Wolf-Raised Cub with a Space: Surviving the Disaster Years

Chapter 205: Chapter 205: The Weather Turns Strange

"What is it?"

"The first day of the eleventh month is approaching. Every year at this time, Consort Rong chooses a young child to help her air out the scriptures. It’s considered a blessing, and she’ll most likely choose you."

Mo Lingwei’s gaze was dark as he said this.

He called it a blessing, but his expression held not a trace of pleasure.

Shen Ningning asked, puzzled, "Choose me... to help her air out the scriptures?"

Mo Lingwei nodded. "I’m being selfish, but I don’t want you to go. I heard from my father, the Emperor, that whoever she chooses will become the Ninth Prince’s companion."

At this, he raised an eyebrow slightly. "Even if you were to become a companion in the palace, you should be mine."

’He couldn’t even bear the thought of having Shen Ningning accompany him in his studies; it was so dull and tedious.’

’Besides, the palace was full of numerous and complicated rules.’

’So the Ninth Prince? Absolutely not.’

However, out of respect for her, he cleared his throat and watched her expression closely.

"Of course, if you want to help, I won’t be angry."

’After all, he could tell that Shen Ningning had a natural affinity for Consort Rong.’

’Especially after what had happened with the Xie family.’

To his surprise, Shen Ningning shook her head firmly.

"I’m not going. I just checked my schedule, and on the first of the eleventh month, I have to go to the National Academy for my lessons!"

Besides, she had no interest in helping to air out scriptures.

Ever since she learned she wasn’t Xie Suzhi’s real daughter, she’d lost any desire to get close to Consort Rong.

’The little girl felt she needed to know her place.’

Hearing this, a warm smile instantly touched Mo Lingwei’s thin lips, and he pressed them together to hide it.

Only then did he feign a casual tone. "Good. Now that you’ve said that, I can leave for my trip without worrying."

Grandma Qin took the opportunity to place a piece of lamb in both Mo Lingwei’s and Shen Ningning’s bowls.

She chuckled. "You two are so busy talking you’ve barely eaten anything. Here, eat up. There’s more if this isn’t enough."

Just as Mo Lingwei had predicted.

The next day, an attendant from Consort Rong’s palace arrived at the Xie Mansion for a visit.

Shen Ningning happened to be at her lessons and was not at home.

Xie Suzhi received Consort Rong’s attendant.

The elder attendant bowed respectfully and got straight to the point.

"Prime Minister, Her Ladyship is very fond of Princess Funing. Sun-drying the scriptures is an act that brings great blessings, so Her Ladyship would like to invite the Princess to the palace to assist."

"If it is convenient, I can wait here for the Princess to return to the mansion and inform her of the matter myself. Would that be acceptable?"

Xie Suzhi offered a faint smile. "There’s no need to ask Ningning. I can make the decision on this matter."

"Please return and inform Her Ladyship that I do not consent to Ningning’s assistance. The child is still too young and unsuited to be the Blessed Child for the scripture sun-drying."

"Furthermore, she has only just been acknowledged by our Xie family and is still adjusting in many ways. If she were to enter the palace rashly and make a mistake, it would be an ordeal for her."

"However, I can recommend another candidate: my second brother’s child, Yuan Jiu. She is well-behaved, graceful, and well-read, making her the perfect choice for the task."

The elder attendant’s expression grew awkward, though she maintained her smile. "Well... I must return and ask Her Ladyship for her opinion."

Xie Suzhi nodded. "Then I will not see you out."

It was a blatant dismissal.

The elder attendant led the palace maid away. As they were walking glumly around a corner, she overheard two maids from the Xie Mansion gossiping behind a wall.

"Second Madam went to see the Divine Woman the day before yesterday. Everyone is saying that an inauspicious person has appeared in our mansion."

"Really? No wonder Miss Xie Si was so scared she started having nightmares."

The elder attendant’s expression shifted, and she quickened her pace as she departed.

After returning to the palace, she reported everything to Consort Rong in detail.

At that moment, Consort Rong was standing by a window, bathed in the autumn sun as she copied an image of the Buddha.

When she heard that Xie Suzhi had flatly refused, she simply smiled and set down her brush. "That was to be expected."

"The Prime Minister is still unwilling to forgive me, or the Qi Family."

The elder attendant bowed her head. "In that case, Your Ladyship, are we really going to invite Miss Xie Si to help you air out the scriptures?"

’After all, the one Consort Rong had her eye on from the start was Princess Funing.’

