"Exactly."
Qing Nü was satisfied with Yang You's attitude, but she walked up to him and smiled faintly. "However, I won't help you reclaim Great Sui Under Heaven. If you knelt before me for that reason, I think you can get up now."
Yang You was taken aback.
"Why?"
"Is that so hard to understand?"
Qing Nü asked in return.
Seeing that Yang You still looked bewildered, she continued, "Don't you know what your grandfather did after he ascended the throne?"
"This... I truly don't know."
Yang You shook his head, his expression blank as he glanced around.
One of the attendants thought hard, then realized something and whispered to Yang You, "Your Majesty! When Zhuang Emperor first took the throne, he once... once... ordered all the skilled craftsmen in the realm to come to Chang'an and carve a jade likeness of the Goddess. One was placed in Dragon Treasure Garden for worship, while another was taken into the palace..."
Zhuang Emperor was Yang Guang.
One who died in the wilderness was given the posthumous title Zhuang; one who repeatedly waged war was given the title Zhuang; one who was martial but failed to achieve his aims was given the title Zhuang.
Yang Guang, who died during his first expedition against Goguryeo, did suit that posthumous title. As for Yang Emperor, that title could only go to Yang Jian.
At this, Yang You understood.
"I was only one or two years old at the time, so I knew nothing of it. I beg Goddess to forgive me."
As he spoke, Yang You bowed to Qing Nü.
"Rise."
Qing Nü waved her hand.
Yang You straightened up and asked, "Since that's the case, what business does Goddess have in coming to see me?"
"Do you want to live?"
Qing Nü asked