The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

89. Prince IV

Translator: Iris Guo

However, Zhong Mingwei hated Ding even more. He thought that she was not only like the statue of the merciful Buddhist Goddess in the Empress Dowager’s room, but also like a skilled procuress in a brothel.

But wasn’t it the virtue he needed for his legal wife? And wasn’t it him that made her like this?

…

“Oh,” A’Chou silently put down the needle and slowly entangled the red clew. Then, she glanced at Zhong Mingwei and couldn’t help asking: “Was…your wife good at embroidery?”

Zhong Mingwei nodded: “Yes.”

“How good was she?” A’Chou looked at Zhong Mingwei’s silent face and felt uncomfortable. She didn’t think the red clew look pleasant anymore, so she threw it away. However, she paused, and continued to whisper: “Did she know the patterns of two birds flying side by side, and dragon and phoenix rejoicing?”

“Not sure.” Zhong Mingwei shook his head.

Yes, he wouldn’t have known it. He only knew that Miss Ding loved embroidery, but he never took one more look at what she was working on.

A’Chou didn’t feel bad anymore. She bragged about her skills awkwardly with obvious pride: “I know. Dragon and phoenix is the hardest, but it never baffles me. I can do it well, haha.”

What was she trying to say?

She didn’t even know.

Day: The twentieth day of the seventh lunar month, the 32nd year of Jiasheng Reign

Location: The Cining Palace

Prince IV Zhong Mingrong’s seasonal acne had finally been cured after six months of treatment. As soon as he was cured, he hastened to follow his brother, Prince III Zhong Mingzheng, to greet the Empress Dowager in the Cining Palace, and it so happened that the Emperor was there too.

“Your Grace! Father!” The brothers kowtowed to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor together.

“Rise!” said the Empress Dowager with a smile while waving at Prince IV, “I haven’t seen Mingrong for half a year, and I want a good look at my grandson.”

“Sure!” answered Prince IV immediately. He grinned and ran towards the Empress Dowager. Then, he knelt in front her, held her legs, looked up, and said in a spoiled manner: “Look, grandma, I’ve got a scar.”

The Empress Dowager saw a red round acne mark between Zhong Mingrong’s eyebrows, which didn’t look like a scar but an auspicious mole. She gently rubbed it and said with a smile: “It doesn’t look bad as a scar.”

“Seriously?” Zhong Mingrong became overjoyed and looked more spoiled, “I don’t buy it! It’s just that grandma always loves me, and you’ll always find me good-looking even if I become ugly!”

Other princes would never say such things, especially in front of the Emperor. However, Zhong Mingrong was the special one. He was only eight, so nobody would blame a child for misspeaking. Moreover, he was the Emperor’s youngest son. The Emperor was already 44 when Zhong Mingrong was born, so he always loved the boy most.

As soon as Zhong Mingrong stopped talking, the Emperor laughed first and pretended to be angry: “Look at you! How could a prince look like a cheeky child?”

Zhong Mingrong wasn’t afraid at all. He got up with a smile, walked towards the Emperor, and shook the latter’s arms: “I have you as my father. Of course I could be a cheeky child.”

This move had greatly flattered the Emperor. He became overjoyed, put Zhong Mingrong on his legs, pinched the tip of his round nose, and laughed: “Hmm? So it’s the Emperor’s fault that you’re cheeky?”

“Haha!” Zhong Mingrong giggled, put his hands around the Emperor’s neck, and looked at the latter happily with bright eyes, “I miss you so much! I haven’t seen you for half a year.”

“Even so, you couldn’t always be a naughty boy. Tomorrow you need to go to the study and make up the missed lessons six months ago.” said the Emperor.