At dawn, the sun rose from the horizon.
In the distance, a mass of dark figures appeared on the official road at the entrance to the capital, gradually drawing closer.
All the common people in the capital were in an uproar.
“Prince Cheng has brought the Heavenly Maiden to the capital to bestow sweet dew!”
“Heavens, we can finally receive the sweet dew water! My father will be saved!”
“Can everyone receive it?”
“Of course! Every day the Heavenly Maiden distributes sweet dew to the common people. As long as you queue up, you can receive a bowl.”
“Then can we also go queue up…!”
“…”
The more than two hundred thousand people advancing toward the capital stopped. In the distance, they set up tents and erected a high platform.
A woman stood on the platform. She covered her face with gauze and wore white robes that emitted silver and golden light. Under the illumination of the morning sun, the woman radiated golden light, sacred and pure like an immortal maiden descended from heaven.
She held a green branch in her hand. The branch dipped into several large water vats below, and the vats seemed to begin glowing as well.
“That’s the Heavenly Maiden! The water in the vats is sweet dew!”
“Go, quickly get the sweet dew, hurry hurry hurry!”
“Wait for me, I want to go too!”
“…”
Everyone in the capital carried their families and rushed toward the city gates.
At that moment, the city gates slammed shut with a boom.
Every night after curfew in the capital, the city gates were locked. Before dawn, the gates would open to allow common people to enter and exit. Now should have been the time to open the gates, but instead they had closed. Those outside couldn’t get in, and those inside couldn’t get out.
“What’s going on? Why won’t you let us out!”
“I need to get sweet dew water! Let me out quickly! If my father doesn’t drink the sweet dew soon, he’ll die!”
“My child is also waiting for the Heavenly Maiden’s sweet dew water to save his life! Quickly, open the city gates and let us out!”
“Honorable officials, we beg you…”
“Get lost, move aside!” The guards at the gate raised their spears and spoke sternly. “By order of the court, during this period, no one may exit the city gates. Everyone go back!”
The common people crowded at the city gates couldn’t accept this reality.
They shouted and made a loud commotion.
The commander of the guards drew his sword and held it to one person’s throat. Only then did the clamoring people quiet down somewhat.
Outside the city, there were people everywhere as far as the eye could see.
More than two hundred thousand people began queuing in an orderly fashion.
At the front on the high platform stood the Heavenly Maiden, continuously waving the green branch in her hand, appearing extremely sacred and merciful.
Below the platform were at least a hundred large water vats. Several guards stood beside each vat, distributing sweet dew to the queuing common people—one bowl per person, to be drunk on the spot. Even so, the queue ahead seemed endless.
The common people inside the capital couldn’t come out.
But the common people from the small towns in the capital’s outskirts and countless nearby villages, upon hearing the news, all flocked there.
More and more people joined the queue. Those who hadn’t yet drunk the sweet dew water gradually grew restless.
At this time, Prince Cheng, surrounded by attendants, walked to the rear of the queue and called out loudly to those common people who hadn’t yet had a chance to drink the sweet dew: “Everyone need not be anxious! The sweet dew water is bestowed by heaven. As long as the common people need it, the sweet dew water will be provided continuously. Even if the sun sets, the Heavenly Maiden will not leave until each and every one of you has drunk the sweet dew and your ailments are dispelled. Then my mission will be accomplished!”
“Heavens, it’s Prince Cheng!”
“Prince Cheng has actually condescended to speak with us personally!”
“We pay our respects to Prince Cheng!”
A group of common people hurriedly knelt down to pay their respects.
Someone unknown called out loudly: “Prince Cheng cares about the common people! Prince Cheng is the one blessed by heaven’s mandate! This realm should be inherited by Prince Cheng, then we common people can live in peace and prosperity!”
“Prince Cheng is blessed by heaven’s mandate!”
“Prince Cheng is blessed by heaven’s mandate!”
The shouts from the crowd rose wave after wave.
Prince Cheng felt extremely proud inside, though his expression remained composed: “Such treasonous words—everyone should refrain from speaking them. All of you stand up and queue properly. You’ll be able to receive the sweet dew water very soon.”
Among those queuing were also Concubine Jiang with her two children, Xie Xian and Xu Ti.
Standing beside her was her neighbor, who suppressed her joy and said: “Lady Jiang, we’ll be able to receive the sweet dew water soon! If Prince Cheng hadn’t brought the Heavenly Maiden all this way, how would we have such an opportunity?”
Concubine Jiang nodded. “Exactly! Who would have thought Prince Cheng was so benevolent?”
Last time, after Miss Xian was kidnapped by criminals and returned, although the imperial physicians had removed the needle from Miss Xian’s head, she still had nightmares every day. She was truly worried about the child’s health, so she set aside everything and brought the two children to obtain sweet dew water. As long as they drank it, Miss Xian’s health would surely improve.
“Mother, is this sweet dew water really so miraculous?” Xu Ti frowned. “If the sweet dew water is real, how could it possibly be distributed free of charge to us lowest-class common people?”
In this world, precious things were all very rare. There might only be one such thing under heaven.
Sweet dew water that could cure all diseases was casually stored in large water vats and distributed by the bowl to anyone—it all felt suspicious everywhere.
Concubine Jiang nodded. “Of course it’s real! Otherwise why would so many people be queuing here? Everyone is drinking it, so it must be miraculous. Ti’er, are you tired from standing? Sit on the ground and rest for a while.”
Xu Ti shook his head. “Just because everyone is drinking something makes it a good thing?”
Concubine Jiang was absolutely certain: “Prince Cheng himself came to tell us, so it must be a good thing! And so many people who’ve drunk it say it’s good—there’s definitely no mistake.”
“Mother…” Xie Xian paused before speaking. “If this sweet dew can truly drive away illness, then why did the court close the capital’s gates and not allow the common people inside to come out?”
Concubine Jiang hesitated.
“Right now the Empress Dowager is ruling from behind the curtain. The order to close the city gates must have been issued by the Empress Dowager as well.” Xu Ti spoke slowly. “Mother has spent time with the Empress Dowager and should know she is an intelligent person who would never prevent the common people inside the capital from coming to receive sweet dew for no reason.”
Thinking of Yun Chu, Concubine Jiang suddenly became clear-headed. She made an immediate decision: “We don’t want the sweet dew anymore. Let’s go, let’s go home!”
Xu Ti pressed down on Concubine Jiang’s hand. “Since we’ve already come, we might as well take a look at what this Heavenly Maiden is all about. I also want to see what this sweet dew really is.”
The mother and her two children stood in the queue, inching forward bit by bit.
After about two shichen passed, they finally slowly made their way to the front and saw the legendary Heavenly Maiden.
“The Heavenly Maiden is so beautiful! Is she really an immortal descended from heaven?” Xie Xian said in a daze. “Does that green branch in her hand possess immortal magic?”
Concubine Jiang was also stunned for a moment, then came back to her senses. “I don’t know why, but this Heavenly Maiden gives me a very familiar feeling, as if I’ve seen her somewhere before…”