"My Lord is a Stone"《我家君王是石头》Chapter 10

Zhao Jin Yu very naturally said, “I’m called Zhang Hong…” Speaking up to here it was like a cat bit her tongue and she abruptly stopped, some unease flashed pass her face.

“Zhang Hong? Why does it sound like a man’s name?” The emperor was very certain this girl in front of him was not guarding against him, but this name however said did not sound like a girl’s name.

Zhao Jin Yu turned around with her back to the stone, pulling the quilt over her head, her voice came out vaguely from the bedding, “I’m going to sleep, little thing, give me a break.”

The emperor only saw the back of Zhao Jin Yu’s head, immediately an anger rose in his chest, chidingly saying, “Impudent, we are asking you a question!”

Zhao Jin Yu seemed to be able to feel the stone’s furious shaking, sighing, like amusing a child, she turned her head using her cheek to rub against the stone, tenderly saying, “Little thing, you’re temper is really bad, that Hong is the Hong in Amaranthus.” There was a kind of indescribable reminiscence rippling in her tone, this mood was faint, hardly detectable.

Her soft skin close to his, smooth, warm, the emperor had wanted to scold her for not having a sense of honour, but thinking there were still things he needed answers to, he could only endure it, his voice nevertheless very unconsciously lowered, asking, “Why did your parents give you such a name?”

“Because I was born by Amaranthus…” Zhao Jin Yu did not think in a moment she would carelessly inform him of her modern name, as a result she spoke more and more, if she really made people think she was a time traveller that would not be good, of course it wasn’t that she didn’t think the stone spirit wouldn’t understand, after all its existence was exactly in defiance of the natural order, she simply was very instinctively protective of herself aware of problems, she hurriedly stopped, tapping the stone, saying, “Why do you have so many questions?”

She thought maybe she was slow to recover from her previous sleeping state, and it could be because tomorrow she needed to visit her adoptive father Zhao Chang Chun, she was feeling somewhat gloomy, anyhow she couldn’t carry on talking about it, reaching out she took the stone into her bosom, placing it at her chest, just like holding it “Shush, close your eyes and rest.” Zhao Jin Yu dreaded she had been by herself for too long, a little stone against her chest, a bit of warmth would surprisingly rush through her heart, as if embracing this stone spirit, she would not appear alone.

Unimaginably soft plumpness surrounded him, unconsciously her body fragrance assailed his nose, sweet, through her clothes he could feel a bosom very beautiful like a peach, type…, in this lifetime the emperor had never experienced such a thing, suddenly he couldn’t help it, “You woman, do you actually have a sense of honour?” He couldn’t help explode shouting, he had said these words many times today, he also was annoyed saying it, but he really couldn’t find a more suitable phrase, “We have told you before, we are a man!”

Zhao Jin Yu seemed to think the emperor’s flustered and exasperated expression was very amusing, she couldn’t help tease, “A man, then change into one for me to see?” Zhao Jin Yu was very certain this stone belonged to a very low level stone spirit, because it didn’t have any magical powers, what more it could only come alive at night when Yang was low, naturally the most significant thing was, if this stone really had profound magical powers, on the basis of his temper, certainly it would not allow her to have an easy time, but currently, apart from moving its lips to get angry he did nothing else.

The emperor frowned, the fact is he could not say anything…, should he directly tell her, he wasn’t a stone spirit?

Zhao Jin Yu used her finger to stroke the stone, saying, “Little thing, you really are very disagreeable, don’t bring trouble on yourself, I don’t mind allowing you to eat tofu,[1] behave, sleep early.”

The emperor took several deep breaths, deciding to ignore and drop this question, asking, “Then nevertheless tell us, where is your home?”

“Capital”

The emperor scowled angrily.

Zhao Jin Yu smiled, once again carefully covering the stone with the quilt, closing her eyes she said, 

“Sleep.” Afterwards no matter how noisy the emperor was she only pretended not to hear, the 

emperor was so angry his nose wrinkled unable to smooth out, although Zhao Jin Yu did not guess the emperor’s identity correctly, she however was right in some things, that is the apart from being able to the talk, the emperor really had no power to threaten her.

Monodramas were very boring, in the end the emperor himself also felt exhausted, maybe it’s because Zhao Jin Yu’s flesh was too soft, and maybe it’s that indistinct fragrance was too soothing, of course the emperor himself thought, the quilt was so warm, he was also full, if he didn’t sleep was he to go outside in the cold wind? Sleep…

Very soon the emperor also fell asleep.

In this snowy night, the girl and stone very closely together entered into sweet dreams.

***

Early next morning, Su Qing Chen and Qin Hong who had accepted an order from the imperial palace came out looking grave, yesterday it snowed the entire night, it just stopped in the morning, bone chilling wind, breathes carried a white mist, Su Qing Chen wearing chinchilla fur was warm, to 

Qin Hong he said, “Even though I don’t dare to guess the emperor’s thoughts, but I think…” Su Qing Chen said up to here then broke off, succeeding in getting Qin Hong’s attention.

