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Kapitel 4

a long time.

"From a fourth-rank scholar in the Imperial Academy to the current Prime Minister, how many people envy you? Minister Yun, do you know why I chose you alone?" The voice was languid and casual, yet I sensed a dangerous aura. I couldn't explain why, it was just an intuition.

"Your Majesty has shown me undeserved favor." I dared not answer carelessly, for fear that a single wrong word could cost me my life.

“Misplaced affection? Minister Yun, you cannot turn my painstaking efforts into misplaced affection!” He seemed to intentionally emphasize the word “misplaced”.

A sudden realization struck me, and I recalled Zhang De's earlier introduction: the new emperor had only been on the throne for a year. Before that, the previous emperor had passed away, and the crown prince (the one standing next to me now) and the second prince had been embroiled in a power struggle for the throne for over three months. Zhang De had told me that the crown prince was born to the late empress, while the second prince was born to the late emperor's favorite concubine, Consort Yu. The empress died when the crown prince was six years old. Afterwards, the late emperor favored Consort Yu and the second prince above all others, and several times attempted to depose the crown prince and install the second prince in his place, but for some unknown reason, he never succeeded. The late emperor died without leaving a will. Due to the long-standing favor of Consort Yu and the second prince, a large portion of the court's power base supported the second prince's ascension to the throne, thus beginning a massive civil war that lasted until, three months later, the crown prince ascended the throne, Consort Yu died, and the second prince disappeared. It was only a few words, but just imagining the struggles involved was enough to make me shudder.

At the beginning of the new emperor's reign, his power base was not yet stable, and many veteran officials in the court had previously supported the Second Prince's faction. Apart from the old prime minister's retirement due to illness and the old general's return to his hometown six months prior, the changes in other officials seemed quite reasonable. The newly appointed prime minister and general were Yun Feng and Mu Qinglin. The Mu family had been loyal and virtuous for generations, and Mu Qinglin came from a military family; he had even been the emperor's study companion in his youth, making his appointment relatively easy to understand. But what about Yun Feng? Yun Feng was not from a prominent family; his previous position as a proofreader was a sinecure that his father had obtained through donations. Why would the emperor choose the eighteen-year-old Yun Feng as prime minister? Besides Yun Feng's own abilities, I think the most important reason was that he lacked a complex and entrenched network of relationships in the court. His background meant he wouldn't have a powerful and complicated aristocratic family background, so he wouldn't be subject to the control of others. The Yun family, on the other hand, was a newly powerful family, far from being fully established. In the court, Yun Feng was like a lone seedling; choosing such a person was naturally the most reassuring option. Firstly, he had no one to rely on but himself; secondly, if he were to be eliminated someday, uprooting a single sapling would have far less impact than cutting down an entire forest. Such foresight has always been the hallmark of emperors. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but mentally applaud my own cleverness.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail to live up to your good intentions. I will serve you even unto death." I spoke sincerely, but inwardly I sneered. Starting with Li Yuhan, it seemed the Emperor was about to make some big move. Right Vice Minister Han Xuanqi, a key figure in the Second Prince's faction, was he finally going to be ousted from the political stage a year after the Crown Prince ascended the throne?

After exiting the second palace gate, I saw only the Yun family's carriage remaining outside. Cui'er stood by the carriage, constantly peering into the palace gate with a worried expression. When she saw me come out, she seemed to breathe a long sigh of relief. She gently helped me into the carriage, then jumped in herself, turning to signal Yun Hui to continue on their way.

A tea set had appeared on the coffee table sometime during the day. The white ceramic teacups were warm and smooth like jade, and the clear green tea leaves swayed in them, creating an indescribably refreshing and pleasant atmosphere. Cui'er reached out and handed over a cup of tea, her face hesitant, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

Seeing that this girl was genuinely worried about me, it would be heartless of me not to be moved, especially since I am now a stranger in a strange land, and incredibly sensitive. I took a sip of tea and smiled slightly at her: "Cui'er, I'm fine."

She seemed startled for a moment, then quickly came to her senses and smiled happily at me. She spoke quickly and urgently: "It's good that you're alright, young master. I saw that all the other adults had come out, but I didn't see you for a long time. I was so worried, but I couldn't go in."

"Cui'er, is there any everyday clothes in the carriage? Help me change." Putting aside the gloom I felt in the Imperial Garden, the thought of strolling around town filled me with immense excitement. Something I'd been looking forward to for days was finally happening today—how could I not be overjoyed!

