CHAPTER 242: CHAPTER 241: JUST WANT TO BE GOOD TO HER, MAKE HER HAPPY, AND HAVE CHILDREN WITH HER

"Emperor, I still feel that this is a bit..." Xia Ruqing was deeply conflicted.

She didn’t want to be a woman who brought disaster upon the nation. There were far too many such tragedies in history—Yang Guifei, Yang Guozhong, and the like. She wanted none of that perilous prosperity, like wealth steeped in fierce flames and boiling oil. The more splendid the process, the more tragic the end. Even if her brother might not become a treacherous official bringing calamity to the nation, he couldn’t fend off the jealousy of petty people. The heart of an emperor is unfathomable; who knew what the future held... what might eventually...

Zhao Junyao knew what she was worried about. He gave a roguish smile and lazily lay down on the low couch, pulling her into his embrace.

"I didn’t really want to give him an official position, but he truly has the ability! Capturing Fan Changsheng—a hundred cavalry from Primus Camp failed to escort him back, but your brother managed it in less than ten days! There’s nothing to be done about that!"

Xia Ruqing was somewhat anxious. "But... perhaps someone else could do it?"

Zhao Junyao spread his hands. "Someone else? Qingqing, would you rather give this opportunity to someone else? The Imperial Guards Commander has always been the most capable, and your brother..."

"Emperor!" Xia Ruqing’s forehead broke out in sweat in her urgency, as she finally managed to stammer out, "Emperor, didn’t you say my brother lost in the martial contest? Surely those who won are stronger than my brother; how could they accept this?"

After speaking, Xia Ruqing knelt and said earnestly, "Emperor, I know you mean well by me, but... But I don’t want you to disappoint the loyal officials! I don’t want special treatment! And I don’t want you to lose credibility! Please, Emperor, retract your order!"

Zhao Junyao was completely stunned. "Qingqing, what are you talking about?"

Wait, she... She must have misunderstood, thinking I was pulling strings for her brother?

"Qingqing, don’t you know your brother ranks among the top three of the Imperial Forest Army? He did lose, but only one person defeated him! So, the one who won is the Imperial Guards Commander, while your brother and another are the Deputy Commanders..."

Zhao Junyao lifted her by her arms. "Do you understand now?"

Xia Ruqing paused for a moment, then nodded. "So you mean... by the rules, my brother was already set to be a Deputy Commander?"

Zhao Junyao gave her bottom a hard smack and said in a deep voice, "I’m offering your brother an official position, and yet..." It’s as if I have to beg her to accept it?

What he had seen most were those who constantly schemed to secure official positions for their families. He had never before met someone like Xia Ruqing.

Heh... As he reflected, this young girl before him seemed increasingly different from the others. Without a trace of complicated emotions. He just wanted to be good to her, make her happy, and have children with her.

Realizing the truth, Xia Ruqing giggled. "Emperor, who asked you not to explain clearly? I really thought that..."

Zhao Junyao smacked her bottom again. "Alright, it’s getting late. We should sleep now!"

With that, Zhao Junyao carried Xia Ruqing towards the bed.

"Emperor, we’ve only just had dinner! It’s still early!"

Zhao Junyao gave a darkly amused smile. "It’s not early at all. We have very important matters to attend to!"

Xia Ruqing’s legs went weak from fright, and she struggled. "Emperor, I...I’m not feeling well!"

Zhao Junyao had already closed in on her. "Qingqing, don’t be afraid..."

"AH..." With a cry of surprise from Xia Ruqing, a sudden chill washed over her as her clothes were stripped away.

And then, Zhao Junyao took her in his arms, and they indulged in blissful explorations of a wondrous world, sometimes soaring to great heights, at other times freely roaming the depths of the sea. He kissed her fervently, taking her again and again until they were both exhausted. The sweat-soaked sheets were flung aside carelessly as they embraced and drifted off to sleep.

Zi Yue had gone to rest. Only Xiao Xizi and Xiao Zhu Zi remained, taking turns to keep watch outside. After Xiao Xizi left, it was Xiao Zhu Zi’s turn for the latter half of the night. She had just come out of the servants’ quarters and was heading towards the master’s rooms in the front courtyard when she heard a faint rustling sound from the back door.

"Who’s there? Who’s over there?"

Turning her head to look, the noise stopped, and the courtyard was empty. Xiao Zhu Zi rubbed her eyes.

Could it be that I’m seeing things?

With that thought, she shook her head, tightened her sash, and headed to the front courtyard.

Qiu Tong was hiding behind the door. Peering through the gap at the bottom, she saw that the courtyard was empty. She then cautiously opened the back door. Creeping in, she gently closed the door behind her. Now hunched over, clutching a bundle to her chest, she crept towards the servants’ quarters.

Xiao Zhu Zi peeked around a corner, her face filled with anger and contempt. "No wonder you’re always so high and mighty! So you’ve been looking down on us all this time, trying to climb the social ladder!"

「The next day」

Zhao Junyao didn’t need to attend court, and the two of them didn’t rise until it was time for breakfast. After washing up, they had a simple breakfast. Zhao Junyao watched Xia Ruqing take her medicine before he left.

The weather that morning was unpleasant. Xia Ruqing didn’t feel like going out either. She lay listlessly on the couch, a book in hand, feigning reading while feeling drowsy.

Xiao Zhu Zi requested an audience from outside.

"Let her in!" Xia Ruqing tossed her book aside and sat up a bit straighter.

Xiao Zhu Zi entered and curtsied. "Greetings, Mistress!"

"Rise. What is it, so early in the morning?"

Xiao Zhu Zi looked around, then ran over and opened all the windows. Only then did she kneel and recount in detail everything she had seen and heard the previous night.

Xia Ruqing’s eyes widened in shock. "Are you sure about what you’re saying? Did you see clearly? Was it Qiu Ye or Qiu Tong?"

Xiao Zhu Zi confidently asserted, "It was Qiu Tong!"

Zi Yue paled. "Damn it! The New Year has barely passed, and she’s already causing trouble!"

Xia Ruqing asked, "When did she start acting suspiciously?"

Xiao Zhu Zi responded disdainfully without a second thought, "Mistress, ever since I arrived, Qiu Tong has always been like that. She beats and scolds Lady Qiu Ye daily! She makes Lady Qiu Ye do all the dirty and tiring work, while she herself wanders around as if she has nothing to do. Even I can’t bear to watch it anymore!"

Zi Yue also found it hard to believe. "How could such a thing be happening!" Thinking this, she knelt. "Mistress, I have been negligent in my duties. Please punish me!"

Xia Ruqing gestured dismissively, a headache coming on. "What has this to do with you? You were on duty when she was, and you rested when she did! I know I asked you to be vigilant, Zi Yue, but you’re only one person; you can’t split yourself in two. You may all rise!"

"Yes!"

Xia Ruqing sighed deeply. "Since it has come to this, there’s no other choice. Tie her up first, and we’ll decide what to do next!"

"Yes!" Xiao Zhu Zi left.

Xia Ruqing lay on the bed, full of worry, meticulously recalling recent events. The more she thought, the more anxious she became.

Her brother’s matter, and the Empress’s elder brother’s matter... If the Empress were to find out about either of these, my life would become very difficult! This Harem truly is a place where one can never be too careful!

She now suddenly regretted it. Why didn’t I deal with her sooner? Did I really think that by sending her off to do menial labor, that viper wouldn’t bite anymore? How naive I was!