CH 112.1

Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 112 Pt. 1

Translated by gingercat

Edited by gingercat

Three days before the emperor’s birthday celebration, red decorations were already starting to be found throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.

Each and every family had a big red lantern hanging by their main entrances. The eve before the emperor’s birthday, the local authorities had cancelled the night curfew and many people stayed up the entire night. The atmosphere was so lively that it didn’t even lose out to the annual Lantern Festival.

On this day, Yaoniang was awoken while it was still dark outside.

At her current stage of pregnancy, she slept a lot and would often still be dazed after waking up. She had to have her maids assist her with washing up and getting dressed. Jin Wang, who had gotten up earlier than Yaoniang, was already dressed. He watched her, feeling both frustrated and amused.

Once everything was done, Jin Wang said, “Let her sleep for a while. Wake her up when those outside are ready to leave.”

With that Hong Si started to remove the many hairpins on Yaoniang’s head, then helped her onto the bed. When Yaoniang asked what was wrong, she heard Jin Wang explain that it was still early, so she soon fell asleep.

When she woke up again, it was already dawn outside. Xiaobao had already gotten up and was having breakfast with Jin Wang outside. Yaoniang hurriedly asked a maid to re-dress herself. Fortunately, her hair wasn’t a mess and it was soon done as well. Once she tidied herself up, she went outside.

Xiaobao was already full, and Jin Wang had just put down his chopsticks.

Yaoniang was a bit embarrassed. “You’re all done eating?”

Xiaobao sighed in his heart. Jin Wang instructed a maid to prepare some food for Yaoniang and pulled her to sit next to him. “Eat something first.”

Yaoniang picked up the bowl of porridge and started to eat at a rushed pace. As she ate, she didn’t forget to grin at Jin Wang, seemingly to apologize for the delay.

Jin Wang felt that ever since she got pregnant, she became a bit more dimwitted than before. She was also not as perceptive and had become more finicky. Confusion and clumsiness were also seen more frequently and it was like…like he was raising a daughter.

But unexpectedly, he didn’t feel annoyed by this. He even felt that this was the real her. In the past, her cautiousness, humility and self-awareness were actually her last resort to protect herself.

Actually, now that he thought about it, she was the daughter of a small family. Although the family was a little poorer, she still grew up unfettered with the freedom to do as she wished. Suddenly, for the sake of making a living, she was forced to enter the gate of a large manor to be a servant. There, she must go with the flow, follow the rules, and bury her true nature. These changes were by no means small or easy to make.

Suddenly, his heart softened. He thought of how she had to bear the burden of giving birth to a child out of wedlock when she was only fourteen years old. Despised by outsiders and even her own family, it was unknown how she lived through that difficult period and gave birth to Xiaobao. With that, he thought to himself that spoiling her every now and then wasn’t a big deal.

Seeing that she was eating in a rush, he picked up the pair of silver chopsticks he had put down and picked up a boiled shrimp. Then he placed it on the plate in front of her.

“Take your time. There’s no rush.”

“Aren’t we in a hurry to enter the palace?”

“Even if we were to rush, this little bit of time is nothing.” 

On the street in front of Jin Wang Manor, all of Jin Wang’s ceremonial guards were lined up. In front of them, parked several carriages. The first one was the most eye-catching. It was the one that belonged to Jin Wang. Behind his were three emerald-coloured carriages adorned with pearls. Consort Jin’s was the one right behind Jin Wang’s, followed by Yaoniang’s. The last one was shared by Side Consort Xu and Side Consort Liu.

Normally, all the side consorts were supposed to share one carriage altogether. But since Yaoniang had a big belly and she also had to bring Xiaobao, she was given her own carriage.

Seeing that the carriages weren’t moving yet, Side Consort Liu raised the curtain and asked a maid outside.

The maid then went to the carriage near the front of the procession to ask one of Consort Jin’s maids. Only then did she know that Jin Wang had yet to arrive. Not only was Jin Wang not here yet, but Side Consort Su also wasn’t either.

Side Consort Xu, who was wearing the traditional side consort dress, looked at her coloured nails that she’d painted herself. “She’s getting bolder and bolder nowadays. Not only does the consort need to wait for her, but we also need to wait. Such a large group of people waiting for her, I wonder if she can afford it.”

