Chapter 14 (1/2)

DGSTE – Summaries of Chapters 14 to 16

Chapter 14

‘Good,’ the ED said. ‘Guards, let go of XST.’

XST knelt in front of the ED and he cried happy tears. Serving the emperor and the ED was like walking back and forth between life and death.

‘Thank you ED for being merciful toward me,’ XST said.

‘I can spare your life but you can’t escape punishment,’ the ED said. ‘Guards, take XST outside and give him fifty lashes.’

The guards dragged XST outside.

‘Imperial mother…’ NL called and gulped.

‘Your majesty, it’s your turn,’ the ED said.

‘Imperial mother, I admitted I was wrong…’ NL said.

‘LF could have lost her life if she was bitten by your snake,’ the ED said. ‘LF’s family saved our imperial family. We can’t repay them enough in this lifetime.’

‘Imperial mother, I’ll bestow gifts to LF,’ NL said.

‘Your majesty, what gifts do you want to give LF?’ the ED asked.

‘I’ll… give LF jewellery, makeup and dresses,’ NL said.

‘Is that all?’ the ED asked.

‘Imperial mother, it was me the snake bit, not LF,’ NL said.

‘What if LF doesn’t want to accept your gifts?’ the ED asked.

‘Imperial mother, it’s LF’s choice whether she accepts my gifts or not,’ NL said. ‘Imperial mother, what do you expect me to do?’

‘Do you expect me to teach you imperial protocols?’ the ED asked.

‘Imperial mother, LF is only a commoner,’ NL said.

‘Your majesty, it was you who committed a wrong,’ the ED said. ‘If you can’t see the difference between right and wrong, how do you expect your citizens to follow your lead? Commoners are humans. It’s your duty to protect your citizens and improve their standard of living.’

‘Imperial mother, I know what I did was wrong,’ NL said.

‘Good,’ the ED said. ‘Go explain the truth to LF, and ask for her forgiveness. Until she forgives you, you’ll write one hundred repentant prayers daily.’

‘Repentant prayers?’ NL asked. ‘Imperial mother, I’m not a child.’

‘If you’re not a child then don’t act like a child,’ the ED said. ‘If your citizens knew their emperor is childish, they’ll mock their emperor.’

‘Yes imperial mother,’ NL said.

NL was going to explain the truth to the little demoness in his own way.

Chapter 15

NL’s imperial mother made him vow not to play another childish trick otherwise he would have no children in his life.

‘Imperial mother!’ NL said to himself. ‘Why did imperial mother make me take such a severe vow? Doesn’t she want grandchildren? Does she want the throne to go to an outsider?’

NL ordered the eunuchs to write his repentant prayers for him. He tossed the ink brush aside. Why did he always lose to the little demoness commoner?

XST kowtowed in front of NL.

‘Your majesty, oh my mother…’ XST said.

XST body was sore from the lashes.

‘Can’t you see how bad you look?’ NL asked. ‘You can ask another eunuch to serve me today.’

‘Your majesty, since I entered the palace, it’s always me who has served your majesty,’ XST said. ‘Your majesty, this small pain is worth it if I get to serve your majesty.’

‘I’ll remember you sacrificed your body for me,’ NL said.

‘Thank you your majesty,’ XST said.

‘Did you send the gifts to LF yet?’ NL asked.

‘Your majesty, LF returned your gifts,’ XST said.

‘What?’ NL asked. ‘LF returned my gifts? This is the third time she opposed me. I’m not going to spare her.’

‘Your majesty, you’re still recovering,’ XST said. ‘How about I go see LF and apologise on your majesty’s behalf?’

‘I want to see LF myself,’ NL said. He didn’t want to write another prayer. ‘I’m going to make her accept my gifts. Go get my sedan.’