"My Lord is a Stone"《我家君王是石头》Chapter 76

Zhao Jin Yu sat on the chair looking at the table filled with dishes, wondering whether or not to send some over to adoptive father at Fahua temple…, who would have imagined at this moment someone would tug at her sleeve, she looked down, the Zhaoyang princess sitting beside her nervously pursed her lips, her pink cheeks filled with longing.

“What is it?” Zhao Jin Yu’s tone unconsciously became gentle.

Zhaoyang princess seeing Zhao Jin Yu’s amiable appearance, her courage increased a little, licking her lips, summoning her courage she said, “Empress mother, I heard the carnival during the Lantern Festival this year will be especially good to watch.”

Zhao Jin Yu immediately understood Zhaoyang princess’s meaning, it was good in the palace, but it couldn’t hinder a little bird which wanted to fly, Zhaoyang princess had grown up, naturally she started to yearn for the outside, wanting to go out and take a look. “I’ll ask your father emperor.”

“Don’t…” Zhaoyang princess was still very scared of the emperor, hearing it she was startled, hurriedly she tugged on Zhao Jin Yu’s sleeve saying, “Empress mother, don’t tell father emperor, I was just saying it.”

Zhao Jin Yu lovingly stroked Zhaoyang princess’s cheek, saying, “Don’t worry, empress mother is here, your emperor father won’t get angry at you, besides…, actually your emperor father loves you dearly, he also hate to get angry.”

“What are you talking about?” The emperor calmly asked.

Some fear was accumulated throughout the years, it cannot be changed overnight, after getting along these days, even though Zhaoyang princess knew the emperor was not as dreadful as the outside rumours, however seeing emperor father’s calm expression she felt her legs tremble, tightening her hold on Zhao Jin Yu’s sleeve, miserably she yelled, “Empress mother…”

The emperor had heard the two people’s words from the side, a burst of anger filled him, was he as scary as having three heads and six arms?

Zhao Jin Yu used her elbow to nudge the emperor, putting on a smile, she said, “Your Majesty, you’ll scare the princess like this.”

“We were just asking what you were talking about?” The emperor wanted to smile at the princess, but seeing the princess so scared that she wanted to hide her face he got angry?

How did he have such a daughter? It’s not good to be such a coward! She needed to know she is a princess of the great Zhou!

Zhao Jin Yu looked on as the comfortable atmosphere hard to come by at the reunion was to be ruined again, holding Zhaoyang princess in her arms she patted her back comforting her, while she said to the emperor, “Your Majesty, let’s take the princess to see the lanterns outside the palace.”

“Let her say it to us herself.” The emperor angrily said.

Zhaoyang princess buried her face into Zhao Jin Yu’s chest even more, like she wanted to find a hole to crawl into, she vaguely said, “Empress mother, I don’t want to go anywhere, tell emperor father to not be angry.”

Zhao Jin Yu simply could not do anything about this father and daughter, she said, “Fine, don’t be scared, your emperor father loves you the most, he will definitely take you outside.” Afterwards she glared at the emperor, gnashing her teeth she said, “Right, Your Majesty?”

“Humph, you spoil her!” The emperor’s calm face, the air turned cold, the atmosphere immediately became oppressive.

The onlookers all thought the emperor was getting angry, these maids and eunuchs didn’t dare to take a breath, afraid to get involved…, but amongst so many people only two people seemed very calm, one was eunuch Rui Fu, another was nanny Li who serve Zhao Jin Yu, the two people glanced at each other, with some tacit mutual understanding.

However the two people had different thoughts, Rui Fu thought…, His Majesty has long ago been held in the empress’s hands, how could he get angry at the empress? Thinking up to here he felt very distressed, where was the ruler’s dignity and decorum? And nanny Li thought, niangniang has an unwavering hold on His Majesty, His Majesty the emperor was as docile as a toothless tiger in front of niangniang, how could he get angry at niangniang? In just a moment he will give in.

It was at this moment, the emperor eventually admitted defeat, he said, “We will allow it, but…, princess, next time don’t go to your empress mother, if there’s something say it to us yourself.” The emperor always hated to put Zhao Jin Yu in a difficult position…, what’s more, actually he also wanted to fulfil his daughter’s wishes, only he was so angry it was unbearable in his heart that’s all.

