His face showed a mix of anger, heartache, and frustration.
The entire expression was quite twisted.
"Father, what’s wrong again?"
The little girl asked, still bewildered.
Zhao Junyao: "..."
Fine! Scolding was out of the question.
After all, she was his own daughter.
It was just ice skating and catching a cold, what’s the big deal!
Wasn’t it just a group of dog servants failing to watch her properly?
It was definitely not his precious daughter’s fault!
On the contrary.
His daughter not only wasn’t wrong, she was quite brave, daring to take risks!
Excellent, excellent, worthy of being his daughter, Zhao Junyao’s daughter!
The more Zhao Junyao thought about it, the prouder he felt.
The expression on his face shifted from anger to complexity, and finally to joy and pride.
He hugged his daughter personally, pinching her soft cheek.
"Nothing? Father is happy!"
"Does Yue Er like ice skating?"
Yue Er’s eyes lit up.
"I like it!"
The voice was excited and clear, echoing throughout the hall.
Zhao Junyao shivered all over at the sound.
"Good!"
"I’ll have your brother teach you later!"
He vaguely remembered that Yeye was good at this, often playing with the little eunuchs.
In his fiery red clothes, he skated like a flamingo proudly shaking its feathers.
Yue Er frowned upon hearing this.
"Father!"
"When is ’later’?"
In the past, when Father said ’later’, many things didn’t come true.
Today there’s another ’later’, and the little girl was unhappy.
Zhao Junyao thought for a moment, then said firmly.
"When you’re well!"
"Sick?" Yue Er was puzzled.
She rarely got sick, so she didn’t know what being sick meant!
Was the cold discomfort from the dream last night an illness? But she’s already healed now!
Zhao Junyao nodded.
"You were sick last night, Sister Qing looked after you all night!"
"Will you still lie in the future?"
At these words, Yue Er quickly lowered her head.
"Father, I..."
She glanced at her mother, speaking guiltily.
"I was afraid Mother wouldn’t agree!"
"She won’t!"
"As long as Father agrees, your mother won’t disagree!"
"When you’re well, and Imperial Doctor Zhang says you can go out, your brother will take you, how about that?"
Yue Er clapped her hands joyfully.
"Thank you, Father!"
"Yue Er loves Father!"
If she’s well, she can go, and she’s already well, shouldn’t she be able to go right away?!
The little girl happily gave Zhao Junyao a big kiss on the cheek.
Zhao Junyao, pleasantly surprised, grinned from ear to ear.
Xia Ruqing watched the father and daughter in astonishment, especially Zhao Junyao.
This rapid, thorough, shameless ’betrayal’ left her dumbfounded.
Was this still her cold and heartless emperor?
Men spoiling their daughters was truly ’terrifying’!
So... what should she do now?
Fight alone? Or turn and join them? Such a dilemma!
Fight alone.
The daughter had clearly taken her as the stern voice!
The image of a loving mother was not maintained.
Turn and join them.
She couldn’t mimic Zhao Junyao’s thick-skinned behavior.
What to do?
Xia Ruqing glared at Zhao Junyao fiercely.
...
Yue Er’s illness lingered on and off until it completely healed after the tenth.
Being cooped up in the house by Imperial Doctor Zhang and Xia Ruqing for so many days.
Yue Er grew anxious long ago.
But Mother would not yield at all.
No matter how much she acted cute, it was to no avail.
Father refused to help her.
He only said that if she wanted to go out sooner, she should obediently take her medicine and eat well; once she’s healed, she can go out naturally.
Yue Er was forced with no other choice.
She had to stay home, taking medicine and eating.
Thankfully, perseverance finally paid off, and Yue Er’s illness was finally cured.
The lively little girl dressed in a thick mink coat, wearing small deerskin boots.
She ran to Xia Ruqing’s bedside early in the morning, calling her.
"Mother, why are you sleeping in again!"
"Mother! I want to go ice skating with my third brother!"
Xia Ruqing, incredibly sleepy, waved her hand with her eyes half-open.
"Go, go!"
There was a sense of resignation to the inevitable defeat.
Granted the permission, Yue Er excitedly shouted: "Thank you, Mother!"
And couldn’t wait to bounce away.
This time.
With the permission of Father and Mother, the protection of Wetnurse Sister, and the guidance of her brother.
Yue Er boldly skated on the ice of Taiye Pool.
By the end of the day, she was nearly wild with excitement.
...
The Lantern Festival came in the blink of an eye.
To entertain the Prince Jin Delegation and let them experience the lively prosperity of the Great Chu Dynasty.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs was busy once again.
Zhao Junyao also sent officials from the Ministry of Rites to accompany them throughout the event.
Today, they went to enjoy the snow, tomorrow they would climb mountains, the day after, tour the street scenes and sample famous dishes.
The Prince Jin and his entourage were immensely grateful, so delighted they never wanted to leave.
On the day of the Lantern Festival.
The Capital City Street was bustling, the streets were deserted, and extremely lively.