"My Lord is a Stone"《我家君王是石头》Chapter 11

Ningguo princess stepped forward to greet the emperor, even though it was very hard to hide the nervousness in her heart, her manner was still somewhat intimate, saying, “Emperor older brother, I have waited for ages.” Then she got up and stepped forward tugging at the emperor’s arm, smiling splendidly, pouting playfully, “I’m frozen rigid, I haven’t tasted fotiaoqiang[1] made by the imperial kitchen in ages, emperor older brother bestow it to your younger sister to eat to my heart’s content.”

The emperor’s face was cold and detached, but did not put a stop on princess Nangguo’s nagging, saying, “Fotiaoqiang?”

Ningguo princess saw that although the emperor was indifferent, but still did not reject her intimate touch, her heart slowly became smooth and steady, thinking after all she was the emperor’s younger sister born of the same parents, when they were young there were many times emperor older brother would hold her and dote on her, even if later because of some matters they were separated, however she thought the emperor certainly understood the difficulties of the situation back then, thinking up to here she said ever more sweetly, “That’s right, older brother knows I like that dish the most.” Then as if she was caught up in her memories, “at that time I was merely six years old, throwing a tantrum wanting to eat it, older brother took me to the imperial kitchen to order the chef to make it for younger sister to eat, a favoured chef however said we’ll have to wait a quarter of an hour, older brother was so angry you punched him…, causing empress mother to again punish older brother.”

The emperor unconsciously thought of when the Ningguo princess was a young child, pale and chubby, two buns coiled on her head, smiling adorably like the first curve of a moon…, it would be good if time could always stay at that moment, the abyss of his eyes looked at the majestic palace covered in snow in the distance, red walls and green tiles, brilliant white snow cover, this palace was so pleasing to the eye, only no one knew, it actually could engulf someone’s sincerity, changing everyone slowly beyond recognition.

“Yes, of course we remember.” The emperor swept his gaze across the Ningguo princess, a faint mockery in his eyes.

Ningguo princess had a burst of nervousness, thinking of the emperor’s cruel and brutal methods, her body unconsciously froze a little, as a result the emperor nevertheless rather kindly patted the back of her hand, saying, “Let’s go.”

Ningguo princess felt the emperor’s intimacy, she suddenly felt relaxed like someone was strangling her but suddenly released her, taking in a firm breath, smiling she said, “Emperor older brother, you really are the best.”

The emperor took the need by taking a step forward, hearing these words by Ningguo princess, his steps slowed, profound gaze, eyes so deep it was like an abyss which the bottom cannot be seen, a cruelness and brutally hidden inside only known by him, saying, “When have we not been good to you?”

Ningguo princess only treated the danger as having passed, agreeing with a smile, “That’s right, emperor older brother has always been good to younger sister.”

Waiting until the two people had reached the side palace hall for meals, less than a quarter of an hour the dishes were presented, Ningguo princess knew the ingredients for fotiaoqiang was precious, many and complicated steps, the time for it to cook also wasn’t short, in winter, the imperial kitchen continuously prepared fotiaoqiang, afraid that one day the emperor may want to eat it but could not wait patiently, in a moment of anger he would deal with everyone inside the imperial kitchen, that’s why it was delivered so quickly and she did not think anything of it.

The emperor’s appearance however was concealed, there was a kind of unspeakable estrangement, he briskly said, “Good younger sister, this is a dish bestowed by us, you have to personally open it up”

Ningguo princess thought it was somewhat strange, she lived a life of luxury from childhood, waited on hand and foot, when did she have to help herself to food? However the emperor looked as if he was doing as he wished, but it held a somewhat warning expression, awkwardly she smiled, yieldingly, “Emperor older brother’s order, younger sister naturally would listen and obey.” Finished speaking she reached out prepared to lift the lid, but it was somewhat scalding, her mind was more and more uneasy, at the same time also carrying some annoyance, in any case feeling the emperor was slightly forcing her to do something, it must be said that when they were children this older brother hated to raise his voice to reproach her, turning her head to look at the emperor, tightly pursing her lips in an aggrieved manner.

The emperor languidly sat on the couch, haughtily saying, “Open it.”

Ningguo princess felt frustration in her heart, nevertheless very quickly she sorted out her mood, putting on a bold face she took a handkerchief from the hands of a chamberlain to one side wrapping it around the lid lightly opening it.