Side Consort Liu hadn’t wanted to bother with Side Consort Xu. But she had also started to tidy up before dawn and had gotten onto the carriage when the sun was just starting to rise. Now that the sky was already bright and they have yet to leave, she was starting to feel impatient.

“If Side Consort Xu is dissatisfied, please speak to the consort, His Highness, and His Majesty. Who let her be a side consort titled by His Majesty himself and the biological mother of the manor’s only young master.” No matter what, she still felt something in her heart and revealed it with some sourness.

Although they were all side consorts, Side Consort Xu and Side Consort Liu were titled by the empress whereas Yaoniang was titled by His Majesty Emperor Hongjing himself. Naturally, there was a difference.

“Exactly. Who let…” 

While they were speaking, they heard some movement outside. Side Consort Xu lifted the curtain and saw two people walking out from the main entrance.

One of them was Jin Wang, wearing the traditional qinwang gown. There was no need to mention how handsome and majestic he looked. The other was Yaoniang in the traditional side consort dress.

She had a red embroidered jacket wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair was tied up into a bun, adorned with many hairpins and hair accessories. Although she was pregnant, her coquettish look couldn’t be hidden. Looking both rosy and fair, she was the epitome of good physical and mental health.

Only after Yaoniang was supported onto her carriage did Jin Wang get into his carriage. Not long after, the entire procession started to move towards the direction of the palace.

At the same time, countless other long processions all over the capital were heading towards the imperial palace.

Sure enough, they had set off too late. Their procession was forced to stop upon reaching the palace’s main gate.

Looking forward, there were countless carriages in front. It was a long line.

Fortunately, there were members of the Imperial Guard stationed there today. After receiving the news, a high-ranking military officer rushed over and began to order the carriages in the front to give way. After a path was created in the middle of the road, the procession from Jin Wang Manor was finally able to move forward.

They travelled all the way to Donghua Gate, where many carriages were parked in the square in front of the door. An Wang and Dai Wang had already entered. At this time, Yong Wang was entering. Although Jin Wang was late, he was still the fifth prince so he cut into the front. Lu Wang, who had just gotten out of his carriage, flicked the whip in his hand in anger before returning back into the carriage.

After getting off the carriage, Jin Wang paused and waited for Consort Jin and others to walk behind him. Then he turned around and said, “She’s pregnant, so take better care of her.”

This was spoken to Consort Jin. Consort Jin nodded, but her hand that was hidden inside her sleeve had already clenched into a fist.

No matter how dumb Yaoniang was, she could still feel that Jin Wang’s words were a bit inappropriate. She wasn’t a child. There were so many people entering the palace today, so at worst, she would just hide a bit. It wasn’t necessary for Consort Jin to take care of her. Weren’t his words simply provoking unhappiness?

But there’s no way she would speak up with the current situation, so she could only remain silent.

Jin Wang glanced at her, then looked at Yu Chan and a man dressed as a eunuch behind her, before approaching Donghua Gate with a solemn face.

Jin Wang could walk through the main doorway, but Consort Jin and others could only walk through the side gates. Traditionally, Donghua Gate was only for the crown prince, the other princes, and the older officials to enter and exit. But today was different from the past. Their female family members could also use it.

After going through Donghua Gate, Jin Wang couldn’t be seen anymore. Yaoniang walked behind Consort Jin the entire way in silence. She was followed by Yu Chan and a little eunuch, who was holding Xiaobao in his hands.

Not far away behind her, followed Side Consort Xu and Side Consort Liu.

Consort Jin’s steps were a bit fast as if she was rushing. Yaoniang could only hold her belly with one hand and follow after her. It was difficult to walk at this pace but she didn’t feel any discomfort. Fortunately, she wasn’t wearing a long dress today, otherwise, she would’ve tripped under all those heavy skirts.

They hurried over before finally arriving at the gate of Kunning Palace.

Consort Jin stopped, then said apologetically to Yaoniang, “Side Consort Su is probably tired. But we are already late. If we came any later, Her Majesty the empress will be displeased.”