Chapter 860: Settling Down at Your Place

The next day, Zhao Junyao specifically decreed not to hold court.

He sent officials from the Ministry of Rites to receive the envoys from the Western Xia Kingdom and accompany them to tour various places in the Capital City.

He himself stayed in the Imperial Study Room to read memorials.

Li Shengan suddenly came rushing in to report.

"Emperor, Prince Jin and Princess Hai Feng request an audience!"

Zhao Junyao frowned.

"What are they here for? Weren’t they assigned someone to accompany them?"

Li Shengan cautiously replied.

"It seems it’s still... about last night’s matter!"

Zhao Junyao’s expression suddenly darkened.

’Last night? What matter?’

’Could it be she still intends to marry?’

Li Shengan silently nodded, thinking, that must be it. Otherwise, why would Prince Jin bring Princess Hai Feng here!

Zhao Junyao furrowed his brows deeply, contemplated for a moment, then quickly got up.

"I’ll leave through the back door now!"

"Go intercept them and say I’m not in Zhaochen Palace!"

"Make sure to hold them off!"

With that, Zhao Junyao hurriedly left.

Li Shengan: "..."

This... Princess Hai Feng is indeed formidable!

It’s the first time he heard of the Emperor being chased out of the Imperial Study Room by someone!

Oh well!

Since the Emperor doesn’t want to meet them, it seems he, as the servant, is about to get scolded!

Thinking so, Li Shengan walked out.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Prince Jin and Princess Hai Feng, who had been waiting for some time.

Li Shengan composed himself and approached with a smile.

"This old servant pays respects to Prince Jin and the Princess!"

"To inform you both, the Emperor is not in the palace right now. It seems he went out for some matter, so if you have no urgent business, please return for now!"

"Once the Emperor returns, this old servant will inform you! How does that sound?"

Li Shengan had a full smile on his face, and his attitude was kind.

But Prince Jin was furious on the spot!

"How insolent!"

"Aren’t you the Emperor’s personal eunuch? If the Emperor is not in the palace, how come you are?"

Li Shengan’s expression was a bit awkward.

"Replying to Prince Jin, well..."

"Although this servant is the Emperor’s personal eunuch, this morning, the Emperor went out and instructed this servant to watch over Zhaochen Palace!"

"If someone comes seeking an audience, there should be someone to report it!"

The implication being, I’m just a gatekeeper; your reproach can’t affect me!

Spoken respectfully and logically.

Indeed, there was nothing more Prince Jin could say!

However, he took out a memorial from his bosom!

And handed it to Li Shengan.

"Since the Emperor is away, it’s fine! What we wanted to discuss is already written in this memorial!"

"Please, Eunuch Li, deliver this to your Emperor!"

At this moment, how could Li Shengan dare refuse? He quickly bent down and stepped forward to take it!

He repeatedly agreed.

"Rest assured, Prince Jin, this servant will definitely deliver it!"

Prince Jin looked Zhaochen Palace up and down before turning to leave.

But Princess Hai Feng kept looking back every few steps.

Her eyes and heart were full of disappointment.

Why does she always feel like the Emperor is avoiding her!

"Fengfeng, hurry up!"

"Oh!"

After seeing them off, Li Shengan wiped his sweat and looked at the memorial in his hands.

Then he chuckled coolly.

"This old servant promised to deliver it, but didn’t promise when to deliver it!"

Let’s postpone it for seven or eight days and then deal with it.

The Emperor surely doesn’t want to see it.

When the time comes, he’ll have to take all the blame on himself!

Thinking this, Li Shengan put the memorial in his own bosom.

He prayed in his heart, hoping the Emperor would consider his loyalty at that time.

And not punish him too severely!

...

Duanning Palace

It was mid-morning.

Xia Ruqing was just waking up groggily, missing the time for breakfast.

Struggling to get out of bed, she asked while enduring a headache.

"Zi Yue, what time is it?!"

"Si Hour is almost over!" Zhao Junyao replied calmly.

Xia Ruqing, who was still groggy, was startled awake instantly.

"Emperor?!"

"Why... why are you here!"

Zhao Junyao seemed puzzled.

"Why can’t I be here?"

She just gave an embarrassed laugh.

"Hehe, I thought you were out entertaining the envoys!"

Zhao Junyao slightly curled his lips.

"I am the ruler of a nation; there’s no reason for me to entertain them personally!"

"I’ve sent others for that!"

Xia Ruqing’s eyes lit up, she asked curiously.

"Emperor, who did you send? Did my brother go?"

Zhao Junyao glanced at her coolly and continued reading.

"No!"

"Your brother is very busy now!"

"He’s the Imperial Guards Commander!"

With foreign envoys entering the Capital City, there’s no guarantee assassins won’t take advantage to slip in.

So the Imperial Forest Army must tighten defenses.

"Oh! The Emperor, you’re right!"

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment, then said.

"So, Emperor, you don’t have anything to do these days?"

"Of course there are things!"

Zhao Junyao thought to himself.

Who knows what trouble these people might cause in the Capital City, not to mention the state affairs that can’t be neglected?

So, he seemed busier than before.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t stay at Zhaochen Palace.

Thinking this, Zhao Junyao instructed a Little Eunuch.

"You, go to Zhaochen Palace and see if Prince Jin and his entourage have left. If they have, call Li Shengan here!"

"Servant accepts the order!!"

The Little Eunuch scurried away.

After about a quarter of an hour, Li Shengan came hurriedly.

Not only did he come, but he also brought a group of Little Eunuchs, nearly moving his entire Imperial Kitchen here.

Zhao Junyao almost found it funny!

"You fool! Have you gone mad?!"

Li Shengan quickly wiped his sweat and replied.

"Emperor, this servant feared someone might disturb you!"

"So... I brought everything here?"

Zhao Junyao understood his meaning, so he didn’t overly question him!

He just waved his hand.

"Move these things to the West Wing Room and tidy up while you’re at it. I’ll review memorials here for now!"

"Yes!"

Li Shengan bowed his head in agreement.

In his heart, he felt quite pleased; this time, he got the flattery just right!

Thinking this, he happily went out.

Xia Ruqing, however, didn’t quite understand.

"Emperor, are you...?" Making a home here?

Zhao Junyao felt a little embarrassed and didn’t know how to explain.

’After all, being unable to return to Zhaochen Palace because of being blocked by a teenage girl is quite embarrassing’

So he lightly coughed twice and said mildly.

"It’s too noisy up front; for now, I’ll stay here. Qingqing, you won’t drive me out, will you?"

After all, her West Wing Room was for the children’s toys, and now it’s being occupied by himself...

Zhao Junyao suddenly felt a bit despondent.

Isn’t he, as an Emperor, a bit too ’subservient’?

Xia Ruqing, thinking about the previous night’s events from beginning to end, seemed to grasp something.

She blinked and mischievously said.

"Emperor, if worse comes to worst, just marry her!"

"At the very least, having her in the harem for a little eye candy isn’t too bad!"

Zhao Junyao turned to look at her, his gaze chilling.

It sent shivers down one’s spine.

Xia Ruqing quickly offered a smile.

"Emperor, I was just joking!"

"But... Emperor!"

"Avoiding her isn’t a solution, and if word gets out, it won’t sound good!"