novelaction Chapter 194 Praying for Rain
Chapter 194 Praying for Rain
“I’ve told you before, there’s nothing wrong with betraying your country.” Mu Sikuang stroked the pen in his hand, hesitating to put it down.
Mu Yunchao looked at him silently. "Yunshang is in the palace, and Yunnan is on the border. One cannot be so selfish."
"That's why Yunshang and Yuxi have to obey the Empress Dowager's decree to pray for rain." Mu Sikuang looked up to meet his eyes, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.
Ever since he told Yun Chao about this idea, Yun Chao has restricted him in every way, even monopolizing his money and taking away all his bodyguards.
It can only be said that the student surpasses the teacher.
Yun Chao was indeed taught to be too clever and too upright.
It's understandable, though. An Wan is from the An family, a military family since childhood. She grew up by the side of Old Master An, so naturally she would prioritize the country. And Yun Chao Yunnan was personally taught by her since childhood, so naturally she is the same as her.
Seeing that he didn't reply for a long time, Mu Sikuang quietly added, "If you hadn't taken away all the secret guards I trained back then, perhaps the world would be different now."
To say I don't want to is not actually true.
He wasn't as righteous as he thought; in fact, he had considered whether or not to betray his country.
But he still couldn't get over that mental hurdle.
This is the country they all risked their lives to protect...
Mu Yunchao didn't say anything more, got up and turned to leave.
Mu Sikuang raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "Wait a minute."
Seeing that he stopped, she continued, "Did your mother like the things I asked you to bring her last time?"
Mu Yunchao turned to look at him, "As long as she doesn't say it was from you, she really likes it. But as soon as you're mentioned, the gift is just given away to the servants. Father, you should think about what you did wrong and apologize to Mother properly, instead of making your son give away gifts like this."
Mu Sikuang put down his pen, looked at his sarcastic expression, and finally couldn't help but tap the table, "Why are you making such a fuss over something as simple as asking you to deliver something?"
Although the tone was harsh, the words were very gentle.
"Father probably can't even get into Mother's courtyard now, can he?"
Mu Sikuang, stung by the revelation, coldly called out, "Mu Yunchao."
Mu Yunchao ignored him, his face turned cold, and he left two words, "Serves you right."
Ignoring his commotion behind her, she turned and left.
The golden token of immunity from death in his hand gleamed brightly; he would never allow Yunshang to kneel for so long tomorrow.
The Mu family's pardon was something they only learned about at the very end of their previous life. It was a gift from the emperor when their great-grandfather was alive, and they never used it until the very end.
-
Mu Yunshang arrived at the Prayer Platform early in the morning. Seeing the people who had gathered there even earlier, her heart softened.
She had heard Yu Xi say that when the Mu family distributed porridge, there were many civilians who had come down from the battlefield. Most of them had lost a leg or an arm, and they had lost their homes and land.
Now, with the severe drought and high temperatures, survival is impossible.
It's unclear how much longer the Moon Kingdom's granaries can last.
Mu Yunshang looked up at the tall rain-praying platform, chuckled softly, and then turned to instruct her maid.
Then, lifting her skirt, she took three steps and bowed once, then nine steps and prostrated herself once, as she ascended the rain-praying platform.
Extremely serious.
Mu Yunchao looked at the little maid beside Mu Yunshang who was blocking his way, closed his eyes with some distress, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Does she really intend to hold on for that long?"
"Her Majesty said that she sincerely wants to do something for the people of Yue Kingdom. She has no worries about food and clothing in the palace, but the people are suffering. Her Majesty said that she wants to truly experience the suffering of the people. I hope that you will not stop her."
Although Mu Yunshang is gentle, she can be incredibly stubborn at times.
Mu Yunchao sighed, his gaze fixed intently on Mu Yunshang, who was kowtowing, his voice terribly hoarse, "I understand."
The abbot looked at Xiao Yuxi, who was being led by a little boy in the crowd, and lowered his eyelashes slightly as he looked at the extremely devout Mu Yunshang.
With a slight smile, he sprinkled water from a willow branch on her and whispered, "The Empress's sincerity will surely move Heaven."
Xiao Yuxi held Xiao Xian's hand tightly in the crowd, "Will eldest sister feel unwell? Second brother said eldest sister is not well. If the rain doesn't stop, will second sister have to keep kneeling?"
Xiao Xian clenched his fists lightly, looking at Xiao Yuxi's worried expression, but felt a tightness in his heart.
He was considering taking Xixi with him.
Although the Mu family held a high position, they were still second only to the emperor and had to obey the orders of the palace.
It's absurd to pray for rain like this tomorrow.
Such rain-praying rituals are utterly ineffective; they're nothing more than a charade to deceive the people.
He can't put all the blame on the Mu family.
He has to take Xixi with him.
If he were to take care of Xixi, he would never let her suffer even the slightest grievance.
"Xixi, it's too hot outside, let's go home."
"No." Xiao Yuxi dodged Xiao Xian's hand and squeezed into the crowd. "I want to stay with my older sister."
Xiao Xian was surprised that his hand didn't touch it, and quickly ran forward several steps.
Xiao Yuxi completely disappeared into the crowd.
Mu Yunshang's health was already very poor, and after kneeling for more than an hour, she began to feel dizzy and sway, as if she would collapse at any moment.
Nevertheless, she used all her strength to pinch her own body, trying to stay conscious.
However, her face remained frighteningly pale, devoid of any color.
Just then, a muffled thud was heard, and Mu Yunshang finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground.
This sudden turn of events stunned everyone present, and the entire room erupted in an uproar.
While everyone was still in a daze, Xiao Yuxi quickly passed through the guards and ran all the way up to the Prayer Platform for Rain.
It's important to know that the Rain Prayer Platform has explicit rules: no matter what happens, as long as the appointed time hasn't arrived, no one unrelated to the Rain Prayer Platform is allowed to go up on the platform.
But Xiao Yuxi actually rushed up to the rain-praying platform without hesitation in front of so many people!
The maids and guards below could only stand there anxiously, none of them daring to step onto the platform.
"Whose child is that? How can she be so unruly!"
"Oh no, does this mean the rainmaking ritual has been sabotaged? What should we do?"
"Is it possible that there will never be any rain in this lifetime?"
"That little child looks a bit like the Mu family girl who distributed porridge before."
"Yes, it's her, the little girl from the Mu family."
Why is no one taking care of this child?
Xiao Yuxi hugged her sister tightly, who had fainted on the ground. Her eyes were filled with confusion as she looked around at the people who were still talking. Tears welled up in her eyes.
She was extremely anxious and wanted to pick up her sister and take her to the imperial physician for treatment, but unfortunately she was too weak to lift her sister. She could only helplessly raise her head and look at the old monk in front of her with pleading eyes.