The emperor felt the Zhao Jin Yu in front of him was similar

to the first time he had spare ribs stewed with potato, delicious, tasty, enticing

people to move their fingers quickly, with such a thought, the agitation in his

heart become more and more distinct, in a flash it sparked off a raging inferno

in his heart, burning him to an unbearable parched fever, he took in a deep

breath, immediately turning his body…, was he possessed?

Zhao Jin Yu habitually wanted to stroke the stone, the stone

this time however violently reacted by jumping away, chiding, “Don’t touch us, didn’t

we tell you before we are a man? Do you not understand words or are you

actually an idiot? Maybe you are naturally loose in morals and cannot be far

from men?”

Zhao Jin Yu stared at the emperor with wide eyes, watery

dark brown eyes hid a disbelieve, so much so that the undercurrent of hurt came

rus.h.i.+ng forth, the stone’s words this time were too hurtful, a long time later

did she then respond, saying, “How can you say such things?”

After the emperor had spoken he was somewhat regretful, but

there was no reason to retract words once they have been spoken, in a rather

low voice he hmphed, “It’s just as it is.”

It was extremely quiet for a short while, no one said

anything…, a stifling atmosphere filled the room, the emperor did not dare to

look at Zhao Jin Yu, even though he was unyielding, but his heart still felt

rather nervous, she couldn’t really be angry right?

Who knew, after a moment a sort of helpless sound came from

Zhao Jin Yu, your character is so bad, if you left my side what would happen?”

Zhao Jin Yu’s gaze lingered on the stone, thinking why should she be so serious

with a stone? What did he know?

“Where are you going?” The emperor’s voice unconsciously

became gentle.

“Where am I going?” Zhao Jin Yu laid back down, withdrawing

her gaze, both hands pressed under her head, releasing a breath she said, “I

don’t know, but I can’t afford to support you. That’s why I should give you

away.”

“We don’t eat that much!” After the emperor finished speaking

he regretted it! What was he saying, as if he was expressing he didn’t eat

much, very easy to raise, anyhow he did not want to be discarded by Zhao Jin

Yu, this wasn’t the current problem…, it was that this woman had the audacity,

to go as far as to give him who reigned supreme away? “Brazen, we ask you, how

dare you give us away as you wish?”

“Once I finish the task given to me by adoptive father, I

won’t return to the capital.” Zhao Jin Yu watched the hazy candle flame outside

of the curtains, a sort of sadness hidden in her eyes, “When the time comes I

have to support myself, you eat so much for one meal, and is very fussy, I

really can’t support you, in the future having a steamed bun might not be the

worse thing…, however don’t worry, I will definitely find someone suitable, I

won’t allow you to suffer.” While the home was desolate and empty, it didn’t

however mean Zhao Jin Yu did not have a copper coin on her, a person always had

some emergency money, only she had spent quite a bit of money on this journey,

right now adding it up there wasn’t much, she has to meticulously plan and

carefully account her life from now on.

“Just because of steamed buns? You really are foolish?”

Zhao Jin Yu smiled, only that smile did not reach her eyes,

“You don’t understand, when you truly am not able to eat, how precious a

steamed bun is, don’t use such contemptuous manner to talk about a steamed bun,

how many starving people it has saved?” It was like in a flash she again

returned to the days before she was adopted, every day she waited for someone

to give her a mouthful of leftover food, at that time a steamed bun was even

more luxurious and was looked forward by people.

“We would deprive you of a mouthful of steamed bun?” The

emperor understood Zhao Jin Yu’s meaning, but it wasn’t good to say such words

to anyone, saying it to him was the most satirical, he as an emperor could

deprive her of a mouthful of steamed bun?

Zhao Jin Yu smiled, this time it really was without

restraint, she couldn’t help touch the stone, saying, “Little thing, your words

are really considerate.” Following a pause, she again said, “In truth it isn’t

that bad, I naturally have made plans.” Again how could she not have thought of

a way out on this journey? But she felt somewhat miserable thinking of being

genuinely alone.

Her only handkerchief was delivered to Gu Fu Ying, who was

just fortunately in Hangzhou, once the Gu and Zhao family were close, several

years before Gu Fu Ying’s father Gu Jin was delegated to the Hangzhou

prefectural magistrate, so the two people then separated, she actually didn’t

want to freeload, she only wanted to find support, it was very difficult to be

a woman in this era, even if she wanted to earn a living by herself, if she

didn’t have any support how would she be able to carry on in the long term?

Common local ruffians would bully you for being a woman, that’s why tomorrow

after delivering the item she wanted to directly find Gu Fu Ying, also thinking

at that time she would have to lodge under another person’s roof, at the start

she would not have much freedom, raising such a spirit stone, she was afraid

people would get suspicious, therefore she had said such words.