To minimize the chance of making mistakes, I always dress as a man, both inside and outside the Yun residence, and all the maids and servants address me as "Young Master." This is actually quite convenient. Considering the strict rules and elaborate attire of a lady from a respectable family, I am much more content with my current situation.

Cui'er skillfully helped me change my clothes, her face showing a struggle, before finally speaking: "Young master, why don't you go back to the manor first? I didn't tell you before you left." Seeing my fierce glare at her, she quickly shrank back, "Then, let Cui'er accompany you for a stroll. We'll only stroll for half an hour at most."

I nodded. Who cares? I'll shut her up first. If we really start walking around, she can't possibly drag me onto the carriage in half an hour, hehe.

"Stop the car, let's start our tour from here!" Dragon Kingdom, here I come! Let's have a close encounter today! Hahahaha.

"Young master, this is Chang'an Street, the most bustling street in the capital. It seems there's a market today!" As soon as Cui'er got out of the carriage, she reverted to her little girl nature, looking around excitedly. She seemed more excited than I was.

I nodded haphazardly, not really listening to what she was saying, completely captivated by the dazzling, bustling scene before me. A clean, wide street stretched as far as the eye could see, lined with shops and vendors offering everything imaginable: food, drinks, clothes, accessories, and toys. Shouts rose and fell, aromas wafted through the air, and the crowd surged, clothes fluttering in the breeze—a diverse mix of people. It was the first time I'd ever seen anything like it; it was so natural, so harmonious. Everyone's face held a mix of happiness, joy, haste, and laughter, a stark contrast to the stiff, awkward performances of extras in the TV dramas I'd seen before. It seemed that arrogant emperor was doing quite well; the people seemed to be living happy lives. I was so excited I couldn't utter a word, only knowing to run and weave through the crowd, forgetting about Cui'er behind me. I looked at this stall, that shop, even spotting a street performer, and before I knew it, I was far away, completely unaware that I'd lost Cui'er.

What an impressive facade! The carved lintel, the gilded plaque, and the three flamboyant characters "Yaoyuelou" (Inviting the Moon Pavilion) – the high-ceilinged hall and the large red lanterns hanging from the second floor, yet they don't feel vulgar at all.

"Sir, just one person?" A waiter greeted me warmly, his eyes crinkling into slits with a smile. I followed him inside, and sure enough, as far as the eye could see, there was a vast expanse of moonlight. The moonlit curtains, the moonlit carpet, the moonlit tables and chairs, the moonlit cups and plates made the dishes on the table look even more vibrant and mouthwatering.

I looked behind me but didn't see Cui'er. "Hmm, are there any empty tables?" The place is very busy; it's not even noon yet, and it's already packed. Sigh, I hadn't noticed before, but now that I'm here, I realize how hungry I am. I think I only had a little porridge this morning, and after a busy morning, I'm starving. I can't stand being hungry. When I used to work, I'd make mistakes whenever I was hungry; all I could think about was hunger, eating, eating.

The waiter skillfully moved through the hall and finally found the only empty table for four people in the innermost corner: "Sir, this way please."

There were no window seats, what a pity. Looking up at the second floor, it seemed to be all private rooms, so I'll take this one. I ordered five signature dishes in one go, not caring whether I could finish them or not. When you're hungry, you're more prone to impulsive eating; you want to eat everything you see. Besides, I heard that their osmanthus cake is a specialty of Beijing, so I'll pack some to go after I finish eating, haha.

Eight-Treasure Duck, Mountain Delicacies Chicken, Hundred-Flavor Fish, Seasonal Vegetables, and Three-Delicacy Soup. The simple and clear names of the dishes, each one a favorite of mine. The food here is truly delicious, a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, no less than a five-star hotel in the 21st century. I was so hungry that I wolfed down the food as soon as it arrived, and as usual, I was full in no time. I'm always like this; when I'm hungry, I eat quickly, and when I eat quickly, my stomach bloates and then aches. Although I know this habit is bad, I just can't break it. If I chew slowly and carefully, my appetite is actually quite good.

After finishing my meal, I hesitated for a moment, looking at the food that was still more than half full. Under the waiter's strange gaze, I asked to pack it up and add an osmanthus cake. Then came the payment. Wait...wait, the payment? Pay by card? With my money? I frantically searched my pockets. Oh no! I didn't bring any money! How could I have made such a mistake? Did Cui'er forget too? I'd read so many time-travel novels before, and one of the rules of time travel is to always bring money when you go out. How could I have forgotten something so important?

