Chapter 49 - 48 Caught a Cold

He looked at her chest again. I wonder if I’ll still be able to control myself if she gains a few more pounds. Yet she has such a frail body! This little temptress, there’s really nothing I can do about her! 「...」 The Imperial Physician arrived very swiftly. After the diagnosis, he respectfully said, "Reporting to the Emperor, this Honored Lady is somewhat weak and prone to catching colds, which has led to the fever. I’ll prescribe some medicine, and after a few doses, she should recover!" "Weak?" Zhao Junyao felt a twinge in his heart. Was the Imperial Physician telling him he couldn’t be so rough in the future? But he had finally found a woman who spoke her mind and wasn’t pretentious. He wasn’t willing to accept only being able to look and not touch... The Imperial Physician answered with a smile, "The Emperor need not worry. Perhaps the Honored Lady is just not eating and drinking enough during her growth. I will prescribe some tonics. After some nourishment and more nutritious food, she should be just fine..." The Imperial Physician thought to himself, Your Majesty, what is that expression for, when I haven’t even said anything yet? "Oh!" Zhao Junyao’s heart settled back down. "Go and write the prescription. Take the ingredients from Zhaochen Palace directly; no need to get them from the Imperial Pharmacy!" "Yes!" The Imperial Physician instantly understood. This Honored Lady must be highly favored. According to an Honored Lady’s status, many precious medicinal ingredients were not permissible for her. However, if the Emperor commanded that they come from Zhaochen Palace, that was different. The Emperor, the sovereign of the nation—what medicinal ingredients could he not use? Of course, none! Moreover, doing so meant no one else would know about it. It was clear that the Emperor held this Honored Lady close to his heart. At the very least, he had never seen any other noble mistress receive such treatment. 「...」 When Xia Ruqing awoke, it was already dark outside. In front of her was Zi Yue, holding a bowl of dark medicinal concoction. "Zi Yue, how did you get here?" Zi Yue had not come with her earlier. "Little Zhuzi said you fell ill in Zhaochen Palace and sent this servant to attend to you!" "Mistress, please drink your medicine quickly! It was just prepared and it’s still hot!" Xia Ruqing looked perplexed. "Medicine? Am I sick?" Zi Yue felt helpless. Does the mistress really have no clue about the state of her own health? Xia Ruqing reflected for a moment, then remembered that she seemed to have fainted around noon. My goodness, how harshly must this body have been abused to become so weak! Ha, it seems that stepmother, Lady Yao, truly hasn’t refrained from evil deeds! "Mistress, please drink quickly. Little Zhuzi said that the medicine was prepared in Zhaochen Palace; it’s all good quality!" Xia Ruqing looked at the dark medicinal concoction. She clenched her teeth, suppressed the revulsion in her heart, pinched her nose, and gulped it down. "So bitter!" Her face nearly scrunched up into a ball. Zi Yue had already prepared a plate of candied plums, which she quickly brought over. "Have some candied fruit!" Xia Ruqing hurriedly popped one into her mouth, which made her feel somewhat better. After finishing the medicine, she suddenly thought of something and asked, "What time is it now?" "It’s almost the end of the You Hour." "Little Zhuzi said the Emperor has gone to the Imperial Study Room. He probably won’t be back until the Hai Hour." Zi Yue tucked Xia Ruqing in and then asked, "Mistress, are you hungry? The Imperial Kitchen has prepared some porridge and some of your favorite side dishes!" "I want some century egg and lean pork porridge, and also a bowl of sweet potato glutinous rice porridge. Nothing else!" With this cold and fever, and the bitter taste in my mouth, I don’t feel like eating anything. But I just drank that medicine, and it was so concentrated. I’m afraid it’s not good for my stomach on its own. I should eat something to line it. "Alright..." Zi Yue agreed and went out to have Little Zhuzi pass on the message. As an outside servant, she was not allowed to enter and leave the small kitchen of Zhaochen Palace at will. After a while, the porridge and side dishes were brought up. They were light enough and tasted good. Xia Ruqing had no appetite but still forced herself to eat some. After all, this body is my own, isn’t it? Eat well and forget your worries; eat well and the body recovers faster! The room was heated with a Ground Dragon, warm and cozy. Wrapped in a thick quilt, Xia Ruqing slept again. This Zichen Hall, the Emperor’s bedchamber, is indeed much more comfortable than Zhaohua Pavilion. At Hai Hour, when Zhao Junyao returned after dealing with government affairs, Xia Ruqing was already sweating profusely in her sleep. The imperial medication was indeed different; in just two Shi Chen, sweating had brought the fever down. Seeing her drenched in sweat as she slept, Zhao Junyao frowned and called out to her, "Wake up! Sleeping in wet clothes will make you catch a cold again!" Xia Ruqing was sleeping soundly. She felt somewhat cold because her clothes were soaked with sweat. In her daze, she sensed someone touching her and instinctively leaned toward the heat source, snuggling all the way into Zhao Junyao’s arms. Finally, she stretched out her arms and pulled this ’heat source’ tightly into her embrace. Content, she nuzzled against him and fell asleep again. Zhao Junyao paused for a moment, looking at her sleeping face. It feels as if the deepest, softest part of my heart has been brushed by feathers. A melting sensation... This is the first time! He suddenly felt a moment of panic, his heart thumping. Fortunately, this little enchantress is asleep, and no one saw. My dignity as emperor is preserved. A stern expression returned to his face; he was once again the impervious, invulnerable Emperor! Zhao Junyao gently pulled away her hands that were wrapped around his waist. Then, bundling her in the quilt, he picked her up and headed to the bathroom. 「...」 After soaking in a hot bath and changing into clean cotton clothes, Xia Ruqing felt completely refreshed. Having slept for so long, she was now quite spirited. "Emperor, are you hungry?" "I’m not hungry!" Zhao Junyao was lying on the couch wearing a white inner robe, idly flipping through a book. He enjoyed reading and always had a book in his hands when he was free. But Xia Ruqing’s gaze was drawn not to the book but to his inadvertently revealed, muscular and well-defined chest. Zhao Junyao had practiced martial arts all year round, so he did not look like a pale-faced scholar. His complexion was not fair but a healthy wheat color. His subtly visible, sculpted chest muscles seemed to glow with a honey-like luster under the gentle candlelight. Xia Ruqing watched greedily, not even wanting to blink. What a feast for the eyes, truly a feast for the eyes! Oh, I really want to touch them... Zhao Junyao saw through her thoughts in a glance. He closed the book, lay down on the bed, and pulled her over. "Come here..." "Let’s sleep!" The familiar scent of ambergris filled her nostrils, and a smooth, resilient warmth met her fingertips. Xia Ruqing was so happy she felt like she could bubble over. Oh Heavens, I take it all back! You’re actually quite good to me. I’ll never complain about you again! "Mm!" Xia Ruqing closed her eyes contentedly, and soon, her breathing evened out. 「...」 Li Shengan stood guard outside, his heart quite conflicted. By rights, Lady Xia is unwell and should not be attending His Majesty. This is against the rules. But... lecture the Emperor about rules? I don’t have that kind of courage. Seeing his worried frown, Little Zhuzi approached and asked, "Master, what’s wrong?" "Go, go, go! Off with you!" Li Shengan snapped impatiently. "Oh!" Little Zhuzi was about to leave. Yet Li Shengan called him back again. "Master?" "Not a single word about what happens in Zhaochen Palace is to be spoken outside. Understood?"