With the emperors rage, the voices calling for determining an empress and heir faded away. The inner palace and the court quieted for a period of ti. Another month passed by and it was the late emperors death anniversary. The concubines above fourth rank and the princes and princesses all have to wear plain and dull colored clothes to pay their respects at the imperial tomb. As usual, the empress dowager did not return, only sending a set of handmade winter clothes for the emperor to burn as an offering to the late emperor.
At the ceremony, the first prince behaved diocrely as usual, but the second prince was unexpectedly very eye-catching. Ever since the emperors scolding, he noticeably beco more mature and responsible his behavior polite and proper. He even gave a sincere and moving, elegant oration that made nurous retainers tears flow.
After the ceremony, many vassals complinted the second princes filiality and literary talent. The emperor also, due to the occasion, said a few words of complent. Thus, the earlier turbulence of the second prince being scolded as cruel and unable to handle responsibility finally brushed past.
In this palace, even just a barely past ten year old child isnt so simple! He can hold* such a large event so well, as expected of a product of the imperial family. (The second princes nominal age is twelve, so hes actually just ten) It seems that Noble Consort Li will act soon. ng Sangyu sighed as he recollected the second princes behavior at the ceremony.
How does Your Ladyship know that Noble Consort Li will act soon? Bi Shui was already used to the strange words that co out of her masters mouth every so often. She just picks out and asks about what she understands.
Now that she knows about the dumb thing* between emperor and the Gracious Consorts, if she doesnt hurry up and plan for herself right now then when will she? When the Gracious Consort gets pregnant and gives birth? ng Sangyu said as she reached out her arms while walking towards Yin Cui, who was just carrying ABao into the hall, Let take a look at ABao, is he better today?
What does she an the dumb thing? Sangyus little mouth really is loveable yet hateful at the sa ti. Emperor Zhouwu whimpered as he looked at the woman with his little pitiful watery puppy eyes, begging for love. Separated from Sangyu for just a few hours, his whole body just didnt feel right and his heart beat up and down anxiously, unable to settle down.
Today ABao was wearing a bunny costu. With his dog face wrapped in fluffy bunny fur with a pair of long bunny ears on top and a scar on his eyelid, he looked exactly like Usavich*. ng Sangyu was dizzily overco by his cuteness. She rubbed her hands and only carried over ABao when her cold hands were warm.
Hes a lot better today. Most of the small wounds have already closed up, but the larger wounds still need six or seven days. Your Ladyship fed him so congee before leaving, but he hasnt had any food nor dicine since. He must be missing Your Ladyship. He started struggling since he heard Your Ladyship returning, trying to co out and welco Your Ladyship. Yin Cui laughed as she touched ABaos paw that was wrapped like a Zongzi*.
Emperor Zhouwu buried himself in ng Sangyus arms, just quietly feeling the comfort of her scent and warmth. The longer he is a dog, the more severe his reliance on his owner becos. Nowhere is as safe as in ng Sangyus embrace.
Then quickly bring the dicine. First feed him the dicine, then food. ng Sangyu pinched ABaos nose, and took a bib from Nurse Fengs hands that she wrapped around ABaos neck.
A bunny costu, a little bib, a shaved dog face this scene was incredibly codic. All the servants in the hall lowered their heads, their shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Bi Shui and Yin Cuis faces were red from holding in their laughter. For the sake of ABaos pride, they could only quickly leave the hall.
The dicine was quickly brewed and brought before ng Sangyu. ng Sangyu used her left hand to hold ABao on her arm and her left hand to hold a small spoon that she fed ABao with, one spoonful at a ti. ABao was very cooperative, eating one spoonful at a ti without a struggle. Nor did he spit the dicine out because it is bitter, even braver than most humans.
Your Ladyship, dont you think ABaos incredibly smart? As if he can understand what we are saying? Yin Cui asked in a low voice.
ABao spat out the spoonful of dicine he just drank, wetting his little bib.
ng Sangyu smiled as she wiped the ss clean, unworriedly asking, Is it not good to be smart?
Theres nothing bad about it. Just sotis it seems eerie. Except Yin Cui didnt dare say the last half of that sentence.
