Over time, it had become more open-minded than the inland regions. There was nothing shameful about men and women speaking to each other. Moreover, they were speaking openly in front of Zhao Junyao. Zhao Junyao paid it no mind. Seeing that everyone considered it normal, Xia Ruqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After eating, everyone took a walk and then returned to the mansion.
「 」
After the evening meal, everyone went back to their own rooms.
Consort Yun had been hoping for his favor throughout their journey, but she still hadn’t received it. However, she was very confident at this moment.
"Cai Die, go prepare my bathwater quickly. I want to bathe. Remember to add more dried flower petals and perfumed oils!"
Cai Die hesitated a bit. "My lady, you..."
Consort Yun was in a good mood that day, so she explained, "For the past while, the Emperor has been busy with state affairs and hasn’t had time for us! But this time... now that the Emperor is done with his duties, he will naturally start thinking about the harem! The Emperor always spreads his favors evenly in the harem. This time, it has to be my turn! So, we must not take it lightly! If the Emperor summons me to serve in his bed, I must appear in the best condition!"
Cai Die was somewhat skeptical. After all, that time when Her Ladyship had run away... Although His Majesty didn’t seem to mind on the surface, how could he not harbor any doubts! However... this wasn’t something a palace maid like her should worry about. Her Ladyship had given an order, and she just needed to follow it!
Cai Die quickly had everything Consort Yun ordered prepared. Consort Yun took off her clothes and immersed herself in the bath. She was delightedly soaking in the bath, anticipating the Emperor’s summons.
Suddenly, a message came. "The Emperor has summoned Lady Xia to serve in his bed!"
"What?" Consort Yun was stunned. "Why is it Lady Xia again!" She felt as if she was doomed to lose, time and time again.
She raged, "This shameless woman, how long does she intend to monopolize the Emperor! Ah!" She violently slapped the water in the bathtub. Droplets splashed everywhere, hitting her face and then trickling down. Consort Yun’s heart was full of jealous rage and discontent!
"Lady Xia! Lady Xia!"
Unfortunately, no matter how upset she was, she dared not make a scene. If she caused any more trouble, the Emperor likely wouldn’t spare her! Having lost her desire to bathe, she hurriedly dressed. Consort Yun lay in bed, imagining a hundred ways to tear Lady Xia to pieces, and only then did her anger gradually subside.
Meanwhile, Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi were already fast asleep. These two were completely inconspicuous throughout. However, they weren’t dissatisfied, as being able to come out and see the world was already much better than what most people could hope for.
「 」
At Zhao Junyao’s place.
When Xia Ruqing arrived, he was fiddling with the novelty he had just bought that day.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Xia Ruqing curtsied.
"Sit down!" Zhao Junyao didn’t even lift his head.
After thanking him, Xia Ruqing sat down beside Zhao Junyao. There was nothing special about the telescope; it just allowed one to see far. As for the globe... Zhao Junyao held the globe in his hands, spinning it round and round.
Zhao Junyao suddenly spoke, "Qingqing..."
"Hmm?"
"The Southern Ocean People say that the land beneath our feet is actually a sphere. Do you believe it?"
Xia Ruqing’s body jolted. Of course, I believe it, I thought. Isn’t it a sphere? But... she couldn’t say that. It would expose her.
So, she stared at the sphere for a while before she finally spoke, "Your Majesty, I think... it makes quite a lot of sense!"
"Hmm?" Zhao Junyao suddenly looked up at her.
Xia Ruqing felt a bit guilty under his gaze and quickly added, "Your Majesty... I... I’m not very knowledgeable. Please don’t laugh at me, Your Majesty!"
There was a hint of light in Zhao Junyao’s eyes. Far from mocking, he encouraged her, saying, "Qingqing, your thoughts are the same as mine! Continue speaking!" He vaguely felt that it made a lot of sense, yet he couldn’t figure out why it was sensible! Surely, one couldn’t rely solely on intuition. The belief that heaven is round and the earth is square is wrong? The Earth is a sphere? And that is correct? At this moment, Zhao Junyao felt his mind was full of question marks.
Xia Ruqing thought for a moment, going over the theory taught by her middle school geography teacher in her head. She went over it carefully, picking out some of the most basic and understandable parts, and said, "Your Majesty, why do the sun and moon appear alternately within a single day? Why are there four seasons in a year? Could it be that when it’s dark on our side, the sun has moved to the other side of the sphere?" Xia Ruqing smartly turned these questions back to him, one by one.
After listening, Zhao Junyao’s brows furrowed deeper and deeper, until at last, he took up a writing brush and started to scribble on some paper. After who knows how long, he finally looked up.