Chapter 157: Chapter 156: Rerouting to Zhuoshui County
Xia Ruqing spoke again.
"Frogs are called field frogs among the common folk!"
"Back when I was a child, many places were poor. Children, who were still growing, craved meat intensely. However, meat was out of reach unless it was a holiday or festival!"
"So, children would catch field frogs to eat!"
Zhao Junyao listened intently, his frown deepening.
Are there truly people so poor?
No matter what, the thought of eating frogs was still too unimaginable for an emperor.
Zhao Junyao felt an added pressure in his heart.
Thinking it over, he felt he must strive even harder to ensure all his subjects could eat their fill and wear warm clothes.
If possible, he wished for those children to have meat not just during festivals, but on ordinary days as well!
Xia Ruqing nodded earnestly.
"Yes, Milord!"
Zhao Junyao then asked, "Qingqing, have you ever eaten them?"
Xia Ruqing answered without hesitation, "I have!"
As a child in the countryside at her maternal grandmother’s house, mingling with the other children every day, of course, she had.
However, Zhao Junyao misunderstood.
Her wicked stepmother actually forced Qingqing to eat frog meat! Detestable! They say ’nothing is more poisonous than a woman’s heart,’ and it seems to be true!
(Author’s note: I’ve found that these two always seem to be on different wavelengths, haha...)
Xia Ruqing then shared some other stories.
Zhao Junyao listened with keen interest.
Gradually, her voice grew softer, until finally, the sound of even breathing came from beside him.
She had fallen asleep.
Moonlight streamed through the small window of the tent, casting its glow on the bed.
Her thick, curling lashes cast fan-like shadows on her cheeks.
She was sleeping sweetly.
Zhao Junyao’s heart was a mix of complex emotions.
He had lived in the Imperial Palace since childhood, and those he interacted with were all members of the Royal Family or daughters of official families. He had imagined the lives of the poor commoners many times, but in the end, he realized that everything was beyond his imagination!
Poverty could drive people to do so many unimaginable things. He simply couldn’t fathom it!
Qingqing, how much suffering have you endured.
Qingqing, from now on, I will protect you! You won’t have to suffer any longer!
...
While she slept soundly, he could not.
He quietly got up from the bed, dressed, and walked alone to the riverbank.
「That night.」
A figure in moon-white robes sat by the river under the moon for a very, very long time.
As for what he thought? Probably, only Zhao Junyao himself knew!
...
「The next day, at Chen Hour.」
Everyone had their breakfast.
Just after Chen Hour, the tents were packed up and loaded onto the rearmost carriage.
The caravan continued on its way.
In the carriage, the sleep-deprived Xia Ruqing continued to doze off, nodding her head like a little chick pecking at rice.
Zhao Junyao gently laid her on the carriage’s blanket, allowing her to continue sleeping.
He then went ahead to ride his horse.
Li Shengan caught up from behind, and Zhao Junyao asked, "How long will this detour to Zhuoshui County take?"
Li Shengan counted on his fingers and then said, "Milord, diverting to Zhuoshui County from here will add over a hundred li to our journey!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Junyao didn’t even think twice before giving the order.
"We’ll divert to Zhuoshui County!"
Li Shengan didn’t try to persuade him otherwise and directly went to convey the order.
The Emperor dotes on Lady Xia; what’s an extra hundred-plus li!
However, though Li Shengan held back from advising, it didn’t mean others had no doubts.
When the order was given, there were still those who objected.
"The Emperor has been traveling for a while now, and if we delay any longer, I’m afraid it will be too long..."
Li Shengan said, "That may be true, but do you dare try to dissuade the Emperor from his wishes?"
Upon reflection, that person immediately fell silent.
He didn’t dare try to dissuade him.
...
By noon, Xia Ruqing woke up and found no one inside the carriage. She lifted the curtain and saw the Emperor riding a horse outside.
She saw Zhao Junyao with a calm demeanor, his legs gripping the horse’s flanks. He held a whip in one hand and the reins in the other. His gaze was strikingly powerful, his expression focused as he looked ahead.
Xia Ruqing was mesmerized.
He looks so handsome riding a horse!
Even though his skin was sunburned red, in his white clothes, fluttering in the wind, he looked so handsome!
Xia Ruqing watched in rapture for a while before leaning over inside the carriage and closing her eyes to rest.
The weather was too hot; she had no energy at all.
In a corner of the carriage, there was a plate of fruit.
They were fresh when put there in the morning, but now they had wilted a bit.
Fortunately, they hadn’t gone bad and were still edible!
Xia Ruqing picked one that was still relatively fresh and began to eat.
...
That day, the carriage traveled nonstop.
By evening, they finally arrived at a small town.
This town wasn’t large and was nestled in a hollow surrounded by mountains. Fortunately, it had all the basic necessities: food, clothing, lodging, and transport, including inns.
The group settled into the largest inn in town.
Though called the largest, in reality, compared to the Capital City, it wouldn’t even pass for third-rate.
However, in this place, having somewhere to stay was good enough. Who would be picky?
After dinner, everyone went back to their rooms to wash up and rest.
A day on the road was really exhausting!
Even Xia Ruqing was completely listless; she didn’t even feel like eating and just wanted to sleep.
The rooms were assigned.
The Emperor’s was still the largest; Consort Yun’s was the next best.
After them, the quarters for Lady Xia, Honored Lady Lan, and Honored Lady Xi were all the same.
At least, that’s how it was divided on the surface.
In reality, everyone knew that Lady Xia would not be staying in her room.
After all, she had to personally attend to the Emperor.
Indeed, not long after she returned to her room, Little Zhuzi came with a message.
"Lady Xia will serve the Emperor tonight!"
This was hardly surprising anymore; who could argue when she was so favored?
Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi dared not say anything.
Consort Yun was still displeased but no longer dared to make a fuss.
If it had been before, she would have had the confidence to contend with Lady Xia. But ever since that time she abandoned everyone to flee for her life in the heavy rain, she no longer dared to cause trouble. The Emperor hadn’t pursued the matter that time because he hadn’t wanted to be bothered. In reality, according to palace rules, her actions constituted elopement! It didn’t matter if one actually had a secret lover; fleeing without permission was considered elopement. Who knew what she might have done during those days outside? Had she met someone? Done something shameful? The Imperial bloodline was sacrosanct. If one fled without permission and, by some chance, returned bearing an illegitimate child? This was no trivial matter. Previous dynasties weren’t without incidents of consorts having affairs, attempting to muddle the Imperial bloodline. Therefore, since the founding of the Great Chu Dynasty, such a rule had existed in the palace: better to mistakenly execute a thousand than to let one escape! Having lived in the palace for many years, Consort Yun naturally knew this rule, which was why she felt so apprehensive. No matter how envious, jealous, or hateful she felt, she could only watch helplessly as Lady Xia received favor, not daring to step forward and make her presence known!
...
Xia Ruqing received the decree and went to Zhao Junyao’s room.
He was changing clothes. He had taken off his white long robe, leaving him bare-chested and wearing only long trousers.
Xia Ruqing stood behind him and saw that his skin was red from the sun on his back and neck.
"Emperor, you..."