Zhao Junyao distinctly felt a kick against the palm of his hand.
He gently lifted his hand, looking at his palm.
A genuine feeling, the impending sense of fatherhood, welled up from the bottom of his heart.
He couldnât quite describe his emotions.
It was just that his heart was so excited, the veins on his forehead were bulging out.
"Qingqing, Iâm going to be a father!"
He felt as if he had endless strength, picking her up and spinning her around several times.
Xia Ruqingâs legs turned to jelly in fright.
"Your Majesty, please be gentle..."
Zi Yue turned pale with fear as well.
"Your Majesty..."
Li Shengan also felt a bit weak in the calves.
Oh, Emperor! Xia Jieyu is pregnant!
Zhao Junyao, belatedly realizing, stopped spinning around hastily and carefully set Xia Ruqing down.
After sitting down, it took a good while for Xia Ruqing to finally catch her breath.
"Your Majesty, you really scared me to death just now!"
Zhao Junyao didnât say much; he just coughed lightly twice, disguising his embarrassment.
Xia Ruqing tactfully didnât say anything more.
They continued to cool off, watching Da Bai not far away struggling to fight with the fish.
...
Not far away, Honored Lady Du meandered over to this spot.
She caught sight of the Emperor and Xia Jieyu, the two sitting close, by the pavilionâs edge.
The mid-afternoon sunlight shone on the sparkling surface of the lake.
The two figures leaned on each other, like a pair of perfect matches, one in the heavens, another on earth.
Jealousy soured Honored Lady Duâs heart.
"Is that Xia Jieyu?"
Ding Xiang looked over.
"It is Xia Jieyu!"
"My lady, shall we go over?"
Thinking of the teachings from the sisters, Honored Lady Du knew it wasnât proper to go over at this time. But... seeing the Emperor with Xia Jieyu, even more tender than with her, her heart ached with jealousy! Should she just leave? She felt so reluctant! The Emperor was so kind, so gentle with her, and so magnanimous. He... probably wouldnât mind, right? After all, among this group of Fine Ladies, he favored her the most!
After much indecision, Honored Lady Du finally made up her mind.
Weâve already come across each other; it would seem improper not to pay my respects!
Having decided, she adjusted her headdress, straightened her clothes, and confidently walked over.
Ding Xiang did not advise against it.
The lady was indeed highly favored! Besides, it would be improper not to greet the Emperor upon meeting him!
...
Xia Ruqing was watching Da Bai play when she suddenly heard footsteps not far away. Upon looking, it was Honored Lady Du.
She was dressed in a light green palace outfit, her hair intricately coiffed, adorned with extravagant silk flower accessories.
She was walking over with graceful steps.
However, the one thing that annoyed Xia Ruqing was how Honored Lady Duâs eyes were fixed directly on the Emperor.
That little temptress! What she does behind my back is none of my business, but how dare she flirt with my man right in front of me?
Xia Ruqing smiled coldly without saying a word.
She continued to snuggle into Zhao Junyaoâs embrace.
She yawned.
"Your Majesty, I suddenly feel a bit tired. Perhaps... itâs time for me to retire?"
She said so, but her body didnât move.
Zhao Junyao looked down at her.
"Tired?"
Xia Ruqing nodded. "Mhm!"
Zhao Junyao glanced at Honored Lady Du approaching not far away and then asked, "Are you really tired or just pretending?"
Xia Ruqing, seeing his expression, felt a little aggrieved. "Your Majesty, whether Iâm truly tired or just pretending, I must leave! Your beloved, Honored Lady Du, has arrived!"
Zhao Junyao glared at her. "Silly girl, stop spouting nonsense!"
Xia Ruqing pouted, protesting unhappily, "How am I spouting nonsense!"
Their voices were quiet, and from afar, they looked like a couple deeply in love.
The more Honored Lady Du couldnât make out what they were saying, the more the scene stung her eyes.
Her heart soured with jealousy!
Yet, she still endured and stepped forward to greet them. "This servant pays respect to the Emperor and to Xia Jieyu!"
Zhao Junyao looked at her, his gaze calm and undisturbed. "Oh, itâs you! Rise!" he said indifferently.
Delighted, Honored Lady Du quickly responded, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
As soon as she stood up straight, before anyone else could speak, Honored Lady Du hurriedly said, "It was truly too hot inside. This servant heard Taiye Pool was cool, so I rushed over for a stroll and unexpectedly encountered Your Majesty!"
After speaking, she lowered her head, her face full of shy modesty.
Xia Ruqing was almost sick to her stomach and wanted to slap her. But she held back, smiling on the surface.
"Honored Lady Du knows Taiye Pool is cool too? How coincidental!" she said. "Ah! My Qingya Residence is also terribly hot, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Junyao almost couldnât keep a straight face.
This girl! Hadnât he already sent ice to her in May? She was jealous and looking to tease someone. However, Honored Lady Du indeed lacked manners. So, he would condescend and play along!
Zhao Junyao glanced at Honored Lady Du and then said warmly, "If you truly feel hot, my Zhaochen Palace is cool. Why donât you... move over there to live? How about that?"
His voice was velvety, with just the right magnetism. Paired with the Emperorâs youthful good looks, probably few women could resist such temptation.
Honored Lady Duâs face instantly flushed red. "Your Majesty... This... This doesnât seem proper!"
Xia Ruqing also snickered silently. "Yes, Your Majesty, itâs not proper!"
Zhao Junyao then laughed. "Rules are dead, people are alive; as long as I like it, why not!"
After finishing his words, he looked at Honored Lady Du with a gaze so tender it could suffocate someone.
Honored Lady Du almost lost her soul, seeing stars, unsure if she was dreaming or if this was all real! They say the Harem is hard to navigate, but looking at it now, it doesnât seem so, does it?
Thinking this, she quickly bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty! This servant... this servant is willing!"
Xia Ruqing, on the side, was so amused she was practically blooming. "Your Majesty, this consort is not willing!"
Honored Lady Du suddenly looked up, her dislike for Xia Jieyu intense. "Xia Jieyu, the Emperor wasnât addressing you, was he?
The Emperorâs affection is clearly for me!
"
Xia Ruqing was taken aback, then put on a look of aggrievement. "Your Majesty... you werenât really speaking to this consort, were you?"
Her big, watery eyes looked as if they were about to spill tears.
Zhao Junyao suddenly embraced her. "Of course, itâs you. If not you, who else would I be speaking to?"
He said this and then pulled Xia Ruqing into his embrace, treating Honored Lady Du as if she were just air.
Xia Ruqing nestled in Zhao Junyaoâs arms, casting a triumphant glance back at Honored Lady Du before quietly enjoying the firmness of the handsome manâs chest.
Meanwhile, Honored Lady Du was dying of embarrassment. Her face was red enough to bleed.
This was... competing for the Emperorâs affections against Xia Jieyu. Rumor had it that Xia Jieyu, by some unknown means, had monopolized the Emperorâs time for quite a while. She had never believed it, but now she did. So in the future, could she defeat Xia Jieyu to become the Emperorâs Favored Consort? Todayâs events seemed to indicate sheâd been played by Xia Jieyu. It was utterly loathsome!