Chapter 257 - 256 South Garden Fishing

Zi Yue’s smile was brilliant as she suddenly, like performing a magic trick, brought forth another bowl of medicine.

"My Lady, this bowl is for treating your legs!"

"And this one is for toning your body."

Xia Ruqing watched, dumbfounded.

"Is this... what’s called, ’freedom’???"

Zi Yue smiled and nodded her head.

"My Lady, would you like to choose one??"

Xia Ruqing was on the verge of tears.

In the end, she still chose the one for her leg injury!

Coldness in the palace couldn’t be cured quickly, but a leg injury could be!

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and held her breath.

Then she picked up the bowl and drank the medicine in one gulp.

Bitter! Extremely bitter!

Fortunately, she was already accustomed to it.

Just as she put the bowl down, Xiao Xizi came in to report.

"My Lady, Honored Lady Lan has arrived!"

Xia Ruqing’s brow furrowed.

Why has she come?

After a moment of thought, she could only order, "Let her in!"

Zi Yue looked somewhat worried.

"My Lady??"

Xia Ruqing shook her head.

"It’s fine!"

Honored Lady Lan was not to be feared; what was fearsome was Lady Xi by her side. Besides, she couldn’t just turn people away, could she?

Zi Yue thought about it and agreed, so she took the opportunity to remove the medicine bowls before Honored Lady Lan came in.

Unfortunately, the air was still filled with the scent of the medicine.

Honored Lady Lan entered and paid her respects.

Xia Ruqing bade her rise at the appropriate moment and offered her a seat.

Honored Lady Lan sat on a stool opposite the bed.

She looked around.

"Why does Xia Jieyu’s place smell like medicine?"

Xia Ruqing looked at her own legs and laughed.

"Isn’t it because of the injury on my leg?"

Honored Lady Lan’s face revealed sudden understanding, mixed with worry.

"Indeed, injuries to muscles and bones take a hundred days to heal!"

After saying this, she paused and then added, "Some time ago when Jieyu was injured, Lady Xi and I didn’t come to see you, which was a bit rude!"

After speaking, she added apologetically, "Lady Xi, she..."

Xia Ruqing smiled and waved her hand.

"No need to say more, I understand!"

"Don’t take it to heart!"

Who didn’t know that Lady Xi was implicated due to the Noble Consort’s poisoning incident? Of course, it wasn’t mere implication; she simply got what she deserved. The Emperor isn’t a fool. How could he not see through such tricks? Even without proof, if the Emperor wanted to make someone’s life difficult, he had plenty of ways to do so. So, Li Shengan investigated and found the general outline. Zhao Junyao would usually stop there. There was no need to expose all the dirty laundry. The Royal Family needed a fig leaf. It was enough to let them suffer secretly, ensuring they wouldn’t dare to offend again. If they offended again, they would be banished to the Cold Palace forever. Just like Honored Lady Hu, hadn’t the Emperor given her a chance? If she didn’t cherish it, she couldn’t blame others.

...

Honored Lady Lan chatted for a while and then left.

「The next day, after everyone paid their respects to the Empress, they went together to admire the flowers and enjoy the outdoors.」

Xia Ruqing’s leg injury made it difficult for her to walk, and her wheelchair couldn’t navigate the fields, so she had to reluctantly stay in the South Garden.

Xiao Xizi racked her brains to please her mistress.

Somehow, she managed to acquire a fishing pole.

"My Lady, I know there’s a Xiao Xi nearby. Why don’t you go fishing?"

Xia Ruqing’s eyes lit up.

"Really? Is there really a Xiao Xi?"

Xiao Xizi nodded vigorously.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!"

"Zi Yue, Zi Yue! Pack up, we’re going fishing!"

Zi Yue was quite helpless, gave Xiao Xizi a fierce glare, and then tried to dissuade her.

"My Lady, your leg is still injured."

Xia Ruqing was speechless.

"My leg is just bruised; it’s not that serious! My ankle was sprained and dislocated, but hasn’t it been set right? After resting for so many days, it should be healed!"

