Chapter 88: Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Each Showing Their Magical Powers! (2 / 2)
Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court
[Strange? Why did the old emperor suddenly summon someone over? He looked rather grimâdid something happen?]
This thought lingered in Xu Yanmiaoâs mind for less than ten seconds before being replaced by another:
[That âBirthâ character stone tablet dedicated to the old emperor as the âGoddess of Childbirthâ⦠I want to see it!]
Xu Yanmiao couldnât bother with eating anymore. He bought two flatbreads on the road and headed straight for the countyâs famous landmark. Halfway there, he ran into the old emperor himself.
[Uh⦠this is awkwardâ¦]
Noticing the emperorâs dark expression, Xu Yanmiao pretended as if nothing unusual was going on, trying to play it off. âWhat brings you here, Your Majesty?â
âXu. Yan. Miao.â The emperorâs voice oozed through clenched teeth, each word dripping with displeasure. âAnd what brings you here?â
With an innocent face, Xu Yanmiao replied, âOh, Iâm just out for a casual strollâ¦â
The emperor let out a sarcastic chuckle. âThis road only leads to the âBirthâ character stone tablet. You must have done your homework in advance. Otherwise, you wouldnât be heading here immediately after disembarking.â
Xu Yanmiao assumed the emperor meant heâd done some pre-trip sightseeing research.
But then the emperor spoke again, his voice heavy with resentment. âYou finished todayâs official duties and still found time to wander around? Canât you read the room? Look at your superiorsâthe Ministers and Vice Ministers. Do you see them idling around like you? And why are you so concerned with the Goddess of Childbirth? Youâre not even married! Is this any of your business?â
Under the proverbial roof, Xu Yanmiao quietly bowed his head. âYour words are wise, Your Majesty.â
In the background, street sounds filled the air: hawkers selling candied hawthorns, tavern owners calling out to customers, flower peddlers balancing baskets, dog sellers tugging leashes, fortune-tellers selling divinations, and street artists sketching portraits.
The lively atmosphere only underscored the emperorâs rising frustration. This many commoners believed in the emperor as a âGoddess of Childbirth,â and his face grew even darker.
Butâ¦
[What does that have to do with me? I didnât start this rumor! Why take it out on me?]
[What a Scrooge! Even during the New Year holiday, he wonât let people have fun. Itâs only the second day of the New Year!]
[Also, look at the salaries of Ministers, Vice Ministers, and clerks. Iâm earning peanuts and you expect me to do a million-dollar job? Thatâs just unreasonable.]
[Why canât I be curious about the Goddess of Childbirth just because Iâm unmarried? Isnât he mad because heâs been made into one?]
[Besides, Iâm not the only one here⦠Take the Minister of Personnel, my boss. Isnât he over there disguised as a candied hawthorn seller to visit the âBirthâ character tablet?]
The old emperor froze, his dark expression hardening as he turned his gaze to the hawthorn seller standing with his back to him.
The Minister of Personnel: ââ¦â
The seller stiffly turned around, holding up a stick of candied hawthorns with forced enthusiasm. âWould the gentleman like some candied hawthorn?â
The emperor:
[And the Minister of War brought a basket of flowers to sell, even sticking flowers in his own hair to avoid detection by you.]
The emperorâs gaze shifted to the flower seller.
The Minister of War: ââ¦â
Lowering his head, three flowers fell from his hair to the ground, leaving only the one pinned behind his ear swaying in the breeze.
[Oh, look! The Minister of Justice is multi-talented. Heâs even doing face readings. Who wouldâve guessed?]
The Minister of Justice, packing up his fortune-telling stall and preparing to flee, hurriedly grabbed a banner reading âNot Accurate? No Charge!â to cover his face.
As Xu Yanmiao pointed them out one by one, it became apparent that nearly 90% of the accompanying officials were there.
The âBirthâ character stone tablet was always a popular site for commoners to worship and burn incense, but tonightâs unusually large crowd was undoubtedly thanks to these officials.
The old emperor was so furious he almost laughed.
âALL OF YOU, COME OUT!â
One by one, the guilty officials sheepishly stepped forward.
The emperor found some comfort in noticing a few high-ranking officials absent. âYou all should learn from Qin Guan! Heâs never been overly curious about unnecessary things!â Qin Guan, the Grand General, was his prime example.
âNot curious?â Yongchang Marquis snorted. âThatâs only because he doesnât need the âGoddess of Childbirth.ââ
Xu Yanmiao looked around but didnât see the Grand General anywhere.
[Strange. Could it really be that same-sex relationships donât require children?]
[But that doesnât make sense. Iâm not in a same-sex relationship, and I donât need children either. Yet Iâm very curious about the stone tabletâ¦]
[Wait, is that⦠Oh, my God! He disguised himself as a beggar! No wonder even the emperorâs sharp eyes didnât spot him!]
In the corner, a figure crawled along the ground, appearing lame. Just as they were about to slip away unnoticed, they silently turned around and crawled back, dragging a leg as they approached the emperor. From their battered bowl, they carefully retrieved their sole earnings for the eveningâa single copper coinâand placed it by the emperorâs boot.
The emperor: ââ¦â
He had one question on his mind:@@novelbin@@
Why are all my ministers so⦠eccentric?!
Yeah, Why are they so eccentric? I laughed so hard when I tried to imagine this scene. hahahhahahha