No matter how smart he is, he is still my ABao. I hope for him to be even smarter. ng Sangyu pinched ABaos little moist nose, her voice full of pampering love for ABao.
Emperor Zhouwu let out a sigh of relief, sticking out his tongue to lick the womans finger. If his tail wasnt broken, it would be happily wagging at this mont.
This servant greets the Virtuous Consort. Please drink the dicine Your Ladyship. The doctress that visits on ti, three tis a month, gave her greetings at the palace doors with a bowl of steaming hot dicine in her hands.
In the past, Nurse Feng had been all smiles seeing her, but at this mont she was gritting her teeth in the dark, wishing she could go up and slap the bowl of dicine away.
Put it down, we will drink it later. ng Sangyu ordered as the smile on at her lips dampened.
The doctress heeded and put the dicine on an end table next to ABaos crib, then retreating to wait in a corner. She had received orders from above. She must watch the Virtuous Consort finish the dicine before she can return.
After ng Sangyu finished feeding ABao his dicine, she put him back into his crib. Just as she was about to pick up the bowl to drink the dicine, ABao unexpectedly pounced out and knocked over the dicine.
Be careful Your Ladyship! Bi Shui and Yin Cui imdiately ca up, one pulled away the Virtuous Consort, the other caught the bowl.
Good Job ABao! Nurse Fengs eyes lit up. She even moved ABao and his crib to the other side of the couch so he wouldnt get wet. She then made a troubled expression towards the doctress, As you see, the dicine poured
No matter, this servant will return and brew another bowl for Your Ladyship and bring it over later. The doctress quickly responded.
Then we must trouble the lady to. Nurse Fengs smile was a little fake.
In his crib, ABao shifted his paws, his eyes dark.
After the doctress left, Nurse Feng moved next to ng Sanyu, whispering to her ear, Your Ladyship, although you do not wish to have a child, but you still cant treat yourself so poorly like this. Every dicine is a third poison*, youve already drank it for three years, you cant drink it anymore.
I know nurse, I wont drink this dicine anymore. ng Sangyu nodded, thinking to herself: Ive lost all favor already anyways, the emperor probably wont rember for a couple of years so it shouldnt be a big deal if I dont drink it.
She had only been a fourteen-year-old little girl at the ti (TN: when she got married.. I think), even if the emperor had not treated her like this, she wouldve looked for so birth control dicine to take on her own. The emperor doing this had actually saved her quite a bit of work.
In his crib, ABao was relieved hearing the conservation between the master and servant pair. His dissatisfaction with Nurse Feng from before disappeared. Although this servant is a bit slow, but shes loyal. Well continue to let her stay at Sangyus side.
When the doctress ca again, ng Sanyu already changed into a darker and loose robe. Using her sleeves to block her face as she drank, she could pour the dicine into her sleeves without it leaking out. The doctress did not notice and returned with the empty bowl.
At night, ng Sangyu slept on the bed while ABao slept below it. The one human and one dog both had peaceful expressions, even their breathing was at the sa rate. Thin threads of rain fell outside the window. A chilling breath slipped inside from the slightly open window, transforming into condensation on the ground near the window.
Suddenly, a flash of white lightning split the pitch black sky. Then monts after, a deafening rumble rolled from the edges of the sky, as if thousands of soldiers and horses were battling on the rooftop.
ng Sangyu first scrunched her brows, then soon got woken by the clamor. She tightly wrapped herself in the blankets, screaming for Nurse Feng. Her whole body shook, her face pale, her eyes opened to their widest, appearing extrely fearful and anxious.
Yes, she is afraid of thunder and lightning. In her last life, her parents had locked her in the house by herself at four. There also a thunderstorm that day. Lightning had struck a corner of her house, and the appliances inside sparked a fire, almost burning her to death. It was all thanks to her nanny getting to her in ti, saving her from the sea of fire, that she survived. Since then, thunder and lightning had beco the nightmare of two lifetis for her.
Emperor Zhouwu was woken by ng Sangyus screams. He flailed his paws, trying to climb up onto the bed. It was his first ti seeing the woman so frightened and flustered, and his chest felt heavy. But he was covered in wounds was wrapped like a mummy with a thick vest on top, unable to do anything despite his worry.
