"My Lord is a Stone"《我家君王是石头》Chapter 1

T/N: Surprise (ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ I thought I'd give this novel a go, it won't be updated as frequently as `Wife I Want to Eat Meat` at the moment...hope you enjoy and give me some feedback on what you think so far! 

P.S. An update will be on schedule tomorrow.

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In the heavy dark night, northern wind whistled, great snow swirled in the air, a cold and moist feeling emitted in the air, even wearing a fur robe it would still feel like it was unable to block the wind chill, but he emperor who resided in the Wuling Palace nevertheless did not burn the underfloor heating, all alone he only lit a lamp, the entire palace appeared utterly void and emptily silent.

Sun Gui Ren was escorted by two palace maids to the doors of Wuling Palace, to the two young palace eunuchs on duty he gently said: “I heard the emperor caught a winter chill these few days, I simply cannot truly be at ease, I personally made white fungus and snow pear soup, wanting to serve it to His Majesty to drink, please eunuch pass on the message to the emperor. The two palace maids which had followed her here, one carried a small food box, clearly it held the white fungus soup, the other palace maid at lightning speed took out two embroidered pouches from her sleeves passing it to the palace eunuch, its meaning was naturally self-evident.

The court eunuch San Bao did not even look at those heavy embroidered pouches, instead beaming he looked at Sun Gui Ren for quite a while, a keen perception in his eyes, only seeing Sun Gui Ren could not withstand the scrutiny, she blushed, then paled…, finally it was still the palace eunuch Gao Zhi at the side who couldn’t stand it anymore, using his arm to prod San Bao to indicate he should stop before it went too far, immediately turning his head to smile at Sun Gui Ren, saying, “Sun Gui Ren wait a moment, this slave will inform the emperor.”

In a mere moment Men Gao Zhi followed another palace eunuch Rui Fu serving inside, out, Rui Fu expressionlessly said: “The emperor has an announcement for Sun Gui Ren.”

Sun Gui Ren was simply pleased beyond her expectations, it was said it was extremely difficult to get along with the emperor, and was temperamental, and he himself did not like to do useless things, who knew it was unexpectedly this easy to obtain the chance to meet the emperor, thinking about the other imperial concubines who entered the palace at the same time merely painfully waiting in the palace for the emperor to copulate with them, she however was going to take a step first, only thinking that this move seemed brazen, but was extremely dependable.

With such thoughts her face revealed a somewhat content expression, appearing as if only she steps into here then she’ll immediately be favoured, then she would live the life everyone envied, she urgently wanted to see the emperor, her footsteps were somewhat impatient, she actually forgot to thank Gao Zhi, that’s why she simply did not see Gao Zi’s acute with a little bit of pity gaze, also San Bao’s eyes held mocking and ridicule.

Sun Gui Ren was taken to the emperor’s inner room where he dwelled by the palace eunuch Rui Fu, soon after the red sandalwood inlayed with glass doors closed shutting her inside the room.

It was extremely quiet inside, bone-chilling cold, but there wasn’t a single brazier, even though Sun Gui Ren was flabbergasted yet she was also strong and calm, bearing the chilliness she walked in, going round the screen she saw a young man sat on the couch placed in the middle, at that moment he was enjoying a cup of wine, his slender and beautiful ten fingers held an ice patterned blue and white porcelain wine cup, representing the most honourable bright yellow dragon robe covered the man’s tall and perfectly straight body, his elegant face concealed in the gloomy light…, hazy candle-light, obscure contours, made this scene like a painting.

Sun Gui Ren almost held her breathe, she had already long before heard before the emperor ascended the throne the praise that he was the number one handsomest man in Hanzhen dynasty, at that time she had thought it was just the praise of people, no one could have thought this tilted face would captivate people like this.

Her heart couldn’t help palpitate.

After a moment, Sun Gui Ren then drummed up her courage and walked over carrying the small food box, approaching the emperor with a graceful posture happily, she said, “Greetings Your Majesty.”

The emperor lifted his head to glance at Sun Gui Ren, only this glance actually made Sun Gui Ren’s movements stiffen, the emperor’s eyes were indifferent and icy, there was a kind of invisible pressure forced on someone.

“Come here pour wine for us.” The emperor also did not undulate, however it was deep and low and gorgeous, absolutely beautiful.

