Chapter 1020: Chapter 1020: Twists and Turns
"Hmm!"
Xia Ruqing sat up without a second thought.
With the help of Zi Yue and Zi Su, she carefully got out of bed.
...
In the bathing room.
The bathtub was filled with steaming hot water, with petals floating on top.
Xia Ruqing stepped carefully onto the wooden ladder and imrsed her whole body into the hot water, quickly dispelling any discomfort.
She let out a long, comfortable sigh.
"It’s so nice to take a bath!"
Zi Su laughed and said.
"If you like it, why not soak a little longer? There’s plenty of hot water!"
After all, the Lady served the Emperor with such dedication.
Xia Ruqing shook her head.
"There’s not much ti."
She gently lifted a corner of the curtain to check the ti of day and said,
"It’s getting late, Yue Er will wake up soon!"
Thinking about it, she hurried to finish washing.
While washing, she asked,
"Where’s the Emperor?"
Zi Su replied with a smile,
"The Emperor has already finished his bath and returned!"
"Before leaving, he instructed us to take good care of you and said he would co to see you again at dinner!"
Xia Ruqing nodded.
"Alright!"
He left rather quickly!
But he’s been quite busy lately; it’s unprecedented for him to spend this much ti in the harem.
I’d better not think too much about it.
Xia Ruqing quickly finished bathing, changed clothes, ca out of the bathing room, and went to the side hall to see Yue Er.
...
Life passed by leisurely.
No one caused trouble, no one brought discomfort, her daughter was obedient and clever, and her son was upstanding.
Her days were extrely pleasant.
May and June were unbearable with heat, and the sun was scorching like fire.
In the past, concubines who occasionally went out for a stroll or had petty disputes, now all stayed in their own palaces.
They wouldn’t even step outside their doors.
Being afraid of heat was certain, but there was also a more important reason: fear of tanning.
Going out in this weather ant it might take two months of staying indoors to recover, anyone going out would be a fool.
So, these two months in the palace were calm and tranquil, with not even the slightest ripple.
In the blink of an eye, sumr passed, and autumn arrived.
At the start of autumn, the Indian sumr was fierce, and the weather was still oppressively hot.
One day.
Xia Ruqing was bathing with Yue Er in the bathing room.
Suddenly, she heard Xiao Xizi’s hurried footsteps entering the courtyard.
Zi Yue quickly went out to greet him.
"What happened to make you so anxious?"
Xiao Xizi caught his breath several tis before speaking.
"Just... received news!"
"There’s a ssage from the Hou Mansion outside the palace, saying the Third Miss is betrothed to the Sixth Prince!"
Zi Yue’s face imdiately froze, and she hurried inside to report to Xia Ruqing.
Upon hearing the news, Xia Ruqing paused for a mont, then said nonchalantly,
"Oh!"
"I thought it was sothing important!"
"The Sixth Prince is not young; betrothals are natural, aren’t they?"
The Fifth Prince already has a child!
Zi Su was a bit anxious.
"Lady!"
"The one betrothed to the Sixth Prince is the Third Miss!"
They hadn’t had much contact with the Third Miss, but they had t her once.
A woman’s intuition is usually spot-on.
For soone so adept at navigating opportunities at such a young age, she certainly isn’t simple.
Perhaps not even a good person.
If she becos an adversary, she could potentially be troubleso!
Xia Ruqing said calmly.
"What of it if it’s her?"
"To , she’s just a stranger!"
If people do not offend , I won’t offend them.
If people offend , I will erase them.
In her high position, just by lifting a finger she could crush her.
It’s really unnecessary to get caught up with such a minor figure.
No point!
Zi Su wanted to say more but was stopped by Zi Yue.
"Alright, stop talking, the Princess is still here!"
"We just need to serve the Lady well, handle matters as they co!"
Zi Su could only nod.
However, she thought for a mont and then instructed Xiao Xizi.
"Keep gathering information, knowing the enemy and ourselves leads to a hundred victories, the Lady may not be concerned, but we need to stay inford!"
"Perhaps soday the Lady will need it!"
Xiao Xizi nodded in agreent.
"Don’t worry, I’ve already arranged for soone to keep an eye on it!"
"Now that the engagent is set, next will be the wedding date!"
"Soon the Emperor will grant the Prince a title and a mansion, then we’ll know everything!"
Zi Su nodded.
"Exactly!"
"Thank you for your efforts!"
Xiao Xizi wiped his brow.
"Oh! What’s effort when it cos to serving the master well?"
After chatting for a bit, the two parted ways.
Back in the bathing room.
After finishing Yue Er’s bath, dressing her, she handed her to the Wetnurse Nanny for sleep.
She returned to the main hall.
Leaning on the couch by the window.
She gazed at the bright moon outside, lost in her thoughts.
She couldn’t hear Zhao Junyao when he called her a few tis.
Eventually, he had to approach and tap her shoulder.
"Qingqing!"
Xia Ruqing was startled and turned to see the Emperor, quickly patting her chest.
"Emperor!"
"Why did you walk so quietly?"
She stood and offered a slight curtsy.
Zhao Junyao sat on the sofa, took a couple of sips of tea brought by the Palace Attendant, and couldn’t help but laugh.
"Quiet steps?"
"You were the one daydreaming, I’ve already called you twice!"
"Really?"
Xia Ruqing seed confused.
Zhao Junyao put down the teacup and asked.
"What were you thinking about?"
Xia Ruqing shook her head.
"Nothing... just felt a bit bored suddenly!"
"People are so strange!"
"When I was just a Lady, I used to think if only I could have enough to eat!"
"Then, when I could eat enough, I thought if only I could eat well!"
"Later, when I could eat whatever I wanted, I thought if only I’d never be bullied again!"
"And now... I’m no longer bullied, but... I’m bored!"
"People are always greedy, aren’t they?"
Zhao Junyao affectionately pinched her cheek.
"You think you’re greedy?"
"You haven’t seen true greed!"
Xia Ruqing shook her head in bewildernt.
"Indeed, I haven’t seen it!"
"But so love wealth, so crave power; they can’t be put in the sa context!"
"I guess this could be considered so!"
Zhao Junyao chuckled and shook his head.
"Alright, let’s not talk about this, I have so good news for you!"
"What good news?" Her eyes sparkled.
"Your third sister is engaged to my sixth brother!"
The sparkle in her eyes faded instantly; Xia Ruqing wasn’t surprised at all.
"I already heard!"
Zhao Junyao was about to say sothing when she continued.
"Emperor!"
"I don’t have a good relationship with her, let’s talk about sothing else!"
Zhao Junyao quickly pulled her closer.
"Hey!"
"Aren’t you curious about the twists and turns of this?"
Xia Ruqing suddenly grew a little curious.
"It’s just an engagent, what twists and turns could there be?"
Zhao Junyao gave a mysterious smile and whispered in her ear.
Xia Ruqing’s expression shifted from curiosity to shock, and finally to disbelief and astonishnt.
"No..."
"It can’t be..."
Could Empress Dowager Zhen really be so unscrupulous?
Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow with a smile.
"What do you think?"
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