Once, I Was a Legend | Chapter 15 | An Audience with the Emperor | Novela.app

The following day, at high noon. Wei Feng followed his orders and brought Ye Zhao into the palace. Rewinding to the previous day, when Wei Feng first informed him that the Emperor wished to see him, Ye Zhao had been startled. "The Emperor wants to see me?" Wei Feng seemed oblivious to his stunned expression, remaining as calm as ever. "Yes." "Why would the Emperor suddenly want to see me? It couldn't be because of this face of mine, could it?" Ye Zhao asked, feeling a sense of trepidation. "There is no need for such a fuss. His Majesty merely wishes to meet you and see if the rumors are true. What are you nervous for?" Wei Feng glanced at him apathetically. Regarding this matter, Wei Feng was currently investigating. He suspected that he wasn't the only one; many in the capital would likely begin looking into Ye Zhao’s family. Ye Zhao himself, in particular, would have every detail of his life from birth to the present scrutinized until the truth was laid bare. Ye Zhao took a moment to compose himself and finally regained his calm. The two arrived at the main gates of the imperial palace. "Eunuch Babao?" Wei Feng murmured softly as he spotted someone standing in the distance by the palace gates. Ye Zhao was about to ask who that was when a middle-aged eunuch approached them. He was slightly plump, fair-skinned, and beardless, with a round face and apricot-shaped eyes. He looked incredibly kind. When he noticed Ye Zhao looking at him, he immediately broke into a smile. That smile made him look like a soft, white sweet dumpling revealing a hint of its sugary filling. Ye Zhao couldn't help but return the gesture with a broad smile of his own. Wei Feng remained impassive, his expression unchanged. He simply asked, "Eunuch Babao, why have you come in person?" "This servant could not wait to meet Young Master Ye, so I came to lead the way for you, Commander." The exchange was polite, and the atmosphere was relatively harmonious. Wei Feng replied, "Much obliged." "The Commander is too kind." Wei Feng’s behavior was exceptionally respectful. This was because Eunuch Babao was not only the Head Eunuch who had grown up alongside the Emperor and was his most trusted confidant, but also... He was more than just a eunuch. The late Empress had passed away early, and there were few concubines in the harem. The highest-ranking was Noble Consort Yin, but even she had to show Eunuch Babao a great deal of deference, let alone anyone else. In the imperial court, Eunuch Babao was always at His Majesty's side. Those who dealt with the Emperor frequently had to interact with him, and no one dared to offend him. Furthermore, rumors suggested he commanded a secret force that carried out clandestine tasks for the Emperor. It was worth noting that while Eunuch Babao looked as harmless as a glutinous rice ball and was very amiable, his methods were quite ruthless. The fact that the Emperor’s harem had remained so peaceful over the years was largely due to his efforts. As Wei Feng walked ahead, Ye Zhao, following behind, stole a few more glances at Eunuch Babao. Caught in the act, he smiled sheepishly. Eunuch Babao smiled back and asked, "Why is the Young Master looking at this servant?" Ye Zhao had heard none of the rumors surrounding Eunuch Babao; he simply felt the man looked very kind. "I think you are quite cute, Eunuch." The moment the words left his mouth, he realized they were somewhat inappropriate and gave a bashful laugh. As soon as he spoke, Wei Feng’s footsteps faltered. He turned back, his eyes filled with a mix of shock and suspicion. Eunuch Babao’s round, plump face froze for a moment. He stared at Ye Zhao, as if searching for something in his features. "Er, that was a slip of the tongue." Seeing the two of them staring at him, Ye Zhao immediately apologized. Eunuch Babao suddenly snapped out of it. "No!" His voice sounded urgent for a split second before he softened his tone. "It is quite alright. This servant is actually very happy to hear the Young Master say that." As he finished, he smiled—a genuine, heartfelt smile—and the corners of his eyes seemed slightly moist. Hearing this, Ye Zhao felt relieved. Beside them, Wei Feng watched this rarity with interest. This really didn't seem like the Eunuch Babao he knew... He then listened to the two of them chat all the way to the Imperial Study. The atmosphere was incredibly pleasant. Wei Feng remained silent, feeling a bit bewildered, though his cold expression kept these emotions hidden. He stood guard outside the Imperial Study. Inside, Ye Zhao and the current Emperor of Wei stood facing