“Jia,” Matt whispered. “I didn’t rescue you today.”
Jia frowned. “I know. Maybe I wasn’t remembering right. Don’t worry about it. I’m sure it will all make sense.”
Matt nodded. “Okay.” He kept his eye out for a younger version of Jia. He didn’t see her.
They entered another building with rooms simpler in design than the Hall of Supreme Harmony but still elegant. They were led to a room with a large square table in the center. One golden chair was elevated at the head, clearly the seat of the emperor, while chairs were set lower on the other three sides of the table.
A gong sounded, and all were quiet as the emperor entered the room, followed by a young man Matt knew could only be Yinreng, the crown prince. Perhaps it was the way Jia had described him, but Matt definitely thought there was something evil about him. He gave Jia a look of pure venom. Jia ignored him, kept her chin held high, but the look sent a chill down Matt’s spine. He hoped they would not have to deal much with him.
The emperor looked at Jia, nodding his approval at her appearance. His eyes then shifted to Matt. He asked Jia if this was the supposed time traveler she had mentioned earlier. Matt couldn’t help wincing on the word supposed. Clearly, the emperor did not fully believe who they were or why they had come.
“Shi,” Jia said. “This is Mateo Hudson.”
Hudson! That was the name. Hudson. He repeated it in his head. Hudson, Hudson, Huuuuh . . .
“Do you speak Chinese?” the emperor asked him.
Matt started a little. Whatever he was thinking about quickly left him. “Shi,” he said. “I am learning.”
The emperor nodded, clearly pleased.
“Father,” Yinreng interrupted. “I still do not trust these people. If they say they are time travelers then I think they should offer us proof.”
The emperor nodded. “It is a fair request my heir makes. May we witness how you travel?”
Again, Matt looked to Jia.
She shrugged. “Just . . . travel forward a few minutes?”
Matt took out his compass. Yinreng stepped closer, trying to get a look, but Matt didn’t want him to see it for some reason. He kept it cupped in his hand and tilted toward his chest as he turned the time dial just one click forward. He was sucked away, and then a moment later (but perhaps five minutes for the others) reappeared. He was a little off-balance, but Jia caught him by the arm.
The emperor clapped his hands. “Remarkable!” he said excitedly. “Well done.”
Yinreng looked stunned. He clearly didn’t believe that Matt could time-travel, but now that he did, Matt wasn’t sure he was glad of it. He thought he could see the wheels turning in Yinreng’s mind, plotting. He tucked the compass beneath his robe.
“Oh, thank goodness,” Gaga said, clutching at her chest. “I thought you’d disappeared for good. Just like Marcus.”
“Who’s Marcus?” Haha asked.
“Our son!” Gaga said.
Uncle Chuck shook his head. “You mean Mathis?”
“Mathis? No, that’s not his name. Don’t you think I know my own son’s name?”
Matt opened his mouth to correct them, then felt a sudden fog descend upon his mind, and he promptly forgot what he wanted to say. He shook his head. His brain felt so fuzzy.
“Who are your other companions?” the emperor asked. “I assume they also traveled through time with you?”
Matt nodded. He introduced Gaga as his grandmother, Haha as his grandfather, and Uncle Chuck as his uncle. If the emperor was confused at all about their age differences, he didn’t show it. Perhaps he had guessed that in cases of time travel, these sorts of things were not unusual.
“And you are?” the emperor asked, now addressing Albert.
“He’s a friend,” Matt said quickly, before Albert could introduce himself as a hostage or enemy. It would have been more accurate, but he felt that would needlessly complicate things. When the emperor came to Belamie, though, Matt faltered. He looked to Jia for help, but she didn’t seem to know what to say any more than he did. How was he supposed to introduce his mother who didn’t remember him or believe she was his mother? Belamie, sensing their hesitation, seized the moment to make her own introduction. She stepped forward and bowed before the emperor.
“I am Captain Belamie Bonnaire, of the ship Vermillion,” she said in somewhat stilted Chinese. “I have traveled very far in order to speak with Your Majesty and hopefully gain some of your knowledge and wisdom.”
“I am honored,” the emperor said. “I should be very glad to share any wisdom that I can. After I eat. No one is wise when hungry.” With that he turned and stepped up to his elevated seat, assisted by two servants, leaving Belamie looking a bit confused.
After the emperor was seated, Matt and the others were led to their seats as well. Yinreng was seated to the right of the emperor, Jia to his left. Matt sat next to Jia, and his grandmother sat next to him and Haha next to her. Belamie, Uncle Chuck, and Albert were seated on the other side, with Belamie seated farthest away from the emperor, which clearly annoyed her. She glared at Matt with something like jealousy. It pricked his heart and made him just a little afraid.
As soon as they were all seated, a whole parade of servants poured into the room with steaming dishes. They set them carefully on the table, bowing to the emperor before they left.
Matt was amazed at the feast
