Li Chenghao/Encounter/1

## Part 1

A year ago, Zichen Palace. Seeing the emperor walking back and forth, Wang Quan wondered if he should fetch a doctor to examine him.

Wang Quan
(He has been pacing back and forth for the whole night! Does he have hysteria?! What should I do?)
For four or five days, the emperor went straight to the Taiye Pool after daily court meeting and did nothing but stare at the still water for a while.

Wang Quan
(It proves that I shouldn't have asked for a leave. I just went home to handle some personal business. But I don't know what his majesty is thinking now that I'm back.)
I was told by a servant that he has been like this since he passed by Taiye Pool after court meeting days before. That day, he accidentally picked up a red leaf with a written poem on it, which may be composed by a maid. He looked at it every day since then and even walked back and forth for the whole night.

Emperor
(Whispered) Coming to the palace, I am greeted by spring views. Picking up a leaf, I send it to someone I can share with. Then I cn go with... Warblers cry over the wilting flowers, while maids suffer from heartbreak. She won't know that I wrote it. I can't scare her.
An eunuch went in.

Eunuch
Your majesty, this is the red leaf I picked today.
Emperor
(He went to him and took it over) Great, you can come in without an announcement next time!
Wang Quan
(Yes! He also sent a eunuch to pick a red leaf every day! And he wants the biggest neatest one! Did he fall in love with the maid that wrote that poem?)
Wang Quan couldn't help but to shiver. But then he shook this thought out of his head.

Wang Quan
(Sniff) (It's impossible! He has so many concubines who have their own special charms. Lady Liu is beautiful and erudite. The emperor loves her very much. He won't have feelings for a nobody.)
With that, he at once looked at the emperor to confirm his idea. But he saw the emperor staring at something in a trance.

Wang Quan
(He uneasily took a step back) Your majesty...?
The emperor ignored him and looked out of the window. HIs eyes were lit up. Then he went back to the desk.

Emperor
(Seriously he wrote down) Water runs from the royal city to the East, to whom the poem I composed will be sent! Seeing it, she may respond...
Then he seemed frozen.

Wang Quan
(Maybe I need to fetch a royal doctor...)
Suddenly, he seemingly made a tough decision and moved.

Emperor
(He raised his head with his red and swollen eyes exposed) Wang Quan! Let's go to Taiye Pool!
Wang Quan
Yes, your majesty!
Wang Quan was eager to know what happened to the emperor.

Wang Quan
(Excitedly) (Finally, I am about to find out who she is?)
## Part 2

A year ago in the palace. After getting out of the empress dowager's bedroom, you went to Taiye Pool with mixed feelings.

Player
(Frown) I don't know why the empress dowager began to ask me to take care of her since I grew older and keep me longer and longer each time...
Bihen
(Looks around) Why does my lady frown again? If some gossipers se her walk out of her majesty's bedroom with such a look, we may get in trouble!
This time Bihen came to the palace with you. You relied on her a lot since she was smart, cautious, and good at observing things.

Player
(With a bitter smile) You are right, we are not at home. Her majesty asks me to nurse her out of affection. I shouldn't expect more.
Bihen
(Nods) There you are, my lady!
Along the way, you got to the Taiye Pool. At the sight of the lucid water, you, looking around and finding no one in sight, took off your shoes and socks and put your feet in the water.

Bihen
(Smiles bitterly) My lady, you just said that we need to watch our behavior in the palace...
Player
(Kicks water) No worries! No one is here. Bihen, come on, join me! Eh?
Before she answered, you felt your calf a bit itchy. Looking back, you found several red leaves floating by your feet. Among which a big red leaf had letters on them, and you read it aloud.

Player
Warblers cry over the wilting flowers, while the maids suffered from heartbreak. Water runs from the royal city to the east, to whom the poem I composed will be sent? (Chuckles) How funny! I improvised a poem on a red leaf days before and put it on the water. Someone must have found it and responded to me? Then, how about making a pen pal with him?
With that, you put the red leaf in your pocket, thinking you could write another poem on the back of it later.

Bihen
You are right, my lady. Only those noblemen and important ministers are available to respond to you in this palace. It will do you a lot of good if you can make friends with any of them!
Player
(Glanced at her) Bihen...
You knew she was just worried about you. As you were thinking about how to explain it to her, an announcement came--

Eunuch
His majesty arrives!
Player
(OMG!)
In this palace, the emperor was whom you feared the most.

Player
(It's said that the emperor has issues with the empress dowager. He hates the empress dowager, for she gets in the middle of his business. I came to the palace to nurse the empress dowager. He may dislike her more if he sees me here.)
Ruolan, the empress dowager's maid, warned me about it earlier. She told me that I should try to stay out of his sight so as not to get in trouble.

Player
Bihen! Help me!
Hurriedly, you called for her. But as he was getting closer, you decided to run away without shoes and socks.

Player
(In a hurry) Bihen, let's go!
You put the red leaf in your pocket, while your sachet slipped out. Bihen noticed it. But she decided not to tell you.

Player
(You grab Bihen to hurry on) His majesty is coming!

A year later. At night in the Zichen Palace. The emperor let you go after you refused to sleep with him. Thinking of his work, he lit up candles to check reports, leaving the farce behind.

Emperor
Wang Quan, what time is it now?
Wang Quan
It's 9:45 p.m., your majesty.
He massaged his temples and took a deep breath. The scent in the room had faded away. Suddenly, he had a strange feeling.

Emperor
(The sweet smell... How come it smells so familiar?)
He found a sachet on the desk and smelt it.

Emperor
(It's ... It's her?)