Episode 5 The Surprise

The next morning

"Your majesty, Saint Doctor is here." The eunuch announced.

"Yue Limin is here?" Qin Xiuyan woke up in a haze and dressed up quickly. You could see how hurried he was from the dishievelled clothes and his half-awake look.

"No, but seeing from your Majesty's reaction yesterday at night, you finally looked happy for once." The eunuch calmly replied.

"You old geezer, now you dare guess your king's thoughts?"

"This old eunuch don't dare. It's just that I've been accompanying Your Majesty for too long that I spoke my mind out."

"Very good. If all my subordinates were just like you.." Qin Xiuyan tried to imagine what the court situation would be like if all of them are too honest. It was a nightmare. "Never mind. The current court is quieter. Let's go to the court."

The morning court

The ministers greeted His Majesty with the usual dull tradition. The Saint Doctor did the same.

"All of you, rejoice for I have good news for you." A discussion spread around the court as to what the news would be about. "Please remain quiet. The good news is we no longer need to hold the morning courts unless it is necessary or an emergency has come like war though it would be good news for me."

The young ministers were all relieved that they had to not attend the boring gathering anymore. The old ministers didn't concur with getting rid of the morning court tradition. The court divided into two sectors until only Minister Lu, Minister Cao and the Saint Doctor were left to decide.

His majesty also foresaw this and asked, "Which side are you three choosing?"

The Saint Doctor, Minister Lu went to the young ministers' side and Minister Cao stepped into the old ministers' side. The debate ended there. Majority agreed with the King's decision to get rid of the morning court unless for emergencies. Qin Xiuyan was satisfied with the result.

"I am going now. Yue Limin, Cao Leihao, and also Lao Da (the eunuch) come accompany me."

"Please take care, Your Majesty." The ministers all knelt before he left the court with Cao Leihao, Saint Doctor all rushing to catch up with him.

"Ah-yah, just to make a little decision, I nearly spent all morning. But now that morning court is not needed, I can get you the blood samples of various people."

Lao da, the eunuch, got curious. "What are you talking about? Blood samples.. Let me think from refugees?"

"Lao Da, you are still as smart as when you were with the young me. Ah-yah, I say Yue Limin, do you still have to be so mysterious? Wearing a veil hat really gets me curious about what your face looks like." Like yesterday, he reached out for the veil but was slapped in time by the Saint Doctor.

"This is Saint Valley's rule. I am now part of it as you gave out the imperial edict to make me Saint Doctor again and so I have to follow it. If not, I will be breaking the sect's rule."

"You are still as formal as ever." The King patted his shoulders, "Fine, don't be so stiff with rules or else no girls will like you, Yue Limin. Then, I am heading out. Don't tell the others and, Cao Leihao, guide Saint Doctor well around the palace. Don't let others bully him without me knowing, ok?"

Qin Xiuyan suddenly put his left hand on his back and his right hand around his waist, whispering into his ears, "If anyone dares to bully you, report me. I will beat him for you." Although with a veil in his way, he didn't show any signs of discomfort and released his grip, becoming the normal Qin Xiuyan. "Bye!" the King said casually, waving his hand.

The Saint Doctor responded with a soft bye when he was far enough not to hear his voice. He didn't see what his face looked like when he said the word 'beat'. His voice was low and seemed angry. Though he didn't see his expression, he could very well imagine it. After all when he was young, ... Young what? He hadn't even see what the king looked like when he was young how could he..? He covered his head and ears, shaking them back and forth to get rid of the noises in his head. A temporary memory of a person with a blurred face (let's call him 'unknown') was shot with a barrage of arrows, there are shouting of 'Kill' this phrase over and over again. It seemed they were trying to kill Yue Limin, in spite of the enemies, he seemed to be running towards 'unknown' while calling his name desperately but couldn't remember what it was. He staggered and leaned onto the nearest pillar in the corridor for support.

Minister Cao asked, "Are you okay?"

The Saint Doctor replied, "I am okay. Just insomnia. "

Lao Da exclaimed in surprise, "I've never seen him willing to touch anyone these years. Maybe you could be Your Majesty's friend. He, although looks carefree, is very smart and loyal to whom he trust."

"I know, I can see he's burdened with something. If it continues later, his weak shoulder will not be able to handle it." Yue Limin mumbled to himself. As a former Saint Doctor serving the last emperor, of course, i know the palace map well. But some places might have changed. I should go check if that's the case. I must pretend not to know my way around the palace or else they will investigate me for sure.

"I don't dare to be his friend, Eunuch Da. Let's go, Minister Cao. Which place will you take me?" When Saint Doctor spoke out, Cao Leihao brightened up.

Minister Cao replied, " Now that we have two months, judging from his majesty's ability, I guess he will be back in about a month. So I will show you around the West and North palace as they are adjacent to each other and have the most people residing in it."

"Sure. While we are at it, may I call you A Cao? I had a brother but he died early because of a sickness. You sound just like him."

"I don't mind," Cao Leihao replied. I've never had a person calling me this before. Let me experience the feeling of getting an older brother.

"Getting back to matter at hand, why do North and East palace have the most people in it? Aren't all the palaces suppose to be equal?"

"How do you know? Ah, right, I only remember hearing rumours from the maids, saying something about the South palace: Never go to the South palace. A ghost came into their rooms. They heard banging outside and a cracking voice asking for food. Also a bamboo stick can be heard tapping on the floor. It occurred all at night and all the residents happened to heard it. The food they cartied and stored were all left there as they were shocked after seeing the ghost. Some madams even fainted. That is the reason why they all started moving out during the day while they can because they couldn't get any sleep at night.

The Saint Doctor reconsidered his current options, "A 'Cao, leave the tour. I don't need it. Just give me the map of the whole palace and label each residents living in each room. I would also like to trouble you to circle any differences about all palaces on the map from ten years ago."

"Ten years ago. Got it but I am not sure about giving you the map." Minister Cao decided to hide his curiosity about why ten years ago and not ask.

"I am already promoted back to Saint Doctor by Your Majesty, aren't I? Then, can't I at least receive a map of his residence? After all, I am now serving the royal family and doing them a big favour."

"If you're cancelling the tour, then where are you going? At least give me an idea of where to contact you." Minister Cao inquired hurriedly.

"The so-called evil South palace." The Saint Doctor said. "Want to come along as well, Cao Leihao?"

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