Although she still couldn’t walk properly, she could manage with a crutch.

Xia Ruqing insisted on going, and Zi Yue couldn’t discourage her.

She had no choice but to follow along with Xiao Xizi, taking great care of her mistress along the way.

After leaving the South Garden and walking for about half an hour, they finally caught a glimpse of a Xiao Xi.

Xia Ruqing was a bit disappointed.

"Where’s the river we were promised?"

Xiao Xizi was a bit confused.

"My Lady, isn’t this a Xiao Xi? There must be fish here!"

Xia Ruqing sighed in resignation.

Well, since they were already there... Forget it.

She set up the fishing rod, threaded the worm Xiao Xizi had caught onto the hook, and cast the line out.

Then came the long wait.

Xia Ruqing sat in her chair.

She watched the birds in the sky and the flowers and plants on the ground.

She was so bored that she even thought about greeting the ants on the ground.

Finally, after who knows how long, the fishing rod suddenly jolted.

Xia Ruqing quickly grabbed it and gave the rod a swing.

A fish was flopping about as it came up.

The fish wasn’t very big, about five or six inches long.

But Xia Ruqing knew that in the wild, this was a big fish. Wild fish could hardly grow as large as those bred in fish farms.

Xiao Xizi grinned from ear to ear with joy.

She carefully removed the hook from the fish’s mouth and helped cast the hook out again.

"My Lady, you’re really amazing!"

"Of course!"

Xia Ruqing comfortably squinted her eyes, enjoying the praise.

Zi Yue: "..."

She didn’t know what to say anymore.

As it approached noon, Xia Ruqing had caught two or three large fish, and another two or three medium-sized ones.

"That’s enough. Let’s not fish anymore. We’ll go back!"

Xiao Xizi responded obediently and packed up the fishing rod.

The mistress and her two servants then headed back.

Zhao Junyao had gone out with the Palace Consorts, but suddenly had something come up halfway through and had to return. Only the Empress was left to lead the Concubines to enjoy the flowers and springtime. It was rare for everyone to be out, and they were happy even without the Emperor’s presence. There weren’t the usual squabbles when they met. The entire process was quite peaceful.

Zhao Junyao went to the front courtyard to deal with some matters. Afterwards, he didn’t feel like going out again and wanted to visit Lady Xia. When he arrived, he found out that she had gone fishing.

"Heh..."

This woman, he should have known she couldn’t sit still!

"Where did she go fishing?"

Li Shengan answered promptly, "Your Majesty, not far from the back door of the South Garden, there’s a Xiao Xi. I believe Xia Jieyu has gone there!"

Zhao Junyao frowned, too lazy to send someone to look for her, and walked away with a flick of his sleeve.

Yet he thought to himself,

She rarely gets out, so let her do as she pleases.

As he thought this, he strode back toward the front courtyard. Halfway there, he suddenly remembered something and gave an order.

"Send someone to follow her. Don’t let her get into any trouble!"

Li Shengan had just been vexed that Xia Jieyu couldn’t stay put, worried that she might annoy the Emperor. Now he felt like he had been slapped in the face. See, the Emperor is fine with it! Having no choice, he could only agree.

After the Emperor left, Li Shengan called Little Zhuzi.

"Xia Jieyu has an injury on her leg. Go and check on her. Serve her well and make sure nothing happens!"

Little Zhuzi acknowledged with an "aye" and ran off like the wind.

Only then did Li Shengan feel relieved and returned to the front courtyard.

...

Zhao Junyao didn’t have much to do in the front courtyard. He had already hurried back to approve two urgent memorials from the palace and had them sent out. Now he was at leisure.

Seeing Deputy Commander Xia leading a group of the Imperial Forest Army standing like stakes at his entrance and exit points, Zhao Junyao found it somewhat displeasing to the eye.

He always felt it was a waste for these men to just stand there all day after their meals. They were all top-notch experts; what a waste of talent!