Chapter 942: Jingfeng 1

Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow sharply.

"As they say, a feast for the eyes!" A beautiful lady is indeed satisfying.

With that, he lifted her up and walked toward the bed.

Xia Ruqing protested desperately.

"Hey hey hey, I’m not full, I’m not full yet..."

Before she could finish the sentence, she was tossed onto the bed.

Someone pressed down on her without a word.

Soon, only two smooth, slender legs were left kicking on either side of someone’s narrow waist.

The embroidered drapes with silver thread flowers fell, veiling the room in springtime bliss.

The air only held a series of fine, breathless murmurs that made one blush.

...

The first month went by in a flash.

By February, the cold finally retreated a bit.

When the weather was clear, there was a bit of warmth in the air.

The flowers, grass, and trees in the Imperial Garden, under the careful tending of the palace maids and eunuchs, began to show signs of life.

New branches sprouted green, willow leaves unraveled silk, little grass buds emerged.

Early one day.

Xia Ruqing had eaten breakfast early, and with steamed bread crumbs and meat pieces prepared by the small kitchen, she came to the Imperial Garden with her two sons to feed fish.

The pond was frozen over the entire winter.

They hadn’t been here for quite some time.

Now that it was February, the ice gradually melted, and the fish became active on the water’s surface again.

Not only were the children eager, but she had also been longing to come.

Since it was the Noble Consort and the two Princes going out.

The entourage naturally included a good number of Sister, Wetnurse Nanny, Palace Maid, and eunuchs.

The group walked grandly through the Imperial Garden.

From afar, it was quite a spectacle.

Along the way, they occasionally met some Honored Ladies and Ladies, all respectful.

Xia Ruqing did not make it difficult for anyone; she greeted everyone warmly.

This drew genuine admiration from everyone.

Finally, they arrived by Taiye Pool.

Looking at the lush, pleasing pool water, she let out a long breath.

She sighed in her heart.

’No wonder all the women in the harem desperately want to climb up!’

’Standing at the pinnacle feels so darn good!’

There are people to serve, people to flatter, people to pamper.

No one will bully you, and there’s never the worry of an uncertain tomorrow.

This feeling is truly comfortable from head to toe.

"Mother, Mother, come quickly!" Henger called her.

Xia Ruqing’s tense face instantly softened, her eyes filled with warm spring rain.

"Alright!"

She responded, gently lifting her skirt hem and walking over.

Thick wool blankets were spread by the wooden fence.

The two children sat shoulder to shoulder there.

After she arrived, she sat next to Henger.

Then she took the fish food from the small dish at her side and sprinkled it into the pool little by little.

Soon, the koi in the pool began to gather bit by bit.

The fish scrambled to poke their heads out of the water to grab the food.

For a time, the calm lake surface seemed to boil.

The two children laughed as they fed the fish.

Xia Ruqing became increasingly delighted.

The mother and sons’ smiling faces appeared extraordinarily bright under the warm spring sun.

They played for more than a Shi Chen.

The fish food ran out.

Xia Ruqing looked at the sky; it wasn’t early anymore.

She stood up to prepare to take the children back.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Xizi suddenly ran over, panting.

"Madam!"

"What’s the matter?" Xia Ruqing frowned.

Wasn’t Xiao Xizi supposed to be watching the door in the palace? How did he end up here?

Xiao Xizi caught his breath and quickly said,

"Madam, the Emperor asked Eunuch Li to invite you to the Imperial Study Room!"

Xia Ruqing looked shocked.

"Now?!"

Xiao Xizi nodded.

"Right now, Madam, you must go quickly! The Emperor is waiting!"

Xia Ruqing dared not delay further.

She turned and instructed Sister Jiang and Sister Liang.

"Take the two children back first; if I’m not back in half a Shi Chen, tend to their meal!"

Then looked at Zi Yue and Zi Su.

"Zi Yue, come with me. Zi Su, you go back and watch over things so nothing goes wrong in the palace!"

"Yes!"

The two trusted palace maids spoke in unison.

Once everything was swiftly arranged.

Xia Ruqing followed Xiao Xizi feeling assured.

On the way, she thought over all the palace matters inside and out from the past few months.

She couldn’t figure out the specific reason why the Emperor urgently summoned her today.

Finally, as she approached the door, she took a deep breath.

’Whatever it is, let’s see first! Maybe it’s good news!’

With such thoughts, she entered the Imperial Study Room.

Head lowered, she cautiously paid her respects upon entering.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Rise!"

Zhao Junyao’s familiar voice echoed in her ears, and the scent of ambergris came ever closer.

As usual, he personally helped her to her feet.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Xia Ruqing breathed a sigh of relief.

Thinking, the Emperor’s expression is normal; it shouldn’t be anything bad.

Sure enough.

Zhao Junyao led her mysteriously to sit at the desk, his face glowing with an ’I’ve got a surprise for you’ look.

Xia Ruqing looked utterly confused.

"Your Majesty, do you... have something to say?"

Zhao Junyao, quite pleased with himself, gave her a glance and then turned to instruct Li Shengan.

"Bring the person in!"

"Yes!"

Li Shengan responded and exited.

Soon, a tall figure dressed in a blue long robe strode in.

The person bowed upon entering.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, greetings, Noble Consort!"

His voice was deep and magnetic, with a hidden resilience in its magnetism.

Xia Ruqing thought the voice sounded somewhat familiar.

However, the person before her seemed entirely unfamiliar, preventing her from thinking further.

"Rise," Zhao Junyao waved gently.

The person thanked him and straightened up.

Zhao Junyao turned and asked Xia Ruqing.

"Take a look, who is this?!"

At his words, Xia Ruqing curiously looked over.

She found the man’s features indeed somewhat familiar, but...

This height, this build, this complexion, and this accent were all unfamiliar.

After a moment, she shook her head.

"I don’t recognize him!"

The man’s face instantly filled with disbelief, and he took a step forward, eager to explain.

Zhao Junyao, however, raised a hand to stop him.

"No need!"

He then turned to Xia Ruqing.

"Qingqing, take another good look!"

Xia Ruqing looked again carefully.

The man also gazed at her, urgency and anticipation filling his eyes.

’The eyes, these eyes are so familiar!’ she sighed internally.

Her gaze traced the contours of his face, piece by piece.

He was looking at her just as intently.

Their two pairs of eyes, four eyes in all, met in the air and instantly sparked a familial warmth denser than water.

Suddenly, she felt her heart beat faster, a senseless pounding.

"Are you... Jingfeng?"

She clutched her chest, her eyes filled with disbelief.

The man nodded eagerly.

"Sister! It’s me!"

In that instant, surprise, joy, disbelief, all these emotions surged in like a tide.

She didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.

"It really is you!"

"After so long, I couldn’t recognize you, I’m really..."

I’m really not a qualified sister, and of course, I’m not really your sister.