Emperor Xuanwu listened to the excuses with a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth. Though the explanation held little weight, he had never intended to punish the man on the spot either. So without commenting further, he simply raised his hand.
"In that case, let the Ministry of Justice conduct the interrogation of Qian Wanqing."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
…
While Emperor Xuanwu and his court ministers discussed state affairs in the grand hall, Yun Shu was still fast asleep in the Eastern Palace, clutching her quilt tightly as though she wished to shut out the world entirely.
By the time court was dismissed and the officials had already returned to their estates and changed out of their court robes, Yun Shu finally stirred from her slumber.
After a long, luxurious wash and a satisfying breakfast under Ting Xue's attentive care, she settled in to read the court transcript sent by the Emperor himself, meticulously recorded by the imperial scribe.
As she read the moment where General Wei Yuan, when asked to name the one who had poisoned him, pointed directly at the Eldest Prince without a hint of hesitation, Yun Shu blinked in surprise.
Just like Emperor Xuanwu, she had not expected Wei Yuan to speak so openly.
But she didn't linger on the thought for long. Setting the booklet aside, she took up her brush and began composing the next article to be printed in the Capital Weekly.
Is This a Fall of Morality or a Twist of Human Nature? Her Highness the Crown Princess Was Poisoned with 'Itch Dust'!
Back in the modern world, Yun Shu had long honed her writing craft to meet the dreaded eight-hundred-word essay requirement. That same talent now flowed effortlessly from her brush.
She took the minor scandal involving General Wei Yuan being poisoned with "Itch Dust," which then allegedly transferred to her, and spun it into a thrilling narrative brimming with tension and intrigue.
As she finished the last stroke of her article and prepared to set down her brush, her gaze shifted to the window. Raindrops had begun to fall outside.
A sudden flash of inspiration lit her eyes.
Without hesitation, she reached for another sheet of paper and began writing again.
Suspicious Divine Maiden Sighted at Tian Waitian Restaurant. Rain Fails to Touch Her Robes as She Walks Without Umbrella!
"I am a genius," Yun Shu declared proudly, admiring her second article with great satisfaction.
She placed both pieces into a single envelope and handed it to a young eunuch runner.
The next morning, while Tang Xinhua was busy checking her accounts and had yet to glance at the latest issue of the Capital Weekly, she began to sense strange glances being cast her way.
She couldn't quite catch what the others were whispering, but every so often, she caught snippets.
"Divine maiden…"
"…completely dry…"
What in the world were they talking about?
Puzzled, Tang Xinhua lifted her gaze—and just then, saw the Third Prince striding in from outside, his steps urgent.
Her eyes flickered. She straightened, preparing to salute, but the Third Prince waved her off, flustered.
"Is it true you're a divine maiden come down to earth?"
"…What?"
Had she heard him right?
Tang Xinhua turned her head slowly to glance out at the steady drizzle still falling outside. Then she looked back at the Third Prince, whose robes were still damp from his hasty arrival.
With a calm and gentle tone, she asked sincerely, "Has Your Highness perhaps caught a chill and become feverish? Why speak such nonsense?"
"It's not me who said it. It's Her Highness the Crown Princess."
The Third Prince pulled out a wrinkled copy of the Capital Weekly from within his robes and held it out to her.
"Just read this."
Tang Xinhua took it, her eyes dropping to the bright, bold headline.
After a moment of stunned silence, a helpless, almost amused smile tugged at her lips.
"So that's what this is."
"You knew?"
The Third Prince leaned closer, his voice full of curiosity and confusion.
"Is it true?"
Tang Xinhua laughed softly.
"The part about walking in the rain without getting wet is true. As for the rest, I don't need to think twice to know it's pure fiction."
She set the paper aside and glanced at the still-bewildered prince.
"If Your Highness so wishes, you could do the same."
"Me?"
The Third Prince pointed at himself in surprise.
"I had no idea I possessed such powers."
"No powers are needed. Just wear these."
Tang Xinhua opened a nearby cabinet and took out a rubber raincoat and a pair of rain boots. She gave him an encouraging look.
"Would Your Highness like to give it a try?"
"…All right."
Admittedly, both the coat and boots looked and felt rather strange, but since it was Tang Xinhua offering them, he would wear them no matter what.
Under her guidance, the Third Prince changed into the peculiar outfit. Before he had a chance to examine himself in the mirror, she was already leading him toward the front doors of the restaurant.
"Now then, Your Highness, would you try stepping out into the rain?"
"…Very well!"
They had known each other for quite some time, and Tang Xinhua had never made a request like this before.
Whether or not the clothing truly worked didn't matter.
Since she had asked, even if he ended up soaked to the bone, he would walk through that rain for her.
The Third Prince took a deep breath and strode into the downpour.
He had braced himself for a drenching, but to his astonishment, the strange outfit actually worked. Rain rolled off the outer layer without seeping through at all.
Water beaded and slid down the slick fabric, never once soaking into the garments underneath.
And the boots—he could stomp through puddles to his heart's content, and the insides remained completely dry.
"Isn't that the Third Prince?"
A regular patron of Tian Waitian blinked in surprise, recognizing the figure playing in the rain.
"What is His Highness doing out there?"
"He is testing the outfit mentioned in the Capital Weekly," Tang Xinhua answered with a faint smile.
"They say that wearing it allows one to walk in the rain without an umbrella, yet remain completely dry."
Sure enough, the moment her voice carried, others nearby craned their necks in curiosity.
"That outfit really works like that?"
"Could it be a divine robe, a gift from the immortals?"
"That's incredible! I've always hated umbrellas. They're so inconvenient, especially when you need both hands free to do something."
"I don't mind umbrellas, but when the wind starts howling and the rain comes down sideways, they're completely useless! Aside from that little patch over your head, you still end up soaked from head to toe."
"Exactly! But with clothing like that, none of that would be a problem anymore."