Tang Dynasty: Starting with Dimo, he was targeted by Li Shimin.

Chapter 33 After the Rain

The rain stopped.

But the excitement in Chang'an did not stop.

It rained for almost the entire day, from noon yesterday until this morning.

This is the first rain since the summer of the third year of the Zhenguan era.

It was rain that the people of Chang'an had been waiting for for sixty days.

The streets were flooded, but no one seemed to mind.

Someone squatted by the roadside, cupping their hands to wash their face in the puddles—"It feels so refreshing! I haven't felt this way in two months!"

Some people put all their basins, buckets, jars, and cans in the yard to collect rainwater—even though the rain had stopped, they felt it was always good to store as much as possible.

Someone ran into the farmland outside the city—

The fields were completely soaked.

The cracked earth closed up and turned into soft, dark brown soil.

Several elderly farmers squatted on the edge of the field, scooping up handfuls of mud with their rough hands—

"It's ready to be planted."

"It really can be planted now."

The voice was trembling.

It's not because of the cold.

It's because—they've been thinking "it's over" in their hearts for two months.

Now we can finally say, "It's ready to be planted."

The grain seeds allocated by the imperial court have been delivered to various counties one after another.

Li Shimin's imperial edict was written very clearly:

Those who receive the seeds should begin replanting immediately.

There must be no delays.

Those who delay are guilty of the same crime as those who falsely report disasters.

That last sentence sent chills down the spines of all the county magistrates.

Especially those eleven counties that were singled out by the Little Spirit Face—

Their county magistrate is currently trembling in the Ministry of Personnel's prison.

What awaited them was not dismissal from office.

It is an investigation.

It's about recovering stolen assets.

It means spitting out the disaster relief grain that has been swallowed, grain by grain.

ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ Serves you right.

South of Chang'an City.

A large mansion that occupies half a street.

The Cui Family's Secluded Residence in Chang'an, Boling.

Cui Yanliang sat in his study, the tea in front of him had gone cold.

He didn't drink it.

Because his mood was colder than that cup of tea.

yesterday--

It really started raining.

He himself said during a court assembly, "Do you also believe in Li Shimin's claims of divine intervention?"

He smiled and countered with a question about rice prices—

How could it rain in a cloudless sky?

Then God slapped him hard in the face with a torrential downpour.

No.

It's not just God.

It was Li Shimin, whom he looked down upon, sitting on the dragon throne.

Cui Yanliang spent the entire night processing this matter.

He wasn't stupid—he knew the rain wasn't a coincidence.

Li Shimin's willingness to gamble with the edict of self-reproach demonstrates that he had absolute confidence.

And that confidence—

It's related to that blue otter.

It's related to the shops in that West Market.

It's related to the "shopkeeper" whose background the secret guards couldn't uncover.

"Someone come here."

A black-clad bodyguard silently appeared in the corner of the study.

"Keep an eye on that shop in the West Market."

"But don't do it."

"Li Shimin has deployed at least three squads of thugs in that area; attacking now would be tantamount to suicide."

"Understood."

"And—" Cui Yanliang's voice deepened slightly.

"The situation in eleven counties... how much damage have been done?"

The guards remained silent for a moment.

"Return home, sir. The magistrates of all eleven counties have been arrested by the Ministry of Personnel. Orders to recover the stolen goods have been issued."

"The disaster relief grain stockpiled in various counties—approximately 30,000 shi (a unit of dry measure)—was all recovered by the imperial court."

Thirty thousand bushels.

Cui Yanliang's eye twitched.

Thirty thousand shi of grain, according to black market prices during the drought, would be worth at least five thousand taels of gold.

Now it's all gone.

Not only did he vomit it out—

They also removed all eleven of Choi's "nails" in Gyeonggi Province.

Those county magistrates were not just officials.

It was a local power that the Cui family had cultivated for over a decade.

Now they've all been uprooted overnight.

This debt—

It can't be measured in money.

Cui Yanliang picked up the now-cold tea and took a sip.

Then he gently put down the teacup.

"No rush."

"Li Shimin won this round."

"but--"

His gaze fell upon the still-dripping eaves outside the window—

"The next game, maybe not."

"The five surnames and seven clans have been operating for hundreds of years; they cannot be destroyed by a single rain."

"His 'fairy' can make it rain—"

"But can it rain for a lifetime?"

The guards retreated silently.

The study became quiet again.

Cui Yanliang sat alone in the chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

What he didn't know was—

The "immortal" he mentioned was currently lazing around in the backyard of the Magic Treasure Shop.

And we are considering it—

Should we open a Grass-type sanctuary?

If it opens—

The question of "rain in the next life" —

That's really not a problem anymore.

σ(´∀｀)

Magical Object Shop.

Lin Luo didn't get up until noon.

It's not because I'm lazy—well, it really is because I'm lazy.

But I was really tired.

I was caught in the rain all day yesterday, and today my whole body aches and my throat is a little hoarse.

Xiao Xiao cooked him a pot of chicken noodle soup, and he ate two bowls.

