Chapter 127 - 126 Daily 1

"Oh, it’s just a few little dishes!" Xia Ru said with a laugh.

As the saying goes, no one slaps a smiling face, so even if she disliked it, she still had to invite them in. Moreover, they had once saved her life. That made it even harder to be impolite. After all, being a minor consort to the Emperor was tough for everyone. They had no ill intentions, so if she still acted like a bantam rooster, that would be terrible!

She force-fed herself two bowls of poisonous "chicken soup" for the soul.

Xia Ruqing managed to produce a somewhat more natural smile, although she still disliked the Emperor’s other minor concubines. But at least it wasn’t awkward anymore.

Honored Lady Xi entered with a smile. Upon seeing the table laden with a few delicate dishes and a jug of wine, her eyes immediately lit up.

"Elder Sister Xia, you really are amazing..."

"I don’t even dare to drink alcohol!"

Xia Ruqing smiled. "This is grape wine; I just asked the shopkeeper for it!"

She sensed that Honored Lady Xi wanted to drink, but as she didn’t want to drink with her, she decided against extending an invitation. She only said, "If Honored Lady Xi wants to drink, the shopkeeper has several other kinds. You can ask for more!"

"Really?" Honored Lady Xi asked excitedly.

Then, looking around, she said, "Elder Sister Xia, seeing you dine alone seems rather lonely. Why don’t we invite Eldest Sister Lan and Elder Sister Yun over so we can all eat together?"

Honored Lady Xi’s eyes sparkled.

Xia Ruqing’s feelings were in a mess.

Drinking wine and pretending to be sisters with a love rival—sorry, this consort can’t do it!

You all might not be embarrassed, but I am!

After some thought, she still rejected the offer. "I can’t hold my liquor, so I won’t join you. The shopkeeper has everything you could want; just go ahead!"

Saying this, she clutched her head, pretending to be dizzy. Honored Lady Xi couldn’t insist further. After offering a few words of concern, Honored Lady Xi reluctantly left.

Xia Ruqing had Zi Yue close the door and then moved all the food and drink to the window.

She sprawled alone on a low couch, taking a sip of wine and eating a skewer at her leisure—the epitome of self-indulgence, completely unaffected by the earlier encounter.

Zi Yue watched her, pursing her lips to suppress a giggle.

"My Lady, you should drink less. We still need to travel tomorrow!"

After finishing the skewer in her hand, Xia Ruqing said, "Traveling is just traveling. I can always sleep in the carriage if need be!"

Zi Yue helplessly replied, "My Lady, you really are too..."

Too unconcerned with propriety, too much of a hedonist,

she thought.

Xia Ruqing disagreed. Grabbing another meat skewer, she began to lecture like an old scholar while eating. "Zi Yue, think about it. Trapped in the Harem, I might not get out many times in this life. Why shouldn’t I enjoy good food and drink?"

Zi Yue hurriedly said, "My Lady, please don’t say such things! You can’t talk about being ’trapped in the Harem’ like that!"

"Alright, alright!" Xia Ruqing waved her hand in irritation.

After taking a sip of grape wine, she continued, "In any case, it’s not easy for me to get out. I must enjoy every meal and absolutely cannot waste it, understand?"

"Oh!" Zi Yue sighed, feeling as if life had lost all meaning as she gave up trying to persuade her.

She can’t be reasoned with, she can’t be persuaded. What can I do? I’m helpless too!

But fortunately, the Emperor doesn’t seem to mind; in fact, he actually seems to like it. Perhaps... this is fate!

Xia Ruqing continued to eat, drink, and enjoy her skewers blissfully.

While eating merrily, she suddenly mused, "I wonder how Da Bai is doing, and whether Xiao Xizi is taking good care of him!"

Zi Yue was speechless.

My Lady, shouldn’t you be thinking about the Emperor at a time like this?

I don’t want to see the Emperor right now, nor do I want to think about him!

I’ve seen him all day and attended to him all day.

She needed her own private moments, and she intended to enjoy them!

Zi Yue despaired! (Author: Just kidding~)

「...」

Speaking of the Emperor, he was rather busy at this time. It wasn’t as if he could stop working just because he was on tour; being an Emperor was certainly not that easy. He not only had to review memorials but also issue various royal decrees. In Capital City, Assisting Ministers handled various daily affairs, but important decisions still had to be made by the Emperor himself.

By the time he had reviewed several critical memorials and sent them to be dispatched from the post station, it was already Hai Hour.

It was early June, and the further south they traveled, the more unbearable the heat became. The trees by the road were teeming with cicadas, their constant chirping making one feel hot and restless.

"Emperor... Third Master, you... you haven’t had dinner yet. Your servant had someone prepare some light dishes; please at least eat a little!" Li Shengan said cautiously.

Zhao Junyao stood by the window, breathing in the stuffy air, and waved his hand in annoyance. "No need. I have no appetite!"

Li Shengan became anxious. "How can you not eat dinner!"

If they were in the palace and the Empress Dowager found out, who knows what kind of lecture they’d receive for not taking good care of the Emperor!

Although... after riding in the carriage all day, his own mouth tasted bitter. Feeling hot and vexed, he himself had no appetite either.

Those dishes, described as light, were in fact, simply tasteless.

But... the Emperor still couldn’t skip meals!

The Emperor’s health is paramount! He might be able to skip a meal, but the Emperor absolutely cannot! That would be unacceptable!

Li Shengan’s mind was quick. With a sudden idea, he spoke up, "Third Master, why don’t you go see Miss Xia? Your servant heard Little Zhuzi say that Miss Xia ordered a few dishes!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Junyao felt a flicker of interest.

But then he thought, so... even Li Shengan knows that young woman knows how to enjoy herself? Not simple at all!

Li Shengan thought, "Emperor, it’s not just this servant who knows; probably the entire Harem knows!"

What’s wrong with that? It’s much better than the constant struggles every day, isn’t it? How nice it is to just live a good life!

Besides, from what he’d observed, the Emperor wasn’t averse to tasty food.

Everyone’s human; who could truly not love good things!

Those consorts in the palace—who among them could truly say they don’t enjoy good food and drink? If not for that, what are they even competing for?

Li Shengan, as an outsider, saw things with perfect clarity.

Zhao Junyao pondered for a moment and then said, "Well... let’s go take a look at her then!"

"Yes!" Li Shengan cheerfully assented and followed along happily.

This is much better!

「...」

There were only a few suites in The Sky Room, and they weren’t far apart. Zhao Junyao’s suite was the best. It had large windows and an expansive view, making it nearly perfect. Consort Yun’s suite was closest to Zhao Junyao’s. The suites of the remaining three Honored Ladies were roughly similar to each other—less advantageously located and not as large.

Take Xia Ruqing’s suite, for instance: even with the windows open, no breeze entered. It was virtually the same as if they were closed—unbelievably stuffy!

Upon entering, Zhao Junyao frowned. "Aren’t you hot?"

Xia Ruqing was blissfully enjoying her food and drink with her eyes closed. Hearing his voice, she startled.

"Emperor... Third Master, what brings you here?"

Outside the palace, things were different from being inside; there were no formal announcements. All formalities were disregarded, and everyone acted like ordinary people.

Xia Ruqing didn’t kneel but instead came forward with a smile and performed a curtsy.

"You gave me quite a fright, Third Master!"