"My Lord is a Stone"《我家君王是石头》Chapter 4

Using tremendous strength did the emperor then came out of the small crack, seeing a wide courtyard, the snow which had formerly covered him had been swept cleanly, it was because at that time the snow was so thick, he jumped once and he would sink back in once, that’s when he discovered he had no way of getting free, now there was no snow, there was no longer anything to trap him, moreover the kitchen where the alluring smell of food was still emitting from was not far away.

And this smell simply made people…the emperor hesitated slightly then bounced towards the kitchen.

Zhao Jin Yu was cooking just at that time, cured meat stewed with radish was cooking on the kitchen stove, the fragrance of the cured meat seeped into the distinctly sweet radish, the sauce was an art, there was a different kind of fragrance wafting all around, enticing people.

Zhao Jin Yu took a deep breath, showing a happy expression, she couldn’t help whisper, “It’ll be ready soon, just add a bit more heat.” The kitchen stove’s fire was linked to the underground heating in the house, burning it sufficiently would make the house nice and warm, very warm, only a few days before there wasn’t enough firewood, that’s why it had been saved…, this time Zhao Jin Yu heartlessly moved the table from the outer room to here, using an axe she split it for firewood to burn.

She almost froze to death, and did not care about these furniture, Zhao Jin Yu optimistically thought.

Zhao Jin Yu washed the big soup bowl, and stewing it for fifteen minutes she then lifted the lid open, using chopsticks to pick up a piece of cured meat to eat, delicious flavour immediately flooded her mouth, she couldn’t help beam muttering, “So delicious!”

Ladling out the food she placed it beside the kitchen stove, originally she had thought about eating it immediately but thought of the neighbouring Wen Shi, today at the bottom of the basket Wen Shi had given her was treasure, under the radishes there was a bag of rice, and a fist size marinated lump of beef, four boiled eggs, when she saw it she truly did not know what to feel.

She should send a dish over, even if it wasn’t anything good, but it was still a thought.

Zhao Jin Yu found a clean bowl from the cupboard, packing the food tightly she left, what she didn’t know was, the moment she took a step out, the stone came along bouncing, = =.

　***

On the other side Zhang Zhi Shi and Wen Shi was just receiving a visitor.

Zhang Zhi Shi’s surname was Zhang with a single word name of Yao, Zhi Shi was his position at Tianfu, Zhang Yao’s ancestors were merely local farmers who lived off their lands, in Zhang Yao’s generation he surprising appeared a seed which liked to study, before he turned twenty he passed the highest imperial civil service exam, but he was only a third rank candidate who passed the imperial exam, naturally different from Zhao Jin Yu’s father Zhao Chang Chun, Zhao Chang Chun was a second rank candidate, in the first year they were positioned as Zhi Shi in Tianfu, in the end Zhao Chang Chun was promoted to prefectural judge in the second year, five years later Zhang Yao was still a Zhi Shi, Zhao Chang Chun however was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue as a fifth ranked ministry councillor.

Who would have imagined he whose future seemed limitless, in a wink because of an implication against high official, a life which brought new honours would suddenly become cold and miserable.

Taking advantage while the visitor had gone to wash his hands and face, Wen Shi carried and placed the prepared dishes on the table, she couldn’t help speak of Zhao Yun Ji’s matter, “Perhaps his wife is also hard hearted, even if she’s an adopted child, she still brought her up for nine years, how can she just up and leave? How does she expect that young girl Jin Yu to live?” Wen Shi gentle temperament rarely would complain about other people behind their backs like this, at this moment is was evident she felt Zhao Jin Yu was truly pitiful, again saying, “I went to see her today, the entire courtyard was completely empty, just like that the young girl stood alone getting rid of the snow, her face so cold it was very red, holding a broom as tall as her shoulders she worked as if she didn’t know how to be tired, seeing me she still cheerfully called out to me, appearing to not feel sad at all, but is she really not sad? She merely has a kind-hearted temperament who didn’t want to complain that’s all, she truly is very pitiful.” Wen Shi talking up to here her eyes reddened, recalling the image of when Zhao Jin Yu was young beaming and calling her auntie, “Master, why don’t you think of a solution? If it wasn’t for those two brats being too young to marry, I really would marry her into the family as a daughter-in-law.”