’She is a true blessed girl, someone who can summon great rains, end droughts, and single-handedly set the seasons of Cangyun Country right.’

’What is Xie Yuanjiu in comparison? Just an ordinary, well-bred young lady.’

To her surprise, Consort Rong’s voice was soft and gentle. "Then let it be Miss Xie Si. It does not matter. They are all good children."

That evening, the palace sent a messenger to the Xie Mansion with the news.

Consort Rong was inviting Miss Xie Si, Xie Yuanjiu, to enter the palace the next day at 7:00 AM to help her air out the scriptures and pray for heaven’s blessings.

Second Madam Xie was overjoyed.

She grasped Xie Yuanjiu’s hand and whispered excitedly, "You should be thrilled! Mother secured this opportunity for you!"

Second Madam Xie then told Xie Yuanjiu how she had arranged for two maids to gossip specifically for the elder attendant to overhear.

Xie Yuanjiu was aghast. "Mother, how could you do something like that again!"

’Will you ever stop? It hasn’t been long since the incident with Cai Ying. What if First Uncle finds out?’

Second Madam Xie just chuckled. "What are you afraid of? If Mother hadn’t schemed to make Consort Rong mistakenly believe that Shen Ningning is bad luck, you never would have gotten this chance."

"Just make sure you perform well. I’ve made inquiries. If you do this well, you’ll become the Ninth Prince’s companion. So, prepare yourself."

Hearing this, Xie Yuanjiu’s heart settled.

’No matter what anyone else thinks, I have to seize this chance to become a companion.’

’I’ll prove to First Uncle that I’m no worse than Shen Ningning.’

「The night passed.」

Early the next morning, Xie Yuanjiu rode the palace carriage into the imperial grounds.

She didn’t dare to lift her head the entire way, terrified of breaking even the smallest rule.

After arriving at Consort Rong’s palace and exchanging a few words with the gentle consort, Xie Yuanjiu felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

She now held her head high as she walked, a touch of pride in her bearing.

’It was a good thing she was the one who got this opportunity to air out the scriptures.’

Long tables were set up in the courtyard. The elder attendant and two palace maids helped bring out all the scriptures that Consort Rong had copied, laying them out to dry.

"Miss Xie Si, I must ask you to watch over them carefully. After they’ve been aired out today, Her Ladyship will have someone deliver them to the National Temple tomorrow."

Xie Yuanjiu nodded. "Please rest assured, Elder Attendant. I understand. The scriptures concern the fortunes of Cangyun Country, and I will certainly take great care of them."

She then meticulously unfolded each scripture, spreading them out under the sun.

The autumn sun was high in the sky, its warm light bathing the clear, elegant characters of the scriptures.

The elder attendant watched for a moment, and seeing no issues, returned inside the hall to attend to Consort Rong.

Xie Yuanjiu remained on guard, immediately waving away any small insects that flew near.

And just like that, the sky suddenly began to darken.

Xie Yuanjiu looked up at the thick clouds that were rolling in. "Is... is it going to rain?"

A blustery autumn wind swept through. In the instant she hesitated, a drop of water landed on her face.

Xie Yuanjiu froze.

A moment later, she snapped to her senses and cried out, "It’s raining!"

Fat drops of rain instantly became a torrential downpour.

Xie Yuanjiu rushed to the eunuch at the door. "Quick, get me an umbrella! It’s raining! I need to bring the books back inside!"

Hearing the rain, the elder attendant was already rushing over.

Her face went pale when she saw the rain soaking the scriptures. She berated her furiously, "Why are you bothering with an umbrella at a time like this?! Hurry and bring the scriptures in!"

Xie Yuanjiu was shoved hard. She could only grit her teeth and run into the rain, joining the elder attendant and the palace maids in gathering the scriptures.

Just as she gathered a stack of scriptures and tried to run back to the main hall, her foot caught on something, and she fell hard.

Her palm was instantly scraped raw. Yet when she looked up, the palace maids were all frantically trying to save the scriptures. Not a single person came to help her.

「Meanwhile.」

The Huangzi Class had just been dismissed, and Shen Ningning was standing under a covered walkway.

Everyone was a little excited as they watched the sudden downpour.

But Shen Ningning was confused.

She wrapped her arms around her shoulders and rubbed them. "Why does it feel so cold...?"

A classmate next to her laughed. "It’s late autumn! Of course it’s cold when it rains!"

Shen Ningning pouted and held out her small hand to catch the raindrops.

Suddenly!

She saw a crystalline snowflake drift down with the pouring rain and land in her palm.

Snow...?