The rain did not lessen. Emperor Zhao Qing named a few officials to accompany him and brought the envoys to the rear hall for the banquet. He left the others to wait for the rain to stop before leaving the palace.
Yu Shu, the newly titled Miaoling Emissary, was first taken to dry her clothes, and then followed. The palace banquet was exquisite and delicious, but with a group of people sizing it up, it was somewhat tasteless.
She was a fifth-rank official and was only a background character in this kind of occasion. Emperor Zhao Qing's obvious "attention" made her the center of attention.
"This jade pine is quite refreshing. Give it to Miaoling Emissary to try."
"… This, and this, give it to her."
The dishes in front of the Emperor were very different from those on the officials' tables. They were cooked by the imperial chef. Emperor Zhao Qing's act of bestowing dishes was a show of care for his officials, but not everyone could enjoy it.
The five bestowed dishes on Yu Shu's table took up the entire table. There was one more plate than the one on the table. She couldn't blame everyone for looking at her.
However, no one felt that Emperor Zhao Qing was being overly generous. After all, Yu Shu had turned the tide of today's Water and Land Conference. She had summoned the wishes of the emperor and his officials with a storm. She had stabilized the scene and prevented the court, which had always ruled by the Way of Yi, from losing face in front of the foreign envoys.
Otherwise, no one knew how to deal with the result. Even if Zhu Qingjue found out that there was something wrong with the resurrection spell, that was a matter for another time.
"Official Yu, do you often use the spell to summon rain?" Emperor Zhao Qing did not doubt Yu Shu's ability. He just wanted to confirm if she could summon wind and rain at any time.
Yu Shu already had an excuse. She put down her chopsticks and stood up to answer.
"Your Majesty is a wise ruler who rules the world. The will of the heavens belongs to you, so the order of the true dragon can reach the will of heaven. However, this official's body is of a mortal body. Even if I have the ability to reach the heavens, I cannot use it fully. My teacher is an otherworldly master. Before I traveled, he taught me this spell and warned me not to use it without permission. Otherwise, my lifespan would be shortened. I cannot disobey my teacher's orders, so yesterday in the palace, this official could not act in time. Your Majesty, please forgive me. "
With that, she knelt down.
She had thought of this excuse thoroughly last night. On one hand, it prevented the possibility of Emperor Zhao Qing making her summon the rain on a whim. On the other hand, it explained why she didn't stand out at the Water and Land Conference yesterday, so as to prevent others from talking behind her back.
Moreover, the more powerful the means, the more restrictions there should be in order to convince people.
When it came to lying and deceiving people, she admitted that she had never met a match.
"Get up. I forgive you." Emperor Zhao Qing was a little regretful. He couldn't help but yearn for the master that Yu Shu spoke of.
Yu Shu said, "My Shifu is a Taoist disciple, he has already passed his prime, he is well-versed in astronomy, he understands geography, he knows fortune and misfortune, he can judge life and death. It's a pity that your humble servant's aptitude is lacking. Even with the old man's careful guidance, I only managed to learn one or two things before daring to barge into the capital alone. "
Her words were half true and half false. She wasn't sure how old Daoist Qing Zheng was, but judging from his face, he must have lived for a hundred years.
Shifu Yi paid great attention to the inheritance of one's master. Raising the status of Qing Zheng was raising her own status.
"So he's an old immortal," Emperor Zhao Qing sighed, "If there's a chance, I would really like to see his splendor."
.....
After the banquet, the rain stopped.
The Left Minister, the Right Minister, and the Great Advisor were brought away by Emperor Zhao Qing to the Imperial Study to discuss national policy. The rest of the people left the palace.
Walking on the damp palace path, water droplets dripped from the eaves. Fortunately, the soles of the boots were thick, otherwise, the soles of their feet would be wet. The group of people distanced themselves from each other. Zhu Qingjue walked beside Yu Shu and teased her with a smile that didn't reach his eyes,
"Congratulations, Miaoling Messenger. If the news of you calling the wind and summoning the rain spreads, there will be no one who doesn't know of you."
Yu Shu also replied with a fake smile, "Thanks to the great fortune of the Minister."
Zhu Qingjue didn't bother with her false politeness. He lowered his voice and asked, "Have you found that person?"
"Hmm? Which person? " Yu Shu naturally knew who 'that person' he was asking about, but she pretended not to know. Since Xue Rui didn't plan to pursue Kong Tanhua's responsibility, why would she ask?
Zhu Qingjue squinted at her and snorted, but he didn't ask anymore.
"Is the young master of the Yao family better?" Yu Shu didn't forget the young master of the Jing Public House who ate the golden pill.
When mentioning his nephew, Zhu Qingjue revealed a gentle expression, "His life is no longer in danger."
"That's good."
"Thank you for your concern."
"Hehe."
The two of them were talking at the back while Jing Chen and Junior Supervisor Ren were walking in front. He heard every word and was slightly distracted. Junior Supervisor Ren, who was comforting him, noticed it and turned around to take a look. He asked him in confusion,
"Is Second Young Master Zhu familiar with the female imperial official?"
Jing Chen shook his head and smiled bitterly to himself. How would he know when she knew Zhu Qingjue? How many things about her did he know?
After she left the Imperial Palace, Yu Shu really wanted to make a trip to the Imperial Historian's Library to look for Xue Rui to show off the title bestowed by the Emperor, but when the cold wind blew by, she immediately gave up and didn't go anywhere in the end.
Zhan Xueyuan was dead. She was cautious and specially ordered two guards to wait outside the palace gate. She sat in Liu Zhong's carriage and had people escort her back home.
