Today, Shen Ningning was dressed in a bean-green skirt. Her sleeves were light and airy, tied at the cuffs with green silk ribbons, making them puff out as if they had caught the wind.

Her hair was done up in two small buns, each adorned with a pink peach blossom.

From a distance, she looked as adorable as a delicate little lotus fairy.

Even Xie Mingxu, who was seated among the ministers, couldn’t help but look twice.

’No wonder this little girl has the Crown Prince’s Buddha Beads. So they already know each other. What a coincidence.’

The moment Mo Lingwei saw Shen Ningning, he walked down from the Heavenly Temple’s altar. In full view of the crowd, he took her hand and led her to where Wei Yufu was standing.

"Big Brother, I’m sorry I’m a little late. I overslept," the little girl said, her rosy cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

In preparation for today’s rain-summoning ceremony and to prove that Wei Yufu was no blessed girl, Shen Ningning had spent all night preparing in the Immortal Realm.

Her sleeves were filled with tiny dark clouds. ’Today,’ she thought, ’I have to bring a huge downpour to the Capital City!’

Mo Lingwei chuckled. "You’re not late. The auspicious time has just begun."

Wei Yufu, who was standing nearby, felt a pang of jealousy as she listened.

’The auspicious time clearly started several minutes ago, and Shen Ningning just got here. How can he say it has just begun?’

She couldn’t help but speak up, offering a fawning smile. "Your Highness, since Princess Funing is here now, shall we begin?"

Mo Lingwei didn’t even look at her. He simply nodded to Shen Ningning before walking toward the Heavenly Temple’s altar.

The State Preceptor, leading several Wizards for the ritual, began to beat the drums and chant in an incomprehensible ancient tongue.

Seizing the opportunity, Wei Yufu whispered to Shen Ningning, "Those wretches you saved must be badly injured, right? Why aren’t you looking after them instead of showing up here for the excitement of the rain-summoning ceremony?"

Shen Ningning’s fair little face remained calm as she stared straight ahead. Her voice was soft, but her words were sharp. "If you can be here, why can’t I?"

Wei Yufu couldn’t stop herself from glaring at her. "Do you think you’re worthy of being compared to me? I’ve been known as a blessed girl since I was little. When I summon the rain in a moment, you had better open your eyes and watch closely. Don’t you dare provoke me again!"

"Otherwise, you’ll end up just like that boy, Wuer. I heard he broke all his ribs. But so what? Even if you go crying to the Emperor, he won’t punish me. After all, I’m the one who can command the wind and summon the rain."

Shen Ningning pursed her rosy lips, the determination in her eyes hardening.

"Whether you can actually summon rain remains to be seen."

Wei Yufu sneered. ’Shen Ningning is such a fool.’

She glanced over at the officials’ platform. The attendant standing beside her father with his head lowered was none other than Master Gu, a man renowned throughout the land as a Demi Immortal, whom her father had hired for a hefty sum.

’This time, the title of blessed girl will be mine and mine alone!’

The fierce drumbeats pounded out a driving rhythm, and the call of ivory horns echoed, a deep and resonant sound that seemed to come from antiquity itself.

Noon arrived. The scorching sun beat down from directly overhead, causing the Wizards to sweat profusely.

Flames leaped up from the great cauldron as the State Preceptor sprinkled chicken blood into them. Then, the Emperor led the court in kneeling to pay homage to the heavens, and the State Preceptor cried out, "The rain-summoning ceremony now officially begins! Will the blessed girl please ascend the altar!"

Wei Yufu instantly straightened her back and walked up to the altar, her eyes fixed straight ahead.

She spread her arms, closed her eyes, and began to mutter an incantation.

Shen Ningning tilted her little head.

’Can she really summon rain?’

At the same time, Master Gu, who stood beside Minister Wei, began to form a sign with his fingers and chant a spell, his voice a low drone like the buzzing of insects.

Everyone was focused on Wei Yufu on the Heavenly Temple’s altar. Only Xie Mingxu, who was sitting in the front row, heard the sound and glanced back coolly.

Suddenly!

A fierce wind kicked up.