Sun Gui Ren returned to her senses, taking in a deep breath she stepped forward to pour wine for the emperor, the emperor only drank and not speak, Sun Gui Ren saw that even though the emperor was dignified as if made by heaven, but he wasn’t that hard to get close to, she even plucked up the courage to pick food for the emperor, again seeing the emperor eat it, her heart in excitement she took out and presented the white fungus and snow pear soup she had made, delicately saying: “Your Majesty, this is the soup I personally made, I heard Your Majesty had gotten a winter chill these last few days, snow pear soup can clear the lungs and supress coughing, even though this craftmanship isn’t good, however it still holds my kind feelings, please sample it still Your Majesty.” Having finished speaking she bashfully presented the five coloured[1] lotus pond with kingfisher patterned soup bowl in front of the emperor.

The emperor smiled indifferently, simply his eyes were actually too cold and detached, making people feel cold to the bones with that smile compared to without a smile, she really did not understand, the emperor such an elegant person, how can he just with one expression in his eyes be filled with such anger, flinching she fell back a step.

“Since it’s your kind feelings, you should first give it to the Empress Dowager.”

Sun Gui Ren thought of the Empress Dowager who was ill and not able to see visitors all year round, she considerably somewhat did not understand his meaning, could it be she was to deliver this to the Empress Dowager’s Hechun Palace?

A tint of cruelty arose in the emperor’s eyes, twinkling with a kind of excitement, pointing at the red sandalwood bed carved with dragons and phoenixes to one side, he said, “The Empress Dowager is over there, you should take it over.”

At this dark of night the Dowager Empress was in the emperor’s Wuling palace? And lying down on the emperor’s bed?

Sun Gui Ren had a few not too reassuring premonitions, however under the emperor’s gaze she could only put on a brave face and carry the soup bowl over, outside the bed frame were thick hibiscus coloured satin mosquito nets, layer upon layer, covering it securely, only faintly able to see a person lying inside, she only thought everything was extremely weird, unsettled she shot a glance at the emperor, but seeing his eyebrows raised gravely and sternly, with a kind of acute natural dignity and power, intimidating her heart to burst in fear.

“Sun Gui Ren?” The emperor’s voice wasn’t high or low, but it was like a sharp sword penetrating the body, causing fear.

Sun Gui Ren gritted her teeth, shaking she lifted aside the curtain.

The snow outside fell even heavier, even a lantern under the roof was not lit, the entire Wuling palace appeared emptily silent and immersed in darkness, suddenly, a pointed female voice could be heard inside the quiet Wuling palace, it was frightening like it came from the depth of one’s soul, terrifying and deathly, Gao Zi and San Bao guarding the doors looked at each other, revealing an understanding expression, but scared the two palace maids who remained outside, they couldn’t help shudder and ask: “Eunuch, that seems to sound like our lady…”

San Bao evilly laughed, saying: “If you want to live, then forget what happened tonight.”

The two maids kneeled on the spot, lips trembling, but not daring to say a word.

They unconsciously thought of the rumours about the emperor, it is said that he killed his father and brothers to then ascend the title of emperor, his methods more ruthless than the people before, imprisoning the people who had opposed him before as swine in prison cells containing water, and released vipers inside, tormenting them every day, wearing them down to death a little bit, this was still not considered brutal, even more malicious was he liked to drink people’s blood, many imperial concubines who entered Wuling palace, came out a dried corpse, even if they were lucky enough to come out alive if they were not scared to death then they were sent to the disused palace by the emperor and soon after become deranged…, doesn’t everything already point to disaster for Sun Gui Ren?

Could it be those rumours were true? Then could they who had witnessed everything still live?

The snow fell forming a thick layer, stepping on it, the entire ankle would sink in, at the moment when the two maids thought they would kneel to their death here, Wuling palace’s doors were opened with a creaking sound, Rui Fu supported the deathly pale, dishevelled hair Sun Gui Ren out, actually rather than support, it was more appropriate to use the word drag, because Sun Gui Ren appeared to be hanging from Rui Fu’s body.

Sun Gui Ren had a lifeless look in her eyes, like she had lost her soul, on her fair wrist there was a bloodstained contusion, seeing this the rim of the two maid’s eyes reddened, however they didn’t dare to cry, scared of irritating the palace eunuchs into being unhappy, even more scared the emperor inside the Wuling palace would be furious, stepping forward they took Sun Gui Ren from Rui Fu expressing thanks at once, “Many thanks eunuch.” Following which they seemed to think of something, hurriedly taking out the embroidered pouches from their sleeves, perhaps they were too rushed, again maybe they were shaking too much in fear, all of a sudden they pulled out four or five embroidered pouches, putting all of them in Rui Fu’s hands.

