Chapter 60 - 59 Embracing Arms?

Xia Ruqing retreated in embarrassment, her heart fluttering. Unmindful, she stepped on her own skirt. Plus, her foot was injured, and so... "AH..." After a cry of alarm, she fell into his arms. Zhao Junyao smoothly lifted her, a wicked smile on his face. "So eager to throw yourself into my arms?" Xia Ruqing blushed and fumed with embarrassment. Struggling to stand up, Zhao Junyao scolded her again. "Dare to move again, and believe me, I’ll thoroughly deal with you tonight!" Xia Ruqing knew that he never spoke idly. Today was the fifteenth; if she served him in bed, the Empress would probably devour her. With this in mind, she no longer dared to move, quietly resting on his shoulder. Xia Ruqing shamelessly thought: The night air is chilly, but his embrace is warm. Being held by him isn’t so bad after all, especially since he’s handsome... Xia Ruqing, wearing a downy cloak, smelled fragrant and felt soft, fluffy, and was trembling slightly. Zhao Junyao felt as if he was holding a lonely little white fox, one that depended solely on his affection to live. His heart suddenly softened. He wanted to hold her tighter, but when his hand accidentally brushed hers, he instantly frowned. "So cold? Are you very cold?" He had forgotten that she was frail and could not withstand the cold. "The night is chilly, isn’t the Emperor cold?" Xia Ruqing’s voice trembled a bit. She was truly cold! Cold? Zhao Junyao didn’t feel it. Instead, he thought she seemed weak, pitiful, and helpless. He rarely pitied anyone, especially women of the Harem. But this time, his heart uncontrollably melted like water. "If you’re cold, I’ll take you back to the palace!" As he spoke, he slowly walked back, carrying her in his arms. Actually, there was still time, but he couldn’t bear to let her feel cold. In the depths of the first lunar month, it was freezing. If she returned and fell ill from the frost, it would take another ten days to half a month for her to recover. It was better to return early. A delicate young girl shouldn’t have to endure such hardship. It’s better for her to stay well-nourished, perhaps grow plump and fair, and bear him several sons... Wait... bear sons? Zhao Junyao realized he was losing control again. How could he even think about her bearing his sons? Clearly, the Empress is his wife... And if that isn’t enough, there is also Noble Concubine Shih, his cousin since childhood. True, the Fan Family and Shih Family wield enormous power. Relying on their merits for the dynasty, their audacity has grown over the years, and they certainly need to be put in their place sooner or later. But after all, the Empress and the Noble Consort are both his major and minor wives. They are just two women; he isn’t so influenced by their family backgrounds as to forbid one from childbirth or prevent the other from raising children. If he has no ability, what good would fear do him? If he has the capability, even if they bear ten or eight children, he can still keep them in check! What is it to him if one has absolute authority or pervasive influence? He has the power to suppress them, ensuring they can never rise again! So, he doesn’t like to quibble with women. In his eyes, they are all the same; any child born will carry the Zhao surname and be a child of the Imperial Family. But now, why does it feel different with Lady Xia? For her children, he harbors an inexplicable expectation! After pondering for a while and finding no answer, he thought: Perhaps it’s because she has a pleasing nature and is cute and clever. He ordinarily didn’t like spending time or effort on women. Without giving it much more thought, he tossed the question aside. Since she’s endearing, what harm could there be in doting on her more? There’s no need to overthink it. 