Qin Hong wearing very bright white fox fur for warmth, the hem of his robes also had extremely showy light yellow tassels, matching with his originally too beautiful and refined appearance, a kind of elegance that people cannot move their gaze from.

“What?” Qin Hong languidly asked, when it comes to what Su Qing Chen couldn’t stand the most…, that was Qin Hong’s lavish shortcoming, all his food and clothing were exquisite and beautiful, but if it wasn’t the best he won’t have it, if it wasn’t the most beautiful he also didn’t want it, even more not to mention every year the most popular fashion and designs in the capital were all lead by him, a eunuch…, zeze, every time he thought up to here he would feel sick like he had swallowed a housefly.

“Even if we know the person’s name, but we Hanzhen have lived in peace and worked happily since the founding of the dynasty, honesty prevails throughout society, so the population of this capital exceeds millions, just starting by looking through the census register without more than ten days we won’t find it, even after we find it, that person could actually run off before.” Although Su Qing Chen did not want to handle this matter with Qin Hong, but after the two of them had been hit five times by the emperor…, they weren’t given the full twenty hits because he was afraid the two of them would not be able to walk at all, falling ill on bed without strength to do their jobs, however the punishment was recorded on an account, saying each day they didn’t find anything would be recorded, day by day, even if it only drags on for ten days, that would also be two hundred hits, wouldn’t those two people be hit to death?

With such a thought, the best way was for the two people to discard their former hatred and join forces.

Evidently Qin Hong knew about this, that’s why he did not conceal things as before, muttering to himself irresolutely, saying, “His Majesty is wise, bestowing me a commoner the ability to live in peace and work happily, this really is my country’s fortune.” Qin Hong finished and earnestly bowed towards the palace where the emperor lived.

Su Qing Chen seeing Qin Hong’s placid actions, cursed him as a boot-licker in his mind, however he still could only bow with him.

Qin Hong watched Su Qing Chen inwardly hold back, but nevertheless followed his actions, happiness couldn’t help bloom in his heart, eventually they reached the main issue saying, “Lord Su feels the emperor ought to recognise that girl called Zhang Hong right?”

“Correct.”

“You also want to ask, why not draw a portrait?”

Su Qing Chen actually already had an answer in his mind, but that answer made him feel it was 

somewhat inconceivable, if it was before he would have naturally he would get someone to make discreet inquiries, but at this moment since Qin Hong and he had to work together, moreover Qin Hong was from the imperial palace, before he commanded the Embroidered Uniform Guards he served the emperor, he was the hardest to understand, naturally he tried to worm facts out of him first, hearing Qin Hong’s words, he cupped his hands, modestly saying, “Please may the Lord show the right path.”

If it was before Qin Hong with such an opportunity would certainly ridicule Su Qing Chen, however this was not the time to wrangle, with clear eyes he looked at Qin Hong, saying, “Lord Qin does know the whole story, but actually feel it’s somewhat hard to believe.”

“Can it be true?”

Qin Hong nodded, looking towards the distant palace covered and hidden in snow, saying, “Exactly that.”

It was extremely quiet all around, the two people did not speak for quite a while, only when Su Qing Chen’s subordinates came to accept an order did the two people once again started talking, Qin Hong muttered, “It’s just like what I and Lord Su agreed on before, our men will split, Lord Su go to the Ministry of Revenues to check the list of names, I’ll put a night curfew into effect, search from house to house.” In fact a few days ago the two of them had thought of searching from house to house, only just searching based on the appearance of the stone was no doubt finding a needle in a haystack, therefore they had dropped it, now in any case they knew the taboo name, always a lot better than before.

Regardless of the fact Qin Hong and Su Qing Chen were splitting up to handle this matter, inside the palace it was nevertheless extremely quiet in the Wuling palace hall, without a trace of noise, Rui Fu’s expressionlessly stood guarding the door, even if his fingers were frozen rigid he would not move at bit.

Inside the study came the sound of the emperor kneading paper into a ball, it happened again after a while…, repeatedly.

It gradually darkened outside, Rui Fu somewhat anxiously and frightened the emperor had already been worn down for an afternoon, after having his afternoon meal he had not come out. He ought to almost be done right? He thought…, only he honestly did not have the courage to go in and look.

As expected a short time passed, the emperor came out from the room, bright yellow luxurious dragon robe glistened and dazzled under the afterglow of the setting sun, making his handsomeness and nobility stand out even more, eminent and unapproachable, but the emperor’s face was extremely gloomy, rigidly scaring people that they shudder.

“Your Majesty, Ningguo princess seeks an audience”

A trace of violence flashed through the emperor’s eyes, asking, “What?”

With a glance Rui Fu knew Ningguo princess was out of luck, but it didn’t show at all on his face, saying, “Still because of that serious high officials corruption case.”

“Humph.” The emperor sneered, gaze increasingly gloomy and cold.

Ningguo princess is the emperor’s younger sister born of the same parents, appearance very similar to the previous emperor, slender eyes, slightly thin oval face, the most favoured princess when the previous emperor was alive, even incomparable to the then crown prince.

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[1] To flirt, to tease or to molest/take advantage.