72 The Missing Tribe (1/2)
While Jiang Mingyue went to the Crown Princess's palace, Jiang Xiao Tian headed to the Throne Room for an audience with the Emperor. He waited outside for a while, and a eunuch invited him inside. Xiao Tian stepped forward and stopped a few feet away before the stairs. He immediately knelt on the floor, lowered his head and did a hand fist salute.
”Your servant greets the Emperor, may you live long and prosper,” Jiang Xiao Tian's voice rang loud and clear in the room.
The Emperor continued his work and did not look up. After a minute has passed, the Emperor put down the brush in his hand and lifted his gaze. He stared at Xiao Tian for a while before he spoke, ”rise.”
”Thank you, Your Majesty,” Xiao Tian said. He stood up quickly and waited for the Emperor to speak.
The Emperor rose from his seat. He sauntered with both hands behind his back. He descended the stairs halfway and stopped before he sat down. ”Jiang Xiao Tian, I heard that you have been going to see the Crown Princess recently.”
Jiang Xiao Tian was not surprised that His Majesty knew of his meeting with the princess. After all, the Emperor had his eyes and ears everywhere in the palace. Xiao Tian lowered his gaze and answered, ”Yes, Your Majesty.”
”What did she ask you to investigate?”
”She wanted me to find the person who wanted to harm her,” Jiang Xiao Tian answered. There was a long silence in the Throne Room. Xiao Tian could feel that the Emperor gaze on him. He stood straight and did not elaborate on his answer. He has decided. If the Emperor probe further, he will answer truthfully. If he doesn't, then, Xiao Tian chose not to say anything else.
After a while, the Emperor heaved a sigh. ”Just continue to assist the Crown Princess in whatever she wants.”
Jiang Xiao Tian looked up in surprise and quickly hid the expression on his face. When His Majesty brought up the Crown Princess, Xiao Tian had expected that the Emperor would ask a lot more questions.Jiang Xiao Tian saluted the Emperor and said, ”Yes, Your Majesty.”
”I hope that you will continue to assist the Crown Princess until the time she inherits the throne,” the Emperor said. ”You don't have to report things that the princess did not want me to know, however, if she faced any difficulties that she could not resolve on her own, then you will come to me.”
Xiao Tian saluted again. He may not know what was on the Emperor's mind, but he knew the Emperor's intention to protect the Crown Princess, his only heir.