"My Lord is a Stone"《我家君王是石头》Chapter 71

Inside the hibiscus coloured muslin canopy, the emperor held Zhao Jin Yu, his chin resting on the top of Zhao Jin Yu’s head, saying, “Don’t cry, your eyes will be swollen from crying, what will you do if it’s so painful that you can’t open them tomorrow?” Following which he again repeated the words he said just now about being wrong, “We were wrong, we shouldn’t have gotten angry at you.”

People are like this, they can reason objectively, and can maintain calm, but in front of the person they love they will always be a little childish, Zhao Jin Yu pouted, firmly inhaling through her nose, using her fist to beat the emperor’s chest, saying, “You still want to punish me.”

The emperor hearing Zhao Jin Yu’s playful and coquettish voice, only felt his heart grow soft, he hurriedly said, “When did we say we will punish you? How could we bear it?” He held Zhao Jin Yu’s small fist in his hand, placing it against his lips kissing it.

The emperor never imagined, one day, he would say these things he had once considered completely disdainful…, how could we bear it, how distressed we were and so on, but to Zhao Jin Yu, he seemed to have learned these words naturally, they came out very smoothly.

As it turns out it wasn’t that he wasn’t tender enough, it was because he had not met the right person?

Zhao Jin Yu saw the emperor as a toothless tiger, very tender and gentle, as sweet as honey, she said, “You still shouted at me before.”

“We were anxious…” The emperor stopped halfway seeing Zhao Jin Yu stare at him with her pair of round eyes, immediately his bad temper disappeared, he said, “Yes, it was our fault, everything is our fault.”

“Then can our consummation not be delayed until after the crowning?”

“…It can be.” The emperor said with clenched teeth.

“From now on you can’t take liberties.”

“…Fine.” The emperor said grinding his teeth.

Nanny Li listening around the corner for a while quietly left, until she came to the doorway and curled up shivering from the cold wind, then did she regain her senses, she couldn’t help firmly pinch herself, muttering, “I did see that right?”

Jin Yu was just about to ask nanny Li what happened, as a result she came to see nanny Li pinching herself, she asked baffled, “Nanny, what are you doing?”

Nanny Li saw the back of her hand pinched purple, grimacing in pain, she finally concluded it wasn’t a dream, turning her head she saw Jin Yu looking at her confused, she coughed deeply, saying, 

“Nothing.” Following which he couldn’t help laugh hehe, laughing and crying, the tears tumbling down along her cheeks.

Jin Yu turned pale with fright, saying, “Nanny, what is wrong? If you’re not well go see the imperial physician, don’t endure it.” After she looked like she was going to push open the doors to enter the inner room, “I will ask niangniang to give a tablet, otherwise we will not be able to invite a physician at such a time.”

“Don’t go.” Nanny Li pulled on Jin Yu’s hand, smiling amiably, she said, “I’m happy.” Then she looked at the far away crescent moon, her gaze distant, “Our madam can finally close her eyes and pass contently, our eldest young lady has met her husband.”

At this moment Jin Yu finally understood a little, she said, “His Majesty really didn’t punish niangniang?” What happened just now, Jin Yu wasn’t there, so she only heard it from others.

“Exactly.” Nanny Li smiled contently, saying, “This sort of man would only favour such a woman when he has set his eyes on her, spoiled like this, how strong-headed is niangniang? She actually refused to serve him in bed…, yet His Majesty still hated for niangniang to be angry.” Nanny Li recalled how the emperor had faced Zhao Jin Yu just now, she couldn’t contain the smile on her face.

Jin Yu was also delighted, saying, “The madam is truly blessing us.” Then she tilted her head, asking curiously, “But nanny, if they’re not consummating, when will finally have a little majesty?”

Nanny Li firmly rapt Jin Yu’s head, saying, “Stupid child, His Majesty is still young, niangniang is also at her prime, a little prince will come sooner or later.”

Nanny Li really wasn’t worried, after today’s incident Zhao Jin Yu must set her heart on the emperor…, once a woman sets her heart on someone, then they really would hate to part with them, when that time comes His Majesty would be wrapped round her finger, perhaps it will bring about a happy occasion.

Maybe next year a little prince will be born.

Harmonious like this, was much better than being forced to serve him in bed by the emperor.

Poor emperor, restraining his impulsive longing, holding Zhao Jin Yu he almost boiled for a night, in the morning he went to morning court with dark circles under his eyes, during morning court because he was irritable, he naturally flew into a rage.

The news of Zhao Jin Yu’s crowning spread throughout the palace very quickly, consort Shu stayed with Zhaoyang princess[1] in the Fengxi palace which the empress ought to live in, feeding the five years old Zhaoyang princess a mouthful at a time, seeing her wanting to reach out to hold the spoon herself, she gently coaxed her saying, “Princess, you’re still young, let auntie feed you.”

Zhaoyang princess was extremely pretty, thin eyebrows, deep black eyes like beads, lips like Chinese flowering crab-apple blooming in spring, soft and fragrant.

She blinked, saying, “Auntie, can Wan Er eat by himself?”

Consort Shu smiled gently, lovingly brushing a strand of stray hair behind the princess’ ear, holding her in her arms, she said, “Our Zhaoyang princess is an imperial kinsmen, a princess of the great Zhou, the only princess of your emperor father, let these trivial things be done by others, you only need to sit and eat.”

