"You all go out and play, I want some quiet." Shen Si was clearly quite affected by the day's events. He waved his hand, dismissing the children.
Shen Yi quickly led his five younger siblings out.
"Big Brother, is what Little Wu said true? Our stepmother has become the State Preceptor? And she's on equal footing with the Emperor?" Shen Sisi, as soon as they were outside, asked impatiently.
Shen Yi nodded heavily.
Shen Lu didn't understand what they were talking about. He asked, "Is she more powerful than Aunt Qing, who is a princess?"
Shen Yi didn't know how to answer.
In the evening, Lou Qing arrived.
She placed what she had investigated about Qiao Ci's recent actions before Shen Si and analyzed, "After the incident, she didn't return to her scholar father's home at all. She came straight to the capital and set up a stall for fortune-telling. Her objective is very clear: to attract my father's attention and sow discord. I imagine the next step will be to offer an elixir, claiming it grants immortality."
Shen Si didn't understand how she deduced the offering of an elixir. He said gravely, "She actually has the ability to summon rain. All her previous selflessness was a deception."
Upon hearing this, Lou Qing let out a cold laugh, "What ability to summon rain? It just happened to rain today. She's just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse. Where in the world are there so many supernatural powers?"
Lou Qing herself was a transmigator. Even if she herself was supernatural, she was unwilling to admit that a rural village woman who lost to her possessed such extraordinary abilities.
"Hmm?" Shen Si looked at Lou Qing. "Why do you say that? It was clear skies today, with no signs of rain. As soon as she set up the altar and performed the ritual, she summoned the rain. It doesn't seem like a coincidence."
"Which of those past Daoist priests with immortal demeanor wasn't just putting on a show? Qiao Ci, a mere abandoned woman, why should she be able to communicate with heaven and earth to bestow blessings? I think she must have known it would rain today, put on a show, and taken the credit for herself." Lou Qing genuinely analyzed.
"Then if she knew it would rain today, doesn't that mean she has divine powers?" Shen Si frowned. Was it so difficult to admit that someone else was capable?
"I suspect... Qiao Ci has been reborn!" Lou Qing suddenly made a bold guess.
"What does that mean?" Shen Si recognized both words, but together, he didn't understand.
"Do you remember how her temperament suddenly changed? She used to be too scared to even breathe in front of you, but after that, she dared to kick your wheelchair and even hit you." Lou Qing looked into his eyes, helping him recall.
Initially, she had guessed that Qiao Ci, like her, was a transmigator. But how could Qiao Ci possess the ability to summon rain that she herself couldn't? Therefore, only one possibility remained: she had lived another life and knew about some major events that would happen in the future.
Although her knowledge was limited, it had been two years since the last rain. She would surely remember it vividly. She had even controlled the timing so perfectly, performing the rain-summoning ritual today.
Seeing her acting so mysteriously, Shen Si couldn't help but ask, "Have you noticed anything?"
Lou Qing then spoke, "I suspect Qiao Ci is not human, but a malevolent ghost!"
Shen Si looked at her with disbelief.
Lou Qing's lips curved into a wicked smile, "The reason she knew it would rain today is likely because she experienced it. She might have died in the future and reborn into her current body with her memories."
This horrifying statement was something Shen Si couldn't have conceived of on his own, but it was the only explanation.
"Then how can we expose her true face?" Shen Si still didn't want his ex-wife, whom he despised, to be superior to him.
"Heh heh, we'll adapt to the situation. Let's see what mischief she causes next, and we'll counter her moves!"
The great drought of two years definitely wouldn't be solved by a single rainfall. Qiao Ci decided to bring rain in several stages.
Three days later, she followed the previous procedure and set up an altar to pray for rain.
The Emperor also arrived early. The surroundings were filled with onlookers. This time, they were cautious and brought rain gear.
Shen Si asked his siblings to stay home, fearing their innocent remarks might offend the Emperor.
He hadn't yet regained his general position. If he implicated his children, it wouldn't be favorable. He was determined to return to his peak!
Lou Qing was too lazy to hide her intentions. She didn't stay by the Emperor's side. She had arrived with the Emperor and, upon seeing Shen Si, ran over to his side.
Now that her father was on Qiao Ci's side, she would expose Qiao Ci's true colors with Shen Si today, letting her father and the common people see Qiao Ci's real face!
She was merely an ordinary woman. Without her, the rain would still fall as it should!
As Qiao Ci prepared to cast her spell, Lou Qing signaled Shen Si. Shen Si immediately put his arm around her waist and brought her to the same position as Qiao Ci.
Seeing this, the Emperor's face darkened. He said angrily, "Qing Luan, what are you doing? Hurry and come down. Can you bear the responsibility if you disturb the State Preceptor's ritual?"
Lou Qing straightened her back, radiating confidence. She bowed to the Emperor, "Father, your daughter has something to report..."
The Emperor directly interrupted her, "If you have something to report, get down here and report it! Is a sacred event like summoning rain something that can be interrupted at will?"
Saying this, he ordered Lou Qing to be removed. Shen Si, like a guard, stood in front of Lou Qing and said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, Princess Qing Luan has solid evidence to prove that State Preceptor Qiao Ci is merely bluffing and putting on a show. Please let her finish speaking."
"Nonsense! Guards, arrest them all!" The Emperor undoubtedly believed in Qiao Ci, both her abilities and her character.
His daughter seemed to be a lost cause. Not only did she snatch another man's beloved, but she was also envious of someone who could summon rain and was now here to disrupt things!
"State Preceptor Qiao, it is my fault for not managing my subordinates properly. Please continue. I will punish them severely!"
Before Qiao Ci could reply, Lou Qing said sternly, "Father! What kind of spell has this woman Qiao Ci cast on you? Can't you just listen to your daughter? Qiao Ci is a liar, this rain wasn't summoned by her!"
Qiao Ci regarded her words as mere barking, not getting angry at her slander at all. She smiled back at the Emperor, "It matters not. Let's see what they intend to do."
Since Qiao Ci had given her consent, the Emperor said nothing more, only looking at Lou Qing and Shen Si with a dark gaze, anticipating their scheme!
Lu Li, having received the Emperor's favor, was by the Emperor's side. Seeing Shen Si bring Princess Qing Luan to Qiao Ci's front, he sought permission from the Emperor and then quietly moved behind Qiao Ci, ready to escort her!
Shen Si looked at Lu Li, this playboy who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun, boldly standing behind Qiao Ci like her most loyal guardian. A surge of anger rose from his chest, as if he had been cuckolded.