each other. One sat while the other stood, separated by a few paces. However, that face—which was nearly identical to the one in the Emperor's memory—was clearly visible. Aside from an initial, seemingly casual glance at the man sitting behind the imperial desk, Ye Zhao kept his eyes lowered. He stood there obediently like a display piece, fully satisfying the Emperor's desire to see his face. "So similar..." After a long silence, a clear, mellow male voice spoke. Ye Zhao instinctively looked up. Their eyes met for a moment before Ye Zhao looked away again. He heard the man across from him ask, "How old are you this year?" "Twenty." "Have you always lived in the Capital?" "Yes," Ye Zhao answered. For some reason, Emperor Wei fell silent for a moment after hearing this. Then he asked, "In all these years, it seems I have never seen you at any of the palace banquets." Ye Zhao felt the urge to rub his nose guiltily. Of course the Emperor hadn't seen him; he had always been too lazy to come and had used various excuses to wiggle out of it every year. But he certainly couldn't tell the truth. He replied, "My luck was poor in previous years. I always ran into various emergencies and missed them." Then his luck was truly abysmal to a certain degree. Ye Zhao didn't even believe his own words. Emperor Wei let out a chuckle upon hearing this and dropped the subject. Instead, he granted Ye Zhao a seat and had Eunuch Babao serve tea. The two of them engaged in casual conversation. As half an hour passed, the nervousness Ye Zhao had felt upon arrival vanished completely. He felt that the current Emperor truly lived up to his reputation as a benevolent ruler—his attitude was kind and gentle. If he hadn't known he was the Emperor, Ye Zhao might have mistaken him for a talkative uncle he had just met on the street. Ye Zhao suddenly remembered something important and asked tentatively, "Your Majesty, are you not curious about how I entered the palace a few days ago?" Logically, a secret like a tunnel within the palace should not have escaped the notice of the palace's master. However, Ye Zhao recalled how stuffy and foul-smelling the tunnel had been, which suggested it had been sealed for many years. He wasn't sure if Emperor Wei actually knew about it. Gently blowing the tea foam in his cup, Emperor Wei lifted his eyelids to glance at him, his face perfectly calm. "Mm, I guessed as much." Er... alright then. It seemed he did know. Ye Zhao couldn't help but lower his eyes guiltily. "Many years ago, someone told me that no wall in the world is indestructible, and even the tallest walls cannot guard against the human heart. Therefore, he left a path of retreat for me within the palace, just in case of emergency." The Emperor smiled slightly, his tone carrying a hint of reminiscence. With a little thought, Ye Zhao understood who "he" referred to. Just as he was about to swear his loyalty and vow to guard this secret with his life, Eunuch Babao, standing to the side, spoke up. "Your Majesty, it is time for the midday meal." The topic was interrupted, and continuing it would have been awkward. Ye Zhao instinctively stood up, intending to take his leave, but the "hospitable" Emperor Wei insisted he stay for lunch. Ye Zhao had expected the meal to be a nerve-wracking experience that would give him indigestion. As it turned out, whether it was because he was naturally thick-skinned or because the power of gourmet food was too strong, he ended up eating until he was nearly stuffed. Ye Zhao felt... well, it was hard to describe. The same "hard to describe" sentiment was written all over Wei Feng’s face as he sat opposite him. The etiquette lessons he had given Ye Zhao before entering the palace had clearly been a waste of breath. Furthermore, since when did Ye Zhao have such a large appetite? Perhaps because Wei Feng’s "staring at a pig" gaze was too obvious, Ye Zhao finally slowed down his shoveling. Beside him, Emperor Wei, who had been watching him eat with such gusto, noticed him stop and asked curiously, "Why have you stopped eating?" Ye Zhao forced a smile. "Er... I'm full." To be honest, he was full, but he still wanted to eat. He couldn't help but wonder if all the food at imperial banquets was this delicious. He felt a pang of regret for missing them in previous years. Emperor Wei asked again, "Is it good?" Ye Zhao answered firmly and quickly, "Delicious!" "Which dish is the best?" It sounded like a casual follow-up question. Ye Zhao thought for a moment and honestly pointed to the few dishes in front of him. Then he said, "These are all quite good, and their flavors are distinct. But this porridge is the most... most... special." He