Read Online Golden by Joely Sue Burkhart - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Joely Sue Burkhart
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loving, even with the woman who despised him. Gentleness now meant nothing. He could still throw me to the wolves.
His hand left my face, and it was all I could do not to crumple to my knees. Silk rustled and I feared he was leaving. He’d ordered them to release me and to stop the punishment, but he had claimed neither me nor my son as his. I would be an outcast everywhere. I would be forced into prostitution to feed us, because Ping was right. No decent, honorable man would want a feckless woman with a bastard child.
“If you are to be Emperor one day,” though his severe tone indicated he had significant misgivings about his previous decision to name Ping as the Crown Prince, “then you must learn to garner as much information as possible before making any decision, especially ones that risk your life, position or the lives of those dependent upon you. If you had bothered to examine her jade tablet in detail, you would know the truth. You would know to whose chambers she has been requested each and every night for the last seven weeks. You would know what a grave mistake you’ve made in punishing her without our approval.”
He settled his own outer robe about my shoulders, engulfing me in his scent and the warmth of his body. My eyes flew open and I stared at the heavily embroidered silk. Only the Emperor wore gold. Only the Emperor wore dragons.
My dragons, the robe I had stitched for him as my first punishment.
“An old proverb warns that something jade and gold on the outside may hide rot and decay on the inside. For once, I have found something precious that is just as golden in her heart as her eyes.” He held out his arm, inviting me to place my hand palm down upon his—typically an honor reserved only for his Empress. “Our royal line is assured, my son. Lady Jin’s child is mine.”
Chapter Eight
I lay on my stomach with my face pressed against that imperial silk, trying not to ruin it with my tears.
Clicking her tongue with disapproval, my nurse selected herbs from the Emperor’s own private supply to make a soothing salve for my shredded skin. “Did you do this, Your Majesty?”
I tensed at the accusation in her voice. His temper had improved, yes, but he would never allow any disrespect, even from an elderly nurse who only tried to protect me.
“Of course not.” His voice sounded tight and hard despite his words, worrying me until I felt his hands smoothing my hair to the side. “Even I would find no pleasure in wounding her like this. Why didn’t you tell him the truth, Jin?”
“I did not wish to force your hand, Your Majesty.”
“As I directed.” He blew out a long breath. “So your torment is indeed my blame. How long have you suspected you were with child?”
I peeked up at my nurse and she shook her head imperceptibly. To prevent me from stretching the truth, or telling the truth? I’d never lied to him and I refused to start now. “From the beginning, I came to the palace to be your solace and bear your pain. I hoped, too, that I would be blessed with a golden-eyed prince. Your son, Your Majesty, not any other’s. I had no proof, but I suspected from the very first night that you had given me a child, which I pray shall be a son.”
I waited for his response, but as his silence lengthened, I looked at my nurse again. She stared back at the Emperor steadily, and a quick glance over my shoulder confirmed he gazed at her as intently. When he stretched out his hand, she surrendered the bowl of freshly mixed medicine.
“I see that you have taught her honesty, as well as instructing her on Lei’s favorite poisons. What else have you taught her, old woman?”
Not intimidated in the slightest, my nurse cackled. “I think His Majesty knows best what I’ve taught her. She must please the Emperor very well indeed to be requested every single night.”
Now my cheeks burned as badly as my back. I buried my face in the silk, but not before my nurse saw my embarrassment. She
His hand left my face, and it was all I could do not to crumple to my knees. Silk rustled and I feared he was leaving. He’d ordered them to release me and to stop the punishment, but he had claimed neither me nor my son as his. I would be an outcast everywhere. I would be forced into prostitution to feed us, because Ping was right. No decent, honorable man would want a feckless woman with a bastard child.
“If you are to be Emperor one day,” though his severe tone indicated he had significant misgivings about his previous decision to name Ping as the Crown Prince, “then you must learn to garner as much information as possible before making any decision, especially ones that risk your life, position or the lives of those dependent upon you. If you had bothered to examine her jade tablet in detail, you would know the truth. You would know to whose chambers she has been requested each and every night for the last seven weeks. You would know what a grave mistake you’ve made in punishing her without our approval.”
He settled his own outer robe about my shoulders, engulfing me in his scent and the warmth of his body. My eyes flew open and I stared at the heavily embroidered silk. Only the Emperor wore gold. Only the Emperor wore dragons.
My dragons, the robe I had stitched for him as my first punishment.
“An old proverb warns that something jade and gold on the outside may hide rot and decay on the inside. For once, I have found something precious that is just as golden in her heart as her eyes.” He held out his arm, inviting me to place my hand palm down upon his—typically an honor reserved only for his Empress. “Our royal line is assured, my son. Lady Jin’s child is mine.”
Chapter Eight
I lay on my stomach with my face pressed against that imperial silk, trying not to ruin it with my tears.
Clicking her tongue with disapproval, my nurse selected herbs from the Emperor’s own private supply to make a soothing salve for my shredded skin. “Did you do this, Your Majesty?”
I tensed at the accusation in her voice. His temper had improved, yes, but he would never allow any disrespect, even from an elderly nurse who only tried to protect me.
“Of course not.” His voice sounded tight and hard despite his words, worrying me until I felt his hands smoothing my hair to the side. “Even I would find no pleasure in wounding her like this. Why didn’t you tell him the truth, Jin?”
“I did not wish to force your hand, Your Majesty.”
“As I directed.” He blew out a long breath. “So your torment is indeed my blame. How long have you suspected you were with child?”
I peeked up at my nurse and she shook her head imperceptibly. To prevent me from stretching the truth, or telling the truth? I’d never lied to him and I refused to start now. “From the beginning, I came to the palace to be your solace and bear your pain. I hoped, too, that I would be blessed with a golden-eyed prince. Your son, Your Majesty, not any other’s. I had no proof, but I suspected from the very first night that you had given me a child, which I pray shall be a son.”
I waited for his response, but as his silence lengthened, I looked at my nurse again. She stared back at the Emperor steadily, and a quick glance over my shoulder confirmed he gazed at her as intently. When he stretched out his hand, she surrendered the bowl of freshly mixed medicine.
“I see that you have taught her honesty, as well as instructing her on Lei’s favorite poisons. What else have you taught her, old woman?”
Not intimidated in the slightest, my nurse cackled. “I think His Majesty knows best what I’ve taught her. She must please the Emperor very well indeed to be requested every single night.”
Now my cheeks burned as badly as my back. I buried my face in the silk, but not before my nurse saw my embarrassment. She
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