CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 37 THE EMPEROR’S TROUBLES

Noble Consort Shih hurried back and, upon seeing him, immediately performed a deep curtsy.

"Your Majesty, may you enjoy boundless peace!"

"Rise," Zhao Junyao said, his face weary, as he turned to sit on the heated brick bed.

Taking the tea handed to her by a Palace Attendant, Noble Consort Shih personally offered it to him.

"Your Majesty has been tired all day. Please drink some tea to soothe your throat."

Zhao Junyao accepted it, took a single sip, and then set it down, seemingly dissatisfied.

His heart was troubled; what could possibly satisfy him now?

Noble Consort Shih dismissed the Palace Attendants. She sat beside Zhao Junyao and, carefully extending her slender hands, gently massaged his temples.

"Cousin, have you had your meal?"

"I’m not in the mood!" Zhao Junyao replied, sounding exhausted.

"Cousin, things have already come to this. No matter how upset you are, you must take care of your dragon body!"

Noble Consort Shih advised gingerly, her tone soft and gentle.

But Zhao Junyao merely frowned at her words. Who doesn’t understand such grand principles?

It was his child, after all. Even though he hadn’t even seen its face, his heart ached terribly.

Subtly pushing Noble Consort Shih’s hand away, Zhao Junyao leaned back against the large bolster pillow, feigning sleep.

This was a clear display of his impatience.

Noble Consort Shih felt somewhat awkward, but she quickly composed herself with a smile.

"Cousin, I’ll go arrange for some food. Please rest for a while."

With that, she excused herself. Shortly thereafter, the late-night supper was served.

Zhao Junyao opened his eyes and saw the spread. He had been somewhat hungry, but upon seeing it, he instantly lost all appetite.

Among the wheat-based foods were pastries and cakes. The sweet varieties included red bean crisps, mung bean cakes, glutinous rice and date cakes, and egg yolk pastries.

The savory dishes were even more numerous, each an exquisite and lavish creation.

Delicacies from creatures that flew in the sky, ran on land, or swam in the water—nearly everything imaginable was present. As for soups, there were no fewer than ten varieties, both sweet and savory.

These dishes, filling an entire table, were the epitome of elegance and opulence.

Yet, this imperial feast, unobtainable even with vast amounts of silver from the Imperial Kitchen, failed to pique his interest in the slightest.

"I... have no appetite."

Deep concern immediately clouded Noble Consort Shih’s exquisitely made-up face.

"Cousin..."

"Forget it. I am tired. Let’s rest," Zhao Junyao said, then rose and walked into the inner chamber.

Lying in bed, the image of Xia Ruqing’s silly, smiling face suddenly popped into his mind.

What kind of food would she have prepared for him?

Noble Consort Shih had been accustomed to a life of luxury since childhood, with splendid attire and endless comforts, as had he. He had never found anything wrong with it before.

It wasn’t until he met that little minx that he realized such a simple, unadorned way of life was far more comforting.

With her, he felt like an ordinary person, just a common man.

The small charcoal stove from that night remained unforgettable, and even the less-than-warm Zhaohua Pavilion lingered in his thoughts.

But what use was it to dwell on such things?

Born into the Royal Family, the burden on his shoulders was too heavy; he could not live solely for himself.

He tossed and turned restlessly, and it was a long time before he finally drifted off to sleep.

Noble Consort Shih dared not sleep soundly, attending to him meticulously all night. Only in the early Chen Hour (7-9 am) did she finally see off this "great Buddha."

Due to Consort Yun’s miscarriage, the main retinue had to return to the palace earlier than planned.

By the time Xia Ruqing returned to Zhaohua Pavilion, night had already fallen.

Xia Ruqing, having been cold all day, was just about to rest when Little Zhuzi suddenly arrived.

"Honored Lady, His Majesty the Emperor has sent this servant to escort you. A heated sedan chair is waiting outside..."

Xia Ruqing thought, This is bad! The Emperor has been in a foul mood these past few days. I mustn’t get caught in the crossfire!

In Zichen Hall, Zhao Junyao was engrossed in reviewing memorials.

As the Imperial Seal was to be affixed on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the number of memorials these past two days was particularly high.

