"My Lord is a Stone"《我家君王是石头》Chapter 32

Did her father already prepare for her future before he was sent to prison? Thinking about the last time she had seen her father…, wasted away with only skin and bone, but still with a loving expression, Zhao Jin Yu’s tears flowed even more, it was extremely quiet in the house, no one said anything…, after a while Zhao Jin Yu used her sleeves to wipe her tears, resolutely and decisively she said, “I don’t need what birth parents, I can look after myself.”

Zhao Jin Yu wasn’t being pretentious, it was because she was simply a girl who travelled through time, without much expectations of so called birth parents.

Liu Ba Yan exclaimed, “Foolish child, you’re still young, you don’t know how difficult it is to be in the world as a girl…”

“Thank you for your good intentions uncle, but I already have a plan.” Zhao Jin Yu gradually stopped crying, she clearly enunciated, “I only have one father in my life.”

“Good child, if your father knew your feelings I wonder how happy he would be. However child…” 

Liu Ba Yan deeply released a breath, as if he was getting rid of all the emotions in his chest, he said, “First let me finish speaking before you decide, your birth parents are also not simple.”

Zhao Jin Yu watch Liu Ba Yan.

“There was once a large family, an extremely extraordinary person came from this family, a lot of 

people with outstanding talents came from the younger generation, the family prospered, with outstanding reputation, one of the most influential families in the great Zhou, only when it reached the ninth generation, the sons of the first wife of the head of the family faded away, only a son was left, that young son was bright and outstanding as a child, distinguished and accomplished in literary talent, and was a rare character, he was not willing to stay at home, he liked to travel around, then he actually fell in love with the daughter of a Jianghu hero.”

Chen Rong’s complexion deepened, lifting her head to look at Liu Ba Yan, Liu Ba Yan also looked at her…, slightly nodding his head at her, with a look that he could see the things of the world clearly, he continued speaking, “When the son returned home he was insistent on marrying that woman, how could the family agree? That was when they knew they had indulged him too much before, afraid that he would once again cause trouble, he was placed under house-arrest, and found a woman from a family matching them in social status, in just three months they were married.”

“Then?”

“That son originally did not want to complete the marriage, he had no choice because his parents were dead…, three months later the bride was found to be pregnant, that son also gradually gave up. 

If what happened after didn’t happen, perhaps everyone would have lived well.” Xiu Ba Yan watched 

Zhao Jin Yu with a pitiful gaze, “Ten months later when the bride was giving birth, a woman came to the door holding a female baby, saying it was that son’s child.”

“That woman was the wet nurse of the Jianghu woman, she told them the Jianghu woman had died during the difficult childbirth, only the child was left behind, wishing for the child to be delivered to be by her father’s side, when that son found out, he suddenly became mad, holding the child he ran out, because he was too deranged at that moment, a lot of people could not stop him..., half a year later his corpse was found in Shanyin, the child had also disappeared.”

“That bride was also pitiful, such an extreme thing happened while she was in labour, a spurt of anxiety and anger attacked her mind, a birth without complications became a difficult birth, it almost became a mournful occasion, the child also died young, when she heard the news of her husband’s death she couldn’t carry on and passed away. So the main branch of the family ended like this.”

“I am the child that was left outside?”

Liu Ba Yan nodded, “Child, when you become a parent in the future you will understand, no one does not love their child dearly, you being left to wander in destitute outside wasn’t their intention.”

Zhao Jin Yu rubbed her tears, with a resolute expression she stood saying, “I understand. I’ve delivered the letter, if there’s nothing uncle, I will leave.”

“You child…”

“Maybe they had their own difficulties, but my father who picked me up from the mass of beggars, he has taught me from childhood, it was also my father who loved me dearly, I won’t change my mind.”

The corners of Zhao Jin Yu’s eyes teared up, decisiveness however still in her voice. Seeing that Zhao Jin Yu was leaving, Liu Ba Yan finally couldn’t help but say, “Do you know who your birth father is? He is from Hangzhou’s number one influential family, the Zhao family who produced the divine calligrapher, your birth father also wasn’t from a side branch of the family, he is the only son of the main branch!”

Zhao Jin Yu never thought she had such a past, she halted…, but still stubbornly she pretended to not have heard walking out.

“You don’t want to rescue your father? Other people may not be able to help, but if it was the Zhao 

family that’s a different matter.” Liu Ba Yan patiently persuaded.

“Would they step in?” As expected hearing these words Zhao Jin Yu stopped to ask.

“You are the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, and elder brother Zhao was your saviour, the Zhao family has always repaid kindness, even just based on this they would spare no effort to help, ignoring anything else you need to preserve your father’s life.”

Zhao Jin Yu clenched her teeth, to her being a young lady of an influential family meant nothing, when she thought of a completely unfamiliar home, and subjected to the strict customs of the family she felt breathing would be an uneasy matter as well. However for her adoptive father she couldn’t help be moved somewhat.

In the evening, Chen Rong and Zhao Jin Yu returned to the tavern, Zhao Jin Yu’s mind was in a mess and restless, but did not know who to speak to…, however after a while, Chen Rong came knocking on the door, asking, “Jin girl, are you asleep?”

“Auntie Chen.” Zhao Jin Yu opened the door welcoming Chen Rong in.

The two people drank tea, not speaking for quite a while, the atmosphere was somewhat rigid, finally it was Chen Rong who couldn’t help speak, saying, “Lady Zhao, I truly did not expect your birth father to be Zhao Ying Guan.”

