Chapter 157: The Prodigy

Cheng Ru'an, who was standing by the bedside, practically sprang up from the silk cushion, her blood‑veined eyes fixed on her daughter: "Tuan Tuan? You're awake?"

"Where does it hurt? Mother's here!"

Mu Rong Jin sprang up from the chair beside her, walked to the bedside and whispered, "Tuan Tuan?"

Tuan Tuan turned her head and glanced at them: "Mother! Empress!"

Her eyes were bright and clear, as if she had merely taken a long afternoon nap.

"Tuan Tuan! My little Tuan Tuan!" Cheng Ru'an's tears poured down like rain, and she trembled while gently caressing her daughter's cheek.

Tuan Tuan blinked, looking a little puzzled; feeling something in her hand, she lifted her left fist and slowly spread it out before her eyes.

It was a hard, thin piece, its shape irregular, the edges bearing a naturally rounded curve.

The entire object emitted a bright halo like moonlight, and on close inspection, deep within the halo a minutely delicate, more lustrous than water, sheen seemed to flow slowly.

She tilted her head, examined it closely, and exclaimed, "Ah, it's the thing I found at the bottom of the Azure Wave Pool!"

She turned her head toward her tear‑filled mother and the Empress's surprised face: "Imperial Uncle?"

Mu Rong Jin was startled, then answered promptly, "His Majesty is now at the Heavenly Sacrifice Platform…"

Before the words finished, Tuan Tuan rolled over and sprang from the bed, shouting, "Quick—take me to Imperial Uncle!"

Mu Rong Jin turned and barked, "Ready the phoenix carriage! No—ready the fastest horse! Immediately send the Princess to the Heavenly Sacrifice Platform! Hurry—!"

Below the Heavenly Sacrifice Platform, the populace's grievances boiled like oil in a cauldron.

"Grant his request, Your Majesty!"

A gaunt man with reddened eyes shouted, "I've lost my land, my child is dead, fled famine here, I'm about to die of thirst—what good are the jade seal and the city!"

Another voice countered, "Nonsense! That's the blood of countless people! How can you say just give it back!"

"What Shen Tong! Isn't this taking advantage of a disaster?"

"But we can't survive any longer!"

"Exactly! Those people are already dead anyway!"

"We still want to live!"

"Your Majesty! Let Shen Tong request rain! Please agree to him!"

The populace, inflamed with collective anger, gradually surged toward the platform.

Xiao Yuanhang and Xiao Ningchen stared nervously at the platform below, their sword grips tightened.

Qing Wang, observing the chaotic scene, bowed again and, with a heart‑wrenching roar, shouted, "Your Majesty! The lives of the people are paramount! Please consider the ten thousand subjects!"

Gong Sun Zhi stood upright on the high platform, his white robes whiter than snow, like a deity.

Xiao Jieyun, listening to the roar of the crowd below like a mountain‑calling‑sea‑wave, glanced down at the apparently respectful Qing Wang.

Gong Sun Zhi slowly turned, met his eyes, and gave a faint smile.

Emperor of the Fiery Kingdom, you have no retreat left.

Xiao Jieyun closed his eyes, drew a deep breath, made up his mind, and slowly spoke, "If I, the Emperor, grant your request, can Shen Tong truly bring the sweet rain to relieve my Fiery Kingdom's great drought?"

Gong Sun Zhi turned toward the platform below and declared, "Heaven above, the multitude as witness!"

"If I cannot bring the sweet rain, I am willing to endure the penalty of being burned by raging fire!"

The moment those words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent at once.

Xiao Jieyun sighed deeply, "Since that is so, I shall…"

A crisp, ringing shout cut him off: "Imperial Uncle! I'm here—!"

Everyone turned to look where the voice came from.

Xiao Jieyun's words froze mid‑air; he looked up to see the chief eunuch of the Fengyi Palace mounted on a fast horse, cradling a tiny child in his arms, galloping toward the Heavenly Sacrifice Platform.

It was Tuan Tuan!

He was overjoyed and shouted, "Quick—let the Princess take the platform!"

The swift horse galloped to the front, and Tuan Tuan, using both hands and feet, scrambled off the ground, her short legs pattering as she climbed onto the Heavenly Sacrifice Platform.

Gong Sun Zhi's previously detached, god‑like visage instantly soured.

How did she get here? Didn't the National Preceptor say she would be dealt with in advance?

Xiao Yuanhang and Xiao Ningchen exchanged a glance, their faces alight with joy—Tuan Tuan had awakened!

Tuan Tuan rushed straight to Xiao Jieyun's side, shouting, "Imperial Uncle!"

Xiao Jieyun bent down, scooped her up: "Tuan Tuan, are you alright? You gave Imperial Uncle a fright!"

