"My Lord is a Stone"《我家君王是石头》Chapter 38

The madam Mao Shi beat Zhao Xing Kun to a bloody nose and a swollen face, messy hair, Mao Shi’s very strength could be seen from this…, but Zhao Jin Yu felt there was a greater reason why no one dared to stop her, otherwise how could such an elderly lady like Mao Shi get past so many people? 

This also demonstrated how unpopular Zhao Xing Kun was.

According to reasoning, the madam hitting him, Zhao Xing Kun ought to extremely angry, he should make the madam know the rules of the family, a wife, even in the position of the grandmother, openly disrespecting the head of the family in such a way, so much so as to make an unreasonable scene in front of so many people, she truly lost her elegant demeanour, who knew before Zhao Xing Kun could issue such words, the madam fainted after her burst of anger, afterwards she laid down in the house not coming out, and not allowing Zhao Xing Kun to enter.

Doctors came and went, only saying the madam only suffered from pent-up frustrations and did not need medication, everyone actually knew the madam just took things too hard, it would be useless to take any medication, a wounded heart needed heart medication, whoever started the trouble had to end it.

However this time it was the madam who behaved inappropriately, it was already very rare for Zhao Xing Kun to not question his wife about her behaviour. How could he give in and sweet-talk his wife?

Zhao Jin Yu stood guarding in front of the madam, pouring tea, very busy, it wasn’t because people didn’t want to help, but the madam could not be persuade, she only saw Zhao Jin Yu, apart from her water she wouldn’t drink anyone else’s, apart from the quilt she gave her, everyone else was not allowed to get near her, she was very stubborn, having been here for a mere two days Zhao Jin Yu was aching all over, however thinking in the end she was her granddaughter after all, and was taking care of an madam, she could only bear it.

At night when the emperor woke up he saw Zhao Jin Yu sitting in the corner eating dinner with a pale face, on the table was an extra portion of food clearly for him.

Recently the emperor really liked the fried stuffed bean curd crust the Zhao family’s chef made, Zhao Jin Yu seeing the stone move knew it was awake, she said, “The fried stuff bean curd crust was just made, eat it while it’s hot.” She then removed the stone from her neck, untying the cord, placing it into clean water, “I still need to go serve grandmother in a bit, just tolerate it, eat quickly.”

The emperor was consoled by Zhao Jin Yu’s gentle touch, and soaking in the warm water, he only felt relaxed from head to toe, a trace of happiness rushed into his heart, it was actually sweeter than honey, he said, “It’s been a few days? That elderly lady still isn’t well?” The happier he felt the more he didn’t want Zhao Jin Yu to suffer, now seeing Zhao Jin Yu’s face becoming slightly thin, he wished he could grow a pair of arms to hold and console her for a while, then could he comfort his pained heart.

Zhao Jin Yu poked at the stone, teasingly saying, “What elderly lady? That is my grandmother, you can’t talk about her like that.”

“What grandmother? If she really was your grandmother how could she be willing for you to suffer like this? Has she got you on night duty?” The emperor took a bite of the fried stuffed bean curd crust, even though it was as tasty as usual, but because of his bad mood he didn’t feel well, he frowned slightly, saying, “Could it be I’m right?” His latter words held quite a lot of gloominess, making people feel a shiver.

Truthfully Zhao Jin Yu has been on night duty over these two days, at night she slept in the side room, the madam woke up several times at night, making it so she didn’t sleep well…, she was also a bit dizzy right now, really unwell, but when she thought of the madam holding her and crying pitifully, again her heart softened a lot, supposedly when grandfather asked for grandmother’s hand in marriage her family had not agreed at first, thinking there were too many people in the Zhao family, the relationships were complicated, who would have imagined grandfather had fallen for grandmother, he wanted to marry her no matter what, afterwards grandmother gave him an ultimatum, he had to promise not to take a concubine, she didn’t expect grandfather to agree straightaway, that’s how the marriage came about, that’s also why Zhao Xing Kun gained only one child Zhao Ying Guan in his middle age…, and later there was no other reason for an heir.

The madam had to bear it for a lifetime, because of the issue of an heir she could never raise her head in front of everyone, but she was still very proud in her heart, whenever anyone mentioned the Zhao family’s main branch they couldn’t help mention Zhao Xing Kun was henpecked, she felt that even though it was very challenging, but the married couple were of one heart, this was even rarer than anything else, who knew in a blink her persistence became a joke, it turns out several years ago Zhao 

Xing Kun had a child with someone else behind her back, and secretly sent it to be raised by the Zhao family, no wonder amongst so many people he happened to like Xiao Zhen Shan.

Thinking of such things how could the madam persevere? Even if she suffered from pent-up frustrations, it was hard to make peace…, so much so that the old woman grabbed hold of Zhao Jin Yu’s hand saying, if she hadn’t just found her, not at ease with leaving her alone in the Zhao family, she really thought about leaving, to find and reunite with her son.

“Don’t think say that, grandmother is also pitiful.” Zhao Jin Yu felt more and more woman in this era suffered a lot, in the modern age if a man had a mistress he would incur public wrath, spat by a thousand people, in this era they would only say you are being petty, not generous.

