You are currently viewing Higher Level Wife – 175 – The Old Emperor’s Belated Assistance (Unedited)
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Higher Level Wife – 175 – The Old Emperor’s Belated Assistance (Unedited)

Chapter 175: The Old Emperor’s Belated Assistance

Author: White Pear Flower

Raws: https://book.qidian.com/info/2386994/

Translated Pill Bug

Gumihou: … …

Fu Qiuning: … …

Gumihou: … I..

Fu Qiuning: Don’t.

Gumihou: … just… go to the Edited version Here

 

 

While Fu Qiuning pondered, Jin Fengju laughed and said, “Qiuning, didn’t you hear the Emperor’s question? Could it be that you want me to speak for you?”

Fu Qiuning thought: Can’t you just report to the Emperor that I’m a mute wife? What’s the problem with speaking for me? You brought this trouble here, and so it’s only fair that you shoulder it.

Thinking that way, she had no choice but to step forward and timidly say, “In response to the Emperor, this humble woman merely spoke without thinking at the time. Unexpectedly, Young Marquis took it seriously. After trying it, indeed, it was found to be quite good. It was all thanks to the Young Marquis’s ingenuity. This humble woman dare not take credit for it.”

“Oh? We really had no idea that Fengju pays such attention to food,” the Emperor took a sip of tea and recalled Jin Fengju’s words from that day. This woman seemed to be a shu-born daughter of the Zhenjiang Palace. Now that he thought about it, back then, the Zhenjiang Palace was also too arrogant. To match a shu-born daughter as a main wife to a proud Son of Heaven was simply too presumptuous.

“Yes, previously, the Young Marquis said that Your Majesty had a poor appetite. So when he heard this humble woman’s casual remark, he put the entirety of his thoughts into it and actually managed to bring this idea to fruition. It was all out of his loyalty to Your Majesty, wanting to share Your Majesty’s burdens and provide some relief. That was how this unique ‘hot pot’ came to be.”

Fu Qiuning still answered in a low voice, fully portraying herself as a textbook example of an ordinary woman. Even so, she could feel the envious gazes burning holes in her back. She could imagine that if she stood out even more, those looks would be enough to reduce her to ashes.

Jin Fengju thought: Great, now everything is pushed onto me.

Just as he was about to speak up for Qiuning, the Emperor casually asked, “You are from the Zhenjiang Palace, correct? How is your grandfather doing lately? It’s been a while since We last saw him.”

Jin Fengju’s heart skipped a beat, looking at the Emperor in disbelief. He wondered: What’s going on? Why is the Emperor asking about that old thing from the Zhenjiang Palace? Could he have remembered Qiuning’s identity, and he now wants to balance the scales? Aiyo, I beg you, old man, can you not meddle in this matter? What were you doing when the Zhenjiang Palace slapped our marquisate? Now that Qiuning and I are happily married, you suddenly remember that I suffered, and you want to play the knight in shining armour?

Fu Qiuning did not understand this Emperor after all. Although she found his question strange, her mind was still somewhat rigid, and she had no time to think too much. She could only answer in a low voice, “During the visit before the New Year, Grandfather was still in good health. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”

“Woo,” the Emperor said lightly, “Although a daughter who marries is like spilt water, one should still visit one’s birth parents more often.” He looked at Jin Fengju and smiled ambiguously, “Should We grant your wife some time off?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the room changed. Madam Jiang and Jiang Wanying were almost pleasantly surprised and almost shouted out. Fu Qiuning’s face turned pale instead. She knew that the emperor now favoured Jin Fengju heavily, and it looks like he wanted to avenge him. This was the emperor, not someone like Madam Jiang. She had little room for resistance. Once the emperor made up his mind, any spoken words could not be changed.

Feeling flustered for a while, Jin Fengju quickly stepped forward and knelt down, saying, “In response to Your Majesty, when my mother-in-law was seriously ill, Qiuning also went back to her maternal home for a few days. As a result, the estate was almost thrown into chaos during those days. Old Madam Jin fell ill, and the two children couldn’t see their mother and refused to eat, causing a fuss and ending up catching a serious illness. That’s why this official did not let Qiuning return to the Palace during this period. This official thinks that after a few days, when the weather becomes hotter, the shipments of ice blocks from Tian Shan would also arrive, and this official plans to escort Qiuning to his mother-in-law at that time.”

His words were not only incoherent but also carried a hint of fright. At the least, the emperor would never believe that the Dukedom would fall into chaos just because one woman was gone. It was understandable that the children missed their mother, but even the Old Madam falling ill was a bit excessive. Jin Fengju said all that just to indicate to the Emperor that he didn’t want him to balance the scales. He wanted this woman to stay.

The emperor’s eyes flickered slightly, and he couldn’t help but look at Fu Qiuning. She was an ordinary woman, not some country-toppling beauty at all, so what was it about her that attracted this young man whom even the emperor admired, loved, and even jealous that he wasn’t his own son?

While pondering this, the emperor spoke with a pensive tone, “Since you put it that way, then forget about it. After all, this is your family affair, and We won’t interfere too much.” As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze fell on Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao, and he was somewhat surprised, saying, “Are these your children? They seem to be seven or eight years old, right?”

What joke is this? Could it be that Our memory has declined to such a level? Wasn’t this Fengju brat only married five or six years ago? How could he have such grown children with Fu Qiuning? They came from this woman, right? We just witnessed those two children standing by her just now.

The emperor exclaimed loudly with astonishment in his heart.

“In response to Your Majesty, Qiuning doesn’t have any children. These two children are merely under her foster care,” Jin Fengju’s face turned slightly red, thinking to himself: What are you doing here, Your Majesty? Are you here just to dig up my past?

