CHAPTER 691: CHAPTER 691 SWEET PETTING

Zhao Junyao strolled around the Imperial Garden for a while, then he went to Xia Ruqing’s place. Now that the Empress was not in the palace, he didn’t need to consider other people’s feelings, so he went wherever he wanted. Noble Concubine Shih was indeed dissatisfied, but she didn’t dare to say anything. No one else dared to speak up either. Thus, Zhao Junyao’s days were quite comfortable.

「Qingya Residence.」

When Zhao Junyao entered, bringing a chill of ice and snow with him, Xia Ruqing was comfortably curled up in bed, hugging the quilt and sleeping soundly. Seeing her finally at ease, Zhao Junyao couldn’t bear to disturb her. He called for tea and pastries and sat by the window, reading a book by himself.

By mid-afternoon, the sky outside had grown even more overcast, and the sound of the wind could be heard even through the glazed windows. It wasn’t long before it began to snow. The ice crystals, caught by the cold wind, beat against the glazed windows, rustling loudly.

Meanwhile, in the room, there was a charcoal basin, a Ground Dragon, and a small stove exclusively for boiling water. Inside the stove’s big-bellied copper pot, water was boiling, steam rushing fiercely and eagerly from the spout. The room was thus suffused with even greater warmth. Perhaps because it was so cold outside, the room felt exceptionally cozy and warm in contrast.

At this moment, Xia Ruqing, on the bed, suddenly turned over and stretched with a soft moan. Lazily, she called out, "Zi Yue!"

Zi Yue immediately got up and curtsied to Zhao Junyao. Zhao Junyao waved his hand, indicating that she should go to Xia Ruqing. Zi Yue then walked around the screen to the bedside.

"My lady!" Her voice was very gentle. "Are you getting up? Feeling any better?"

Xia Ruqing rubbed her belly and opened her eyes. After a moment’s thought, she said faintly, "I’m getting up!"

The Imperial Kitchen had been acting as if possessed recently, sending over dozens of different dishes for her every day. Imperial Doctor Zhang was also present, keeping records. Xia Ruqing had been frightened and worn out by this whole elaborate affair. Fortunately, the baby in her womb wasn’t too mischievous, and she quickly found a few things she could eat. Imperial Doctor Zhang noted down the ingredients from the dishes and, based on these, prepared a dietary supplement prescription for Xia Ruqing to follow daily. After being nourished this way for two days, her complexion finally improved, and everyone in Qingya Residence breathed a sigh of relief.

Zi Yue helped Xia Ruqing sit up and then assisted her with dressing and freshening up. It was at this moment that Zhao Junyao put aside his book and came over.

"Emperor?" She looked surprised. "Why are you here? Zi Yue, why didn’t you announce him?" As she spoke, she attempted to stand up.

Zhao Junyao hurriedly pressed her down. "Don’t move hastily!"

Xia Ruqing hadn’t really intended to get up; hearing him say this, she comfortably sat back down. "Thank you, Emperor!"

When Zhao Junyao saw that her complexion had improved, he felt relieved. Zi Yue, feeling it was no longer appropriate for her to stay, quickly excused herself and led everyone else out.

Here, Xia Ruqing invited Zhao Junyao to sit down beside her while she faced the mirror and fussed with her hair. Zhao Junyao watched her struggle and stepped forward to take the comb from her. "I’ll comb it for you!"

"Ah?" She was taken aback. The Emperor combing her hair?! With his temperament, in this entire world, she might be the only one, right? Thinking this, Xia Ruqing felt very happy.

"Sure!" she replied. "Thank you, Emperor!"

Zhao Junyao curved his lips and whispered in her ear, "Right now, I just want to be your husband!"

Being the Emperor was too tiring; occasionally shedding that shell and being an ordinary person didn’t seem so bad.

Xia Ruqing, upon hearing his words, instantly understood. So, being an Emperor is truly exhausting! It isn’t as great as the legends suggest; that kind of ruler is an incompetent one. For someone like Zhao Junyao, trying to be a good Emperor is incredibly difficult. Xia Ruqing knew this best of all. She simply smiled at that moment.

"If Your Majesty is tired, why not rest here with your servant?"

Zhao Junyao nodded in agreement.

They said no more, and Zhao Junyao focused on combing her hair. Her hair was silky and smooth. Zhao Junyao fashioned the simplest bun for her, but it was still lopsided and skewed. Before he had even finished tying it, they both burst into laughter.

"Your Majesty, let me do it, haha..." The hair bun, all crooked and frizzy, was a mess—a pitiful sight indeed.

Zhao Junyao was initially a little annoyed, but seeing her laugh, he laughed along. "Enough, enough, I am not adept at this!"

Xia Ruqing wasn’t very skilled either, actually. She took the comb, tied her hair into the simplest bun, added a few Zhu Hua, and that was it.

"Your Majesty, the New Year is approaching. Please write a couplet for your servant!"

Zhao Junyao nodded. "Of course!"

To have a beauty by his side as he wrote, how poetic, right? Xia Ruqing was also delighted. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao then ruffled her hair. "Call me husband!" After all, isn’t ’husband’ more intimate than ’Your Majesty’?

Xia Ruqing, however, dared not and felt a bit aggrieved. "Your Majesty, even though that’s what your servant wishes in her heart, it would be improper!"

Zhao Junyao grew a bit insistent. "If I say it’s fine, then it’s fine! What rules?"

Phew...She had come to realize this man was incredibly domineering! Caught in a bind, she looked rather pitiful. "Your Majesty, you’ve scared your servant!"

Seeing her like this, Zhao Junyao’s heart instantly softened. "Never mind. If you’re not willing, then don’t say it, alright?" She was, in essence, three people now; he shouldn’t add to her troubles. If word got out, it wouldn’t affect him, but she would be the one to suffer.

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing quickly expressed her gratitude. Nearby, a palace attendant had already set out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Zhao Junyao began to write. Xia Ruqing stood by his side, grinding the ink stick and adding water. The two of them stood together without speaking, yet there was an indescribable harmony between them.

Even though both were dressed quite ordinarily, why was it that one was so effortlessly handsome as to be captivating, while the other was so refreshingly lovely and charming that one never tired of looking? No matter how you looked, it was never enough!

At any rate, Zi Su was utterly captivated. For a moment, she even thought, could it be that the Emperor and Lady Xia were destined to be together!

The Qingya Residence was filled with warmth and romance, but elsewhere, things were different.

The Noble Consort had just woken from her nap when she heard that the Emperor had gone to the Plum Garden. She was planning to dress up nicely and arrange a chance encounter, but before she could even leave, she received a message: "The Emperor has gone to the Qingya Residence!"

The hairpin she was halfway through placing in her hair was flung to the ground in anger. "Slut!"

Ying Qiu knelt nearby, not daring to speak. The rest of the palace attendants were even more terrified, practically scared out of their wits.

Noble Concubine Shih, having vented her anger, then inquired, "Any news from outside the palace? How are things at Wanyue Nunnery?!"

Ying Qiu hurriedly replied, "There is no new information for the moment, but... judging by the Emperor’s intentions, he doesn’t plan to let the Empress return!"

Noble Concubine Shih snorted coldly. "Hmph! She still wants to come back? What a delusion!" This time, apart from the Empress herself, who couldn’t see what was really going on? The Empress was just a scapegoat!

"Enough, enough, just keep a close watch!" Noble Concubine Shih clearly didn’t wish to say more.