Chapter 92

The cloud must have accidentally stuck to her in the fairyland.

Unexpectedly, when she gently tapped it, the cloud did not dissipate but slowly rose.

Shen Ningning looked up, watching the head-sized cloud drift upwards until it finally disappeared into the clouds.

Suddenly!

Around where the cloud had disappeared, the sky turned pitch black, resembling a clump of cotton soaked in water.

Thunder rumbled, growing from distant to deafeningly near!

Shen Ningning stared wide-eyed in astonishment at the sky.

In the distance, villagers shouted, "It's going to rain! Hurry, get the basins to catch the water!"

The moment he finished speaking, large raindrops began to fall heavily.

It was as if the heavens were pouring down water, stinging Shen Ningning's little face.

The Black Wolf King reacted swiftly, grabbing Shen Ningning in its jaws and running towards the village house.

Once back, standing under the eaves, the little girl could hardly believe her eyes.

"Such heavy rain..." Was it all because of her little cloud?!

Not only were the villagers jubilantly celebrating, but even the wolf pack joyfully frolicked and rolled in the rain.

Strangely enough, the rain fell in a fifty-mile radius around Wolf Mountain.

It stopped after just a short period, equivalent to half an incense stick's burning time.

But this was enough to bring joy to everyone.

Every household had stored rainwater, ensuring that every acre of land in Xiangyun Village was nourished and irrigated.

After the downpour, the loquat trees became lush and vibrant, with sturdy branches and leaves.

Until this moment.

Shen Ningning was convinced that any cloud pulled from her fairyland could bring a heavy rain.

The news of this sudden downpour reached the Emperor's ears by that afternoon.

Inside the Imperial Study, several key ministers spoke with tones of joy.

The Emperor remarked with emotion, "Heaven blesses Cangyun Country with timely rain once again, it seems the drought will soon be resolved!"

The ministers chimed in—

"It's all thanks to Your Majesty's blessings."

"When the rain started, the capital was still sunny, but near Wolf Mountain, the sky was covered with dark clouds and thunder roared. Your Majesty, this must be the work of deities."

The Emperor nodded happily: "Indeed."

He suddenly remembered, why did the name 'Wolf Mountain' sound familiar?

That girl, Shen Ningning, whom Mo Lingwei cared about, seemed to live on that mountain.

"Truly a place of outstanding people and remarkable land, blessed with extraordinary Feng Shui!"

Just as the Emperor was about to bestow a reward, he heard from the Imperial Censor: "Before entering the palace, I learned that it was the younger daughter of Minister Wei who went to Xitai Village near Wolf Mountain."

The Emperor's smile faltered for a moment.

He raised his eyebrows: "The youngest daughter of Minister Wei? Is it the child known from birth as the 'Rain-Bringing Maiden'?"

"Exactly her. I heard that Miss Wei was in the village at that time, setting up shelters and distributing porridge with the Wei family's eldest son and others to aid the people in Xitai Village."

The Emperor's expression turned somewhat dark and inscrutable.

His smile barely showing, he said: "That's quite a coincidence. I remember since her birth, she has been called the 'Fortune Maiden' by the Wei family. Yet, apart from the heavy rain on the night of her birth, her prayers for rain have never been fulfilled."

The Grand Censor added: "Perhaps it's because she is too young and lacks sufficient spiritual power?"

"However, the previous royal rain prayers and the recent rain at Wolf Mountain seem to be closely connected to Miss Wei."

The Emperor laughed out loud.

The Grand Censor, uncertain of his intentions and hesitant to continue praising the Wei family, dared not speak further.

The Emperor spoke in a deep tone: "It seems I underestimated this 'Fortune Maiden' before."

"In a few days, it will be the Crown Prince's birthday. Summon Miss Wei to the palace. If it rains on his birthday, I will confer upon her the title of Princess."

The ministers present were all astounded.

This was a meteoric rise to power.

Considering that Minister Wei was related to the favored Consort Li, if the Wei family could add a princess to their ranks, their future wealth and honor were assured.

However...

The Emperor smiled again, but his eyes were cold: "But if she fails to bring rain, we'll see what happens."

The consequences were left unsaid.

A chill ran down the Grand Censor's spine, and he quickly bowed his head.

Indeed, the saying 'serving the Emperor is like living with a tiger' couldn't be truer!

Just a few words from the Emperor could either greatly enrich a family's glory and wealth or plunge them into the depths of disgrace.

When the news reached the Wei family, Miss Wei was indulging in her luxurious lifestyle.

In such hot weather, of course, she had no intention of going out.

Her father, Minister Wei, simply arranged for several young girls of similar age to wear her clothes, don veils and sun hats, and appear in her stead.

They would send a stand-in as soon as they heard it might rain.

In this way, one is bound to guess right eventually.

However, when Mr. Wei heard that the emperor allowed his daughter to attend the crown prince's birthday, he was delighted.

Yet, his delight was short-lived, soon replaced by worries about the rain.

It's one thing to pretend, but what if it really rains on the crown prince's birthday? What then?

"Father, I just heard from the steward. Can I go to the crown prince's birthday banquet?" asked Wei Yufu, who was only four and a half years old, as she walked into the study.

Though young, she was the most favored among the twelve children of Minister Wei.

She was dressed in fine silk, with a gold and jade necklace around her neck, gold bracelets on both wrists, and dazzling ornaments in her hair.

Wei Yufu spoke with a hint of pride: "I knew it. How could I not be invited to the crown prince's birthday?"

"Father, I want to buy new clothes. Buy all the snow silk brocade in the capital. On the day of the banquet, I want to wear the prettiest dress."

Minister Wei came back to his senses: "No! Yufu, not only can you not go, but you must also feign illness to refuse the invitation to the palace."

Wei Yufu immediately frowned and expressed her dissatisfaction petulantly: "Why? The emperor personally invited me. It's a blessing others would beg for."

"The emperor wants to invite a girl who can truly command the wind and rain. Can you do that?"

Hearing this, Wei Yufu's face flashed with unease, and she defiantly burst out, "That's something for father to worry about, not me!"

"I just want to see His Highness the Crown Prince. Auntie said that when I turn eight, I can enter the palace to serve the Crown Prince as a maid. Were you all deceiving me?"

She began to cry as she spoke.

Minister Wei immediately went to her with a heart full of pity and embraced her.

"My dear daughter, father is doing this to help you get closer to the Crown Prince!"

"You're lying, father. How can I get closer if I don't attend his birthday?"

"That's what you don't understand." Minister Wei whispered a few words into his daughter's ear.

Wei Yufu didn't quite understand, but she stopped crying: "But... will it really work?"

Minister Wei smiled mysteriously, "Leave the arrangements to your father."

  ……

Recently, Mo Lingwei found the white porcelain fishbowl in the courtyard increasingly pleasing to the eye.

Whenever Chen Shaobei came to report on affairs, six or seven times out of ten, he would find the Crown Prince leisurely standing by the fishbowl, feeding the fish.

This day was no exception.

"Your Highness, it seems your injury has healed considerably," Chen Shaobei greeted with a bow and a smile.

The sun was shining brightly, yet Mo Lingwei seemed to be surrounded by a cool breeze.

His clothes were neat, his ponytail tied high, exuding youthful spirit and a touch of nobility.

Mo Lingwei turned to him, "This white porcelain bowl you bought is quite good."

Chen Shaobei laughed, "At that time, didn't Your Highness complain that my purchase was superfluous?"

Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, "What brings you here?"

Chen Shaobei then asked, "Your Highness, where will Miss Shen be seated, since you've invited her to the banquet?"

"By my side," the young prince answered decisively.