CHAPTER 594: CHAPTER 594: HE BELONGS ONLY TO HIMSELF

「In the palace.」

Xia Ruqing sent her sister-in-law away and, feeling a bit tired, went to sleep.

When she awoke, it was already evening.

She hugged the quilt and stretched lazily, then rolled over and exclaimed, "This New Year celebration is finally over! So exhausting!"

In the past, as an Honored Lady, she didn’t need to accompany anyone. The Empress, the Noble Consort, and everyone else’s attention would shift away from her. She would nestle in her own little corner of the world, eating and drinking at her leisure. Back then, it felt quite relaxed. But now...

As a Consort, she was bound by an array of tedious protocols, and it was exhausting. Yet upon closer reflection, she realized she hadn’t actually done much!

Sigh! Wasting time indeed!

Zi Yue came in with water from outside. "Mistress, this isn’t called wasting time. In this servant’s opinion, you are destined for a life of comfort and joy! This life—eating and drinking, walking dogs, playing with cats, just being happy—is all you need!"

Xia Ruqing laughed brightly. "No wonder you’ve understood me so well after following me for all these years!"

Zi Yue just smiled and said no more.

Xia Ruqing got up, washed her face, and Xiao Xizi came to ask, "Mistress, what would you like to eat tonight?"

After thinking it over, she said, "I’ve had such heavy meals these past few days; I’d like something light tonight! Ask them to make tofu, and then stew a fish." Fish wasn’t greasy, and having some fish soup would be nice. "What wild vegetables do we have in our courtyard? I feel like eating dumplings stuffed with shepherd’s purse—oh, and add some shrimp! Hmm, I want the wrappers to be translucent and very chewy! As for the rest, stir-fry some spinach, and remember to add dried shrimp and dried chili; it’s so good with rice! Also, lotus root slices—I want some ginger shreds and a bit of rice vinegar mixed in, with a touch of sugar too! Lastly, for the rice, steam it until it’s firm, not the sticky, mushy kind! You can pick a few other things, but nothing greasy!"

Xiao Xizi happily agreed and ran off in a flash.

Xia Ruqing headed to the side room.

All was quiet in the side room; Little Bun was already asleep. Sister Liang and Sister Huang rose to greet her silently. Xia Ruqing nodded in acknowledgment. She stood by the small cradle, gazed at her son sleeping soundly, tucked him in, bent down to give him a gentle kiss, and then left.

Sister Huang walked her out.

Xia Ruqing asked with a smile, "What did he eat tonight that got him to sleep so early?"

Sister Huang chuckled. "The Little Prince had his milk, then a bowl of scallion oil steamed egg, and also a piece of glutinous rice cake for dessert! After eating, he washed his hands, played with the puppy for a while, got tired, and fell asleep. Your Highness needn’t worry!"

Xia Ruqing nodded, reassured, and left.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xizi had already returned with the meal. The Imperial Kitchen always had the ingredients ready for the dishes she loved. The master chef was efficient, and the food was swiftly prepared. The fish soup was fresh from the pot, the dumplings were made and boiled on the spot, and the spinach was freshly stir-fried. For a few simple dishes, such speed was not surprising.

Zi Yue set out the meal, pouring a bowl of soup for her.

Xia Ruqing picked up her chopsticks, ready to start eating, when suddenly, a flurry of hurried footsteps came from outside.

"Who is it?" she asked, on alert.

This year, many princes had returned to the capital for the New Year. Moreover, several neighboring countries had also sent envoys bearing tributes as a sign of goodwill. The Emperor had been busy these past days attending banquets with these various princes and envoys.

He should... be too busy to come here, right!

Even as she thought this, she hurriedly got off the heated bed.

"Your Highness, the Emperor has arrived!" Xiao Xizi ran in.

That single sentence made Xia Ruqing’s heart leap violently.

Zhao Junyao, wrapped in a dark cloak, had already braved the icy, snowy weather to enter.

Without a moment to spare, she quickly stepped forward. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

All the palace maids and eunuchs in the room also knelt.

Zhao Junyao’s dark eyes were slightly bloodshot, and his movements were a bit sluggish. After pausing for a moment, he said indifferently, "Everyone, rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The crowd rose to their feet.

Xia Ruqing also got up. She personally removed his cloak and then quickly helped him sit down on the warm brick bed.

It’s obvious, she thought. The Emperor must have drunk too much. His complexion wasn’t normal. Of course, the most definitive evidence was the strong smell of alcohol emanating from him.

"Sobering soup!" Xia Ruqing commanded while loosening his collar.

"Yes!" Zi Yue left with Zi Su and Zi Ning.

Only three people remained in the room.

Li Shengan glanced at Consort Xian Pin, then at the Emperor, and then at himself. No matter how he looked at it, he felt like a third wheel.

He stepped forward two paces. "Your Highness, the Emperor has attended three banquets today and, in his good spirits, drank quite a lot. You..."

Xia Ruqing cast a casual glance at him, thinking to herself: Eunuch Li is planning his escape!

But outwardly, she said, "Eunuch Li, rest assured, I’ve got this!"

She then called Xiao Xizi and instructed, "Please invite Eunuch Li to have a cup of tea and rest his feet!"

Li Shengan felt a sudden wave of relief. Without a second thought, he bowed and disappeared at lightning speed. After being busy for so many days, he finally had a chance to catch his breath; he couldn’t waste it!

Zi Yue quickly brought the sobering soup. Xia Ruqing personally took it, gently blew on it to cool it, and brought the spoon to the Emperor’s lips. "Your Majesty, you are drunk!"

Zhao Junyao squinted, raised his hand, and slowly, gently stroked Xia Ruqing’s cheek. "Qingqing..."

His voice was low and husky.

Xia Ruqing said, "It’s me, Your Majesty. You’re drunk; please have some sobering soup!"

Zhao Junyao looked at the spoon by his lips and the bowl in her hands. "Alcohol? Good, I’ll drink it all!"

Then he took the bowl and, tilting his head back, downed it in one gulp.

Xia Ruqing: "..."

Zi Yue retreated, leaving just the two of them in the inner room.

Xia Ruqing set down the bowl and began to help the Emperor out of his clothes. He had been at a banquet and was dressed formally. He wore a purple-gold Dragon Robe, its chest emblazoned with a majestic circular dragon motif. The collar and cuffs were adorned with complex and exquisite patterns of auspicious clouds. On his head was a Purple Gold Crown, which, under the golden candlelight, radiated a mysterious and noble, gentle luster. His feet were clad in a pair of purple-gold boots, the uppers made of a shiny purple-gold brocade, also embroidered with the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon.

His high-bridged nose, thick eyebrows over sharp, sword-like eyes, distinctly chiseled features, and those deep, ink-colored eyes now appeared somewhat unfocused. His honey-colored skin was slightly flushed. The man himself was like the most commanding and dazzling deity from the highest heavens; a single glance was enough to etch his image into one’s very soul.

Xia Ruqing swallowed hard, thinking wryly to herself:

How can there be such a devastatingly handsome man in the world!

If only I could whisk him away to the modern era to be my husband!

Drive away all his other women so that he’d belong only to me—how wonderful would that be!

Heh heh!

At this moment, Xia Ruqing could never have imagined that one day in the future, her wish would truly come true.