Two days passed quickly.
On this day, Su Li entered the palace early in the morning.
Consort De knew she was coming and had already prepared her favorite pastries.
After the morning court, Jun Mo came to Consort De's palace.
As Sishi approached, Su Li supported Consort De, with Jun Mo following behind them, as they walked towards the Imperial Court.
Consort De looked at the sky, which was heavily overcast with dark clouds, and worriedly said, "Could it be that the Heavenly Master truly predicted it accurately? It really looks like it's going to rain."
Su Li remained calm. It did look like rain, but these dark clouds would soon disperse.
Upon reaching the Imperial Court, they found the grand hall filled with ministers.
Everyone had heard about the competition between the Heavenly Master and Daoist Master Tianchanzi's senior disciple, and after the morning court, they all stayed behind, wanting to see if it would actually rain.
The Crown Prince, dressed in his court robes, stood behind the Emperor. He looked up at the sky, frowning slightly.
He glanced worriedly at Jun Mo, who subtly shook his head in return.
"Oh dear, I think the Heavenly Master's calculations were accurate. It looks like a heavy rain is indeed coming."
"As expected of the Heavenly Master! To be able to predict this!"
"Daoist Wuxi is still not as capable as his master. He's too young to be reliable."
Su Li chuckled silently.
Xiang Huai, due to his excessive weight, appeared older than Wuxi, yet little did they know that Wuxi was more than ten years his senior.
Xiang Huai, with his nostrils flaring from all the praise, shot a triumphant glance at the expressionless Wuxi.
Jun Hui also wore an expression of certain victory.
"Not necessarily. The weather can change in an instant. If it doesn't rain, one shouldn't jump to conclusions too early."
"It's almost Sishi. It should be soon."
"I bet on the Heavenly Master winning."
"I think the Heavenly Master will win too!"
Some ministers had already secretly placed their bets.
A moment later, someone shouted, "It's Sishi!"
Everyone looked up at the sky for a moment, then down at the ground.
Yet, not a single drop of rain fell.
Heavenly Master Xiang still maintained a confident demeanor. "Don't rush, it's just barely Sishi."
Xiang Huai secretly congratulated himself, glad that he hadn't specified an exact time.
But the crowd waited and waited, yet no rain appeared.
The dark clouds had dispersed, and the sun was now shining.
It was then that Heavenly Master Xiang began to panic. "Don't rush! It's not... not the very end yet!"
Jun Mo, a smile playing on his lips, looked imposing in his court robes. "We aren't in a hurry, Heavenly Master. It's you who must be anxious."
His smile held a hint of mischief and a touch of roguish charm.
Heavenly Master Xiang repeatedly wiped sweat from his brow, his eyes fixed on the sky. The glaring sunlight stung his eyes, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Sishi has passed!"
At this moment, someone shouted loudly.
Xiang Huai lost his balance and collapsed onto the ground.
The scene erupted in an uproar.
The Emperor watched him with cold eyes. Unable to even predict rain, what kind of Heavenly Master was he fit to be!
When his master was the Heavenly Master, that demeanor and ability were truly worthy of such high honors!
Sensing the Emperor's gaze, Xiang Huai immediately knelt and kowtowed, begging for mercy.
"Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, please spare my life!"
Seeing his pathetic display, he no longer had an ounce of the dignity expected of an Imperial Heavenly Master!
The Emperor said coldly, "You must accept the consequences of your bet!"
Xiang Huai quickly kowtowed towards Jun Hui: "Sixth Prince, save me! Sixth Prince..."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Jun Hui.
Jun Hui, fearing Xiang Huai would reveal something detrimental to him, gritted his teeth and stepped forward, saying, "Imperial Father, it's too early to declare a winner now. How about we decide tomorrow, after three-quarters into Shenshi?"
The Emperor nodded, finding his reasoning sound.
"Very well, then we shall decide tomorrow!"
The crowd sighed in resignation. Even if Wuxi had miscalculated, it would be a draw, and Xiang Huai's life would still be safe.
But if Wuxi won, then the Imperial Astronomical Bureau would undergo a major change.
Fearing that Xiang Huai might flee, the Emperor directly confined him within the Imperial Palace.
...
Sixth Prince's Estate
"Crash!"
"Every single one of you is useless!!"
A furious roar erupted from the study.
After a long moment, once Jun Hui had calmed down, Ye Bai stooped resignedly to pick up the scattered items from the floor one by one.
The Sixth Prince's temper had been growing increasingly volatile lately, no longer as gentle as before.