Woof woof woof! Sangyu dont be scared, were here!
ABao? Hearing the soft calls of the little pup, ng Sangyu paused in surprise. She flipped her blanket to the side, pounced to the side of the bed and pulled ABao into her arms.
ABao dont be scared, Im here! I will protect you! Thinking that ABao was barking because he was also scared, ng Sangyu suddenly cald. She softly patted ABaos back as she wrapped the blanket around him and herself.
There was a little space ford by the blanket that was warm and fragrant. Emperor Zhouwu took a deep breath and felt a little dizzy. He wrapped his paws around the womans wrist and licked the back of her hand and fingers, addicted to the smooth texture. ng Sangyu forgot her fear and began laughing.
Your Ladyship, are you okay? Nurse Feng and Bi Shui ca in drenched, with water still dropping from their hair.
Im okay, where did you guys go? ng Sangyu flipped away her blanket. Emperor Zhouwu was disrupted and slapped the blanket below him angrily with his paws.
Your Ladyship, it suddenly started raining in the middle of the night, so this servant and Bi Shui rembered that the window in the study was not closed. We ran to close the window, but suddenly it started thundering and hailing. Bi Shui and I were hit by the hail!
Hearing this, ng Sangyu finally dared to listen closely to the sound outside, there were indeed sounds of hail bouncing around outside.
Your Ladyship, its already winter and its still thundering. They all say winter thunders, sumr snows* are unnatural occurrences. This isnt a good on! Tomorrow this servant will go to wish for a peace charm to remove so bad fortune for Your Ladyship. Nurse Feng walked up and tucked her master in. Seeing ABao in the blanket, she reached over to carry him down.
Emperor Zhouwu scrunched his brows, hurriedly grabbing on to ng Sangyus arm with his paws. Everything else about this servant is fine, Its just that she doesnt really have any tact, too slow!
Dont, just let ABao sleep with . Tonight nurse doesnt need make a bed on the ground next to , that way you wont be cold. Ill have to trouble nurse for the peace charm. You should quickly go take care of yourselves, take a hot bath and drink so ginger tea. Be careful not to get sick. ng Sangyu quickly waved her hands for Nurse Feng to leave. She then carefully hugged ABao in her arms.
Resting on the womans chest, with his face facing her cleavage, Emperor Zhouwus nose was a little itchy. His tongue uncontrollably reached out and licked.
Ah! ABao you perverted dog! ng Sangyu scolded, then laughed.
Seeing her master playing with ABao, completely forgetting the rumbling winter thunder outside, Nurse Feng smiled in relief. She quietly left the bedchamber with Bi Shui.
The next day, the ill on of the winter thunder left a slight wave of unrest in court. The emperor imdiately passed a decree, ordering retainers at different locations to take preventative asures for the cold, to not let disaster befall the people. A few days later, the unrest from the winter thunders were not yet quelled and new unrest arose in court. The thousand year pine tree behind Taihe Palace suddenly died.
This ancient pine had died once before one hundred years ago. Not long after that, the previous dynasty collapsed and the ancestors of the Gu family took over the royal palace. Since, the family had worn the dragon robe and sat on the throne, changing the empires na to Zhou. The day the founder of Zhou was enthroned, the already dead ancient pine had suddenly budded again. When the founder of Zhou found out he was thrilled, calling this a gift from the heavens an indication that the creation of Zhou was following the will of the heavens and thus would be prosperous for tens of thousands of lifetis.
But now, the ancient pine that has such symbolic aning to Zhou has suddenly died. Not only so, but the tree died from a split at its roots. Could this be a warning for danger to the people of Zhou by the heavens? Dying at the roots in combination with the previous rumors, wouldnt this have manifested on the emperor?
In Fengluan palace, Noble Consort Li laughed; in Zhongcui palace, Shen Huiru snapped a brush in half.
Translation Note:
*hold
Original: hold (English)
Usage: In China, hold is a modern slang(?) for being able to handle sothing. A common usage Ive heard/seen is whether a man can handle a girl as a girlfriend (
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