Chapter 7 Everyday Disasters: Royal Special Edition
Chu Xuanyi took a deep breath, trying to calm the blood vessels that were about to burst due to the "Jam Auspicious Cloud Guanyin Statue", and said to the young eunuch: "I understand, I will prepare to enter the palace now."
He turned to look at Ajiu with a complicated look in his eyes.
Bringing her into the palace... This meant that he had to teach this little fortune teller, who even had a strange understanding of "don't touch things", the most basic court etiquette in a short period of time.
This was as difficult as asking her to split a mountain with her bare hands.
"Ajiu," Chu Xuanyi tried to make his voice sound gentle, even though he was already roaring inwardly, "We're going to see His Majesty later. His Majesty is the most honorable person in the world. When you see His Majesty, you must be polite. You can't talk nonsense, you can't run around, and you can't... casually 'optimize' anything in the palace. Do you understand?"
Ah Jiu nodded, not quite understanding: "Oh, but you can't just play around like you do in the adults' house, right?"
Chu Xuanyi's mouth twitched: "...You can understand it that way." He silently added in his heart: You are not playing around in my house casually, you are tearing things apart casually!
"Lin Feng!" Chu Xuanyi called.
"I'm here!" Lin Feng stepped forward immediately.
"Go, find the simplest and most inconspicuous set of clothes for Miss Jiu to change into. Remember, simple! Inconspicuous! No unnecessary decorations!" Chu Xuanyi emphasized this deliberately. He was afraid that Jiu would find some sparkling beads from somewhere and hang them on herself.
"Yes!" Lin Feng accepted the order and thought to himself that the Imperial Master was afraid that Miss Jiu's "unique" aesthetic would disturb the Emperor.
Soon, Ah Jiu changed into a dusty cloth dress and simply tied her hair back. Although it was simple, it looked a bit cute with her bright eyes.
Chu Xuanyi breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of her. At least from the looks of it, there wouldn't be any major chaos for the time being.
"Remember, when you enter the palace later, follow me closely. Do whatever I tell you to do. When I don't tell you to speak, keep your mouth shut. Do you hear me?" Chu Xuanyi reminded him again worriedly.
Ajiu nodded obediently: "Yes! Ajiu listens to adults!"
Chu Xuanyi looked into her clear eyes, but he didn't dare to let his guard down. This girl's "obedience" was often the beginning of disaster.
The carriage rumbled all the way to the palace.
It was the first time for Jiu to ride in such a gorgeous carriage. He stuck his little head out of the window, full of curiosity about everything outside.
"Wow! Sir, look at that candy figure, it looks like a puppy!"
"My Lord, that juggler is amazing! He can swallow fire!"
"Sir, is the palace bigger than your home? Are there lots of delicious food inside?"
Chu Xuanyi closed his eyes and ignored her questions. He was afraid that if he opened his mouth, he would throw her out of the car.
Finally, the carriage stopped in front of the palace gate.
Chu Xuanyi took Ajiu and, under the guidance of the young eunuch, passed through the layers of palaces.
The palace's grandeur and strict rules left Ah Jiu's eyes wide open the entire way, her mouth slightly open, as if she had never seen the world before. But she still remembered Chu Xuanyi's instructions and forced herself not to yell. She would only tug at Chu Xuanyi's sleeve from time to time, using her eyes to signal him to look at the novel decorations and the magnificent palace.
Chu Xuanyi kept his eyes straight ahead the whole time, but he was praying silently in his heart, hoping that this audience with the emperor would end smoothly and that nothing unexpected would happen.
Outside the imperial study, after the eunuch announced the news, Chu Xuanyi took Ajiu in.
Inside the imperial study, behind a bright yellow dragon-shaped table, sat the current emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty—Emperor Jingming. Approximately forty years old, he had a thin complexion and a subtle hint of fatigue in his eyes, yet he retained the majesty of an emperor.
Beneath the dragon table stood a young man in the attire of a prince. His brows were sharp, his eyes were bright, and he held an imposing presence. He exuded an air of authority that was undeniable without even being angry. This was none other than the current regent, Chu Xuanyi's immediate superior (to some extent), and one of the de facto rulers of the Jin Dynasty—Xiao Yu.