Zhaoyang princess was both pleasantly surprised and was afraid, seeing Zhao Jin Yu’s embarrassed and at a complete loss expression, Zhao Jin Yu couldn’t help stroke her hair saying, “Why haven’t you thanked your emperor father?”

Zhaoyang princess was still scared, burying her face into Zhao Jin Yu’s chest, saying with a mosquito like voice, “Thank you emperor father.”

The emperor continued to have a dark expression, he honestly no longer had excessive expectations for his daughter to be able to speak to him naturally and unrestrained.

Consort Shu did not think stepping away for merely a moment Zhaoyang princess would cause such a problem, her entire body cowered like tree leaves in the wind, her eyes reddened, seeming like she was going to cry soon, she said, “Niangniang, this servant has not taught the princess well.”

Zhao Jin Yu helplessly held her forehead, she said, “This is all my idea, don’t be so nervous.” 

Following which she placatingly patted consort Shu’s shoulder softly saying, “How long have you not left the palace? Don’t tell me you don’t want to take a look?”

Consort Shu clearly knew she ought to refuse, but Zhao Jin Yu’s words made her feel a longing, like a lifelong wish, on top of that over the time she had gotten to know Zhao Jin Yu…, she knew her natural disposition, she was all the more rather restless, after a good while, an emotion flashed through her eyes, she said, “This…is it okay?” Leaving the palace…, she wanted to leave anyway possible! However she understood all along, apart from death, there was no way to leave in her lifetime.

“Of course you can.” Zhao Jin Yu nodded with a smile, however she couldn’t help feel sorrow in her mind…, how many people actually voluntarily enter the palace? It seems that she needed to firmly sort out the harem, only keeping the necessarily staff, the others will be allowed to go back, it could be considered as a good deed.

How was it easy for the emperor and empress to leave the palace, but the emperor still managed to arrange it very quickly, the four people changed clothes, prepared to leave the palace wearing plain clothes in incognito.

In accordance to Zhao Jin Yu’s theory, they were to see the hustle and bustle of the common people, if they directly used the emperor’s carriage to go out, what liveliness would they see?

However the secret guard’s commander An Wen Yao felt he was doing something dangerous…, he still remembered the last accident, the emperor’s stone body had gone just like that.

This time An Wen Yao summoned over five hundred secret guards, and made the imperial guards dispatch over two thousand people to fit in incognito, when they reached the carnival, almost every five steps a secret guard could be seen.

Zhaoyang princess was uncontrollably excited, bouncing around in front, saying, “I want that sugar-coated stick!”, in a moment she then said, “I want that clay figurine, hey, can you make me?”

Consort Shu tugged on the princess’s sleeve, disapprovingly she said, “Eldest young lady, you cannot call out like that, looking at this peddler’s age he can be your uncle, you ought to call him uncle.”

The clay moulding peddler wore a patched short shirt, he blushed, however he still very honestly smiled, saying, “This lady, don’t criticise your young lady, I’m a clay moulder, the young lady can call me whatever she wants, young lady, how big of a figurine would you like?”

“I want it this big.” Zhaoyang princess did not listen to consort Shu’s words, following the peddler’s words she pointed to the already made products at the side saying, “Clothes also have to be the same, and can be dyed?”

“Good, good, it can be dyed.” The peddler kind-heartedly smiled, very quickly taking out a block of mud, then those pairs of coarse hands nimbly kneaded it a few times, Zhaoyang princess’s expression in this way realistically appeared in the mud, in just a short time it was done, then opening up a box, he took out a writing brush from inside beginning to stain the colours on.

Zhaoyang princess’s eyes were fixated, even though there were many exquisite toys in the palace, however there was nothing as novel as this toy, when she saw the finished product she happily said, 

“Looks good, looks good! Can you...” Zhaoyang princess bashfully looked at Zhao Jin Yu and the emperor, waiting until she saw Zhao Jin Yu’s encouraging gaze, right away she plucked up the courage saying, “Can you make clay figurines of my mother and father?”

