Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Didn’t I tell you to read more books? It must be really terrible to be such an uncultured person. What kind of description is that? So beautiful that you’ll feel like you’re floating?” The face of the man named Dong Xiao was filled with disgust. Then, to Tian Miao, he reported, “Boss, for lunch we’re having Kung Pao rabbit, fried lamb with cumin, hotplate pig’s kidney, Eight Treasures duck, sliced fish in milk broth, sautéed beef filet with bell peppers, bamboo shoots with bracken, almond tofu bean curd…”
“Add a sliced suckling pig,” Tian Miao added to the list in a lazy voice.
The emperor wondered if he was seeing things. Why else did the celestial being’s eyes light up upon hearing such dishes on a menu?
No. This was impossible. This was a celestial being who had the aura of an immortal! How could she be so… worldly?
In fact, she really was so worldly.
Sob-sob-sob-sob. The emperor felt his heart break and shatter to pieces. Where was that celestial being that was said to be transcendental and sage-like? Where was that celestial being that was said to be mysterious and unfathomable? Where was that colossal price that he had agreed to pay? He’d thought that the celestial would seize his soul or something like that, but in the end…
In the end, the celestial had actually proposed this to repay his debt.
Feasting on delectable food, downing good wine, admiring beautiful women, playing music late into the night. All ways to have a good time. This was exactly the kind of fondness for enjoyment that a self-indulgent ruler would have. But the emperor quickly shook this absurd idea out of his head.
“Ah, my heart.” The emperor put a hand to his chest, feeling a little unsteady. He had quickly hastened to make arrangements for his funeral. But in the end, in the end he didn’t need to lose his insignificant life. She’d gotten him to rule his country well so that he could create and establish a flourishing dynasty (which meant that the dynasty would bring in good money), so that he could provide her, the celestial, with the best form of enjoyment.
After settling his funeral arrangements, he had still diligently and conscientiously attended court to handle government affairs. He felt a little embarrassed when he received furtive looks from his assisting ministers. It made him feel somewhat suffocated. He knew these officials were secretly mocking him while questioning, “Are you fooling around with us, Your Royal Highness?” Fortunately, the emperor was still who he was at that moment, an emperor, and he was definitely thankful for it because it was the only reason why these people didn’t dare say anything, even though they had doubts.
Kong Hou and Dong Xiao sensed the emperor’s anxiety and guessed what was on his mind, as he’d gone about making arrangements for his funeral. Of course, they knew that their boss had also noticed this. But if the boss wouldn’t offer him an explanation or tell him the truth, they wouldn’t either. Well, there was really nothing they could do about it. Who would have expected their boss to be such a vicious character? And, as their boss’s loyal supporters, they of course had to closely follow her lead. So, even though they saw through the emperor and understood his intentions, they didn’t breathe a single word about it.
…
Thereafter, the emperor was even more conscientious and careful when it came to handling government affairs, and created such a flourishing age for his dynasty that it surpassed that of the late emperor’s.
As for Tian Miao and company, they left the country a year after the country started to enter an age of prosperity.
But before they left, the emperor plucked up the courage to ask Dong Xiao some questions. After all, just one look at Kong Hou and he could tell that she really disliked him. And he still lacked the courage to ask the celestial, Tian Miao, such a direct question. So, of course, he chose to ask the one who seemed to treat him the most amiably, and that was Dong Xiao.
When the emperor asked Dong Xiao why they didn’t take his soul, Kong Hou, who just so happened to be passing by, overheard him. Before Dong Xiao had the chance to reply, Kong Hou made it over to them and replied first, and what she said dripped with sarcasm.
“Take your soul? Dream on. Why would Boss want that pile of mess?” Kong Hou rolled her eyes and said, “You just need to earn a lot of money. Then, you need to find all the good food and wine you can, as well as the most talented artists, musicians, and dancers from all over the world, so that our boss can enjoy them all. That will do.”
“That’s how it works,” Dong Xiao explained with a smile, and his smile was filled with kindness.
“Well, Boss, what do you think of my attitude toward humans now?” Dong Xiao thought to himself. “Next time, it’d be better if you got Kong Hou to clean the floor. But this emperor really does seem a little like a dimwit. Kong Hou’s right. Why would we want his soul?”