"My Lord is a Stone"《我家君王是石头》Chapter 63

Zhao Jin Yu had always been shut inside the residence by Zhuang Qing, she simply did not know what was happening outside, now hearing an imperial edict had arrived, she somewhat flabbergasted asked, “Grandfather, when I left I heard the Tiangui sect had revolted, surrounding the entire Hangzhou city within its power, now that an imperial edict could safely be delivered here, does that mean…”

Zhao Xing Kun interrupted hatefully saying, “That mob, they’re no different from bandits, the bullied and humiliated the common people over this half a year, committing any imaginable misdeeds, plundering money from everywhere to use as arms resources, more than half the people in the Hangzhou city were hounded to their deaths, those they drove out were driven out, or were sent to the battlefields as human shields.”

Zhao Jin Yu hearing this was saddened, saying, “My older brother…I was locked up in a residence on the outskirt by the Xianjun, I simply did not know what was going on outside.”

“Child, you have indeed suffered.” Zhao Xing Kun hearing this was extremely sad, again he couldn’t help weep, Zhao Zhen Shan who stood to the side soothed with a good temper saying, “Father, let’s talk as we speak, they’re still waiting for us outside to receive the imperial edict, don’t delay proper business.”

Zhao Xing Kun nodded hurriedly without missing a beat, saying, “That’s right.”

From ahead a servant came over saying, “My lord, the incense burner table to accept the imperial edict has been placed.”

The few of them hastily went to change their clothes, Zhao Jin Yu also changed into a light pink half sleeve outfit with the help of Zhen Zhu, a pearl hairpin stuck in her hair, the simple elegant outfit was both dignified and very unique, actually it wasn’t that Zhuang Qing did not prepare bad clothes for her, on the contrary Zhuang Qing understood her best, and having come from such a background, all the clothes material were extremely valuable but simple yet elegant in good taste, however Zhao Jin 

Yu did not want to be moved by Zhuang Qing’s items.

It was a young eunuch who came to announce the imperial edict, he looked around thirteen or fourteen, pale faced, treating the Zhao family with special courtesy, the housekeepers offered him quite a few red envelopes but he did not accept them.

The young eunuch pointed to a man to the side, saying, “Housekeeper, the Left commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards who came especially with me for his job, Lord Su, you ought to greet him first.”

The housekeeper had noticed the person standing next to the young eunuch earlier on, even though the other person’s mannerism was not out of the ordinary, but because he only wore a simple gown, and did not say a word at all, that’s why until now he did not give his greetings, now hearing the young eunuch’s words, his legs almost shook uncontrollably, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards! Heaven…, the housekeeper had indeed seen the different aspects of the world, very quickly he steadied his mind, walking over, he smiled saying, “I Xu Chong greet my lord.”

Su Qing Chen was very good-natured, with confident and ease he flicked open the fan in his hand, saying, “Get up, your family’s eldest young lady could still call me uncle, since we’re family there’s no need for such formality.”

Xu Chong was bewildered, when did their family’s eldest young lady establish a relationship with the Embroidered Uniform Guards? Or such a tremendous person, but this was his mistress’s business, it was also not suitable for him to ask, smiling he said, “Our eldest old master and the eldest young lady will arrive soon.” Just as he spoke, a few people walked through the main the door, led by the white headed Zhao Xing Kun, on the left supporting the old man was his son Zhao Zhen Shan, following behind them at a leisurely pace was Zhao Jin Yu.

Honestly speaking the two people had not seen each other for at most a year, but Su Qing Chen felt, it seemed to have been a very long time, he suddenly figured it out when he was later trapped by great snowfall in a cave, perhaps the stone was His Majesty…, but sadly he realised it too late.

Zhao Xing Kun was experienced and knowledgeable after all, immediately he saw Su Qing Chen who stood before him, he hurried to greet saying, “Lord Su, what wind has carried you here? This old person give you his greetings here.” Having spoken he held his fist.

