The leading eunuch was reasonable: "Alright, then take your ti." Anyway, they were already able to bring the person back within the emperor’s specified ti, so they were not in a hurry.
By the ti they reached the Capital City, it was already evening.
Yueyao originally thought she’d go to the imperial palace the next day, but she didn’t expect the Emperor to want to see her imdiately. At this mont, she was still feeling dizzy and was really worried about losing composure.
Yueyao first returned ho, bathed and changed into her Imperial Edict Robe, then ate and drank her fill before following the people into the imperial palace. By this ti, it was already dark.
Yueyao rushed back, scaring everyone in the An Mansion, fearing sothing major had happened. Seeing that Yueyao was just a bit tired, otherwise alright, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. When Nanny Hao knew Yueyao was going to the palace to see the Emperor, she was shocked again. Then, after dressing Yueyao carefully, they nervously escorted her to the gate.
Yueyao had been to the imperial palace several tis, but only during the day. This was the first ti she went at night.
The night at the imperial palace was especially quiet, with not even the sound of crows; occasionally, footsteps could be heard. Moreover, there were more guards patrolling and checking in the evening. Within a half-hour, Yueyao saw over a dozen patrol teams. The initial checks were not thorough, but later they beca more rigorous.
Yueyao’s mind was still sowhat muddled. Compressing more than half a month’s journey into nine days was exhausting beyond imagination. And then to et the Emperor, Yueyao was suddenly nervous, with sweaty palms.
Yueyao followed the leading eunuch like a puppet, not knowing how long they walked. This eunuch looked at Yueyao and said, "Lady An, stand here. I will go in and report to His Majesty."
Yueyao, though dazed, respectfully said: "Please, Eunuch Cui." After being together for nine days, all Yueyao knew was this person’s surna was Cui. Of course, she mainly had no dealings with palace people and was unclear about the identities of these eunuchs.
After a while, a eunuch ca out to let Yueyao in.
As Yueyao stepped over the high threshold, a scent wafted to her nose. Following Eunuch Cui into the room, Yueyao sensed a person sitting on the couch. There was no one else in the room, so it must indeed be the Emperor.
Yueyao knelt on the cold, water-like floor, performing the grand ceremony for the Emperor.
The Emperor said blandly: "Raise your head."
Yueyao dared not disobey the Emperor’s command and slowly raised her head. Yueyao usually wore light makeup, but for entering the palace, she dressed elaborately, and today was no exception. However, due to the exhausting journey, the heavy makeup couldn’t mask Yueyao’s weary face.
The Emperor stared fixedly at Yueyao.
Yueyao shivered, involuntarily lowering her head again. The Emperor’s aura was already intimidating enough to terrify, and his gaze was even more piercing.
The Emperor was unconcerned, having seen many tremble before him, Yueyao was not the only one: "I’ve read the morial you submitted. Are you really sure Jiangnan will have a drought?"
With her head down, Yueyao tried hard to keep calm, striving to speak smoothly: "Your Majesty, I have had several dreams before, and later things in the dreams ca true."
The Emperor found Yueyao interesting, clearly very scared, her hands trembled visibly, yet she spoke fluently without stamring: "Such as?"
Yueyao’s voice was slow as she feared speaking too quickly would be unclear: "Your Majesty, eighteen years ago, I dread that my Eldest Aunt wanted to kill ." As for the outco, she believed the Emperor surely knew.
The Emperor looked at Yueyao and said: "Is it that dream that changed your temperant?" Within the past month, the Emperor had learned of what happened to Yueyao. The most peculiar thing was how it seed Yueyao transford overnight.
Yueyao nodded: "Yes."
The Emperor suddenly dropped a bombshell: "That year Ma Peng was able to pass the palace examination, was it related to you? Ma Peng passing the examination was quite unusual."
Yueyao would never admit this: "Replying to Your Majesty, my cousin passing the examination had nothing to do with !" Matters related to the imperial exams were not to be discussed fatally.
The Emperor asked again: "The year Shandong flooded, Ma Peng was able to take precautions in advance, was it a dream you had that warned her?"
Yueyao shook her head: "No. Replying to Your Majesty, I usually only dream about things related to myself. When I heard about my cousin’s flood prevention, I also thought my cousin was like , able to dream of ons, so I asked him about it. My cousin said he only intended to do so practical work locally and didn’t expect there to be a real flood." Yueyao wouldn’t tell the Emperor Ma Peng could foresee as well, she had enough trouble on her own without dragging Ma Peng into it.
The Emperor was nonetheless very satisfied with these words. Officials should be practical: "Since you have the ability to foretell, why didn’t you foresee Zhou Shu would abduct you? Zhou Shu didn’t just do it once, but twice."
Yueyao’s head dropped lower: "Actually, I had a premonition. It’s just that the first ti, I relied on the martial skills of those around to protect , and the second ti I thought being at my uncle’s house was safe..." It ant she was careless, not expecting Zhou Shu to be so audacious a second ti.
The Emperor remained silent, and the room was so quiet that only the sound of the wind outside could be heard. After an unknown length of ti, the Emperor finally said: "I believe you, but if there turns out to be no drought in Jiangnan, what do you suggest?"
Yueyao spoke in a voice like a mosquito’s: "I await Your Majesty’s decree." She wouldn’t pin it down now, leaving room for a future contingency.
The Emperor said lightly: "If it’s false, I’ll take your head."
Yueyao’s head was almost touching the floor but her voice remained as steady as at the start: "If there is no drought in Jiangnan, I am willing to die. I only ask not to implicate the Old Master and the children."
The Emperor asked with interest: "You are not afraid of death?"
The White Jade tiles on the floor were beautiful, yet chillingly cold. Yueyao softly replied: "I am. But when I think of if there’s really a drought in Jiangnan and I hadn’t inford Your Majesty, who knows how many would die. The Buddhist Sect says saving a life is better than building a seven story pagoda. If my life can save hundreds or thousands, it is worth it to ."
This period, the Emperor had also seriously considered why Yueyao would write a morial to inform him of this matter. He thought of many reasons, but none were as Yueyao stated: "Would you tell Master Xuan Tian about your ability to dream of ons?"
Yueyao nodded: "Yes, Master Xuan Tian said it was my blessing." Yueyao really hadn’t deceived the Emperor on this point; she had indeed asked Master Xuan Tian, and his answer was indeed like this.
The Emperor clapped his hand on the table. Each of his taps made Yueyao’s heart sink further. Yueyao felt, in this and the previous life, never was she more afraid.
Looking at Yueyao, kneeling shakily, the Emperor sighed, clearly not a brave person, submitting that morial likely took all her courage: "You may leave!"
Yueyao perford another grand ceremony for the Emperor, then got up. Having knelt for so long, her legs were numb; she nearly stumbled when standing up. After steadying herself, Yueyao quickly withdrew.
Leaving the Imperial Study Room, the wind blowing on her made Yueyao shiver. It was then Yueyao noticed not only were her palms sweaty, but her whole body was sticky.
Yueyao let out a deep breath; no matter what, she had passed this hurdle. Now, it was just a matter of waiting to see if there was indeed a drought in Jiangnan.
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