After Yue Er’s birthday passed, it was soon Chenchen’s birthday.
In the Twentieth Year of Jiayuan, Chenchen had already turned sixteen.
He had started attending court meetings to listen to political affairs ever since he was twelve.
In the past few years, under Zhao Junyao’s personal guidance, he became more mature and steady.
Clearly a sixteen-year-old still in high school, he was already more composed and mature than modern-day adults.
Every time Xia Ruqing saw it, she was overwhelmed with emotions.
She felt sorry, happy, helpless, and excited all at once.
Excited because...
She never dreamed that she could give birth to such an outstanding son.
Indeed... like father, like son.
Compared to Yue Er’s birthday, Chenchen’s birthday was much simpler.
Firstly, he didn’t like showiness, secondly... he didn’t like those ceremonial things either.
He always said that these were all ephemeral, unrealistic.
If he really wanted to celebrate his birthday...
He would rather do things he liked instead of sitting at a banquet table with a crowd eating and drinking (of course, his sister’s birthday was an exception).
Since he disliked it, Xia Ruqing didn’t want to force him.
She only couldn’t help but complain in front of Zhao Junyao.
"How come he’s just like you!"
Zhao Junyao couldn’t help but laugh.
"Of course my son is like me."
"Narcissistic!"
Xia Ruqing rolled her eyes at him and continued reading the book in her hand.
...
After the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather turned bad, and it snowed for two consecutive days.
Zhao Junyao, seeing there was no major issue at court, closed the court sessions.
Officials could visit the Imperial Study Room if needed, but otherwise, they didn’t have to come.
This way, the officials of the emperor’s court were spared some trouble and suffering.
The ministers, grateful for the emperor’s kindness, gleefully returned to their warm homes with their wives and children.
Zhao Junyao also had some free time.
From the twenty-fourth to New Year’s Eve, there was quite a bit of time.
Zhao Junyao took Xia Ruqing out of the palace.
First, they went to Panshan Temple to see the plum blossoms, then to the Hot Spring Villa to enjoy the hot springs, and finally to the South Garden to perform the heaven worship ceremony, being away from the palace for several days.
It was rare to leave the palace for some leisure; Xia Ruqing was very happy, but it was really too cold outside.
On New Year’s Eve morning.
Sitting in the carriage returning to the palace, Xia Ruqing’s lips trembled from the cold.
"How much longer?"
Zhao Junyao covered her with a fur coat.
"Almost there! Bear with it a bit longer!"
Xia Ruqing snuggled closer to him.
"Is it still snowing outside?"
Zhao Junyao nodded.
But a moment later, he furrowed his brows.
"Something’s not right. There are two braziers in the carriage, you have a fox fur coat, there are warming stoves by your hands and feet, and I’ve added another coat around you! By rights... you shouldn’t be cold!"
Shivering, Xia Ruqing glared at him.
"How could I not be cold!"
"Women are made of water, of course they’re afraid of the cold!"
"Do you think I’m still a young girl?"
"Times have changed!"
Zhao Junyao was speechless.
"Made of water? Where did you hear such nonsense?"
Xia Ruqing pursed her lips, thinking: I read it in "Dream of the Red Chamber."
"Anyway, I’m just afraid of the cold!"
Zhao Junyao couldn’t argue, but still wrapped her tightly with his arms.
"It’s all my fault for taking you out in such cold weather!"
Xia Ruqing sighed deeply.
"It’s not your fault."
"We used to come out like this often!"
"Back then, I could still have a snowball fight!"
As she spoke, she became nostalgic and then recalled with bright eyes.
"Do you remember those first few years when I entered the palace? Every Lantern Festival, you’d sneak me out of the palace!"
"Sometimes, it was still snowing, and when we returned, it was almost midnight. I wore so thinly yet never felt cold!"
Zhao Junyao seemed thoughtful.
"So... things really are different now?"
"But why haven’t I felt it?"
Xia Ruqing lightly punched him.
"You practice martial arts all year round, have such a good physique, how could you be the same as me?"
Zhao Junyao explained helplessly.
"I mean, I don’t feel a change in you!"
Xia Ruqing felt a bit awkward and said.
"Hmm..."
"Maybe it’s because I’m not that old yet!"
"In ten or twenty years, when I have a face full of wrinkles, maybe you’ll notice!"
After speaking, she looked at Zhao Junyao and teased.
"When I have a face full of wrinkles, you can find a younger and prettier one to keep you company!"
Zhao Junyao pinched her waist hard.
"What nonsense are you speaking?!"
"Ouch, that hurts!"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Keep talking nonsense, and it’ll hurt even more!"
Xia Ruqing stuck out her tongue and didn’t dare to speak.
Zhao Junyao smiled contentedly.
...
The two returned to the palace by noon.
Consort Cheng and Consort Hui had already prepared the New Year’s Eve banquet.
Xia Ruqing didn’t have to worry about anything.
In the past two years, her health wasn’t particularly good, often feeling tired and having cold hands and feet.