Chapter 6

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Yan Shi was in a hurry to head to the palace and couldn’t

investigate the case, so he left it to Jiang Qingyue to deal with it and

entered the palace with Hua Ling.

They had to enter the palace on sedan chairs, and because

they didn’t have enough time, Yan Shi couldn’t question Hua Ling about him

being poisoned last night. He could only sit on the sedan chair and let his

thoughts wander.

Who knows what was waiting for him in the palace; it wasn’t just the emperor that he had to serve tea to, there was also the empress. This empress Yang Shi has two sons, one of them was the second prince and that was Zhao Wang Yan Jing.[1] Yan Jing was younger than Yan Shi by a year and was the first prince to be recognised as Qin Wang.[2] He was a jade tree in the wind,[3] excelling in both his studies and martial arts, and was highly favoured by the emperor. The second son Zao Yao[4] was the prince who was said to have been harmed by the previous empress 15 years ago.

Shortly after the death of the previous empress, Emperor

Chong Jin crowned Yang Shi as the new empress; in a flash so many years had

already passed.

To put it simply, there was enmity between Yan Shi and the

current empress.

As he was caught in his thoughts, they arrived at the

palace.

Yan Shi emerged from the sedan chair, and glanced around at the hustle and bustle surrounding the palace gates as he waited for Hua Ling. After waiting for a while, Hua Ling had yet to arrive. When he looked back, Hua Ling’s sedan was placed right behind his. Why didn’t this person get off? Did he fall asleep?

Thinking about this, Yan Shi approached the front of Hua

Ling’s sedan and lightly knocked on the sedan, “ Wangfei?”

A muffled voice drifted out from inside, “Gege, I’m taking a

pee.” Inside the sedan, there was a bucket for this, to be used in times of an

emergency.

Yan Shi coughed softly, “I’ll wait for you at the front.”

Not long later, Hua Ling stepped out and scurried to Yan

Shi’s side, softly whispering a “Gege”. His

voice was soft and subdued, Yan Shi thought that he was just shy and didn’t mind

it and walked with him toward the palace gates.

After walking for a bit, Yan Shi felt someone gently holding

on to his sleeve. He looked down and sure enough, it was Hua Ling.

“Gege,” Contrary to the Hua Ling last night who was always

smiling, this current him had a face filled with obvious fear, “I’m afraid.”

“Of what?”

“The emperor.”

Yan Shi smiled, “Why are you afraid of the emperor?”

Hua Ling replied, “My mother said that the emperor’s temper

isn’t good; he frequently executes people.” Saying this, he touched his neck

with his hand.

Yan Shi could only comfort him, “Don’t be afraid, you’re his

daughter-in-law, he wouldn’t execute you.”

“But I’m still afraid,” Yan Shi’s voice trembled slightly,

“Just now, the thought that I was seeing the emperor soon scared me so much

that I had to go[5].”

“In a while, don’t say anything, just follow my lead.” Yan

Shi thought again and tacked on another sentence, “And you’ll have to call him Father

Emperor, you can’t call him the Emperor anymore. You’ll have to refer to

yourself as ‘your child’ and not ‘I’.”[6]

Hua Ling wanted to speak again, but he saw a fat white

eunuch approaching them; it was the Emperor Chongjin’s personal eunuch, Lian

Gui Gonggong.

Seeing Yan Shi, Lian Gui Gonggong did not greet him and only

said with a fake smile, “Your servant hopes Wangye is well.”[7]

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Hua Ling and critically examined him

from head to toe, “This must be the Wangfei. Wangye you are so fortunate, Wangfei

has a really good appearance.”

Hua Ling was about to speak, but Yan Shi grabbed his hand where

Lian Gui Gonggong could not see; in order to accomplish great deeds, one could

not speak in the spur of the moment, he must be able to tolerate what ordinary

people cannot tolerate.

“If I may ask Gonggong, where is my royal father?” Yan Shi’s face carried a trace of a smile and thought, you old eunuch, there will come a day where I will take care of you.

“His Majesty just finished attending the Morning Court and

is now waiting for Wangye at Flying Frost[8]

Palace.” Lian Gui Gonggong continued, “The Emperor has sent this servant over

to pick up Wangye.”

Yan Shi never loosened his grip on Hua Ling’s hand, it wasn’t

that he didn’t want to, but Hua Ling was trembling markedly. His palms were

filled with cold sweat and it seemed as if he was frightened to death.

Forget it; the sleeves on the left and right side of the robe were wide, so even though they were holding hands, others wouldn’t be able to see anything.

Arriving at Flying Frost Palace, Lian Gui Gonggong entered

first to announce their arrival. In a few moments, both of them were summoned

into the palace.

Emperor Chong Jin and the Empress sat on the left and right

side; the moment he entered Flying Frost palace, Yan Shi deliberately revealed

a hint of hatred on his face.

