Chapter 44

It was time to go to the private school again.

The guard, as usual, came to pick up Shen Ningning.

On the carriage, the guard smiled and said, "Miss Shen, the county magistrate has secured an opportunity for you."

Shen Ningning blinked her round eyes curiously, "What opportunity?"

"The imperial astrologer has observed the stars and predicted rain in the next few days. Therefore, the Emperor and the Crown Prince, along with the courtiers, are preparing to go to the Temple of Heaven to pray for rain."

"To show sincerity, the County Magistrate has borrowed a statue of the Rain Goddess from the temple. He wants the students from your private school to copy the 'Rain Prayer Scriptures'. The day after tomorrow, when the Emperor performs the rain ritual at the Temple of Heaven, he will present the statue and the scriptures."

Shen Ningning pondered, "To pray for rain... we just need to copy the scriptures?"

The guard turned the horse's reins, smiling, "Yes, Miss Shen. You should take this seriously; it's the County Magistrate's wish."

"If nothing goes wrong, after you finish your introductory studies at the private school next year, the County Magistrate has plans to send you to the national academy in the capital for further education."

"The County Magistrate has been busy in the capital these days, so he asked me to explain the situation. He has also spoken to the teachers at your school, so please take this matter seriously, Miss Shen."

Shen Ningning pulled back the carriage curtain, looking at the passing land, mostly cracked and barren.

It was only morning, but the sun was already high, its blazing rays scorching the earth like a ball of fire.

The long-dry Cangyun Kingdom indeed needed a timely rain.

Shen Ningning nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling, "I will definitely do my best in copying the scriptures!"

Arriving at the private school.

Before class, Master Huang also told everyone about copying the 'Rain Prayer Scriptures'.

When the statue of the Rain Goddess was brought in.

Everyone gasped in amazement.

The deity statue was only as tall as an upright palm, crafted from fine mutton-fat white jade with lifelike brows and eyes, exuding both majesty and compassion.

The Rain Goddess held in her hand a bunch of rain-inducing herbs, and in her right hand, she held a compass.

Her skirt was entwined with a dragon, said to be her mount.

According to legend, the Rain Goddess rode such a dragon, spreading clouds and rain everywhere.

"Students, the Emperor and the Crown Prince have fasted for two days to perform the rain prayer, showing how vital this rain is to us."

"Therefore, aside from the regular lessons, all other academic courses will be temporarily suspended. Everyone is to copy a script of the 'Rain Prayer Scripture', which will be sent to the capital in two days. The county magistrate will present it to the Emperor, demonstrating our Guangyang County's resolve."

"As I say this," Master Huang looked towards Shen Ningning, "Shen, your writing is neat and orderly. I will place the scripture you copy at the very top. Make sure you copy it well."

"After all, the county magistrate himself has instructed this."

"This scripture copying for rain prayer is an opportunity for Shen Ningning to shine."

Shen Ningning immediately nodded: "Rest assured, Master, I will be meticulous!"

Master Huang nodded and began to flip through his book to start the lesson.

Lan Qian, however, stared at Shen Ningning, wishing she could burn a hole through her back with her gaze.

"A poor wretch who can only live in the mountains dares to seek attention?"

"No way!"

"The 'Rain Prayer Scripture' isn't long, but to copy it accurately, one must calm their mind."

"Thus, for two consecutive days, the private school did not hold regular classes, and everyone was engrossed in carefully transcribing the scripture in their rooms."

"Shen Ningning was particularly meticulous."

"By the morning of the second day, she had already completed the scripture overnight."

"While she was airing the ink-stained script in her room, Lan Qian's voice came from the doorway."

"Shen Ningning!"

"The little one turned her head and saw Lan Qian, carrying an inkstone and holding paper and a brush, about to enter."

"Shen Ningning's face tensed up, and in a hurried, soft voice she said, 'Wait, don't come in yet!'"

"But how could Lan Qian possibly listen to her?"

"She stepped right in!"

"What Lan Qian didn't expect was that as she stepped forward, it seemed like she tripped over something!"

"With a 'thud,' she fell hard."

"The ink from the inkstone she was carrying splashed all over her face!"

"Lan Qian was in excruciating pain!"