The peddler was good at judging people, with a glance he could tell the three people were wealthy and respectable people, apart from this lady girl’s fair skin, wearing an expensive fur cloak, only a rich and honourable family could raise their daughter so delicately, let alone those two who stood behind her, this little girl’s parents, the man was as handsome as a god, dignified and imposing manner, just by standing there he projected a natural dignity and power, and that woman only looked good-natured and amiable yet unconsciously carried a distinct extraordinary poise.

“I can mould it, but I’m afraid the noble people would look down on this coarse workmanship.” The peddler spoke with much fear, he thought in his mind…, supposedly many children of nobility would come to the carnival in incognito, just now he hadn’t looked carefully, only thinking they were not ordinary people, but now looking cautiously, these two people were definitely not ordinary.

At the very least a relation of the emperor right?

The peddler’s hands involuntarily shook.

Zhaoyang princess held the clay figurine the peddler had made admiring it fondly, then she lowered her head looking at the peddler’s fingers…, noticing the frostbites cracked from the cold.

“Why aren’t you wearing gloves?” Zhaoyang princess said.

Consort Shu frowned, saying, “Eldest young lady, they rely on their craft to make a living, if he wore gloves how would he mould figurines?”

“Auntie…”

The peddler smiled well-tempered, saying, “This lady, your young lady has the heart of Buddha, considerate of us lowly people, you mustn’t rebuke her.”

Zhaoyang princess now again looked at the clay figurine the peddler had moulded without her former excitement, she stood there somewhat ill at ease, feeling very uneasy in her heart, but why she felt uneasy she did not know.

“Here, it’s moulded, these are your parents, see if they look similar?” The peddler handed the two newly moulded figurines to Zhaoyang princess in a way to curry favour.

“They resemble them, thank you, uncle.” Zhaoyang princess earnestly and sincerely expressed thanks.

“Young lady, you still haven’t given money.” The peddler seeing the little girl walk away after giving thanks, simply did not know whether to cry or laugh, this certainly was an eldest young lady brought up at home, not knowing to pay for things.

“I still have to pay?” Zhaoyang princess was somewhat frantic, she had only ever seen gold and silver treasures, but she did not bring such things with her, thinking about it she pushed the bracelet off her wrist offering it to the peddler, saying, “I’ll give you this.”

That peddler taking a glance at the bracelet, dark green like a vast body of water, even though it was night it looked pure, it must simply be a treasure of Liancheng, how could he dare take it, he said, 

“This is too precious, it won’t do, it’s not worth this much, one only costs eight coppers, it’s fine to give me twenty-four coppers.”

“So it’s like that…”

The emperor watched Zhaoyang princess’s reaction, frowning continuously, he seemed rather ill at ease, Zhao Jin Yu held the emperor’s hand, saying, “Nothing will happen with so many people watching.”

The emperor originally did not agree for the princess to get a whatever clay figurine, but Zhao Jin Yu had promptly persuaded the emperor to stop, she said, “The princess won’t spend her entire life in the palace, unless the emperor wants to lock her up for her lifetime? This world is so big…, there are many interesting things, and many fun things, let the princess experience it more, gain knowledge and experience, isn’t that a good thing?”

The emperor felt Zhao Jin Yu’s words were incorrect, shouldn’t girls be raised at home, but recalling the days when he wondered about as a stone with Zhao Jin Yu, again he felt that although he wasn’t free at that time, after all he was in the body of a stone, but thinking about it now he felt it was very happy.

Of course consort Shu knew they needed to pay, but she spent years on end inside the palace why would she bring any money? At this moment the omnipotent Rui Fu appeared, he held a heavy purse handing it to consort Shu, saying, “Use this to pay.”

Zhaoyang princess handed the money over to the peddler, holding the clay figurine in her hand, she said refreshingly, “Uncle, now you have money, but remember to buy gloves to wear.”

The peddler thought, I can’t even have a filling meal, where do I have the extra money to buy gloves? However seeing Zhaoyang princess’s innocent expression he again thought he could not refute her kind intentions, he smiled amiably saying, “Fine, I will listen to you.”

