"My Lord is a Stone"《我家君王是石头》Chapter 13

The next morning, the Feng Er husband and wife with bloodshot eyes because of a lack of sleep saw Zhao Jin Yu back, the atmosphere was depressing and at a loss, Zhao Jin Yu thought of consoling words for quite a while, in the end she could only say, “Uncle Feng, younger sister hasn’t done anything improper, it can be assumed the Embroidered Uniform Guards arrested the wrong person…, you mustn’t be worried, wait at home for a few days, younger sister will naturally come back.” Feng Er’s daughter and Zhao Jin Yu were around the same age, but Zhao Jin Yu was born in June, Feng Er’s daughter Zhang Hong was born in October.

When his daughter was mentioned, tears flickered in Feng Er’s eyes, but he strongly resisted saying, “Causing the young lady to worry, we will take the young lady’s lucky words, Hong Er will certainly avert disaster.”

Zhao Jin Yu also did not say much, at that moment any words seemed to be useless, in ancient times a woman’s reputation and integrity were extremely important, even if she returned, having been once arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guards, it would always never be the same, it can be assumed that wedding would come to nothing.

Feng Er seemed to see Zhao Jin Yu was worried, encouragingly he pulled a smile, that sight was even more unsightly compared to him crying, saying, “Young lady, my wife and I don’t ask for much, just as long as our daughter returns safe and sound, if her husband’s family rejects her, I will look after her for a lifetime.”

Hearing this Zhang Shi such a strong woman only sat on the side wiping her tears, her gaze however carried a bit of gratitude.

Seeing Feng Er appearing as a compassionate father, tears gathered on Zhao Jin Yu’s eyelashes, unconsciously she thought of her adoptive father Zhao Chang Chun in prison, the year she was six years old, she had just travelled in time to this body, not knowing her name, at a loss with no one to rely on she wandered the streets. She still remember, it was raining lightly, she shivered from the cold, hoping the rain could stop soon, a man appeared in front of her, with a refined and low voice, he said to the person next to him, “It’s a little girl.” Immediately he opened his mouth again to ask her, “are you cold?”

Zhao Jin Yu shook and trembled, but couldn’t say a single word.

Soon after the sound of shuffling could be heard, her body felt warm, the person had unexpectedly taken off his woven rush raincoat and covered her with it, she lifted her eyes, like his refined voice…, at that time Zhao Chang Chun was still very young, elegant as an orchid,[1] a modest man, like this no wonder Zhang Shi risked everything to be with him.

He glanced at the rice straw in her hair showing she was for sale, smiling warmly, fragments of light in his eyes, saying, “Do you want to be my daughter?”

At that moment she only thought Zhao Chang Chun’s smile, held gentleness, like a dream…, she was dazzled, like she was being rescued by a sage in a mythological story, many of her young years passed, but that scene nevertheless remained deeply in the mind, every time she felt confused and dazed, she would clearly remember it.

Feng Er was a selfless father who loved his daughter, how is Zhao Chang Chun also not single-mindedly acting for her?

Zhao Jin Yu’s was overwhelmed with emotions, on entering the house she headed to Zhao Chang Chun’s study, she looked at the black pine wood bookshelf in the corner, she couldn’t help breathe a sigh, most of the furniture in the house had been used as firewood by her, only this bookshelf…, because it was too big, and held many books, not good to move, that’s why she had always kept it, and at last considered it to be luck.

In accordance with Zhao Chang Chun’s words, Zhao Jin Yu took a stool and stepped on it, right at the top was a thick Yellow Emperor’s Internal Canon,[2] she took it down, opening it up, as expected there was a letter in the middle.

The letter was sealed, she couldn’t see the content, however her heart couldn’t help have second thoughts, Zhao Chang Chun had left this letter ahead of time, could it be he knew at an earlier time this day would come?

