Zhao Jin Yu and the emperor had a very delicious lunch together, because not only were they her favourite food, they also carried the memories of her and the stone from start to finish.
Including the cured meat stewed with radish when Zhao Jin Yu and the stone had first met face to face.
The atmosphere during the meal was warm and happy, the two people took a bite then glanced at each other, even though Zhao Jin Yu"s eyes still held a bashfulness, but it was clearly already a lot better than yesterday. These familiar dishes, familiar feeling made Zhao Jin Yu slowly regain the way she usually interacted with the stone.
After eating, the emperor asked, “I heard you took a walk around the small garden at the back today?”
Zhao Jin Yu was just drinking digestion tea, the imperial palace"s chefs were too amazing…, just the meat wedged in steamed bun had contained dozens of flavours, the beef, mutton, pork, chicken…, of course there was also fish, as for the noodles there were also many types, cornmeal, rice noodles and so on, she was full to the point of bursting.
The emperor saw Zhao Jin Yu"s face flush, clearly she was feeling rather unwell, he moved closer touching her slightly bulging stomach, he said, “From now on you can eat whatever you like, as long as it can be found in this world, we will fulfil your wishes.” The emperor had been holding back these words for a long time, since the beginning when he looked at Zhao Jin Yu with hate and resentment to later when tenderness filled his heart, “That"s why you don"t have to eat so much each time, even if we think you really are a bit too skinny…”
Zhao Jin Yu watched the emperor place his slender fingers onto her stomach, she was rather nervous, in the end hearing the emperor"s gentle words, her heart immediately became soft as silk.
The emperor seeing Zhao Jin Yu be obedient like a cat, his heart was ever more comfortable, uncontrollably satisfied, he pulled Zhao Jin Yu into his arms, making her sit on his lap, taking his time to help Zhao Jin Yu rub her belly, like it was a very important thing.
It was sunny and cloudless today, the sun shone brightly and splendidly, Zhao Jin Yu felt the emperor was different from yesterday…, like when a wolf sees a lamb and itch to swallow it in one, instead he was this beautiful and warm, she couldn"t help place her head on the emperor"s shoulder, gradually relaxing.
In the Xihua palace nanny Li had quickly established her position, becoming the wordlessly agreed manager, she saw Zhao Jin Yu and the emperor comfortable and happy like this, she couldn"t stop the smile on her face, she beckoned the maids and eunuch, the meaning was for them to get out, wouldn"t it dampen the mood at such a moment with all of them present?
Immediately the room became extremely quiet.
However in a moment, this comforting atmosphere was broken, Zhao Jin Yu was suddenly red in the face, she stopped the emperor"s improper hand, practically fl.u.s.tered she said, “Your Majesty, what are you doing?”
The emperor"s face was calm, deadpan he said, “Oh, my hand accidentally moved half an inch.”
Zhao Jin Yu, “…” That was a reason?
The emperor"s warm breath blew against Zhao Jin Yu"s as white as a swan neck, he said, “At that time we wanted to take a good look at you.”
“You perverted stone! I should have known back then!”
The emperor buried his head into Zhao Jin Yu"s shoulder, breathing in deeply her special jasmine fragrance, a wolf seemed to hide in his mind, he itched to swallow her whole, then would he be able to control his heart"s thirst, only then would it placate the pain brought about by his yearning over these last few days.
“It"s late.” The emperor laughed lowly, his soft lips followed her cheeks down to kissing her lips.
***
After their afternoon nap the emperor sat up from bed looking at the flushed Zhao Jin Yu beside him, simply so adorable he wanted to take a bite, his mind was filled with reluctance, he again thought whether he was too busy? When he actually thought about it a lot of the matters could be completely dealt with by the cabinet.
With such a thought the emperor again felt a little uneasy, wanting to hurry up and delegate the tasks, afterwards he can have more time to accompany Zhao Jin Yu, immediately he kissed Zhao Jin Yu on the lips then went next door to change his clothes.
Not long after the emperor left the imperial edict bestowing the t.i.tle of empress on Zhao Jin Yu arrived, nanny Li wild with joy shook the sluggish Zhao Jin Yu, she said, “Niangniang, this is a favour His Majesty bestowed on you, why aren"t you going to accept it?”
Zhao Jin Yu seemed to be in a dream the entire way, someone helped her freshen up and change clothes, then she accepted the imperial edict, only when she held the imperial edict in her hands did she feel it was real…, she would be the empress of the great Zhou in the future.
She felt mind spun, recalling how the emperor had declared in public she would become the empress in front of Zhao Zhi Shi"s residence, she had thought the emperor was merely…, who would have imagined the emperor was actually being serious.
How many men would use sweet speech and honey words when cajoling a woman, in a flash they would forget their promises? Let"s not forget this person was also this revered? In fact the position of empress was too revered, even if the emperor had “forgotten” afterwards, or maybe told her it wasn"t the right time she would have understood, that"s why since she entered the palace she had not asked about it, but now…, that matter had become real.
Zhao Jin Yu was overwhelmed with emotions for a moment, cheeks streaming with tears irrepressibly.
The two of them will live together until the white hairs of old age, will they have children who belong to them? Living their lives in confrontation and support of each other.
The empress of the great Zhou, this really was a promise right?
