CHAPTER 670: CHAPTER 670: RETURN TO THE PALACE

On the table in the inner chamber, there was a small box. It wasn’t very large, but the patterns on it looked exquisite. Upon opening it, she saw that wrapped in red velvet cloth inside were many incredibly delicate little bottles. There were all kinds, neatly arranged and very dainty and cute. They looked like Ru Kiln porcelain, with a fine and smooth texture that shimmered like polished pearls.

Xia Ruqing curiously picked one out and opened it. Inside was a white jade cream, like congealed fat, sealed with a layer of fine, semi-transparent wax. Before she could even speak, a subtle fragrance wafted out. Faint, serene, and profound, the scent was very pleasant.

"What is this?"

"And what is this?"

Is it for the face, the hands, or the hair? Ancient women liked to use these, but she really didn’t understand them at all.

Zhao Junyao actually didn’t understand either.

"These are all things beloved by the women in the places I passed through!" he explained. "I thought... since they all like them, you would like them too, so I bought them all!" After saying this, he looked at Xia Ruqing, practically begging for praise. "Qingqing! Do you like them?"

Xia Ruqing was speechless. I don’t even know what they’re for; what’s there to like!

On the surface, however, Xia Ruqing smiled joyfully. "I like them! They smell so fragrant!"

She had to say it, even if it was against her conscience. After all, for the Emperor to even think of these things was already exceptionally thoughtful and rare! So, of course, she had to praise him! She was quite content, really!

Zhao Junyao, seeing her apparent delight, felt even happier. He waved his hand grandly and said, "As long as you like them. I remember there are quite a few more in the storeroom similar to these. If you like them, I’ll give them all to you!"

With that, he ordered Li Shengan to fetch them.

Li Shengan hurriedly agreed, taking Little Zhuzi and others to open the storeroom and retrieve the items. The storeroom was naturally Zhaochen Palace’s private treasury, not one belonging to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It contained all the finest tributes sent from outside the palace. Most were unique items, one of a kind in the world. These didn’t need to be sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and were presented directly to the Emperor himself. But, as you might expect, there were some things the Emperor had no use for, so they all ended up with Xia Ruqing.

There were so many items that Li Shengan had people carry them over directly. There were twelve boxes in total, each extremely refined. There were boxes made of huanghuali wood, agarwood, and red sandalwood.

Xia Ruqing was deeply shocked as she looked at them. TSK TSK! Just these boxes alone could be sold for a considerable sum.

Upon opening them, she found that inside were indeed more jars and pots, similar to the first one.

Li Shengan smiled and said, "Consort Xian Pin, here is the inventory list. Everything is accounted for here!" With that, he handed over a red-covered booklet with black characters, which was the list.

Xia Ruqing took it and looked it over. TSK TSK! The outer boxes were valuable enough, but the containers inside were also all made from top-grade jade. There were yellow jade, purple jade, and mutton-fat jade, all in complete sets.

"Emperor, these things!" Xia Ruqing was shocked. "They are too precious! I dare not accept them!"

Zhao Junyao embraced her and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "There’s nothing you daren’t accept. As long as you like them, that’s all that matters!"

Apart from gifting these items, he really couldn’t think of any other way to express the longing in his heart or to please the woman who occupied his thoughts.

Xia Ruqing still felt a little apprehensive, but she couldn’t bring herself to refuse again. So she could only express her thanks.

Zhao Junyao didn’t leave until just before the evening meal. He had stayed the entire day. If he remained any longer, his presence couldn’t be concealed, and there was no need for that.

「Over at Jiaofang Hall.」

They knew the Emperor was returning but had received no specific news of his arrival. The Empress lay ill in bed. With a wry smile, she said, "Why inquire about him? If he returns and sees me in this state, wouldn’t it only make him despise me more?"

Sister Ji tried to persuade her. "As the saying goes, ’It takes a hundred years of cultivation to share a boat ride, and one day as husband and wife earns a hundred days of grace!’ No matter what, you and the Emperor are husband and wife, and His Majesty has always valued..."

"Say no more!" Before Sister Ji could finish, the Empress interrupted her.

She had heard such words so often her ears were practically growing calluses. All this talk of grace and destiny... what use is any of it? It’s all a load of nonsense. Her life is still miserable, isn’t it? Fortunately, she still had the Empress Dowager on her side. Otherwise, she likely wouldn’t have been able to hold onto her position as Empress. Heh.

The Empress closed her eyes, a wave of despair washing over her. Memories of the year she married him surfaced in her mind. Back then, she was in the bloom of youth, and the Empress Dowager was solely devoted to looking out for Noble Concubine Shih. And look at things now. Indeed, as they say, ’the river flows east for thirty years, then west for thirty years.’ How things change. Everything is different now! Back then, she could never have imagined that one day the Empress Dowager would stand by her side. See? The Harem is just such a place. For the sake of benefits, even erstwhile mortal enemies can stand together seamlessly. Fighting a common enemy... isn’t it laughable? Perhaps. In any case, she could never leave this place!

The Emperor only released the news of his return after he had arrived at Zhaochen Palace. As soon as word got out that the Emperor had returned, the long-dormant Harem began to stir with excitement. Everyone wondered where the Emperor would choose to rest on his first night back. However, to their disappointment, the Emperor didn’t go anywhere; he stayed in Zhaochen Palace.

「The next morning,」 before Zhao Junyao went to the morning court session, he heard that the Empress was ill. After careful consideration, he decided to go and see her.

The servants outside Jiaofang Hall were kneeling everywhere. Zhao Junyao didn’t spare them a glance and went straight into the inner chamber.

The Empress, her face pale, struggled to rise.

Zhao Junyao immediately frowned. "There’s no need. You may remain lying down."

The Empress, who always strictly adhered to etiquette, was somewhat stunned by his words. After hesitating for a moment, she still rose to her feet. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

This was proper etiquette. In the Harem, anyone could disregard the rules, but she, alone, could not. She was the mistress of the Harem, an exemplar for all women in the realm! Therefore, she could not act improperly!

But in Zhao Junyao’s eyes, all of this appeared quite different. He sneered inwardly. Still putting on such an act even when ill? Who is she trying to impress with this show of strength? It was as if he had never provided her with a comfortable life.

A sense of impatience welled up within him. Any trace of pity he might have felt earlier vanished completely.

He sat in Jiaofang Hall for a brief while. He offered a few perfunctory words of concern, bestowed some gifts, and then strode away. His departing figure was resolute, as if... he would never willingly return.

Watching him leave, the Empress felt another surge of bitterness in her heart. Heh... When will these kinds of days ever end!

「Zhao Junyao left Jiaofang Hall and went to Ningshou Palace.」

The Empress Dowager, on the other hand, seemed to be in good spirits. Smiling, she held his hand and chattered away, asking about this and that, discussing trivial household matters for quite a while. Only then did she reluctantly release his hand, her face suddenly filled with worry.

"My Imperial Son, how have you lost weight again!"

This was both a truth and a pleasantry. But regardless of how it was said, the words were pleasant to hear. A single sentence could convey the deepest, most earnest concern!

Zhao Junyao smiled and said, "This isn’t called being thin; this is called being robust! Being robust is much better than being thin!"