Even if Zhang Zhi Shi once hinted to her saying this high official Yan corruption case was not as simple as it looks, she however could not think of any reasons, after ascending the throne the new emperor was brutal and ruthless, but wasn’t completely without principles, those cautious and conscientious officials scrupulously abided by their duties had no problems at all, most of those who met mishaps had once supported the eldest prince, and descendants of arrogant aristocrats, relatives of nobles, the emperor seemed to especially not like people who were ostentatious and stick out…, that’s why over these years, many people mastered how to keep a low profile, even weddings were not as lavish as before, afraid that people with aspirations would go to the emperor’s ears.

She however remembered, her father had said before, as long as you do your best, even if there is no hope of you entering the government cabinet in your lifetime, but make it to fourth rank before retiring was never a problem.

But how could everything suddenly change?

Now Zhao Jin Yu’s mind had a lot of questions, the fact was there was no one she could ask, her heart was very depressing, but she could only endure it, finally she hid the letter well, and went to prepare for greetings, anyway it was important she must first complete the task entrusted by her father, other questions can be slowly answered.

Wearing cold resistant clothes, inner clothes, and several books she used to pass the time, she then went to take a look in the kitchen, there were still some marinated beef left, some rice, she steamed the cooked rice, making it into rice-balls…, this time she actually used the table in the house to light the fire, anyway she will never return again.

It was already noon when Zhao Jin Yu tidied up everything, Zhao Jin Yu laid on the warm heated kang, there was nothing she could do, apart from delivering the letter, Feng Er’s daughter being arrested also perplexed her, in any case she felt this matter… and the stone were related, but actually how, or should she ask the stone.

If it really was because of the stone…, then were those girls arrested because of her?

The more Zhao Jin Yu thought the greater her headache, she had still not settled the thing with her father, and had stirred up other things…, she sighed deeply, burying her head under the quilt.

Although the name Zhang Hong was not considered common, but she could not keep the millions of common people in the capital away, in one day and night as far as tens of people were arrested, so, Qin Hong and Su Qing Chen at last breathed out a sigh, thinking even though they didn’t know whether amongst so many people there was a person the emperor wanted to find, but eventually these punishments were hard to avoid right?

Rui Fu was still the same, his face like a sculpture completely lacking temperature, therefore Qing Hong and Su Qing Chen did not detect any suggestions, but waited to see the emperor, the two people’s hearts were heavy, only feeling today they may not only be beaten, rather it might be even heavier punishment.

The emperor’s complexion was gloomy like the winter sky previously pushing down snow, covered with jet-black clouds, with somewhat pale complexion he asked, “You two blockheads! Busying about for one day and night, you only arrested these many people?”

“This humble servant is guilty!”

“This humble servant is guilty!”

Qin Hong and Su Qing Chen lowered their heads, sweating with nervous hearts, almost speaking in unison to beg forgiveness.

The emperor got up fidgeting, looking back and forth at Qin Hong’s and Su Qing Chen’s faces, recalling how he had overbearingly went to examine just now, he had thought of tormenting her within an inch of her life, crying bitterly and begging forgiveness, hard to dispel his resentment, in the end he inspected those several tens of people, in spite of everything there was no sign of her!

The emperor almost had an intuition, she lied to him!

Just thinking about how he had lied on an ice-cold bed last night, starving for one night, the emperor, felt an anger covering his body with nowhere to vent!

“If you know your crime then go receive your punishment! Do you still really think we don’t dare to kill you?” The emperor’s voice was deep and beautiful like precious stones being stricken, only that voice held a wintry alienation with an indifferent dignity, making people’s hearts shiver.

Qin Hong Su Qing Chen almost crawled out of the palace hall, waiting until the two people left, Rui Fu glanced at the emperor inside the palace hall, his gaze spread over the inside of the room, the bright yellow dragon robe in accordance to the emperor glistened and brightened even more, incomparably honourable, only he did not know why he felt that radiance contrasting the emperor made his appearance slightly pale, a kind of haggardness which caused people distress.

Rui Fu showed a somewhat worried expression, thinking about it His Majesty had not eaten since the beginning of yesterday, what should he do? If this carries on, even his strong body cannot withstand this, and did not know what was the matter, every time he dined he would say the flavour was not right, afterwards he had also tasted it, it couldn’t be said to be better than before, but it was still the standard of the former imperial kitchen, how could he not eat it? It had to be understood the emperor also did not eat much before, but he had never been like these past few days surviving on water!