Zhang Yao silently took in a mouthful of tobacco, breathing out a smoke ring, thinking about the situation Wen Shi spoke of he was also rather sympathetic, he agreed, “In a moment I’ll ask Qing Chen.”

The Qing Chen Zhang Yao spoke of was the guest they were receiving this time, he was a child adopted by Zhang Yao’s parents, younger than Zhang Yao four or five years, supposedly he had an important position nowadays, but each time he came he dressed commonly, so Wen Shi never knew what position he held.

Wen Shi hearing this finally revealed a smile, eyes full of tender feelings, extremely tenderly, said, “Master.”

Zhang Yao could somewhat not stand his wife’s gaze, softly coughing he moved away from her line of sight, cheeks somewhat red.

After a short while Su Qing Chen returned having washed his face and hands, he was very young, appearing around twenty-five or six, wearing a common fine cotton gown, but an acute gaze, calm expression, a kind of imposing manner of someone high positioned all year round, seeing Zhang Yao with a gentle expression he yelled, “Older brother.”

Zhang Yao expression smoothed out, his smile extended from the corner of his eyes to the corner of his lips, saying, “It’s cold outside, quickly come onto the kang.”

Su Qing Chen got onto the kang, seeing Wen Shi’s greeting he yelled, “Sister-in-law.”

Wen Shi beamed saying, “Just a few days ago you said you would be away for a while, why did you suddenly send a letter saying you had already entered the city? You must know your older brother was extremely happy receiving you letter, are you hungry? I’ve prepared a lot of dishes for you, it’s all things that can’t be presented in public, don’t dislike it.”

Su Qing Chen cold eyes somewhat softened, saying, “How can I dislike it, I like sister-in-law’s dishes the most, thank you sister-in-law.”

Wen Shi hearing Su Qing Chen’s words only felt very joyous, a smile filled her face, saying, “We’re family why are you being polite, I’ll go bring you some warm wine.”

Wen Shi heated up the wine and brought it over, and took the overcoat Su Qing Chen had taken off on the edge of the kang about to hang it on a clothes hook, just as she picked it up she saw the sword underneath it, the slight bend of the end of a sword, hung a bright yellow tassel, very beautiful, even an amateur like Wen Shi could see this sword was not ordinary, Wen Shi however paled like when she saw anything terrifying.

This was clearly a xiuchun[1] sword! Only Embroidered Uniform Guards can carry the sword!

Wen Shi thoughts surged, raising her head she met Su Qing Chen’s pair of eyes which could see through people’s thoughts, he smiled at Wen Shi very kindly, Wen Shi originally tense mood immediately relaxed, her heart thought, no matter what this person’s identity is outside, at home she was her husband’s younger brother, and was her younger brother, what was she afraid of?

With such a thought she was once again relieved, she nodded her head slightly at Su Qing Chen then went to the kitchen.

Waiting until Wen Shi left, Zhang Yao bitterly laughed, “It looks like my wife knows of your identity, younger brother, don’t blame your sister-in-law.”

Su Qing Chen smiled indifferently, saying, “Back then if it wasn’t uncle who offered me shelter, I might not have survived up to now, speaking like that older brother are you treating me like an outsider?”

Aged nine a very respected young son of an official had suddenly arrived at Zhang Yao’s home, his parents had treated him with reverent and respect, at the beginning he had found it awkward, in general thinking his parents were too biased, anything tasty and fun would be set aside for him first, only later he had once seen him sneakily cry wrapped up in his quilt, then did he know even though he was of noble birth, however because something bad happened at home, his parents had died, he had become an orphan at an earlier time, the Zhang family and his family had some sort of relationship, and it was also by coincidence that they took him into their home

Children do not hold grudges, fighting and arguing, very quickly they also became friends, again later Zhang Yao was only able to study all because of the wealth left behind by Su Qing Chen’s family, when they grew up, Zhang Yao passed the imperial exam, and Su Qing Chen had actually given up the imperial exam and chose another more arduous path.

