53 Love Bite (2/2)
”Bai Cai Wenjin.” The consort admonished.
”Listen,” the emperor took the princess onto his crossed legs and sat her, ”the throne is for your little brother and not our princess.”
”But why? For what little brother Fuhuang?”
”Because… Princess is too precious to spend all her life stressing about state affairs and going to war. Or does Cai Wenjin like to fight?”
She adorably shook her head. ”Fuhuang, Princess does not have a little brother.” The little girl puzzly looked at her father.
”He is not there yet but you will meet him someday.”
She bobbed her head though uncertainty clouded her eyes.
”Now who is the good girl?” He tickled her playfully and she broke into a ghast of laughter.
”Fuhuang!...” She laughed harder.
Then they spent about an hour playing around and chatting about. It was when Princess Cai Weinjin finished munching some fresh snacks that Court Lady Nam brought in for her that she yawned tiredly. It was late in the night since it was already the hour of the dog. [2]
”Looks like it's someone's bed time?” Her father lovingly carried her off his lap and helped her stand.
”Will mother read me something to help me sleep?” She asked tiredly, her eyes twinkling with expectancy.
The consort struggled for words to excuse herself. She longed to stay behind and give the emperor company.
”Mother has to stay with His Majesty, Princess.” She looked over at him, hoping he would let her stay. The last time he visited her was when she was pregnant and now to get his private attention she had to depend on the princess, although this never allowed for intimacy. His lack of affection towards her was making her lose face among other concubines, which made it harder to enforce the case of her becoming empress.
”[3]Zhen has to tend to his affairs, thus you may leave.” He excused her and disappointment struck her. Even though she bore him his only child, he was still impervious to her attempts of trying to cultivate their relationship.
”[4]Chenqie will help His Highness by making ink for his seal.” And afterwards she would ask to help him get ready for bed since it was at the right time of the month for her to conceive. One more chance in having an heir was what she desperately needed.
”Eunuch Nam!” he called with a sardonic edge.
'Eunuch Nam?' Consort Wang looked around hysterically, feeling helpless. 'No, no, no… I need to stay here tonight.'
”Ready to serve His Majesty.” The eunuch trekked in from nowhere.
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”Your Majesty,” she went on her knees, ”Chenqie begs for your―”
”Eunuch Nam, have Consort Wang and the princess escorted to their chambers.” He wouldn't hear her out. For the past five years he repudiated any chance to spend the night with her. It was at that moment that she had to face reality. The cold truth was that he wouldn't bed her even if she bet her life on it. In other words, he desired not to have her as his empress.
She resigned herself by shifting to the nether end. ”Your Majesty has been most gracious to grant your valuable time to Consort Wang and Princess Cai Wenjin in the past hour.”
'Bai Sheng Hong! Whoever she is that is secretly warming your bed, I will find her,' she pledged from within.
Translation
[1]Fuhuang = emperor father, what an emperor's child can call him.
[2] Hour of the dog = 7pm to 9pm
[3] Zhen = I, used by the emperor to refer to himself. It is the symbol of an emperor and other people cannot call themselves this. It stands for the status and rights that others can't own. Sometimes it can express that the words the emperor is saying are irrefutable.
[4] Chenqie = I, used by the emperor's wife to refer to herself. When someone calls themselves 'Chen' he or she wants to express the meaning of 'I would like to devote myself heart and soul to the emperor unconditionally.' While 'qie' is the wife of someone. It also expresses the person's respect for the emperor.
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