Chapter 159: Heaven's Secrets Cannot Be Gazed

"Flames sear my body!"

Gongsun Zhi's whole body jolted violently, his oath still ringing in his ears!

His complexion turned pale in an instant.

The golden dragon's massive ears twitched keenly, and it gently brushed Tuan Tuan with its dragon whiskers.

Then it twisted its huge head and gave Gongsun Zhi, who stood on the stage, a light blow.

"Hoo—"

A slender golden fire line shot toward him with perfect precision.

"Ah—!" Gongsun Zhi's wail instantly split the heavens!

His white robe ignited quickly, and the golden flame was bizarrely relentless; no matter how he rolled, no matter how the guards struck at it, the fire clung to him, scorching his garments and flesh!

Xiao Jieyun looked down at him coldly: "You stole my nation's destiny, caused a great drought, the people suffered, countless lives were lost, the populace displaced—this is the fate you deserve."

Xiao Ningchen snorted coldly, returned to his father's side, and Xiao Yuanhang gave him a slight smile: "Well done!"

Qing Wang's face turned ashen as he glared resentfully at Gongsun Zhi struggling in the flames, "Useless!"

Far away in Da Xia, Wu Luo watched the Fengyi Palace collapse with a roar; a sheepskin scroll ignited without flame, its fire engulfing the palace's phantom image and swiftly turning to ash.

A burnt, acrid smell quickly spread through the crowd.

Gongsun Zhi kept wailing; the flame burned for a while before it finally faded slowly.

It left a figure curled on the ground, twitching incessantly.

Jiang Xin stripped off his outer robe, draped it over him, hoisted him up in one arm, and turned away.

The common folk who had once cheered for him, seeing his wretched state, felt only contempt and lingering fear.

Tuan Tuan watched Jiang Xin's retreating back and said, "I told you early on, stolen things must be returned! You just keep stealing more!"

She waved at the golden dragon; its massive head lunged forward again, and Xiao Jieyun's body tensed instinctively—"My god, it's enormous!"

Tuan Tuan lightly poked the golden dragon's big face and pointed upward: "Alright, stop playing."

"Spit out the water quickly, everyone's waiting."

Seemingly pleased by her poke, the golden dragon let out a satisfied "woo‑goo" sound.

It lifted its head, and its massive body rose swiftly straight into the clouds.

It then began to circle majestically and gracefully over the realm of Lie, opening its huge maw to pour down countless sweet rains.

The rain moistened the cracked earth, dispelling the gloom from everyone's hearts.

Everyone cheered joyfully.

"It's raining! It's really raining!"

"It's the Immortal Envoy! The Immortal Envoy brought us this rain!"

"We thank the Immortal Envoy! We thank the Princess!"

"Immortal Envoy, blessings—!"

"So the Da Xia prodigy was a fake; our Immortal Envoy is the real deal!"

The golden dragon circled for a long while, then plunged into the clouds and vanished without a trace.

Xiao Jieyun set Tuan Tuan down and bowed himself: "I, thank Heaven for relieving my people's suffering!"

He rose, led Tuan Tuan onto the carriage, and Xiao Yuanhang and his son led the cavalry; the group returned to the Palace.

Where they passed, every commoner knelt and devoutly shouted "Long live!"

Entering the Fengyi Palace, Tuan Tuan chattered about today's rain‑seeking events to the Empress and mother.

Cheng Ru'an couldn't help but clasp her hands and say, "Divine Immortal, protect us!"

She hugged her daughter: "Tuan Tuan, what did you give the golden dragon? Where did it come from?"

Tuan Tuan replied, "Mother, that's something I found at the bottom of the Azure Wave Pool!"

Cheng Ru'an glanced at Murong Jin, both wearing puzzled expressions: "Bottom of the Azure Wave Pool?"

"Yes! That day I dreamed I fell into the Azure Wave Pool."

"Mother! It was dark and cold there, then suddenly bright, not cold, and I picked up that thing at the bottom of the Azure Wave Pool."

"When I saw it, I thought Imperial Uncle could use it for rain‑calling, so I hurried over."

"Huh?" Tuan Tuan only then noticed the small cauldron beside her pillow and asked, "What is this?"

Cheng Ru'an sighed, "You suddenly ran a high fever and fell into a coma; Mother thought of the National Preceptor, and he placed this here."

