The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

60. The Comfortable Massage

Translator: Iris Guo

After drinking more than half a cup of tea, Imperial Consort Shu looked at Zhong Ming’e and bit her lips: “If your father does regret…”

“Mother, don’t worry.” Zhong Ming’e held Imperial Consort Shu’s hand and comforted her softly, “No matter how much father regrets it, the best he can do is sending someone to look after the deposed Crown Prince in secret. After all, father drafted the edict himself, and there’s no way he wants a slap in the face. Besides, the deposed Crown Prince is already a half-dead wreck. If one day he is acquitted and returns to the capital, so what? Father has three perfectly healthy and strong sons. As a paralytic, Zhong Mingwei will never become the Emperor!”

“You’re right, but Imperial Concubine Zhao has two of them.” said Imperial Consort Shu while gritting her teeth, “I don’t think we can live once her Prince III or Prince IV succeeds to the throne.”

“Agreed. Since ancient times, there have always been life-or-death struggles between princes,” said Zhong Ming’e in a low voice while smiling, “but I suppose we still have a chance since father leaves Imperial Concubine Zhao and her family out in the cold.”

Imperial Consort Shu caressed Zhong Ming’e’s haggard face and choked with sobs: “Son, I’m so sorry. I don’t come from a noble family like her, and there’s not much I can do to help you.”

Zhong Ming’e hastened to hold Imperial Consort Shu and tried to ease her anxiety: “Mother, how could you say that? My heart is almost broken. Who cares about your family background? You’ve been working so hard to bring me up and educate me. I couldn’t feel more grateful and literally have nothing to complain about.”

Imperial Consort Shu was so gratified at her son that her eyes were full of tears: “Ming’e, I’m counting on you.”

Day: The thirtieth day of the fifth lunar month, the 32nd year of Jiasheng Reign

Location: NingGuTa

A’Chou moved to the wing-room, and she had tidied up those big wooden boxes. Further, she had finished making a straw mat for herself. She had never woven before, so the mat was quite crude, but it was very thick, and she could just rest on it. She was very proud of her craft.

After that, she washed her hands and entered Zhong Mingwei’s chamber hurriedly. Recently, his bedsores were almost cured, and she began to massage his body every day.

“Do you want me to massage harder?” asked A’Chou while rubbing Zhong Mingwei’s arm.

“It’s nice.” Zhong Mingwei felt warm perhaps because of the heat or A’Chou’s hands, and small drops of sweat began to stream down his body. He squinted comfortably, and his eyes narrowed into lines when a strand of his hair slightly touched his forehead and tickled him. “Are your hands sore? Why don’t you take a break?”

“Not at all!” answered A’Chou while rubbing Zhong Mingwei’s shoulder quickly, “I look small, but I’m very capable. When I worked at the Imperial Washhouse, I could finish dozens of pieces of clothes in one day. Sometimes after I finished my job, I would cover others’ shifts for some special food such as peanuts. Haha! It felt like yesterday.”

When A’Chou massaged Zhong Mingwei’s body, the strand of his hair moved lightly from his left brow, to the right, then to his tall nose, and finally stopped on his left cheek.