This hatred wasn’t merely directed at the Empress, nor was

it his response for Hua Ling. On the contrary, if his face revealed happiness,

then it would be even more suspicious.

After they had paid their respects, Emperor Chong Jin

ordered them to rise. Yan Shi got up from the ground, but Hua Ling did not

stand up. His forehead touched the floor, both arms pressed flat against the

ground, and his entire body trembled.

The Empress coughed lightly, “You may rise.”

Hua Ling was still trembling; Emperor Chong Jin gave him a

strange look, “Son,[9]

what’s wrong with your Wangfei? Is he not feeling well?”

Emperor Chong Jin had just finished speaking when Hua Ling’s

frame shook even more, and finally replied with a single sentence, “Y-Yo-Your Child…

Your Child is not ill. J-Just… afraid.”

A trace of disgust flashed across both the Empress and Yan Shi’s

eyes; Emperor Chong Jin felt bemused, “Oh? Why are you afraid? Let’s hear it.”

“Your Child… Your Child… Your Child is just afraid of being

executed.” Having said that, Hua Ling’s body began shaking even more, even his

teeth were grinding against one another. The voice he used while speaking resembled

crying noises; it could be seen that he was trying very hard to suppress

himself, for fear of crying out loud.

Emperor Chong Jin was more curious, “Who is going to execute

you?”

“You – “ Hua Ling spoke very softly.

“How audacious!” The Empress slapped a hand against the

table, “You actually dare to say such things to the Emperor!”

“Zi Tong,[10]

don’t be angry.” Emperor Chong Jin’s face did not carry a trace of anger, and

he even softened his voice, “Why would Zhen[11]

want to execute you?”

After listening to what the Empress said, Hua Ling almost

fell to the ground, but the words Emperor Chong Jin said afterward made him

feel a little better.

“M-M-My mother said so.”

“How bold of you!” The Empress hit the table once more; the

one who Hua Ling referred to as Mother was naturally the Empress’s own blood

sister Yang Shi. “Wangye, your Wangfei has no etiquette,[12]

he dares to smear his mother’s name in front of His Majesty. Is this the

etiquette that your Ruiying Wangfu practices?”

“Mother Empress,[13]

you’re too serious,” Yan Shi replied unhurriedly, “I have just gotten married

to my Wangfei yesterday, and we came today to greet Father Emperor[14]

and Mother Empress. There hasn’t been time to teach Wangfei about the palace

etiquette. Wangfei has resided since young in the Kang Le Residence, the etiquette

that was taught was naturally taught by the people from the Kang Le Residence.”

In a few words, Yan Shi had completely shifted the responsibility

for Hua Ling not abiding by the palace’s rules onto the Kang Le Residence.

“You……”

“Alright, alright,” Whatever the empress was about to say

was disrupted by Emperor Chong Jin, “Both of you speak a little less.[15]

Without Zhen’s command, none of you may speak.”

The empress coldly snorted, and Yan Shi watched her with a smug

smile.

Emperor Chong Jin resumed the previous topic with Hua Ling, “How

could Zhen execute people without reason? You are Zhen’s son-in-law, Zhen all

the more wouldn’t execute you.”

“Really?” Hua Ling slowly lifted his head off the ground,

staring seriously at Emperor Chong Jin with a pair of tear-filled eyes.

“A sovereign’s words are not to be taken lightly.” Emperor Chong

Jin only managed to get a proper look at Hua Ling’s appearance now. This child

had beautiful features, but he wore a charmingly naïve expression; Emperor

Chong Jin’s heart softened even more.

“Then, then your son

is relieved.” Hua Ling climbed up from the ground, lightly dusting dirt that

did not exist off his clothes.

A eunuch came over to serve two cups of two; Hua Ling walked

before Emperor Chong Jin and toasted him a cup, then he toasted the empress a

cup;[16]

there is naturally no need to elaborate on the gifts he obtained after serving

tea.

“Why do you keep smiling?” Ever since Hua Ling finished

serving tea he had been smiling non-stop, the tear tracks from a while ago were

still visible on his face, it looked extremely odd.

The corner of Hua Ling’s eyes curved into a crescent, “Your

son is happy.”

“Why are you so happy?” Emperor Chong Jin shook his head,

this child’s face was really like a June day, changing so rapidly.

“From today on, your son will have two fathers and mothers,”

Hua Ling began to count with his fingers and he suddenly frowned, “No that’s

not right, not just two mothers. I used to have two mothers, now I have three.”

“This child.” Emperor Chong Jin smiled, even the empress

smiled. Although this child had very little courage, however he spoke quite

flatteringly.

At this moment, he felt immense satisfaction; it seems that

it was the right decision to betroth him to Yan Shi, regardless of whether he

was used to hook Yan Shi in or to deal with him, he was still a good trump

card.

Emperor Chong Jin was feeling happy and wanted to bestow

even more gifts, words began tumbling out of his mouth, “Zhen will gift you a boon,

you can request for anything you want.”

