"No!"
Zhao Junyao replied indifferently.
Xia Ruqing felt a bit disappointed.
"Well, I thought you would take me there!"
Zhao Junyao looked out the window, expressionless.
"In the future... okay?"
"I will definitely take you there in the future!"
Xia Ruqing was leaning out the carriage window, admiring the scenery. His tone startled her, and she quickly turned back.
"No... it’s nothing!"
"It’s okay, I was just saying!"
"Well... Your Majesty! I know you are the Emperor, and you can’t leave the Capital City at will, I know that!"
Zhao Junyao, with a stern expression, gently ruffled her hair.
"I have wronged you!"
Xia Ruqing was shocked, thinking to herself, what’s going on with him today? His words were filled with nerves, and she felt a bit uneasy.
Especially his expression, what’s the matter?
"Are you alright, Your Majesty?"
Zhao Junyao gave her a glance.
"What’s wrong? Can’t I be distressed for you?"
Whether it’s because of age or something else, his thoughts recently were very different from before.
Both in politics and in life.
He used to be the spirited young Emperor, always thinking about conquering the entire Great Chu Dynasty, conquering everyone and everything, tolerating no defiance.
When neighboring countries dared to disturb the Great Chu, he would absolutely command his massive army to confront them, vowing to win or lose, leaving no enemy standing.
But now, unless it’s a significant matter, he wouldn’t easily ignite the flames of war.
He thought more about the common people of his nation, acting less impulsively and more tolerantly.
From a young age, he was already calm and composed, and now he became even more so.
The same applied to his lifestyle.
In the past, he minded to discipline the children, but now, as he aged, he became more doting on them.
Especially Yue Er.
Zhao Junyao used to scold a few words, but now he simply waved it off.
As long as his daughter didn’t cause a major disaster, it wasn’t a big deal.
Also, regarding the Empress, Xia Ruqing.
He always thought he treated her very well.
In reality, his harem only left her alone, the four consorts and nine concubines were long just in name.
He had already devoted all his thoughts to her alone.
She had the highest status in the harem, living the most carefree life, a fact that she indeed lived a carefree and comfortable life.
But...
Was this really the life she wanted?
Evidently not?
She clearly preferred the mountains and rivers, the pastoral life, the freedom and vast world.
She kept giving, while he kept enjoying her contributions.
The terrifying thing was, he always felt self-satisfied thinking it was enough.
Was it really enough? It wasn’t, so...
"Oh, Your Majesty, what are you talking about!" Xia Ruqing protested.
He had been acting quite strangely lately.
Always looking at her with an expression of having wronged her.
Making her feel goosebumps, seeing it quite frightening.
Zhao Junyao smirked slightly.
"It’s nothing!"
Xia Ruqing quietly criticized him in her heart for a couple of sentences, and then stopped asking.
The carriage continued southward.
Stopping and starting, taking breaks at inns, the journey lasted a total of two days.
On the third day, after traveling for more than half a morning, they finally reached their destination.
"Here...?"
Xia Ruqing leaned out the window, curiously observing the buildings, the grass, and trees here.
"It’s so beautiful here, almost like Jiangnan, is it an ancient town?"
She excitedly ran to view from another carriage window.
She saw a small, exquisite stone arch bridge at another crossroad.
Carriages were passing over the bridge, and below, small fishing boats passed through.
This scene... looks so familiar!
Xia Ruqing scratched her head.
"I feel like I have seen it somewhere! In the Qingming Shanghe Tu?"
Zhao Junyao looked puzzled.
"What painting? You’ve seen it?"
Xia Ruqing snapped out of it and quickly shook her head.
"No, no, I was just babbling!"
She quickly changed the topic.
"Your Majesty, why did you think of bringing me here?"
Zhao Junyao smiled knowingly.
"Don’t you want to go to Jiangnan?"
"This is the closest place I could find that resembles Jiangnan!"
"If you don’t mind, shall we stay here for a few days?"
Xia Ruqing opened her eyes wide.
"Stay a few days?"
"Really? Your Majesty... aren’t you busy?"
Ignoring state affairs? The country can’t go a day without a King, what is he doing?
Zhao Junyao shook his head solemnly.
"No problem!"
"I... truly don’t have time to take you back to Jiangnan! This is an ancient town, known as Little Jiangnan, the scenery is quite nice!"
"Qingqing... do you like it?"
Xia Ruqing felt a bit embarrassed but shamelessly admitted.
"I like it!"
"That’s good then!"
The seriousness on Zhao Junyao’s face finally faded away.
Xia Ruqing patted her chest.
"Finally, it’s over!"
...
In the afternoon, the group arrived at the courtyard that Zhao Junyao had arranged beforehand.