Fierce “Husband”

It has been two hours since Emperor Yongming returned to Jingyou Palace. Dai Qiyou, the Empress was resting. Emperor Yongming looked at the Empress’ face, who was not sleeping peacefully by the bed for a while and the bravado in his heart once again turned into deep concern. After tucking in the Empress, Emperor Yongming put something on his pillow and left softly.

The next day, just after dawn, the Empress woke up. The pain in his abdomen made it difficult for him to sleep, so he had to light incense to help him sleep for two or three hours every night. As soon as he woke up, Eunuch Zhuo, who was serving him, immediately lifted the bed curtain, bringing him a cup of water and waited for him to drink it.

The Empress asked, “Where is the Emperor? Is he in court today?” Eunuch Zhuo helped the Empress lie down and then replied, “His Majesty came back last night, but seeing that Your Majesty had fallen asleep, he went back to his chambers to rest. His Majesty also left a gift for your Majesty.”

Following Eunuch Zhuo’s motion, the Empress looked at the pillow. Then Eunuch Zhuo picked it up with both hands and handed it over. The Empress took it, rubbed his finger a few times and then raised his eyes. “Is this an emerald?”

Eunuch Zhuo smiled and said, “The Empress has a really sharp eye. When the Emperor left, the servant saw that the Emperor also had one hanging on his waist. It’s a pair.” The Empress smiled and handed it to Eunuch Zhuo. “From now on, I will wear this jade pendant.”

“Yes.” Usually, the court met on the first, fifteenth, and the last day of each month, and had a day off every six days. If there were important matters to be deliberated, the Emperor’s inner officials would notify the ministers one day in advance to attend the court, while the Emperor would deal with government affairs in the East Palace and receive ministers who entered the palace to meet him the rest of time. 

When revising memorials or meeting with ministers, the Emperor would be in the imperial study and when it was cold, he would stay in a warmer pavilion. On the days when the ministers didn’t attend court, they either went to the palace to report to the Emperor on their work or stayed in the ministry.

Dai Qiyou had stomach pain, so Emperor Yongming didn’t have much interest in working. After going around the study, he went to Jingyu Palace. Dai Qiyou just got up to have breakfast. But he woke up because he was really uncomfortable, so he was still lying down and resting. Dai Qiyou’s complexion was very pale and when he saw him, Emperor Yongming’s heart became a lot heavier. “Your Majesty.”

“Don’t get up.” Emperor Yongming quickly walked to the Empress and pressed him down to keep him from getting up, then sat down beside him. Dai Qiyou smiled slightly and said, “I have pumpkin and millet porridge here. Would you like a bowl?”

“Good.” Dai Qiyou looked at the jade pendant hanging on Emperor Yongming’s waist that was obviously a pair with his and reached out to hold it up. These jade pendants were of different sizes. Their transparent parts were like water and the green parts were like green leaves floating in the water. 

If Shao Yunan was here, he would explain that it was a green jade pendant with floating flowers in ice. But he said it was obtained by Wang Shijing, so how could he show that he has done such research on jade? Therefore, they were all emeralds and how others identified them was none of his concern.

Emperor Yongming picked up the Empress’ jade pendant and said, “This was brought by Cen Yuebai. Yours and mine are a pair.” Then he took his own pendant from the Empress’ hands and held it with the Empress. When both jades were put together, you could see they fit together perfectly. “In the whole Great State of Yan, I am afraid it’s the only pair of such jade pendants. Let’s wear them all the time in the future.”

“I will also wear it.” The Empress raised his hand and looked at Emperor Yongming with eyes full of fondness. Emperor Yongming also hugged the Empress, unable to speak. Dai Qiyou then hugged Emperor Yongming. “Your Majesty, I will always be with Your Majesty. Your Majesty, don’t worry.”

“Qiyou, you promised me. You can’t go back on your word.”

“Well, I promised you.”

Eunuch Zhuo turned sideways to wipe his tears. In a place that Emperor Yongming and Eunuch Zhuo could not see, the Empress tightened his jaw, seeming to be in great pain.

“Qiyou, I’m going to tell you something great.” Immediately, the Empress regained his normal expression and let go of Emperor Yongming. Emperor Yongming looked at Eunuch Zhuo, who immediately signaled the people present to retreat and then he also retreated.

When there were no more outsiders around, Emperor Yongming said in a low voice, “Yesterday, the Imperial Teacher and Cen Yuebai brought me a precious gift related to the century-old prosperity of my Great State of Yan.” The Empress immediately asked in surprise, “What gift is it and what is it?”

Emperor Yongming said, “The Imperial Teacher brought more than twenty books, but none of them have ever appeared in this world before. There are also many words there that even I can’t read.” The Empress urgently asked, “Then from where did these books come from?”

Emperor Yongming smiled with a bit of relief and joy. “It was presented by ‘that’ miracle person.” As he said that, he picked up the Empress’ jade pendant. Surprised, Emperor Yongming recounted in detail and then said to the shocked Empress, “I wanted to invite him to the capital to assist me, but the Imperial Teacher and Cen Yuebai stopped me. They said that the man’s heart was not in the imperial court. He only wants to do his ‘small’ business and if he was summoned to the capital, he would instead be pushed into the limelight of the imperial court. Moreover, what that person has done so far has also helped me. I don’t need to force him to be around, so after thinking about it, it makes sense.”