A look of joy spread across the Emperor’s face.

’Is it about to rain?’

Feeling the gust of wind, Wei Yufu joyfully threw her arms wide. "Oh, wind! Oh, rain! The blessed girl is here! Heed my command and fall!"

Her words sent a thrill of excitement through many of the ministers.

"With a wind this strong, it’s bound to rain," someone whispered.

Everyone tilted their heads back, staring expectantly at the sky, hoping to see a dark cloud drift by or to hear a rumble of distant thunder.

Unfortunately.

There was nothing.

The wind only gusted a couple of times before gradually dying away. Not only did it fail to bring rain, but it also blew the ashes from the burning talismans in the great cauldron everywhere, nearly setting the State Preceptor’s robes on fire.

The State Preceptor, his face grim, frantically patted out the smoldering embers on his robe. "Blessed girl," he demanded angrily, "where is your rain?"

Wei Yufu’s face went pale.

’Why hasn’t the rain come? I have no idea!’

She cast a pleading gaze toward the platform, where Minister Wei was also whispering urgently to Master Gu.

"Master Gu, hurry up and continue! All wind and no rain just won’t do! The Emperor is watching."

Master Gu made a quick calculation with his fingers, his expression grave. "This is not good. I did not bring my horsetail whisk, so the immortals in the heavens do not recognize me. I will go back and retrieve it now."

Minister Wei was dizzy with anger, and the heat made his temples throb with pain.

"Then go quickly!" ’Of all the times to remember you forgot your horsetail whisk!’

If it weren’t for Master Gu’s reputation, Minister Wei would have taught him a harsh lesson!

However, once Master Gu left, he never returned.

Minister Wei’s Hidden Guard gave chase, only to rush back and report, "Your Excellency, terrible news! A short while ago, that Master Gu fled the Capital City with all the gold and silver you gave him!"

"What!" Minister Wei shot to his feet, forgetting that all the civil and military officials were seated around him.

His face turned livid, and the feeling of dizziness intensified.

’Master Gu... he was a charlatan! Not only had he swindled me out of nearly five thousand taels of silver, but I also boasted in front of the Emperor and let my daughter walk right onto the altar!’

’It’s over. It’s all over!’

All eyes turned to Minister Wei. Xie Mingxu spoke coolly, "Mr. Wei, are you alright?"

Minister Wei clutched his forehead. "My head... it hurts so much."

Two Imperial Physicians hurried forward. After taking his pulse, they diagnosed Minister Wei with heatstroke and quickly began to perform acupuncture.

Wei Yufu was frantic, her eyes filled with terror.

’Even my father has collapsed! The rain-summoning is a failure!’

The Emperor’s expression was grim. "Girl of the Wei Family, this rain of yours... can you summon it or not?"

"I... I..." Tears of panic welled up in Wei Yufu’s eyes.

Just then, Shen Ningning took a step forward. Her voice was soft, but it carried clearly for all to hear.

"She can’t summon the rain because her claim to be a blessed girl is a complete lie!"

The court officials erupted in an uproar, their gazes all turning to Shen Ningning.

Wei Yufu shot the little girl a vicious glare. "Don’t talk nonsense! I’m just... exhausted."

"Hmph. How convenient that you get tired at this exact moment. If I’m not mistaken, you’ve never successfully summoned rain in front of a crowd before, have you?" Shen Ningning stared at her.

The relentless questioning drove Wei Yufu to tears of anger.

"Shen Ningning, I have never done anything to offend you! Why must you slander me so aggressively? You’ve ruined my concentration, so of course I can’t summon the rain now! You are so malicious!"

Even now, Wei Yufu was still trying to push all the blame onto Shen Ningning!

The Emperor had heard enough. "That’s enough!" he boomed.

Shen Ningning turned to the Emperor and curtsied, her little hands holding the hem of her skirt in a way that was both adorable and charming.

"Uncle Emperor, I can summon the rain. If I succeed, please promise me that you will punish someone."

"And who do you wish to punish?" the Emperor asked.

Shen Ningning pointed directly at Wei Yufu. "Her!"