both anticipation and trepidation.