CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 85: TEASING HER

Come to think of it, it made sense. Even servants preferred straightforward masters; they were much easier to serve! Definitely much better than those who were indecisive and picky.

Two cold dishes were served in the time it took to exchange a few words.

Xia Ruqing couldn’t hold back any longer. She could smell the aroma from far away.

But the Emperor was there. She couldn’t eat; she had to wait on him!

So, as Xia Ruqing arranged dishes for Zhao Junyao, she felt so wronged! They promised me delicious food! Why won’t they let me sit down and eat? Hurry up and let me sit down to eat!

Zhao Junyao, watching her twisted expression of grievance, really wanted to laugh. But he restrained himself, his expression remaining serious.

He elegantly picked up a mouthful of crispy wood ear mushrooms with his chopsticks, placed it on his rice, but didn’t eat it. Instead, he took a spoonful of pheasant soup and drank it, squinting his eyes, his expression one of pure bliss.

"The pheasant soup is well-stewed and very flavorful."

Xia Ruqing’s stomach growled. I’m so hungry.

Zhao Junyao piled several pieces of pheasant meat onto his rice but still didn’t eat. He then took a mouthful of spicy chicken cubes for himself.

"This dish isn’t bad either."

Xia Ruqing despaired. Oh heavens, just let me die! Watching someone else eat while you’re starving is simply cruel to a foodie!

And so, she continued to feel wronged.

By the time Xia Ruqing’s stomach was rumbling loudly and she felt like she was about to burst into tears, Zhao Junyao finally relented.

"Sit down and eat."

Xia Ruqing pouted. Holding back the protesting chorus from her stomach, she cautiously sat down.

Zhao Junyao watched her, holding back his laughter, and said sternly, "What’s wrong? You’re pouting so much, one could hang an oil bottle from that lip."

Xia Ruqing still felt wronged. She had been promised delicious food much earlier, and while she was somewhat resigned to some of it being taken, why weren’t the remaining dishes, already prepared and served, offered to her? So unfair!

Zhao Junyao saw her looking down, miserably twisting her fingers. He remembered her fingers were covered in pinpricks, and his heart warmed. He took her hand.

"Stop fidgeting. You have injuries on your hand!" he said, pushing the bowl heaped high with food towards her. "Eat quickly."

Xia Ruqing looked up, somewhat startled. "Your Majesty, this is your meal. I should eat my own!"

Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow. "Are you finding fault with it?"

I haven’t even touched this bowl of rice, and you’re already finding fault with it? he thought.

Xia Ruqing was a bit speechless. What on earth is the Emperor thinking! she wondered. Outwardly, however, she could only respond, "Your servant wouldn’t dare..."

In fact, she was quite amused. No wonder the Emperor kept adding meat to the bowl without eating any himself. It turns out, it was all for me! Hehe! With that realization, most of her grievance dissipated.

Appeasing a foodie sometimes only required a bowl of delicious food. Tsk, tsk, it was just too simple. Regarding this, Xia Ruqing had to admit she was just that easily pleased; there was nothing she could do about it.

After their evening meal, Xiao Xizi and Zi Yue noticed something while clearing the dishes. Every time the Emperor visited, he ate heartily, leaving the plates nearly empty.

Even Li Shengan was also deeply struck by this. It seems the Emperor only truly enjoys his meals when he’s at Zhaohua Pavilion! Could it be that Lady Xia’s cooking is truly that good? he thought.

「 」

After dining and washing up, Zhao Junyao read for a while, as was his custom. Xia Ruqing, her hair wrapped in a cotton cloth, sat beside him, inspecting the garment she was making.

Speaking of which, Xia Ruqing felt truly grateful to Zi Yue. If not for Zi Yue, this garment would have probably ended up as a few scraps of cloth in my hands. Now, although the sewing isn’t great, at least it’s presentable.

Thinking that it had turned out this well for her first attempt, she felt somewhat proud.

"Your Majesty, when I finish it, I’ll present this to you."

Zhao Junyao laughed. "Good."

Xia Ruqing was somewhat surprised by his ready agreement. "Your Majesty, don’t you think it looks bad?"

I thought he would find it distasteful! she mused.

Zhao Junyao turned a page and said nonchalantly, "As long as you made it, I will not dislike it."

Hehe! This was what it meant to be overjoyed. Xia Ruqing ducked her head, her heart singing with delight, and continued sewing.

Zhao Junyao secretly glanced at her a few times before nonchalantly continuing to read his book. For some reason, he found the scene before him very heartwarming.

He was reading, she was sewing... Were they like an ordinary husband and wife?

Never mind that his eyes were currently fixed on the book. Beneath his impassive facade lay thoughts unknown to anyone else.

「Half a Shi Chen later, the night had deepened.」

Zhao Junyao put down his book and abruptly scooped up Xia Ruqing, who was still sewing.

Xia Ruqing was startled and cried out in alarm, "AH!"

Her heart sank. Oh no, the needle pricked my hand again! It was a familiar sensation. Xia Ruqing had grown so accustomed to it, she could even predict it.

Moments later, Xia Ruqing gritted her teeth, but the familiar pain didn’t come.

That’s not right. Didn’t the embroidery needle pierce my flesh? It doesn’t hurt?

Zhao Junyao’s expression remained unchanged. "Qingqing, what are you looking for?"

"Ah? My needle... it seems to be a bit off..." Xia Ruqing mumbled, continuing to search with her head down.

"You didn’t feel any pain?" Zhao Junyao asked again.

"Mm-hm!"

Zhao Junyao’s face was expressionless. "Qingqing, you pricked me."

Xia Ruqing suddenly froze.

The air crackled with a sudden, heavy silence.

"Your Majesty, your servant deserves death!" Xia Ruqing hurriedly tried to break free and kneel.

Zhao Junyao, however, held her tightly. He slowly lowered his head, nibbled on her earlobe, and whispered seductively in a low, husky voice, "Damaging the dragon’s body is a grave crime! Qingqing, I must punish you properly!"

With that, he carried her to the bed.

Xia Ruqing was terrified, her small face turning pale. The next second, she was forcefully placed on the bed, and he pressed down upon her.

The red bed curtains fell, and garments were tossed out one by one.

Before a single round was over, Xia Ruqing was utterly disarmed, wanting only to flee. But Zhao Junyao caught her lips with a kiss, then whispered in her ear again, "If you dare move again, I will add another half Shi Chen."

And so, Xia Ruqing dared not move.

An indeterminate time passed before Zhao Junyao was finally satisfied, for the moment. Xia Ruqing was almost in tears from the exertion.

"Your Majesty, your servant..." Her voice trembled, and she couldn’t finish her sentence.

Zhao Junyao, still panting, moved closer again. "What’s wrong, Qingqing? Do you want more?"

Xia Ruqing’s body instinctively recoiled in fright, utterly speechless.

A thousand tiny sheep were trotting past in her mind; she was too drained to muster any strength.

When Zhao Junyao returned from washing up, carrying her, Xia Ruqing had already fallen fast asleep by the time he placed her on the bed.

Just one round wasn’t nearly enough for him. But seeing her so thin and small, he couldn’t bear to tire her out further. It was best to let her sleep.

「The next day, when Zhao Junyao awoke, Xia Ruqing was still sleeping soundly.」

With a smile curving his lips, Zhao Junyao was in a great mood as he headed to the Imperial Study Room.