“Auntie Chen also knew this person?” Regardless if it was Zhao Jin Yu, or Chen Rong, they never doubted Liu Ba Yan’s words, apart from Zhao Chang Chun’s trust in him, common people could not simply just make irresponsible remarks about the number one Zhao family in Hangzhou.

“That person is considerably well known, he is the child the head of the family Zhao Xing Kun had when he was twenty-nine, a son in his middle age, and the only son, you can imagine how his life was going smoothly, bright as a child, he would know poetry and literature from being taught instantly, just from a glance he could copy calligraphy with grace and beauty, before he could walk he practiced writing characters with his father, later when he was still young he surpassed his father, every said if he was still alive perhaps the Zhao family would produce another divine calligrapher.”

“Actually we are related.” Chen Rong paused here, “the woman Zhao Ying Guan loved, wasn’t actually a common Jianghu hero as they said, she was the daughter of the Jinling martial arts influential Chen family, my younger female cousin Chen Cui Jing.”

“Then aren’t you my…” Zhao Jin Yu dropped the teacup onto the table in shock.

“You should actually call me auntie.”[1] Chen Rong said then forced a smile, “If Cui Jing could see how big you’ve gotten, and is thoughtful and clever like this, I wonder if she would be at ease?”

Zhao Jin Yu did not have any feelings about her birth parents, but having spent all this time with Chen Rong, all in all it was different…, when she thought of her birth mother as Chen Rong’s younger cousin, some thoughts and feelings unconsciously appeared.

Chen Rong voice suddenly rose, “The Zhao family was not willing for my cousin to marry into the family, but did we think they are suitable? A pity on my younger cousin…, passing away at such a young age, my uncle has six children in total, losing such a daughter, don’t you think his heart hurts?”

The sky gradually darkened, the fragrance of evening meal wafted in the tavern, Chen Rong rose saying, “Let’s eat, don’t starve.” An endearment of an elder relative appeared in her eyes as she looked at Zhao Jin Yu.

The two people went downstairs, Zhao Jin Yu asked, “Auntie Chen, when my father first came to you for the assignment, did he know of our relationship?”

“Perhaps not…, but, I agreed then to go on the assignment because I owned your father a favour.” 

Chen Rong shook her head as she spoke, she had long ago stopped taking assignments, this time it was actually because of Zhao Chang Qing, immediately thinking of Zhao Jin Yu’s situation, she sighed, saying, “Jin girl, if you don’t want to go to the Zhao family, I will take you back to Hanjing, your maternal grandfather has always been looking for you over these years, if he knew you were still alive and well, how happy he would be, and your young uncles, elder uncles, they will also love you dearly.”

Zhao Jin Yu lowered her head not speaking.

Chen Rong seeing Zhao Jin Yu not responding, changed her approach, “If you don’t want to go to Jinling that’s also fine, come back with me to Xiantian bodyguard establishment, so long as I’m here, I can protect you so you don’t suffer at all, what sort of live do you want, auntie will make it happen.” Chen Rong was the head escort of the Xiantian bodyguard establishment, young, and a woman…, it obviously wasn’t easy for her to be in such a position. This remark wasn’t exaggerated.

After a good while, Chen Rong heard Zhao Jin Yu say, “I don’t want to return to the Zhao family, but I miss my father.” Zhao Jin Yu said with red eyes all of a sudden, “I want to save him, I want him to be well…”

Far away in the the capital’s Ministry of Justice prison, Zhao Chang Chun leaned against the cold wall, wanting to sleep but feeling the cold wind howl all around, as cold as if he was outside, a white fog came with his breath, his body numb like it wasn’t his, his stomach rumbled with hunger, however facing the black mouldy hard steamed bun it was hard to eat, unconsciously he recalled the rice balls Zhao Jin Yu had brought a while before.

That really was delicious…, that child has always been strange from young, more and more ideas emerged from her head, especially to do with food she would always have a peculiar way. A warm lustre appeared in Zhao Chang Chun’s eyes.

It was almost two months, she ought to have arrived at Hangzhou right? Did Liu Ba Yan allow her to stay…to return to the Zhao family? That stubborn girl must not have lightly agreed to return to the Zhao family.

To be honest when he first adopted Zhao Jin Yu he had a little selfish motive, he had thought the child looked particularly familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before, it was only later when he found out she was the daughter of Hangzhou’s Zhao family, at the time when their family had run into misfortune and his father was good friends with Zhao Ying Guan who only watched with folded arms…, it made him secretly angry all along.

He clearly knew the Zhao family was looking for this child everywhere, but he deliberately hid the child, at that time he had bad intentions, but later she really became the pearl in his palm, reluctant to let go.

The matter…of his implication, it was something the emperor couldn’t bear the most, he was afraid that in the end he wouldn’t be able to save his daughter, that’s why he could only reluctantly allow her to return to the Zhao family, based on the Zhao family’s influence, they naturally could protect her. Later she would marry and give birth, live a life of wealth…, Zhao Chang Chun suddenly felt tears rushing out when he thought to here, he couldn’t help use his dirty sleeves to wipe at them, consoling himself he said, as long as the child is well everything is fine, what was there to be upset about?

His real name was Zhuang Luo Pu, he changed his name and surname, drifting and living without a purpose for so many days was already a blessing, his wife Xu Shi knew this day would come, his son Zhuang Qing also understood, only Zhao Jin Yu…, he was the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, she simply should not be implicated.

This was for the best…, Zhao Chang Chun rubbed his tears thinking.

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[1] Previously Zhao Jin Yu called Chen Rong auntie in a casual way, Chen Rong is asking her to call her maternal aunt.