“Benefactor, His Majesty must certainly come to find this poor monk.” At that time both of great master Hui Zhen’s arms were broken by the emperor, practically only half alive, fresh blood dripping he was carried out, but his complexion did not change, speaking in an almost positive normal way.

Could it be he still wants to go and find great master Hui Zhen?

The night was extremely quiet, Zhao Jin Yu originally laid on the kang, all of a sudden she sat up, as it turns out the spotless white Yuhua stone in her hand emitted an extreme light, it looked like it suddenly gained a spirit, shocking people.

After a moment the emperor was then certain he had again returned to the stone’s body, waiting until he saw Zhao Jin Yu’s familiar face, almost gnashing his teeth, “Where did you go yesterday?”

“You liar!”

At the same time as the emperor, Zhao Jin Yu also opened her mouth, the stone and the stone stared blankly for a short while, again opening their mouth.

“A girl, not at home in the middle of the night, we had known earlier that you have no sense of honour!”

“I just told you my name is Zhang Hong yesterday, why were there Embroidered Uniform Guards arresting girls called Zhang Hong?”

One person and one stone, one staring in anger, one was incomparably furious, not showing any weakness.

“Shut your mouth for us!”

“If you don’t explain clearly, I will toss you onto the grindstone outside and crush you!”

Staring at each other for quite a while, Zhao Jin Yu was unable to endure it first and turned her gaze, a normal person like her really could not compete with a stone spirit, but the anger in her heart didn’t dissipate one bit, especially as this stone spirit was still so arrogant, in the right and self-confident, making her have thoughts of crushing it at all times.

Zhao Jin Yu thought in her heart, I still can’t control you! Bringing over the jewellery box, she grabbed the stone throwing it inside, with a bang she closed the lid, saying, “When you tell me the truth then will I let you out!” Immediately she didn’t feel she was vicious enough, she again added words, “If by early tomorrow morning you won’t say, I will throw you onto the grindstone and crush you, I keep my promise!”

“Outrageous!” The emperor was so angry his nose wrinkled! Even if Zhao Jin Yu saw through that he had betrayed her, he nevertheless did not feel he did anything wrong, to speak frankly, the entire Hanzhen was his, as for the girl in front of him, further still if he wanted to kill her he can kill her, if he wanted her to live she’ll live, all she can do is kneel on the floor and beg for forgiveness, and not act like this unable to tell good from bad!

The emperor simply did not have any feelings of shame, just like what was mentioned before, the entire Hanzhen was his, his words are law!

But however just and forceful he was, it could not block off the hungry rumbling of his stomach…, since the time he began rebelling, to his eventual listless hunger, the emperor felt ever since he became a stone, his five senses had somewhat strengthened, surprisingly he could he could smell rice and marinated beef from not so far away.

That foods smell was different from the smell in the palace, especially seductive, luring him like a wolf starved for a winter looking at a fair little rabbit, it was simply hard to control.

“Hey, you want us to starve to death?”

Zhao Jin Yu was originally very angry, but she had been busy since yesterday, and before she had stayed awake waiting for the stone, now the fact was she couldn’t do anything, cheek against the nice and warm kang she fell asleep.

In the end, hearing the emperor’s voice, Zhao Jin Yu shook awake, she rubbed her eyes, yawning she said, “Do you admit you were wrong, who are you actually? Why are women called Zhang Hong being arrested?”

The first time he admitted he was wrong it seemed very difficult, but the second time it didn’t seem as difficult…, the emperor’s nose was filled with the smell of food, he was quickly being swallowed up by his saliva, he continuously said to himself, a leader can submit or stand tall as required, lowering his head now doesn’t mean he’ll let her off later, anyhow he should eat first then deal with it, =.=.

---

[1] Orchid gives a very clean, elegant and beautiful image, often used to describe a gentleman’s modesty and gentle temperament.

[2] Medical text.