CHAPTER 620: CHAPTER 620 SOUTH GARDEN

By the time they arrived, it was already evening after a whole day of exhausting travel.

For dinner, they didn’t go to any trouble and just ate in their respective courtyards.

After dinner, Xia Ruqing was so tired she could die. She had been sitting in the carriage for such a long time that her bones felt like they were going to shatter.

So, she took a bath, changed into inner wear, lay in bed flipping through the pages of a book, and fell asleep.

Zi Yue tidied up the book on the bed, covered her with the quilt, and let down the bed curtains before going out.

The Little Prince stayed in the side room as usual.

Zi Yue’s footsteps were light as she stepped out of the door.

She looked up to see Sister Liang approaching in a hurry.

"Sister Liang, the master has already retired for the night. Do you need something?"

Sister Liang hesitated and glanced at the main hall, then lowered her head, looking somewhat troubled.

"Lady Zi Yue, the Little Prince has arrived and isn’t accustomed to the place. He’s making a fuss, wanting his cats and dogs..."

"But... we didn’t bring them this time!"

Zi Yue was shocked.

"Ah?"

"Sister Liang, that was too careless of you. Knowing that the Little Prince plays with them every day, why didn’t you bring them!"

Sister Liang was also annoyed.

"I thought children like new things, and he might forget about them once here, so I didn’t bring them!"

"The Little Prince is nearly two years old now; he can’t just be with cats and dogs all the time!"

"I also thought..."

"Oh, who would have thought the Little Prince would have such a good memory!"

After such a long journey, so tired from the trip, and just before sleep, he still thought of his dog, his cat!

Zi Yue looked at the inner hall, then back at Sister Liang.

"Since you didn’t bring them, Sister, you should think of some other way. The master is exhausted and went to sleep early!"

Sister Liang nodded.

"There’s nothing else to be done!"

...

In the side room, Little Bun was very upset.

He puffed up his cheeks in anger, glowering at Sister Liang!

Humph! It was this woman who had left behind his Yellow Bean, Da Bai, and Xiao Bai! He was very angry and didn’t want to see her or talk to her! So, when Sister Liang brought Zi Yue in, Little Bun turned his face away, his brows furrowed tightly together in a way that closely resembled Zhao Junyao.

His haughty yet adorable expression was almost too much.

"His Royal Highness the Prince!"

Zi Yue approached quietly.

Little Bun had a face full of pride.

"You are... Lady Zi Yue!?"

The one-and-a-half-year-old Little Bun spoke clearly and could say some simple words. Or, he could break down a sentence into parts he understood and then articulate it.

Zi Yue smiled and squatted down.

"Yes!"

"Little Prince!"

"It’s so late now, Consort Xian Pin has already gone to sleep. Do you want to sleep as well?"

Little Bun wasn’t one for listening to reason either.

As soon as he heard that his mother was asleep, there was hesitation in his eyes. It’s so late, I shouldn’t disturb Mother anymore... But... he was still very angry.

"But, I... am really worried... about Yellow Bean!"

Yellow Bean was the name of the little puppy.

Its fur was golden, and it was very round and plump, liking to flip its belly over for people to rub.

Xia Ruqing had given it such a name. Yellow Bean!

Zi Yue smiled.

"What are you worried about, Little Prince? Xiao Zhu Zi stayed in the palace especially to look after Yellow Bean!"

"At this time, maybe... Yellow Bean is eating ribs, eating... chicken legs, eating steamed buns!"

"Or perhaps... it’s already full and lying in its bed, sleeping soundly!"

Zi Yue spoke slowly, using gestures to help the Little Prince understand.

Little Bun was indeed smart. After Zi Yue explained it once, he understood.

In his mind, he could almost see Yellow Bean rolling over to expose its belly for a rub.

He couldn’t help it and giggled.

"Yellow Bean..."

"Yellow Bean, belly!"

His large, watery eyes shone with anticipation, bright and a little heart-wrenching to see.

Zi Yue smiled.

"Alright, once we return in a few days, Yellow Bean will still be Yellow Bean!"

"Little Prince, you be good too!"

Zi Yue gently rubbed the little baby’s thick hair.

Little Bun was actually sleepy too; his little head being gently caressed, and in a moment, his eyelids drooped.

Sister Liang noticed this and hurried to lift him into the rocking cradle.

A sway here, a soothing word there, a gentle rock.

Little Bun quickly fell asleep.

Zi Yue completely breathed a sigh of relief.

This little handful, honestly, he’s hard to manage.

...

The next morning, by the time Xia Ruqing got up, the day was already well advanced.

Xia Ruqing felt that everything around her was a bit strange.

"Where am I...?"

Zi Yue brought in clothes and water.

"Master, how could you forget this is South Garden?"

Only then did Xia Ruqing remember, her mind fully awakening.

She hurriedly got up to change her clothes.

"Oh my, why did I sleep in so late!"

"The morning and evening greetings!"

With that, she quickly jumped down and frantically started looking for clothes to wear.

Zi Yue hurriedly stopped her.

"Master, have you forgotten? Last night, the Empress sent someone to relay a message!"

"She said that while they are away from the palace, there’s no need to be too strict with formalities!"

"Everyone should just be at ease and relax!"

So that’s why you dared to sleep in!

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Ah, what’s wrong with me!"

"Why am I always so forgetful! Oh!"

She rubbed her eyes and then sat back down on the bed.

"Are there any activities scheduled for today?"

If not, she wanted to get some more sleep. She was so tired! Those ancient carriages were exhausting.

After sitting for a whole day, her bones felt like they were falling apart!

Zi Yue smiled.

"There’s nothing!"

"The Empress hasn’t sent any messages yet. If there were any activities, we would have heard by now, wouldn’t we?"

"Lady Yu Lan even said yesterday that this trip out of the palace was meant for everyone to unwind!"

"There aren’t any activities scheduled!"

"Yay!" Xia Ruqing was delighted.

Yes, this was much better! If she had to go pay her respects, all the chitchat would just ruin her good mood for the day.

Thinking this, Xia Ruqing once again fell asleep.

Zi Yue was somewhat helpless.

How tired must she be!

As for Xia Ruqing, she was very, very tired!!

...

At the Empress’s residence.

Zhao Junyao had not spent the night there, and this morning, he only stayed long enough for a meal.

The Empress’s breakfast was also not particularly impressive. Every time, they claimed it was a new dish, but it was always the same unpalatable meal, so Zhao Junyao no longer held much expectation.

After breakfast, once the dishes were cleared away, the Empress smiled and said,

"South Garden is surrounded by mountains and waters. I wonder if the Emperor will go hunting this time?"

Zhao Junyao smiled faintly.

"Of course!"

"When there are spoils from the hunt, I will naturally hand them over to the Empress to distribute to everyone!"

The Empress smiled.

"In that case... I thank Your Majesty in advance!"

After that, a moment of silence passed between them, as there was nothing more to say.

Zhao Junyao sat for a moment, didn’t even finish his tea, and then left.

The Empress leaned against the doorframe, staring at his retreating figure, her heart aching with increasing intensity.

Emperor, when will you truly see me as the Empress? When will you give me a child? And when will you finally...