66 The Interview (1/2)
A chilly, frosty morning greeted Yuqui the following morning.
An Ning woke up at five, the nightmares kept at bay for the time being. She took a bath and dressed herself like she always did at home. Like that home with the twins and Nyra and Dawn and her mother and father. With only her awake in the palace and the silence for once peaceful, she could almost pretend she was back there with her loved ones. Just another day in Saravia. Not in the middle of what century Yuqui.
An Ning left her room and went to the kitchen intending to heat up tea and prepare some breakfast for herself.But when she got there, the kitchen was already humming with activity. Yi Tai was frying rice in a wok and his wife was cutting vegetables on the table.
”Good morning, your majesty,” Yi Tai greeted cheerfully. ”Is there a particular dish you want to eat for breakfast?”
He doesn't seem to be surprised to see her. His wife nodded her head shyly at An Ning. An Ning came into the room and sat on a chair.
”I thought everybody was still asleep,” she said.
”We saw the light was on in your window and thought you might be hungry so me and wife hurried over to make you breakfast.”
”You don't have to do that. I'm okay doing my own cooking in the morning. Next time, don't wake up early just for me. I know my way around the kitchen, you know.”
Yi Tai didn't answer.He went to the stove and poured hot tea on a cup.
”Would you like to have your tea in the dining table, your majesty?” he asked, putting down the cup in front of An Ning.
”I'm fine eating here. No need to fuzz.”
An Ning sipped her tea, watching Wife peel the potatos. She suddenly remembered teaching Lux how to peel an apple then telling her to be careful with the knife. The memory seemed like a century ago. Like a dream perhaps. Like tiny drops of bubbles easily lost in the wind.
”Here you are, your majesty,” Yi Tai said, putting bowls of rice, meat, eggs on the table.
”That looks good,” Gu Sheng's voice suddenly piped in, surprising everyone who turned to look at him. The emperor entered the room and pulled the chair beside An Ning.
”Yi Tai, prepare another plate for his highness,” An Ning ordered.
Yi Tai got busy and soon the emperor was sipping hot tea and enjoying his meal while conversing about nothing with his stepmother.
”You're up early,” An Ning said.
”You might need my help.”
”You think I don't know how to talk to people?” his stepmother laughed.
”I know you can but I'm here anyway.”
The two of them smiled at each other.
”You'd better join us,” the emperor suddenly turned to the waiting husband and wife. ”It will be awfully busy when the gates finally opened.”
Yi Tai and his wife looked at the emperor uncertainly. Yi Tai's eyes met An Ning's.
”Do as he says,” she seconded. ”This is the only leisure time we have until then so better start the the day with a full stomach.”
In no time at all, the four of them were quietly exchanging pleasantries over a hearty breakfast. This was the cozy scene that Yi Hai found when he entered the kitchen to look for his parents.
”Speaking of the devil,” the emperor greeted. ”Come and pour yourself a cup, Yi Hai, and join us.I was actually looking for you to discuss something.”
Yi Hai by now was used to this informality so he wasn't overly shock anymore. He told his father to stay put then poured himself a cup of tea.His mother, however, insisted on serving him.He sat down and waited for the emperor to speak.
”It's chilly and freezing outside. We'll all freeze to death if we conduct the interviews outside the gates. Any suggestions?”
Yi Hai's brows furrowed in thought.
”One of the houses a short distance from the entrance is unoccupied. It's where visitors are usually welcomed and entertained.We could use that as a temporary base, your highness.”
”Then let's do that,” the emperor ordered. ”Open the gates and direct the applicants to the house.”
Yi Hai coughed.
”If we open the gates and let the applicants in, I'm afraid the house is not big enough to accommodate all of them.”
”Don't tell me everybody is outside the gates already lining up?” An Ning said, shocked.
”Since last night, your majesty.”
”How many?”
”Give or take about five hundered.”
”Holy smoke,” the emperor whistled. ”That many?”
”Her majesty the empress dowager sold the palace positions very well among the civilians, your highness. So now, everybody wants to work here.”
”Must be the 'rent-free' word that got them,” An Ning said, amused.”Anyway, the house you're talking about is not big so what's the back up plan then?”
”We could take them to a much bigger house some distance away,” answered Yi Hai. ”It's also unoccupied and used to be a dormitory for servants of dignitaries.”
”Then let's do that,” the emperor said. ”Open the gates now?”
”Yes, or else we'll be dealing with stiff corpses instead of applicants. And oh, Yi Tai? Can you serve tea for everybody? I know it's short notice but I feel responsible for those people waiting outside in this weather. Beside's we can't postpone the interview now since everybody waited this long anyway.”
”It shall be done as you said, your majesty,” Yi Tai bowed.
”Thank you. Okay, everybody ready? Everybody in position then. Let's go.”
The weather got really bad when eight o'clock finally rolled over. Luckily, the long line of applicants were directed to stay in the dormitory until their numbers were called. A small room had been readied for the emperor and his stepmother. Yi Tai also made good of his promise keeping everyone warm with hot water and tea. The house had already been fitted with a new kitchen so Yi Tai didn't have to do anything other than boil water in the stove.
The interview was nerve wracking and almost everybody was on edge and nervous. But the empress dowager had a way of countering fear with kindness, doubt with laughter. In no time, the line shortened, the dormitory almost deserted.
An Ning sighed and stood up.
”I think that's about it,” she said. ”We'd better go back.”
”Got everything you want?” inquiredthe emperor.
”I think so.”
There was a sudden knock on the door and a head cautiously peeked inside. The young man dragged his feet inside when he saw them.
”Is it over? The interview, I mean.”
The emperor turned to An Ning.
An Ning studied the youth. She remembered him. He was the boy chosen by the crowd to stand in front of her, to be their speaker. He cut a really bedraggled figure, his clothes and hair wet from the rain.
An Ning frowned and glanced outside.It had started to rain without her noticing it. No wonder the boy looked cold. She looked at his hands. He was rubbing his hands together, trying to keep them warm. His lips were blue and his skin damp. He looked somewhat embarrassed when he saw her staring at him.
”Did you walk in the rain? It's freezing out there,” she asked, almost angrily.
”I hurried over. I was hoping you were still here,” the boy mumbled.
”Sit down,” An Ning commanded, sitting herself down again. ”Yi Tai, can you bring us a cup of tea? And something to munch on, if you please.”
Yi Tai bowed and departed, the door closing behind him.
The boy was staring at An Ning, the young face nervous but unafraid.