Chapter 99 Acciden (1/2)
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The announcement from the eunuch surprised Chu Tiankuo as he did not know why Tang Xia would want to meet him at this time.
”Did she tell you why she wants to meet me?” Chu Tiankuo asked. As he was editing the memorial to the throne, he did not want to waste his time.
”Well...” The eunuch shook his head.
”I don't know. Her Grace did not tell me.” Yue Ji had asked the eunuch to announce to His Majesty that she wanted to meet him so urgently that the eunuch had forgotten to ask her the reason in wanting to meet the emperor.
The eunuch felt quite perturbed by this omission on his part and hoped that His Majesty would not punish him.
”Alright.” Chu Tiankuo waved his hand, looking at the memorials to the throne that he had not read yet. Then he said, ”Tell Yue Ji that I have some memorials to the throne to deal with.
”If she has something urgent to tell me, she can come in now. If not, I'll meet her when I finish my work.”
Chu Tiankuo thought his emphasis should always be on state affairs, so he decided he would finish his work first if Tang Xia had nothing urgent.
”Yes, Your Majesty.” The eunuch obeyed and closed the door as he left the room.
Tang Xia who had been waiting for a long time, walked forward immediately as soon as she saw the eunuch coming out.
”Eunuch, what did His Majesty say? Is he willing to see me?”
After she finished her sentence, she looked about her. Then she took out a silk bag and gave it to the eunuch quickly as there was no one around.
It was quite necessary to grease the palms of these eunuchs and palace maids in the imperial palace. People would agree to help those they owe, right? So Tang Xia would not be afraid that people would refuse to help her as they had gained many benefits from her.
Not knowing what was in the silk bag, the eunuch caught it due to his conditioned reflexes. Then he weighed the silk bag in hand and found it a little heavy.
So he knew what it contained. Now that Tang Xia had given it to him, he would be happy to accept it.
The eunuch put the silk bag into his sleeve and pretended to say perplexedly to Tang Xia, ”Your Grace, I have told His Majesty what you said, but His Majesty said...”
”What did he say?” Tang Xia asked hurriedly.
”His Majesty is editing memorials to the throne. He asked whether it is something urgent.”
As the eunuch said this, he raised his head to check Tang Xia's look. Noticing that Tang Xia was not angry, he added, ”If it is not urgent, please wait for His Majesty to finish his work.”
”I have nothing urgent.”
Knowing that Chu Tiankuo was editing the memorials of the throne, Tang Xia did not want to interrupt his work as she did not want to be the imperial concubine who brought calamity to the country. So she decided to wait until Chu Tiankuo finished his work.
”So how many memorials of the throne does His Majesty need to edit?”
Tang Xia thought it would be wise to know the number first. She could come back next time if there were still many memorials of the throne left.
The eunuch recalled what he had seen on the desk before he left, with his head tilted to one side and answered,
”Only four or five memorials to the throne are left, Your Grace. Do you want to wait for His Majesty until he finishes his work? I'll let His Majesty know that now...”
”Four or five memorials to the throne? It seems that it is not too many...”
Tang Xia nodded her head and made her decision.
”I'll wait for him. Please let His Majesty know.”
It was wise to treat others politely, so Tang Xia's attitude towards the eunuch was quite good even though she was an imperial concubine.
”It is my pleasure, Your Grace.”
After bowing to Tang Xia, the eunuch went into the room again. Tang Xia who had nothing to do, had no choice but to wander around, waiting for Chu Tiankuo until he finished his work. And the eunuch came close to Chu Tiankuo after he got into the room.
”What did she say?” Chu Tiankuo asked in a low voice, when he heard the approaching footsteps.
”Yue Ji said she had nothing urgent so she will wait for you until you finish your work, Your Majesty.”
”I see.” Chu Tiankuo nodded and asked, ”Where is she now?”
”Yue Ji is waiting outside the room. Please hurry and finish your work so that Yue Ji can meet you soon, Your Majesty.” Then the eunuch glanced at the desk and found there were still three or four memorials to the throne left.
”Well, you are right.”
Chu Tiankuo agreed with the eunuch as he thought it would be tiring for Tang Xia to wait outside the room. He did not want her to wait too long.
So Chu Tiankuo buried his head in the memorials to the throne. After almost half an hour, he finished his work.
”It's done. Let Yue Ji in.” Chu Tiankuo ordered.
”Yes, Your Majesty.” The eunuch obeyed and left.
”Your Grace, His Majesty asks that you go in.” The moment the eunuch got out, he found that Tang Xia was hovering near the doorway, ”Your Grace, please follow me.”