Chu Xuanyi's heart trembled slightly. He didn't expect that His Royal Highness the Regent was also there.
"Your Majesty, I am Chu Xuanyi. I pay my respects to His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Regent." Chu Xuanyi bowed.
Ah Jiu imitated Chu Xuanyi and also bent awkwardly, whispering, "Ah Jiu... pays homage to His Majesty, pays homage to... that fierce brother."
"Puff..." Xiao Yu, who was drinking tea, almost spit out a mouthful of tea. He raised his head and glanced at Ah Jiu with a sharp gaze, a hint of amusement and scrutiny.
Emperor Jingming was also taken aback, then revealed a hint of interest in his smile: "Oh? This is the 'little fortune teller' in the residence of Lord Chu?"
Chu Xuanyi's scalp tingled and he quickly said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Xiaojiu was ignorant and offended His Royal Highness the Regent." He glared at Ajiu again, signaling her to shut up.
Ajiu pouted in grievance, thinking, that brother just looks very fierce, she was not wrong.
Xiao Yu put down his teacup, a smile on his lips: "That's alright. I think this little girl... has good taste."
Chu Xuanyi: "..." Your Highness, are you praising her, or insulting her, or are you insulting me as well?
Emperor Jingming looked at Ah Jiu with great interest and said, "Lord Chu, I heard that this little fortune teller in your mansion accidentally found a secret path leading to Yan Fan City for our Great Jin a few days ago."
Chu Xuanyi understood what was going on. He replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, it is indeed true. Miss Ajiu is a disciple of Xuanxu Zhenren of the Astronomical Observatory, and possesses considerable talent in divination. That day, in front of the map, she unintentionally pointed out a mistake we had made. It is truly a blessing from heaven for our Great Jin."
His words were half true and half false. He pointed out Ah Jiu's "merit" and attributed most of the credit to "God's blessing" to avoid people thinking that he was deliberately praising a young girl.
"Oh?" Emperor Jingming looked at Ah Jiu, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Little girl, can you really tell fortunes?"
Ah Jiu blinked and looked at Chu Xuanyi. Seeing that he didn't stop her, she answered honestly, "I know a little bit! But the adults said that my fortune telling is not very accurate and sometimes it will bring bad luck to people."
Chu Xuanyi: "..." Girl, is that "sometimes"? You're saying "nine out of ten"!
Emperor Jingming and Xiao Yu looked at each other, and a smile flashed in their eyes.
"Hahahaha," Emperor Jingming laughed out loud, "Interesting, interesting! My dear Lord Chu, your mansion is full of hidden talents!"
Chu Xuanyi could only laugh dryly, his heart groaning. Your Majesty, you haven't seen how "wonderful" she was when she was "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"!
"Since the little fortune teller has such talent," Emperor Jingming changed the subject and looked at Ajiu, "I would like to ask you to tell my fortune today, too. What do you think?"
Chu Xuanyi's heart skipped a beat and he thought to himself that something was wrong.
Should he ask Ah Jiu to tell his fortune? Or should he tell it for His Majesty? If the result of his divination is earth-shattering, will he still have the title of Imperial Preceptor?
"Your Majesty!" Chu Xuanyi spoke quickly, "Ajiu is young and not well-trained. I'm afraid he can't handle this important task. Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Ah Jiu, however, was in high spirits. She loved fortune-telling (even though the results were often unsatisfactory). She tugged at Chu Xuanyi's sleeve and whispered, "Sir, it's okay. I can give it a try! If I tell His Majesty's fortune, won't I get a lot of money?"
Chu Xuanyi felt like he was about to have a heart attack. Girl, is this the time to talk about rewards?!
Emperor Jingming looked at Chu Xuanyi's nervous expression and became even more interested. "It's alright, my dear Lord Chu, I'm just curious. Little fortune teller, please feel free to calculate. I won't blame you no matter what the result is."
He looked at Xiao Yu again: "Royal brother, what do you think?"
Xiao Yu had a playful smile on his face, his eyes fixed on Ah Jiu's eager little face: "I also want to see what earth-shattering results this little fortune teller can come up with."
Chu Xuanyi closed his eyes in despair.
It’s over. I’m afraid that today a “Royal Special Edition of Everyday Disasters in the Imperial Master’s Mansion” will be staged in the Imperial Study.
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