CHAPTER 634: CHAPTER 634: RELAX

"Qingqing..."

"Qingqing?"

Zhao Junyao called out twice in a row. Only then did Xia Ruqing come back to her senses.

"Hmm?"

"AH!!"

"Your Majesty, you’re awake?" She quickly adjusted her expression.

Zhao Junyao had a look of exasperation. "What were you just thinking about!"

"Nothing... not at all! Your Majesty, you..." Her mind became frantic and jumbled, recalling what Eunuch Li had said about the Emperor not having had his lunch yet.

Xia Ruqing hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, you must be hungry. I’ve prepared some light dishes for you. Would you like to eat something?"

Zhao Junyao nodded. "Indeed, I’m hungry!"

However... looking at her fair face still flushed with a shy, rosy tint.

What I really want to eat is you!

Zhao Junyao thought to himself.

There was a plate of dried shrimp stir-fried with greens, a dish of salt and pepper peanuts, and a dish of pea jelly seasoned with a sauce made of fragrant vinegar and sesame oil. There was also a dish of cold mixed tofu skin and a dish of lightly sautéed baby bok choy. All were vegetarian, looking tender and green, very appetizing.

As for the meat, there was a clear soup with pork ribs and freshly picked tender corn. A steamed fish topped with goji berries smelled delicious and was also pleasing to the eye. The rest included meatballs, saltwater duck, and another dish of crystal shrimp. The remainder consisted of various side dishes, soups, and desserts.

No matter how simple, it was still the Emperor’s imperial meal. A grand array of dishes was essential. Some dishes the Emperor wouldn’t even touch, but they had to be served, if only to maintain appearances.

Zhao Junyao greatly enjoyed the light dishes Xia Ruqing had prepared. After a bowl of pork rib soup and a bowl of rice with green vegetables, he felt completely revitalized. Having bathed and changed, he felt much cooler too.

Zhao Junyao was well-rested, well-fed, and well-hydrated. He played with Little Bun for a while longer until he felt every hair on his body relax.

Looking at the sky, evening had arrived. It was about time.

Zhao Junyao patted Little Bun, then gazed at Xia Ruqing with a smile. "I will come to see you again later!"

Xia Ruqing responded with respectful and clever grace, "I respectfully send off Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao turned, gave her a gentle glance, and left with large strides.

Zi Su was a bit puzzled. "Your Highness, why did the Emperor leave again...?"

Xia Ruqing smiled faintly. "What else?"

Other women had just risked their lives to bear him a child. Would he go to sleep with another woman before even a day had passed? That would be too disheartening, Xia Ruqing thought. If he were truly such a cold and indifferent man, what would have become of me now? Perhaps I would still be just a Lady or Honored Lady without favor, struggling for survival every day against the servants of the Ministry of Internal Affairs! The thought is terrifying.

"Things are quite good the way they are now, aren’t they?"

Zi Su seemed to somewhat understand but not entirely.

In the end, it was Zi Yue who pulled her aside. "Stop overthinking. Our mistress should have her evening meal now. Aren’t you going to help Xiao Xizi?"

"Yes!" Zi Su withdrew.

Xia Ruqing reclined on the soft couch, picked up a storybook, and continued reading the unfinished tale. The content of the story captivated her. It was about an Emperor and a Favored Consort, with a plot similar to that of Emperor Tang Ming and Yang Guifei. One loved deeply; the other was extremely considerate. They shared an intense passion, regretting they hadn’t met sooner. Day after day, they were cloyingly inseparable, neglecting all the other women in the Harem. Eventually, the Emperor even stopped attending court, wanting only to be with his so-called Noble Consort at all times.

This continued for several years. With the nation and the Emperor on the verge of ruin at the hands of a woman, the court Ministers could no longer stand by. They jointly petitioned the Emperor to cleanse his side of disruptive influences. The Concubines of the Harem also banded together, orchestrating a major palace intrigue. The Emperor was but one man; without the support of his Ministers and having neglected state affairs, how could he withstand such internal and external pressures?

The final outcome was unsurprising. The nation fell into others’ hands, the Emperor died in a rebellion, and this Favored Consort was captured by the traitors. She died in an extremely humiliating and brutal manner. By the end, the story’s atmosphere of despair was so thick it was suffocating.

Xia Ruqing didn’t finish it, simply tossing the book aside.

Zi Yue hurriedly picked it up. "Mistress, is the book not good?" She examined it, but being largely illiterate, she couldn’t understand what was written.

Xia Ruqing casually picked up her teacup and took a sip. "That’s right, it’s utter nonsense! The man in the book is too foolish, and the woman too stupid. It’s no surprise they met such an end!"

Zi Yue was still curious, so Xia Ruqing, seeing no alternative, briefly recounted the story.

Finally understanding, Zi Yue let out a snicker. "Mistress, why do you always read these things? Everything in books is fake!"

Xia Ruqing put down her teacup and dabbed her lips with a silk handkerchief. "Indeed, what’s in books is all fake!"

Such a deeply (or rather, foolishly) affectionate Emperor couldn’t possibly exist. In reality, when faced with a choice between the nation and a woman, nearly all Emperors would choose the nation. There’s nothing reprehensible about that. With an empire, what woman could one not have?

Xia Ruqing didn’t dwell on this point.

Instead, she sighed again. In reality, when an Emperor lavishes all his affection on a single person, his true intention is more likely to eliminate that woman, not genuinely favor her! One who is truly cherished and spoiled would never be made to endure so much scorn!

Xia Ruqing had long seen through this truth. Zi Yue understood as well. It’s just a pity that Zi Su and Zi Ning don’t quite understand yet. But it doesn’t matter; they will eventually.

After dinner, Xia Ruqing played with Little Bun for a while before going to bed.

「Now, about Zhao Junyao.」

After leaving Qingya Residence, he headed straight back to Zhaochen Palace. Before the evening meal, the Empress came seeking an audience. She informed the Emperor of everything she had discovered during the day.

The Empress herself was unsettled. "Emperor, the Imperial Physician said that Honored Lady Du has contracted a delusional madness. When she harms others, it’s as if she’s possessed by an inner demon!"

Zhao Junyao immediately frowned. "Possessed by an inner demon?"

What kind of nonsense is this? I’ve never heard of such an illness before, he thought.

The Empress wanted to explain further, but Zhao Junyao waved his hand dismissively. "Enough, Empress, you may return for now. I will have someone see to the rest!"

The Empress’s mind buzzed, and she became frantic. "Emperor!"

This attitude clearly indicates he suspects me. But I didn’t do this; in fact, it has nothing to do with me at all! Oh heavens, if the Emperor blames me for this... the consequences will be unimaginable!

"Emperor, Your Majesty’s consort... Your Majesty’s consort..." In her nervousness, she began to stutter.

Zhao Junyao grew even more impatient. "Empress, you may leave. It has been hot lately, and you’ve worked hard raising the Princess. You should rest well!"

The Empress dared not argue further. She curtsied and withdrew with a heavy heart. What the Empress was thinking at that moment remained unknown.

Meanwhile, as soon as the Empress left, Li Shengan brought the Managing Eunuchs of both Yichun Palace and Zhaoxiang Pavilion into the Imperial Study Room.

After the customary greetings, Li Shengan asked, "Have there been any unusual occurrences these past few days?"