For lunch, the Empress hosted a banquet at Jiaofang Hall, personally welcoming the Emperor and offering to cleanse him of the dust from his journey.
The Empress Dowager claimed fatigue and declined to attend, yet the concubines filled the space in a dense crowd.
Having not seen the Emperor for a long time, they were nearly driven mad with longing. Some didn’t even seek his affection, merely a glance.
This was true for concubines like Consort Zheng Pin and Hu Liyi.
Of course, there were also those like Lady Zhang and Lady Zhu, who might not see the Emperor even once a year.
Such women, long out of favor, cast the most fervent and seductive glances.
Sitting in front of Lady Zhang and Lady Zhu, Xia Ruqing felt as though their gazes were about to burn a hole right through her!
It was much like any other banquet, with one sole difference: Noble Concubine Shih was missing!
Therefore, the Empress was in an exceptionally good mood!
To become so agitated as to risk her pregnancy merely to spite others—such foolishness is something only Noble Concubine Shih is capable of. Still, I wish she were even more foolish; then I wouldn’t have to worry. A Noble Consort from a powerful family, and favored at that—what need is there for her to have a child! If she has a child, will I still have my status? Hmph! The Empress felt a secret thrill, yet her face still maintained a dignified and generous smile.
The banquet dispersed after only two shi chen. Zhao Junyao then went to the Imperial Study Room.
The Empress also claimed fatigue and retired.
The rest dispersed to their own quarters.
「Upon returning to Zhaohua Pavilion」
Little Zhuzi and Xiao Xizi stood guard over a large, cloth-covered cage.
Seeing Xia Ruqing return with Zi Yue, they hurried forward to greet her.
"What is this?"
Little Zhuzi stepped forward with a smile. "Honored Lady, this is from the Emperor for you. He said if you wish to eat them, then eat them. If not, then you may keep them..."
As he spoke, he lifted the cloth covering the cage.
Xia Ruqing looked closely and saw a litter of little white rabbits—about five or six of them, all fluffy, snow-white, with red eyes...
At a single glance, her heart melted...
She immediately squatted down and hugged one in her arms.
The little white rabbit was exceptionally well-behaved. It didn’t resist at all, nuzzling her arm with its fluffy little head before finding a comfortable position to curl up in and promptly falling fast asleep.
Xia Ruqing: "..."
I have absolutely no defense against little pets! My poor heart is utterly vanquished!
She felt as if wrapped in soft, sweet cotton candy, leaping through the sky for several rounds, then swimming freely in water for eighty-six laps.
Her entire being felt as if struck by a high-voltage shock, and her body trembled.
Only then did her racing heart finally calm.
"Is this... the tasty treat the Emperor brought for me?" Xia Ruqing asked hesitantly.
Little Zhuzi chuckled, then leaned in conspiratorially.
"Honored Lady, you might not know, but there are several even bigger cages than this one in the Imperial Kitchen. Eunuch Li gave orders early this morning that no one is to touch them!"
"Several more? In the Imperial Kitchen?"
Xia Ruqing felt a pang in her heart. What if there are puppies? What if it’s a flock of pigeons? Of course, pigeons are fine, but I would absolutely never eat puppies!
Little Zhuzi nodded.
"Exactly! Though, I think they look like chickens. There also seems to be a large one, perhaps... a deer? But I didn’t get a clear look, Honored Lady, so please don’t take it as certain!"
Xia Ruqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Well, aside from the bunnies, everything else is edible. No problem!
「...」
Zhao Junyao returned to the palace. Needless to say, he spent the first night at the Empress’s chambers.
The next day, he also visited Noble Concubine Shih.
Regardless of anything else, she was pregnant, and Zhao Junyao would not neglect her.
In the following days, he visited the Princess, and then the two newly promoted Honored Ladies.
Lacking favor, their promotions were, after all, not entirely proper or justified.
By the time he next turned over the nameplate for Zhaohua Pavilion, it was already late March.
The weather had long since warmed.
That evening, Zhao Junyao did not send for her.
Having finished with the memorials, Zhao Junyao, accompanied by Li Shengan, decided to walk through the Imperial Garden towards Zhaohua Pavilion himself.
When he arrived at Zhaohua Pavilion, he could hear someone inside counting from a distance.
"Eight... Nine... Ten...!"
Zhao Junyao was somewhat curious.
He slowly walked over. As soon as he entered, he saw Xia Ruqing lying on the bed, counting her fingers by the light of a lamp.
Zhao Junyao suddenly found it rather amusing.
"What are you doing?"
Hearing his voice, Xia Ruqing immediately hid her hands behind her back and looked up at him with her small face to greet him.
"Greetings to the Emperor!"
Zhao Junyao smiled, bid her rise, and stepped further inside.
"What were you counting?"
Speaking, he sat down on the couch. Zi Yue presented a cup of tea, which Zhao Junyao accepted and sipped.
Xia Ruqing smiled awkwardly.
"Counting... counting fingers..."
This spontaneously blurted-out excuse made Xia Ruqing want to bang her head against the wall.