Chapter 48 - 47: Grievance

After the New Year, Zhao Junyao had been busy and had no time to visit the Harem.

When Xia Ruqing saw the Emperor again, it was the tenth day of the first lunar month.

That night, Zhao Junyao had someone summon her as usual.

Zhao Junyao was in a bad mood and had not been eating well, so he had lost some weight.

Xia Ruqing, on the other hand... had gained a little.

Upon entering Zichen Hall and seeing the Emperor reading, Xia Ruqing walked over.

"Your Majesty..."

Zhao Junyao set down his book and beckoned her over.

"Come here..."

Xia Ruqing shuffled over, feeling a little reluctant.

She felt wronged. After all, she had spent months accompanying him—eating, drinking, and sleeping by his side. Yet, when she was framed, he was nowhere to be found. He had left everything to the Empress and washed his hands of the matter. Now that she had finally struggled through it all by herself, he remembered her again.

What was this supposed to mean? To summon her at will and dismiss her just as easily? What did he take her for!

Seeing the wronged expression on her face, Zhao Junyao couldn’t help but let the corners of his mouth curl into a smile.

It had been over ten days, and Li Shengan hadn’t seen the Emperor smile. It had been one wretched affair after another. But now... Well, Lady Xia truly was impressive. Li Shengan had never found Lady Xia particularly remarkable before, but now she seemed like a savior.

Zhao Junyao, sitting on the daybed, shifted to one side, making room for Xia Ruqing beside him.

He asked with a smile, "What’s wrong? Did someone bully you?"

Xia Ruqing remained silent.

Her heart heavy and afraid to speak out, she lowered her head, bit her lip, and remained silent.

What’s wrong? Don’t you know? Other than you, who else would bully me! You’re just feigning ignorance!

Li Shengan tactfully withdrew with everyone else.

Zhao Junyao lifted her onto his lap and patted her slightly plumper little body.

Then he thoughtfully glanced at her chest before speaking again.

"Tell me, who bullied you?"

Xia Ruqing’s face turned red with embarrassment.

A ticklish sensation made her let out a couple of involuntary GIGGLES.

After laughing, she put on her wronged expression again. Xia Ruqing said resentfully, "Your Majesty, if I tell you, you mustn’t get angry!"

"Fine!"

Xia Ruqing, given permission, finally dared to voice all her grievances.

Finally, she asked disconsolately, "Your Majesty, did you also think that I was the one who poisoned her, which is why you ignored me?!"

Zhao Junyao seemed stunned. He furrowed his brow, fell silent for a moment, and then asked, "Who told you all this?!"

Xia Ruqing was frightened by his serious expression and said timidly, "The palace... that’s the rumor going around!"

He shouldn’t think that just because I’m cooped up in Zhaohua Pavilion, I don’t know anything! Xiao Xizi told me everything! Now the entire Harem is waiting to see me become a laughingstock! Hmph!

Zhao Junyao, seeing he had frightened her, softened his expression, patted her back, and said, "I knew it wasn’t you from the start! Don’t let your imagination run wild!"

"Why?" Xia Ruqing pressed.

"Because you’re clumsy!" Zhao Junyao raised his hand and tapped her lightly on the head.

"Ouch!" Xia Ruqing grimaced and held her head.

"How am I clumsy?" she protested, pouting.

Zhao Junyao was amused by her adorably foolish expression.

Finally, he explained, "Oleander isn’t available in the palace. Do you think you have the ability to bring it in from outside? Your family is in Jiangnan. With no real influence to speak of, how could you possibly bring things in from outside the palace?"

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment and then nodded.

"That makes sense!"

"It must be someone from a wealthy and powerful family that could have brought it in..."

Zhao Junyao was speechless.

Qingqing, could you be any clumsier?

"Your Majesty, then... who exactly framed me? Have you found out?" Xia Ruqing asked urgently.

"...It was Consort Yun."

Xia Ruqing was stunned into silence.

"Is... is this true?"

Zhao Junyao’s expression was serious as he nodded.

Xia Ruqing felt a pang of annoyance. She shouldn’t have asked.

Consort Yun’s father was a disciple of Grand Tutor Shih and an important official in the Imperial Court.

Even if the Emperor knows it was Consort Yun, he’s unlikely to do anything to her just for my sake! It would have been better if I hadn’t found out. Now that I know, there’s no graceful way out of this.

Sigh...

Silence fell between them.

Zhao Junyao, seeing her frustrated expression, was a bit puzzled.

He asked, "What’s the matter? What are you thinking about!"

Xia Ruqing hurriedly lifted her head with an embarrassed smile. "Nothing... nothing at all, Your Majesty. Are you hungry?"

"This servant will go make some midnight snacks for you!"

Saying this, she scrambled off the daybed to flee, but Zhao Junyao caught her easily.

"Come back!"

And just like that, she found herself colliding solidly into his embrace.

"Lady Xia, what is the meaning of this?" Zhao Junyao moved closer, his tone somewhat dangerous.

Xia Ruqing, trapped in his arms and unable to escape, immediately swallowed her pride and pleaded with a miserable expression, "Your Majesty, this servant... Consort Yun holds a prestigious status; this servant cannot afford to provoke her."

Zhao Junyao grew a bit angry. "Would I let you suffer unjustly?"

She’s my woman; no one else gets to bully her! When did my Harem become those women’s domain! They seem to think they can dictate who I like, who I favor, and who I don’t. Perhaps I shouldn’t even be the Emperor anymore. Wouldn’t it be better if I just handed over the throne?

Hmph!

Xia Ruqing didn’t know which of her words had touched his raw nerve.

In any case, that night felt like an eternity to her.

「Midnight.」

"Your Majesty... I can’t take it anymore..." Xia Ruqing sobbed.

"Endure it!"

「Before Dawn.」

"Your... Your Majesty..." Xia Ruqing gasped, her voice weak.

Zhao Junyao offered no reply, still engrossed in their ’battle’!

「Dawn.」

Xia Ruqing had fainted dead away.

After several rounds of intense pleasure, Zhao Junyao held her close and fell asleep.

The next day, when she woke up, lunchtime had passed, and Zhao Junyao had long since risen.

Several Palace Maids from Zhaochen Palace attended to her bath and ablutions. One maid asked, "Honored Lady, what would you like for your midday meal? His Majesty commanded that whatever you wish to eat, they will prepare it in the small kitchen!"

Xia Ruqing lay weakly on the bed.

"Whatever. I don’t feel like eating anything. Just a bowl of soup, please."

"Yes!"

When Zhao Junyao came in, she was almost asleep again.

"Your Majesty..."

Xia Ruqing squinted at him, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Zhao Junyao’s expression faltered. He quickly walked over and touched her forehead.

A moment later, he turned and ordered Li Shengan, "Summon the Imperial Physician!"

"Yes!"

Li Shengan immediately rushed to send for someone.

It turned out Xia Ruqing had unknowingly developed a high fever.

No wonder she had been so weak and listless. Perhaps... last night had been a bit too much.

It was so cold, and she had barely been covered by the blanket all night. How could she not catch a cold?

At this thought, Xia Ruqing shot the Emperor a resentful glance, then fainted.

"Lady Xia! Xia Ruqing!"

Zhao Junyao felt a surge of panic.

Thinking back to the previous night, he felt a pang of regret.

She’s so frail. She’d only just gained a little weight. How could she withstand me treating her like that... I’ll have to be gentler in the future. Then again...