“Humph.” The emperor sneered, saying, “If we are to leave,

it would be out of our own accord, you have no right to decide whether we stay

or go…, remember, serve us well, or you’ll suffer.”

Zhao Jin Yu proudly raised her eyebrows, saying, “Just now

you called me a loose moral woman, why would you now pester me again and again

unwilling to leave? Don’t you feel your honour is lowered staying with such a

cheap woman like myself? Or…” Zhao Jin Yu felt the anger gradually rise from

the stone’s body, continuing fearlessly she said, “You actually hate to part

with me?”

Zhao Jin Yu had originally thought her words would make the

stone unbearably angry, who would have thought having spoken for a while she

did not see the stone react, she couldn’t help push it, asking, “What is it?

Are you really angry?”

“No.” The stone’s voice was somewhat calm, at the same time

it held some resentment, like he needed to admit something, to him it was

rather difficult, “You’re right, we truly hate to part with you to an extent.”

Even if Zhao Jin Yu’s skin was even thicker, this moment

would still be quite embarra.s.sing, she said, 

“Truthfully I also don’t want to

part from you. However I’m worried I won’t be able to look after you in the

future…, make you suffer, that’s why I want to send you off.”

A warm air permeated the room, joining the person and the

stone together invisibly.

Early next morning, after breakfast Zhao Jin Yu and Chen

Rong left, Zhao Jin Yu needed to deliver the letter to a friend of her adoptive

father, that person was called Liu Ba Yan, supposedly he was a schoolmate of

her father when they studied.

When Zhao Jin Yu arrived at the Liu residence it looked like

a funeral was taking place, plain white clothes hung from the doorway, inside

it was actually absolutely empty without a person, thinking about it a funeral

was the best way to see what the master’s usual family circ.u.mstances were like,

as long as it wasn’t beyond what was proper, then at a moment like this it

wouldn’t be so desolate like this.

The two people had entered the courtyard for a quarter of an

hour before a young maid came over to enquire if they were paying their

condolences, Chen Rong said, “My young lady is the daughter of an old friend of

your master.”

That young maid stared bewildered for a while, finally she

reluctantly welcomed them to the hall, but her expression was still rather

grave.

When the young maid went to call for someone, Zhao Jin Yu

said to Chen Rong, “Auntie Chen, why do I feel this is somewhat strange?”

Chen Rong expression was profound, looking all around she

said, “I’m afraid this isn’t a happy funeral.”

Zhao Jin Yu nodded, and did not speak, only when the tea

turned cold did they see a thin and pallid middle aged man come over with

hurried footsteps, seeing the two people in the hall he was clearly distracted,

immediately he cupped his hands in greetings and said, “I am Xiu Ba Yan, may I

ask who this young lady is…”

“My father is Zhao Chang Chun.” Zhao Jin Yu bowed.

“You say your father is Zhao Chang Chun?” Xiu Ba Yan rather

incredulously looked at Zhao Jin Yu for quite a while, “You are the child he

adopted?”

“Precisely this girl.”

Liu Ba Yan’s eyes dimmed, sighing he said, “I’ve also heard

of your father’s case…, sadly I’m only a commoner, I really cannot help.”

Speaking to here and seeing that the tea had turned cold, he yelled, 

“Xiao Yu,

steep tea for the guests.”

Xiao Yu was the young maid who had just welcomed them in,

somewhat clumsily she came over to pour tea, because she did not pay attention

she nearly overturned a teacup, Xiu Ba Yan however remained impa.s.sive.

The two people spoke for a while, when Zhao Jin Yu was

certain the man in front of her was the Xiu Ba Yan her father spoke of did she

then take out the letter hidden in her bosom, handing it over solemnly, she

said, “My father told me to deliver this to uncle.”

Liu Ba Yan released a long breath after reading the letter,

a kind of pity in his gaze, giving Zhao Jin Yu a kind of feeling far from

rea.s.suring, “Have you read the letter?”

Zhao Jin Yu shook her head.

“Pity on the hearts of parents in the whole world.” After

Liu Ba Yan finished he said, “Jin Yu, your father asked me to return you to

your birth parents.”

Zhao Jin Yu abruptly stood up, asking, “Uncle, you’re

talking about my birth parents?”

Liu Ba Yan softly said, “Take a seat first, I slowly tell

you, actually I can understand why your father has done this, he is already

behind bars, he’s afraid of implicating you….”

Zhao Jin Yu stood stumped for a while, tears suddenly rushed

out.