Yu Shu slept peacefully that night and woke up at dawn. She was drenched in the rain last night and didn't feel anything at the time. However, after sleeping, she felt a little stuffy.
Yun Dou came in with water and was shocked to see her flushed face. She quickly covered her with clothes and ran out to invite He Fangzhi over without waiting for Yu Shu to stop her.
"She caught a cold and ate hot food. There's some heat in her body, but it's not a problem." He Fangzhi put away the pulse pillow and turned to tell Yu Xiaoxiu who was standing by the bed.
"Go to father's room and grab three qian of agastache and one qian of licorice. There's no need to boil it. Ask the kitchen to boil a bowl of hot soup for your sister."
Yu Xiaoxiu ran out like a wisp of smoke.
Zhao Hui touched Yu Shu's slightly hot forehead and couldn't help but complain, "Yesterday I was drenched in the rain and asked you why you didn't tell me. Look, you're feeling uncomfortable now."
Yu Shu laughed awkwardly.
He Fangzhi also rarely talked about her. "Don't think nothing of it just because you have a good body. After the Zhongyuan Festival, there will be a rain. The weather is turning cold, and it's easy to get sick. Do you still want to go out today?"
Yu Shu sniffled and nodded. The Aquatic Assembly lasted for three days. Today was the last day. It didn't matter if there were a few Dong Ying people missing.
Zhao Hui hurriedly turned her head and ordered Yun Dou to add more clothes for her inside.
.....
In the morning, Yu Shu arrived at the Celestial Commissioner's Roll Call. Everyone stared at her as she walked through the door. The respectful expressions were not because of the fifth-grade iris dress she was wearing.
As soon as she entered the Kunling Bureau, Xie Lan and Ren Renjia were already waiting. They greeted her with smiles and bowed.
"Congratulations on being appointed, Milord."
Yu Shu looked at them with a smile and walked inside. "Have you heard?"
Ren Renjia was an eighth-grade Yi Master and wasn't qualified to enter the palace to participate in the Aquatic Assembly. Xie Lan was a seventh-grade Yi Master, but he was a Celestial Commissioner. He wasn't a fifth-grade Yi Master, so he couldn't accompany her.
The two of them followed. One said, "There were people from the Secretariat who came to inform us this morning. You don't know how envious they are that we can work under you."
The other said, "The gentlemen at the bottom of the clock tower have been talking about it all morning. It's a pity that this lowly official doesn't have the fortune to personally see Milord holding the True Dragon Command and summoning the wind and rain."
Yu Shu had flattered the Emperor yesterday, and today, she was flattered by her subordinates. She laughed. When she raised her head and saw Jing Chen standing by the window on the second floor, her smile faded a little.
After sending the two away, she went upstairs.
Jing Chen was now her immediate superior. No matter what their relationship was, she wouldn't be careless with the etiquette she should have in front of others.
"Right Commander."
Jing Chen was still standing by the window. Half of his body was shrouded in light and shadow. He looked at her with an unclear expression and bowed. He stopped her, saying, "You have a title bestowed by the Emperor. When you see me in the future, you don't need to bow."
The so-called great etiquette included kowtowing and bowing. Yu Shu was two ranks lower than Jing Chen. When they met, she should bow and call him lowly official or lowly official to show respect.
Yu Shu hadn't thought that the title the Emperor had casually bestowed would have such benefits. She was so happy that she straightened her back.
"If Milord doesn't have any other orders, I'll go and prepare."
"Wait, I have something to say to you." Jing Chen stopped her and pointed to a chair at the side. "Sit."
Yu Shu thought for a moment and walked over to sit.
"Zhan Xueyuan is dead. What are your plans?" Jing Chen asked straightforwardly. Kun Ling Bureau was located in the Celestial Commissioner. The spies couldn't follow them in. It was safer to talk behind closed doors than outside.
"I should be the one asking you this." Yu Shu looked at him coldly. "What did you say to me in the beginning? In the end, Zhan Xueyuan still died. I'm afraid the next one will be me. You can't find the murderer and are anxious."
After a short silence, Jing Chen said something shocking. "I found out that the Book of Xuan Nu Liu Ren is hidden in the Celestial Commissioner."
Hearing the Book of Xuan Nu Liu Ren, Yu Shu's heartbeat couldn't help but speed up. "What do you mean?"
Jing Chen stared at her, his expression cold. "I suspect that the Emperor and the Great Tiandi are deliberately hiding something from me. Maybe my identity as the Great An's Disaster has other secrets."
Hearing his suspicions, Yu Shu didn't know if she should be happy or not. Early on in the courtyard of Huixing Street, she had deliberately led Jing Chen to suspect that side. She waited for him to be suspicious, but it was only after Zhan Xueyuan died.
"Didn't you believe it deeply before? Why are you suspicious now?" Yu Shu sneered.
Jing Chen lowered his eyes and thought: Even the teacher who raised him would lie to him, let alone other people.
"So, you plan to find the Book of Xuan Nu Liu Ren and see for yourself what's written on it?" Yu Shu asked him.
Jing Chen nodded. He rolled up his eyes again and said in a low voice, "Before I see that book, even the Emperor can't force me to do anything to you and me."
Yu Shu understood the meaning of his words. He was assuring her that even if the Emperor was anxious and wanted to act on her first, he wouldn't listen to righteousness and the Emperor's orders.
"…" She suddenly didn't know how to respond. Should she say thank you?
Yu Shu stood up and left her seat. She looked at him deeply and said, "Tomorrow night, come to Wang Ji Lou."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
