latelenovela Chapter 135 The Emperor Tests the Talisman
Chapter 135 The Emperor Tests the Talisman
The emperor paced back and forth in his study, eager to try out the rain-making talisman.
So he personally picked up the rain-praying talisman, walked to the door, and read out what was written in the letter: "It is a drought and there is no rain. I urgently hope for rain. I pray for rain to save our people's lives." He said it in a steady and extremely pious voice.
Li Quan didn't dare to breathe, staring cautiously at the originally clear and cloudless sky without blinking, silently praying in his heart that the rain-making talisman would be successful. His hands were unconsciously clenched together, and his palms were full of sweat.
Sure enough, in an instant, the originally bright light in the sky gradually dimmed, and dark clouds quickly gathered from all directions as if they had received some mysterious instructions.
Soon, raindrops as big as beans began to fall down with a crackling sound, hitting the glazed tiles of the palace, making a crisp sound.
Queen He Jingshu stood under the corridor of the imperial palace, looking at the fine rain falling, feeling mixed emotions.
She had long heard that the Imperial Observatory had warned of a severe drought, and the entire palace and even the capital were shrouded in the shadow of the impending disaster.
Her father, the Prime Minister, had served in the imperial court for over forty years, his obsession with power ingrained in him. The family's prosperity and decline depended entirely on his every move at court. As the Prime Minister's daughter and the Empress, she was caught between the Emperor and her family, treading on thin ice.
Now it is raining. It seems that the god Fuxi's magical power to pray for rain is indeed true. This should be a cause for celebration for the whole country.
But she couldn't be happy at all. She knew very well what this rain meant to the emperor. It was a powerful demonstration of the divine right of kings and a great boost to the emperor's prestige.
But she also understood that her father would certainly not be at ease, and the family's layout in the court might be disrupted because of this rain.
A complex look flashed in her eyes, showing relief and love for the emperor. After all, he was her husband, the master of the world, and his glory was also her glory.
But at the same time, worry spread like vines in her heart. She was afraid that her family would lose power because of this, and that her father would get into trouble because of the fluctuation of power.
The sound of raindrops hitting the bluestone slabs seemed to have turned into heavy drumbeats, hitting her heart again and again, causing her body to tremble slightly.
She didn't know what to do and could only wander alone in the corridor in the rain, thinking about the complicated political situation and the difficult emotional entanglements behind this seemingly simple rain.
When many concubines in the palace heard that it was going to rain, they curiously opened their colorful umbrellas and went out to check.
In Concubine Hui's palace, she frowned slightly and said to the maid beside her, "The Imperial Astronomical Observatory said that there was a severe drought in Beichen, and there was no sign of rain anywhere in the country. How come it suddenly started raining?
Could it be that the heavens had suddenly blessed him, bestowing auspicious signs upon him? But could there be some deeper meaning hidden behind this auspicious sign?
If there is a real hidden meaning behind this, His Majesty's mind will probably change, and our days in this palace will probably change as well."
The palace maid quickly agreed, "Your Majesty is right. The palace is already full of unpredictable circumstances, and now something strange has happened. It's really unsettling."
Concubine Hui shook her head slightly, her heart full of worry. The connections and power she had painstakingly built up over the years seemed to become fragile in the face of these unknown changes.
Inside Concubine Li's palace, the scene was quite different. Standing under the eaves, gazing at the rain-soaked garden, she whispered to the court lady, "Qing'er, do you think this rain is a warning from heaven to the palace?"
In this palace, every little change can affect the balance of power among all parties.
If this rain portends something, will our family's position in the court be impacted? After all, our support in this palace is closely related to the court."
The female official thought for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty, this is indeed strange. The rain came too suddenly. If it really causes changes in the palace structure, it will be troublesome. We must make plans early and pay more attention to the movements of other palaces so that we can respond in time."
Concubine Li bit her lower lip lightly, her eyes full of anxiety and vigilance. She knew very well that the glory and rise and fall of her family were closely linked to her position in the palace, and any slight disturbance could put the family in trouble.
In Concubine Ning's palace, several concubines gathered together to discuss the matter. Concubine Ning was the first to speak: "What do you think? Could it be that some extraordinary person is secretly assisting Your Majesty? I've heard that there are many talented people among the people. Perhaps it was a master who cast a spell."
One of the attendants echoed, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Such a feat of controlling the wind and rain is definitely not something that ordinary people can do. If such a remarkable person truly exists, Your Majesty will surely attach great importance to him. I'm afraid there will be more unusual things happening in this palace in the future."
Another nobleman also said, "No matter what, this rain is a good thing. If it can alleviate the drought, His Majesty will be very happy, and we can all breathe a sigh of relief."
Concubine Ning nodded slightly: "Hmph, let's wait and see. If there really are any unusual people or things that appear, we will make plans later."
In the inner and outer cities of the capital, people were also surprised by the sudden rain.
In the streets and alleys, people came out of their homes, some with their heads raised to let the rain hit their faces, and some excitedly cheered and jumped in the rain.
"The rain has finally come! We farmers have been looking forward to it for a long time!" said an old farmer excitedly, wiping the rain off his face.
"Yes, I heard that this rain is related to the fairy boy in Qingshan County. Maybe God is really blessing us!" A young man echoed.
In Prime Minister He Changting's residence, he looked at the falling rain with a solemn expression, thinking to himself, "This rain is strange. I heard that there are many strange things happening to Fuxi Xiangjun in Qingshan County. Could this rain really be related to her? If so, this woman should not be underestimated. The power behind her is probably unfathomable. I'm afraid there will be more variables in the court in the future.
The emperor looked at the rain he had prayed for, and his admiration for Shen Li increased a little. He turned to Li Quan and said, "Li Quan, go grind the ink. I need to draft an edict."
Li Quan quickly responded, "Yes, Your Majesty." He quickly ground the ink and stood respectfully aside.
The emperor picked up his pen, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I intend to confer the title of Princess Fuxi on Shen Li. She presented the movable type printing technique. If this technique can be promoted, it will surely help our dynasty flourish and spread knowledge.
There is also a magical rain-bringing talisman that relieves my worries and saves the people from drought. Its merits will benefit the country and the people for thousands of years.
I specially grant her a thousand taels of gold, five hundred pieces of silk and satin, ten boxes of jewels and jade, and also grant her a farm to grow grain to commend her merits.
I hope he will continue to share my worries and bring benefits to the people in the future."
Then, the emperor lowered his voice and said to Li Quan, "I have another matter, so please take note of it. I will send a secret decree to Bai Jin, instructing him to quietly inform Fu Xi to make more rain-inducing talismans.
Once the talisman is completed, Bai Jin can arrange for it to be distributed throughout the country so that I can make arrangements for drought relief. This matter must be kept secret and must not be leaked to avoid causing unnecessary panic and chaos."
Li Quan replied respectfully, "Your Majesty is wise and wise. I will definitely see to it."
The emperor nodded slightly. "I hope so too. If this movable type printing technique can be successfully implemented in our dynasty, it will surely promote cultural prosperity and benefit future generations. Shen Li's willingness to contribute this technique is commendable."
Li Quan continued, "Your Majesty, should this decree be conveyed to Qingshan County immediately?"
The emperor said, "Of course, the sooner the better. I want everyone in the world to know that I will never be stingy with rewards for my meritorious officials."