Zhaoyang princess immediately smiled, bright and beautiful like a small sun, she felt she had finally done something good.

Who would have imagined just as the two finished speaking a malicious person said from the side, “Buy gloves? You still haven’t paid back this master’s money.” A skinny man with some other similarly brute looking men came crowding round, lifting his foot he kicked the peddler onto the ground.

“You have money right? Pay it back!” The skinny man placed his foot on the peddler’s face saying very fiercely.

When had Zhaoyang princess ever seen such a behaviour, so frightened she whimpered then cried, consort Shu hugged her trembling, coaxing, “Don’t cry, we should leave quickly.”

Consort Shu actually had no wish to linger her for too long, however the empress had tacitly agreed to this, she couldn’t refuse it, but now she already couldn’t deal with it, the princess was an invaluable person, how could she endure such a fright? She felt awfully distressed.

Zhaoyang princess’s little hands tightly wrapped around consort Shu’s neck, even though she was deathly pale with fright, but her eyes were still fixed on the peddler who was being threatened by the skinny man, mumbling she said, “Auntie, that uncle is really pitiful.”

That skinny man took tens of coppers from the peddler’s hands, still he wasn’t satisfied, in the end he saw a clear jade bracelet in a painted box, his eyes shone, he said, “Good, you actually have such a nice thing hidden? This isn’t bad, Qian Lao Er, our debt is written off, but I’m taking this bracelet.”

Only then did the peddler Qian Lao Er realise Zhaoyang princess had sneakily placed the bracelet in the painted box, no wonder she was smiling so happily before, such a kind-hearted girl, what family was she from…, a rich and honourable young lady was actually this benevolent, with such a thought he recovered his senses, that young lady did not understand what was going on, how could he pretend to not be aware? Such a precious thing if that pair of extraordinarily noble parents find out, they would definitely not allow it, he used all his effort to reach out for the bracelet saying, “Master Liu, that was dropped by the noble just now, you can’t take it.”

That Master Liu rolled his eyes, greedily saying, “Hehehe, so what? Who ever picks it up owns it, now it’s this Master Liu’s.” Following which he turned to leave, calling out to his brothers, he said, “Let’s go.”

Again how could the peddler Qian Lao Er let them go, unwaveringly he clung on unwilling to let go, Liu Li was vexed by being clung onto, he threw him to the ground, again ruthlessly kicking Qian Lao Er a few times.

Zhao Jin Yu closed her eyes unable to bear it, saying, “Your Majesty…”

The emperor’s face had ashen, comfortingly he patted Zhao Jin Yu’s arm, with large strides he walked over, yelling, “Stop.”

The emperor expensive attire, along with the natural dignity and power projected from his body, grave and stern expression, standing in front of these people he looked similar to a lofty mountain they could not move, only able to look up at it with a degree of fear.

An Wen Yao dressed as a bodyguard stood between the two people, several imperial bodyguards also rushed over together, suddenly an aura of death appeared, causing those who watched to shiver.

The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, he said, “Even though it is right and proper to settle a debt, but you are clearly stealing money.”

Liu Li shook from head to toe in fear, in his mind he shouted what terrible luck, in a glance the person in front of him was a wealthy and respectable person, a person he couldn’t afford to offend, but if he was to show his weakness here, how would he be able to go around in the future? Putting on a bold face he said, “What, you think you’re the emperor, controlling whatever you want?”

For the first time Zhaoyang princess felt emperor father was really formidable, like a great tree she could rely on reassuringly, make her felt an admiration from the bottom of her heart, hearing these words, plucking up her courage she said, “My daddy is really the emperor.”

All of a sudden she felt a little pride, this extremely revered man is her father! And would help her beat up bad people…, unwilling for her to feel sad.

Liu Li was taken back at first, but very quickly started laughing hahaha, like he had heard the biggest joke in the world, he said, “If the emperor wasn’t holed up in the palace, would he come to such a lousy place?”

An Wen Yao couldn’t put up with it any longer, kicking out, that Liu Li immediately spat out blood from the hit, “If you want to live don’t talk so much.”