"Ye Bai."
"Your Highness."
"How is the matter with Marquis Wuyang progressing?"
Ye Bai replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, the dosage has already been increased."
Jun Hui slammed the table again, "Then why does this Prince not see the slightest abnormality in him!"
Ye Bai fell silent.
He was truly baffled by this as well; their people had clearly succeeded, yet Marquis Wuyang showed no discomfort whatsoever.
"Never mind, let's observe for a bit longer. You saw today's competition. You know what needs to be done. Those in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau who need to be silenced should be silenced."
Ye Bai bowed with cupped hands, "Understood!"
After a moment, Ye Bai asked, "What about Lord Liu, the Superintendent of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau...?"
"This person handled that medicine. What do you think?" Jun Hui looked at Ye Bai with cold eyes.
Ye Bai bowed with cupped hands, "This subordinate understands!"
"You may leave."
"Yes!"
After Ye Bai left, Jun Hui silently stared at the desk.
Suddenly, he spoke aloud, "Twin Lotus Bloom? Hmph! Don't even dream of it!"
...
Su Li returned to the estate with her father and went to the Main Courtyard.
Mother Su, holding Yuge'er, chuckled, "At first, I saw the sky covered in dark clouds and thought the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had predicted it accurately. Who knew the sun would come out so quickly?"
Father Su took Yuge'er, playfully teasing his son, only to see the little one gazing in Su Li's direction.
Su Li, smiling, took her younger brother and bounced him lightly. "Yuge'er, you've gotten heavier again."
The little one giggled, babbling something unintelligibly.
Father Su said, "I wonder if it will rain tomorrow. If it truly does, then Li'er's marriage to Prince Jing..."
Mother Su slapped her forehead in surprise. "Oh dear! I completely forgot about that! If it really rains, then the wedding date will definitely have to be moved up to the seventh day of the seventh month, which is less than three months away from now! We haven't prepared the wedding gown, the dowry, or the banquet! How will we possibly get everything ready in time!"
Father Su also felt that the seventh day of the seventh month was far too rushed.
Su Li chuckled, "Mother, don't worry. Ziyan said he would send the wedding gown. As for the dowry, our Su family isn't short on money, and your daughter doesn't plan on taking too much with her."
"That won't do!" Father Su immediately interjected, "My daughter, Su Li, is getting married; naturally, her dowry must be grand, stretching for miles, to be envied by all!"
"Yes, that's right. I will arrange the dowry. Li'er, you're still young, you don't understand the importance of a dowry. It's what a woman relies on. On one hand, a dowry shows how much her maternal family values her; on the other, it's her foundation for establishing herself in her husband's family." Mother Su chimed in.
Father Su helped Mother Su sit down and said, "Wife, aside from Li'er's own shops, you can pick whatever you want from our family's shops and the estate's storerooms. Yuge'er is a boy; he can earn whatever he wants later."
Su Li nodded, discussing the dowry and guest arrangements with Father Su.
Su Li held Yuge'er, watching her parents converse back and forth, and her heart softened.
"Mother, your daughter truly doesn't need so much. It's the same if it stays here in the estate. You know the earning capability of the shops your daughter manages. Besides, Ziyan isn't that kind of person."
The one who needed to rely on her dowry to have a say in her husband's family was the Su Li of her past life.
In this life, she was marrying Ziyan!
Mother Su smiled, "Your mother knows Ziyan treats you well, but this is also our heartfelt wish as parents for our daughter. Alas, how did time pass so quickly? In a blink, you'll be getting married. Your mother is truly reluctant to let you go."
"A'shu," Father Su comforted his wife, "we still don't know what will happen tomorrow."
Su Li, however, knew that tomorrow's events were already set in stone and could not be changed.
She herself felt a little dazed. Was she really getting married just like this? There was a sense of unreality.
"Mother, please don't be like this. Even if I get married, I'll always be your daughter. Besides, we're all in the capital. I'll often return to the estate to see you, and you can also come to Prince Jing's Estate to find me." Su Li also consoled her.
Father Su chuckled, "Look at you two, acting as if our daughter is getting married tomorrow."
Mother Su put a smile back on her face. Looking at her beautiful daughter and adorable son, she suppressed her reluctance deep in her heart.
"You're right," she said. "We still don't know what tomorrow holds. What am I doing? It's almost noon anyway; it's time for lunch. Wangxia, tell the maids to serve the meal."
"Yes, Madam."
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