Tuan Tuan stuck her small head out of his embrace, her big eyes scanning the surroundings, and she instantly spotted Gong Sun Zhi.

She lifted her tiny eyebrows, pointed a finger, and shouted, "You bad guy stole Shen! What else are you trying to steal?"

The crowd below instantly burst into a roar.

"Steal Shen?"

"Shen Tong? What did he steal?"

"Don't heed the child's babble! Shen Tong's divine abilities are boundless; how could he steal anything?"

Gong Sun Zhi's face flushed bright red in an instant!

His previously detached demeanor collapsed in an instant, his voice turning angry as he retorted, "You're spouting nonsense! I am not stealing Shen!"

Xiao Jieyun lifted Tuan Tuan high, his voice booming, "This is Princess Jiayou, whom I have personally enfeoffed as the 'Heaven‑Seeking Immortal Envoy'!"

"My Fiery Kingdom already has an Immortal Envoy here; we need not enlist outsiders, we can still obtain the sweet rain!"

The voices below instantly roared to a boil.

"Heaven‑Seeking Immortal Envoy?"

"Just this little girl?"

"Can she wield Shen Tong's profound powers?"

I seem to have heard of this Little Princess! She's indeed extraordinary!

Exactly! My family has been in Jingcheng for a long time, and I've also heard of her! She is the direct daughter of Prince Ning!

Recently, the ominous gold hairpin at Manager Xie's Clever Crisp Pavilion was broken by her!

I heard that during the autumn hunt, she even tamed two man-eating tigers!

But these scattered voices were quickly drowned out by more doubts.

Who knows if it's true or false!

Exactly! Just hearsay! Have you seen it with your own eyes?

All we need now is for it to rain!

Whether he's a divine child or an immortal envoy, all we need is for it to rain!

Exactly! Whoever can bring the rain, we'll believe in them!

Tuan Tuan's little face puffed up in anger as he shouted loudly at the crowd below:

It's him! This troublemaker who steals everywhere! He stole the fortune of the Fierce Kingdom, that's why Old Heaven Lord won't send rain!

It's not Imperial Uncle's fault!

Xiao Jieyun's heart jolted, his arms slightly drew in, and he held tight the little dumpling in his embrace.

Upon hearing this, everyone became even more doubtful, their gazes darting back and forth between Tuan Tuan and Shen Tong.

Real or fake?

Stealing the nation's fortune? Is that possible?

Exactly! How could a divine child steal things? Please, divine child, show your power! Let Old Heaven send rain!

Exactly! How could a divine child steal things? Please, divine child, show your power! Let Old Heaven send rain!

Tuan Tuan pursed his lips: "You want him to pray for rain? He doesn't even have that ability!"

The doubts from the crowd instantly grew louder.

Gongsun Zhi's face turned completely grim, he stepped forward, his complexion turning dark.

He fixed his gaze on Xiao Jieyun: "Your Majesty, return the jade seal, cede three cities. Before I pray for rain, may I ask Your Majesty, is this granted?"

Xiao Jieyun glanced at him, then lowered his head to look at the little person tightly clinging to his neck in his arms.

He was resolute, full of confidence, meeting Gongsun Zhi's probing gaze: "If you can truly summon sweet rain at once, ending my Fierce Kingdom's great drought, I will grant your request."

Upon receiving this promise, Gongsun Zhi's face showed a hint of joy.

He walked to the center of the Heavenly Sacrifice Platform, facing the huge brazier, adjusted his snowy white robe sleeves, and performed three kneelings and nine kowtows.

Then he rose, slowly raised his hands, formed a strange gesture pointing to the heavens, and his clear voice rang out in all directions.

Heaven above! Great Xia's Gongsun Zhi here, humbly praying for rain to descend, the heavenly river hanging upside down!

Just as his words fell, "Boom—"

A deep, muffled thunderclap exploded violently! The heavens and earth shuddered.

Thick dark clouds rolled in from all directions, madly converging, and the surrounding light quickly dimmed at a visible pace.

A fierce wind kicked up, sweeping sand and dust as it howled past, causing the banners around the altar to flap wildly, as if about to be torn apart.

"Crack—"

A blinding bolt of lightning tore through the sky, thunder roaring deafeningly!

The wind carried a chill and heavy moisture, striking their faces; all those tormented by drought shivered with cold, then burst into great joy!

It's going to rain! It's really going to rain!

An immortal! He truly is an immortal!

Old Heaven Lord has opened his eyes!

Cheers thundered below as countless people gazed up at the white figure on the stage, their eyes filled with awe and gratitude.

Qing Wang bowed deeply to Gongsun Zhi: "Thank you, divine child, for bringing sweet rain to my Fierce Kingdom! The divine child's power is boundless!"

The crowd below echoed in unison, shout after shout rising higher, forming a uniform chant that shook the clouds: "The divine child's power is boundless!"