Zhao Jin Yu from the being a bystander to the current sympathetic person, as well as the madam’s dependence on her, her frame of mind was again somewhat different.

The emperor snorted saying, “You can be on night duty tonight!”

Zhao Jin Yu smiled, again picking up the shrimp from her bowl she placed it into the emperor’s bowl, saying, “Eat a bit more.”

The emperor saw Zhao Jin Yu only pretend not to hear, he was very frustrated, thinking he really shouldn’t have sent Su Qing Chen away so quickly…, otherwise he could have made him come here to stir things up, the Zhao family even though it had huge property, one of the top influential families, but they still couldn’t easily disregard such a left commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Su 

Qing Chen.

If Su Qing Chen heard the emperor’s thoughts at this moment he would have cried…, he also wanted to return okay?

Who would agree to find what snow lotus herb in the land of ice and snow? But these words were naturally too late, right now the emperor’s thoughts could not be used.

Even though An Wen Yao was the commander of his imperial guards, exceptionally outstanding, but his position was a secret so could not be seen, that’s why he was waiting for Qin Hong to arrive..., but the quickest way to get from the capital city to Hangzhou still took a month, that was even when taking the government boat without rest, Su Qing Chen had only left five or six days ago, even if he needed Qin Hong to carry out a job he would have to wait more than twenty days.

With such a thought, the emperor immediately felt there was no flavour in the fried stuffed bean curd crust he had just eaten.

Zhao Jin Yu saw the stone stop eating, she couldn’t help say, “What? Is it not nice?”

The emperor turned his head ignoring her, sort of lost in his own mind…, Zhao Jin Yu was very sensitive and could sense the emperor’s mood, helplessly she smiled, she coaxed, “Don’t be angry, 

I’ll see what happens today…, if grandmother sleeps well, I will order a maid to be on night duty.”

The emperor glanced at Zhao Jin Yu’s two very distinct dark circles, again he did not speak.

Zhao Jin Yu very well tempered coaxed, “I’m telling the truth, I actually can’t hold no much longer.” After she spoke it was like what she said was true, she yawned stretching up, “See, I’m so tired.” 

When Zhao Jin Yu saw the emperor did not soften with her words, she lowered her head kissing it.

The emperor’s face suddenly reddens, he said, “Anyway you can’t be on night duty tonight.” At this time if Zhao Jin Yu did not listen to him, he would have An Wen Yao carry her back even if she resists.

“I know.” Zhao Jin Yu replied.

At that moment Cui Yu’s voice came from outside the door, “Young lady, the madam is awake, she’s calling for you.”

“Then I’ll go over.” Zhao Jin Yu got up washing the stone she once gain wore it around her neck, then tidying up her clothes she walked out the door.

When she got to the madam’s room, she immediately smelled medicine, mixed with the smell of the maids all kinds of cosmetics, and food, there was an indescribable sickly feeling, although the doctor said she didn’t need medicine, but unable to stand the madam not eating or drinking, at night he prescribed a calming prescription.

Zhao Jin Yu frowned slightly, saying to Cui Yu, “Did you not open the windows like I asked you to just now?” Zhao Jin Yu had asked Cui Yu to open the windows to ventilate at night and in the morning.

Cui Yu lowered her head not saying anything, a slight dissatisfied look flashed on her face, she said, “Young lady, the madam is ill right now.” The meaning was clear without saying.

When Cui Yu finished speaking she felt something change in the air, the usually kind mannered Zhao Jin Yu had a cold expression, her heart trembled with fear, but very quick she regained her calm, granted that Zhao Jin Yu was the eldest young lady of the Zhao family, but where did she come from, how could she be as experienced and knowledgeable as she who grew up by the madam’s side? She has never heard an ill person’s windows should be opened, the cold air coming in, wouldn’t it make the madam’s illness worse?

The more Cui Yu thought about it the more she felt she was right, standing straight, prepared to confront Zhao Jin Yu, if she opened her mouth she could win Zhao Jin Yu over, as a granddaughter how could she not care about her grandmother’s health?

Who would have imagined Zhao Jin Yu only coldly looked at her, she said to a young maid at the side with a crimson silk waistband, “Ma Nao, go open the windows.” Then without looking at Cui Yu she entered the bedroom.

Ma Nao was the least outstanding amongst the young maids, her reaction was rather slow, but she was the most obedient, hearing Zhao Jin Yu’s instructions, she hurried to reply, “Young lady, I understand.” Afterwards with a few young maids she opened the windows to allow air to flow.

Cui Yu stood on the spot at her wit’s end, she looked at Zhen Zhu who she never got along with face her with a smirk, she felt wronged and thought this Zhao Jin Yu was quite a mystery, she ought to know she was doing it for her own good.

Zhao Jin Yu walked into the inner room, seeing the pale faced madam lying there, hearing footsteps did she then open her eyes, an uncontrollable joy filled her eyes when she saw her, she said, “Qing Luan, you’re here.”