Chapter 577 This is a Plum Blossom

"Emperor!" Xia Ruqing didn’t even have time to put on her shoes as she hurried forward.

Little Bun, hearing his Imperial Father had arrived, grew even more excited and carelessly tossed his pen aside.

Twisting his little body, he scrambled down from the heated brick bed, his little legs carrying him forward as fast as they could!

His sweet, milky voice called out, "Mm-Fah... Mm-Fah..."

His words were slurred; he was actually trying to say "Imperial Father," a term Xia Ruqing had taught him.

The servants in the room had already knelt, none daring to make a wrong move.

In their hearts, they all prayed,

Little Ancestor, please slow down!

Zhao Junyao strode in quickly.

Upon entering, he saw the pair, one big and one small, running towards him barefoot.

"Emperor!"

"Mm-Fah!" Imperial Father...

Joy was evident on both their faces.

Zhao Junyao’s expression immediately darkened. "Not wearing shoes in such cold weather?"

His voice was deep, carrying both indulgence and authority.

Only then did Xia Ruqing remember she wasn’t wearing shoes. She looked down at Little Bun. He wasn’t wearing any either!

Little Bun was also looking at her.

The mother and son glanced at each other’s bare feet, then exchanged a look.

Xia Ruqing quickly forced an apologetic smile. "Emperor, this room is heated by a ground dragon and covered with thick blankets. Your servant momentarily forgot... Please forgive me, Emperor!"

She knew that with someone like the Emperor, one had to go along with him and flatter him.

Admit your mistake sincerely, and you’ll surely be fine. Never argue, or you’ll definitely pay a painful price!

Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Junyao’s anger lessened.

Xia Ruqing then gently tugged Little Bun’s hair.

Little Bun understood the cue and hurriedly admitted his fault. Puffing out his bottom, he mimicked the servants and knelt. His large, dewy eyes looked up at Zhao Junyao, glistening and misty.

As Little Bun gazed at him this way, the last trace of anger in Zhao Junyao’s heart flew all the way to Java.

Utterly helpless, he gritted his teeth and lifted Little Bun. "The floor is cold. It’s bad enough you’re standing on it, but you even knelt!"

The words had barely left his lips when Little Bun was already nestled in his Imperial Father’s arms.

He giggled and leaned on his Imperial Father’s shoulder, not forgetting to shoot his mother a mischievous glance, as if to say:

Mother, you’re brilliant! It worked!

Xia Ruqing happily gave her son a secret thumbs-up in return.

Zhao Junyao wasn’t interested in these little exchanges between mother and son and pretended not to see them.

Holding Little Bun in one arm and taking Xia Ruqing’s hand with the other, he said, "Let’s go inside!"

"Yes!"

...

The palace attendants also rose. After a flurry of activity serving tea and water, they all withdrew, leaving the room to the Emperor and the Consort.

Sister Liang intended to take Little Bun away, but Little Bun wouldn’t have it and clung on, refusing to leave.

Xia Ruqing looked towards Zhao Junyao.

Zhao Junyao patted his son’s bottom. "If he doesn’t want to go, let him stay."

Xia Ruqing nodded and then asked, "Emperor, it’s getting late. Shall I have a meal served?"

Zhao Junyao hesitated for a moment, then said nonchalantly, "There’s no need. I’ll be going to Jiaofang Hall shortly."

"Oh."

Xia Ruqing understood instantly. A touch of wicked amusement surfaced in her heart as she inwardly mocked the Emperor.

One moment he’s doting on his junior consort, showing utmost care, and the next, he’s off to have dinner with the Empress. TSK TSK! Besides, this is just one meal. Who knows where he’ll end up tonight? Perhaps with another junior consort? In any case, not here! Once the Emperor leaves the Empress’s chambers, he never comes back to my place!

But this is also a way to protect me, I understand that!

Zhao Junyao, for some reason, felt a twinge of guilt as he said this. He thought Qingqing would be upset. Yet, after saying it, he looked up at her but found no trace of displeasure, jealousy, or unwillingness on her face.

Now... it was Zhao Junyao’s turn to feel a pang of disappointment. Suddenly, his heart felt a cool pang of keen disappointment.

However, an abrupt realization struck him.

Didn’t I always detest it when concubines bickered and grew jealous? So why now, when Qingqing isn’t jealous, do I feel unhappy instead? So, do I actually want them to be jealous, or not?

Zhao Junyao had thoroughly confused himself.

In matters of state and military, he was a young, promising Emperor, his methods steady and experienced. Yet, in matters of romance, he was utterly clueless. Even though he knew that Qingqing held a unique place in his heart, different from other women, still... when faced with such issues, he remained completely bewildered. He simply couldn’t fathom the complexities involved.

After all, in his mind, liking someone means being good to her. It means ensuring she eats and drinks well, giving her whatever she desires, making her happy, making her laugh, never letting her cry! Yes, it was that simple!

However... the young emperor was mistaken, terribly mistaken. If matters of the heart were truly so simple, the world wouldn’t be filled with so many lovesick men and grieving women.

Regrettably, Zhao Junyao didn’t understand these things; he only knew to dote on her unconditionally.

Xia Ruqing, however, understood. Moreover, she understood the art of survival in the ancient Imperial Palace even better. Therefore, she asked for nothing. She only sought to cherish this life and live it well, so as not to waste the second chance heaven had granted her.

Besides, you can’t expect ancient people to adhere to modern values, can you? What’s the point? They’ve never experienced modern times! And this is the Emperor we’re talking about. With ordinary men, one might take a chance, but the Emperor? Forget it, unless you have a death wish!

...

Xia Ruqing noticed Zhao Junyao seemed a little dejected. Puzzled for a moment, she quickly asked, "Emperor, what’s wrong?"

What’s with that expression? I’m not the one feeling dejected, so what’s he dejected about?

Her words snapped Zhao Junyao back to reality. He quickly pushed the perplexing thoughts to the back of his mind. Then, he coughed lightly twice to cover his embarrassment. "N-nothing!"

Xia Ruqing nodded, only half-convinced.

Zhao Junyao’s gaze shifted to the low table on the kang, and he abruptly changed the subject. "Are you two... drawing?"

Xia Ruqing followed his gaze to the drawings on the table and her spirits lifted. "Mine is a painting, and Little Bun is practicing his characters!"

Zhao Junyao glanced at them, and then... his face darkened. "You’re saying... yours is a painting, and his... are characters?"

Are you sure these bizarre, demonic-looking scribbles, like a chaotic dance of demons, are a painting and written characters?

Xia Ruqing nodded firmly. "Yes!" She then explained, "Emperor, this is a plum blossom tree. I don’t have any colors right now, so I just drew the trunk. When I add red blossoms later, it will look beautiful!"

After speaking, she gazed at her work with an air of profound satisfaction. Her expression was one of utter contentment.

"This is a plum blossom?" Zhao Junyao exclaimed, his face dark.

For a moment, I truly wanted to gouge out my own eyes! If this is really a plum blossom, it must be one that’s been poisoned and is now struggling and twisting in agony! I initially thought it was a snake, or perhaps... a dragon? No, she wouldn’t dare to draw a dragon so hideously. In that case, I can only take her word for it and try to understand this... thing... as a plum blossom.