Yun Shang looked full of disdain. Lately, the palace had seen all sorts of rumors and messages, and naturally, it was all the work of the An Duke’s household.
Stopping those messages would have been very simple—one word from the emperor would suffice. Yet the emperor did nothing, allowing them to continue. This only proved that he was deliberately testing them.
“Come to think of it, we’ve been in the palace for so long. Our previous performance before His Majesty has probably faded from his memory, so now we need to accomplish something new to truly earn his trust.”
Ah Du was thinking the same as Yun Shang. He realized the core of the matter: the emperor was the master of the palace, and all the treatment they had received so far had been by his implicit permission. This time, he was testing them.
“Ah Du has really grown up. You no longer need my protection like you did as a child,” Yun Shang praised, patting his head, just as she had done countless times to comfort him when he was little.
Feeling Yun Shang’s touch, a faint blush rose on Ah Du’s cheeks.
Yes, he had grown up. He was no longer the small child he once was. Many thoughts now occurred quietly in his mind—changes so subtle that sometimes even he himself didn’t notice.
“So, sister, what do you intend to do? Do you really have the confidence and assurance? The An Duke’s household will not tolerate us—they will do everything to drive us out of the palace.”
Mentioning the An Duke now, Ah Du didn’t even feel the fear he once had. He could say it calmly, without the imagined dread.
Fear was a primal emotion. As a child, weak and powerless, he couldn’t even resist. He had witnessed his mother poisoned before his eyes and had been sold to a terrifying place.
“Ah Du, it’s fine if others don’t believe me—but do you not trust me? Do you also doubt that I can summon rain for the people? Do you think I, the Heavenly Maiden, am a fraud?”
Yun Shang suddenly smiled playfully.
“How could I ever doubt you, sister? I’m only thinking—if the rain fails, how do I endure His Majesty’s punishment alongside you? Or perhaps I should let all his anger fall on me alone.”
Ah Du gazed at Yun Shang with complete sincerity, his eyes fixed on her. Memories flooded back.
From the very first moment he had seen her, he had felt instinctively that she did not belong to this world—she had appeared so suddenly and strangely, completely out of place.
That feeling had always lingered in his heart. If there was any fear, it was the fear that Yun Shang might one day suddenly disappear.
Would she stay by his side as he grew up? Would she remain with him throughout his life in this world, or might she vanish without warning?
“What’s wrong? Don’t you trust me?”
Noticing Ah Du’s expression, Yun Shang suddenly grew slightly annoyed. Could this child still not believe in her abilities?
“No, I do trust you, sister. I only trust you. You are the most capable person in the world. Whatever you say, you will accomplish.”
Ah Du smiled and shook his head. To others, he was usually cold, even toward the emperor. But with Yun Shang, he always revealed the most genuine side of himself.
Regarding the matter of the Heavenly Maiden summoning rain for the people, the palace was full of gossip. Many thought it unlikely—no one could say whether the rain would come or not.
Especially with the An Duke’s household putting in so much effort to portray the Heavenly Maiden as a charlatan. Even the emperor had begun to harbor some doubts.
If the Heavenly Maiden really was a fraud, wouldn’t that mean he had been deceived?
In recent days, he had seldom gone to the Heavenly Mechanism Palace, feeling increasingly uneasy facing Yun Shang and Ah Du.
“My father received another letter from my sister. She said that His Majesty’s Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor have grown somewhat distant and aloof, which proves these rumors have hit the emperor’s mind. If they fail to summon rain, I fear the consequences of deceiving the emperor will be severe—they probably cannot bear the blame.”
Wei Heng of the An Duke’s household was full of confidence. He and the Third Prince had been preparing for this day for a long time. Everything depended on the day of the rain-summoning. If the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor failed, His Majesty could charge them with deceiving the emperor, and everything would fall into place perfectly.
The An Duke did not speak further, only showing satisfaction. Naturally, he had exerted considerable effort. His daughter had repeatedly sent letters insisting they investigate the true origins of the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor.
Was there really any mystical power? The investigation had been thorough, and the answer was unremarkable—they were merely from a remote mountain village. As for the so-called “magical arts,” they were likely just some trickery.
The emperor had only been deceived by the Heavenly Maiden’s beauty. But how long could her beauty continue to captivate him?
Tomorrow would be the ceremony to summon rain. Everyone was watching intently, waiting to see if the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor could truly bring rain for the people.
The emperor was waiting as well—he wanted to see whether the two people he personally invited back had the ability to deliver, or whether they would disappoint his trust.
“I didn’t expect the Heavenly Maiden to still have time to admire the flowers in the Imperial Garden. It makes me slightly worried. Summoning rain for the people is a great blessing. If she can truly bring rain for the people, His Majesty will surely reward her handsomely.”
Wei Yao had been in high spirits lately, dressed magnificently today. She had learned that Yun Shang was in the garden admiring flowers, so she rushed over, intending to humiliate her.
She didn’t know why, but she had a persistent intuition: this person in front of her was no good, as if determined to oppose her.
“Lately it seems I’ve often run into Your Grace. Could it be that you were thinking of me? Did you come specifically to speak with me?”
Yun Shang smiled casually, gently touching the soft petals of a flower.
The rumors in the palace had grown increasingly malicious. The emperor had not prohibited them, which emboldened some. They claimed that Yun Shang and Ah Du were charlatans, using strange tricks to deceive the emperor, which is why they had been brought back and titled Heavenly Maiden.
Now, they were supposed to summon rain for the people—but of course, it wouldn’t happen. If they were exposed as frauds, what would become of the emperor’s dignity?
“You are truly an interesting person. I only hope that after tomorrow, you can remain as amusing as you are, and that I can still see that head of yours held so high.”