Su Qing Chen rushed forward to hold Zhao Xing Kun saying, “Eldest old master, you are a giant among men in our Hangzhou city, how can I accept your greeting, what’s more…” Su Qing Chen pointed at Zhao Jin Yu who stood behind him saying, “Eldest old master, you don’t know, the eldest young lady and I are actually old friends, she actually calls me uncle.”

Zhao Jin Yu did not think that Su Qing Chen who had suddenly disappeared would be here, now she finally felt the Tiangui sec had really been eliminated, stepping forward she bowed to Su Qing Chen, saying, “Greetings Lord Su.”

“We’ve only not seen each other for a few days and you regard me as a stranger? Call me uncle.” Su Qing Chen very brazenly said.

Zhao Jin Yu, “…”

Very quickly the young eunuch announced the imperial edict, daughter of the Zhao family, outstanding in appearance, have both morality and conduct…, hereby bestowed the title of Zhaoyi,[1] summoned to the palace, to set out immediately.

The eldest old master was deathly pale, he said, “This…can it be wrong?” That young eunuch was not angry, he laughed saying, “Eldest old master, how many people would wish for such a thing? Accept the imperial edict, quickly take it, we will come to escort her in three days.”

“In three days? So soon?”

“It’s already considered delayed, usually we set out the day after, this is His Majesty understanding that Lady Zhao will be leaving her home, specially granting a favour.” The young eunuch explained affably.

Zhao Xing Kun did not imagine, having gone round and round for so long, Zhao Jin Yu still did not evade this fate.

Since the imperial edict had already been given, everything had already been decided, there was simply no way to return from it, Zhao Xing Kun regained his composure in just a mere moment, saying, “Lord Su, Eunuch Wang, this old man has prepared humble wine, it’s not respectable, please follow me in.”

Zhao Jin Yu returned to the room she had been kept away from for a very long time, it was arranged the same as before, not a bit had changed, tears swirled about in Zhen Zhu’s eyes, she said, “Eldest young lady, what is actually going on? I thought the eldest young lady’s hard times were over and the good times were just beginning, who would have imagined in a blink you have to enter the palace…, this servant will enter the palace with the eldest young lady.” Zhaoyi was an upper second pin[2] allowing her to bring two maids to enter the palace with her.

Zhao Jin Yu always felt guilty about the issue of Zhen Zhu taking her place, she helped Zhen Zhu up from kneeling on the floor, saying, “If you enter the palace, you might spend all your years in there.” 

Having experienced so many things, Zhao Jin Yu had already become indifferent, very quickly she accepted she had to enter the palace, because to her, being alive was already a very fortunate thing, what’s more…, she was gripped by something, which appears if she entered the palace, she would be able to find the answer, “I hope for you to live your own life.”

Zhen Zhu was confused, asking, “What do you mean eldest young lady? You dislike this servant for not taking good care of the madam…” Zhen Zhu said then started to cry again.

Zhao Jin Yu already heard what happened from a few people on the way to receiving the imperial edict, at that time the eldest old master had exchanged a gold bar for each person, including the corpses everyone was returned in exchange, although the madam had passed away, but still needed to be buried and put to rest.

Gao Zhen who was leading the Tiangui sect at that moment had actually felt there wasn’t enough money, wanting more, in the end it was the Xianjun who showed up, then were they allowed to safely return.

The eldest old master seeing those murders, only wished to fight them to the bitter end, to take them down with him, after he nevertheless thought of Zhao Jin Yu whose fate was unknown, thinking if he also died, Zhao Jin Yu would have no one to rely on, then did he tearfully restrained himself, but overnight he became a stooped old man, appearing to be a breath short of being in a grave.

“Eldest young lady, the Zhao family has treated us with a mountain worth of kindness, I only want to repay a few nothing more.” Zhen Zhu cried as she spoke.

Zhao Jin Yu also cried for a while when Zhen Zhu brought up the madam, she said, “We shouldn’t cry, grandmother would certainly not like me weeping endlessly, she cherished me the most.” Zhao 

Jin Yu said choking with emotions, she controlled it with great difficulty, saying, “Of course I said it for your sake, I was thinking of getting grandfather to adopt you as a daughter, then you’ll be my 

young sister.”