「」 When they returned to the palace, the timing was just right. Xia Ruqing changed her clothes, redid her makeup and hair, then left Zhaohua Pavilion and headed towards the Empress’s Jiaofang Hall. Because Zhaohua Pavilion was secluded, the way was long. Xia Ruqing hurried and "accidentally" twisted her ankle on the road. By the time she arrived at Jiaofang Hall to pay her respects, she was still limping. The Empress looked on with distress, her brows furrowed. "Really, how could you be so careless!" Xia Ruqing hurriedly knelt. "This servant was eager to take a shortcut and passed through the Imperial Garden. I didn’t expect the cobblestones to be covered with frost, and that’s why I was careless..." "Enough, rise," the Empress said. She then instructed, "Since you are here, don’t leave just yet. The Empress Dowager hasn’t arrived!" "This servant thanks the Empress for her mercy!" Xia Ruqing quickly kowtowed. Seeing her respectful and cautious demeanor, the Empress felt quite pleased. Her expression softened as she told her to sit down. An Honored Lady who was neither particularly favored nor out of favor. The Empress didn’t pay much attention to her. Even her concern was only to maintain her own image of virtue. In this palace, who isn’t calculating to survive? 「」 The Lantern Festival banquet wasn’t much different from the Mid-Autumn Festival. Xia Ruqing’s seat was in a remote location, and she kept a low profile. The other concubines’ attention was not on her. Even Honored Lady Hu, who always looked for trouble, didn’t speak a word to her. Perhaps after the poisoned cheese incident, she (Honored Lady Hu) intensely hated me, Xia Ruqing thought. But she was happy for the quiet. After sitting for a while, the Empress Dowager expressed tiredness and left. The Empress, who needed to attend to the Emperor, was also distracted. Everyone tactfully dispersed, and Xia Ruqing was quite pleased with this. 「」 On the way back, Xia Ruqing walked very slowly, but her ankle still hurt. Upon reaching Zhaohua Pavilion, she took off her shoes and socks. Zi Yue brought over a lamp to examine it and immediately turned pale. "It’s swollen so much! My lady, we should call for the Imperial Physician!" Xia Ruqing firmly shook her head. "Calling the Imperial Physician will surely alarm the Empress, and today is the fifteenth!" Who would dare to disturb the Empress on a night when she is with the Emperor? Do they not wish to live? "Then..." Zi Yue was at a loss. "Use an ice compress. It’ll heal faster if it doesn’t get too swollen!" "SIGH..." In the heart of winter, ice was not hard to find. Just as they were discussing this, Little Zhuzi suddenly arrived. "Honored Lady, this is the medicinal oil the Emperor asked me to give you..." he said, presenting a highly refined White Jade Vial. The vial was small, but it clearly contained something precious. Zi Yue’s face lit up with joy. "The Honored Lady’s foot is injured; isn’t this medicinal oil just what we need?" Xia Ruqing was also pleased, but another matter was on her mind, so she asked, "Where’s my food box?" "I handed it to Xiao Xizi to take care of as soon as I entered the courtyard!" Xiao Zhu Zi replied. "MM..." Xia Ruqing then nodded, somewhat reassured. After Little Zhuzi left, Xiao Xizi indeed came in carrying the food box. Xia Ruqing opened the food box and said, "I didn’t eat enough at the banquet. I bought this outside today. It wasn’t expensive and won’t keep overnight. Take it and warm it up. Let’s all eat!" "My lady, aren’t you going to save some for the Emperor?" Zi Yue asked with a smile. Xia Ruqing rolled her eyes at her. "If we keep it till tomorrow, it will be leftovers, and I dare not let the Emperor eat leftovers!" She can make all these things herself. If necessary, she can just prepare another meal for him some other time. That would even be more thoughtful. The Imperial Kitchen was also closed at this hour; it wouldn’t be easy to find something to eat. With such a box of delicious food at hand, why keep it? Zi Yue and Xiao Xizi had no choice but to agree. In the food box were sesame cakes, candied hawthorns, lotus leaf cakes, mung bean cakes, deep-fried quails, fish balls, soup dumplings, and stinky tofu, among other various street snacks. Xiao Xizi brought over a small charcoal stove and lit it. What needed to be baked was baked anew, and what needed to be heated by steaming was heated accordingly. Although the flavors weren’t as good as when they were freshly made, hunger made one less picky, and Xia Ruqing found them just as delicious. She ate some of each, and by the end, she patted her belly, finally full.