Imperial Observatory, Star-Gazing Tower.
It was the highest place in the imperial palace, so high it seemed one could reach out and touch the stars glittering in the night sky.
Li Chunfeng, Director of the Imperial Observatory, was poring over decades of meteorological records with several other officials, all of them frazzled. Star charts, cloud charts, humidity, wind direction... countless records covered the entire tower.
The emperor's order had come too suddenly—and was too bizarre.
Predict the next thunderstorm?
And within a radius of three hundred li around the Capital City.
It was an impossible task. Heaven's might was hard to fathom; how could mere mortals predict when thunder would strike? The Imperial Observatory mostly observed the stars, divined the fate of the state, and chose auspicious dates for royal sacrifices, weddings, funerals, and other occasions. Predicting the weather—especially pinpointing a thunderstorm—was far beyond their capabilities.
"Director, how... how are we supposed to figure this out?" A young official was sweating profusely. "Thunderstorms form when hot, humid air masses collide. It's a chance occurrence, with no fixed pattern!"
Li Chunfeng stroked his grizzled beard, his brow furrowed.
He knew perfectly well there was no fixed pattern. But the emperor's command could not be disobeyed. If they failed to come up with an answer, the entire Imperial Observatory would be in serious trouble.
Just then, footsteps sounded on the stairs.
"Director Li."
Gu Shen's voice rang out.
Li Chunfeng turned and saw a young man in a crimson official robe, accompanied by several expressionless Shadow Guards.
He recognized the robe as the uniform of a Reader from the Hanlin Academy. What was a civil official doing at the Star-Gazing Tower?
"May I ask who you are?" Li Chunfeng asked, cupping his hands in confusion.
"Gu Shen of the Hanlin Academy," Gu