“How can that be?”

“Why not? I think this would be very good.” Zhao Jin Yu held Zhen Zhu’s hands, saying, “Don’t shake your head, Uncle Zhen Shan is a man, there will always be things he can’t take care of, grandfather is also old…, the residence has always been manged by grandmother, and you grew up by grandmother’s side as a child, aware of so much…, you are the most suitable.”

“It’s out of the question, out of the question.”

Zhao Jin Yu earnestly said, “Zhen Zhu, I’m actually being selfish, I’m leaving in three days’ time, I really cannot let go of home, can you stay here to help me look after grandfather?”

Zhen Zhu then hesitated, saying, “Can I?”

Having organised the issue with Zhen Zhu, Zhao Jin Yu relaxed, as if a stone had been removed from her chest, she always wanted to make it up to Zhen Zhu, at least it could be considered settled.

Zhen Zhu was a worrier, even though she wouldn’t be entering the palace with Zhao Jin Yu, but she immediately began to organise things about entering the palace, unexpectedly finding so many things to bring, increasingly worried, she said, “Things were originally stored in the west courtyard…” 

Following which she suddenly stopped talking.

Zhao Jin Yu asked, “What is it? There’s someone staying in the west courtyard?” Zhao Jin Yu remembered the west courtyard was close to her courtyard, because it had always been empty it was given to her as a storeroom.

“It’s Rui Zhi.”

“Her?” Zhao Jin Yu became silent.

Zhen Zhu knew she couldn’t keep it from her, she told her what the madam had entrusted with her dying breath, “She actually had the audacity to return, and thinks she can rapidly go up in the world relying on the madam’s words, at that time going all out to protect the madam…, she really is insincere, but how did the eldest old master also be deceived by her, the eldest old master said the madam’s words could not be violated, but Zhao Rui Zhi’s conduct already destroyed her morality, that’s why she’s been locked away in the west courtyard, not to be released for her lifetime.”

Zhao Jin Yu did not imagine, Zhao Rui Zhi would end up like this in the end, silent, she did not say anything else, everyone had to pay the price for what they do.

At night, when Su Qing Chen and the others had left, Zhao Xing Kun then came over, he drank a little wine, slightly red in the face, seeming to not have seen enough of Zhao Jin Yu, he continuously stared at her, in the end he silently started to cry.

Zhao Jin Yu also started crying.

The two did not speak to each other, only weeping silently, at last the eldest old master held Zhao Jin Yu’s hands, saying, “Child, your grandmother was a sharped tongued but soft hearted person, she was sometimes strict with you for your own good, you shouldn’t take it to heart, she actually cherished you the most…, this time you were able to come out unscathed, she can finally be at ease, come with me tomorrow to pay respects to your grandmother.”

Zhao Jin Yu tearfully nodded.

Three days later, Zhao Jin Yu stopped to kneel at the ten li pavilion outside of Hangzhou city when she parted from her grandfather as she set out on her journey.

Watching the carriage gradually get further away, Zhao Xing Kun’s gaze saddened, Zhao Zhen Shan who stood to the side said, “Father, don’t be too broken-hearted, your health is important.”

Zhao Xing Kun firmly patted Zhao Zhen Shan’s head saying, “You want me to die so you can wantonly play around? No way! I still need to stay alive…” Zhao Xing Kuns’ gaze again returned to the distant road, in his mind he said, I still need to protect that girl Jin Yu in my old wife’s place, I can’t allow that girl to not have a place to cry when she suffers a grievance, this was the last thing he could do for his wife.

---

[1] Lady of Bright Deportment. A position as a consort.

[2] Official rank system (品; pǐn). This system had nine numbered ranks, each subdivided into upper and lower levels, in addition to the lowest "unranked" rank: from upper first pin (正一品), to lower ninth pin (從九品), to the unranked (未入流), for a total of 19 rank.