Chapter-3|The Qing's Palace

"My Lord! What are you doing here? The king and queen were worried sick about you!"

One soldier yelled, "Someone bring the Lord's horse!" Mark was confused but forced to play along. "What the hell is going on here? Maybe I should just play along... or am I the lord of heaven? But I don't think heaven would look like the 1700s. This looks like the old village of Qing's..."

After a while, Mark, the servant, and the soldiers reached a huge palace with people in old traditional Chinese costumes everywhere. Suddenly, one of the soldiers screamed, "Lord, we are here! Let us take you to the King." Mark hesitantly got down from the horse and slowly started walking to his right.

The servant screamed, "Lord, where are you going? The king's office is to the left."

Mark chuckled and said, "I was just playing with you," and walked off to the left. After a minute or so, they reached the king's office. The soldier screamed, "The Holy King! The Prince has been found; we have brought him here to you."

Suddenly, two servants bowed to Mark and opened the door to the king's office. Mark, confused but forced to play along, smiled and entered the king's office. Inside, there was a 60-year-old man in ancient kingly attire, loaded with gold, emeralds, and diamonds. The old man ran towards Mark and hugged him.

"My son! Where have you been? We were worried about you. Your mother and I have discussed, as you said, we will get you married to that young girl, but never run off again," said the old man.

Mark, having no other choice, hugged the old man and said, "I-I have decided not to get married since I have loads of other responsibilities."

The king, confused, laughed. "If that's what you want, then we will go along with that. But never run off again, my son. Now go and meet your mother; she has not eaten for 3 days since the time you haven't come back!"

Mark bowed and left the king's chamber. The servant asked, "Should we go to the Queen?"

Mark chuckled and disagreed. "No! Take me to my chamber. I want to rest for a while, then we'll go meet the Queen."

The servant bowed. "Let's go, My Lord," and they started walking to the Prince's chamber. As they were walking, Mark looked around and was weirded out. "Wait! I have seen this place's picture before." Keeping his hand on his head, he started wondering where he had seen it and suddenly stood still. "Oh yeah, I saw it in my Civil Exam Preparatory Book. It was a castle in Qing's in the 1700s. But what am I doing here?"

Mark looked at the servant. "Hey, you!"

The servant bowed. "Yes, my lord?"

Mark asked, "Where are we?"

The servant, confused, replied, "In the King's family palace, my lord."

Mark asked, "And who am I?"

The servant replied, "The future king, my lord! But what's with you? Are you sick?"

Mark said, "No, take me to my chamber."

The servant replied, "We are here, my lord!" The servant opened the door, and there were about 30 people in servant clothes sitting on the ground. As soon as the door opened, all of them bowed and said altogether, "My Lord, you are here! We were worried about you."

Mark was taken aback seeing all this. He chuckled. "You all may leave now." Then he looked at the servant. "Only you stay."

The servant bowed and said, "All of you may leave." Suddenly, all of them left, and only the servant and Mark were in the room. Mark looked around and saw a glorious room filled with vases and other ornaments.

Mark said in a low voice, "What's your name?"

The servant, confused, replied, "I am Steve, my Lord!"

"Oh, okay," Mark replied. Mark started wondering, "I fell into the lake, found myself in a forest, and now I am a future king? I must be dreaming."

Mark said, "Steve!"

Steve replied, "Yes, my lord?"

"Pinch me," said Mark.

Steve was flabbergasted. "No way, my lord! I dare not to!"

"Steve, do it. It's my order."

Steve bowed and pinched tightly on Mark's arm. "Ouch, it hurts," said Mark.

Steve bowed to the ground. "I am sorry, my lord. I have done a sin hurting you. Please kill me, my lord."

Mark said, "No, no, calm down. I am okay."

Steve bowed again. "So, Steve, what year is it?"

Steve looked up and replied, "Are you too tired, my lord? It's 1784."

Mark fell to the ground and said, "What!! Did I 'Time Travel'?"