CHAPTER 642: CHAPTER 642: RETURN

However, next time, the Imperial Court might not be so lucky. It’s impossible to keep someone watching over Jiangnan indefinitely. Hehe, little Emperor, we’ll just wait and see!

...

July passed in the blink of an eye. As August arrived, the hot days became fewer and the cool ones more frequent.

With the rainy season over, the rainfall in Jiangnan diminished significantly, and the rivers no longer breached their banks.

Coupled with the Imperial Court’s disaster relief and tax reductions, the commonfolk finally managed to recover somewhat.

After all, compared to previous years, this disaster wasn’t particularly severe.

Jiangnan had always been a land of plenty; it couldn’t possibly be unable to withstand even such a minor risk.

Everything gradually returned to normal.

The grain price issue was resolved, and the natural disasters had ceased.

There were no more internal troubles or external threats.

Zhao Junyao, who had been busy for the better part of a year, finally found himself with some leisure time.

The most noticeable change was that fewer Ministers frequented the Imperial Study Room, and the stacks of memorials on his desk thinned.

Previously, it would take an entire day to go through a pile of memorials; now, he could finish them in half a day at most.

Closing the last memorial, Zhao Junyao walked around a bit.

He pondered for a moment; finding nothing pressing to attend to, he decided to go to the Imperial Garden.

After strolling for a while, he ambled, seemingly unintentionally, towards Qingya Residence.

Li Shengan followed behind, snickering inwardly.

His Majesty is being far too obvious! If he wants to show favor, why not just flip a name tablet directly? Must he... do it this way?

But then again, His Majesty refuses to visit the Empress, the Noble Consort, or Consort Ning. Theoretically, however, not visiting them at all isn’t an option either. So, he can only pretend to stroll over unintentionally, meandering his way there. That would seem appropriate. It’s not like he deliberately chose a name tablet, is it? It’s purely by chance, a coincidence. ’I just happened to stroll here, felt tired, and decided to pop in for a cup of tea.’ No one could find fault with that.

Xia Ruqing hadn’t seen Zhao Junyao for several days.

As soon as she heard he was approaching, she quickly ran out with Little Bun.

"Your Maj—"

Before she could finish, the Emperor had already helped her up.

"Father Emperor!"

A clear, childlike voice called out.

Before Zhao Junyao could react, Little Bun clung to him tightly, like a little sloth.

"Chenchen!"

Zhao Junyao’s heart melted, and he quickly scooped him up.

Zhao Qichen blinked, looking at his Father Emperor’s serious expression, and felt a little scared.

"Father Emperor, why do you look unhappy?"

Zhao Junyao was taken aback.

"I’m not unhappy!"

He had used ’I’, not the royal ’We’.

Xia Ruqing, standing to the side, laughed joyfully.

It was clear that in front of Little Bun, Zhao Junyao preferred being a father rather than ’Father Emperor’.

This is truly wonderful!

He held Little Bun and played with him for a while. Soon, Little Bun grew sleepy and became a bit fussy.

The Wetnurse Nanny and Sister quickly took him away to be coaxed to sleep.

...

Meanwhile, Xia Ruqing also felt sleepy.

Sitting on the heated brick bed, she yawned repeatedly. But since the Emperor wasn’t sleepy, she dared not go to sleep.

Zhao Junyao glanced at her.

"Didn’t you sleep well last night?"

Xia Ruqing shook her head.

"No, I just woke up too early this morning. Chenchen... he’s so full of energy!"

Before she could finish her sentence, she let out two more yawns.

Zhao Junyao, both exasperated and amused, took her hand and led her towards the bed.

"It’s the middle of the day. If you don’t sleep, We’ll get sleepy too!"

Xia Ruqing mentally rolled her eyes. You’re sleepy? Why didn’t you say so earlier? If you had, your consort would have attended to you for sleep much sooner!

Lost in these thoughts, she found herself pulled onto the bed.