Having gone around and around over these years, Zhao Jin Yu finally found her sense of belonging again next to someone, and this person was not her older brother who she used to rely on very much, and wasn"t the adoptive father who once appeared as large as a mountain helping her block the wind and rain, rather a stone she had decided to pick up at the time.
“Niangniang, why are you crying?” Nanny Li joyfully gave out bonuses, and made people decorate the house slightly festive, turning her head she saw Zhao Jin Yu sitting on the yellow rosewood couch, crying silently wrapped around a fuchsia light quilt, making her jump, taking three steps in two, she kneeled on the floor holding her hand she had let droop on the couch saying, “My little ancestor, what happened? Who made you sad?”
Zhao Jin Yu wiped her tears saying with a smile, “Nothing.”
Nanny Li immediately smiled as well, saying, “It turns out you"re too happy?” Nanny Li gave her handkerchief to Zhao Jin Yu to wipe her tears, she said, “Niangniang, His Majesty treats you like this, from now on you need to serve His Majesty well. When he returns at night you must not weep endlessly in front of him, otherwise it won"t be good to provoke his sacred anger.”
Zhao Jin Yu nodded, saying, “I understand.” Afterwards she smiled, that smile was similar to the brightly coloured radiance of spring, extremely dazzling to the eyes, nanny Li stared in awe for a while, a good while later did she then say, “Crying and smiling, still like a child, what will happen when you have a young prince later?” After she glanced at Zhao Jin Yu"s stomach.
Zhao Jin Yu, “….”
The emperor had continuously been somewhat fidgety all afternoon, reading the account books he would end up thinking of Zhao Jin Yu"s face, wondering what her reaction had been receiving the imperial edict, would she be happy? Thinking of Zhao Jin Yu"s smiling face like a flower, thinking of her expressing her thanks to him lovably and laxing…, a fire seemed to have lit in his heart, burning him irritably and distressed.
Just like the first time he thirsted for a woman, the emperor felt he had suddenly returned to when he was a green youngster, impulsive and surging emotions.
When the emperor wrote something wrong for the third time he finally decided he needed to follow his heart, he tossed aside his writing brush, saying, “Set forth, we are going to Xihua palace.”
Rui Fu beamed nodding he said, “It"s right, Your Majesty has just conferred the t.i.tle to Zhao zhaoyi today, ought to go take a look.” Rui Fu took the initiative to give the emperor an excuse.
The emperor saw Rui Fu"s considerate action, not knowing why but for the first time he felt this person was really annoying…, going back to see Zhao Jin Yu was originally a very ordinary matter, but why after those words pa.s.sed through Rui Fu"s mouth, it felt like covering something up which made it more conspicuous? Like he was very impatient, even though he truly was impatient.
“Shut your mouth!” The emperor said deeply.
Rui Fu shut his mouth at once, since Zhao Jin Yu entered the palace the emperor suddenly seemed like a toothless tiger, gentle and courteous making people feel a spring breeze brush by them, he had almost forgotten the emperor"s ruthless personality.
Zhao Jin Yu had still not placed the imperial edict from her hand when she heard the emperor had arrived, before she could change her clothes she was pulled by nanny Li to go welcome the emperor.
The emperor moved forward with large steps, with a glance he saw that person dressed in red brocade amongst the group of people with lowered heads, a graceful figure Zhao Jin Yu…, he walked over a gentle smile blossoming from the corners of his mouth.
“Stand.”
The emperor held Zhao Jin Yu"s hand, taking her shoulder they headed inside the room, when the two of them sat on the couch did he then ask, “You"ve received the imperial edict?”
Zhao Jin Yu nodded, however she bowed her head not speaking, the emperor was rather baffled, pinching her chin…, then did he see there were still tear stains on her cheeks, pale with fright, immediately he seemed to recall something as he said, “Did someone make thoughtless remarks to you?” The emperor did not have many concubines, but he still had some who had been his favourite before, let"s not forget that person was still in the palace…, the emperor clearly knew that person ought to die, but when he really had to put an end to it, but he still didn"t have the heart to do it.
Following this he thought about it once again thinking it didn"t make sense, at first he didn"t dare to directly summon Zhao Jin Yu into the palace because he was scared that person would hurt Zhao Jin Yu…, as a result he took advantage of the crisis to bring her here, by the time when Zhao Jin Yu entered the palace, he more or less could completely dispose of that person"s power.
Right now it wasn"t possible to say there was no danger at all, so long as that person was in the palace, there inevitably will be some unrest, however that person"s sidekicks had already been eradicated from the roots, she had become a toothless lion earlier on, only Xu Wei was left, again how could she cause trouble for Zhao Jin Yu?
Could it be something else?
Maybe it was consort Shu? But consort Shu had a docile and gentle temper, she didn"t even dare to speak loudly, again how could she provoke Zhao Jin Yu?
Zhao Jin Yu seeing the emperor"s deep frown, looking like he was getting angry, jumping, she hurriedly tugged on the emperor"s hand saying, “No one made thoughtless remarks, it"s me…” Zhao Jin Yu stopped half way, she couldn"t finish that sentence I was too happy no matter what.
The emperor was bright, from Zhao Jin Yu slow blush to her cheeks in front of him he saw the happiness and shyness she had difficulty covering up, only feeling that black cloud covering his mind had suddenly been blown away, just a dazzling sun remained.
“Too happy?” The emperor tightly held her in his arms, asking warmly.