Parchment

"It's very calm in here" the emperor's voice sounded small and faint in Qing Yang's ears, "what are you thinking about" asked the Emperor who saw her calm face, as calm as the sea with rhythmic waves crashing. Sing the silence of the night.

She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the Emperor, with a small smile. "I was listening to the rhythmic strains of the air, plus the sound of the waves intertwined, making me calm," she answered with her eyes fixed on the sea.

"That's why you often spend time by the beach?" asked the emperor curiously, even though he had only seen Qing Yang sitting calmly on the beach this afternoon.

"Yeah, in my spare time, I sometimes come here, just to sit alone listening to the waves and the air. Like a rhythm, has a contrasting intonation, full of meaning. It is as if telling a harmonious story that makes the mind calm and the heart at peace." She revealed what is on her mind with a small smile glancing at the emperor for a while then her head turned back to the sea.

Silence covered again. Until Qing Yang mumbled something and attracted the attention of the emperor.

The moon hung high in the night air,

Clouds float in the vast blue sea–,

drifting white waves fall slowly on the tree branches,

At the same time, a freezing cold

"Hmm… you know this rhyme?" he asked in awe and then continued to say "This rhyme is an old rhyme and not many people know about this rhyme, even among the scholar" the emperor told her.

"Grandma taught us" she said, blushing. She had not expected that she would mutter loud enough for the Emperor to hear.

"Oh ... that makes me even more curious to meet her" said the Emperor with sparkling eyes like a cat waiting in front of a rat's nest hole, and couldn't wait to pounce on the rat that came out of the hole.

"Oh ... I will tell Grandmother, so Grandma will come to the palace to see Your Majesty" she replied by giving advice that should be done by ordinary people to the emperor.

The emperor shook his head "No, no ... I should have the one who to come to visit because grandmother is older than me" said the emperor indifferently

"Your Majesty means, Your Majesty wants to come to Xiao Hai house?" she asked in disbelief, her eyes wide open and her mouth agape slightly before the emperor.

"Yes, I really want to see Xiao Hai House, one of the Ministers ever mentioned it at the royal assembly meeting" the emperor's tone sounded full of enthusiasm. "What do you think is the right time to meet Grandma?" the hand that had been on the arm of the chair rose, the index finger and thumb cupped his chin, his eyebrows knit together, as if he was thinking hard about finding the right time to meet grandma.

"Hmm... Grandma... usually comes home when the sun is over the head" she stammered not sure to invite the emperor to see Xiao Hai's ordinary house in front of an emperor even seemed shabby when compared to the palace.

"What if tomorrow I visit and surprise Grandma, so you don't tell Grandma that I'm coming." The emperor said more excited… and made a meaningful face to Qing Yang.

Seeing the reaction on the emperor's face, she understood very well, nodded, and replied "Yes, Your Majesty".

Time just passed. It didn't feel like it was getting late. Qing Yang wanted to stay a little longer, but if she held out any longer, Grandma would be worried. So, she decided to go home. "Ah…. Your Majesty it is late, I must go home," she informed the emperor as she stood up.

The emperor nodded his head. The royal guard who had picked her up earlier appeared beside her, bowing his body towards the Emperor "Your Majesty" guarding the emperor for so many years. He already knew what to do. The Emperor nodded his head slightly while glancing at the royal guards.

Qing Yang stood facing the Emperor, bowed her head in respect and said, "I excuse myself your majesty."

"Bing Wen, take Qing Yang home" the Emperor ordered to ensure her safety and did not want anything unknown things to happen.

"Yes, Your Majesty," answered Bing Wen loudly. Tilting his body to the side slightly and hands extended forward with palms face up right, signaling for her to follow him.

She walks away from the Emperor, following Bing Wen into the carriage, the same carriage she came here. Arriving near the carriage, the coachman was waiting in front of the carriage door, opened the carriage door so she and the royal guard could go inside and sit down.

Bing Wen stepped one step in front of her. Sticking out his palm again to help her get onto the carriage. After going up she sat in the same position she came. Bing Wen climbed into the carriage after her. Sitting facing her with a restrained calm expression.

And then Knock on the carriage wall three times. Soon the carriage started moving and left the beach. Qing Yang stared out the window, glancing one last time at the Emperor's. And he was still standing in the same spot she had left him in the shade of the tent with his face looking at the carriage. Watched the carriage go and disappear at the end of the road.

Qing Yang got off the carriage, turned towards Bing Wen, lowered her body, and said "Thank you sir, for escort me home" her face looked calm, not nervous when he picked her up.

"It is my duty to carry out the orders of His Majesty, Miss." His right hand was placed on his stomach and his left hand was behind his waist. Then bowed and smiling slightly at her.

She turned, walked towards the Gate, raised her right hand to the doorknob. Her body staggered forward to push the door open. After the door opened, her right foot stepped in and then turned around. She glanced at Bing Wen and smiled as she lowered her head slightly and closed the door. At the same time Bing Wen do the same as her.

When she turned around. Not a single child is still playing. The inner terrace looks quiet and empty. Her heart was relieved, she thought that at least Tan Ruo was still conscious and waiting for her to return. She walked unsteadily into her bedroom. But unexpectedly, Grandma appeared and stood at the entrance to the living room.

"Grandma hasn't slept yet?" she asked in surprise with her eyes wide open at Grandma.

"Not yet dear, I am waiting for you". Grandma answered flatly but her voice sounded soft.

"Oh Grandma, you should just sleep, no need to wait for me because tomorrow you will go to school to teach" she reminded. Grandma is no longer young, needs rest too. Even though she knew that Grandma didn't sleep too long every day. As the proverb says, the older you get, the less sleep you have.

"It's okay dear, I'm not too sleepy either," Grandma replied, not wanting her to worry. "How are you doing? Grandma ask was a little worried, remembering when she left earlier, she could see that her face looked worried.

"I'm fine, Grandma," she answered simply, not wanting to take any more time because Grandma needed to rest.

"Thankfully, if that is the case," Grandma said simply "Go to sleep, and don't stay up late." Grandma knows very well her nature. If something to happen. She couldn't sleep right away, she would wake up late at night before going to sleep.

"Okay Grandma" then her feet left leaving Grandma alone in the living room. The corridor looked deserted because all the children were asleep.

Calmly she continued walking and finally arrived in front of her bedroom door. She took a deep breath then pushed the door open and she stepped inside, and then turning around to close the door. The room is dimly lit with only 1 candle lit on the table.

Her eyes are fixated on the object on the table. That object was the one she put there when she was going to the beach to meet the Emperor. Her eyelids looked tired. If it weren't for that parchment. She would step foot onto the bed, climb onto it and fall asleep. Yet the mind struggles to see the parchment. The thought of remembering that the Emperor had mentioned earlier and reminded her of the parchment she had received from the emperor this afternoon.

Walk over to the table. Her right hand grabbed the parchment lying on the table. Lift it up in front of her chest. Her head tilted to the side slightly. Curious what the contents of the parchment were. Her right hand tugged open the knot that held the parchment. As the parchment opened wide in front of her, her eyes opened wide as she read the contents of the parchment.