The Emperor - 604

The next morning, Skymender set out. He had slept quite well, but still managed to wake up before anyone else in his house.

As he walked outside, Li Youcai followed him. Li Youcai had been there when Skymender had spoken to the Fatty, so he naturally knew that everything had been under Skymender's orchestration. 

The Fatty was no less terrifying, willing to lead two men to their death for this plan.

Skymender had chosen a good person.

What made it even more terrifying was their age. Skymender was merely nine, while the Fatty was around the age of fourteen.

Li Youcai couldn't imagine Skymender when he grew older. He would be a truly terrifying person.

Taking the carriage, Skymender and Li Youcai arrived at the Duchess's house rather quickly.

As soon as they stepped out of the carriage, they saw the Duchess and her daughter waiting for them.

They had bags under their eyes, clearly not having slept well, or perhaps not at all considering everything.

As soon as they saw Skymender, smiles graced their faces.

Skymender returned the smile and gave a bow. The Duchess hurriedly stopped him. 

"If others found out that I allowed my daughter's savior to bow to me, I could never raise my head again. Instead, we should bow to you."

True to her words, the Duchess and her daughter began to bow. Skymender hurriedly stopped them as well.

"Please. I do not need to be repaid. I was simply helping someone in need. Besides, I've had one Duke's daughter bow to me, and I don't plan to make that mistake again."

The Duchess stood straight with a smile while her daughter held in a chuckle. Clearly, they knew about the time Skymender accepted a Duke's daughter as a servant.

The Duchess continued to smile, clearly satisfied by Skymender's humbleness.

"Please come in. You may not want to be repaid, but we could not live without repaying you. As a small start, let's talk over breakfast."

Skymender did not deny her favor. He entered the Duchess's house with Li Youcai. The last time he had entered, it had been as a plus one without any sort of power or even true respect from anyone. Now, however, he was walking into the same house, just days after, as a savior. Every servant in the house deeply respected him. 

They walked upstairs and sat on the same balcony. Only this time, Skymender was the most respected person at the table.

An extravagant breakfast was quickly prepared. Countless dishes were laid out on the table.

Still sticking to noble etiquette, Skymender ate.

The entire time, he had a pleasant chat with the two. He could sense the Duchess's daughter's gaze on him the entire time.

It seemed that she had fallen for him, naturally.

Regardless of looks or nobility, he had saved her life in a time of desperation. 

Perhaps even the Duchess herself would have fallen for him in a similar situation.

The Duchess's daughter, Val, was 12 years old, relatively close in age to Skymender.

The breakfast lasted for over an hour. At the end, the Duchess walked him out of the door with her daughter.

"This was just a small thank you. If you ever have ANY favor, just call for us. Not just one, as many as you want. We are forever in your debt."

Skymender slightly bowed with a thanks and turned to leave.

Suddenly, the Duchess spoke.

"I nearly forgot. At 3pm, the emperor will be seeing you. Make sure you appear early."

Skymender nearly tripped and fell. A meeting with the emperor?

Without a doubt, it was because of his actions. After all, he had saved the heir of the Duchess. She was someone whose status in the Imperial Capital was below only that of royals and the Imperials themselves.

Anywhere else, he would only meet a king, but in the Imperial Capital, there was no king, only an emperor.

Suddenly deep in thought, Skymender returned to his house and got ready. A meeting with the emperor was not something that anyone could take lightly.

As he returned, his aunt and his cousins bombarded him with questions. Normally, he would have been forced to sit and answer them, but upon uttering the phrase, "I have a meeting with the emperor at three", they personally guided him to his bedroom at the utmost speed.

Skymender dressed in his finest clothes after taking a scalding hot bath.

By then, it was two. Skymender set out with Li Youcai.

Although the journey was only ten minutes long, he did not know how long it would take to walk through the Imperial Palace, or how long it would take to get in.

Upon arriving at the gates, he was stopped by Imperial Guards and inspected.

The inspection took five minutes. It was neither too long nor too short, especially considering how deeply they had been inspected.

They stepped out of the carriage and began to walk. They arrived in front of the throne room doors at exactly 2:40.

Skymender stood still, doing his best to calm his nerves. Li Youcai was hiding his nervousness as well. No matter what he had done to a prince, this was the emperor. 

If the emperor wanted them to jump, they would not ask how high. If he wanted them to die, they would not be able to consider escaping.

Just before three, the throne room doors opened. Skymender saw an elegant looking old lady walk out with a cane, giving a slight nod to Skymender and Li Youcai, before disappearing into a hallway.

"Enter."

The voice was spoken normally, but it seemed to boom in the ears of Skymender and Li Youcai.

They stepped forward.

High above was the emperor on his throne. Next to him was a familiar face, Master Shang. Nobody else was here.

Upon entering, Li Youcai and Skymender kneeled. It was not a matter of pride, as the emperor was not an enemy nor a friend. He was a ruler, one that commanded even their respect.

"Rise." 

They rose to their feet.

The emperor looked at both of them quietly for a moment. 

"Very good."