A Jiu was startled and lowered her head slightly in a bow without daring to look.
"What? Am I back to ruin your fun, you brats?"
His footsteps were steady, carrying an indescribable aura of pressure.
"Your subordinate dares not!" they all said in unison.
"Ding dong, your merit points have increased by five, total fifty-one points. Keep up the good work."
The system's voice echoed in A Jiu's mind. She could soon save up a hundred points, but she had no time to secretly rejoice.
She kept her head down, unsure of what to do, until a pair of black boots appeared at the edge of her vision.
"Who is this extraneous person?"
"This commoner..." A Jiu hadn't finished speaking when Yun Hao reacted faster.
"This brother's old illness has flared up. Most of the men are out inspecting the refugees, and we cannot abandon our posts. So, I invited this female physician from outside."
A Jiu bowed slightly, knowing she couldn't say much at this point.
"Lord Wang, this young lady is indeed a physician from the Hualán Medical Hall."
Everyone knew that Hualán Medical Hall had contributed greatly to the court. Using its name might help cover up the situation.
"From Hualán Medical Hall?" Lord Wang paced back and forth. "If I recall correctly, the entire Liu family from Hualán Medical Hall has been dispatched to Nanzhou County."
A Jiu's scalp tingled. "Reporting to your lordship, this commoner is a relative by marriage to the Liu family, and thus not one of their inheritors."
Yun Hao secretly wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
After a long pause, Lord Wang finally gave a deep hum.
"Wang, come here. I have something to discuss with you."
Wang Shi's voice echoed from the end of the celestial prison.
Hearing this made A Jiu wish she were dead. Couldn't her grandmother curb her arrogant, self-important ways?
"Hmph, still speaking so rudely when death is imminent. Guards, apply the branding iron to his mouth!" Lord Wang's chest heaved with anger as he turned towards the depths of the celestial prison.
Behind him, Yun Hao, drenched in sweat, looked at A Jiu.
A Jiu clutched her clothes tightly with her hands, clearly trembling with fear.
"Yes!" Four guards stepped forward and followed closely behind Lord Wang.
"If you seal my mouth, how can I chant to summon the rain?"
Wang Shi's voice was one of coercion and enticement, not at all like an old woman on the verge of death.
"Still trying to trick me."
As soon as he said this, A Jiu instinctively craned her neck to look towards the celestial prison. After a long while, she still didn't hear her grandmother's voice.
*Gulp, gulp!*
What was that sound?
Seeing that he not only deceived his superiors but also dared to disrespect an official of the court, Lord Wang strode forward.
With a creak, the prison gate was opened by the jailers, and the heavy chains made a dull sound that made it hard to breathe.
Unexpectedly, Wang Shi finished drinking the remaining two waterskins, let out a satisfied burp, and rubbed her bulging stomach.
"I shall now perform the ritual, and you must also fulfill your promise."
Wang Shi's voice was heard again.
A Jiu's pupils contracted. Had her grandmother succeeded? She quickly took two steps forward. "Yes, Lord Wang, people say she can pray for rain. There is a severe drought everywhere now. If it truly rains, it will be a blessing for the people."
Yun Hao grabbed A Jiu's arm, pulling her back to prevent her from speaking further and causing trouble.
"Who dares to be so presumptuous before me?"
As Lord Wang spoke, several people escorted A Jiu to the prefect.
"I did not say anything wrong, Lord Wang. The people of the city all know that Prince Nanming transported water for a thousand miles for the sake of the people. In reality, this is not the case."
A Jiu's arm was being pressed painfully, but she couldn't afford to care at this moment.
"Dreaming Hua City is in turmoil, and the people are suffering. Let alone resisting foreign invaders, they don't even have water. The soldiers have lost all morale, and their lives are precarious. Who would still fight for the court? Prince Nanming, with his strategies, had long known the hidden danger behind this lack of water. Transporting water was to stabilize public sentiment and boost the soldiers' morale.
"Including the plague in Nanzhou County, if there were water, crops could grow. With food, who would eat the flesh of the dead?
"If your lordship has an expert before you who can pray for rain but refuses, what will you say if this matter reaches higher authorities?"