Blame the Villain – Chapter 204

Villainous Emperor (4)

The Emperor had a dream the night before.

In the dream, he saw an unfamiliar, poorly dressed little girl devoutly kneeling in a temple. The goddess statue came to life, standing on her divine pedestal, giving the little girl a gentle smile…

Behind the girl, there seemed to be flowing golden light, as if she had grown a pair of enormous wings.

The goddess turned to look at him.

Suddenly, a female voice echoed in the Emperor’s mind, telling him that if he wanted eternal prosperity for his empire and longevity for himself, he needed to find and properly nurture the “Imperial Companion Star”, who was six years old this year and located in the southwestern part of the palace.

After the Emperor woke up, it took him a long time to recall that the southwestern part of the palace was the Cold Palace, where besides some punished palace servants, there was also a palace lady he had rejected, who reportedly gave birth to a girl several years ago…

The Emperor, taking a “might as well try” approach, sent people to find the mother and daughter.

When the two appeared before the Emperor again, he could hardly imagine that the once stunning beauty from the Dong state could become such an emaciated figure, looking exactly like a skeleton. The woman looked at him with fear and hatred, her eyes almost bleeding with emotion—

The Emperor was startled by such a gaze and almost wanted to leave immediately, however, the girl who was holding and constantly comforting the mad woman looked exactly like the little girl from his dream!

The Emperor could only force himself to stay, ignoring the mad woman’s screams while listening to his attendants’ reports about Jiang Ruyu’s appearance, becoming increasingly convinced that Jiang Ruyu was indeed the “Imperial Companion Star.”

Looking at the girl’s tattered clothes and remembering the goddess’s words about benefits, the Emperor barely controlled his disgust and patted the girl’s clean-looking head, forcing a smile: “Ruyu, I am your Royal Father.”

The Emperor could only bear to touch her once before withdrawing his hand, pretending nothing was wrong. Meeting the girl’s clear, slightly cautious gaze, he inexplicably felt some displeasure, though he still maintained a forced smile: “You two have suffered much these years. Don’t worry, I will have the royal physicians cure your mother’s madness, and those who bullied you—”

The Emperor paused, remembering that those who had bullied Jiang Ruyu and her mother were probably his favored Noble Consort, and changed his tone: “Those servants who overstepped their bounds are unforgivable. I will execute these dog servants and seek justice for you both…”

The Emperor didn’t know why, but even though Jiang Ruyu was so young, he felt that her clear eyes seemed to see through many things. Hearing his words, Jiang Ruyu’s eyes clearly showed confusion, as if questioning why he was punishing the servants when it was the Noble Consort who had done wrong. Only after the Emperor anxiously looked away first did he hear Jiang Ruyu’s soft voice: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Mm.” The Emperor perfunctorily responded, but his heart grew even more displeased with Jiang Ruyu. He couldn’t help but think of the Fifteenth Princess Jiang Xin—Little Fifteen was better, she liked to act coquettishly with people, smiled sweetly, unlike this Little Sixteen who seemed so gloomy and displeasing.

Thinking thus, the Emperor remembered he had promised the Noble Consort to accompany Jiang Xin for her birthday today, so he left with the words: “You two rest well. If you need anything, find Wang Gonggong (公公, refers to a palace eunuch), he will arrange everything for me properly.” Then, he strode out of the side hall.

Watching the Emperor’s hastily retreating figure, Jiang Ruyu patted her mother’s shoulder and pressed her lips together.

Wang Gonggong, who had managed to reach the position of Chief Steward by the Emperor’s side, was naturally a shrewd person. From the Emperor’s words, he deduced the Emperor’s attitude toward these two: Because of the “Imperial Companion Star,” the Emperor wanted to keep Jiang Ruyu close, but deep down he didn’t like either mother or daughter and didn’t want to see them much.

Thinking that these impoverished mother and daughter couldn’t be squeezed for any benefits (literally “can’t squeeze out oil or water,” meaning nothing valuable can be obtained from them), Wang Gonggong didn’t wish to say much. Maintaining a faultless smile, he led the two to Jingxin Pavilion, which wasn’t far from Qinzheng Hall where the Emperor resided. The previous Emperor of Jiang state loved books, being thoroughly scholarly in his ways, and had specifically built Jingxin Pavilion to store his collection of ancient texts. He often rested there. Now that the current Emperor preferred beautiful women and didn’t care for books, Jingxin Pavilion had been left vacant.

Even though Jingxin Pavilion was poorly maintained, it was much better than the Cold Palace where the mother and daughter had lived before: It kept the “Imperial Companion Star” near His Majesty while sparing him from seeing these two regularly – the best possible arrangement for both mother and daughter.