Inside the palace hall no braziers were lit, even more the underground heating was not lit, a penetrating chilliness like a knife scraping on bones, engulfing the body, the emperor however only stared at the Ningguo princess’s face without a care, eyes twinkling with some kind of blood thirst and excitement…, and Rui Fu standing at the side almost side as he shut his eyes.

Very quickly, a woman’s terrifying scream was heard from the entire Wuling palace.

Ningguo princess was dizzy, complexion pale as snow, body trembling like a sieve, looking like she would faint in a moment, she pointed at the scarlet head inside the pot, almost hysterically yelled, “You killed him!”

“That son of yours isn’t very old, his heart however is big, in one breath he took the Yan family’s three hundred thousand silvers, saying it would allow the Yan family to get away with their crimes…, and bribed Rui Fu, tell me if he ought to be killed?” The emperor’s voice sounded like pounding on precious stones, refined and sweet-sounding, and an ice-col disaffection exclusive to precious stones.

Wei Liang was Ninggou princess’s only son, but he wasn’t really Ningguo princess’s own child, Ninggou princess was twenty-four this year, and Wei Liang however was already fifteen, eleven years ago Ningguo princess admired the marquis heir of Wuding, disregarding her methods she married him, three years later she discovered she was infertile, Ningguo princess pledged her life to not consent to a concubine, the marquis heir of Wuding without a choice at once adopted a child from a branch of the family, this later was Wei Liang.

Even though he was an adopted child, but because she was infertile, Ningguo princess truly loved this child dearly even more than her own child, but she never thought in the end she would raise this kind of arrogant and wilful good-for-nothing young man from a wealthy family.

A few days before Wei Liang was taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guards from being involved in high official Yan’s corruption case, his return was delayed, Ningguo princess’s heart burned anxiously, this was also why Ningguo princess who had said at that time she would never return to the palace come back willingly with her head bowed to find the emperor.

Ningguo princess looked a little deranged, after all who would remain calm knowing their own child died so tragically…, she looked at the emperor with some fear, loudly cursing, “Lu Dai Chuan, what empress mother once said is true, a lowly cruel and blood-thirsty seed is buried in the depth of your body, you can’t even compare to a single finger of crown prince older brother!” Following which she recklessly ran out holding that skull, crying out bitterly, “Ah Liang…, Ah Liang, how can you die so inhumanely! Wuwuwu.”

The emperor’s appearance was grave and stern, some murderous intent suddenly rose in his eyes, suddenly an eerie chilliness filled the air all around, making the people around feel suffocated and oppressed.

Rui Fu felt Ningguo princess before was regarded as a quite clever person, how can she be regressing? Wei Liang only turned fifteen this year, what great ability could take no such a thing? Can it be the Yan family who sent the money were idiots, and insisting on putting their hopes on a child who completely lacked power? Clearly someone had given him this plan…, Ningguo princess didn’t go and investigate who was behind this, rather came here shedding crocodile tears chatting about former brother and sister camaraderie, then when Ningguo princess left the palace she cursed the emperor a lot! Hehe, no wonder the emperor would be annoyed directly ordering him to be killed.

Rui Fu thought up to here and looked at the emperor, again seeing a murderous intent rise in the emperor’s eyes, frowning, even though Ningguo princess ought to be killed, but at this moment…, back bent, he moved closer to the emperor’s ear saying lowly, “Your Majesty, the spare ribs stewed with potato you ordered is ready.”

The emperor’s mind suddenly thought of the delicious food he ate yesterday, soft potato with traces of sweetness, cooked completely flaky spare ribs, soft and salty in the mouth, even though it was merely a common dish, but it had a kind of enticement people unable to resist.

The emperor all of a sudden was somewhat restless, he didn’t want to admit it, all day long because he didn’t have an appetite he didn’t really dine, now unexpectedly some saliva came out, impatiently waving his hand, saying, “Take her away, don’t let us see her.” Then unable to bear it he said, “Hurry bring out the food.”

***

Zhao Jin Yu woke very early, using what Wen Shi had given, but had never eaten cutting the marinated beef into thin slices, generously sprinkling it into rice then rolling into a fist shape, although this rice ball was rough, but it was convenient to carry, and easy to eat, even more easier to leave in someone’s care, it was most appropriate to deliver to her adoptive father Zhao Chang Chun in the prison cells.