Zhaoyang princess was clearly somewhat unhappy, but she had been brought up by consort Shu since young, she was very dependent and attached to her, she cutely nodded her head saying, “Auntie, I understand.”

Consort Shu happily smiled, saying, “Such a good child, come sit here, auntie will continue to feed you.”

Regarding matters to do with Zhaoyang princess, consort Shu always did it herself, from carrying out the child from under her covers in the morning, cleaning her face and washing her hands, putting on clothes, so much so that she had never even allowed the maids to handle her going to the toilet.

Today after eating breakfast, consort Shu picked out a red little jacket for Zhaoyang princess to wear, Zhaoyang princess was looking at a ginger coloured clothing in the wardrobe, with some longing she said, “Auntie, I want to…wear that one.”

Consort Shu gently shook her head, cajoling her, “We’re seeing your imperial father in a while, your imperial father likes you to wear red.” While she spoke consort Shu fastened the belt on Zhaoyang princess, then she helped her put her hair into flower buds, seeing Zhaoyang princess looking like she was decorated with white powder and carved out of jade, she was extremely happy, she said, “Our 

Zhaoyang princess is truly pretty, in a while when your imperial father sees you he will be exceedingly happy.”

Zhaoyang princess pouted saying, “I don’t like seeing imperial father.”

Consort Shu’s expression suddenly turned cold, she said, “You cannot say such disobedient words, he is your imperial father, the emperor of our great Zhou.”

Zhaoyang princess pursed her lips in grievance, saying, “But imperial father is so fierce.”

“Your Majesty Zhaoyang princess!” Consort Shu remained unmoved, gravely she said, “I don’t want to hear such words from you, what parents say, must be respected, what parents reproach, you must bear it, no matter what your imperial father says, you have to obey, this is what you ought to do as a child, let alone, your imperial father is also the supreme ruler of the great Zhou.”

Zhaoyang princess’s eyes were filled with tears, however she didn’t dare to cry easily, because she knew auntie would be unhappy, what she feared most was her auntie being angry.

“You mustn’t cry.”

Zhaoyang princess forcefully restrained her tears, hugging consort Shu’s arm, she obediently said, “Auntie, I won’t cry, I want to see imperial father, I also want to recite the book I recently read to imperial father, I’ve finished memorising the Three Character Classic,[2] imperial father will surely praise me.”

Only then did Consort Shu smile, hugging the little person holding her arm, she gently stroked her little head, saying, “That’s right, Zhaoyang princess, you must understand, your imperial father entrusted you to me, so I can raise you well, if you don’t listen…, how can I have the audacity to face your deceased imperial mother? How would I have the face to go see your imperial father?”

Zhaoyang princess seeing consort Shu’s rather upset appearance, hurried to promise saying, “Auntie, I know I was wrong, I will definitely be obedient in the future, look, do I look good in this red jacket? I won’t wear ginger.”

Children were the best at reading body language, Zhaoyang princess in order to fawn over consort Shu, already learned long ago to give up on her own preference.

The maid Zhao Chun came over to say, “Niangniang, are you going now? The palanquin has already been prepared.”

Consort Shu nodded, leading the Zhaoyang princess she said, “We’re going to see imperial father now.” Following which she paused…, somewhat depressed she said, “Then we’ll go see your new imperial mother.”

“New imperial mother? Don’t I only have one imperial mother?” Zhaoyang princess asked baffled.

“Your imperial father is conferring the title of empress again, and the new empress is your new imperial mother.” Consort Shu softly explained.

“I don’t want…” Zhaoyang princess pouted, but when she saw consort Shu’s disapproving gaze, she again swallowed her words, saying, “Auntie, I understand, I won’t be unruly.” Having spoken tears again hung from the corners of her eyes, she quietly muttered, “But I miss my mother.”

The rim of Consort Shu’s eyes turned red, lowering her head she stroked Zhaoyang princess’s head saying, “I also miss your mother, it was really good when she was still here.” Consort Shu said rather reminiscently.

If the emperor was said to never have been gentle before, then that wouldn’t be entirely true, before meeting Zhao Jin Yu, he only treated that person…he had never been forceful.

The five year old Zhaoyang princess was raised very well by consort Shu, rosy complexion, she was very delicate and pretty, like an imitation of the emperor when he was a child, however she had a bit more delicateness of a girl, with a glance people couldn’t help cry out in surprise, a truly beautiful child.

The emperor seeing his daughter almost within reach, wanted to reach out and hold her, again worried he would touch her delicate and soft skin, he hid his hands in his sleeves, revealing a smile he thought was most good-natured, he said, “Wan Er.”

Zhaoyang princess seeing the emperor cowered back, immediately glancing at consort Shu to the side with a disapproving gaze…she resisted the fear, putting on a bold face well-behaved she greeted the emperor, using her soft and immature voice, she said, “Imperial father.”

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[1] As before, this is her title and usually what she is called by rather than her name, e.g. Prince Charles is the Prince of Wales, so set in imperial China he would go by Prince of Wales.

[2] 13th century reading primer consisting of Confucian tenets in lines of 3 characters