Zhaoyang princess’s courage suddenly grew, struggling free from consort Shu’s arms, she walked over to help Qian Er up from the ground saying, “Uncle, my emperor father is the current emperor, if you have any grievance just tell my emperor father, he will give you justice.”

Qian Er almost choked with amazement, shuddering he said, “This is His Majesty?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

Qian Er suddenly kneeled, kowtowing without paying attention, he said, “Your Majesty, please grant this commoner justice, I only borrowed twenty coppers from him, he however took benefited from interest taking fifty coins, this still wasn’t enough for him always bothering this commoner.” As he spoke he began crying, “This commoner also has six children at home, the old mother has to raise them, its simply impossible to make a living now a days.”

Liu Li became deathly pale, his entire back was covered in sweat from fear on such a cold day, as if he finally realised what he had just said.

The emperor’s face became even more unsightly, who knew under the foot of the emperor, in the Imperial City there would actually be such an evil tyrant, he said, “Go call the local magistrate over, we want to ask, how is he governing the capital city.”

Liu Li hearing the person in front of him go to summon the local magistrate, in the same way as if he was calling for his own servant…, he knew he had really come across the emperor, so frightened his eyes closed and he fainted, the other hoodlums who had come with him also turned pale in panic, continuously kowtowing on the ground begging for forgiveness.

When An Wen Yao hurdled those hoodlums away, Zhao Jin Yu brought over a pair of gloves, passing it to Zhaoyang princess, she pointed at that Qian Er saying, “Go.”

Zhaoyang princess happily took the gloves, handing them to Qian Er who had always been kneeling she said, “Uncle, these are my emperor father’s gloves, from now on you wear them, no one will dare to bully you.”

How did Qian Er dare to take them, he shook his head repeatedly, Zhao Jin Yu looked at the gloomy emperor, tenderly she said, “Thinking about it uncle suffering hardship here, could be because of the emperor’s improper governance, otherwise how could there be such tyrants under the emperor’s foot? If you don’t accept them you would still be resenting the emperor.”

“No…”

“Then take them, after if anyone dares to bully them take them out.” Zhao Jin Yu said good at understanding others.

After they left, Qian Er knelt on the ground weeping bitter tears, a man nearly aged thirty was crying like a child, he tightly held that pair of gloves, like it was a rare treasure.

On their way Zhao Jin Yu saw the emperor was unhappy all the way, she couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty is angry at me?”

“What?”

“Because I said the emperor did not govern properly?” Zhao Jin Yu also knew her place, who dared to say such things? That is Zhao Jin Yu dared…, she still remembered just now when she said these things there were several people nearby, amongst them Rui Fu had shown a fearful expression, afraid the emperor would get angry, but what was to be done? She depended on the emperor’s favour towards her, relying on the emperor to be helpless against her, besides, if she didn’t dare to say these words who would? She didn’t want to be an empress who blindly obeyed the emperor, and allow the emperor to live a endure a life unclear of what is real and what is fake, moreover…that was never her temperament.

“You also know what is right to say?” The emperor coldly said.

Zhao Jin Yu however was not afraid, smiling pleased with herself, she winked saying, “I know, but I also know Your Majesty hates to punish me, you said you will cherish me for my lifetime.”

The emperor seeing Zhao Jin Yu’s brazen behaviour, felt she was both witty and adorable, and felt his heart soften, both happily and laughing he said, “We have spoiled you.”

Zhao Jin Yu laughed hehe moving forward, pulling on the emperor’s arm not letting go at all.

“Actually, Your Majesty is an amazing person.” Zhao Jin Yu couldn’t help say, “Good advice is harsh to the ears, how many monarchs have been ruined because of this, what’s more look at Wan Er…”

“What about Wan Er?” The emperor stopped speaking before he even finished, Zhaoyang princess who usually persistently defied and avoided him was sneakily looking at him from time to time, noticing her gaze had been caught by her father, she did not look away as she did habitually, rather she shyly smiled, her eyes filled with adoration for him.

“Why is she…”

“Because Zhaoyang princess discovered, our Majesty is a man capable of supporting both heaven and earth.” Zhao Jin Yu spoke with praise.