Besides rice balls, Zhao Jin Yu also placed several winter clothes into her buddle, prison cells were most cold, prepared, just in case, only what she didn’t imagine was, half way there she was surrounded, because martial law was imposed on the entire capital city, that road in front was closed, she was at a loss, she was forced to enter a roadside teahouse to wait.

Waiting like this she waited until the evening, then were people allowed forward, but still had to be interrogated, because she was going to visit a prisoner so she bought her census register and was not halted, very quickly she was allowed to go, so Zhao Jin Yu did not dare to delay, carrying her bundle she bowed her head hurrying on, finally before the sunset she hurried to the prison cells at the Ministry of Justice.

That jailer had seen Zhao Jin Yu before, as a token he received a few copper coins and two rice balls, directly taking her in, at first he had not noticed those two rice balls, simply because it was time for evening meal, just then he felt a little hungry unconsciously taking a bite of that rice ball, immediately his two eyes shined saying, “Lady Zhao, your handiwork truly is amazing, how can it be so tasty? Yi, and there’s marinated beef…, oh, so tasty.”

In order to make the rice balls tasty Zhao Jin Yu spent a lot of effort on them, she added sesame oil and a little bit of salt in the rice, marinated beef wrapped inside them, the rice outside was spongy and salty, the taste of the marinated beef inside strong and plump, very tasty, although her heart hurt slightly, but seeing the jailer eat it so well, firming her heart she again took out two more, saying, 

“It’s only rough craftsmanship, since your Lord likes them this girl is blessed.”

“What rough craftsmanship, if this is considered crude then what can be eaten? Fine, then I’ll accept them.” That jailer then treated Zhao Jin Yu with more enthusiasm, taking her to Zhao Chang Chun’s prison cell door then agreed to stay, clearly he was very satisfied with the taste of these rice balls.

“Zhao Chang Chun, someone is here to see you!”

It had merely been two months, the originally robust Zhao Chang Chun however was skinny from weight loss, deep eye sockets, complexion wax yellow looking like he had an incurable illness. Zhao 

Chang Chun wore shackles around his hands and feet, he walked over with rather unstable steps, seeing who was outside, an unbelievable expression flashed through his eyes, saying, “Jin girl, why did you come?”

“Dad, I bought you some clothes and rice balls, the rice balls are a bit cold though.” At the teahouse Zhao Jin Yu had asked the waiter to heat the rice balls on the kitchen stove counter, but this journey wasn’t brief, the weather was cold, it was not equal to when it first came out of the pan steaming hot, “try it.”

Zhao Chang Chun actually didn’t look at the food, rather he harshly stared at Zhao Jin Yu, asking, “Jin girl, didn’t I tell your mother, not to come here again?”

Hearing this Zhao Jin Yu bit her lip, lowering her eyelids, the hand holding the rice ball however tightened.

The prison cell was immersed in darkness, meagre light shone on the side of Zhao Jin Yu’s graceful face, making her skin look even more dark…, Zhao Chang Chun heart ached, he couldn’t help pat his daughter’s shoulder, “Did your mother say something?”

“No!” Zhao Jin Yu hurried to shake her head, but did not dare to look straight at Zhao Chang Chun’s gaze.

Zhao Chang Chun cherished Zhao Jin Yu to the bones, regarding her nature he naturally knew it better than anyone, seeing her like this, he sternly said, “Jin girl, if you didn’t lie to your father, why don’t you look at dad right in the eye.” Immediately rather sad he said, “when dad adopted you, you already understood things, so you couldn’t let things go, not get close to me like other children, you knew you’re not really my biological child, this also understandable…”

“But…” Zhao Jin Yu suddenly yelled, in the end she lifted her head seeing Zhao Chang Chun’s eyes filled with adoration, bit by bit the past rushed into her mind, thinking of those days since he was wronged, her heart hurt bluntly, she couldn’t help cry suddenly, choked with emotion she threw herself over, saying, “Daddy, I really miss you.”

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[1] (佛跳墙) literally means `Buddha jumps over the wall`, a dish that uses many non-vegetarian ingredients.