Xia Ruqing suddenly felt that Zhao Junyao’s life was incredibly hard.

No matter if he was cold, hungry, sick, or in a terrible mood, he still had to work. And moreover...

There were so many of them; stacked up, they must have been over a foot high.

They had been accumulating for several days. The critical ones had already been processed at the South Garden, but these less urgent ones still required his review!

The room was brightly lit by candles. Xia Ruqing dared not make a sound, merely clutching the "Records of the Chu Dynasty’s Territories" and slowly poring over it.

An unknown amount of time passed. When Zhao Junyao finished with the memorials and walked over, he found Xia Ruqing already asleep, still clutching the book.

Gazing at her tranquil sleeping face, his heart suddenly found a sense of peace.

She was usually sensible and as docile as a kitten, yet at times quite mischievous—give her an inch, and she’d take a mile.

She spent her days eating and drinking her fill, then sleeping soundly, seemingly without a care in the world.

Unconsciously, the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile.

He bent down and carefully lifted her onto the dragon bed.

That night, he did nothing more than hold her, gradually drifting off to sleep.

In the blink of an eye, the Lesser New Year (Festival of the Kitchen God) arrived. Consort Yun was recuperating and rarely left her chambers, while the Emperor was too preoccupied with state affairs to visit the Harem.

Even Noble Consort Shih, the most favored, hadn’t seen the Emperor for several days.

The Empress was busy overseeing preparations for the New Year, so even the daily salutations were temporarily suspended.

It was cold outside, and everyone stayed indoors, so life in the Harem remained peaceful and uneventful.

After the court assembly that day, Zhao Junyao went to Ningshou Palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, state affairs are demanding. You need not always concern yourself with me!"

Seeing her son arrive, the Empress Dowager greeted him with a benevolent smile.

"I have not come to see you since returning from the South Garden that day. Your son has been unfilial!"

"We are mother and son; there’s no need for such formalities. You have many responsibilities; taking care of your health is paramount!"

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager pulled the Emperor to sit beside her and then asked,

"Have you had breakfast yet?"

"I have not."

"Coincidentally, I am about to have my meal. Why don’t you join me?"

Zhao Junyao’s expression softened, and he smiled. "Mother, you always have such delicious dishes here. Your son is truly fortunate today!"

His words made the Empress Dowager laugh. She turned to Sister Qing and said with a smile,

"Look at him! He’s all grown up, yet the moment he comes to my place, all he thinks about is food!"

"Your son has always been fondest of the dishes prepared by the senior Sisters in your palace, Mother," Zhao Junyao said, playing along.

"His Majesty is nostalgic and doesn’t disdain our humble skills. This servant will go instruct them now; it will be ready shortly..." Sister Qing withdrew, beaming.

They knew by heart the dishes the Emperor had loved since childhood!

The Empress Dowager had long observed a vegetarian diet and devoted herself to Buddhist prayers, so she rarely ate dishes from the Grand Imperial Kitchen.

Ordinarily, a few of the senior Sisters who were skilled in cooking attended to her meals.

The Empress Dowager smiled again. "I remember when you were little, studying in the Study Room. After your lessons, the moment you returned and walked through the door, you’d be clamoring for something to eat!"

Zhao Junyao laughed as well. "You still remember, Mother!"

"How could I forget? Back then, you, Wanxin, and Junqi—the three of you were inseparable and so very mischievous!"

Wanxin was Noble Consort Shih’s maiden name.

Zhao Junqi was Zhao Junyao’s paternal cousin, the legitimate son of the Ninth Imperial Uncle, Prince Yan, and was also the Crown Prince Yan.

Since the three of them were close in age, they often played together as children.

Zhao Junyao’s smile faded slightly.

He still said, "Every time we stirred up trouble, it was you, Mother, who helped cover for us. Otherwise, if Father found out, we’d surely have received a spanking!"

His words made the Empress Dowager laugh heartily. They reminisced for a while longer before she sighed.

"You’ve all grown up. Junqi went with his father to his fiefdom, so we needn’t say more about him. But you and Wanxin... you’re not as close as you once were..."

"You’re overthinking things, Mother. It’s still the same as before."

He thought, In this Harem, when it comes to favor, who can compare to her? Isn’t that enough?