"Opening her mouth, her teeth were stained black with ink, and she cried out in anger."

"Shen Ningning! Did you actually set a trap for me?!"

"The little one walked over, kindly helping her up."

"Her small face showed surprise, but no sign of regret."

"Shen Ningning's voice was sweet and soft, 'I'm sorry, Lan Qian, but you were presumptuous last time, peeking and barging into my room.'"

"'To ensure a quiet environment for copying scriptures, I strung a cotton thread across the doorway. Are you okay?'"

"Lan Qian was so furious she felt like her lungs were about to burst."

"How could she possibly be okay?!"

"She turned her head to look back."

"What tripped her was indeed a tightly stretched cotton thread, tied near the doorway!"

"Shen Ningning, you malicious little fiend, you did this just to harm me!" Lan Qian cursed recklessly.

"The little one blinked her innocent eyes, 'I warned you, asked you not to rush in, but you didn’t listen to me.'"

"Lan Qian was at a loss for words!"

"'You... you!' Ink dripped from her mouth, her lips swollen. In Shen Ningning's eyes, she looked like a sausage pickled by her grandmother."

"Shen Ningning puffed her cheeks, trying hard not to laugh."

"But she couldn't hold it back."

"'Pfft…'"

"'You dare to laugh at me?! After I kindly brought you ink!'"

"'Everyone's inkstone and ink are the same, why did you need to bring me some?' Shen Ningning fluttered her long, thick eyelashes."

"She wasn't a fool and didn't believe a word."

"Just as Lan Qian, at a loss for words, was about to tear up the scripture Shen Ningning had copied, Lu Shao Yuan's voice came from the door, 'What’s going on here?'"

"'Brother Shao Yuan!' Lan Qian immediately burst into tears, 'I was bringing ink to Shen Ningning and she set me up to trip. I hurt myself.'"

"Lu Shao Yuan had just finished copying scriptures and heard from a servant that Shen Ningning’s room had been lit with candles all night."

"So, suspecting she hadn’t slept, he was bringing her breakfast from the dining hall."

"That's when he saw this scene."

"His eyes, full of suspicion, shifted from Lan Qian to Shen Ningning."

"Compared to Lan Qian's shrill accusations, the little one stood there demurely, her skin fair, eyes bright, like a small pearl too lazy to speak."

"Lu Shao Yuan then coldly said to Lan Qian, 'Why are you so idle?'"

"'Everyone else is busy copying scriptures, worried about not finishing in time, and you have the leisure to bring ink to Shen Ningning?'"

"Lan Qian, reprimanded, faltered in her response, 'I...'"

"Lu Shao Yuan, displeased, urged her, 'Go back to your room!'"

"If it weren't for the ink obscuring her face, Shen Ningning would have seen Lan Qian's expression darker than the ink itself!"

"Fearing Lu Shao Yuan, she could only skulk away."

"Shen Ningning turned to tidy up the scriptures she had copied."

"Lu Shao Yuan came over and placed a plate of breakfast on the table."

"The little one glanced at it, a bun and a cup of soy milk."

"She really couldn’t eat it at all!"

"She was waiting to go to the fairy realm later and eat the braised beef noodles made by Aunt Liu last time!"

"Just thinking of the noodles, each strand perfectly textured, coated in fragrant meat sauce, with dozens of chunks of beef and vibrant green vegetables heaped in the bowl."

"Shen Ningning couldn’t help but salivate."

"In a soft voice, she said, 'You eat it, I'm not hungry.'"

"Lu Shao Yuan coughed lightly, unsure how to persuade her to eat, not wanting to appear too concerned, as he and Shen Ningning were not very close."

"'That... Lan Qian probably didn’t have good intentions bringing you the ink,' he finally remarked, returning to the earlier incident."

"Shen Ningning’s clear eyes sparkled with intelligence, 'I know, the cotton thread was to guard against her.'"

"Lu Shao Yuan turned his head to look at the thread tied across the doorway and couldn’t help but laugh."

"'You're quite clever.'"

"At that moment, the master sent someone to fetch Lu Shao Yuan, and he had to leave first."

"As he was leaving, he reminded Shen Ningning, 'Eat the bun, or you'll have to wait until noon if you get hungry.'"