The inner chamber curtains had already been drawn, and not a single palace maid was in sight.
Consort Yun wore nothing at all, standing there in the buff.
Upon seeing the Emperor emerge, she smiled coyly and slowly came forward to curtsey.
"Your Majesty..."
Consort Yun was very beautiful, wearing a gauzy garment that was scarcely different from wearing nothing at all.
The flickering lamplight accentuated her skin, fairer than snow.
The gauze delineated her graceful figure.
Though she had been pregnant, she had never given birth, and her figure remained flawless.
After meticulous grooming, Consort Yun, clad only in gauze, seemed like a celestial nymph who had mistakenly descended to the mortal world.
"Your Majesty, you must be tired, let me give you a shoulder massage!"
Without waiting for the Emperor’s response, she took a step forward.
Although it was somewhat improper, at this moment, proprieties be damned!
I’m going to sleep with the Emperor!
After being alone for so long, tonight, finally...
Consort Yun was charming, and Zhao Junyao, being a man, naturally wasn’t indifferent.
But... he was startled by Consort Yun’s hungry-wolf gaze.
That look... it was somehow off-putting.
Aren’t all other women blushing like peach blossoms, with demure eyes?
But Consort Yun... something was amiss!
The more Zhao Junyao thought about it, the more something felt wrong.
Just as Consort Yun was massaging his shoulders and her hands began to stray elsewhere, Zhao Junyao suddenly saw the light!
No, this isn’t right!
It felt as if... he wasn’t the one taking a woman to bed, but rather a woman was about to take *him* to bed!
How could this be?!
He was the Emperor; how could he let a woman *take* him?
Once Zhao Junyao’s mind cleared, his little brother below instantly lost its vigor.
He pushed Consort Yun away, not even providing a reason, hurriedly dressed, and strode out.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, you..."
Consort Yun stumbled, not caring for herself.
She called out a few times.
Thinking of chasing after him, she remembered how she was barely clothed and not presentable to anyone.
In a rage, she smashed a few teacups and then sobbed into the covers.
Cai Die entered and was startled, rapidly coming to console her.
"Your Highness..."
"Your Highness, what has happened to you?"
"What has happened? The Emperor, he..."
Cai Die, too, saw what had occurred and, after a moment of thought, she said, "Perhaps... there’s some urgent matter?"
"The Emperor has many affairs to attend to! Your Highness, don’t take it to heart, you’re still in his thoughts!"
Consort Yun couldn’t hear any of it, feeling both embarrassed and indignant, crying hysterically.
Cai Die panicked, realizing how troublesome it would be if others overheard this. If word got out, God knows what they would say.
Thinking this, in her anxiety, she blurted out, "Your Highness, perhaps... the Emperor doesn’t like it when someone is too forward?"
Consort Yun: "..."
Doesn’t like it when someone is too forward? That vixen Lady Xia clings to the Emperor every day; how much more forward can one be?
Nevertheless, Consort Yun dared not voice this thought aloud.
"Go and find out where the Emperor has gone," she commanded.
Cai Die replied and soon returned with the news, "The Emperor has returned to Zhaochen Palace!"
"He didn’t go to any other woman’s place!"
Only then did Consort Yun feel somewhat relieved.
In the morning, when Xia Ruqing woke up, she heard the rumor.
Zi Yue spoke in hushed tones. "The word has spread throughout the palace that Consort Yun has angered the Emperor!"
"The Emperor left Yaoyue Palace immediately!"
Xia Ruqing, who was sipping porridge, responded, "It’s perfectly normal for Consort Yun to anger the Emperor!"
And then she added, "No matter what rumors circulate in the palace, we’d best not meddle!"
Zi Yue readily agreed, and Xia Ruqing nodded.
After finishing breakfast, Xia Ruqing carried Da Bai to the Imperial Garden for some fun.
Before leaving, she instructed Xiao Xizi.
"Go to the Imperial Kitchen and see if they have any vegetable seeds or the like. We should plant something in the vegetable garden!"
"If not, it’s also fine to ask someone to buy a few packets from outside the palace!"
Xiao Xizi happily agreed. "Mistress, I had previously requested some. There are lettuce, spinach, and carrots..."
Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing suddenly felt impulsive.
"Could we... plant some lotus roots?"
Xiao Xizi answered, "It’s possible, but it’s not the season right now. We’d have to wait until winter, when the fresh lotus roots are dug up. We can bury them then, but we’d only be able to enjoy them next year!"
Xia Ruqing laughed. "That’s fine! It’s just a matter of waiting a little longer!"
"Now go and see what’s there!"
"Alright!" Xiao Xizi agreed cheerfully and hurried off.
Xia Ruqing walked with Zi Yue toward the Imperial Garden.
Qingya Residence was right next to the Imperial Garden. Several large trees planted along the road shielded them from the blazing sun, leaving a cool shade.
But since it was hot, Xia Ruqing, carrying Da Bai, still broke out in sweat at the tip of her nose.
Da Bai had no self-awareness and comfortably nestled in her arms.
She was so lazy that she didn’t even meow anymore.
"You little thing, you really know how to enjoy life!" Xia Ruqing said somewhat helplessly.
Da Bai squinted her eyes, glancing at her, then licked her paw.