Wang Gonggong selected several palace matrons, maids, and eunuchs to help them bathe and change clothes, and had royal physicians treat them. After making these arrangements, he busied himself with other matters, as today was the Fifteenth Princess’s birthday. Unlike this newly acknowledged Sixteenth Princess, the Emperor genuinely cared for the Fifteenth Princess, and if her birthday celebrations weren’t handled well, many people would suffer consequences.

He remained busy until evening, when other managers took over the arranged programs. Only then did Wang Gonggong belatedly remember the mother and daughter in Jingxin Pavilion.

He knew the people he had arranged: most of the servants he assigned were honest and loyal, unlikely to bully their masters, but this also meant they were simple-minded and inflexible. If he hadn’t given specific instructions, these people probably wouldn’t know to fetch food from the kitchen for the mother and daughter in the side hall.

But these two were used to neglect in the Cold Palace; even if overlooked, it wouldn’t be a major issue.

However, being naturally diplomatic, Wang Gonggong considered for a moment and still had some late-night refreshments prepared and brought to Jingxin Pavilion.

To celebrate the Fifteenth Princess’s birthday, the Emperor had specially invited acrobatic performers into the palace, and the sounds of gongs, drums, and instruments filled the entire court.

But inside Jingxin Pavilion, it was a different scene altogether.

Because the previous Emperor was obsessed with reading, the lamps in Jingxin Pavilion were made of the finest quality to allow for nighttime reading. Under the bright lights, the woman who had appeared like a mad demon during the day had shed her fierce appearance. She was now calmly and gracefully reading to the Sixteenth Princess, and in her smiling eyes, one could finally see traces of her former stunning beauty…

The Emperor had risen from military ranks and always despised scholarly ways, so Wang Gonggong rarely saw women in the imperial harem devoted to reading anymore.

What surprised Wang Gonggong even more was the Sixteenth Princess.

Even in her previously dull gray clothes, one could tell the Sixteenth Princess was extremely beautiful, but now dressed in palace attire, she looked like a person who had stepped out of a painting. Even the Fifteenth Princess, who was often praised for her beauty, appeared like a grain of rice next to a pearl, completely overshadowed.

Someone came over to tell Wang Gonggong about the royal physician’s diagnosis. Although the physician spoke diplomatically, Wang Gonggong, being shrewd, understood the meaning: this woman from the Dong state had been driven mad by reality, but as long as she didn’t see the people who triggered her, such as the Emperor and others, her mental illness would improve significantly.

The woman’s emotional state could no longer withstand any more stimulation.

Watching the mother and daughter so absorbed in reading, Wang Gonggong suddenly lost his desire to chat with them. He placed the late-night refreshments aside, waved off the palace matrons and maids, and then turned to leave Jingxin Pavilion.

Perhaps such a scene was too beautiful and fragile; even the most stone-hearted person (literally “heart of iron and stone”) would feel a moment of pity. After all, His Majesty’s purpose had been achieved—the “Imperial Companion Star” had been found.

Not disturbing them was the greatest kindness one could offer this mother and daughter.

However, Wang Gonggong didn’t see Jiang Ruyu’s delighted expression when she finished her reading, learned some characters, and turned to see the late-night refreshments.

She seemed somewhat shy but tried hard to maintain composure. With wide eyes, she looked at the nearby matron, and though her entire demeanor revealed her desire, she still asked quietly: “Mama (嬷嬷, respectful term for elderly female servant), is this food for my mother and me?”

Jiang Ruyu’s hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched slightly as she carefully observed the matron’s reaction: if the matron was like those eunuchs who would seize their masters’ food, eating these things would only result in beatings and mockery.

“You are the master, of course it’s for you to eat.” The people Wang Gonggong selected weren’t like those opportunistic eunuchs sent by the Noble Consort before. The matron, not thinking too deeply, couldn’t help but smile seeing Jiang Ruyu’s expression: “These things are too sweet, you certainly shouldn’t eat too much, lest you damage your teeth…”

But Jiang Ruyu had stopped listening to the matron. Once she observed that the matron wasn’t speaking sarcastically, Jiang Ruyu happily brought the refreshments to her mother, fed her a bowl of porridge, helped pat her back, and only after watching her mother fall asleep did she happily go to eat the other items…

The palace servants felt pity for Jiang Ruyu when they saw how skillfully she cared for her mother with such understanding.

Jiang Ruyu paid no attention to their reactions, cherishing every bite of food on the table. Even though the food had cooled after sitting for a while, it was still the most delicious thing Jiang Ruyu had ever eaten.

Jiang Ruyu ate very quickly. The palace servants watched wide-eyed as her tiny frame consumed so much food so quickly, and for a moment, no one thought to stop her.

