On the day she returned from worshiping Buddha outside the palace, the Empress Dowager indeed brought back a woman.
It is said that the Empress Dowager encountered her at the temple gate and, seeing her pitiful, brought her back to keep by her side.
When the news reached them.
Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing were having their evening meal.
Xia Ruqing appeared shocked.
"How can the palace casually allow someone to be brought in like this? Has the Empress Dowager forgotten even the most basic rules after living here for so many years?"
Zhao Junyao was unsurprised; his heart only skipped a beat.
’It has begun!’
The Empress Dowager could not hold back and decided to take the initiative!
At that moment, a slight joy fluttered in his heart.
The feeling was like a cat waiting patiently for a mouse to appear, or a hunter with traps set long ago, eagerly awaiting the prey. He could not wait!
His lips curled slightly in a calm demeanor, and his deep eyes carried nothing but a trace of delight.
All those earlier struggles, the pain, the heartache.
Disappeared completely the moment he saw the evidence, both human and material.
All the bindings of bloodlines, the constraints of rules, and the bondage of public opinions vanished utterly.
Finally, he could disregard everything and boldly do what he both wanted and needed to do.
The King breaks the law, subjected to the same punishment as commoners, and that applies to the Empress Dowager too, doesn’t it?
Excellent!
Indeed!
Zhao Junyao unknowingly bore a smile on his lips.
The warmth emanating from that smile was more soothing than the human world of April outside.
"Emperor?"
"What are you thinking about that makes you so happy?"
Xia Ruqing was quite astonished.
Zhao Junyao, in great spirits, placed a mouthful of food into his mouth, gazing directly at her with an indescribable brightness in his eyes.
"Guess?"
Xia Ruqing: "???"
"How could I possibly guess?"
"But seeing the Emperor’s demeanor, could it be that you know the person the Empress Dowager brought into the palace?"
"Perhaps... it’s an old acquaintance!"
Zhao Junyao: "..." He couldn’t help but wipe his sweat away.
"Qingqing, you certainly have a knack for guessing!"
Xia Ruqing couldn’t help but laugh.
"You’re the one who asked me to guess!"
She rose and walked to the window, observing the wonderful moonlight outside, under which the shadows of the trees danced, as breezes brought the fragrance of grasses and trees.
Her mood also began to rise involuntarily.
"Do tell me, so I can share in your joy!"
Zhao Junyao walked up behind her and gently embraced her from behind.
"This is a matter of vendetta between the Empress Dowager and me, and it may get a bit bloody. Qingqing, you should stay out of it!"
"Ah?"
Xia Ruqing widened her eyes.
"Emperor, you wouldn’t..."
"After all, the Empress Dowager raised you!"
"Emperor, please think it through!"
Zhao Junyao used the most vivid expression on his face to cover the deepest wound in his heart.
He held her soft, slightly cool palm in his hand, speaking in a gentle tone.
"Nevermind considering it three times, I have thought about it a thousand times!"
"Trust me!"
"Every decision I make is pondered deeply, and... I have no guilt!"
Xia Ruqing then relaxed and breathed out.
"I truly don’t know what you went through during your childhood!"
"But I trust you won’t act impulsively!"
Zhao Junyao smiled and took a deep breath.
"Alright!"
"Let’s go! Tonight’s moonlight is lovely, let’s go to the Imperial Garden to admire the moon!"
"Sure!"
"I’ll have someone bring the clothes and prepare some snacks. Oh, the recently tributed Da Hong Pao is excellent! We’ll brew some tea at the pavilion and admire the moon!"
Zhao Junyao tapped her forehead lightly.
"You’re always thinking of food!"
Xia Ruqing frowned in protest.
"What’s wrong with thinking of food?"
"As the ancients said, food and sex are natural instincts. And there’s the saying of people seeing food as heaven; who can claim not to love eating?"
"Emperor, could you go without eating?"
Zhao Junyao was left speechless and surrendered repeatedly.
"Alright, alright, I’m unreasonable. I can’t go without eating! Qingqing, you’re right, how about that?!"
"That’s more like it!"
She accepted the two cloaks handed by Zi Yue and Zi Ning, draping one over Zhao Junyao and keeping the other for herself.
The Emperor and Empress strolled under the moonlight, slowly making their way toward the Imperial Garden along the quiet palace paths.
...
The night was like water, the cool breeze blew gently.
It was the time when lamps were being lit throughout the palace; the palace gates were not yet locked, making it a perfect time to admire the moon.
Along the palace paths, except for the occasional passing concubines, there were palace maids and eunuchs coming and going, bringing messages and delivering items.
Without exception.
No matter who, upon seeing the Imperial convoy of the Emperor and Empress, either avoided from afar.
If evading was impossible, they would kneel on the ground and dutifully pay respects.