thought for a while before settling on that description. He had been a bit surprised at first to be served porridge instead of rice for lunch, but after one taste, he felt it was truly excellent. Emperor Wei’s gaze drifted to Eunuch Babao. Their eyes met briefly before the Emperor turned back. "How is it special?" Ye Zhao found it hard to explain. "The ingredients seem different, and the taste is unique." Emperor Wei chuckled and didn't press him for a better answer. He said, "Then come to the palace to eat often in the future. There is no need for restraint. There are many more delicacies in the palace that you haven't tried; you must taste them all." To be honest, Ye Zhao was tempted. But on second thought, he decided to take it as a polite pleasantry one might hear in any ordinary household. Nevertheless, he replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty." Beside them, Wei Feng felt... well, he felt that whether or not Ye Zhao was Lord Tianshu’s son no longer mattered. What mattered was that the Emperor had mostly decided that he was. Shortly after the meal, Wei Feng escorted Ye Zhao out of the palace. When Eunuch Babao returned after seeing them off, he found the Emperor standing by the window, staring blankly outside. "Do you think that truly is Lord Shu’s son?" The details of Ye Zhao’s life from childhood to adulthood had been investigated as thoroughly as possible and presented by the secret guards. The Emperor had already read the report. In the silent Imperial Study, Eunuch Babao stood behind Emperor Wei. After a moment's thought, he simply said, "He does look very much like him." He didn't say yes, nor did he say no, for he wasn't certain in his heart either. "However, though they look alike, their temperaments are entirely different," Emperor Wei mused, then suddenly added, "The porridge you cooked seems to suit both of their tastes." *Pfft—* Eunuch Babao let out a soft chuckle. He looked up at the Emperor, who had turned back to speak to him, and mentioned the earlier incident. "On the way here, Young Master Ye kept looking at me. When I asked why, he said he thought I was cute. Hehe..." As he spoke, he seemed to recall a happy memory. His smile was soft and gentle, looking as sweet as honey. Emperor Wei laughed and scolded, "You just keep using that face to play the part! You're at such an age and yet you have no shame." "Yes, Your Majesty," Eunuch Babao replied with a smile, accepting the command. Emperor Wei gave him a mock glare before turning away again. In private, the two of them were often like this—servant and master, yet also friends. Their bond, forged from growing up together, was naturally deep. Meanwhile, the two who had left the palace: Ye Zhao: "Commander Wei, why do you keep staring at me?" Wei Feng said with a fake smile, "I'm looking at a rarity." This was a perfect parallel to "looking at someone cute," but the expression on Wei Feng’s face was entirely different from Ye Zhao's earlier one. Ye Zhao: "..." "What's so rare about me?" Wei Feng gave a couple of dry chuckles and walked away, looking cold and completely unwilling to pay him any mind. Ye Zhao was speechless. As expected, Commander Wei was still Commander Wei. Just as Ye Zhao stepped out of the palace gates, he heard a voice behind him. His whole body stiffened, and he hurried forward without looking back. Behind him, Xie Yusong watched the figure walking away rapidly and smiled, choosing not to call out to him again. Today, he had specifically taken the Crown Prince’s medallion to the Hall of Eternal Radiance and seen the portrait hanging on the wall. To be honest, the two did look very similar, but one could tell at a glance that they were two completely opposite people. Furthermore, he had noticed a detail in the painting. The fan held by the person in the portrait was identical to the one Ye Zhao carried. This was an interesting discovery. Unfortunately, even the immensely popular Young Master Yusong had hit a wall with Ye Zhao. The boy seemed to avoid him like the plague. *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 八宝公公 | Eunuch Babao | The Emperor's head eunuch and confidant. "Babao" means "Eight Treasures." 魏帝 | Emperor Wei | The current ruler of the Great Wei dynasty. 御书房 | Imperial Study | The Emperor's private study/office. 天枢大人 | Lord Tianshu | A mysterious and important figure from the past whom Ye Zhao resembles. "Tianshu" is the name of the star Dubhe. 长明殿 | Hall of Eternal Radiance | A hall in the palace (Changming Hall) where a certain portrait is kept. 谢玉凇 | Xie Yusong | A character (Young Master Yusong) who notices the resemblance between Ye Zhao and the portrait.