Chapter 526: Chapter 526: She Didn’t an to Start an Argunt
Zhao Junyao doted on another woman and even deliberately spread the news for everyone to know. He was probably doing it out of spite. If at this ti, she went around giving away fruit, portraying her magnanimity, it would seem like she was deliberately trying to provoke him. Better not. It wasn’t that she intended to pick a fight. It was just that she needed to let him know that she truly had her limits. Even if of lowly status, only able to cling to him like a vine, she was not a despicable, casual woman! She could not be insulted at will; she too would resist! Alas...
Xia Ruqing sighed and headed to the backyard garden. After all, what was done was done, and she had nothing to regret. This was her final line in the sand, and she was determined to hold it!
...
What vegetables should be planted for this winter? Xia Ruqing’s eyes carried a faint sadness. In late autumn, isn’t it ti to sow winter vegetables? Otherwise, in winter, she would have to eat dried vegetables along with everyone else. No, she would rather eat radishes and cabbages.
Xiao Xizi took a ladder to prune the grapes, with Xiao Zhu Zi following.
"Master, let’s also plant so spinach. You like it the most!"
Xia Ruqing nodded. "Indeed!"
Spinach is delicious. Spinach that braves the winter frost in the ground might not look like much, but it tastes sweet. It’s tastier than spinach grown in modern greenhouses. Whether cooked in steaming hot stews, used in hot pots, or served in cold dishes, it’s always delicious; winter wouldn’t be the sa without it!
"And plant a variety of radishes, cabbages too, and for the rest, you decide!"
"Yes!" Xiao Zhu Zi answered.
Then she carefully suggested, "This servant was thinking, should we reserve a small plot of land? This plot of land, close to the well, is good for wild vegetables!"
"Wild vegetables? Shepherd’s purse?"
Xiao Zhu Zi said with a smile, "All sorts!"
Xia Ruqing smiled and nodded. "Good, wild vegetables are tasty too!"
Xiao Zhu Zi agreed.
The sun grew stronger, casting down its light intermixed with the faint, fresh scent of recent rain.
Da Bai led Little White, lazily moving with the graceful and lethargic steps of a cat. Little White was clingy and mischievous. It was drawn to the muddy lotus pond, filled with withered lotus leaves, seed pods, and various insects; the slightest rustle of grass sent it into a frenzy of excitent. With its fluffy little head, big round eyes, high-pricked ears, and raised tail, it looked utterly adorable.
Da Bai watched it with a mix of indifference and helplessness. He could only stand by, basking in the sun and waiting.
After a while, having had its fill of play, Little White erged with a dirty head and muddy paws.
Da Bai... glanced coldly, as if to reprimand. But whether angry or reproachful, after all, it was his mate, and the embarrassnt was his own!
Da Bai reluctantly approached to lick Little White clean. Little White seed to know its mistake and lay obediently on a pile of fallen leaves, squinting its eyes and enjoying Da Bai’s grooming.
The scene was truly heartwarming.
Watching this, Xia Ruqing’s eyes curled into a smile, her lips arching upward. All things in this world have sentints; even flowers and birds, grass and trees have feelings. Then... the Emperor should have feelings too, right? And what about her?
She walked slowly along the path by the vegetable garden, lost in thought.
...
「Zhaochen Palace」
Zhao Junyao followed his routine: attending the morning court session, leaving the court, and then reviewing petitions. He felt annoyed, so his expression was exceptionally gloomy.
During the court session, when Li Shengan called for morials to be presented, the civil and military officials below were sowhat frightened. What’s with the Emperor these past couple of days? His expression is sowhat terrifying! they wondered.
After their silent musings, they began to ponder. They questioned whether the issues they planned to raise truly needed to be resolved by the Emperor himself. If they could handle it themselves yet still presented it to bother the Emperor, would they end up angering him and, consequently, suffer a beating?
Under the fear of being beaten, those officials who usually approached with trivial issues just to make their presence felt now held back, not daring to utter a peep.
Therefore, the morning court session, which normally lasted more than a Shi Chen and sotis even two, now ended in less than half a Shi Chen.
The petitions sent to the Imperial Study Room were also considerably fewer. Li Shengan counted them. There were only a little over twenty. Usually, there were at least fifty, and at most, there had been up to a hundred.
Zhao Junyao was surprised by the small number of petitions that arrived, but he didn’t say anything. As usual, he drank a cup of tea and began reviewing them.
He had finished reviewing the petitions before it was even ti for lunch. Zhao Junyao felt irritable and couldn’t concentrate on his reading. So... he took his entourage and rode out of the palace.
Having left the palace gate, Zhao Junyao suddenly rembered sothing and turned to ask Li Shengan, "Where’s Little Seventh?" (This was Seventh Prince Zhao Junyan.)
Li Shengan quickly replied, "The Seventh Prince should be at the school at this hour. Does the Emperor wish to call the Seventh Prince?"
Zhao Junyao turned and continued forward. "There’s no need!"
His brows knitted, his face faintly conveying, ’Do not bother Us!’
Li Shengan, not daring to say more, followed behind the Emperor, riding a gentle horse at a slow pace. Serving a master who loved horse riding, he himself couldn’t afford to be inept!
Upon leaving the palace, Zhao Junyao headed straight to the Suburbs of the Capital. Without stopping for lunch, he rode at full speed. Li Shengan couldn’t keep up, so Zhao Junyao ordered him to wait at the military practice grounds in the Suburbs of the Capital. Li Shengan didn’t dare disobey and went there with a few little eunuchs.
Only a squad of Hidden Guards and Commander Xia accompanied Zhao Junyao.
Xia Tingfeng had no idea what was bothering the Emperor. Assuming it was sothing to do with court affairs, he didn’t ask further and simply rode behind Zhao Junyao.
The group galloped across the countryside.
As ever, for n, there is nothing that relieves worries better than galloping on a horse with full vigor. Riding his cherished Sweat Blood Precious Horse, eyes fixed forward, he emptied his mind of all thoughts, allowing the wild wind to whistle past his ears. The muddled, annoying emotions slowly dissipated with the wind. Utterly exhilarating!
Two Shi Chen later, his troubles felt sowhat alleviated. Zhao Junyao, along with Xia Tingfeng and others, turned towards the military practice grounds in the Suburbs of the Capital.
...
The military practice grounds were where the prominent soldiers of the Capital City were stationed. Whether infantry or Cavalry, all the troops there were the most elite. The sounds of martial practice in the military practice grounds were deafening. Troops were arrayed in neat order, training with perseverance. The sight was quite mood-lifting.
Zhao Junyao inspected the area and felt very satisfied; his spirits lifted even further.
Xia Tingfeng, glancing at the sky, reminded, "Emperor, it’s ti to start your journey back to the palace!"
Zhao Junyao looked around, thought for a mont, then patted his shoulder. "Let’s go! I’m quite hungry. Ti to drink!"
With that, he strode forward, making no ntion of returning to the palace.
Xia Tingfeng was a bit perplexed, but he had no choice. His duty was to protect the Emperor’s safety; as for where the Emperor wanted to go, that truly wasn’t up to him to decide!
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