“Your son wants to pee.” As he said this, Hua Ling closed

his legs, one hand placed on his stomach, an anxious expression on his face, “Just

now I was too scared, whenever I’m afraid I would have to pee.”

“HAHAHA! HAHAHA!” Emperor Chong Jin laughed uncontrollably, and

quickly gestured to a eunuch to escort Hua Ling.

The empress’s face darkened, “Wangye, after going back you

should teach the Wangfei some etiquette.”

“Your son understands.”

After Yan Shi finished speaking, the entire hall was silent

for a time.

Not long later, Hua Ling came back. Emperor Chong Jin placed

his cup down and looked at him, “Have you thought about what you want during

this time?”

“Your son has already had his request fulfilled,” Hua Ling gazed

at Emperor Chong Jin with incomprehensible eyes, “Just now your son wanted to

use the toilet as a favour.”

“HAHAHA!” Emperor Chong Jin laughed once more, “You, you,

this is the reward you want. Zhen can’t let you be too disadvantaged. How about

this, in the future, you can roam around the palace at will.”

“Thank you, Royal Father.” Hua Ling knelt on the ground and

bowed his head in a respectful manner.

The empress grinded her teeth, this idiot, it wasn’t easy

for him to receive a boon, and he actually requested for such an unspeakable

thing. It’s not as if one would die holding it in, why couldn’t he just endure?

But thinking about it afterward, this arrangement was also good; it is the

easiest to walk all over this kind of gullible person.

Emperor Chong Jin ordered him to rise, “Thinking about it,

you are probably already eighteen years old, but haven’t taken the imperial

exam. You must take the exam as soon as possible, then you can share your royal

father’s burdens in the future.”

“Replying to royal father, your son does not wish to take

the imperial examination,” Hua Ling said, “My mother said, someone with our

family’s status shouldn’t compete with those children from humble families for

the title of imperial scholar. They are quite pitiful and can only hope to become

an official in order to lead a good life.”

The empress was just about to speak but Emperor Chong Jin

cut in before she could, “Oh? How do you know that you’ll definitely become a

scholar?[17]

My court’s imperial exam is not easy to pass.”

Hua Ling said with great confidence, “My mother said that with my literary talents, if I wanted to become the top scholar,[18] I would definitely be able to succeed. Since royal father does not believe me, then your son will recite a poem for you to listen, and you’ll know that your son did not lie.”

Translator’s Notes

[1] 昭王(Zhao Wang) is his title, and 晏旌 (Yan Jing) is his name.

[2] 封为亲王 (Feng Wei Qin Wang) = to be acknowledged as ‘Qin Wang’. Basically ‘Qin Wang’ are higher up on the hierarchy ladder than normal princes or ‘wang’. To be given the recognition of ‘Qin Wang’ usually means that you are the top candidate(s) for succession. Soooo technically all with the emperor’s blood are princes but a prince with ‘Qin Wang’ status is like… *go and hug his thighs*. Note that Qin Wang is more like a status than a title. A prince’s titled name is different. In this case, his title is Zhao Wang.

[3] A Chinese idiom used to describe a young man’s talents and his physical appearance (top-notch ones)

[4] Yang Shi’s first son is Yan Jing (who is also the emperor’s second sun, thus his status as the second prince). Yang Shi’s second (younger) son is Zao Yao.

[5] He needed to pee.

[6] 儿臣 (Er Chen) = Your child (literally) but it’s a term used only by males

[7] 请安 (Qing An): Part of a customary greeting. The meaning is kind of like… giving best someone your best wishes (in general).

[8] 飞霜 (Fei Shuang): Flying Frost

[9] 寔儿 (Shi Er) I think it means ‘son’. It’s probably an old address. I really can’t tell. In case you’re curious, son in modern Chinese is 儿子 (Er Zi) or 儿 (Er) for short.

[10] 梓童 (Zi Tong) is a term used to address the Empress (used only by the Emperor!)

[11] 朕 (Zhen) is like the royal ‘I’, used only by the Emperor to refer to himself.

[12] 规矩 (Gui Ju) = Rules/ Etiquette (usually meant to refer specifically to special set of etiquette applicable in the palace)

[13] 母后 (Mu Hou) = Royal Mother/ Mother Empress (what royal princes use to address the Empress, even if said Empress is not actually related to them/ their real mother)

[14] 父皇 (Fu Huang) = Royal Father/ Father Emperor

[15] Not meant literally. He’s basically saying that some words can be left unspoken (so as to not cause an argument).

[16] To toast your parents a cup: part of Chinese culture/ etiquette – it’s another form of greeting

[17] In imperial China, the title of ‘scholar’ is awarded only to the top 3.

[18] 状元 (Zhuang Yuan) = 1st place in the imperial exam.

dreamxx: Noooooo Hua Ling, don’t do it!!!

Thank you for your support! ( ˘ ³˘)♥

Chapter 5Chapter 7

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