Abu squatted at his feet gnawing on a bone—it seemed to have a better appetite after being caught in the rain yesterday.

Dimo squatted on the windowsill, basking in the sun—the post-rain sunshine was especially comforting, and light-attribute spirits had a natural affinity for sunlight.

Shui Lanlan and Bubble Shell had a bubble-blowing contest in the puddle in the backyard.

Currently, Aqua Blue is on a three-game winning streak.

The bubble shell is not convinced and is trying to build a super big bubble.

(ꈍᴗꈍ)

After finishing his meal, Lin Luo opened the system panel.

I haven't used the four rewards I received yesterday yet—

He decided to use the most practical one first.

[Sleeping Owl Sanctuary - Grass-type Cluster Slot Unlock Ticket x1]

【use or not? 】

"use."

The Grass-type slot is now unlocked!

Please place a Grass-type Pokémon Berry to activate the Grass-type group.

Lin Luo looked at his warehouse—

Grass-type Pokémon Fruit?

He did not.

Water-type spirit fruits are synthesized by collecting fragments through daily draws.

The same applies to Grass-type Pokémon—it takes ten Grass-type Pokémon Fruit Fragments to synthesize one.

Current number of fragments: 0/10.

That is to say-

I need to keep saving.

"System, are there any Grass-type shards in the daily lottery prize pool yet?"

[Updated. Grass-type Pokémon Fruit Fragments have been added to the daily lottery prize pool.]

it is good.

Just like when we were collecting water-type fruits, we'll take it one day at a time.

Not urgent.

The drought has been resolved, and the grass-type shelter is just icing on the cake.

Having Grass-type Pokémon not only promotes agricultural growth,

It can also make the ecosystem of the shelter more complete.

Water systems create water, vegetation systems promote growth; the two work together—

Doubling agricultural output in Gyeonggi Province is not a dream.

But that's a matter for later.

Lin Luo closed the Grass-related panel and turned his attention to the second reward—

【Awakening Dimo ​​Evolution Material: Star Fragment x1 (1/5)】

He glanced at Dimo, who was sunbathing on his shoulder.

He already knew about Dimo's evolutionary chain—

Dimo → Holy Light Dimo ​​→ Royal Holy Light Dimo ​​→ Awakened Dimo.

The first three stages are normal evolution, which can be achieved by level.

But Dimo ​​awakens—

That requires special materials.

Star fragments.

Five pieces.

He has one now.

Four more are needed.

"Take your time." He patted Dimo's head.

"Mmm~" Dimo ​​squinted his eyes comfortably, completely unaware of what he would become in the future.

But it's okay.

It's good enough as it is now.

finally--

[Legendary Spirit Gacha Pool - One Draw Chance]

Lin Luo looked at the line of text.

The last legendary spirit pool gave him Abu.

A juvenile of a legendary dragon-type Pokémon.

A little dragon who is socially awkward, loves to sneeze and breathe fire, but is becoming braver every day.

This time—

What could it be?

Lin Luo's finger hovered above the panel.

I hesitated for three seconds.

Then--

"Don't smoke yet."

He turned off the panel.

Dimo tilted his head and looked at him: "Huh?"

"No rush." ​​Lin Luo leaned back in the recliner, looking at the blue sky above.

The sky was exceptionally clean after the rain.

Eyes as blue as aquamarine.

"Legend has it that the chance to use the Spirit Pool doesn't expire. I'll use it when I've thought it through."

"Now--"

He yawned.

"Let's enjoy a few days without anyone bothering us."

Little Owl leaned against the door frame, his amber eyes half-closed.

"Boss, do you think Li Shimin will let you have a few days of peace and quiet?"

"…………"

Lin Luo fell silent.

Because Xiao Xiao is right.

Given Li Shimin's personality—"wanting to possess anything good he sees"—

After a rain, the drought was over.

He will not let Lin Luo off the hook—

Instead, they will appear more frequently in the Magical Artifacts Shop.

Because he tasted the sweetness of success.

A shopkeeper who can make it rain.

A group of spirits who can create water out of thin air.

A little spirit that can see through lies,

A swallowtail otter capable of tidal impact—

For an emperor, these things are more useful strategic resources than gold, an army, or the support of powerful families.

Li Shimin could not possibly let go.

And the Cui family was unlikely to let the matter rest.

"Sigh—" Lin Luo sighed.

"The days of a salted fish are never long indeed."

He closed his eyes.

Abu squatted at his feet, tilting his head to look at him.

"Huh?"

"It's okay." Lin Luo reached out and rubbed Abu's head.

"I just feel—"

"The days to come might be even more exciting than before."

Abu couldn't understand.

But it sensed Lin Luo's tone.

It's not irritability.

This is not a complaint.

It is a kind of—

The tone was tinged with a hint of helplessness, yet also with a touch of anticipation.

Abu buried his head in Lin Luo's palm.

"Awoo~"

Who cares if it's lively or not.

As long as I'm here, that's fine.

(ꈍᴗꈍ)

……