Fang Er bowed respectfully to Empress Zhangsun after receiving her praise.
"This小子 thanks Your Majesty for the compliment. The thunder is getting closer. Let's observe the lightning rod first."
The rumbling thunder continued, one peal following another.
The dark clouds overhead grew thicker and blacker.
Even the wind intensified.
Looking at the sweet potato and cotton fields in the distance, Fang Er felt an ominous premonition.
He quickly pulled Li Tai from behind him.
"Qing Que, did Elder Yuan say how long this rain would last?"
Li Tai looked puzzled.
"For the moment, why?"
Fang Er shook his head. "No! I mean, after this rain, will there be more? That is, tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that, will it still rain?"
Li Tai scratched the back of his neck.
"I don't know. When I asked, True Man Yuan, engrossed in his chemical research, merely glanced at the sky and said it would rain today. As for whether there would be more, he didn't say, and I didn't ask."
Fang Er looked at Huang Sheng.
"Go and ask Yuan Tiangang if this rain will stop today or continue tomorrow and the day after!"
Huang Sheng hurried towards the Taoist temple.
The students by the iron frame had already dispersed. They gathered in small groups in the open space, gazing at the dark clouds overhead and the towering Luoyang shovel.
CRACK!
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning accompanied by a deafening thunderclap exploded directly overhead.
The white arc of electricity bent several times in the air before striking the Luoyang shovel directly.
Li Tai, witnessing this, shouted with delight.
"It's here, it's here! The electricity is here! Father, look quickly!"
Li Shimin stared at the scene with shock. It was real! The divine thunder from the heavens had actually been drawn down!
He then saw a bolt of electricity snake down the Luoyang shovel, crackling with light. Countless small arcs flickered around the Luoyang shovel and the iron frame. The small cow tied beneath the iron frame instantly stood on its head, remaining upright for several seconds before crashing heavily to the ground.
A scent of cooked meat wafted through the air.
"The headmaster didn't lie to us!"
"The lightning is so dazzling, it's beautiful!"
"Look, the cow is cooked by the lightning!"
The students chattered amongst themselves.
Then, with another thunderclap, another bolt of lightning was drawn down.
Looking at the second bolt of lightning and the small cow emitting white smoke on the ground, Fang Er's mouth twitched.
Seeing his pained expression, Empress Zhangsun comforted him.
"This cow has died a worthy death, Marquis of Liaodong. You need not be sad."
Li Shimin smiled and shook his head.
"Guanyin, I fear you are mistaken. This child is clearly worried about the beef; if it's struck a few more times, it won't be edible." He then pointed to Fang Er's bulging pockets. "If I'm not mistaken, this child must have brought seasonings with him!"
Empress Zhangsun was astonished.
"Is that so?"
Fang Er was bewildered.
"Damn it! Stop being an emperor and try to get inside people's minds, it's disgusting!"
Kong Yingda, securely bound, was already stunned when the first bolt of lightning was drawn down.
With two consecutive bolts drawn down, the other old scholars gaped in disbelief.
"So, there really is a way to draw down lightning in this world!"
Kong Yingda looked at the small cow, seared on the outside and tender on the inside by the lightning, and felt a chill of fear. If Fang Er hadn't had him tied up here, he would surely be the one seared on the outside and tender on the inside right now.
These two divine bolts seemed only to be the beginning.
The third, the fourth.
A total of nine heavenly bolts were drawn down! Then, raindrops as large as beans began to fall from the sky.
Looking at the small calf, which had already turned into a charred lump, Fang Er was greatly disappointed.
Feeling the raindrops hitting his face, he said to Li Shimin.
"Your Majesty, this rain will last for an hour. Let's return to the manor and take shelter first."
Li Shimin nodded, glanced at Kong Yingda and the others, and shook his head. He turned and led Empress Zhangsun and Li Chengqian towards Fang's residence.
Inside Fang's residence, servants were busy tidying things up.
Chai Yue greeted Li Shimin and his wife as they approached.
"Yue'er greets Uncle and Aunt."
Empress Zhangsun took her hand and smiled.
"The rain is heavy outside. Please come into the main hall to talk."
They all entered Fang's main hall. Not long after they sat down, Huang Sheng, drenched, ran in.
"Marquis, something is wrong. Daoist Yuan said that the rain will stop today, but it will continue tomorrow! It will last for at least half a month!"
Fang Er slapped the chair and stood up.
"I remember now! In the autumn of the first year of Zhenguan, there was a great flood in Guanzhong! Damn it, I completely forgot about this!"
"What about the thousands of mu of cotton! The cotton bolls have already formed! Under normal circumstances, if the weather is good, in another seven or eight days, they should start to split open. But if it rains for half a month straight, let alone harvesting the cotton, the cotton plants themselves will probably drown!"
With this thought, he immediately said to Li Shimin.
"Your Majesty, I have matters to attend to. Please accompany Her Majesty to the backyard with Yue'er."
Li Shimin waved his hand. "No, since this rain will last for half a month, I must return to the palace!" He then turned to Empress Zhangsun. "Guanyin, the rain is heavy, so you stay here with Yue'er. If this rain truly continues as True Man Yuan predicted, it will surely cause disaster. I need to go back and handle state affairs."
Empress Zhangsun did not try to stop him, but said with some concern.
"Then Your Majesty, please be careful on the way."
Li Shimin nodded and said to Fang Er.
"Child, have someone bring your carriage over. I will ride back."
The pickup truck had been fitted with glass windows, so even though it was raining outside, it was protected from the rain inside. It would be foolish to walk back when one could get a ride.
Fang Er signaled Huang Sheng. Huang Sheng went out, and soon after, the pickup truck rumbled to a stop at the entrance of Fang's residence.
Fang Er fetched an oiled paper umbrella and saw Li Shimin out. Wang Duan drove him back to the city. Upon his return, Empress Zhangsun and Chai Yue had already gone to the backyard.
In the main hall, he paced back and forth, giving orders to Huang Sheng.
"Have the Fourth and Fifth Battalions stand by! Prepare the strong young men on the estate! Once a flood disaster occurs, we must drain the water promptly! Make every effort to ensure that the cotton and sweet potatoes are not submerged!"
"Additionally, have the shipyard increase its vigilance to prevent river water from rising and flooding the shipyard!"