Xia Ruqing smiled slightly, deciding not to speak further, and was about to dismiss her.
Beside her, Zhao Junyao suddenly spoke.
"Since when did the Noble Consort have a palace maid who knows how to brew tea?"
"What’s her name? Raise your head so I can have a look?"
Saying this, Zhao Junyao shot her a meaningful glance.
Xia Ruqing immediately understood his intention and played along.
"The Emperor has spoken; aren’t you going to raise your head quickly?"
The palace maid was so excited that her body trembled slightly.
After her shoulders shook several times, she finally lifted her head.
"Reporting to the Emperor and Noble Consort, this servant is named Huan Chun!"
Seeing the familiar face before her, Xia Ruqing’s heart filled with irony.
She thought:
’That little girl Zi Su, although a bit hot-tempered, is quite accurate in judging people!’
’Zi Yue didn’t notice, but she did!’
’But what can be done about it?’
’This little vixen still managed to make her way in front of the Emperor!’
’It was my own carelessness; I didn’t pay enough attention when Zi Su mentioned it!’
Turning her gaze to Zhao Junyao.
He only looked for a moment before averting his gaze.
’Such a meticulously painted, rouged, and powdered face, is she really just a palace maid?’
’I doubt it!’
After a brief silence, Zhao Junyao turned to instruct Li Shengan.
"Reward!" he said, his tone cool, sounding somewhat odd.
Li Shengan glanced at the palace maid, then at the Emperor, finally bowing his head in agreement.
At last.
After rewarding her with two taels of silver, Zhao Junyao waved the palace maid away.
Xia Ruqing smiled and said.
"What do you intend to do, Emperor?!"
Zhao Junyao directly set the teacup aside and said indifferently.
"Naturally, to see if she really has that intention!"
Xia Ruqing understood as well.
The Emperor rewarding her is a hint.
If she truly intends to climb onto the dragon bed, she would certainly make other moves; this is called luring the snake out of its hole.
After all, brewing some tea is nothing serious, and the punishment would be limited.
To truly deal with her, first, they need to lure the snake out.
Xia Ruqing chuckled as she got up to brew tea again.
"The Emperor is wise!"
Yet Zhao Junyao remained unhappy.
Frowning, he thought for a while, then sharply looked at Li Shengan.
"Are these people chosen by you?"
Li Shengan was startled.
"Reporting to the Emperor, they are found by this servant!"
"Emperor, this servant is guilty!"
Zhao Junyao turned calmly and said lightly.
"Go to the Punishment Department and receive ten sticks, and should such things happen again, it will be doubled!"
"Yes, Emperor!" Li Shengan quickly responded.
A fine layer of sweat had already appeared on his forehead!
"You may leave!"
"Yes!"
Li Shengan went out, finally having a moment to wipe his sweat!
The matter was handled.
Meanwhile, Zi Yue and Zi Su also returned.
They were unaware of what had just happened, chatting and laughing.
Upon seeing the Emperor arrive, they merely knelt to pay respects before getting up.
The meals were served, all light and refreshing.
Xia Ruqing, who had lacked appetite for a while, couldn’t resist when she saw the lotus leaf chicken.
She asked someone to bring a plate of sweet and spicy sauce, intending to tear and dip it in the sauce as she ate.
Though the way of eating may seem a little unrefined, it somehow appeared intriguing.
He had an urge to try it.
But after a fierce internal struggle, Zhao Junyao was unable to act himself.
He merely tasted a few pieces and set down his chopsticks.
While Xia Ruqing indulged heartily, she secretly sympathized with him.
’You say, what’s the point of being an Emperor when you don’t have even a bit of freedom!’
She recalled the first time she ate lotus leaf chicken, it was during the southern tour with the Emperor.
By the way, the southern tour!
Xia Ruqing suddenly remembered something and said.
"Emperor, last year you mentioned you’d take me out for a tour this year, and now it’s already July!"
"The latter half of the year will be busy again, aren’t you... breaking your promise?"
Her eyes were filled with anticipation and some grievances.
Zhao Junyao felt upset at seeing her like this and apologized.
"Qingqing..."
"Next month, the Western Xia Kingdom will visit; I... won’t even be able to go hunting this year!"
"So... we can’t go anywhere!"
Xia Ruqing was greatly disappointed.
"Oh?"
"Western Xia is coming? Where is Western Xia? What are they coming for?"
She couldn’t help recalling the past life she watched in "Princess Returning Pearl."
That so-called King of Tibet came visiting.
Their intention was simple: to marry off their daughter, and the usual target... was the Emperor!
The union between two countries, marrying the Emperor is most effective!
Xia Ruqing’s eyes widened.
"Emperor, could they possibly be coming to marry off their daughter!"
Zhao Junyao twitched the corners of his mouth.
"What are you thinking?"
"However..."
He frowned and contemplated for a while.
"It’s not impossible!"
After all, between the Great Chu Dynasty and Western Xia, there are several grassland tribes separating them, naturally having little to no conflicts, and no interactions!