No questions would have been better.
When he asked, Xia Ruqing felt a bit embarrassed.
"Emperor, I don’t even know how to say it!"
"It’s just... Consort Ning Pin might... not know how to teach the Princess!"
Actually, the implication was.
Consort Ning Pin often loses her temper!
Zhao Junyao’s gaze turned cold.
"I didn’t expect her to dare to hit people!"
Xia Ruqing showed some indifference.
"Some people always manage to surprise others!"
"In my opinion, Consort Ning Pin, the way she is now, isn’t suitable to raise the Eldest Princess!"
Zhao Junyao thoughtfully nodded.
"I’ll go take a look tomorrow!"
"What? You’re going to see Consort Ning Pin?"
Xia Ruqing was somewhat surprised; isn’t this asking for trouble?
Zhao Junyao glared at her.
"Why see her? I’m going to see the Eldest Princess!"
"Oh!" Xia Ruqing breathed a sigh of relief.
And nodded.
"That’s more like it!"
In fact.
Since Zhao Junyao realized he should spread his favor evenly.
He often visited the Harem.
But he only spends nights with the Consorts who have children.
It’s actually just to see the children.
As for those without children, and the lower-ranking Honored Ladies and Ladies.
He’s too lazy to even glance at them.
Doesn’t have the energy!
Xia Ruqing didn’t mind much either.
After dinner, the two chatted a bit more.
Since there’s an early court meeting tomorrow, they retired early.
...
The next day.
Like usual, when Xia Ruqing woke up, Zhao Junyao had already left.
She looked at the golden winter sun outside the window.
Cuddling the blanket, she muttered.
"The bed is truly the most wonderful place in the world!"
"Your Highness, you’re awake!"
Zi Yue entered upon hearing the noise and drew the curtains open.
While tucking her in, she laughed.
"Mm!"
Xia Ruqing responded lazily.
"Time really flies!"
"Not doing anything, and yet day after day just passes by!"
"Didn’t you wish for the Little Prince to grow up quickly!" Zi Yue laughed.
Xia Ruqing nodded.
"Yes!"
"But when I think about him growing up, I’d be old!"
"Then I don’t want him to grow up!"
Zi Yue laughed.
"You’re just too idle, thinking about all these frivolous things!"
Xia Ruqing smiled, and after a little daze, she finally got up.
"Help me prepare my makeup!"
"Put away yesterday’s outfit, even thinking about it gives me a headache!"
Those luxurious, intricate, and exquisite clothes really don’t suit her.
Only wore it for a while yesterday, and it hurt her shoulders when she got back!
Never want to wear it again!
"I understand, Your Highness!"
"Today I prepared a set of cotton silk dress for you!"
"What is a cotton silk dress?!"
Zi Yue continued to explain.
"I’m not entirely sure either, but heard it’s a new textile technique from Jiangnan!"
"Mixing silk and cotton together!"
"Keeps the softness of silk while retaining the breathability of cotton silk!"
"Such material is made into garments to wear, both soft and breathable, and looks quite affluent!"
Xia Ruqing nodded thoughtfully.
"Indeed, products from Jiangnan are the best!"
She said as she got up.
Washed up and dressed.
She looked in the mirror and laughed.
"It really does look good!"
"Anything Your Highness wears looks good!" Zi Yue said beside her.
"Is that so? Haha."
Xia Ruqing was delighted.
The mistress and servant were happily chatting.
Zi Su came in from outside.
"Your Highness, Eunuch Little Zhuzi brought a family letter from the front!"
Xia Ruqing was a bit suspicious.
"What do you mean? A family letter?"
Could it be from Jingfeng? Or... from Anzhou?
Anxiously, she took the letter and read it.
After a moment, she suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
"It’s not from Jingfeng nor from Anzhou, it’s Second Madam leaving and taking Cai Yang with her!"
This news was somewhat unexpected.
Not sure whether to be happy or reluctant.
Zi Yue and Zi Su were both stunned.
"Taking the Second Miss, maybe she’s preparing the dowry?"
Zi Su reacted first!
Zi Yue, hearing this, nodded.
"You make sense!"
"Second Miss is already engaged to Young Master Yang, at the latest should marry next year!"
"Parents are still alive, she can’t marry from her brother’s house!"
"So she’s leaving together this time, just waiting for the wedding date to be set, then she’ll depart from Anzhou and marry far away!"
Xia Ruqing sighed after hearing this.
"This is so complicated!"
But Zi Yue and the others didn’t think the same.
"Your Highness, it’s the custom!"
"The Yang family is renowned, Young Master Yang is the legitimate first son, marrying a main wife, and this is already a minimal custom!"
If truly marrying into such a century-old literary family, who knows how many intricate ceremonies await!
Xia Ruqing thought so too.