The emperor turned his face in discomfort, a while later did he then say quietly, “We still haven’t done enough, if not those commoners wouldn’t have…” The emperor again recalled Qian Er crying bitterly just now out of humiliation.

Before he didn’t have a family, not knowing what it felt like to carry a family on his shoulders, and did not care whether someone else was happy or not, and now…, the emperor’s gaze lingered on Zhao Jin Yu’s graceful appearance, then turned to look at Zhaoyang princess walking along holding consort Shu’s hand, he wanted them to live a comfortable and unrestrained life, and wanted others to have the same.

“We will do even better.” The emperor gripped Zhao Jin Yu’s hand instead.

“En.” Zhao Jin Yu sweetly smiled at the emperor, set off by the lanterns on the road, a dazzling beauty to the eyes, making the emperor’s heart light up like the bright lights surrounding them.

The fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year wasn’t only the lantern festival, it was also a day to eat sticky rice dumplings, they wandered and walked about, very soon they reached the area selling hot food.

The owner selling sticky rice dumplings was a twenty something young man, he expelled a hot breath saying, “Precious customers, do you want to eat our sticky rice dumplings? They’re definitely the most delicious sticky rice dumplings in the entire ten li street.”

It was the first time Zhaoyang princess came to such a place, it was very strange, seeing someone sitting to one side eating sticky rice dumplings, round and white, fragrant and sweet, she couldn’t help swallow her saliva, looking at Zhao Jin Yu with a face full of longing.

Zhaoyang princess now learned how to be smart, no need to worry about anything, so long as Zhao Jin Yu allowed…, emperor father and auntie would agree.

Zhao Jin Yu couldn’t help smile, rubbing Zhaoyang princess’s head, she said, “You want to eat?”

“En.” Zhaoyang princess nodded.

They sat down, the stools had already been scrubbed several times by Rui Fu and nanny Li…, making the owner depressed thinking the only bit of paint covering them would come off, however what made the owner even more depressed was what happened after, those men who looked like imperial bodyguards glared at him like a tiger watching his prey, from rolling the sticky rice dumplings to boiling them, they stared unwaveringly, as if he would put poison in them.

By the time he served the sticky rice dumplings to the nobles, the owner’s back was wet, it wasn’t that he had done anything wrong, it was mainly because those people’s gazes were too piercing.

However this wasn’t what made him feel it was difficult to bear, the problem was that dumpling like pretty young lady’s chatting which made people feel tongue-tied.

“Owner, how are your tangyuans[1]cooked yet soft?” Rubbish, if it isn’t soft it isn’t cooked.

“Owner, is this sesame filling? Why aren’t there chives and egg fillings?” Eggs and chives fillings are for dumplings!

“Owner, why are sticky rice dumplings round?” If sticky rice dumplings aren’t round, would they be square?

Zhao Jin Yu laughed for quite a while clutching her stomach, then did she rescue the pitiful owner from Zhaoyang princess, poking between her brows she said, “Don’t be naughty.”

Zhaoyang princess stuck out her tongue having finally stopped talking.

Even though the sticky rice dumplings were not as exquisite as the one’s in the palace, the glutinous rice flour a little coarse, the sesame filling wasn’t too nice, but because it was being eaten outside, there was a special taste to them.

The emperor was good, Zhao Jin Yu was good…, amongst them including consort Shu completely finished the sticky rice dumplings in their bowls.

After eating sticky rice dumplings, they walked along the clear river to another lane, this was different from the others, all kinds of coloured lanterns were spread everywhere, as bright as daylight, a group of people surrounded the lane, rushing like ducks, as if they were waiting for something which caused for excitement, Zhao Jin Yu asked out of curiosity, “What is happening?”

A kind-hearted woman smiled saying, “This lady, this is a carnival organised by the philanthropist Lord Li, so long as you guess the riddle under the lantern correctly you can take the lantern away, after you leave this lane, whoever has the most lanterns, will also be given silver.”