And because she ate too much, fearing she might not have another chance to eat her fill tomorrow, Jiang Ruyu became overly full…

The perpetually hungry little girl had never experienced being overly full before, only feeling her stomach was uncomfortably bloated. The servants, on their first day attending her, hadn’t expected Jiang Ruyu to eat so much. Several inexperienced servants gathered together, all somewhat flustered, until finally, an older matron took Jiang Ruyu’s hand and led the bloated little girl outside to aid digestion.

Jiang Ruyu was terribly frightened. Hearing the servants discuss being “overly full”, she felt this fullness wasn’t a good thing. Her limited knowledge was pitiful—the word “full” only made her think of the Emperor’s fat belly hanging at his waist earlier that day. Jiang Ruyu had once heard her mother say that people with big bellies had babies inside—

Could it be that she would become like the Emperor? After all, she was the Emperor’s offspring…

Would she become as ugly as the Emperor? That would be absolutely terrible.

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The more Jiang Ruyu thought about it, the more frightened she became: The Emperor’s belly was so big, and she was so small – surely she wouldn’t be able to walk dragging such a belly. Her belly would just scrape along the ground, and if it wore through, and the baby fell out… what would she do then?

Jiang Ruyu walked with a heavy heart, her mood as if attending a funeral (literally “visiting a grave,” meaning extremely gloomy). The closer to the Emperor’s quarters, the more guards there were. Jiang Ruyu had never dared come in this direction before, and only after leaving Jingxin Pavilion did she realize this place wasn’t far from the Goddess Temple.

In fact, Jiang Ruyu hadn’t fully processed everything that had happened today—

She had awakened to find herself in a magnificent palace, met the Emperor whom she’d never seen before, who was uglier than she’d imagined and, like others, didn’t like her, and who was reluctant to punish the Noble Consort. But the Emperor had still arranged new living quarters for them, given them clothes and food…

These were things the previous Jiang Ruyu wouldn’t have dared to dream of.

Now, seeing the temple, Jiang Ruyu finally felt a sense of reality—she was truly living the life the Goddess Sister had spoken of in her dream.

Jiang Ruyu understood clearly: the Emperor didn’t like her, and he couldn’t possibly change overnight after ignoring the mother and daughter for so long. The only possibility was that Goddess Sister had done something.

So… could Goddess Sister make her stomach stop being so full?

Jiang Ruyu felt she had found hope.

She stopped walking and began making wishes toward the temple direction devoutly: “Goddess Sister, I’m sorry, but could I make a wish now? My stomach feels like it’s about to burst open. Could you please not let the baby in my belly come out? I can’t raise a baby now, I still need to take care of mother…” Then, remembering she was asking Goddess Sister for help but had nothing to give in return, Jiang Ruyu became shy.

She thought carefully, finally bit her lower lip, and continued: “I have nothing now and can’t afford to raise a baby, but if you like babies, when I grow up, I’ll definitely give birth to one for you, Sister…”

Song Xuyi, who was awakened from meditation by the little girl’s mumblings, and heard the little girl’s bold declaration about giving birth to a baby for her—

…?!

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The author has something to say:

Where did that cutie who asked “When will you write 10,000 words per day” in the comments section go?

I hope you look at my haggard face and ask me “When will you get rich, author?”

Actually, when I saw that comment, I was completely stunned. As a working dog who struggles to write 3,000 words per day, asking me to write 10,000 words is really too much for this tiger (胖虎, a self-deprecating reference to a character from Doraemon)…

However, last night, while I was racing against time to complete my 3,000-word update, I received a text from disease control, I turned yellow (refers to being marked as a potential COVID risk)!

Last night was spent requesting leave and calling family, which is why the update was so late. Then today, I had to get a nucleic acid test, and the power went out where I live. After verification, it turns out I’m probably one of those rare cases where big data made a mistake. Because it’s been fourteen days since I returned from the risk area, and I followed all local pandemic prevention policies when I returned, completed all required nucleic acid tests and quarantine, remained green (refers to safe health status) throughout, and my residential area has remained low-risk during this period.

Well… the power came back quite late, so today’s update is still late.

Well… I’m still in quarantine tomorrow, and if there’s no power outage tomorrow and nothing else to do, I’ve decided to try writing 6,000 or even 10,000 words…

Well… it’s quite ridiculous.

Suddenly realized I have time to write 6,000 or 10,000 words…

Saying all this, I actually just want to ask – cutie, are you there? Do you see my determination to try writing 10,000 words? Do you see my humble gaze?

Now, can you say to me—

“Author, when will you get rich?” Thank you.

If possible, could you also say— “Author, why are you still single?” to me?

I’m infinitely grateful, moved to tears.

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LP: Re-translated on November 25, 2024

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