555, what do I do now? Can I expect a benefactor to appear and pay for my bill like in those old-fashioned movies or novels? I waited and waited, glancing left and right, but no one stepped forward to help me out, and Cui'er didn't come in either. Sigh, it seems I have no choice but to tell the truth.

"Um... waiter, I... I forgot my purse," I stammered pitifully. How embarrassing! I've never experienced anything so awkward in my life! 5555

Clouds Drunk and Moon Slightly Sleeping (Revised Edition) Volume One: When We Met, We Were All Joyful – A Fortuitous Encounter

Chapter word count: 4620 Update time: 08-12-20 15:48

chance encounter

"What?" The waiter looked at me in disbelief, his voice rising several times involuntarily. He probably never expected that I was trying to dine and dash. After all, my clothes, though simple and plain, were clearly not something an ordinary person could afford, judging from the fabric and workmanship.

As soon as the waiter called out, everyone around me turned to look, and my face turned even redder. I lowered my head and started thinking of a solution. If only this lousy place had a phone or cell phone, I could just make a quick call to the Yun family's residence, and no one would be afraid to come and pay my bill!

"Brother, um... um, can I go home and get the silver right away?" It doesn't seem like it's that easy. "If you're worried, you can come with me."

I'm starting to consider whether I should bring up the name of the Prime Minister's residence again. But if I do, how many people will believe it?

The waiter was already furious. He left me and ran to the counter, probably to tattle on me to the manager.

I estimated the distance between my position and the gate; escape seemed impossible. I could only continue searching for something, my only remaining possession seemed to be the jade token I carried. But this token was the prime minister's credential, with a dragon and cloud motif on the front and a crane on the back. It was a crucial document for me to enter and exit the palace and exercise my prime ministerial authority, carrying a very strong political connotation. If I were to use it as collateral to pay for the food and drinks, I wondered if that treacherous emperor would investigate and punish me.

Seeing the waiter return with a middle-aged, overweight man who looked like the manager and had a large, bureaucratic belly, I sighed inwardly: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I need to use that jade token, which is comparable to an official seal, in an emergency."

I closed my eyes, steeled my resolve, and was about to reach into my robes with my right hand when suddenly, with a "click," I opened my eyes to see a gleaming gold ingot smiling at me on the table in front of me. Huh? Had the shopkeeper seen through my disguise and was not only refusing to pay but also offering a gold ingot as a bribe? But the amount seemed too small. Besides, it was only his first day as an official; he couldn't very well start being greedy on his very first day. Never mind, I'll take it first, then go back to the Yun residence and bring back double the amount of silver. That way, the Party and the country's hard work in educating me over the past decade wouldn't have been in vain. Although this bribe lacked sincerity, I still wanted to thank the shopkeeper. I grabbed the gold ingot from the table, determined to repay him with a particularly bright, sincere, and grateful smile.

Looking up, her smile froze on her face. That...that person standing in front of her, isn't that General Mu Qinglin?

"Mu... Mu..." I stammered again. Sigh, ever since I came here, my usually nimble mouth has started to stutter from time to time.

The man before me was nearly a head taller than me, his physique giving off a sense of security without being overly imposing. He wore a long, greyish-blue robe, and compared to the side profile I'd glimpsed in the main hall, his frontal view seemed even more handsome and dashing. It was quite unexpected that a dignified military general would exude such a debonair and romantic air. I was only two meters away from him, yet I felt enveloped by a warm and resolute masculine aura. This young man was only in his early twenties; in a few years, this aura would probably be incredibly intimidating.

He stared at me, standing still, listening to my stammering without saying a word, his face expressionless.

"Brother Qing... Brother Qinglin," he said in front of everyone in the hall, having removed his official robes. I couldn't very well call him General, could I? Strange man, he didn't say a word, as if we were complete strangers. "Is that gold ingot yours?"

He nodded, his expression inscrutable, as if deep in thought, yet utterly unfathomable. Hmph, just like that beautiful emperor, we grew up together. Oh well, as long as I have the money to get out of this predicament, that's good enough. I gave him a fawning smile: "This, is it for me?"

555, I really met a benefactor! The revolutionary camaraderie between colleagues is so touching. I turned around and handed the gold ingot to the waiter, opening my palm to indicate that it was time to pay.

"That's not for you." The waiter's hand, which had reached out to take the gold ingot, froze in mid-air.

"Huh?" My jaw almost dislocated. Seriously, bro, this is no joke. That's so unfair. We'll be seeing each other all the time. Won't you be embarrassed then?

"That's a loan for you."

I almost fainted.