The two maids supporting Sun Gui Ren left, her slim figure from behind dragged out a long, long shadow on the snow, soon it could not be seen.

San Bao watched the distant Sun Gui Ren, coldly saying, “She’s actually very lucky.” As a result after he spoke he saw Rui Fu gloomily sweep over him once, immediately he closed his mouth.

When Rui Fu once again returned to the inner room, the emperor stood straight with his hands behind his back standing by the window, he shot a glance at the emperor’s bed to one side, that mosquito net had already been lifted open, inside the sound of painful groans could be heard intermittently, wine cup and dishes fell scattered on the floor, and there was a great puddle terrible mess of blood, he however had his head lowered, eyes without a trace of billows, walking quietly on tiptoes he reached the front of the emperor, saying, “Your Majesty, it’s late, you should go to sleep early.”

Rui Fu said it three times before the emperor turned his head, his handsome appearance was faintly discernible in the night, because there was a layer of blood on his face, he appeared particularly evil in the dark, he suddenly stated, “Rui Fu, tell us why we always haven’t been able to sleep recently?”

Rui Fu eyes held a bit more worry, and greatly different from his previously cold expression, his tone even more gentle he said, “The weather is colder these past few days Your Majesty, yet you also do not take your medicine on time, your body can’t bear it naturally it is difficult to fall asleep.” Immediately looking around the cold surrounding, wanting to say he ought to light the underground heating but in the end still swallowed down the words, changing his words, “Your Majesty reigns supreme,[2] it also attaches the most importance to the good health of the dragon body.”

The emperor faintly laughed, even though his eyes held a little bit of hidden mocking nevertheless introverted he had an aristocratic manner, and was incompatible with the bloodstain scene, when Rui Fu was holding his breath and waiting, he said, “I’ll listen to you.”

Rui Fu released his breath, already at an earlier time he had the inner servants arrange another side palace hall, the underground heating was burning hotly, a calming incense stick was lit emitting a fresh and clean lily fragrant, after the emperor freshened up he got into bed, while Rui Fu tucked the emperor into bed, he also rested a peach wood box by the emperor’s pillow, saying, “This is the safety buckle the great master Hui Zhen blessed last time.”

The emperor shot him a glance then quietly closed his eyes.

Different from before, this time the emperor very quickly entered into a dream, only what made him feel strange was that this dream was somewhat very peculiar, because right in front of him was a copper mirror, and his silhouette in the copper mirror was unexpectedly a stone.

The emperor was unable to take his eyes off the copper mirror staring at it for quite a while, eyes gradually filled with an astonished expression, after a good while he didn’t dare to believe it and closed his eyes, who knew when he once again opened his eyes, he was still where he was, the copper mirror vaguely reflected a white stone, emitting a smooth and round lustre under the moonlight, it was an absolutely beautiful Yuhua stone,[3] his eyes turned profound, using all his strength he moved his lower body, afterwards he saw the stone in the mirror also move once with a clatter, his mind sank.

What sort of witchcraft was this? Also maybe he was dreaming? The emperor was very shocked, bad premonitions flooded his train of thought!

The emperor’s gaze quickly looked all around, his gaze actually could only extend to the wall opposite him, but because he had the bronze mirror’s reflection, he could see more or less the entire room’s outline, this was clearly a lady’s chamber, even though the furniture was old-fashioned, the paint on the window almost all missing, issuing a thread of feeling of defeat, however it was still a very tidily decorated bedroom.

The bedroom and the outer room was separated by a cover which reached the ground, placed in the bedroom was an alcove bed[4] with crimson flower carvings, covered in a pale yellow light silk mosquito net, in the full moonlight a person could be seen lying inside the mosquito net, he didn’t know if it was his misperception, he seemed to be able to hear the shallow breathing of a girl.

Where was this? Who is she? How did he turn into a stone, instantaneously a lot of questions rushed into this mind.

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[1] White, black, red, yellow and blue.

[2]  Means "9 and 5 reign supreme". According to ancient Chinese beliefs, the number 9 ranks as the highest number, and the number 5 is a "middle" , or "central" number. Thus 9 and 5 together came to be regarded as a supreme combination which symbolized the emperor.

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuhua_Stone

[4] Search “Chinese alcove bed” for an image.