That day, everyone watched in awe as a miracle unfolded. When all had assumed that the Heavenly Maiden and the Grand Tutor were mere charlatans, deceiving the emperor, nobody expected that rain would truly pour from the sky.
As the rain soaked everyone, they could finally feel the reality of a true Heavenly Maiden—just as the emperor had said: she could bring blessings to the people and wield the most wondrous of powers.
After that day, the emperor’s doubts vanished entirely. He immediately issued orders to punish anyone spreading rumors or showing disrespect toward the Heavenly Maiden or Grand Tutor.
The rain continued for three full days and nights, relieving the drought that had plagued the land. The emperor felt immense gratitude that he had brought the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor to the palace, as this fortune had clearly proven their worth.
The An Duke’s family seethed with frustration. No matter how carefully they had planned, they never imagined that rain would truly come at the command of that little girl.
“What on earth is happening, Father? Is that Heavenly Maiden really some kind of immortal? Does she truly have such power? I don’t believe it!”
Wei Heng’s face was pale with disbelief. Over the past few days, he had received countless letters from his sister, scolding them. How could a simple ritual for rain turn out like this, instead allowing the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor to shine? Their family had ended up as nothing more than stepping stones.
“What good is it to get angry now? How did I end up with such an incapable son?”
The An Duke heaved a heavy sigh, seeing his son so utterly mediocre.
Strangely, the image of Ah Du kept surfacing in his mind, giving him an inexplicable intuition: this boy’s identity was extraordinary and must be connected to him in some intricate way.
Since the rain-summoning ceremony, no one dared to question the titles of Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor. The emperor had built the magnificent Tianji Palace to house them, and the ministers all outwardly showed respect—or at least feigned it.
Most importantly, the princes likely sought to curry favor with them, hoping that a few words in the emperor’s presence might sway his opinion.
But Yun Shang and Ah Du never wanted to get involved. They only wished to live peacefully in the palace. After all, the princes’ struggles for the throne were their own business—what did it have to do with them?
Meanwhile, tensions in the harem quietly escalated, primarily due to Wei Yao’s increasingly obvious hostility.
“The Heavenly Maiden really is impressive. How could she possibly predict when the heavens would release rain? Is she really just a girl from that remote mountain village? Or was all of this a scheme of yours? You simply wanted the emperor to look upon you differently, to carve out a special place in his heart, didn’t you?”
Wei Yao confronted Yun Shang in a corner of the Imperial Garden, deliberately blocking her path. Gritting her teeth, she whispered her accusation.
She was certain Yun Shang’s motives were connected to the politics of the harem—trying to secure a special place in the emperor’s heart, to be more important than any other consort.
After much thought, Wei Yao concluded it had to be so. After all, what did a mere title of “Heavenly Maiden” in the palace mean? It was obvious Yun Shang wanted influence, perhaps envying Wei Yao, once the emperor’s most beloved consort.
“I see, so this is what you’ve been thinking!”
Compared to Wei Yao’s furious gnashing of teeth, Yun Shang remained calm, almost airy. She even allowed herself a small laugh, which sounded unbearably grating to Wei Yao, as if each note of it pierced her ears. She wished she could rip that mouth apart.
But, unfortunately for Wei Yao, there was nothing she could do. Even her usual harem schemes were useless—she dared not act. Yun Shang had just summoned rain for the people and earned the emperor’s trust. How could Wei Yao dare interfere?
“What exactly are you planning? I had my father investigate your origins. You’re no immortal, no being from another world. Where did you come by such power? Now that you are in the palace, by the emperor’s side, what do you hope to accomplish?”
The calmer Yun Shang appeared, the more flustered Wei Yao became. She had a sense that these two people had come to the palace not merely for a title, but with a deliberate intent aimed at her and the An Duke’s family.
“Why are you so anxious? Didn’t you feel confident when you sent the An Duke to investigate me? You thought yourself the emperor’s favored consort, the An Duke powerful and influential, and I… a powerless woman with nothing but the title of Heavenly Maiden. Are you afraid of me?”
Yun Shang spoke, deliberately stepping back to create space between herself and Wei Yao, unwilling to be entangled with someone so petty.
“Rather than losing your temper here, why not write to the An Duke? Let him reconsider what happened over a decade ago. If he forgets anything important… that would be very bad indeed.”
Yun Shang truly disliked the An Duke’s family, especially Wei Yao, the closest member in the harem.
Every time she encountered Wei Yao, it was either cold sarcasm or veiled humiliation. How could she possibly have a good impression of such people?
Moreover, during the rain-summoning ceremony, seeing the An Duke’s family gloating had left Yun Shang with a strong sense of disgust.
“I don’t know what your nonsensical words mean,” Wei Yao snapped, “but I know this: fake things can never become real. The Heavenly Maiden may have tricked the emperor once or twice with the favor of heaven, but could she deceive him forever? Doesn’t she fear her true self being revealed? How will she cover it up then?”
Wei Yao felt an odd tension. What did Yun Shang mean?
Despite having never met her before, Wei Yao sensed a subtle, almost intangible hostility—as if Yun Shang were deliberately targeting her and the An Duke’s family. What was going on?
Afterward, Wei Yao sent letters back home, instructing her father and brother to thoroughly investigate Yun Shang’s origins. What was happening? Could there be some old grudge involved?