CHAPTER 237: CHAPTER 236: LADY XIA’S ELDER BROTHER......

Xia Ruqing inwardly complained: What if I don’t really want to have a child with you? She was too timid and only dared to say it in her heart.

On the surface, she asked somewhat haughtily, "Wouldn’t you like the children others bear?" They would still be your children.

Zhao Junyao thought it over and had to answer, "I would like them too..."

"But..."

But... it seemed like there was something different. Specifically, what was different? Zhao Junyao furrowed his brow, unable to quite pinpoint it.

Women’s affairs were troublesome. Zhao Junyao simply cast the thought aside and pressed down on her again.

"We just want to have children with you, no reason!"

Xia Ruqing: "..."

Zhao Junyao looked at the woman beneath him, her complex gaze making him feel somewhat displeased.

He got up, swept her into his arms, and walked toward the bed.

"Ah, Your Majesty... What are you doing?"

"Making a baby!" Some women dream of bearing My children, yet I wouldn’t even deign to go to them!

Xia Ruqing was on the verge of tears.

"Your Majesty, you haven’t had your evening meal yet..."

"It won’t be too late to have it later!"

"..."

One Shi Chen passed...

Two Shi Chens passed...

Xia Ruqing couldn’t even remember how many times things had become indescribable.

In any case... she couldn’t get up anymore; she had turned into a puddle of mush.

Zhao Junyao still had to carry her to her bath.

After freshening up and changing, Xia Ruqing was starving and had no strength left.

Zhao Junyao held a bowl of porridge and fed her personally.

This treatment pleasantly surprised Xia Ruqing.

The thought that the most venerable man in the country was sitting beside her bed, spooning porridge into her mouth, made Xia Ruqing mindlessly merry.

TEE HEE...

She decided not to care whether she liked him or not; being doted on made her happy!

After the evening meal, Xia Ruqing felt drowsy again.

She couldn’t keep her eyelids open; as soon as Zhao Junyao turned his head, she had fallen asleep.

Zhao Junyao, on the other hand, was wide awake.

He tucked her in, sat to the side, and casually flipped through a military strategy book.

The quiet air was filled with a comfort that relaxed both body and mind.

「The next day.」

By the time Xia Ruqing woke up, Zhao Junyao had already left.

Zi Yue heard the movement and came in.

"Where is the Emperor?"

Zi Yue answered, "The Emperor has already left!"

"Oh..."

Xia Ruqing dawdled for a while before finally getting up.

She stretched and looked out the window.

"Another year has passed..." she murmured. "Spring is coming! I need to think about what vegetables to plant in my garden!"

As Zi Yue helped her mistress dress and wash, she said, "You can plant whatever you like, Mistress!"

Xia Ruqing narrowed her eyes. "Would strawberries be alright?"

Zi Yue said helplessly, "Mistress, strawberries aren’t vegetables!"

Xia Ruqing had her reasons. "We’ll have fresh vegetables to eat in spring and summer, so I don’t need to work so hard planting them myself!"

Zi Yue thought about it. That’s true!

Breakfast from the Imperial Kitchen was delivered very promptly.

There was a bowl of cucumber and shrimp soup, a plate of crystal pan-fried dumplings, and a plate of soup dumplings, along with a few refreshing side dishes.

Additionally, there was a fried quail.

Xiao Xizi said, "This fried quail just came out of the pot. The Imperial Kitchen knows Your Ladyship loves meat, so they specially packed one for us, for you to try its freshness!"

Xia Ruqing glanced at it, smelling the aroma even from a distance.

After washing her hands, she tore off a piece to try. The meat was tender, fried to a crisp outside and soft inside.

She ate well over half of the quail.

Then she had some porridge and a few pan-fried dumplings.

"I’m full!"

She was quite satisfied.

Zi Yue came over with a bowl of medicine, smiling.

"Mistress, it’s time for your medicine!"

Xia Ruqing’s expression instantly changed from sunny to overcast.

Before she could flash a fawning smile, Zi Yue put her hands on her hips.

