Awards and Prizes

In the afternoon people had gathered on the beach to see first-hand the award that would be given by the emperor.

Qing who walked with Xiao Hai's children, to the place where the award will be awarded. A series of ceremonial closing events for the summer festival were held. Many people flocked to enter the venue. The entrance is guarded by royal guards. Unusual thing happened. Maybe because the emperor will also be present that why there are the royal guard. The Residents wishing to enter. Their bodies were examined. Not even a small child. When they get to the gate.

"Hands up," ordered the guard who stood facing the residents who wanted to enter.

Another lucky thing is that if it is a woman who want to enter in the venue, the examiner is a palace maid.

Qing Yang unhesitatingly raised her hand. She winced as the palace maid touched her sides, then her waist, her hands from her shoulders to her palms. The legs start from the upper thighs to the soles of the feet. And finally, her back.

Not finding anything suspicious, the palace maid stood aside as she made way for her to enter. And she immediately stepped forward to the entrance of the event. sSh waited patiently for the other children at the entrance. Since so many people came, she didn't expect to separate from the other kids and will look for each other later.

When everyone had gathered, they walked in. The venue for the event was magnificent, the decoration was very beautiful, the banners of the twelve zodiacs were erected between the circular audience seats, surrounding the venue. In the middle, there is a stage. In the center of the stage was the emperor's throne and several chairs for other officials ministers.

It was a pleasure for the children to meet the emperor, especially Qing Yang, wanting to prove what the Mister said, whether the emperor was as handsome as the Mister said.

They walked towards the audience seats. Wish there was still a seat for her and the kids. And fortunely it's still on the right side of the stage where the emperor's throne is. Without waiting they walked and sat there.

The three winning teams, Team Dragon, Team Tiger and Team Rabbit have arrived. Team Dragon looked for Qing Yang and the mister who had helped them yesterday, but they only found Qing Yang.

"Where was your friend yesterday?" asked the Dragon Team leader to Qing Yang.

"I don't know, usually he always appears out of nowhere" replied Qing Yang.

Qing Yang and the Dragon Team leader looked around for the Mister, but the Mister was nowhere to be seen. The Dragon team leader then said "Hmm, it's a pity, even though it was because of him that our team won so he should have felt this joy" replied the Dragon Team leader. "Come..." he asked "To the centre of the field to receive an award from the emperor. Qing Yang walked after the Dragon Team Leader and joined the other Dragon Teams. Team Tiger and Team Rabbit were already standing there.

The sound of the audience filled the podium arena. While waiting for the emperor's presence talking to each other, waiting patiently. Before long the sound of the announcement of the emperor's arrival was heard

"The Emperor has arrived!" shouted a guard. "Everyone stand-up"

Everyone stood up to greet the Emperor, the Emperor walked into the tent and sat on the throne that had been prepared for him. Everyone cheered. The banners of each participant in the boat race waved among all the teams, even in the audience who supported their chosen team.

A single wave of the Royal Guard standing in the stage caused everyone to fall silent.

"The Summer Festival is a festival that is celebrated every year and ended yesterday, closing with a dragon boat race, today we are very lucky that our Emperor will hand over the award to the winners himself" cheers rang out again among the audience, Happy.

The Royal Guard waved again as a sign for the audience to be quiet "For that, let's watch together, His Majesty the Emperor gives his award to the winners".

The royal guard turned his body towards the Emperor, bowing. The emperor stood up from his throne walking to the stage. Said "Thank you to all the contestants who took part in celebrating the end of the Summer Festival series of events. Yesterday's boat race was very fun, the enthusiasm of all participants during the race. Try to win. And I'm glad to have witness it."

Suddenly there were whispers among the audience. They asked 'was it true that yesterday the emperor was present to watch the competition? But why is there no announcement from the kingdom? No one was aware that the emperor was present during the race. Then why the emperor say that he is very happy to witness it?

In between the Emperor talking and the audience whispering, the Dragon Team leader turned his head and said to Qing Yang, "Hey isn't he the Master yesterday who was with you, helping us?" His voice sounded unsure but there was seriousness on his face.

Qing Yang looked at the Emperor and confirmed the words of the Dragon Team leader. she narrowed his eyes sharply at the emperor, tilted his head to the right and it was true. Qing Yang was surprised and did not expect that the Lord he had met so far was an Emperor, she recalled the incident of the thief who stole his money bag, when she wanted to give him money in exchange for his broken fish, he simply asked the other mister who was with him, and wherever he goes he is always with the same Mister.

"Yes, that's right, he was Mister yesterday who helped us," said the Dragon Team leader.

Qing Yang just stood still, not taking her eyes off the Emperor who was speaking.

"Well now I will give awards and prizes to the winners" said the Emperor closing the opening and closing of the Summer Festival and making all the audience cheered again.

The Emperor descended from the stage into the field followed by the servants who brought gifts and awards. The emperor gives award and prizes from the third winner, second winner and last winner to first winner. When giving award and prizes to Team Dragon.

"Forgive us Your Majesty, we did not know that you were…"

"Shh..." the emperor cut off the Team Leader's words, and just smiled as he gave the Dragon Team leader a award, leaned forward and whispered to the Dragon Team Leader's ear "Let yesterday's events be our secret". After whispering thus, the Emperor withdrew, standing before the Dragon Team Leader. They both looked at each other and smiled at each other.

The Emperor averted his gaze and walked towards Qing Yang, who had not taken her eyes off the Emperor since then but as soon as she faced the Emperor she immediately lowered her head.

"And this is a gift for a brave person, who I heard yesterday helped the Dragon Team so that they could win the race even though she couldn't swim and was saved from the death," said the Emperor as he handed the parchment to Qing Yang. There was no reaction from her to accept the gift. The Dragon Team Leader nudged her, she glanced at the Team Leader, her eyes full of questions as to why he nudged her arm. as Qing Yang looked at him, the Team leader gestured for her to look ahead. a small smile graced his face. Hesitantly she lifted her face. Her eyes met the emperor's. She forced a smile on her lips, unfortunately the smile looked stiff.

Seeing Qing Yang's slow reaction, the Dragon Team Leader nudged her again. She glanced back at the team leader with a questioning face. The dragon team leader signalled by raising his eyebrows at the parchment in the emperor's hand for her to accept the parchment. It would be presumptuous to make an Emperor wait. Qing Yang looked back at the emperor, looked up for a moment and then received her gift. The emperor held Qing Yang's shoulders and the unexpected event happened. The emperor leaned over to her and whispered in her ear and said quietly "Tonight we meet again at the place that we met at this afternoon."

Hearing the Emperor's invitation, Qing Yang just stared in silence. Can't believe it.

Without waiting for an answer from her, the emperor stepped away from the field followed by what turned out to be a Royal Guard who had always been wherever the emperor went. At least that's what Qing Yang knew.