72 The Rain Ritual - Part 2 (1/2)

After another day of travelling, the group reached the hollow where the prayer and the ritual were to be conducted.

Each of them wore white coloured robes or a dress in the case of Cheng Ru and got ready for their supplication to the gods for heavy rainfall.

A person might ask why white coloured clothes?

The answer is because white is the colour most associated with purity and fulfilment of one's wishes.

It had been a long stretch of drought in the nation and everyone was clamouring and hoping for the rain gods to relent this time. Otherwise, the sowing and plantation of crops would be too difficult. The level of water had gone far below than what was acceptable.

Su Li in her original life had never believed in God, heaven or hell but the things she had experienced after her death had certainly challenged and changed her beliefs. However, she didn't know if a sincere heart and heartfelt wishes were enough to move the gods or whatever governed the world at large.

Zhou Sheng noticed that Su Li didn't seem to have much confidence in this ritual. He himself didn't believe in intangible things that he hadn't seen or experienced himself, still, he didn't want her to lose heart and do this half-heartedly.

With other four people watching and the countless shadow guards, what if they had a spy between them?

It would be a disaster if even a whiff was leaked that the monarch didn't seem too inclined to believe in the ritual. It was too easy to turn public opinion and especially in these times where people had a firm belief in the words of the upper-class.

Thinking things through, he went forward to talk and instil some confidence in her.

Su Li saw Zhou Sheng coming towards her and turned to face him.

She felt apprehensive about the ritual and her future failure in this endeavour but there was really no other option than to do what The Ministry of Rites had proposed.

With a sardonic smile, she hypothesized, ”Is this really the heaven's will? To see people parched for even a single drop of water? Zhen doesn't know if Zhen can move the heavens enough to give Zhen's subjects the water they so dearly thirst for.”

Zhou Sheng pointed out, ”This lowly one cannot answer Your Excellency's questions but this small one knows that it's more about Your Majesty's will than anything else.”

Su Li almost laughed out loud when she heard Zhou Sheng trying to act and speak like a courtier.

”Do you really believe my will is heaven's will? Preposterous and laughable.”

The other person also realised that Su Li didn't seem to get his subtle message.

Really! This girl...She really isn't suited for subterfuge at all.

Shaking his head and pursing lips, Zhou Sheng revealed in the softest of a whisper, ”Enact a worthwhile play and your position would be secure. No matter the end result” and walked away.

In no time, everybody was in their position and soon they heard the sounds of gongs and drums from the foot of the mountains. The ministers left behind had started their kneelings.

Now the ritual would start.

One by one each of them shouted towards the liege they had pledged their lives to.

”Son of the Great Dragon.”

”The Dragon' Son.”

”The Heavenly Son.”

”The Ruler of All under Heavens.”

”Our Earth and Sky.”

As soon as the chant finished, almost in unison, they bowed down to the monarch.

This was a bow of gratitude and also of plea to their king who had done so much for them in the first year of his reign than all the previous kings, and now hopefully would save their lives with the advent of a shower of rain.

The five of them continued, ”Please grant us rain! The dragon's son! Please grant us rain! Tell the heavens of our troubles and ask them to shower us with water and quench the long thirst of the people!”

With the best smile on her face, Su Li faced the eastern direction and started with her hundred bows to the heavens for the ritual.

Nung Fu watched as His Majesty stood in all his glory and magnificence. The white of the robes truly fit him unlike the others present there for the ritual. There was an inherent innocence in the monarch that he seemed to unconsciously radiate when he was dressed in white.

He watched as the emperor started with the hundred bow ceremony. Each bow was done with a profound veneration to the heavens.

It didn't look like a monarch just going through the motions of the ceremony. Instead, it looked as if the monarch had forgone the imperial family's deep-seated pride and was praying for his subjects in all his humbleness.

Though everyone present could feel the emperor's aura of command wrapped around their liege, it was still evident he was hoping and praying for rain as much as the common man in the streets.

Just as His Majesty was nearing his Twentieth bow, the sounds of powerful winds filled the place, with dust clouds rising and the wind howling as if to devour everything in its path.

Everyone - those present at the top hollow of the mountain range and the ministers standing at the foothills of The Kumbh Mountains could feel their hearts fill with dread.

Generally, such rain rituals had to be carried out multiple times before a short spell of rain. However, there had never been such a strong gust. They feared what it meant for the dynasty and for them on a personal level.

Were the heavens angry at them for some wrongs they had intentionally or unintentionally committed?

Were the heavens telling them that they wouldn't be forgiven?

Meanwhile, Su Li could feel a dull ache in her knees. How she resented the Ministry of Rites for forcing her to perform this ritual. Ah!

More than that, she wasn't optimistic of her chances of giving her subjects what they keenly desired.