Just as he was talking about the emperor and the princess, the people in question arrived, accompanied by two high-ranking court officials. These were some of the most influential heavyweights in Zhao Country. In the past, Zhao Yi had been nothing more than a humble teacher, at most catching a glimpse of a county magistrate or some other low-level official. Now that the country's highest leaders had arrived, he actually felt a brief flutter of nervousness. But then he remembered his current status—he was far higher than the emperor himself; it was others who should be afraid of him. He couldn't help letting out a quiet chuckle. He was an immortal cultivator soaring high above the mortal world, so what on earth was there to be afraid of? Let's see what the emperor was here for first; presumably, he had come to see him. Calming his mind, he said in a deep voice:
"Show them in. Chuntao, is there any tea? Go and prepare some."
"Yes, Young Master, we have tea ready," the two maidservants replied, offering a slight bow before stepping out of the middle courtyard.
At the main entrance of the Sacrificial Hall, Emperor Zhengde, Princess Qingyue, Grand Tutor Shen Bi, and Grand General Chen Xingbang were waiting outside. Qingyue thought to herself, *We've already been here three times; I wonder if we'll have a chance to see the Immortal Master today, or if this will be another wasted trip?* Just as the thought crossed her mind, she saw Xiahe walk out.
"Meilian, is the Immortal Master free?" Seeing Xiahe (Wu Meilian) emerge, Qingyue asked eagerly. Before entering the Sacrificial Hall, Princess Qingyue, Zhou Ruonan, and Wu Meilian had often met in private to compose poetry and paint, forming a close circle of bosom friends. Princess Qingyue had disapproved of her friends entering the Sacrificial Hall, but she couldn't dissuade them since both women wanted to try their luck at seizing an opportunity. Once the two women entered the Sacrificial Hall, meetings had become rare. Right now, however, Qingyue threw all decorum to the wind.
"Imperial Sister, do not be impolite," Emperor Zhengde said, surprised that his usually reserved sister could be so impatient. Although the two women were old acquaintances, the other person now represented the exalted Grand Master, and this was the Sacrificial Hall after all—how could they neglect proper etiquette?
Xiahe nodded slightly at the princess, then bowed to the emperor and the others. "Your Majesty, the Young Master invites Your Majesty, the Princess, and the two Ministers to go inside."
"The Immortal Master is free? Good. Imperial Sister, two Ministers, let us go in," Zhengde said with an inner sense of relief. If he were turned away again, he would have been in a very difficult position. With a wave of his hand, he followed Xiahe through the gates of the Sacrificial Hall. Along the way, ignoring the bowing maidservants, he walked straight up to the Leaving Immortals Residence, stepped across the threshold, straightened his robes, and raised his hands in a respectful salute toward Zhao Yi, who stood proudly in Daoist robes with an air of transcendence. He said solemnly:
"Zhengde (Qingyue, Shen Bi, Chen Xingbang) pays respects to the Immortal Master (Lord)." The emperor and princess were not required to kneel, but the grand tutor and grand general could not dispense with propriety and were just about to drop to their knees.
Zhao Yi had already stood up, intending to get a good look at what the emperor and princess looked like. Seeing the two elderly men about to kneel, he felt rather embarrassed. With a gentle flick of his right hand, a cool breeze swept out, supporting the two ministers and halting their descent. Shen Bi and Chen Xingbang looked deeply moved and hastily muttered that they had been discourteous.
Zhao Yi cupped his hands together and said softly:
"Your Majesty is too kind. Greetings to you all, my friends. Please take your seats. Chuntao, serve the tea." He gestured slightly to his left and right, signaling the maidservant Chuntao to present the tea. Although he was honored as the Grand Master, in the presence of the Son of Heaven, proper etiquette had to be observed. Chuntao bowed deeply to the emperor and the others to pay her respects, then served the tea to everyone.
"We wouldn't dare; we apologize for disturbing the Immortal Master," Emperor Zhengde and the others said after taking their seats. As they looked at the newly arrived grand master, they felt he appeared much younger than his predecessor.
Zhao Yi was also sizing everyone up. He thought the emperor looked very young, probably not far from his own age; with regular features and sharp, intelligent eyes, he seemed like he would be a capable ruler. After nodding to the two ministers, Zhao Yi eagerly turned his gaze toward Princess Qingyue, whom Chuntao had praised so highly.
*Goodness, why is she so stunning!* The princess was just blooming at sixteen, with bright eyes and white teeth, skin that surpassed snow, and a graceful figure, like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens. Her eyes in particular were glistening, brimming with life, and filled with a mixture of cleverness and hopeful expectation. Even the classic poetic metaphors of the mortal realm—fish sinking in shame and wild geese dropping from the sky, flowers hiding in embarrassment—could not begin to describe this woman's beauty!
The princess was also incomparably nervous upon meeting the Immortal Master. She had expected the Immortal Master to be an old man like his predecessor, but she saw that this Grand Master was astonishingly young, possessed an ethereal grace, and carried an air of unrestrained, effortless charm. His thick brows and large, bright eyes were full of spirit. Not daring to meet his gaze, a sudden ripple of emotion surged from the depths of her heart, and feelings of admiration blossomed spontaneously, her eyes turning infinitely tender. When she abruptly noticed that the Immortal Master was also staring straight at her with brilliant, flashing eyes, she felt as though her innermost thoughts had been seen right through. Overwhelmed by sudden bashfulness, her face turned burning red, and she lowered her head in silence, completely at a loss as to what to do with her hands and feet.
*Oh dear, that was terribly rude,* Zhao Yi snapped back to his senses. Staring at someone so intently was entirely too forward; it was an affront to a fine lady. He withdrew his gaze, scratched his head in embarrassment, gave a couple of light coughs, straightened his posture, and gestured for everyone to partake of the tea.
Turning his attention to the young emperor, he raised his hands in a formal salute and said:
"Your Majesty is busy with affairs of state and surely wouldn't visit the Hall of Three Treasures for nothing. Is there an important matter today? Please speak, Your Majesty; whatever this humble daoist can do to help, I will not shirk my duty."