Marys brow wrinkled as she crossed her arms. She was sitting on a wooden plank. It was a very large plank, about the size of the side of a boat. In fact, it used to be the side of a boat. She had fallen from the sky and landed on top of a boat. It shattered on impact. So now, she was sitting atop a piece of wood on a river that was yellow from all the silt within. After looking around so more, she couldnt find what she was looking for: the owner of the boat. So, she shrugged and gave up. She rose to her feet and took a step towards the rushing waters, but when it was about to make contact with the surface of the river, the water shrunk beneath her feet, and her foot landed on the riverbank instead.
Gasping sounds filled the air, and Mary turned her head. Four n were staring at her, but when their gazes t, the n dropped to their knees and pressed their foreheads against the ground. They were wearing long clothes like robes but made of silk. They also had tall hats that they didnt seem to care about getting dirty. Sweat trickled down the ns necks, staining their clothes, but they didnt say a word, not daring to look up. Mary tilted her head before clearing her throat and fixing her posture. Did the n notice she was an empress? You may rise, she said.
The n didnt move.
Mary raised an eyebrow. You greet like an empress, yet you dont want to listen to my words? she asked. Her expression darkened as she was reminded of Vur, and the bottom of her foot itched. Perhaps shed use these ns backs to scratch it.
***
Young Master, your cousin died.
A pair of chopsticks clattered against the ground. Eh? A teenager raised his head, staring at the woman who had just entered the dining room. He was eating by himself with one servant serving him food. Cousin? Which cousin?
You only have one cousin. The emperor.
The young man recoiled. His cousin, the emperor died? How?
Do you rember, a month ago, he was boating on the Yellow River and fell inside because he was drunk?
Yes. The young man nodded. There was a huge uproar at the ti. The residing emperor actually slipped and fell into the Yellow River because he drank too much. He was absent from court and had to take ti off to recover. There were rumors that he caught an illness from an event. Dont tell , the illness he got from that ti took his life?
No, thats not it, the woman said. The emperor fully recovered today, and to celebrate, he took another boat ride down the Yellow River.
The young man leaned over and picked up his fallen chopsticks. He placed them back on the table and frowned. Did he get drunk and fall in again?
The womans eyebrows furrowed. He was drunk, yes, and he also fell in.
But? The young man folded his arms across his chest. Theres a but in that statent sowhere. I dont believe he slipped and fell and died after recovering from slipping, falling, and almost dying last ti.
Yes, the woman said. She exhaled, and her shoulders relaxed. According to the four eunuchs who were with him, a celestial fell from the heavens and landed on the boat.
What?
And upon impact, the boat exploded.
Excuse .
After the boat exploded, the emperor fell into the river and drowned.
Wait.
Then the celestial trampled the four eunuchs to near death.
I said wait! You lost when you said a celestial fell from the heavens.
Im just telling you what was told to , Young Master. The woman lowered her head. Her face was a bit red as if she were embarrassed to be telling such an outlandish story. But these words ca straight out of a eunuchs mouth. The emperor has died, and you are next in line to the throne.
An odd expression appeared on the young mans face. No one ever prepared for ascension to the throne.
Sotis unexpected things happen, the woman said. Your cousin left behind no heirs, and youre the only living relative of the previous emperor. As such, youre the person most fit for the throne. Congratulations, Young Master.
What you were saying before, about the celestial. Where is the celestial now?
The woman shook her head. No one knows, she said. After destroying the emperors boat and thrashing the emperors eunuchs, the celestial simply walked away.
And no one followed him?
The celestial took on the form of a woman, the woman said. And people tried to follow her, but they couldnt. The earth shrinks beneath her feet as she walks. Every step she takes is equivalent to a hundred of ours.
The young man frowned. Does anyone know why she descended?
Perhaps it was the will of the heavens, the woman said. Your cousin lost the Mandate of Heaven, and the heavens let it be known.
This is the first ti in history since the dragon throne was established that a celestial smote an emperor, correct?
As far as I know, thats right, Young Master.
And the emperor that was slain was my cousin. Does that an a celestial is going to co down and kill too?
The woman pursed her lips, but her expression relaxed in the next mont. As long as you are a fair and just ruler who refrains from drinking too much like your cousin, the Mandate of Heaven shall remain with you.
The young man stared at the woman. Are you sure about that? His expression darkened as he stood up and walked towards the window in the dining room. He looked up at the clouds and sighed. It seed like hed have to recruit many capable ministers and officials if he wanted to keep his head. Perhaps he could even let them do everything. If the heavens were unhappy, theyd take their anger out on them instead.
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