Beneath the ritual altar, an irrepressible commotion broke out.
The women did not dare raise their heads, but their shoulders trembled.
Not only had the Divine Lady personally praised them as heroines, but She had also bestowed an artifact upon them, validating their worth.
What a blessing this was! What a glory!
An elderly woman nearly fainted from excitement; those beside her quickly supported her.
They exchanged looks of ecstatic joy.
“The lily of the valley grows amidst thorns, yet it remains pure and untainted by the world’s grime. When the spring breeze sweeps across the wilderness, its elegant fragrance naturally spreads in all directions, leaving a lasting echo.”
“Your character is just like this flower.”
“Resilient and noble, you are models for all.”
The Divine Lady stood alone on the high platform, Her sleeves fluttering though there was no wind, a faint radiance circulating around Her body.
The light was not blinding.
Yet, no one dared to look at Her for long, as if a single extra glance would sear their mortal eyes.
She raised a finger. With a slight movement of Her pale, slender finger, the void seemed to part like the surface of water.
Ripples spread outward.
At the very center of the ripples, a speck of pearly white slowly emerged.
It was a lily of the valley.
Carved entirely from white jade, its petals were as thin as a cicada's wing, trembling slightly in the air as if they might be scattered by the wind at any moment.
Its slender stem supported six drooping buds, each emitting a warm, soft light.
The entire flower was only about the size of a palm, a creation so exquisite it didn't seem to belong to the mortal realm.
The women looked up at the lily of the valley, their knuckles white as they gripped the hems of their clothes, tears falling silently.
They had always lived like grass on a wasteland.
Trampled by warhorses, scorched by wildfires, tossed about by the wind, yet no one ever asked if they were in pain.
When trampled, they learned silence.
When forgotten, they learned to endure.
When driven to the brink of survival, they learned to hide their tears and grievances within the increasingly rough cracks of their fingers.
How many nights had they numbly held children who were too hungry to cry, feeling as though the dawn would never come?
Among them, some had never worn a decent piece of clothing or eaten a full meal in their entire lives.
Through subtle conditioning, they felt they had to save the best for their husbands, children, and in-laws, while they themselves chewed on tree bark and wild herbs, smiling and saying they weren't hungry.
Later, they had to watch helplessly as their husbands were taken for forced labor, their sons were conscripted, and their daughters were sold as child brides, while their roofs were burned and their crops plundered.
It wasn't that they hadn't thought about hanging themselves to end it all, but looking at their nursing infants, how could they have the heart?
Then came the famine.
On the road of flight, they had to become fierce to survive, fighting with refugees and wild dogs for food, using their frail bodies to shield their children.
Everyone said this was “a mother’s strength,” but no one praised the greatness of their self-sacrifice.
It was as if their devotion was taken for granted—even they themselves believed it.
Until today, when the Divine Lady praised their resilient character, did they realize that women could actually be commended.
To be seen was truly heart-stirring.
“This flower is called the White Jade Lily of the Valley.”
The Divine Lady’s voice rang out again, still in that indifferent tone. “Wear it, and good fortune will follow you for seven days. You shall be exempt from all heavenly retribution and backlash.”
Boom!
The area around the ritual altar completely erupted.
“Wonderful! We no longer have to worry about suffering heavenly punishment for comprehending the mysteries of the spinning machine!”
“The Divine Lady is merciful! The Divine Lady is merciful!”
“The Lady’s compassion is great!”
Every face was filled with piety, a sense of gratitude toward the Divine Lady that was beyond measure.
Yun Shu glanced at the system.
The system immediately understood; it picked up the lily of the valley in its mouth and placed it into Zhang Qiaoniang’s trembling hands.
While invisible, no one but Yun Shu could see it.
Thus, in the eyes of the crowd, the scene became mystical.
The White Jade Lily of the Valley circled slowly in mid-air, as if it were choosing someone, before finally descending into the hands of Zhang Qiaoniang, who knelt at the very front.
【Zhang Qiaoniang Shock Value +100】
【Pei Wanning Shock Value +100】
【Su Aheng Shock Value +100】
【Wang Chuntao Shock Value +100】
【...】
【Current Shock Value: 177,600】
Zhang Qiaoniang held the White Jade Lily of the Valley, her face covered in tears, her lips trembling so much she couldn't utter a single coherent word.
“Sister Zhang, don't just stand there! The Divine Lady has bestowed the artifact upon you. Hurry and give thanks!” someone nearby reminded her.
It would certainly be a lie to say they weren't envious of the White Jade Lily of the Valley in Zhang Qiaoniang’s hands.
However, they felt more pride and self-respect than anything else.
Look! What their men didn't dare to do, they did. Even the Divine Lady recognized them. Who would dare say women are inferior to men after this?!
Zhang Qiaoniang gradually came to her senses. Looking at the faces around her, seeing the envy and shared pride in their eyes, her heart couldn't help but ache.
Suddenly, she took a deep breath, held the lily of the valley high, and spoke loudly to them: “This artifact—the Divine Lady did not bestow it upon me alone!”
Her voice was so resonant that even she was surprised, as if something inside her was shouting on her behalf.
“It belongs to all of us!”
The White Jade Lily of the Valley tilted slightly in her hand, and the light from its petals spilled down.
It first landed on the shoulder of the young girl closest to her, then slid down to the hair of the next woman...
The light seemed to have a consciousness of its own.
Bit by bit, it flowed through the crowd, illuminating one stunned face after another.
Silence lasted for three breaths.
Then, everyone’s eyes inevitably turned red.
No one had expected that, in the face of an artifact bestowed by the Divine Lady, Zhang Qiaoniang would have no selfishness at all, declaring it belonged to everyone and sharing the good fortune with them all.
How could they not be moved?
Holding the lily of the valley in both hands, Zhang Qiaoniang kowtowed heavily once more toward the deity on the platform. “Thank you, Divine Lady, for bestowing this artifact. This humble woman shall not fail You!”
This cry was like opening a floodgate.
“We shall not fail the Divine Lady!”
“We shall not fail the Divine Lady!”
“We shall not fail the Divine Lady!”
The women knelt one after another, their gazes becoming more resolute.
The men, meanwhile, had complex expressions.
Among these women were the wives, mothers, and daughters they usually ordered around. Now, as they knelt there, they carried a radiance the men had never seen before.
“You are truly worth teaching.” The Divine Lady’s clear, cold gaze swept over everyone present. “Seven days from now will be the day the winner of this wager is decided. I look forward to it.”
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