Tuan Tuan turned the small cauldron over and over, saying, "So this is the light of that thing!"

Cheng Ru'an said, "Take it, Mother will return it to the National Preceptor, thanking him for his rescue."

"I'll go too!" Tuan Tuan jumped up.

After bidding farewell to the Empress, Cheng Ru'an took her and rushed nonstop to the Guoshi Residence.

Chu Yuan glanced at the mother and daughter: "Little Princess, blessed with great fortune, truly turned disaster into luck."

Cheng Ru'an expressed deep gratitude: "Thank the National Preceptor for rescuing my little girl; I just wonder, this cauldron—"

Chu Yuan smiled faintly, took the small cauldron: "Someone tried to seize the Princess's destiny, trapping her, causing her spirit to be disturbed and unable to recover."

"My humble Mixed Yuan Cauldron has no other use; when the Princess's spirit platform was in chaos, it steadied her mind and guarded her origin."

His gaze fell on Tuan Tuan: "This cauldron's nature is neutral; it absorbs and transforms all external malicious thoughts, instead nourishing the Princess's origin and helping her break through the impasse."

Chu Yuan's lips curled slightly: "Those who commit evil plot meticulously, yet by a twist of fate they end up adding a flourish to the Princess's brocade."

Cheng Ru'an couldn't help but recite again, "Divine Immortal, protect us! May I ask if the National Preceptor knows what the thing Tuan Tuan found at the bottom of the Azure Wave Pool actually is?"

"The child only knows it's useful for rain‑seeking, but can't explain what it truly is."

Chu Yuan rose slowly, walked to the window, and looked up at the heavens: "That is the Dragon's reverse scale."

"For the Princess to obtain this chance in a dream is destiny, also a result of the Princess's fortunate fate."

Tuan Tuan suddenly realized: "So that's dragon scales! But how could they be in the emerald pool?"

Chu Yuan turned to look at her, smiled faintly: "Heaven's will cannot be probed, Little Princess."

Cheng Ru'an heard this, hurried to stand, took his daughter to the National Preceptor to pay his respects, thanked him again, and then led Tuan Tuan back to the Prince's Mansion.

The next day, morning court.

Xiao Jieyun sat upon the dragon throne, expressionless, looking down at the kneeling Qing Wang.

Qing Wang's forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles: "Yesterday's Heavenly Sacrifice ceremony, I saw the people suffering, my heart was cut like a knife; in a moment of urgency I overstepped, please His Majesty forgive my crime!"

Xiao Jieyun gave a slight nod: "Since your heart is with the people, I will fulfill you."

Cold sweat on Qing Wang's back instantly soaked his inner shirt.

"Deliver my decree," Xiao Jieyun's gaze swept over the assembled officials, "Qing Wang, leave the capital immediately. Return to your fief; without an edict you may not re-enter the capital!"

"Given the severe calamities in your fief, a Supervisory Office is established, staffed by personnel drawn from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, to assist you in disaster relief and stabilizing the people; all monetary and grain allocations must be verified by the Supervisory Office!"

Qing Wang clenched his teeth in secret, this was plainly a nail driven into his side!

Xiao Jieyun paused: "Your current entry into the capital is also because the Crown Prince is gravely ill and needs treatment in the capital."

"I will grant special grace, ordering the imperial physician to treat him attentively; once healed, he shall serve as a reading companion for the Seventh Prince, and I will personally oversee his instruction for you."

This is clearly taking the Crown Prince as a hostage!

Qing Wang dared not lift his head, repeatedly kowtowing: "His Majesty! My son is frail, cannot bear the duty of being a prince's reading companion! Let me return to my fief, then."

Xiao Jieyun let out a light hum: "Qing Wang, do you think it's improper for the Crown Prince to remain by my side?"

Qing Wang trembled all over, knowing there was no longer any room for negotiation.

He bowed slowly and heavily: "I—thank you for your great grace!"

The Emperor stared at him coldly: "Step down. Depart immediately; do not delay."

Qing Wang staggered to his feet, hunched, exited the main hall, and turned away.

Looking at his departing back, the ministers in the main hall stood solemnly.

A few days later, Da Xia, Imperial Palace.

A noble lady in splendid brocade attire, her beauty radiant, hurriedly entered a bedchamber, supporting a palace maid beside her.

"What happened to Zhi Er? Who harmed him? I will have him pay with his life!"