Free Web NovelChapter 149: Chapter 149: A Portable Immortal Realm, Food Whenever You Want
The little girl’s soft lips parted slightly. "Brother..."
Mo Lingwei took her small hand. "Don’t say anything. Just let me handle this. Trust me."
His gaze was firm yet gentle.
Shen Ningning didn’t object any further.
The head of the Imperial Guards, Lord Lu, glanced at their joined hands and silently looked away.
Chen Shaobei had already cupped his fist in salute. "I will protect the County Lord and ensure Your Highness has nothing to worry about."
With everything arranged, Mo Lingwei summoned the State Preceptor, who divined that the most auspicious time to enter the Sunlight Tower was that very night.
In other words, Mo Lingwei was to enter the tower that night to pray to the gods.
At his command, everyone bustled about, preparing for the Crown Prince’s entrance into the tower that night.
Before leaving the Imperial Palace, Shen Ningning grabbed his hand. "Brother, if it rains in Shu State, does that mean you can come out early?"
Mo Lingwei chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair.
"What are you thinking, silly girl? The ritual has to be completed in full. I can’t come out before the five days are up."
"But what if it doesn’t rain after five days? What happens then?"
Mo Lingwei’s eyes darkened, his voice growing distant. "There will always be a way. You don’t need to worry about me."
It was getting late, and he still had much to prepare, so he had no choice but to have Chen Shaobei escort Shen Ningning home first.
The little girl was reluctant to leave, tugging on his sleeve. "I’ll come to the Imperial Palace to see you every day, Brother!"
Mo Lingwei stood at the entrance to the hall, bathed in the brilliant glow of the setting sun. He watched her recede into the distance and gave a faint smile. "Alright."
Only after Shen Ningning had gone did his expression turn completely cold and grim.
Five days without food, with only water to drink, all while kneeling endlessly before the gods—he knew exactly what that entailed.
When Consort Li returned to her palace, she dismissed all the Palace Attendants, keeping only her trusted nanny by her side.
She slammed her hand on the table in astonishment. "He’s insane! Mo Lingwei has to be insane! He actually dares to enter the Sunlight Tower for five days and claims he won’t eat anything. If his chronic illness flares up even once, it’ll kill him on the spot. Does he have a death wish?"
The nanny’s eyes darted. "Perhaps he wants to earn merit in the Emperor’s eyes. After all, public sentiment has long been against the Crown Prince. If he can actually succeed in praying for rain this time, the people’s opinion of him is sure to change."
"Hah," Consort Li sneered. "Praying for rain is easier said than done. Does he really think kneeling for five days will be enough to move the heavens? For his precious son’s sake, who knows how many times the Emperor has secretly knelt before the gods and buddhas. But you tell me, has it done any good?"
The nanny gloated in agreement. "That’s because the Crown Prince is unblessed. Even the Heavenly Gods don’t favor him."
Consort Li found these words much to her liking. After a moment’s thought, a vicious plan took shape in her mind.
"Come here. I have a task for you. Find a way to add some salt to the water sent to Mo Lingwei each day. Since he isn’t eating, he’ll have to keep drinking. I want him so thirsty it’s unbearable."
’Best of all, his chronic illness will flare up, and he’ll die in there!’
The nanny’s eyes lit up. "Brilliant, Your Highness. I will go and arrange it at once."
...
By the next evening, Shen Ningning couldn’t bear it any longer and had Chen Shaobei take her to visit Mo Lingwei.
The Sunlight Tower was located within the Imperial Palace, nestled amidst a cluster of artificial mountains. As a place of worship for gods and buddhas, it was usually deserted.
Now, a cool, bright moonlight washed over the area, casting it in an endless solitude.
Guards stood at the bottom of the stone steps. Above them, the Sunlight Tower was bathed in the desolate, frosty moonlight.
Chen Shaobei wasn’t allowed to get any closer, but Shen Ningning said, "It’s okay! I can just walk up by myself."
"Alright, I’ll wait for you here then." After Chen Shaobei spoke, Shen Ningning started up the steps by herself.
The guards gave her a simple inspection. Seeing that the little girl wasn’t carrying any weapons or food, they relaxed and allowed her to go up alone.
The main door of the Sunlight Tower was fastened with six locks.
Only a small, head-sized window on the side was left open. During the day, Palace Attendants delivered memorials and fresh water through this opening.
"Brother~ Brother, it’s me! I came to see you."
Mo Lingwei was kneeling before the Buddha statue, processing memorials. Hearing her voice, he immediately went to the window. He was quite tall and had to squat to see out.
Shen Ningning stood on her tiptoes outside. The moment she saw Mo Lingwei’s face, she bounced in delight.
"Brother, your lips are all cracked!" The little girl was observant. She could see that Mo Lingwei’s thin lips were dehydrated, chapped, and scabbed with blood.
Mo Lingwei smiled, his voice a little hoarse. "It’s nothing, don’t worry. I’ll probably be fine once I get used to it tomorrow."
Shen Ningning stomped her little foot. "It must be because you’re hungry! Luckily, I brought something."
She turned her head to look at the guards at the bottom of the steps; all of them had their backs to her.
While no one was looking, she stealthily produced the delicacies she’d brought from her Immortal Realm, passing them through the window one after another.
"Brother, hurry and eat. These are the fresh shrimp wontons my grandmother made. And..." She passed a waterskin through. "I filled a whole flask of iced sweet pear juice just for you. Drink lots of it."
Mo Lingwei was, in fact, starting to feel quite thirsty.
The more he drank of the water provided here, the saltier and more bitter his mouth felt.
He took the waterskin and drained it in a few gulps.
The little girl held onto the window frame, blinking her big eyes. "Brother, drink slowly. I have more spring water here."
After saying that, she wrinkled her little nose. "Now hurry and eat the wontons."
Mo Lingwei opened the food container. He looked at the plump wontons with their delicate, thin skins. Each one was translucent, floating in a broth garnished with seaweed and dried shrimp.
He gave a resigned chuckle. "Shen Ningning, we’re not allowed to eat in here. The gods and buddhas will be displeased, you know?"
Shen Ningning’s big, innocent eyes took on a pitiful look.
"I didn’t know! I’ll remember for next time, so just eat it for now. You can explain it to the gods and buddhas later, Brother. They’ll understand!"
Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow. ’This silly girl, where does she come up with all these rationalizations?’
But he really was hungry.
So, he picked up the spoon and, with movements both elegant and swift, finished the bowl of wontons.
As if performing a magic trick, Shen Ningning produced another dish—sliced honeydew melon—and passed it through.
Mo Lingwei paused, spoon in hand. "The guards didn’t see you bring all this in?"
"Nope! I snuck them in. Now hurry and eat, Brother."
Under her glistening gaze, Mo Lingwei sat down on the floor and finished the melon as well.
Just as she was passing the empty plate back out, Shen Ningning heard footsteps approaching from below.
She whipped her head around.
The little girl’s face fell. "Oh no, someone’s coming!"
Mo Lingwei saw her suddenly disappear from the window, as if she had ducked down to hide things. A series of clatters and bangs followed.
He was afraid Shen Ningning would hurt herself and said, "It doesn’t matter if you’re discovered. With me here, they won’t dare to do anything to you."
However, Shen Ningning had already straightened up, panting. "It’s fine, they’re all hidden!"
’Phew, thank goodness for my Immortal Realm.’
Just a moment later, Lord Lu, the head of the Imperial Guards, had walked up to her side, leading a patrol of his men.
"The County Lord is still in the Imperial Palace this late?" Lord Lu frowned, thinking he could smell the faint aroma of food in the air.