"No room for discussion!"

Xia Ruqing had no choice but to obediently pick up the medicine bowl and, pinching her nose, gulp the medicine down!

「In the Imperial Study Room.」

Zhao Junyao looked at the memorial in his hand, his brows furrowing tightly again.

"A bunch of incompetents! That Fan Changsheng still managed to slip away!"

He glared furiously, wishing he could burn holes through the memorial with his gaze.

"Summon Xiao Zhengling to see Us!"

Li Shengan trembled as he complied. After stepping out, he quickly called for Little Zhuzi.

"Quickly! The Emperor commands General Xiao to an audience in the Imperial Study Room!"

Little Zhuzi, blessed with swift legs, ran off like a gust of wind.

General Xiao arrived very quickly.

Upon entering the Imperial Study Room, Zhao Junyao threw the memorial at him.

"Look at your men! Ambushed on the road!"

General Xiao couldn’t quite believe it. He picked up the memorial and quickly scanned it.

"What?! That little devil incarnate, he has such skills?"

Zhao Junyao snorted lightly. "You owe Us an explanation!"

General Xiao looked quite embarrassed. "Your Majesty... I did send a hundred cavalrymen after him!"

"A hundred cavalrymen!" Zhao Junyao looked at him with disdain. "You *only* sent a hundred cavalrymen! You’re far too confident in your men!"

General Xiao felt somewhat wronged. "Then what else was I supposed to do?"

Zhao Junyao was at the end of his patience. "Your men only know how to fight wars! Fan Changsheng’s group are nothing but ruffians and hooligans! They’ll stoop to any dirty trick. Are you sure you can catch him?"

General Xiao bowed his head, thinking for a moment. "It was my oversight!" He had fought on battlefields for years, his opponents always enemy soldiers; as for ruffians and hooligans, he truly had no experience with them.

"It’s too late to talk about this now!"

General Xiao knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty, I am willing to atone for my failure and personally lead troops to capture him and bring him to justice!"

Zhao Junyao waved his hand impatiently. "Enough, enough. If you leave, what about the Three Great Camps in the Capital City?"

General Xiao: "..." He was inwardly opposed. Neither solution was acceptable. What exactly did His Majesty want him to do?

"You may leave for now. We will think on this further!"

General Xiao hesitated for a moment but ultimately answered, "Yes, Your Majesty."

After leaving Zhaochen Palace, he still felt somewhat dazed.

Did the Emperor... just scold me and then send me out? Without assigning any tasks?! Military men always speak of atoning for failure with meritorious deeds. This... what on earth is going on?!

After dismissing General Xiao, Zhao Junyao felt exceedingly irritated.

That devil incarnate... who could possibly subdue him?

Li Shengan watched the Emperor, who first sipped tea cup after cup, then later gripped his teacup tightly.

In a moment of distraction, the teacup shattered, and Zhao Junyao’s hand was instantly streaming with blood.

Li Shengan nearly jumped out of his skin. "Call... call the Imperial Physician!"

Zhao Junyao glared at him. "You’re making a mountain out of a molehill!"

Li Shengan was on the verge of tears, his immense anxiety culminating in a single plea, "Preserve Your dragon body, Your Majesty!"

Imperial Doctor Zhang was a little late arriving.

Li Shengan muttered incessantly as he pulled him along quickly towards the Imperial Study Room.

"HEY, HEY... slow down! I just came from Xia Jieyu’s place and haven’t even had a sip of water!"

Li Shengan was frantic. "Hurry, Imperial Doctor Zhang, the Emperor is injured!"

"Ah? The Emperor is injured?!" Imperial Doctor Zhang’s eyes widened. "Then let’s hurry!"

Saying this, Imperial Doctor Zhang, who had seemed barely able to walk moments before, now moved as swift as the wind.

Li Shengan followed behind, watching him. HM!

The conversation between the two men in the corridor reached Zhao Junyao’s ears, every word clear.

"Lady Xia..." Wait, Lady Xia’s brother...