Chapter 1237: Chapter 1237: Mother, Guess What I Brought You?
"Moreover, I have already informed the Empress!"
"This year, there’s no need for a large selection; just a small selection of official family maidens in the capital will suffice to fill the harem, and it aligns with the Emperor’s desire to be considerate of the common people."
"Emperor... what do you think?"
Zhao Junyao’s gaze became increasingly sharp.
"If I am not mistaken, the Empress did not agree!"
The Empress Dowager sneered coldly.
"She is my daughter-in-law, an example to women all over the world!"
"She has no choice but to agree!"
Zhao Junyao exhaled deeply.
"Since that is the case, then Mother need not worry about the following matters; I have already made up my mind!"
"If there is nothing else, I’ll take my leave now!"
"I wish Mother good health!"
With a sarcastic smile, Zhao Junyao strode away without turning his head.
The Empress Dowager was so angry that she couldn’t laugh anymore, her face turning ashen.
"You!"
"Indeed, a stubborn mule born of a lowly woman, who won’t be pulled back even by ten oxen!"
"However..."
Fortunately, everything was advancing as planned.
Emperor, oh Emperor, the older ginger is indeed spicier; you ultimately cannot escape from my grasp!
Returning to Duanning Palace, Zhao Junyao only felt a chill down his back.
Xia Ruqing noticed his unpleasant expression and looked at him with concern.
"Emperor, what happened to you?"
Zhao Junyao coughed lightly and calmed his expression.
"It’s nothing, have someone set the meal, I’m hungry."
Xia Ruqing stood up to respond affirmatively.
...
Lunch was simple, with a balanced mix of meat and vegetables.
The vegetables were all light and fresh, simple home cooking.
The meat dishes were Chef Jiang’s new creations, mildly spicy and appetizing.
The soup was brewed by Chef Su, both sweet and salty; you could drink whichever you preferred.
The variety of dishes, both large and small, sweet and salty, filled the table.
Zhao Junyao did not have much appetite and couldn’t find anything he wanted to eat.
After eating a few bites, he put down his chopsticks.
Xia Ruqing was puzzled.
"Emperor, these dishes are what you usually like, why today..."
"I’m not hungry! You eat more!"
As he spoke, he specifically picked some dishes for Xia Ruqing.
Xia Ruqing also didn’t have much appetite.
After being reprimanded by the Empress Dowager, the harem was full of gossip; it was hard to eat under such circumstances.
She ate half a bowl of rice and also put down her chopsticks.
"Zi Yue, have someone take it away!"
Zi Yue responded and came in.
Seeing the table full of almost untouched dishes, she frowned slightly.
But she didn’t dare say much, quickly bringing a few second-class Little Palace Maids to tidy everything up.
...
After lunch.
The Emperor and Empress didn’t say much and took their usual afternoon rest.
Xia Ruqing slept like she didn’t have a care in the world, until dusk.
When she woke up, Zhao Junyao had already left.
She sat up abruptly.
"Where’s the Emperor?"
Zi Yue heard the commotion and quickly came in.
"Reporting to the Empress, the Emperor has returned to Zhaochen Palace!"
Xia Ruqing nodded and asked again.
"Did he say anything before he left?"
Zi Yue thought for a moment and said.
"The Emperor just said not to disturb the Empress, nothing else!"
Xia Ruqing rubbed her somewhat dazed eyes, got up, and sat at the dressing table.
"Oh well, let’s get dressed!"
"Yes!"
Zi Yue responded, turned, and brought water to assist her in washing her face and styling her hair.
Xia Ruqing felt somewhat idle and suddenly thought of Yue Er who had gone out of the palace today and hadn’t returned, so she asked.
"Has Yue Er returned?"
Zi Yue’s expression slightly froze, hesitating whether to speak honestly.
Unexpectedly, a burst of footsteps suddenly sounded from outside.
Immediately followed by a little girl’s voice, bright and lively like a spring brook.
"Mother!"
"Mother!"
"Guess what I’ve brought for you?"
Before the words finished, a little girl in bright red rushed in.
Like a small fire phoenix, she enthusiastically ran to Xia Ruqing.
"Mother, see what I’ve brought for you?"
She presented a large peach blossom branch with pride and offering.
"Mother, how about this peach blossom branch?"
"Look, these tight flower buds are perfect for room decoration!"
"With a tad of water, they’ll bloom in three days, filling the room with fragrance!"
"Also, to match this peach branch, I specifically paired it with a pink and white carved Ru Kiln Vase! Look, isn’t it beautiful?"
Speaking, Yue Er placed the peach branch in Xia Ruqing’s arms and took a foot-long, half-foot-wide vase from the Palace Maid behind her.
Gleefully presenting it to Xia Ruqing.
"Mother, take a look!"
Xia Ruqing looked at the peach blossoms in her hand and then the vase Yue Er was holding.
With the vase’s glossy white and jade-like base shimmered under the candlelight, its intricacy evident at a glance.
Looking at the designs.
Using a pink base with white delicate flower carvings, vibrant colors, exquisite brushwork, the flower petals were lifelike like real blooms.
Intricate layers, astonishingly detailed.
"Indeed worthy of the legendary Ru Kiln porcelain, truly exquisite!"
Happily holding it, Xia Ruqing admired it, reluctant to let go.
Listening to her mother’s praises, Yue Er’s heart soared, feeling euphoric.
Suddenly... a questioning voice arose.
"Yue Er, are you... in disguise?"
Xia Ruqing’s gaze fell on her, casually pinching her cheek and tugging her collar as she asked.
Yue Er’s face changed dramatically.
"Oh Mother, you..."
"You’ve mistaken, mistaken; this is my riding outfit, unisex!"
Xia Ruqing glared at her.
"Lies!"
"This is clearly your fourth brother’s clothing!"
"Well, wearing your fourth brother’s clothing and lying to me!"
"Yue Er, where did you learn this?!"
"If you don’t speak, I won’t let you leave the palace again even once!"
Yue Er stuck out her tongue, her face flushed.
"Mother! I was wrong!"
"I shouldn’t have lied!"
Xia Ruqing placed the vase and peach blossoms aside, seriously addressing her.
"Lying shows a lack of accountability!"
"If someone cannot even acknowledge their own mistakes, what can they accomplish?"
"Who would trust and like them?"
Yue Er’s face was full of panic, like a startled deer.
She quickly knelt.
"Mother, I realize my mistake!"
"This... this really is my fourth brother’s clothing!"
"Wearing a girl’s clothes out of the palace was inconvenient, so I imitated Yilan and Wei Yu, disguising myself!"
"Mother, they mean well!"
"Punish me as you wish; please don’t blame them, and... don’t stop me from leaving the palace!"
"Anything else, punish at will!"
Finishing, Yue Er quickly knelt and kowtowed.
Her solemn demeanor made Xia Ruqing laugh.
"Alright, that’s more like it!"
"Hurry and get up!"
