Chapter 155 - 154: Black Fish Soup

Consort Yun’s tent was not large, but it was already much more comfortable compared to those of Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi.

Cai Die had used mugwort to fumigate it thoroughly, inside and out, so not even insects could enter.

Beside the river, the wind was cool. The tent was breathable and not stuffy.

The food was also good. Being the height of summer, fresh fruits and vegetables were available.

It was a dinner she could have enjoyed, yet she was discontent!

Consort Yun had always been pampered and spoiled.

One moment she complained the space was too small for her dressing table; the next, she griped the bed was too hard to sleep on.

Back and forth, she scolded Cai Die several times!

Eventually, her complaints reached those at the front.

Li Shengan was the first to get the message.

"What? Complaining about the small tent and wanting to switch?"

He immediately frowned and spoke irritably, "I’m short-staffed over here and can’t spare anyone. Wait outside for now!"

Having said that, Li Shengan sent the Little Eunuch away.

Heh. He didn’t dare offend Consort Yun, but a Little Eunuch? He could certainly dismiss one of those.

Little Zhuzi muttered resentfully, "His Majesty hasn’t even complained, yet she’s the first to start!"

Overheard by Li Shengan, he scolded sharply, "You little rascal! How dare you speak ill of your masters behind their backs!"

"I was wrong, Master!" Little Zhuzi, though reluctant, had to admit his fault.

Li Shengan waved his hand, indicating he would not pursue the matter further.

He ordered him, "Go and serve the evening meal. It’s time for us to eat!"

At that, Little Zhuzi pondered for a moment, then went off merrily to fetch the meal.

My master... he’s not even thinking of reporting it! That’s how it should be! Sometimes, so what if one is a noble consort? One shouldn’t take oneself too seriously! Complaining that the tent is small and uncomfortable? You’d better have the standing to make such demands! Look at Lady Xia; the Emperor keeps her in mind and has her constantly by his side to serve! Now that’s true fortune! Sometimes, comparing oneself with others can truly be infuriating!

With that thought, he happily went off to fetch the meal.

「In the small kitchen.」

Xia Ruqing was busily working with her sleeves rolled up. She smiled when she saw him arrive.

"There’s extra fish soup today; take a jar for your master so you all can enjoy this treat!"

Little Zhuzi was so delighted he was momentarily stunned. Only when someone had ladled the fish soup and handed him the jar did he come to his senses and hurriedly kneel to kowtow.

"Your servant thanks the master for the reward!"

Outside the palace, they couldn’t address her as Honored Lady, so ’Master’ was used instead.

Xia Ruqing just smiled generously.

"Hurry along now!"

With that, she, too, took up the meal boxes and departed.

When away from the palace, lacking a crowd of Palace Maids, everything was done frugally.

She personally handled many of the Emperor’s affairs.

Ultimately, compared to the Emperor’s status, her rank was no different from that of a servant!

This was reality; whether she liked it or not, she had to accept it!

...

Near the Emperor’s tent, neither too close nor too far, was another small tent where Li Shengan and his disciple, Little Zhuzi, stayed.

It was quite cramped, with only two beds and a table inside.

But neither of them complained.

When Little Zhuzi returned with the meal, he announced cheerfully, "Master, we have fish soup for dinner!"

"Fish soup?"

"Given by Lady Xia! She said it’s for Master to enjoy a taste as well!"

Li Shengan pondered.

"’Lady Xia only managed to get one fish, didn’t she? It was quite a big one!’"

He had seen it—just one fish!

Little Zhuzi’s eyes shone with admiration. "Indeed! Lady Xia is truly incredible—she can do anything. This servant is thoroughly impressed!"

Li Shengan paid no mind to the admiration, his thoughts elsewhere.

She only had one fish, yet she thought to let us have a taste. Not everyone receives such consideration.

One had to admit, Lady Xia was exceptionally thoughtful!

For palace Servants who had reached his status, earning respect wasn’t as simple as being given a few pieces of silver.

What they sought was a unique sense of dignity and honor that others didn’t receive!

For example, receiving a single word of praise from the Emperor would bring them far more joy than a reward of several hundred taels of silver.

That was the principle!

Li Shengan looked at the thick, white fish soup before him, steam gently rising from it.

He thought:

This Lady Xia... ah, no wonder the Emperor is fond of her! If this continued, even he would almost be ’won over’! As someone close to the Emperor, it wasn’t about being truly ’bought’ to do some nefarious deeds. Rather, it was about the ability to put in a good word or two before the Emperor when the occasion arose. That itself was an invaluable advantage!

Little Zhuzi didn’t understand these intricacies and asked, "Master, don’t you like the fish soup?"

Li Shengan was somewhat exasperated.

"I like it! Of course, I like it!"

This Lady Xia... she truly... truly earns one’s admiration from the very depths of one’s heart! This is genuine skill!

Having thought this, Li Shengan waved his hand.

"It’s getting late. Let’s eat!"

"Yes!"

...

「Inside the Emperor’s tent.」

The space was generous, the ground covered with a layer of wooden planks topped by a carpet, making it flat and soft.

Zhao Junyao sat before a simple long table, reviewing some important memorials.

Xia Ruqing was setting out the meal.

The carpet was woolen and very soft.

So, she boldly walked around barefoot on the soft carpet, her small feet as white as jade.

Warm yellow candlelight filled every corner, accompanied by the chirping of cicadas and croaking of frogs from outside.

The tent held an indescribable warmth!

Once the memorials were reviewed, Zhao Junyao looked up.

The young woman had already set out the meal and was now behind him, gently fanning him, her own small face flushed from the effort.

In that instant, his heart suddenly clenched with a pang of tenderness, and he adopted a stern expression.

"Come here!"

After speaking, he stretched out his long arm.

Xia Ruqing was caught off guard; before she could react, she tumbled into his embrace.

"Oh!"

His firm muscles pressed painfully against her!

"What is it?"

"Your Majesty, your body is so hard!" Xia Ruqing protested.

Zhao Junyao, however, gave a wicked smirk. "Where is it hard?"

"Where?"

Hearing his question, Xia Ruqing innocently began to search. After a moment, she suddenly realized something was amiss! Her face instantly flushed a deep crimson.

"Your Majesty, you’re bullying me!" she exclaimed, her face flushed, and kicked at him with her small foot.

Zhao Junyao caught her small foot in one swift motion!

"I haven’t said a thing! Qingqing, what are you thinking about?"

Xia Ruqing felt both embarrassed and annoyed at once.

She struggled to pull her foot back, but despite her efforts, it remained firmly in his grasp.

It was utterly immovable!

An idea sparked in Xia Ruqing’s eyes. She turned, pulled off his boots too, and began to vigorously tickle the soles of his feet.

"HAHAHA..."

Zhao Junyao lost control for a moment and burst out laughing, rolling on the carpet with Xia Ruqing a couple of times.

The commotion was so loud that Li Shengan, who was drinking fish soup not far away, nearly choked on a fishbone.

He felt a wave of unreality. Was this... truly the Emperor?

Speaking of which.

「Inside the tent.」

The two of them lay there on the carpet, their laughter having subsided.

He pinned her firmly beneath him, his eyes glinting with that familiar, dangerous light!

"Qingqing, do you still dare?"

Realizing the situation was not in her favor, Xia Ruqing quickly begged for mercy.

"Your Majesty, I wouldn’t dare! I’ll never dare again!"

Her cheeks were flushed crimson, her eyes sparkled like black jewels, and her chest rose and fell with her quick breaths.