Chapter 39
Yin Jiuyi led me to a palace chamber. He pushed open the door, and inside the courtyard, the trees stood in neat order, showing not the slightest trace of decay or desolation.
In the courtyard stood a tall, spreading parasol tree, its branches stretching outward in a protective gesture.
“My mother was named Qiutong, Lu Qiutong. She was a Concubine’s Daughter, born in September.”
Yin Jiuyi stared blankly at the bare trunk of the parasol tree, his expression dazed. “Your background always reminds Imperial Father of my mother. Back then, when I went to ask him for the imperial edict to marry you, I don’t know what he remembered, but his expression was sorrowful. He agreed without hesitation. As I was leaving, I even heard him muttering, saying that not entering the palace might be for the best.”
Only then did I understand the real reason why Yin Jiuyi married me, and why the Emperor had been so lenient with me earlier.
“Your mother must have been especially beautiful.”
Yin Jiuyi turned and smiled. “Imperial Father said my mother was the most beautiful girl in the Capital. At that time, he was learning martial arts from my grandfather, and he had already set his heart on the Concubine’s Daughter from my grandfather’s family. The two of them were deeply in love and pledged themselves to each other for life.”
“Imperial Father once said that the proudest thing in his life was not becoming emperor, but that in his youth, full of vigor, he defied everyone’s opposition and insisted on marrying my mother. Those eleven years were the happiest of his life. Unfortunately, my mother’s fortune was thin…”
Those beautiful eyes shimmered with a gentle light.
I tried awkwardly to comfort him, but lacking any experience, I thought for a long time before finally saying, “You’re such a good person. Your mother, watching over you from the heavens, will surely be comforted.”
“I am neither accomplished in literature nor in martial arts. The only thing I’m good at is business, which is looked down upon by the world. I haven’t fulfilled any of Imperial Father’s expectations.”
He was always optimistic, and it was rare to see him in such a dejected mood.
“You are the best person I’ve ever met. Not only are you handsome, but you’re also especially kind-hearted. You speak well, your handwriting is beautiful, and you must have read many books. Not everyone can become a top scholar; as long as you’ve read enough, that’s enough. I heard from Princess Consort that you learned horseback riding and archery from General Lu. Now that it’s an era of peace, there’s no need for you to charge into battle yourself. The level you’ve achieved is already more than enough. There are many people in this world who go their whole lives without knowing what they like or what they’re good at. The fact that you have your own talent is already remarkable.”
I softened my tone and added, “You once told me not to belittle myself, right? You’re not someone who looks down on himself, you’re just in a bad mood today, aren’t you?”
Yin Jiuyi nodded, collected himself, and suddenly said to me, “Zhuzhu, you’re very different from how I imagined you.”
I thought, this is actually easy to understand.
People are changeable by nature.
He treats me so well-how could I possibly treat him with the same coldness I showed Zhang Jincan?
He rescued me from the Zhang Residence-how could I treat him as I did those who mistreated me?
He is the very best person in the world. I have no complaints about him at all.