Zhang Yao knew Su Qing Chen’s family background was not simple, when his parents died it was still a great subject best avoided, fearing he would choose the path of an Embroidered Uniform Guard, a path feared by people but could not in fact look up to for the sake of revenge soon.

Now he was the emperor’s trusted aide, the Embroidered Uniform Guards left commander, and considered to be an important position to fulfil his desire, only it wasn’t clear whether his families revenge could be taken…

He knew Su Qing Chen did not like him to get involved with his matters fearing it would implicate him, therefore he didn’t ask, he was useless, he was as skilled as his younger brother, but he thought, he was settled and secure here, when Su Qing Chen wanted to settle down, he would allow him to come back, as long as he steps in the house door he would protect him completely with his life.

Having eaten the food, drank two cups of wine, Su Qing Chen’s expression however became more and more serious, holding the wine cup, gloomily he said, “This time the emperor’s anger is abnormal, not just me, even that Qin Hong guard dog has been summoned into the palace.”

Zhang Yao frowned slightly, saying, “What exactly has made you two actually work together? I heard my colleagues say the palace has lost an extraordinary thing, and do not know if it’s true or not.” Zhang Yao felt this matter was somewhat strange, the things inside the imperial palace were precious, but the emperor experienced and acknowledgeable would unlikely go as far as to be this angry because of a thing, that’s why this matter seemed rather unusual, if it’s something he really wants, apart from the imperial jade seal, he truly could not think of anything else, but could the imperial jade seal be so easily lost?

Those unorthodox historical records were written some chivalrous person broke into the palace at night stealing and switching a picture of the deceased and what not…to him it seemed like outright nonsense, there were experts outside the palace, those inside the palace were useless? Ignoring the fact that no more than ten steps there would be a posted imperial guard, even the hidden guards the emperor raised were incomparable to an ordinary person.

Su Qing Chen did not keep Zhang Yao in the dark either, saying, “It’s a stone.”

“Stone?”

Zhang Yao didn’t understand even more, because of a stone two forever sworn enemies were put together? Su Qing Chen was the Embroidered Uniform Guards left commander, and Qin Hong was the Embroidered Uniform Guards right commander, one was a eunuch from Tanei, the other was an although declined but born of an influential family’s descendant, the emperor placing the two of them in the same position was merely for the purpose of check and balance, afraid one family would have all the power, but the two of them had already long ago regarded the other person as a thorn in their side, the emperor seemed to also know the two of them had contradicting views and very rarely sent them on the same mission.

“Right, just a stone.” Su Qing Chen had a portrait of the stone in his hand, but with just this it was undoubtedly looking for a needle in a haystack, he very rarely felt something was difficult to carry out, whatever he does so long as it leaves behind a scar, even if it wastes quite a lot of effort, with the mindset he would in the end find it, but this time he nevertheless felt it was very thorny, the thing he had to find was a Yuhua stone with no distinctive trait whatsoever…, he dared to bet, this type of stone asking at random a basketful of exactly the same could be found.

But thinking of the imperial decree, he again felt, even if thistles and thorns were filled in front of him, he still needs to go through it, Su Qing Chen has never seen such a furious emperor in this way, in the past even if the emperor was however angry that it wouldn’t dissipate he would only stare at you coldly, very controlled, in the end this time he truly worriedly saw the anger spread to the emperor’s eyes, like a volcano no longer able to be supressed unable to erupt.

Actually what Su Qing Chen did not know was…, the stone he so wants to find was next door to him.

Waiting until Zhao Jin Yu had left, the emperor bounce by bounce reached the side of the kitchen stove, seeing the food emitting an appetising smell in the bowl, he only felt saliva flow.

On one hand he felt he as an emperor, it was so despicable that he would actually be attracted to this sort of rustic food, however on the other side he again felt the girl in this house had been hateful to him first, she had to be punished, he simply did not think…as a stone in the end he didn’t even have a mouth how was he able to eat, = =.

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[1] Part of the Embroidered Uniform Guards outfit

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T/N: As I've mentioned before this is going to be long translation for me but I really have enjoyed it so far, it's well written and challenges >_<

Please share your views on this because I can tell this is going to be a good story