Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine

the big Kang near the window, Yan Ge’er and Zhuzhu were sitting side by side.
Consort Qing was reading the Book of Songs to them.

   Consort Qing had a smile on her face, and her voice was soft and gentle.
The two babies were fair and tender, very well-behaved.
The warm scene of a kind mother and filial children was shattered by the sudden interruption of Qing Wang.

   Qing Wang was stunned on the spot.
Consort Qing glanced at him and asked, “What’s the matter?”

   The anger in his heart suddenly melted away.
He remembered back then, after the wedding, someone had infuriated him and when he returned home angry, she’d ask him what’s the matter in the same manner.
He was like a beast licking his wounds as he approached her, before talking about what had happened.
Then she’d comfort him and coax him.
By the next morning, he had regained his confidence to face everything.

   Qing Wang walked over with lighter steps and sat down on the edge of the Kang.
He couldn’t help feeling a bit embarrassed.

   “Look at how much alcohol you drank!” Consort Qing frowned before calling a maid to serve him some sobering tea.
She also ordered a maid to help him get washed and changed out of his clothes.
Once it was all done, Qing Wang’s anger had grown even weaker.
As soon as he sat down again, Xiao Zhuzhu pounced on him.
Hugging her father’s neck, she told him how much Zhuzhu missed her father.
She also asked where father went these days and why didn’t he come to see Zhuzhu.

   To be honest, Qing Wang didn’t go anywhere.
That day, he and Consort Qing had a conflict over the matter of Cheng Ge’er’s birthday celebration, so he stayed in the front yard ever since.
Side Consort Han had sent someone to invite him over several times, but he didn’t go.
Later, seeing how she had ignored him as if he didn’t exist, he finally went to Side Consort Han’s yard out of anger.
But it was only one night.
During this time, the only connection between the husband and wife was when he sent a message asking her to entertain little fifth sister-in-law.

   Seeing his daughter hugging himself and venting her grievances, Qing Wang also blamed himself a lot in his heart.
No matter what, he shouldn’t have gone for so long without seeing his daughter.
Zhuzhu was still young, so her grievances came and went quickly.
After a while, she forgot everything and clamoured for Qing Wang to let her ride on his back like a horse.

   So Qing Wang put Zhuzhu on his neck and walked around the room while making sounds of a horse.
Sitting on top of his neck, Xiao Zhuzhu said giddyup, so he sped up.
Then Xiao Zhuzhu said slow, so he slowed down.
The father and daughter pair had a lot of fun with bright smiles on their faces.

   Consort Qing watched them and couldn’t help feeling a little envious.

   She felt that her fifth sister-in-law was right.
She had accompanied this man for so long, so why should she push him to others?

   After playing for a while, Qing Wang pretended and told Zhuzhu he was tired.
Zhuzhu also stopped clamouring to play and the father and daughter went to the Kang and sat down.

   The maids brought over some fruit and tea.
Qing Wang took a sip of the tea and looked at Consort Qing.
He hesitated before saying, “I heard the servants say that during Cheng Ge’er’s Zhua Zhou, you disregarded your face and made a lot of trouble.
Many of the ladies from noble families were present and saw everything.”

   Consort Qing thought to herself, indeed.
But outwardly, she said with a calm expression, “Did the servants not say why I left, throwing away all face?”

   Qing Wang was taken aback and didn’t speak.

   Consort Qing chuckled softly.
“With what happened, I really couldn’t bear to stay.
Everyone was staring at me and Yan Ge’er.
I am an adult and a mother, so I can bear it, but Yan Ge’er is no longer an insensible infant.
You gave her your golden seal for Cheng Ge’er’s Zhua Zhou, and he did end up choosing it.
Tell me, under those circumstances, how can I bear to stay with Yan Ge’er and Zhuzhu?!”

   Qing Wang was completely stunned.
He reached towards his pocket and took out a pouch.

   A gold chain was tied to the pouch, and the other end of the chain was tied to the inside of his shirt.
Qing Wang never lets the pouch leave his body.
This was because not only did it contain his golden seal, but it also contained several other personal seals that he often uses.
These seals were all very important and could not be taken lightly.

   He opened the pouch and poured out all the seals inside.
Only a few personal seals the size of her thumb were left.
The golden seal was gone.