Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 310

I woke up one day, and started my way to a local store where I found a place to work. I greeted everyone inside and started
working.
Just a while after I had come, some imperial guards asked for me. When I told them that it was me, they brought me to the
Imperial palace. I wondered what I had to do with anything that was going on, until the Emperor made everything clear.
“Do you possess any unnatural talent?” He had asked. The guards made it direct that I could not lie to the Emperor,
otherwise I would face certain consequences. As if I did not know myself.
“Yes, Emperor Qing. I can foresee the future.” At this a few guards were obviously outraged. They thought I was lying to
the Emperor even after their warning. Luckily for me, Emperor Qing was patient.
“Well, then. You will not have any problem proving yourself. Tell me what will happen tomorrow. I will make someone
write down what you say.”
I closed my eyes and tried to see what would happen tomorrow. “Someone who you trust in is going to steal a precious
gem in your palace. You have to assign most of your guards to your jewelry area, if you do not want it to be stolen.”
The Emperor was intrigued for the following day to come. When the next day arrived, all that I had said rose to life. The
shocked expression on all the witnesses’ faces were something you could not see every day. I felt satisfied that they did not
believe me before, in a way.
“You may most certainly not leave this palace.” The Emperor had said when I requested to leave. Instead, he told me that
I had to stay and tell him the exact days when all the misfortune will strike, or when attackers will try to start war with us.
“You, of course, may leave after you have told us everything.”
“I am afraid that I cannot tell the future that far, I can only tell the future for a span of a week.” I had sheepishly said,
somehow thinking it was my fault.
“Very well, then. You shall stay in the palace for the rest of your life, and warning us of any war or misfortune to arrive
soon.