Chapter 1039: Yellow Bean

Actually, you can’t blame her.

She only had a limited understanding, and had to disguise her identity without speaking the truth.

So she stammered and couldn’t explain clearly.

In the end, she simply tossed her head and said directly.

"Emperor, anyway, this is a kind of flower specially used for brewing!"

"This wine is called beer!"

"If you haven’t heard of it, just assume it’s something I invented myself!"

Xia Ruqing hugged his arm and smiled coyly.

Zhao Junyao coughed lightly, feeling helpless.

"I don’t mind, as long as you like it!"

After speaking, he casually took the cup she handed over and took another sip.

Hmm, it seems... there’s something about it.

He took a second sip because, after the first taste, there was a hint of sweetness lingering in the aftertaste.

It was just like Qingqing said, bitter first and then sweet.

Very different from the usually spicy wines he drank.

The second time, it was still bitter at first, but it seemed his palate was adjusting, not as bitter as before.

Instead, the sweetness was even richer, making it hard to stop.

So he tried a third time.

One sip after another, and soon the small cup of wine was finished.

Zhao Junyao looked at the empty cup in his hand, his eyes full of incredulity.

’I never thought I’d like this so much?’

’It’s like he adapted instantly!’

’Could it be that there really is something called beer in this world?’

"Qingqing, did you grow this flower?"

He could be a hundred percent sure he hadn’t heard of or seen this flower before.

Xia Ruqing shook her head.

"I didn’t grow it, it’s a kind of traditional Chinese medicine called Fragrant Snake Hemp!"

"I saw it in an ancient prescription, so I had someone pack some dried flowers to try, and it worked!"

The more Xia Ruqing spoke, the quieter her voice became.

She felt guilty — if she hadn’t worked in a Chinese medicine shop in the modern times, how would she know such an odd name for a traditional medicine?

As for brewing wine, she was just idly experimenting.

There had been a small brewery in town that brewed beer, and she had somewhat learned some of the steps.

But understanding doesn’t mean having the conditions.

After all, things like vacuum compression and carbonation require professional equipment.

She had nothing but a few wine jars at hand, so she didn’t have much hope.

Unexpectedly, the taste turned out quite passable.

Though it couldn’t compare to modern beer, she was already very satisfied.

Zhao Junyao smiled and praised it as not bad, and wanted another cup.

Xia Ruqing quickly stopped him.

"Emperor, overindulgence isn’t good!"

"You’ve been drinking a lot at the banquets these past few days, better to drink less!"

Seeing how worried she was about him, Zhao Junyao felt a warm happiness in his heart.

"Alright then, let’s not drink anymore!"

Xia Ruqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It’s not that she wouldn’t let him drink, she just didn’t trust her own skills.

If something happened to the Emperor because of it, what would she do?

She couldn’t afford to lose her life over this.

"Emperor, you should have tea instead!"

Saying so, she called someone to clear the dishes and personally poured him a cup of tea.

Zhao Junyao smiled as he sipped the tea, and breakfast was finally over.

...

After breakfast,

Seeing the nice weather outside, Xia Ruqing wanted to go out.

But Zhao Junyao stopped her.

"You’re not well, it’s cold outside, better not go out!"

With winter almost over, catching a cold would be troubling.

Xia Ruqing was still somewhat reluctant.

"The sun is so nice, it shouldn’t be too cold!"

"Don’t believe me, try it?" Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow.

Xia Ruqing stood up.

She opened the window by the bed and reached out her hand.

A gust of northwest wind blew by, chilling her fingertips to the bone.

The dull ache spread through her bones and lingered for a long time.

She quickly withdrew her hand and closed the window tightly.

"I didn’t expect it to be so cold!"

As she said this, a cold wind sneaked down her neck, raising goosebumps all over her body.

"I won’t go out, better stay inside!"

Saying so, she quickly snuggled back under the covers on the bed.

"It’s better if I just stay put!"

Zhao Junyao seemed to have expected this, smiling gently without saying a word.

He picked up his tea to drink again.

The two chatted idly, discussing the Lantern Festival.

Xia Ruqing was very much looking forward to it.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve been out of the palace, why not take Yue Er out this year!"

Zhao Junyao pondered for a moment and nodded.

"Indeed!"

"This girl hasn’t been out since she was born!" It’s good for the precious daughter to see the world!

Xia Ruqing was very happy.

"Who knows how gleeful the girl will be when she finds out?"

The little girl was quite spoiled and couldn’t stay indoors.

No matter the ice and snow, or the cold and freezing weather of this long winter.

The room never seemed to hold her.

Every day she found ways to sneak out at least once.

During the New Year, her brothers returned to accompany her.

The little girl was even more adventurous, playing wildly in the Imperial Garden with Yellow Bean.

Not showing herself for the entire day.

Fortunately, Chenchen was older and reliable, with a trusted wetnurse and Sister accompanying her.

Otherwise, she would never rest assured!

Zhao Junyao laughed and said.

"Yue Er is my legitimate daughter, naturally different from the rest!"

The princesses from concubines could be less grand, but the legitimate princess must not be.

If she were like ordinary women, only knowing the virtues of managing a husband and teaching children, wouldn’t it be a waste of her birth in the Imperial family? It would give the world a reason to laugh at her.

"Alright, alright, I get it!" Xia Ruqing pouted.

"I’m just worried about her!"

"She’s my only daughter; I’d be heartbroken if anything happened to her!"

Zhao Junyao was exasperated but amused.

"Don’t worry, I will protect her!"

"No one can lay a finger on her!"

Xia Ruqing chuckled.

That’s true; unless someone doesn’t want to live, who would dare touch the Emperor’s precious gem?

As they were speaking,

Suddenly they heard giggles from outside.

The next moment, Yue Er came running in, laughing.

"Mother, Mother!"

Once inside, the little girl saw her Father too, and immediately ran into his arms.

"Father!"

Zhao Junyao, caught off guard, put down his cup and was enveloped in a warm hug from his daughter.

Turning around, he saw the little girl’s clothes were wet, and her nose and cheeks were red from the cold.

He pretended to be serious.

"Where did you go?"

Yue Er wasn’t scared at all, proudly saying.

"I brought Yellow Bean to the Imperial Garden!"

"Father, all the flowers in the Imperial Garden have bloomed, I liked them so much I stayed a bit longer!"

The little girl sniffled as she spoke.

The wetnurse and Sister quickly helped her wipe her nose.

Yue Er eagerly pointed at Yellow Bean.

"Father, Mother, look, these are flowers I picked from the Imperial Garden!"

Following her little pointing hand,

Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing immediately saw Yellow Bean with a few pitiful little yellow flowers in its mouth.

The leaves were mostly chewed off.

The little yellow flowers were soaked with dog saliva, dripping wet.

In short... the fate of these flowers was quite tragic.