He deliberately addressed Fu Qiuning by her name in front of the emperor, which was normally inappropriate. But who asked the emperor earlier to say that he came to the estate to visit a friend? Since he felt too lonely at the top, Jin Fengju decided to be a little presumptuous in these small details. He thought the emperor wouldn’t blame him for this. Besides, it was also an implication that he and Qiuning were deeply in love, asking the old man to be magnanimous, to spare them and not belatedly seek revenge for him after six years.

The Emperor understood that in his heart. Looking at Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao, they were truly a pair of exquisite children. At that moment, he recalled the time when he was eating hot pot in the palace, Jin Fengju praised Fu’shi’s virtuousness. It seemed that a woman, who could educate two non-biological children into such fine individuals, was indeed considered virtuous. No wonder when Fengju heard his own hint of helping him divorce his wife, he became nervous and frightened to the point of disregarding all formalities. Now, thinking back, he had clearly said in the hall that marrying Fu’shi was his fortune. If it weren’t for their loving relationship, how could they elevate each other in every aspect? Reflecting on that day’s events, he realized that he had been a bit rash in showing favouritism to his ministers while indulging his affection.

With those thoughts in mind, the Emperor smiled and glanced at Jin Fengju before beckoning to Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao, saying, “Come here, what are your names?”

Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao quickly and respectfully answered. The Emperor asked Jin Changfeng a few questions about literature, initially not probing too deeply, considering his age. However, seeing the young boy answer with ease, the Emperor was somewhat surprised and began asking more profound questions. Jin Changfeng remained calm and composed in his responses, and this really piqued the Emperor’s interest. The Emperor, now enthusiastically engaged, seemed resolved to determine a winner.

After a few more questions, when he noticed Jin Changfeng starting to struggle with his answers, he stopped and looked at Jin Fengju, saying, “Indeed, a tiger does not beget a dog. This child of yours is extraordinary. We remember that you were the third-placed scholar back then, correct? Perhaps in the future, this Dukedom of yours will produce another first-placed scholar. This is all thanks to your excellent guidance.”

What lofty praise this was. Jin Fengju quickly smiled and replied, “Your Majesty, you flatter me too much. It is all thanks to Qiuning’s good teachings. Over the years, this official has been busy with state affairs and was rarely at home. This official dares not claim credit for his children’s education.”

The Emperor turned to Fu Qiuning and nodded, saying, “So, from the stories, it seems that you are a virtuous one, having raised these two outstanding seedlings.”

Fu Qiuning felt weak from this series of surprises and compliments. It was obvious to her that Jin Fengju should also be receiving numerous resentful glances at that moment, just like her, right? He deserved it. In her heart, she angrily thought: I asked you to help me shoulder the recognition, but now you’re heaping all the credit onto me. What are you doing? I wouldn’t expose you, but you insisted on making me the scapegoat. Great, now even the Emperor is praising me. You bastard, don’t you know that the scapegoat is the first to be shot?

While she contemplated these thoughts, her face showed not a hint of it. She bent down in a formal and humble salute, speaking softly, “This humble woman dares not claim credit for it. The Young Marquis is exaggerating this humble woman’s efforts. I dare not say how talented the children are, but they are diligent in their studies and possess virtuous characters, all thanks to the Young Marquis being their role model. For example, Zhenxuan and the Second Young Miss in Sister Fang’s household are even smarter than Feng’er and Jiao’er. When Feng’er and Jiao’er were five or six years old, they didn’t read as many books as their younger siblings.”

Jiang Wanying’s head lifted slightly, and she sneered in her heart: Hmph, at last, you understand the situation and know that you can’t hog all the limelight.

Back there, the Emperor looked deeply at Fu Qiuning and, as expected, called Jin Zhenxuan over to ask him a few questions about his studies, praising him.

Then, he looked at Jin Yanfang and others. The Emperor remembered the officials who had been killed by bandits, and he felt a hint of sadness. He comforted them and after exchanging a few words with everyone, the sun slowly set in the west.

Jin Fengju looked at the sky outside and stepped forward, saying, “Your Majesty, it’s getting late. If this official is not mistaken, there should be a palace banquet during the Dragon Boat Festival, and there would also be dragon boat races. I believe that the boatmen from the princes’ palaces have been training hard for days, hoping to have the opportunity to be witnessed by Your Majesty. If Your Majesty is unable to attend, not only will they be disappointed, even the princes themselves will feel let down.”

Upon hearing these words, the Emperor stood up and said, “You’re right. We have tarried outside for too long, and the Empress Dowager in the palace is probably worried.” Turning to Old Madam Jin, he continued, “ When you have the time, you should visit the palace. The Empress Dowager has been complaining recently about the lack of company. Life in the palace, even with numerous descendants, cannot compare to the comfort and ease of a family like yours.”

The Old Madam quickly agreed, and only then did the Emperor leisurely walk out of the door. Arriving at the front hall, he saw people pouring out from all sides of the house, the scenery black from all their bowed heads kneeling in the courtyard, shouting praises. The Emperor smiled and said, “Indeed, it’s the Dragon Boat Festival, and I suppose the visiting noble families’ young lords and young ladies will not be in short supply. Very well, you can all go back now. These people also need to be entertained.”

Jin Fengju quickly said, “This official will accompany Your Majesty back to the palace. If this official doesn’t personally see Your Majesty safely return, how can this official still have the heart to entertain guests?”

The Emperor knew he was speaking the truth and smiled faintly, “Woo, alright.” After saying that, he walked out of the gate and saw that although the Imperial Guards did not come forward, Jin Fengju’s guards from his days as an Imperial Envoy were all assembled.

 

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