Seeing how tired she was, Zhao Junyao didn’t have the heart to do anything more. He simply held her and they fell asleep.

After being so busy for so many days, only this moment feels truly peaceful.

...

The two of them slept until evening.

Xia Ruqing woke up earlier than Zhao Junyao and carefully tiptoed off the bed.

She instructed Zi Yue and the other maids, "Go tell the Imperial Kitchen to prepare the evening meal. As usual, it should be light, and the flavors good."

"You all have some understanding of His Majesty’s preferences. Just order based on that; as long as there are no major errors, it will be fine."

Zi Yue quickly bowed her head and assented.

Zhao Junyao didn’t wake up until just before the evening meal.

Xia Ruqing, while wiping his face with a damp towel, chuckled. "Your Majesty, you teased your consort earlier for being sleepy. Look how long you’ve slept! How is that any different?"

Zhao Junyao glared at her. She immediately deflated, offering a sheepish smile as she quickly changed the subject.

"Your Majesty, your consort was only joking!"

"Your Majesty, you’ve been working so hard for so long; you should relax a little. You enjoy hunting, don’t you?"

"There have been many joyous occasions this year, and the weather is splendid—perfect for a hunting excursion! What do you think?"

Hearing this, Zhao Junyao was utterly exasperated.

"Qingqing... you..."

Xia Ruqing blinked, her face a picture of innocence.

"Your Majesty, what has your consort done?"

"Your Majesty, why is the corner of your mouth twitching? Are you unwell?!"

Zhao Junyao looked at her innocent, harmless-as-a-little-rabbit face.

He truly didn’t know what to do with her. Finally, half amused and half exasperated, he asked, "You want to go out of the palace, don’t you?"

Xia Ruqing didn’t try to hide it and frankly admitted, "Yes."

"Your Majesty, the imperial examinations are in just over a month, and my brother..."

She had seen her brother when he arrived in the capital.

However, the imperial examination was a major event. As his older sister, she still wished to go out of the palace to see him more often, even if just to offer a little encouragement.

However, this request put Zhao Junyao in a difficult position.

"Qingqing... you are a Palace Consort. Strictly speaking, you are not supposed to meet people like your brother."

Xia Ruqing’s heart sank, and she quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Your consort..."

"Your consort misses her mother. Mother passed away early, leaving me with only this one younger brother. Naturally, I feel I should look after him."

Now, he’s finally about to make his mark, to have his name inscribed on the golden list! I don’t want to miss such an important moment in his life.

Zhao Junyao looked at her pitiful, pleading expression, and an overwhelming tenderness made him wish he could just meld her into his very bones.

"Very well!" he relented.

"Qingqing, since you’ve put it this way, if We were to refuse again, it would indeed be too unfeeling of Us."

"However, the exact timing isn’t set yet.

Normally, the imperial examination comes first, followed by the hunt. There shouldn’t be any unexpected changes.

Once the imperial examination is over, We will take all the Civil and Military Officials on a hunting trip. At that time, you can have your elder brother bring your younger brother there.

Although there are many rules in the palace... it’s still permissible to exchange a few words with family."

Xia Ruqing’s heart bloomed with joy.

"Your Majesty, is what you said really true?"

Zhao Junyao smiled.

"Could it be that We speak falsehoods?"

Xia Ruqing repeatedly said she wouldn’t dare think such a thing. Once the realization fully sank in, she threw her arms around Zhao Junyao.

"Your Majesty! You are so good to me!"

To dote on me so, disregarding all rules and conventions... If it were anyone else, well... I don’t even know what would become of me! Never mind, never mind, I won’t think about it!

Xia Ruqing shook her head, clearing her thoughts.

"Your Majesty, you must be hungry. Your consort has had food prepared for you!"

Zhao Junyao nodded lightly, yet he was deeply moved inside.

I never expected that such a small thing could make her happy for so long! After all, she and her brother truly grew up relying on each other.