Truthfully no matter how well made these lanterns were made they could not beat the ones the palace, but this was very interesting, Zhaoyang princess who had just learned a few days of words was eager to give it a try, Zhao Jin Yu also felt it was rather amusing, suggesting, “Let’s go take a look.”

A lot of people wanted to go in, they queued together for a little while, finally they got in, Zhaoyang princess liked the small animal shaped lanterns, the emperor and Zhao Jin Yu only liked to guess the riddles written on the lanterns, that’s why the two groups of people wandered apart after a while, but because secret guards were always following, and the lane wasn’t long, Zhao Jin Yu and the emperor were not worried either.

The two people guessed riddles on the lanterns together, sometimes the emperor guessed it, sometimes it was Zhao Jin Yu…, they were walking alongside each other at first, later they held hands, the lighting was bright, the night intoxicating, the two people only wished they could carry on walking down this lane, until the end of the time.

When the two people left the lane they were stopped by someone, a young manservant wearing a light grey vertical cut attire smiled saying, “This lord, I see you have quite a few lanterns, let this servant count for you.”

Odds and ends, large and small ones unexpectedly added up to thirty odd, let alone the young manservant but the bystanders watching seemed very surprised, saying, “It seems this lord is the brightest and best.”

“Oh my, this could be your future lord.”

“At a glance I can tell this lord is a talented person, even if Pan Yue[2] was still alive he would be no better, your attire shows you are from an impressive background, your young lady is also blessed.”

Zhao Jin Yu hearing the bystanders words was rather flabbergasted, she asked, “Isn’t the brightest and best awarded silvers? What has it got to do with selecting a husband?” Immediately worried she tugged on the emperor’s arm saying, “Let us go.”

The young manservant who had stopped Zhao Jin Yu and the emperor however was rather unhappy, he said, “This young wife, your lord entering this lane, guessing lanterns have entered our young lady’s selecting husband carnival, now that he is the brightest and best, then he needs to take our young lady as a wife, how can you renege in such a way?”

Zhao Jin Yu, “…”

It was at this moment two maids wearing grass green clothes escorted a graceful figured girl over, that girl was at first rather startled when she saw the emperor, a slightly stunned expression on her face, she bowed humbly saying, “This girl greets this lord and lady.”

Zhao Jin Yu saw the girl’s conduct was natural and unrestrained, and did not come from a small family, she said, “Young lady, I think there’s been a mistake, we only entered this lane to play…, besides, my husband has married already.”

That girl smiled saying, “Lady, I Li Shan Rong has already earlier sworn, today even if he’s a beggar, so long as he is the brightest and best I will marry him, what’s more I can tell this lord is not an ordinary person, I’m also fortunate, so long as the lady doesn’t mind, I am willing to be a concubine.”

Zhao Jin Yu was simply dumbstruck.

Even though she couldn’t blame the emperor for this, but she was a little jealous, nudging the emperor she said, “Husband, what do you think should be done? This girl is set on marrying you.”

“Let’s go.” The emperor felt his good mood had been wrecked, wanting to leave with Zhao Jin Yu, that girl’s previous natural and unrestrained conduct, now actually turned somewhat sinister, with a raise of her hand she made several young manservants surround Zhao Jin Yu and the emperor, similar to a female bandit she said, “Today, I don’t care if you’re happy or not you have to marry me, otherwise don’t think about leaving.”

Zhao Jin Yu simply wanted to laugh with anger, thinking this was extremely strange, an emperor was actually being forced to take someone as a wife, the emperor’s features were grave and stern, a natural imposing manner, the atmosphere immediately became stuffy, he slanted his eyes at that girl, 

“A concubine, you think you’re worthy!”

The girl was humiliated on the spot, blushing a deep red, holding her fists firmly, “Although our Li family is not a very rich and influential family, but my father is a fifth pin official, I have also studied the Book of Songs and the Book of History since I was young, accomplished in the four arts, I can at least be the concubine of a great official.”

The emperor said, “Call for your father, I want to personally ask him, whether you are suitable or not.”

---

[1] Dessert made from glutinous rice flour mixed with a small amount of water to form balls and then cooked and served in boiling water or sweet syrup.

[2] Famous handsome and elegant writer from the Western Jin dynasty.