CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 110: GAINING FAVOR 1

There is always an exception, isn’t there?

Li Shengan watched the Emperor’s back as he walked into the room, holding Lady Xia, feeling a bit like he was in a dream.

He pinched himself hard. I’m not dreaming, right? Ouch, that really hurt!

Little Zhuzi poked his head out. "Master, you saw correctly!"

"Go away!"

Little Zhuzi’s head was once again graced with a flick from his master’s feather duster!

「...」

He disliked the gloomy atmosphere at the Empress’s place, and he had an argument with the Noble Consort just yesterday.

So, Zhao Junyao was not in a good mood.

But seeing Xia Ruqing, wrapped in mud, looking silly and adorable, he still wanted to laugh.

No! He mustn’t laugh! What emperor in any dynasty has ever had a constant grin on his face? That wouldn’t be an emperor; that would be a fool. An emperor must be inscrutable, showing neither joy nor anger.

So, Zhao Junyao kept his face expressionless, struggling mightily to suppress his laughter.

"Your Majesty, I dirtied your clothes..."

This was the second time Xia Ruqing had said this phrase to the Emperor.

The first time was when he scared her, and she cried uncontrollably in his arms, snot and tears getting everywhere.

This time, well... cough, cough! It wasn’t her fault

(she thought brazenly).

Zhao Junyao twitched the corner of his mouth.

He wanted to say, Good that you know!

But as he moved his lips, he still didn’t speak. Mainly because if he did, he might not be able to hold back a laugh. The dignity of an emperor was at stake, so he simply chose to remain silent.

Both of their clothes were mud-stained and dirty.

They needed to bathe and change.

But the space was not large enough, so... they might as well wash together.

Xia Ruqing was carried all the way into the bathroom.

As the Palace Attendants filed out one by one, Xia Ruqing had a premonition that something bad was going to happen.

She had a brainwave and quickly said, "Your Majesty, I twisted my foot, it hurts!"

He couldn’t be so desperate as to not even spare her when she’s injured!

However, Zhao Junyao leaned in close to her ear and said in a deep voice, "Later, I will summon an Imperial Physician to check it. If it’s not serious..."

As he spoke, he gave her that ’you are so done for’ look.

Xia Ruqing felt a twinge of fear and hurriedly offered a strained smile. "Your Majesty, suddenly, I feel like it’s not that painful anymore!"

Zhao Junyao curved his lips, thinking to himself, You’re sensible, at least!

Everything was ready in the bathroom.

A few Little Palace Maids stood behind the screen, holding cotton towels, ready to serve.

Of course, they were not there to serve Xia Ruqing. If the Emperor wasn’t present, the only one Xia Ruqing could command was Zi Yue!

The bathtub had been replaced with one that was big enough, and the temperature of the hot water was just right.

They washed three times in total.

Free from mud, Xia Ruqing regained her fairy-like appearance.

She had a good appetite and was in a growing phase.

After a winter and a spring, by the time summer arrived, the little mounds on her chest had drastically changed.

Last year’s bellyband couldn’t contain them; they were bulging out. Right now, wearing nothing... they were very attractive!

Zhao Junyao squinted his eyes and teased her. "Eating so much good food, it was not in vain!"

In his heart, he was secretly pleased!

Seeing his gaze, Xia Ruqing quickly covered her chest and retreated, diving under the water, blushing with embarrassment. "Your Majesty!"

"Your foot doesn’t hurt anymore?" Zhao Junyao laughed again.

"It doesn’t hurt anymore!" someone was furious!

With so many women around, why does he still look like a starving wolf? Can’t all those women satisfy him?

In response to this, Zhao Junyao expressed his protest, Is he that casual? Even though he has many little wives, he only picks the ones he likes, the pretty ones, and then happily goes at it. The Empress is virtuous, but she’s too somber for his taste, and he doesn’t like that. The Noble Consort is beautiful, and he used to like her, but now she’s often sullen, so he’s not as fond of her anymore! Looking further back, there aren’t many in the Harem he can even remember. When turning the plaques, it’s all the same. He doesn’t avoid turning someone’s plaque just because he doesn’t like her. But the so-called equal attention is only for the peace of the Harem; getting one chance in ten to spend the night is pretty good. Most of the time, he doesn’t touch them at all. After all, if he doesn’t like them, he doesn’t want to force himself! This was something probably only Li Shengan, who always followed him closely, knew about. As for the Concubines, they all knew very well, and they would rather die than speak of such matters! That’s why the Emperor visited the Harem and turned the plaques, yet few women in the Harem became pregnant! That’s why, after just one encounter with Xia Ruqing, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He felt that his efforts had not been in vain. That’s also why Lady Xia could gain favor! Lady Xia was clever, her temperament agreeable and lively. She was also pretty, and her figure... looked good nowadays, too. Each time he visited her, he could escape the myriad complexities of state affairs. He could utterly relax his body and mind and find happiness. Also, at her place, the food was great—dishes he’d never seen before, simple to get yet fresh and tasty! His body and all his internal organs felt very comfortable! Why wouldn’t he dote on a woman who pleases him in every way? What was he waiting for?!

Ahem, this is a digression... Let’s return to the main thread!

Seeing that this little cat was about to get her hackles up again, Zhao Junyao didn’t tease her any further!

Knowing that her foot was injured, he ultimately did not do anything to her.

Suppressing their pent-up frustrations, they both got dressed, and Li Shengan was called to fetch the Imperial Physician.

After examining the injury, the Imperial Physician respectfully said, "The Honored Lady’s foot is sprained, but fortunately, there is no dislocation of the bones. It’s just an external injury to the skin. With some ointment, it will stop hurting in a couple of days!"

Zhao Junyao breathed a sigh of relief.

He thought to himself with covert satisfaction, It’s good that there’s no serious issue; he can properly deal with her later. When she’s better after a while, he plans to take her to Jiangnan.

Xia Ruqing, however, didn’t think so much. Zi Yue applied the ointment, and it quickly stopped hurting.

"It’s cool and quite comfortable!" she said.

Zi Yue saw that there was nothing serious and withdrew.

Then, Zhao Junyao devoured that cat!

Indescribable, oh indescribable!

In the end, Xia Ruqing’s body was trembling intensely, and she cried out in a fragmented and disheveled voice, begging for mercy.

"Emperor... Emperor, I... I can’t take it anymore..."

"I can’t take it!"

Half a Shi Chen later, after Zhao Junyao had reached the peak, he finally stopped, fully satisfied.

He carried the limp Xia Ruqing to the bathroom for another wash.

After bathing and changing, it was already Hai Hour.

Both of them, having not eaten anything that evening, were hungry.

Especially Xia Ruqing; she was so hungry she could feel her stomach sticking to her back. She had sweated a lot and was thirsty, hungry, and tired!

She was totally out of energy!

"Let’s eat!" Zhao Junyao ordered.

Li Shengan quickly went out.

The Imperial Kitchen had been waiting, knowing that the Emperor was at Lady Xia’s Qingya Residence tonight. Without a doubt, all the food would be light, refreshing, and tasty.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the dining table was filled with dishes of various sizes.

Appetizers, main and side dishes, desserts, and fruit after the meal—there was nothing the Imperial Kitchen couldn’t make, only dishes one couldn’t imagine!

Upon seeing the delicious food, Xia Ruqing’s spirits were immediately lifted.