Jiang Zuoqing had an extremely privileged life from day one.
A wealthy grandmother and father, talented father and mother who excelled at their jobs.
A good background and attractive physical aspects.
Wealth.
Health.
Knowledge.
Power.
Affection.
There was not a thing that was missing from this perfect life of his and Jiang Zuoqing assumed that it would continue to be this way.
Until today…
Jiang Zuoqing: "Wait! Wait a minute! Can you repeat that again? I'm confused."
A trembling finger lifts to point at the crying elderly woman standing behind Yan Beiqing.
"You said that you're actually a transmigrator that came from another kingdom? You were a palace maid before coming here?!"
Grandmother Jiang: "Yes."
The elderly woman took the cup of tea from the butler, felt the temperature of the ceramic for a second. Before holding out the cup for the young woman to take in careful motions.
Jiang Zuoqing moved his trembling finger towards the right to point at his grandfather. Who is also standing on the other side of the young woman a step away behind the leather sofa.
"Then you said that you are a reincarnator that came from the same kingdom as my grandmother? The two of you married only because you want to search for your missing emperor?! You were a eunuch in your last life?!!!"
Grandfather Jiang: "That's right, good thing we believed right to the very end…"
Feeling emotional, the elderly man sniffed as he wiped away the tears in his eyes with the back of his sleeve.
"T, then you…"
Jiang Zuoqing at last pointed at Yan Beiqing who was seated at the center of the leather couch. Legs crossed in leisure as slender hands lifted the ceramic cup in hand to take a sip.
"You're that missing emperor whom my grandparents were searching for?!!!"
"... …"
Tasting the fragrance of the tea that was left behind in the cavity of the mouth. The young woman pondered for a second before nodding in acknowledgement, "en, it's me."
"?!!"
Something fragile and indescribable seemed to have shattered in immediate effect inside the young man's mind.
The belief and arrogance held in all twenty-seven years of his life fractured into many small pieces.
"This can't be happening… I need some time alone."
Watching the arrogant CEO saunter out of the room under the watchful gaze of the trio. It wasn't until the door fully closed behind that the actual meeting began.
Grandpa and grandma Jiang grovel to the ground in front of Yan Beiqing once more.
"Please forgive us, Your Majesty!"
"... …"
Yan Beiqing stares at the cup of amber liquid in hand without words as she ponders in silence.
No one spoke further as the elderly duo waited with tense nerves before finally receiving the permission to speak.
Yan Beiqing: "What have you done wrong?"
"We have failed our duties!"
"We were unable to protect Your Majesty from the fire!"
Tears began to flow once more as the wrinkles on the couple's face creased into deeper folds which shows the depths of their age.
Pitter patter of silent tears fell onto the ground in faint droplets akin to the sudden rain that very day.
Whimpering rang out in the large chamber repressed to the best of their abilities as the two elderly cried.
Sympathizing the death of their emperor.
Mourning for the end of their kingdom.
Disdain for their lack of power.
But more importantly, the revival and meeting of their faith.
Everything would be fine as long as our emperor is here!
Their emperor is back!
"... …"
Yan Beiqing took in this scene with a ponderous look before releasing a helpless breath. A small curve on the lips formed before the young woman bantered in a light tone.
"I'm back now aren't I? Come now, stop crying and take a seat. We have other things to discuss."
The young woman's laughter was like a fresh breeze that blew away the heavy gloom in their hearts. Grandpa and grandma Jiang stood up from the ground before resting their aching bodies on the edge of the seat.
Sitting across from the young woman, they straighten their backs in focus before explaining everything they could.
The sudden fire that started in the empress palace killed the empress and emperor who were together at that very moment.
Grandmother Jiang, who was still a young palace maid back then braved the fire in an attempt to rescue the emperor.
But the fire was too fierce, a falling column fell and blocked the only entranceway into the palace before she had the chance. Suffering from a serious burn, she was escorted to the palace doctors to be treated.
There were not many doctors there at this time since most of them had run out to the scene of the fire. Only a few trainees were walking about, trying to prepare the precious ingredients that needed to be used later.
There, she discovered a strange note on the floor. It was a list of medical ingredients for the daily concoction that was prepared for the emperor.
The strange thing is, this is an unfamiliar recipe that grandma Jiang has not seen before.
As a personal maid of the emperor, everything that enters her master's mouth must first be confirmed in her presence. This recipe for example, is not one that she has ever approved of!
Feeling dubious, the young grandma Jiang wanted to confirm the reason for this recipe. But before she had the chance, someone attacked her from behind!
Losing consciousness, the next thing she knew, grandma Jiang opened her eyes in the body of a young female who has the same name and face as her old form!
Now for grandpa Jiang, it was a few weeks later after the funeral process and burial of the late emperor and empress.
Many officials were still in the midst of discussing who should sit on the throne. This fire was too unexpected and the late emperor was too young to have considered an heir to the throne.
Who would have thought…
Grandpa Jiang wanted to visit grandma Jiang in order to check on her health while discussing this problem. To his surprise, her chamber is empty with a heavy layer of dust!
Due to her injuries, grandpa Jiang had not allowed others to bother grandma Jiang nor had he asked for her assistance in arranging the funeral.
Although he had found it peculiar that she had not shown up even once for the funeral. Grandpa Jiang had assumed this partner of his was unavailable due to extreme sadness. Not surprising as he, too, wanted to abandon everything to find a quiet place to cry.
But where could she have gone?
A sudden streak of dread enveloped the young eunuch as he ran out from the chamber. He asked everyone, search everywhere, even the doctor's in the palace in which no one had seen her presence.
Until…
Arriving at the burial mound located at the very back of the palace where bodies of palace workers were thrown into.
At the very top was the body of his long time partner, palace lady Jiang.
"I spent the rest of my life trying to figure out the reason for palace lady Jiang's death. The fire in the palace was strange in the first place, with her death mixed into it, I have a reason to believe this to be a deeper conspiracy.
"But alas…"
Grandpa Jiang released a fatigue breath, "the new emperor appointed a new aide to serve at his side. I was forced into retirement thus any clues I find are miniscule to none."
The new emperor who was appointed was someone eunuch Jiang had never seen before. Probably the daughter of one of the officials that received enough support to rise onto the seat.
As the sole living member of the royal family, Yan Beiqing did not have any other relatives nor family members that could take the throne. The only thing the officials in the palace can do is to pick someone amongst themselves.
As for the concubines that were left in the palace, grandpa Jiang at that time no longer had the power to investigate.
"I died years later before opening my eyes to this new world as an infant while retaining my past memories. It was fate that led the two of us to meeting again many years later!"
The elderly couple gave each other a knowing glance before continuing to speak.
"It was as though an invisible line had pulled me towards a certain direction just like that day when Your Majesty showed up in front of us!"
A feeling?
Yan Beiqing contemplated in silence for a moment before asking in a clear voice.
"The reason you had your grandson marry me, does it have anything to do with that intuitive-like sensation?"
The couple shared an indescribable look amongst themselves before nodding with a look of shame.
"We were too hasty in making a decision that the both of us had overlooked Your Majesty's feelings."
"But we have also sensed that strange link between us and our grandson and more so we…"
The couple paused for a second before proceeding, "we have a reason to believe that our grandson might be the reincarnation of the late empress."